Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 24017, Hartshorne Willett, New Jersey
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State of New York County of Albany 
I Henry B. Haswell Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that Robert Shepherd before whom the with in affidavits purport to have been sworn was on the day of the date of the Jurats to the same a Commissioner of deeds in said County and that his signatures to the said jurats are genuine-
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the said County this 24th day of April 1841
H.B. Haswell Clerk
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New York. He had moved there from Middlesex County, New Jersey.

In April, 1841, soldier had returned to Middlesex County, New Jersey, and lived in New Brunswick, where his daughter resided. The name of his daughter is not given, nor is the name of his wife stated.

His residence in 1850 is not shown.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of soldier's death, you should apply to the Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C., and cite the
following data:

"Hartshorne Willett, Certificate No. 28831, issued July 9, 1834, rate $80.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency".

Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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soldier [word continued from previous page, image 21] in obtaining his long withheld pay for important services rendered.
Subscribed & sworn on the day & year aforesaid
Wm. B. Manning Judge of Midx [Middlesex] Pleas
Hartshorne Willett X his mark

And the said Court do hereby declare these opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served
as he states.
Wm. B. Manning Judge of Midx [Middlesex] Pleas
J. L. Ford
Peter P. Runyon

I Nicholas Booraem, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Harthome Willett for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal ofsd [of said] Court this tenth day of June in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty four. 
N Booraem Clerk.
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EE
Hon Saml L Southard
Washington
Pension papers
June 12
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New Brun'k, June 11, 1834.
Dear Sir: Will you do me the favor to hand
to my friend Mr Luce the endowed papers in
the case of Hartshorne Willett of Montgomery
County, New York. Mr Willett has been obliged
to come here (a distance of 250 miles) to
collect testimony. I have drawn up his papers
anew, fortified his statement well with
proof. He is a poor and very worthy man,
is very anxious to have his case decided, and
to save great trouble & no inconsiderable expense,
wishes if possible, to get his money to
take home. I have promised him to do what
I could & have advised him that I [illegible] he might
expect a decisive answer in the course of ten
days. Will you therefore, ask it as a particular 
favor, that Mr Luce will immediately pass
upon his case? And please also ask the further
favor of an order to have his three
years back pay paid to him at the Pension
Agency in New Jersey. This I presume,
can be done, and it will be a great
accommodation to him. If that is out of the
question, then have it payable in the City
of New York.
I some 3 or 4 weeks since read that you a
letter on the subject of William Collings' claim
saying he could receive half a pension or an
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New York
Revoy [Revolutionary]
Suspended
Hartshorne Willett
Ser let to
J. F. Randolph
June 17, 1834.
Act 7 June '34
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Albany, April 24. 1841
James L Edwards Esquire
Court of Pensions
Sir,
I enclose the application of
Hartshorne Willett, to be transferred from the Albany
to the New York City agency
Very respectfully
L Jenkins
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30.133
Hartshorne WIllett
Testimony in his case.
James F. Randolph
Agent.
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State of New Jersey
Midx County. On this tenth day of June 1834, before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Lewis Johnston, known to me to be a credible person, whose statement is to be relied upon, who being duly sworn, on his oath declares, that he is a soldier of the Revolution now in the receipt of a Pension as such that he is well acquainted & has been for more than sixty years with Hartshorne Willett, formerly of New Jersey
and now of Montgomery County, New York an applicant for a Pension - that he lived a near neighbor to said Willett during the whole of the War of the Revolution - belonged to the same company with him Capt. Waglam's - and served with him. Recollects him well during the whole war, knew him to be a staunch Whig and a good & faithful soldier, and that he performed his full share of duty, from the beginning to the end of the war, and this duty was from three to six tours a year in each and every year from '76 to '82 inclusive. Deponent was not always out with said Willett, but he lived so near as to know when he did go out, and he never knew him to miss a tour, or to refuse to
shoulder his musket in all the war. From deponent's knowledge of said Willett, he has a perfect confidence in the truth & fidelity of his statement in relation to his revolutionary service
Subscribed & [illegible] to the
day & year aforesaid before me
Peter P. Runyon
Justice of the Peace
Lewis Johnston
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State of New Jersey Middlesex County
On this tenth day of June 1834 before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County afd [aforesaid] personally appeared Henry Obert, known to me to be a credible person whose statement is to be relied upon, who being sworn, on his oath, declares that he is a soldier in the War of the Revolution, served as a Sergeant, and is now receiving pay as such -- that he is well acquainted & has been for upwards of Sixty year with, Hartshorne Willett, formerly of the State of New Jersey, & now of Montgomery County New York, lived a neighbor to him during the Revolution, belonged to the same Militia company with him, Capt Waglum's, served with him, and remembers him distinctly in service in said company from the beginning to the and of the war. He cannot specify, certainly, how many tours of duty said Willett did nor where they were performed, but he can say generally that said Willett was faithful in his services, & regular in his tours, and active & efficient as a soldier. No one doubted his Whig principles. Said Willett was out to this deponent's knowledge in each & every year from 76 to 82 or 83, & from his regularity & fidelity & zeal, could not have performed less than three to six tours of a month and in each year. Has no doubt of the integrity & veracity of said Willett, & that what he has stated or may state as to his revolutionary services is & will be in perfect fidelity.
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid before me
Peter P. Runyon
Justice of the Peace
Henry Obert
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State of New Jersey Midx County
On this eleventh day of June 1834 before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County af'd [aforementioned] personally appeared Obadiah Norman, Known to me to be a credible person, whose statement is entitled to credit, who being duly sworn, on his oath saith that he is a soldier of the Revolution and now receiving a pension as such - that he is well acquainted with Hartshorne Willett, formerly of New Jersey & now of the town of Glen, Montgomery County of N York, - knew him during the War of the Revolution, lived a close neighbor to him, belonged to the same company with him and served with him often,- did not go into actual service until '78 or '79, but recolled said Willett before that time, & saw him out a soldiering
after he himself went into service was with him on many of his tours, knows that he served in answer to all the calls, a [illegible] extraordinary, made upon him, and that those calls were not less than from four to six in a year
The regular calls were at least four or five in a year, and the alarms frequently as often. Said Willett was a good soldier, a fine Whig, and zealous in defence of his country. Has no doubt that he did more than two years actual duty in the field. He is a man of strict veracity, & his relation of his recolections may be fully depended upon.
Obediah Norman

Subscribed on the day & year af'd [aforementioned] before me
Peter P. Runyon
Justice of the Peace
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State of New Jersey Middlesex County
On this eleventh day of June 1834, before me a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared
Runyon Buckelew, known to me as a credible person in whose statement implicit reliance is to be placed, who being duly sworn, on his oath saith, that he is a soldier of the Revolution and now in the receipt of pay as such - that he is well acquainted with Hartshorne Willett, mentioned in the preceding affidavit, was neighbor
to him during the whole of the War of the Revolution, belonged to the same company with him and served with him frequently. Knows that said Willett was a true Whig & friend to his country, & hearty in the cause-- that he went into service at the commencement of the war in 1776, and continued to serve in Capt Waglum's company
to the close of the war in 1782-3. Knows that he served in each and every year, not less than three to six tours in a year, besides going out on alarms & emergencies, and has no doubt that his whole actual service in the field was more than two years. Knows said Willett to be a very respectable man, and believes that his statement now
recently made in relation to his revolutionary services conforms as strictly to the facts of the case as is possible for any one to remember after so long a time has elapsed.
Subscribed & from the day
& year af'd before me
Peter P. Runyon
Justice of the Peace
Runyan Barkelew
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County  I Nicholas Booraem Clerk of
the Court of Common Pleas in and for said
County, do hereby certify, that Peter P. Runyon
before whom the foregoing affidavits
of Lewis Johnston, Henry Obert, Obadiah Norman
& Runyon Barkelew was taken, is
a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned
& sworn and that the signature of said Justice
is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal of
office, this eleventh day of
June eighteen hundred and
thirty four
N Booraem [illegible]
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Supplemental statement
of Hartshorne Willett
of Montgomery County,
New York
Admitted
Private 2 years
Agent -
James F Randolph
N Brunswick
N. J.
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Supplemental affidavit to the case of Hartshorne Willett of Montgomery County, N. York
State of New Jersey, Midx [Middlesex] County
On this twenty fifth day of June 1894 before me a Judge of the Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Hartshorne Willett of the County of Montgomery in the State of New York, who being duly sworn on his oath saith, that he is advised by a letter from the Pension office of the 17th of the present month, that some explanations are required in relation to his former statements, so far as regards the periods of his service, and the officers under whom he served, to which he most respectfully answers, that his original declaration, as will plainly appear upon the
face of it, was by no means a full account of the service which he was perfectly conscious of having rendered; but that having at the time of making that declaration, had no opportunity of conversing with his old companions in arms, or reviving his recollections by revisiting the scenes of his services, he could proceed no farther in the specification of those services than the few months therein set full. He however recollected distinctly that he was for a long time employed in what was termed guarding the lines [underlined], and that [underlined] he finds, upon enquiry & recollection, was, in fact his principal service from beginning to end. He knows that he was employed and, as long as the guard was kept up, and he is satisfied from the best of historical prefaced by living witnesses, that it continued through
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the whole of the year 1782, and in a part of the year 1783. So that whatever may have been his original impression as to the period when he finally quit the service, he now positively avers that it was not until after, or at the end of, 1782. With regard to the transportation of prisoners in which he was engaged at the time the army lay at Morristown. That was done in the winter, & did not, in a single instance, as he verily believes, interfere with the performance of his regular militia tours. He answered every call made upon him, so far as he recollects, and as he believes firmly; and those calls were not less than he has stated in his supplemental declaration. He may have been unfortunate in conveying his precise meaning in his supplemental declaration, or over scrupulous in his caution in the use of words & phrases. He wished to avoid all appearance of presumption and bold confidence in swearing positively or roundly to events & circumstances so long gone by, and he therefore availed himself of the forms prescribed by the War Department in making his statement to the best of his recollection. He felt unwilling to incur any hazard from an unqualified declaration, when, as he supposed, a qualified one would be considered quite as conclusive, & would be as acceptable. But then, he did not mean to create any such uncertainty as to his statement as to make his claim a matter of doubt. He had no doubt, then, and entertains none now, that the officers he has mentioned as those under whom he served to 1779, and afterwards, were in fact his officers at the times and in the manner he has related; and he now affirms that the officers he claims in his supplemental
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statement to have served under from beginning to end, and especially in 1779, '80 '81 & '82 were his officers in time and manner therein set forth according to the best of his recollection, and to his conscientious conviction and unhesitating belief. He ???? that this will be considered sufficient, that in such discrepancy or inconsistency or uncertainty appears in his previous statements as to raise a presumption against the fairness or justness of his claim and put him upon his defence. To require positive proof or even positive averment in relation to every tour, and every circumstance connected with it would be extremely harsh in its application to his services and to the services generally rendered in New Jersey. The tours were very short, as is well known, and very frequent, and no one who was not with him all the time could certainly say how many tours he performed. He submits his claim to the justice of his country, & to the known liberality
of the Dept in the execution of the law designed for his relief. He fully believes himself entitled to pay for two years actual & faithful services.
Hartshorne Willett X his mark

Subscribed & [illegible] to the day / year aforesaid before Hon. Peter P. Runyon Judge

I Nicholas Booream Clerk of the Common Pleas in & for the County of Middlesex
New Jersey do certify that Peter P Runyon before whom the previous Supplemental affidavit of Hartshorne Willet was made is a Judge of the Court of Common pleas in
& for said County of Middlesex duly [illegible]

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 25 day of June AD 1834
N Booraem [illegible]
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Revolution
24 017
24,017
Hartshorne Willett
Pri Rev War
Jun 7, 39
2, 459
1931 - July 28, Hist. to Leonard D. Bushong. ILL. see letters Joseph Whitley, S44039.
1931, Aug. 17- Ltr. to Leonard D. Bushong returning 24 items MLB
(see ltr. in case Joseph Whitley, S44039)
1937 July 21 Hist. to Samuel W. Comstock. (I.L.L. copied)
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104 City Island Ave
City Island, N. Y. City N.Y.
Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Director of Pensions
Dear Sir
About 1832 Hartshorne Willet
rec'd his Pension at Glen Twp., Montgomery Co
N.Y. State
Where was he living 1850?
and when & where did he die?
The above favor will be greatly appreciated
Very truly yours
Samuel Willett Comstock
Received
Jul 8, 1937
Mail Sub-Div
Vets. Adm.
Reader # 15
Received
Jul 10, 1937
Mail Sub-Div
Vets. Adm.
Reader # 21
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Washington August 17, 1931

Mr. Leonard D. Bushong
3210 Garden Avenue
Los Angeles, California

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MLB

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter of July 31, 1931, in which you requested the Revolutionary War records of Hartshorne Willett and Joseph Whitley.
It is presumed that you have received before this both records which were furnished you on July 28, 1931.
The 2¢ postage which you enclosed in your letter is returned herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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July 28, 1931
Mr. Leonard D. Bushong
3310 Garden Avenue
Los Angeles, California
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section
ILL
Dear Sir:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 24017, that Hartshorne Willett, (the name also appears Willet and Willit), was born January 1, 1760 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. In 1768, he moved with his father, whose name is not stated, to Brunswick and from there with his father [inserted as a handwritten addition to typed text] to Fresh Pond, near Spotswood, all in said Middlesex County.
While residing in Middlesex County, New Jersey, he enlisted and served as a private in the New Jersey troops as follows: from the latter part of September, 1776, two months in Captain John Waglum's Company, Colonel Neilson's Regiment; from late in November, 1776, one half a month in Captain John Waglum's Company; from in the spring, 1777, one month in Captain William Morgan's Company, Colonel Taylor's Regiment; from June 1777, two or three months in Captain John Waglum's Company; in the fall, 1777, one month in Captain Gulick's Company; from 1778, at least four tours in each succeeding year until 1782, or 1783, in Captain John Waglum's Company, and was in the battle of Springfield.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 11, 1834, while a resident of Glen, Montgomery County, New York. He had moved there from Middlesex County, New Jersey.
In April, 1841, soldier had returned to Middlesex County, New Jersey, and lived in New Brunswick, where his daughter resided. The name of his daughter is not given, nor is the name of his wife stated.
Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
Death not on AB