Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1059, for Luke Miller, New Jersey
Page 1

New Jersey    Miller, Luke       S. 1059
                                                    carded
Page 2

9497
New Jersey

Luke Miller
of Morris Co. in the State of New Jersey
who was a Pri in the company commanded
by Captain Brown of the Reg't commanded
by Col. Ford in the New Jersey
line for -
         19 Mo Private $63.33

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of June. and sent to
1833 Hon. L. Condict Morristown, N.J.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.          126.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept       31.66 1/2
                                                                 ________
                                                                 $158.32

Recorded by JT Sprague  clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 122 (last number smudged)

(right side of page)

Date of death not on
 A.B -  ILL
Page 3

(hand written parts transcribed)

DECLARATION

County of Morris
thirty first day of July 1832
the Judges of the Inferior
court of Common Pleas.....Luke Miller
Chatham Township
Morris........seventy two

   That in the month of June 1776 he turned out and sent into service as a Volunteer when the British Troops landed at Staten Island and joined a Company then commanded by Lieutenant Hand and marched to Elizabeth Town point and continued in service until relieved,  that some time in August same year he was drafted as a Militia Man and called into service marched to Elizabeth Town with the Morris Militia and commanded by Col. Jacob Ford and continued in service during his tour - was engaged in making the brest works near Elizabeth Town point - was called out again in October marched to Elizabeth Town point - was there when the British Troops Landed in New Jersey - retreated before them when they went on to Princeton and Trenton we marched to Morris Town and back to Elizabeth Town and after some time was discharged.  then enlisted in the  then Month Militia under Capt. Sylvanus Seely - Marched to Springfield and the Farms and Elizabeth Town and continued on the lines during his tour.  Then in 1777 he was drafted and marched to New Winsor on the North River about the time General Burgine was captured - he then being in Capt. Browns Company and in General Winds Brigade was at New Winsor when the British Fleet came down the North River returned back again after guarding New Winsor sometime in 1778.  The Indians becoming trouble - Somoman Minisink in the upper part of this State he marched then in Weins Brigade in Lieutenant Caldwells command.  That he returned from that tour and was dismist.....
Page 4

(continued from previous page)

.....that he was drafted and put on duty and marched to Monmouth in New Jersey was in the Battle fought between the British and American armies of that place - That he served several tours of duty on the lines not particularly mentioned.  The practice for some time having been for the Militia of Morris County to serve every other month and that he frequently turned out as a volunteer on the alarm gun being fired, and was at several Battles and Skirmishes with the Enemy.
     That this deponent served during the war the term of two years or more as he believes. That he then lived in the township of Hanover Morris County and State of New Jersey and has always lived in the said county.  That this deponent was born on the 8th of September 1759 cannot find the record of his age, is now seventy two years old.  That he has no documentary evidence of his service -
Page 5

(hand written parts transcribed)

William Brittin.......Luke Miller
We Joseph M. Ogden a Clergyman and William Britton both residing in the township of Chatham County of Morris......
...Luke Miller.....
Seventy two......

Stephen Vail              Joseph M. Ogden
                                     William Brittin

.....Joseph M. Ogden a Clergyman....
.... is a......
.....Township of Chatham in the
County........William Brittin.......
.......Township of Chatham in the County
of Morris afores'd and are credible persons....

Stephen Vail
Jesse Kepson
Daniel Horton

I, David Day.....
...Luke Miller....
thirty first....
...July
...thirty two.
       Daniel Day Clk.
Page 6

State of New Jersey
Morris County
     Be it remembered that on the 31st day of July 1832 before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Morris appeared in person Israel Lum who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that having heard the declaration of the said Luke Miller made before the said Court he says he is knowing to many of the services having been performed as states in the declaration he having been out in service several times in company with him and that he believes all the services as stated has been performed.
 Israel Lum

Swont and subscribed in one Court
this 31st day of July 1832 -
       William Brittin

Israel Lum the above deponent has been long and well known personally to me, as a man of irreproachable character for truth and one who will be believed and implicitly where ever he is know. 
                 Lewis Condict, late a
                        Rep. from N. Jersey

(written vertically bottom right)
Declaration of Luke Miller
Page 7

Luke Miller
No. 6097

New Jersey

Lusp. 8 Jan '33
-?- 4.5.11.12

Mr. L. conduct

Admitted
19 months
6333
Hon. L. Condict
P. 198
Morristown N.J.
Page 8

(hand written parts transcribed)

Luke Miller of Chatham
County of Morris .....New Jersey

1. court

2.

3. 72

4. State his service: 
      Period 1776 1777 1778
      Duration (blank)
      Rank (blank)
     Names: Capt. Seely Capt. Brown
                   Col. Ford, Genl. Winds
"This deponent served during the War the term of 2 years or more as he believes"

5. Monmouth

6. Morris County New Jersey

7.  Living and traditionary

8. -?- dates of service not given

Jas Wilson Examining Clerk
Page 12

State of New Jersey
County of Morris 
    Morris court of common Pleas special Term, April 1833.
     On this 10th day of April AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court now sitting Luke Miller ofChatham Township in the County and State aforesaid well known to this Court to be a. man of fair character and good standing for veracity and being first duly sworn sixth, that he is the same Luke Miller who, on the 31st day of July last made his Declaration before this Court to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7th July 1832.  That at the time of making said Declaration he was not apprized of the necessity of specifying minutely and in detail each monthly tour of Militia service rendered by him in the war of the revolution and that in the just number of applications then making before theCourt, the time was too limited to allow that deliberate recollection and minute recital required by the rules of the Pension office of events which occurred 50 years since.  Since making his Declaration, he has reflected more upon his revolutionary services and desires that this, his amended Declaration may be record by the Secretary of War and the commissioner of Pensions as detailing more minutely his several tours of monthly Militia duty, than could be draw  in the haste which seemed unavoidable in his first application to this Court.
     In the month of June 1776 he entered as a Volunteer in the Militia company then commanded by Lieutenant Hand - was marched with said company to Elizabeth Town point where he was stationed on guard duty and in throwing up the breast works to defend the landing places against the incursions of the British who were then in possession of Staten Island directly opposite. -  He remained here. for the space of two weeks on duty - was then discharged verbally and went home.
     In August of the same year he again  turned out with his class, joined the company then commanded by Capt. Obediah Kitchell - was again stationed at Elizabeth Town point, on the lines, performing the same duties as before stated.  the Regiment to which he was attached being under the command of Col. Ford. this tour of duty continued for one month - he was then dismissed and went home...  In October of the same year he and his class again turned out and joined the company commanded by Capt. Stephen Munson - marched again to the lines at Elizabeth town point, assisted in throwing up the breast works and defending the inhabitants. during this tour Gen'l Washington retreated through N. Jersey in the march commonly distinguished by the name of the mud rounds - the British being in close pursuit.  Captain Munson with his company fell into the retreat in rear of Gen'l Washingtons army and followed him to the vicinity of New Brunswick.  The Militia of Morris and the neighboring counties here fell off toward Bound Brook and Pluckimin and were discharged late in December at Morristown having served on this tour tow months and half.  The first month of this tour, this deponent was commanded by Captain Munson and the rest of the time by Captain Day.  A large body of the militia nearly the whole of this section of the State was in service on the tour under the command of Colonel Bott and Spencer and General Williamson, as this deponent believes.
Page 13

(continued from previous page)

.....On the first of January following, viz. 1777, he engaged to serve three months in Captain Sylvanus Seely's company( afterward Colonel Lutz) in the regiment first commanded by Col. ford and afterward by Col. Spencer, in General Maxwell's Brigade.  Was employed on the lines at Elizabeth Town Springfield, and various other places monthly in Essex County, defending the inhabitants from the enemy then in very considerable form upon Staten Island and New York and often sending out foraging and plundering parties of Hessians, Tories, and 
Refugees - During this 3 month service there were several severe skirmishes with the enemy - one at a place called Ash Swamp - another at Vaux Hall near Springfield - one at Short Hills - in all of which this deponent and his company participated -  In the affair at Vaux Hall a party of Hessians returning from an excursion were attacked, 9 of them left on the ground- 50 taken prisoner and first under a guard to Morris town, the deponent and his company being the capturing party - He served out his three months and was honorably discharged, verbally, the first of April.
     In September of the same year he was again in Militia service in Captain Daniel Brown's company and in General Wind's brigade - was marched to New Windsor in the State of New York - continued in service one month, was then discharged and returned home - He served one month in the following winter and was stationed at Elizabeth Town upon guard duty, under Col. Seely.  He is not certain whether he served this month under Captain Hale or Captain Minard.  One of the two, he believes, commanded the company and the month most probably included part of both January and February 1778.
    The March following (1778) he served one month in Militia duty in Captain Ward's company under command of (then) Major Daniel Brown, was stationed upon the lines performing guard duty at Elizabeth Town another points in Essex County and along the shore opposite Staten Island.
     In June 1778, he performed a tour of Militia duty under Captain John Lindsly as a substitute for his brother.  Was marched with his company to Monmouth and was personally engaged in the Battle with the enemy at that place. He  continued in service one month and was discharged.
     In September following, he served one month in his brother's stead, in Lieutenant Caldwell's company, was marched to the Minisink settlement on the Delaware river, under General Wind's orders upon an expedition against the Indians.  The Indians had burned the settlement and retired before Gen'l. Winds reached the place.  He served out the month and was discharged at Newton, Essex County, N. Jersey and returned home -
     In the year 1779, 1780, and 1781, he recollects distinctly to have served a monthly tour of Militia duty under each one of the following named Captains viz: Captain Bates, Captain Ceane, Captain Hinman, Captain Hall, Captain Day and Captain Ward. The incursions of the enemy were so numerous and so often repeated that the alarms were in quick succession and the demand for Militia service were almost constant, the classes and companies going out in alternate monthly tours....
Page 14

(continued from previous page)
.... as the urgency of the times demanded - His memory will not serve him, to fix with certainty, either the precise month or the year in which the services were performed - nor can he state with accuracy the order as to time, in which the events occurred - but he conscientiously believes, that he served the full period of one month as he has stated, under each of the last six Captains before named - On every alarm given he volunteered his services and never  waited to be drafted - On one of the occasions the enemy landed in considerable force at Elizabeth Town point -  over in the County to Newark, Hackensack, Acquakanonk - the Militia collecting from every quarter and skirmishes with them almost daily - harassing them in their marches, till finally they returned to New York - Upon another occasion, the enemy came out in force to Connecticut Farms in Essex County when the Militia attacked and annoyed them - the enemy, after burning the church and some houses in the village, retreated.  the Militia laying upon their shirts.
     Upon another occasion the enemy, having retreated from Connecticut Farms, again came over to New Jersey with a stronger force, and made their way as far as Springfield when the Militia, with a part of the Connecticut troops made a stand against them, and a battle ensued in which considerable blood was shed on both sides - The enemy burnt Springfield Church, and many of the dwelling houses in the village and retreated.  The burning of Connecticut Farms Church and village, and of Springfield Church and village, were upon different excursions, but both in the same year and as this deponent believes in the year 1780 and in the warm season of the year probably in Summer.
      In all the above instances and others, which he cannot distinctly particularize, this deponent was personally and actively engaged under one or another of the before named Captains, and generally under the command of Colonel Seely and General Winds - other officers being sometimes also present with their commands and annoy them, he believes were Major Hays and Colonel Frelinghuysen, and others not mentioned.  Besides the month tours which he has then specified, he was often out upon the alarms, for periods less than a month each - sometimes for two weeks, sometimes for one week, or a few days at a time, of which he makes no account and cannot particularize them.
      He can specify but 19 months of Service - yet he is fully persuaded and verily believes, that he faithfully served his country, the full term of two years during the war of the Revolution.  He claims compensation at least for the period of nineteen months service as a private.
     By mistake in his first Declaration it was stated that he has no record of his age - He has a family Bible in which his age is recorded and from which it appears that he was born September 8th 1759 and now in the 74th year of his age.  He has no documentary proof of his service, excepting the deposition of Israel Lum Esq. annexed to his original Declaration.
Luke Miller
Page 15

(continued from previous page)

.....Which deposition he desires may be admitted as proof of his services as far as the deponent has been able to collect and narrate them.
     Sworn and subscribed in open Court, the day and year first mentioned.
   The deponent or rather the Declarant belongs to the Presbyterian Church and congregation in Bottle Hill, in which the Reverend Mr. Ames is Pastor and is but recently settled there, not having lived in the place more than about six months - and of course can have no personal knowledge or traditional knowledge of the Revolutionary service of this Deponent.
Luke Miller

Sworn and subscribed
in opne Court
Stephen Vail

   I hereby certify to the Secretary of War and to the Commissioner of Pensions that I have been personally acquainted with Major Luke Miller the above Declarant for 30 years past. - that his whole life as well as my own has been spent in this County and living within 4 miles of each other his character and standing in society must be well know to me - It affords me pleasure to state that to the best of my knowledge and belief his whole life is as blameless and as far from reproach as any man in the Country that for probity, veracity, and integrity he has the confidence of all who know him and is universally believed in the neighborhood where the lives to have been a substantial Whig and firm friend of his Country in the trying times of the Revolution - I have for myself the most entire confidence in the truth of all that he has stated as to his personal service in the war and sincerely hope that his claim will meet with all that consideration to which it is fairly entitled.
Morristown, N.J. Apl. 10th 1833 Lewis Condict
           late a Rep. from the State of N. Jersey

    I David Day Clerk of the curt of common Pleas do hereby certify the above deposition signed by Luke Miller, is the original amended Declaration of said Miller, taken this day in open Court in the matter of the application of said Luke Miller for a pension.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set me hand and seal of my office this 10th day of April Ad 1833.
                              David Day Clk.
Page 18

(left side of page)

INVALID

Rev. War

File No. 1059
Luke MIller
Priv. N.J. Line

Act June 7 1832

Index:- vol. A, Page 256

(right side of page)
1933 July 6 - Hist. to Helen M. Wright ILL
Aug. 2 - letter of Helen M. Wright forwarded to A.G.D. - regarding rank of Luke Miller. ILL