Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 891, for Eleazer Looker, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey

Looker Eleazer

Number 
S891.

CONTENTS
Page 2

New Jersey. 17.213.
Eleazer Looker
Essex Co. in the State of New Jersey
who was a Private in the Company command
of Captain Meeker of the Regiment command
by Lord Sterling in the New Jersey
line for two years.

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate for Pension issued the 10th day of Aug
1833 and sent to Chas.
H. Halsey, Newark, New Jersey.

Arrears to the 4th of March, 1833  160.00
[illegible] allowance ending 4 Sept 33  40.00
$200.00

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Wm R Palmer, Clerk
Book [illegible] Vol. three Page 120.
Page 3

No 17064
Eleazer Looker
New Jersey
17,213

Crossed out  - Return & f

Adm 2 years


Charles H Halsey 
New Ark
NJ
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
18 May 1833

Sir:

The evidence in support or your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and
the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is 
necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, [thus: } ]. You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim. 

A Statement, shewing the Service of Elezzer Looker Essex County NJ.

| Period when the service was rendered. | | Duration of the claimant's service Years. | Months. | Days. | | Rank of the claimant. | | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | | Country through which He marched. | | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | | Evidence by which the declaration is supported. |

| Vol  | | BLANK | BLANK | BLANK | | BLANK | | Capts | | Cols | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | Aged 79. | | Traditionary Living Witness |

| Sept 1775  | | BLANK | 6 | BLANK | | Priv | | Meeker | | Lord Sterling | | Skirmishes| | N. J.  | | Essex County N Y | | BLANK |

| Mar 1776  | | BLANK | 6 | BLANK | | Priv | | Meeker | | Lord Sterling | | BLANK| | N. Y.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|?Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | 3 | BLANK | |?| | Crowell | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. Y.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | |1 |  | BLANK | |?| | Brookfield | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | 3 |  | BLANK | |?| | Gillam | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | 1 |  | BLANK | |?| | Smith | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | 2 |  | BLANK | |?| | Squier | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | 1 |  | BLANK | |?| | Williams | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | 1 |  | BLANK | |?| | Nicholls | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | 6 |  | BLANK | |?| | Reeves | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | BLANK |  | 15 | |?| | Brown | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

|Substitutes & Vol | | BLANK | | 3 |  | BLANK | |?| | Pierson | | BLANK | | BLANK| | N. J.  | | BLANK | | BLANK |

I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions.

1777 ? Col. Spencer
Enlisted  3 months Capt. Pierson
                3 Cols Spencer & Potter
Beleives [sic] he served more than 2 years actual duty during said war
Page 5

Page 2 of the Regulations under the Act of June 7, 1832.
Page 6

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there
subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account
of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
---
{To a Soldier
en and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
Town officer, has become of it?
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the char-
---
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration be
fore required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the
proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to
perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow
the rule laid down for his guidance
The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
To the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
of the declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an undavit in the following words:
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year----months, and
days, I served as a -. For - months and - days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
the definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority
; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no pubthe
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the cars of which must
under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witness
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses
, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule is
note applies to continental troops only.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Oyer Castor
Exam Clerk
Page 7

Application of Eleazer
Looker. Essex County
New Jersey

17064
Page 8

Declaration in Order to obtain the benefit of Act of Congress passed
7th June 1832

New Jersey}
Essex county} ss.

On this Eighteenth day of September in the year of
our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open
Court before the Judges of the Superior court of common Pleas holden At
Newark in and for the County of Essex, Eleazer Looker a resident 
of the Township of Orange in the County aforesaid, aged Seventy nine years
who being first duly sworn according to the Law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832. That he was born in the Township of
Newark in the County aforesaid on or about the 25th day of April A.D.
1758, as appears by the family record in his possession. That he was
living in said Township at the Commencement of the Revolutionary War
and [with the exception of nine years after the war when he lived in New York]
he has resided therein ever since, until a short time since when he moved
into the Township of Orange where he now resides. That he first entered
the service of the United States as a volunteer in the Continental 
Company Commanded by Captain Joseph Meeker, Lieutenants Gellis Mead & Daniel Brown, some time in the month of September 1775 and served 
therein six months. that this Regiment to which he belonged was 
commanded by Col. Lord Sterling; Captains Piatt, Connolly & Brittain of
Elizabeth Town Commanded the other companies of the Battalion to which he
belonged and four companies from New York composed the other 
Battalion of the Regiment.  That he says the four Jersey Companies lay
doing duty at Elizabeth Town from the time he entered the service until
some time in March following [1776] when they moved over to
Bushwick above Flatbush, Long Island, and lay there until the
North river broke up some time in april he thinks, when he
returned home having served six months. After Genl. Washington  
passed thro' Newark on his retreat from White Plains, this applicant
volunteered and enlisted under Captain Samuel Crowell, with his team
for three months, and cart provisions from Trenton to ? Ferry
most of this time and at other times carted wood from Belleville to
Newark for the use of the army. That he was then enrolled in
the militia and served his regular tours of monthly duty throughout the 
war, that is to say one month our of every three, besides being out on  
alarms which were very often, making in all at least one year and
nine months of mostly tours of duty besides the nine months as a
volunteer as above mentioned. That during the war he served among others, as he is now able to recollect, one month under Captain Isaac
Brookfield, at least 3 months under Captain Isaac Gillam, one
Page 9

month under Captain Isaac Smith, at least two months under Captain Elijah Squier, one month under Captain Thomas Williams and one month under Captain Robert Nichols, and at least six monthly tours of duty under Captain Isaac Reeves 1/2 month under Captain John Brown of Belleville and three months under Captains Josiah Pierson & Matthias Lyon as hereinafter mentioned.  That while under Captain Brookfield in the month of June an alarm was spread thro' the County that the British were landing on Staten Island, he marched with said Company to Elizabeth Town Point, which is opposite, where they lay at least one month, they threw up breastworks and prepared the Point as well as possible to prevent the crossing of the enemy.  Col. Spencer of Elizabeth Town commanded the Militia while applicant was there.  That on the first of January 1777 he enlisted in the three months militia under Captain Josiah Pierson who soon after broke his ankle, & were then commanded by Captain Matthias Lyon, Lieutenants David Little & Joseph Banks, & marched to the lines in Middlesex County where they were on duty three months  I were discharged the first of April following.  Major Hayes, commanded the Battalion, and James Hedden of Newark was sergeant major, and were sometimes commanded by Col. Spencer & Potter.
That during this time they had a skirmish at Tappan's Woods about one mile from Bones Town Fort (British) which last half a day, at Prospect Hill, at Strawberry Hill; at Bland (?) & at Woodbridge, all in said County of Middlesex.  That they had frequent skirmishes with the enemy who used to some out in numbers into the country for forage.  That while under Captain Reeves this applicant was at the battle of burning of Connecticut Ferry & followed the British back to Elizabeth Town.  That he was also in the Battle of Springfield under said Captain and was in the skirmishes with the enemy on their retreat to Elizabeth Town from said Battle.  That while under said Captain this applicant assisted with many others in taking about seventy of a Party of the enemy who were sent with orders to follow Captain Little of this county until they overtook him.  While a few light horses the enemy fled.  That this applicant & party followed directly on to Elizabeth Town Point where they took three boats loaded with blankets and linen, belonging to the British.  This appicant was also out under Genl. Frelingberger when the Refugees who fled to the British came out to Elizabeth Town, and that he verily believes that he did more than two years active duty during said war.  He has no documentary evidence and he
knows on no persons whom [? too dark ]
Page 12

Personally came before me Abner Ball, one of the  Judges of the ?
in & for the County of Essex & State of New Jersey. Aaron Burnet
of said County who deposeth & saith that at the commencement
of the revolutionary war Eleazer Luker was enroll? in 
the same company the deponent belonged to commanded by
Cap'n Isaac Reeve and did military duty in said cmpany
and that he saw eleazer Luker listed in the 3 months service
of militia under Cap'n Josiah Pierson in which company
deponent served to gaurd [sic] the lines - also that the said Luker served three months under Cap'n Sam'l Crowell
in the wagon service with team in a company of teams
to take provisions from Trenton to Kings ferry and
that the deponent has perfect knowledge of said Luker doing military duty at New ark and other places during the war.

Aaron Burnet [signature]

Taken before me this}
25th June 1832}
Abner Ball ?
Page 13

New Jersey}
Essex County } ss.

Be it remembered that on the 18th of Sep
1832 personally appeared in open court before the
Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas now sitting
Timothy Meeker of the Township of Newark aged eighty
who being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith
that he is well acquainted with Eleazer Looker the above 
applicant & has known him for many years that he
knew him at the times of the Revolution and knows that
said applicant did duty for the time he above mentions
under Captain Joseph Meeker - that he knows that
said applicant volunteered with Capt Crowell with
his teams as he has above stated that he has read
the above declaration of the applicant and believe the
same to be correct from this deponent's knowledge
of his services at the time that he always did his
regular tours of duty and verily believes that said
applicant did more than two years of active duty during
said war. & he knows of his enlisting of the 3 months service
under Capt Josiah Pierson as he has above stated -

Subscribed & Sworn }       
the day & year aforesaid}

Timothy [his X mark] Meeker

Saml B Miller Judge

Showing from page beneath

Nichols: six months under Capt'n Isaac Reeves 1/2 month

 Saml B Miller Judge
Page 16

under Capt'n John Brown all of the County of Essex aforesaid
making in all two years, three months and fifteen days
as above enumerated & the officers therein specified: besides at
least seven months performed during said war as well
under some of the officers above specified as during alarms 
when all turned out & which by reason of his old age & consequent
loss of memory he cannot at this time specify or 
particularise the same more particularly that he has set forth the
same in his declaration hereto annexed: that during said 
service he was not employed in any civil pursuit that the 
same was faithfully & truly prepared & for the said terms of
two years, three months & fifteen days at least, he claims
a pension. 
To the 5th he answers that he had in the
reply to the interrogatory next above written mentioned the names 
of the Captains under whom he served so far as he can recollect them
that he served under Lord Sterling of the Continental Army.
Major Hayes: Col Van Cortland: Col. Spencer: Col. Bott, Gen'l
Wines & Gen'l Dickerson of the Militia & he recollects serving Gen'ls
Washington, Putnam & Maxwell during the war on duty or
attending to the same & for the general circumstances of his service
 he refers to the particulars of his declaration hereunto annexed.
To the 6th he answers that he never received a written discharge
only by word of mouth of his commanding officer.
To the 7th he answers that he refers to the Rev'd Isaac C.
Goff, Joseph W. Camp Esq'r formerly High Sheriff of the
County of Essex: to Dr. John Condit of Orange: Aaron Brown
Esq'r , Daniel Squier: Stephen D. Day Esq'r: all of the same place
& to all or any of the inhabitants of the Township of Orange to whom
he is generally known: Abraham Reynolds Esq'r of Paterson: Abner
Ball Esq'r of Livingston & James Hedden Esq'r of Newark & Honorable
Silas Condit of the latter place, to whom he is known; the latter in
particular from his boyhood. 

Sworn & subscribed this 3rd}
of June 1833 before me}
S R Grover Justice of the Peace}

Eleazer [his X mark} Looker

And I certify that it appears that
the Court of Common Pleas of Essex County has already certified
to the character of Aaron Burnet & Timothy Meeker whose
affidavits are to the declaration hereunto annexed.
S R Grover Justice of the Peace
Page 17

State of New Jersey}
County of Essex}  ss.

I, Elias Van Arsdale Junior Clerk of the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for Said
County of Essex do hereby certify That Samuel B. Miller Esq. before
whom the Several affidavits hereto annexed were made and taken
was at the time of taking the same one of the Judges of Said Court
duly commissioned & sworn & residing in said County, and that the
signatures "Saml B Miller" affixed thereto are
genuine. I further certify that Stephen R Grover
before whom the annexed affidavit of Eleazer Looker
was made and taken was when the said affidavit
 was made & taken as aforesaid, a Justice of
the peace for said County residing therein duly
commissioned and Sworn, and that the signatures
"S R Grover" affixed to the same & the
certificate thereunder written is the proper hand writing of said 
Justice. In Witness Thereof I have hereto set my hand and
the seal of said Court at Newark the Twelfth day of June
AD Eighteen hundred and thirty three- [1833].

E Van Arsdale Jr Clk
Page 18

Rev War

INVALID.

File No. 891
Eleazer Looker
Prv. N. J. Line

Act: June 7, 1832
Index:- Vol. A, Page 226

[Arrangement of 1870]