Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 728, Nicholas Belleville, Continental (French)
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(3-1776)
Service Continental (French)
Belleville, Nicholas Ann
Number R728
Contents
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State of New Jersey Mercer County S.S.
On this thirty first day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty four personally appeared before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas now holden at Notting ham in and for said county, Annie B. Clark of the city of Trenton, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Acts of Congress, passed June 7, 1839 and July 7, 1838 so far as relates to the service of her grandfather Doctor Nicholas Belleville, late of the City of Trenton, a surgeon in the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War. That the said Doctor Nicholas Belleville, as she had often heard and believed, came to the United States in the early part of the year 1777 from France, with Count Pulaske, and being attached to the family of the Count as Physician, that immediately on his arrival, after joining the army he was commissioned a surgeon in the army of the United States by Surgeon General Shipper- that before the close of the Revolution he left the Army, located himself in the city of Trenton as a Physician, where he continued until his death. That he left a widow, Ann Belleville, and one child, viz: Mary Clark, who died before her mother. That Ann Belleville departed this life on the twenty eighth day of June eighteen hundred and thirty seven leaving four grand-
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children surviving viz. Susan E. Hunt, Israel Clark, Annie B Clark, (this declarant) and Nicholas B Clark, who claim the pension due their grandfather, Surgeon Nicholas Belleville in the Revolution (whose service she is unable to specify) as to length of time/ from the 4th day of Mach 1831, to the 18th day of December 1831- and under the Act of July 7, 1838 in behalf of Ann Belleville the widow of her said grandfather from the 4th day of March 1836 to the 28th day of June 1837. She further declares that her grandfather and grandmother Nicholas and Ann Belleville were married on the day of January seventeen hundred and eighty. That Nicholas Belleville died on the 18th day of December 1831, and Ann Belleville his widow died on the 28th day of June 1837, which dates are written in full above. That she was not married to the said Nicholas Belleville prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz: at the time above stated Annie B Clarke
Sworn to and subscribed in open court on the day and year above written
Chas. Burroughs Judge
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State of New Jersey
Sussex County
On this 4th day of January 1845 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Doctor James T Clarke of the City of Trenton known to me as a person of the highest credibility, in the fifty seventh year of his age who being duly sworn according to [illegible] on his oath smith that he was well acquainted with Dr. Nicholas Belleville late of the City of Trenton despondent married his daughter Mary in the year 1809. And practiced medicine with the said Dr. Belleville for some time, and has often heard his said father in law speak of his arrival in this Country[illegible] in the year 1777 with Count Pulaski from France to [illegible] the Americans in their struggle for freedom.  Soon after his arrival he was Commissioned a Surgeon in the army of the United States which commission despondent has often seen and read it was dated 1777 at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania and signed by Surgeon General Shippen of the American army, he has not seen the said commission since the death of his said father in law, it being kept with many other important papers among which were high testimonials of his profession of Surgery from the Paris School of distinguished [illegible], all of which appear are lost or destroyed, having made diligent search for some years for the same. Despondent is unable to specify how long his father in law was in the [illegible] and Hospital department of the United States believed he had [illegible] the latter when he came [illegible] when he married Ann [illegible] of this City in the early part of 1780 when he permanently settled himself in the practice of medicine in this city.  He died on the Eighteenth day of December Eighteen hundred and thirty one leaving Ann Belleville his widow and one child [illegible] Marty Clarke deponents wife, the said widow Ann Belleville died on the twenty Eighth day of June Eighteen hundred and thirty seven. Deponents wife died before her mother
1.
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Leaving four children, all of whom are still surviving namely Susan E. Hunt, Annie B. Clarke, Israel Clarke and Nicholas B Clarke, all of lawful age
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year above written Before me - words “in” and” hundred” being interlined before execution

James T. Clarke
Sam Evans, Justice of the Peace
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Know all men by these presents that we Nicholas Belleville and Robert Burchan both of the state of New Jersey are held and firmly bound unto this His Excellency William Livingston Esqr. Governor and Commander in Chief of New Jersey in the sum of five hundred pounds current lawful money of New Jersey to be paid to the said William Livingston Esqr Governor to ye his successors or assignes, for which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs, executors and administratos and obey of them, jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, dated the tenth day of January Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and eighty.
The condition of this obligation is such that where as there is a mutual contract of marriage between the said Nicholas Bellville of the one party and Anne Britton of the other party, and the parties have complied with the terms prescribed in an [illegible] of the General Assembly of New Jersey made in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and nineteen entitled "An Act to prevent clandestine marriages. Not if it shall hereafter appear that the certificates produced or either of them have been fraudulent, or that either the aforesaid Nicholas Belleville or the aforesaid Ann Britton had not the consent of their parents, guardians or persons under whose care they were signing the said certificate or that the said Nicholas Belleville
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or the said Ann Britton or either of them had some lawful set or impediment of [illegible] affinity or [illegible] to hinder their being joined in the holy bands of matrimony and afterwards or living together as man and wife; then this obligation to stand and remain in full force and virtue, otherwise to be void and none effect:
Nicholas Belleville (Ss)
Robt Burchan (Ss)
Stated and delivered in the presence of

State of New Jersey I Charles McChesney Secretary of State of the state of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the marriage bond of Nicholas Belleville as taken from and compared with the original now on file in my office. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand a affixed my seal of office at Trenton in said state this fourth day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty five
Charles McChesney
Secy of State
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Nicholas Belleville R. 728 BA-J/MLB
Honorable Wilburn Cartwright House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Cartwright: Reference is made to your letter in which you request for one of your constituents, formerly Golden Belville, the Revolutionary War and pre-Revolutionary War records of John, Nicholas and Philip Belville, and of Nicholas Jacques Emanuel de Belleville (French), Surgeon in Pulaski's Legion, also information in regard to Pulaski's Legion.
The Veterans Administration has no record of services rendered in the Colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, hence, no record of colonial service rendered by the individuals named above.
The Revolutionary War records have been searched and no claim or pension or bounty land found based upon service in that war of a John or Philip Belville. The record of one Nicholas, only, has been found, which is that of the surgeon cited in your letter. His name is shown only as Nicholas Belleville, however. His record is given herein as found in pension claim, R. 728, based upon his service in the Revolutionary war.
The date and place of birth of Nicholas Belleville and names of his parents were not stated. He came to America from France early in 1777 as private physician to the family of Count Pulaski with whom he came, and immediately upon his arrival, was commissioned Surgeon in the United States Army by Surgeon General Shippen at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and served until early in 1780 when he left the army to practice medicine with one Dr. Bryant in Trenton, New Jersey. Dr. Nicholas Belleville died in Trenton, December 18, 1831.
Nicholas Belleville married in Trenton, New Jersey, in January, 1780, Miss Ann or Anne Britton, a resident of Trenton. Their marriage bond dated January 10, 1780, was signed by Nicholas Belleville and
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one Robert Burcham )(no relationship shown between them) and filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of New Jersey, at Trenton. The date and place of birth of Ann Britton and names of her parents were not given. Ann Belleville died June 28, 1837.
Mary Belleville, daughter of Nicholas and Ann Belleville, married in 1809, Dr. James T. Clarke who practiced medicine with Ann's father for some time. Mary Clarke died before the death of her mother, Ann, and left four children, namely: Susan E. Hunt; Israel Clarke; Annie B. Clarke and Nicholas B. Clarke.
December 31, 1844, Annie B. Clarke, while living in Trenton, New Jersey, age not stated, applied for pension which might have been due on account of the service of her grandfather, Nicholas Belleville, in the Revolutionary War. She applied in behalf of herself and her brothers and sister named above, all of whom were then still living. The claim for pension was never completed. Dr. James T. Clarke, father of Nicholas Belleville's grandchildren, was living in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1845, aged fifty-six years.
For interesting information in regard to Count Pulaski, it is suggested that you consult B.J. Lossing's "Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution" which, of course, is on the shelves of the Congressional Library.
Very turly yours
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
2
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1922, Aug. 24 hist.(?)
h- Mrs. Josephine Law. Esq.
1922 Oct 6 -Mrs. J. A. Raskers (2) Es.
1939, June 29 hist(?) to Hon. Mathew
Cartwright _KB(?)

INVALID 28
Ann Bellville
P.O. Window of Nicholas Bellville
Service: _
Enlisted: _, 18_.
Discharged: _, 18_.
Application filed: _,18_.

(Crossed out)
Alleges: List of suspended claims 
in 1852 shows cause of suspicions
"Not on the rolls, no proof of service" E.

(Very faded)
This is (faded), see service (faded)
Attorney: (faded)
P.O. Resister 191
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V 1403
Ann Belleville
Dec.
128 N.J.
Act July 4. 36
2 Section
(The rest is crossed out)
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Sen. Chamber
21 May '46

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com.
I respectfully submit the Enclosed affidavit of Mrs. Mary Yard in behalf of the claim of the heirs of Do al. Nichs. Belleville decd. late of Trenton, N. J.
The affidavits of Doctors Coleman & Clarke, two gentlemen of the very highest standing, that they saw Doct. Bellevilles Commission - That of Mrs. Yard, which shows actual service in connection with the other matter stated in the papers - The fact that the records of the office were destroyed by fire, seems to me to present a strong case.
Permit me respectfully to ask for the case a careful reconsideration -
Respectfully
Your obt. servt.
Wm. L. Dayton.
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Phil Dickinson
March 29 '46
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Pension Office
Mar 19 '45

Sir

The papers in the case of Nicholas
Belleville and Ann Belleville  (dec) claiming
a pension under the act of July 4th '36
have been examined
and filed (Nicholas Belleville died Dec
18th 31) [in parentheses was marked through] The proof of the date of the marriage is satisfactory but there is no
Evidence whatever of the alleged service and as stated
Nicholas Belleville served for several years
in the medical Depart and his commission or letter of 
appointment be lost, there must remain some
record evidence of the fact, which should be
laid before this office. The part of the service
the widow will be entitled to a pension from
March 4th 31 until the 18th Dec of the same year
under the 2d Sec of the Act of 36
The rolls of Pulaski's Legion for 78-79 shew that
Texier was Surgeon & Sum Surgeon's mate
Phil. Dickenson
Trenton N J
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Hon. W. L. Dayton
25 May 1846
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Pension Office
May 25, 1846
Sir

I have the honor to inform you that the
testimony of Mary Yard in the case of
Ann Bellville decd is not admissible evidence
of the rank or, of the services of her husband
Nicholas Belleville as Surgeon to Pulaski
Legion.

The Rolls of that Legion (for 1778 and 79) discredit
this service for these years, and unless the claim
can be sustained by record evidence of the highest
Character it cannot be admitted.

Wm L. Dayton
Senate U. States.
---
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Hon. Peter Hagner
3d. Auditor-
Washington

June 15, 1845
Col. D. Belleville, Dec'd.

Trenton N.J. 11 Jan'y. 45
Phil'n Dickinson
 claims of heirs of Dr. Nich's. Belleville for pes'n. - 
Rec'd. 13 Jan'y '45

Resp'y referred to Commissioner of Pensions
Third Auditor's Office
13 Jan'y '45
P. H.
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Trenton Jany 11th 1845
Dear Sir

I take the liberty to enclose to you
herewith the necessary documents, to support the
claim for a pension, on behalf of some of the
grandchildren of the late Dr Belleville of this city.
with the request that you will lay them before
the Commissioner of Pensions, with such
representations as will secure an early
consideration of the case

I am induced thus to trouble you
from the circumstance of having often heard
your name mentioned by my late father, and
the family of my grandfather Mr Samuel Meridith:
and consequently suppose that you must
in some measure, when you may have visited
Trenton in former years,
become acquainted with
the character of Dr Nicholas Belleville
and may therefore feel more than an ordinary
disposition to assist the present claim
of his grand children

your attention to this matter will confer a favor on
Very Respectfully
your ob. Servant
Phil Dickinson
P. Hagner Esq (over)
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P.S. It has just occurred to me that probably the files of your office may throw some light on this claim - as his original papers are destroyed and no direct evidence can be found of the length of D. B Service.
P.D.
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Declaration of Annie B Clarke
for services of Surgeon Nic's Belleville 
and for Anne Belleville under the 
acts of June 7, 1832 & July 7, 1838

Dec'r made Dec 31st '44 & filed Jan 7 16th '45.
m. Jan 7 '80
L.D. Decr 18th '31
w.d June 28 '37
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6403
Ann Belleville dec'd
N.Y.
Act of July 36
2nd Section
clamnt died in 1837
husband died in Dec 31
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State of New Jersey
[outline and filled in version of a seal]

I Charles G. McChesney Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Charles Burroughs Esqre before whom the Declaration of Annie B. Clarke was taken was at the time of the doing thereof one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for Mercer County that Samuel Evans Esqre before whom the affidavits of Doctors James T Clarke and James B Coleman were taken made at the time of the doing thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid both duly appointed Commissioned and Sworn, that full faith and credit were to be given to their official attestations, and the Signatures thereto, are in the proper handwriting of the Said Charles Burroughs and Samuel Evans Esqres

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of office at the City of Trenton in Said State this Eleventh day of January AD Eighteen hundred & forty five
Charles G. McvChesney
Secy of State
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County ss

On the 11th day of January 1843 before te Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared James B. Coleman M.D of the City of Trenton in the 37th year of his age. A person of credibility and truth who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith: That he was well acquainted with Dr. Nicholas Belleville late of the City of Trenton, and was a student of his for three years; deponent often heard him state that he came to America with Count Pulaski, as his private physician, that he was about one year and a half attached to the Continental army as Surgeon, that he came to Trenton on some business connected with said army n his professional capacity, that about the time of his marriage in this City he entered into the practice of medicine with Dr. Bryant; and that at that time, deponent believes hi left the Service. Deponent often saw his certificates of his professional acquirements as a Surgeon by the Professin Paris. His qualifications as a Surgeon must have been at that day of the highest order ans from his high Character as a Surgeon and gentleman, he must have performed much service in the Army.
Sworn & Subscribed the day and year above mentioned before me
[signature] James B. Coleman
[signature] Saml Evans, Justice of the Peace
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State of New Jersey, Mercer County, City of Trenton ss
Be it known that on the 15th day of May 1846 before the subscribed Mayor of the City of Trenton, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas personally appeared Mary Yard of said city in the ninetieth (90) year of her age, of the highest credibility, to me personally known who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath say, That she has always been a resident of the City of Trenton, and well recollects that Sometime in the year 1779 a part of the continental army were quartered in said city. Deponent well recollects Surgeon Nicholas Belleville came with the said army and was attached to the Hospital Department which was located in the Stone Building called "White Hall" deponent resided between said Hospital and the house of Dr. Bryant where Surgeon Belleville quartered, and saw him daily going to and from said Hospital some time in the year 1780 (having married Miss Ann Britton) the army left the City of Trenton, at which time Doctor Belleville located himself in this city and Practiced as a Physician and Surgeon till the time of his death. She well remembers he came with the army, was called their Surgeon and continued to attend at the Hospital so long as the army remained in this place.

Sworn and Subscribed the day and year above mentioned.
[signature] Mary Yard
[signature] Chas. Burroughs
Judge
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State of New Jersey
I Charles G. McChesney Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Charles Burroughs Esq before whom the within affidavit of Mary Yard was made and taken was at the time of the doing thereof a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Mercer in said State duly appointed commissioned and sworn that full faith and credit are to be given to his official attestation, and that the Signature thereto is in the proper handwriting of the said Charles Burroughs.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set m hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Trenton this sixteenth day of May AD one thousand eight hundred and forty six.
[signature] Charles G. McChesney
Sec of State
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Shullsburg, Wisc. Sept. 3, 1922.
Will you kindly send me a copy of the Revolutionary War Pension application of Dr. Nicholas Jacques Emanuel de Belleville, sometimes spelled Belleville, of Trenton, N. J.
A memorandum from the Department of the Interior refers to his pension claim as "Claim R., File No. 728."
Very truly yours
Mrs. J. A. Riskers
Riskers - arr

[stamped]
U S PENSION OFFICE
O
SEP 8 1922
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Rev

Shullsburg,Wisconsn,July 19, 1922.

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly tell me if you have any pension record of Revolutionary War service of Nicholas Jacques Emanuel de Belleville who served in that War form 1777 to 1780, and died in Trenton,N.J. in 1831. His wife was Nancy Britton. They had a daughter, Mary, who married Dr. James Clark. If you have any record I would be glad to get a copy of his pension application.
I would also like a copy of the pansion [sic] application, if there is one, of JESSE WELDon, born in Salisbury, Conn. moved to Vermont where he was living in 1790 at St. Albans. His wife was RUTH. His children were Ruth Calkins, Marian, Lora, Lois, Jonathan, Daniel, Abigail Meacham.

Thanking you for the favor, I am,
very truly yours
(Mrs.) Josephine Law
[signature] Josephine Law

[hand written note]
see Heitman
p. 191 for this mans service
This claim should never have been rejected
AW

[stamped
US PENSION OFFICE
F
JUL 24 1922
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EW
Rev. War Section

August 24, 1822

Mr. Josephine Law,
Shullsburg, Wisconsin.

Madam:
In response to your letter dated July 19, 1922, you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. File No. 728, it appears that Doctor Nicholas Belleville came from France early in 1777 with Count Pulaski, and immediately after his arrival, in 1777 at Valley Forge, he was commissioned Surgeon in the Army of the United States, by Surgeon General Shippen. He left the army about 1780, and located as a physician in Trenton, New Jersey, where he continued until his death on December 18, 1831.

He married in January 1780 Miss Ann, or Anne, Britton, and she died June 28, 1837.

Their daughter Mary married in 1809, Doctor James T. Clarke, who was living in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1845, aged 56 years. Said Mary died, date not stated, prior to the death of her mother. They had surviving in 1845 four children; Susan E. Hung, Israel Clarke, Nicholas B. Clarke and Annie B. Clarke.
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Said Annie B. Clarke, a resident of Trenton, applied December 31, 844, for the pension that might have been due to herself and brothers and sister, on account of her grandfather's services in the Revolution, [but did not complete her claim.] [hand written note re the part in brackets] The claim for pension was never completed.

There are no further data on file as to family.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.
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WILBURN CARTWRIGHT                 CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON:
3D DIST. OKLAHOMA                     ROADS
MARION UPSHAW                          VICE CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON:
SECRETARY                                      INDIAN AFFAIRS
GOLDEN FREEMAN                         MEMBER COMMITTEE ON:
CLERK                                              INSULAR AFFAIRS 

SEVENTY-SIXTH
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C.

June 22, 1939

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.

RE:  Belville or Belleville

Gentlemen:
One of my constituents, formerly Golden Belville, is seeking Revolutionary War information on her family and would appreciate receiving any information you might furnish on the following parties:

John Belville, age 18, born Delaware, April 26, a tailor
Nicholas Belville, age 35, N. Y., April 29, weaver
Philip Belville, age 19, born Delaware, April 25, a tailor.
Nicholas Jacques Emanuel de Belleville France ) Surgeon
Pulaski Legion, 1777-1780.

Information regarding the first three mentioned was found in
the Library of Congress Pennsylvania Muster Rolls - 1744 - 65 - Navy 1776 - 79, etc. 5th series E.263 P4M7 (1906 ) entitled " A return of the recruits raised by Capt. Benjamin Noxon, 1758. " Any further information concerning these parties service record in the Pennsylvania Muster Rolls or possibly the Revolutionary War will be appreciated.

Regarding the last mentioned ( France) please advise any information your records may show as to residence in this country, place of death, etc. including any record shown of names of his parents or children.  The same information is desired concerning the first three mentioned and suggestions as to where further records may possibly be found will be appreciated. Also, suggestions regarding information on the Count Pulaski Legion, origination, etc. will be welcome.

Very sincerely,
Wilburn Cartwright.