Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3998, for Benjamin Sturgis, New Jersey
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(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey / Penn. | Sturges, Benjamin | S.3998

carded
CONTENTS
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17,616
New Jersey
Benjamin Sturges of Morris in the State of N.J, who was a Pri(vate) in the com(pany) commanded by Captain (blank) of the Reg(iment) commanded by Col. Spencer in the  Militia [crossed out: line for] & Waggoner; 2 years.

Pa. and N.J. Line records corrected Mar. 24, '04.

Inscribed on the Roll of N.J. at the rate of 80 Dollars (blank) Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Aug. 1833 and sent [to] L. Condict, Morriston [N.J.]

Arrears to the 4th of March '32...........$160
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep. 4, ['32]....40
                                          ====
                                          $200

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by E.D. Bullock, Clerk.
Book E; Vol. 3; Page 131
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No. 2,837
Benjamin Sturges

2 years Waggoner & Private
$80

L. Condict
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DECLARATION, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS, PASSED JUNE 7, 1832.

State of New Jersey
County of Morris//

Morris Com(mon) Pleas. August Term (Special) 1832.

On this 20th day of August 1832, personally appeared, in open court, before the Judges of the Inferior [crossed out: the] court of Common Pleas now sitting Benjamin Sturges, a resident of (blank), in the County of Morris and State of New-Jersey, aged Seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.

That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1778, on the 16th day of May as a Waggoner, in the Quarter Master Department, with Capt. Ezekiel Gilderslive for the term of one year, and served in the Pennsylvania line under the [crossed out: following named officers] said Ezekiel Gilderslive for a period of about one month in the Pennsylvania line when he was transferred to the 5th Regiment of the Jersey line commanded by Colonel Oliver Spencer & continued to serve in said regiment as aforesaid more than eleven months, when he was regularly discharged by Colonel Spencer at Minisink on or near the River Delaware in the State of New Jersey; his time of enlistment & during which he was bound to military service having expired. A certificate of his enlistment by said Gilderslive is annexed to this declaration, & though worn & somewhat defaced, is yet in some degree legible. He refers to it & to a deposition of Pierson Green, formerly belonging to Col. Spencer's Regiment, also accompanying this declaration as proof of his enlistment & service as aforesaid. He is the same Benjamin Sturges to whom the aforesaid Certificate of Enlistment was originally given by Capt. Gilderslive & has had the same in his possession since it was issued, except during a short time when it was in the Pension Bureau of the War Department, in support of a claim made by this deponent for a pension under the Act of Congress of March 18th 1818 & which was rejected as inadmissible. The aforesaid declaration or claim for a pension was dated on or about the 6th May 1818.

This deponent further states that beside his enlistment & service in the Quartermaster's Department as Wagoner in the Continental Establishment, he performed several tours of Militia Service as a Common Militiaman, carrying his musket & was in several skirmishes & engagements with the enemy. His first tour of militia duty was early in [crossed out: the] summer of 1776, as he thinks, & probably was among the first calls which were made for militia service. Captain Benoni Hathaway, afterward Colonel, commanded him. He was stationed at Bergen, near New York City, guarding the lines & protecting the inhabitants from incursions of the enemy. From harvest time in 1776 to November 1777, he was out, as he believes, on tours of militia duty every alternate month, altho(ugh) he cannot specify all the place of service nor the...
Page 5

...names of all the captain who commanded him. He was stationed at Elizabeth Town Point on several of these monthly tours in tents & once was stationed in a house in the town near to the dwelling house of Col. Elias Dayton. He was on fatigue duty much of this time & assisted in throwing up a fort or breastwork across the neck of land in the neighborhood of what was then called D'Harts Point. The enemy was then in possession of New York & Staten Island & the militia of the neighboring County was employed in guarding the lines & landing places along the Jersey Shore & protecting the inhabitants from landing parties of the enemy. On these tours of duty, he was under command of Captain John Lindsly of Morris Township. Captain Peter Layton of Long Hill, Captain Hathaway, Col. Benjamin Carter of Bottle Hill at different times & sometimes more than [illegible] under the same captain at different tours. Was stationed one tour at Connecticut Farms under James Brookfield, lieut(enant) commanding Capt Dickenson's Company. Was ordered on another tour to Red Bank on the Delaware [River] under Capt. Dan'l Brown, afterward major. Marched to a little below Haddonfield & there understood that the enemy had command of the river. Spent the month at Haddonfield or scouting parties & reconnoitering the country & returned home. He was stationed, on one or two tours of duty, at Hackensack, Acquackanonk & Wardsesson, now Bloomfield, & was personally engaged in a skirmish or fight with the enemy at that place, in which one of his comrades, Josiah Burnet was shot in the foot & crippled for life. John Lindsly, Jun(ior), a son of his capt(ain) also rec(eived) & flesh wound in the thigh. He was also very often called out upon sudden alarms at different places, the dates he cannot tell nor the names of the officers. One of these alarms was when Springfield was burnt in 1780, as believes, & probably Captain Brown commanded the company. Another alarm was when Connecticut Farms was burnt.

Late in [crossed out: December] November or early in December 1777, he enlisted in the 3 months service in Capt. Josiah Hall's Company. He served out his 3 months, was discharged & returned home. During those 3 months, he was stationed on the lines near Woodbridge & Rahway, upon guard duty, the enemy then lying at Amboy & New Brunswick in great force & after sending out scouts & strong foraging parties. Had several severe skirmishes with them this winter one at Ash swamp; one at Woodbridge; one at Short Hills; one at Carmans Hill; in most of which considerable blood was shed. Major Hay, or Hays, of Newark acted as Adjutant; was an excellent officer & was commonly called "Old Bask Knight" from the shape of his sword. Was a little while at Quibble Town. Col. Potter & Col. Lindsly were both present in this 3 months service & probably [Col.] Potter had command. At the skirmish of Ash Swamp, one Jacob Little was killed & Jona(than) Hayward & Stephen Leonard badly wounded.

He was out a great portion of the time from the beginning to the end of the war & always in readiness when called. Beside his Waggon Services of one year, he verily believes he served upon militia duty the full period of fifteen months, for which he claims the bounty of his country. He served with & remembers Col(onel)s Spencer, Seely, Ford, Lindsly & Bott; with Gen(era)ls Winds, Williamson, Dickinson & others. He was born in Morris Township (now Chatham) on the 23rd of August 1757, agreeably to a record in his Family Bible; lived there when he first entered the service & still lives there. Never rec(eive)d a written discharge...
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...He is well known to Doctor Lewis Condict & to William Brittin, who have known him many years & to them he refers as well for his general character, for veracity, as for the general belief of his being a Revolutionary Soldier.

His old associates in the service are all removed or dead, as far as he recollects, & there is not a living witness of his militia duties in existence, to his knowledge.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, [crossed out: is only on that of the Agency of the State of New Jersey.]
s/ Benjamin Sturges

Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Stephen Vail

We, Lewis Condict, & William Brittin, Esq., residing in the County of Morris, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Sturges, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy five years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
s/ Lewis Condict
s/ William Brittin

Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Stephen Vail

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. 
s/ Stephen Vail

I, David Day, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Sturges for a pension.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this Twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
s/ David Day, Clerk
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Benjamin Sturges, the within declarant, has been personally well known to me for 30 years past & is admitted by all who know him to be an honorable & industrious man & fully entitled to belief. I have myself, perfect confidence in the truth of the facts stated in his declaration.
s/ Lewis Condict, one of the Representatives from N.J.
Morristown, N.J., August 20th 1832.
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No. 2,837
Benj(amin) Sturges, New Jersey.
Susp(ended) Nov. 27, 1832.
Oby. 5.

To be reported to Ho. L. Condict on his arrival.
P-115.
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BRIEF in the case of Benjamin Sturges of Morris County in the State of New Jersey.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court.
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? (blank)
3. How old is he? 75 [years].
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. | Duration of Service. (Years/Months/Days) | Rank. As a: | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. (Gen.)
In 1778 | 1 | (blank) | (blank) | Waggoner | Col(onel)s Seely, Spencer, Ford. |
In 1777 | (blank) | 3 | (blank) | Private | Capt. Hall; Capt. Lindsly; Capts. Layton & Carter. |

In addition to his service as a Waggoner, he believes he served the full time of 15 months.

5. In what battles was he engaged? Skirmishes.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Morris, now Chatham, New Jersey.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective. Different tours of duty not stated. Applied for a pension in May 1818.

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
s/ J. Mahan, Examining Clerk.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.

Jan. 21, 1926.

Mrs. W.A.H. McIlvaine,
30 S. Wade St.
Washington, Penn.

Madam:

I have to advise you, that if you wish photostat copies of the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.3998 of Benjamin Sturgis, the same will be furnished at the rate of fifteen cents a page, with twenty-five cents extra for certification if that is desired. The number of pages to be copied is ten.

The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.

This Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution, unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services and a careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the services of Nathan, Joseph and Daniel Sturgis of New Jersey. (Sturges, Sturgess and Sturgise also searched). The volume quoted by you, compiled under orders of the Governor of New Jersey, by William S. Stryker Adjutant General of that State, is the Official Register of the officers and men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary...
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...War, see title page.

Such military records of the Revolution as are in the possession of the United States are in the custody of the Adjutant General, U.S.A. War Department, Washington, D.C.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.
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This is certify, that (blank) hath enlisted himself as a Waggoner or Team-Driver in the Army of the united STATES, to serve for one year unless [illegible] discharged. In Consideration whereof he is to receive Pay at the Rate of Ten Pounds per Month, and one Ration per Day. And in Case the said Benjamin Sturgis shall produce a Certificate from the Waggon-Master General of his good Behaviour after six Months Service, he shall receive a Suit of Cloaths by way of Bounty, provided his Enlistment [illegible].

IN WITNESS whereof the said Benjamin Sturgis and Ezekiel Gilderslive, who is impowered to enlist Waggoners, have hereunto interchangeably set their Hands this Tenth Day of May in 1778.
s/ Ezekiel Gilderslive
s/ Benjamin Sturgis
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MRS. W.A.H. McILVAINE
30 SOUTH WADE AVENUE
WASHINGTON, PA.

Jan. 18, 1926.

Mr. Winfield Scott,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

In re: Rev. & 1812 Wars Sections

Dear Sir:

I am in receipt of your favor of the 15th instant in which you state that your Revolutionary War Records fail to afford any information in regard to Nathan, Joseph and Daniel Sturgis of New Jersey. I presume from that they do not appear in any manner whatsoever in your records. In this correct? Since according to "Stryker's Jerseymen" they did serve in that war, where, or rather, in what department will I find them listed? Evidently they were not pensioners, since you do not have them. Would they be listed anywhere as soldiers only?

In your letter you state that you have the record of Benjamin Sturgis, as pensioner S.3998, who was born August 23, 1757, in Morris County, N.J. and lived
there when he enlisted and in 1832. Kindly send me at your earliest convenience a photostatic copy of his record, advising me of the cost and I shall remit immediately. I fail to remember your charge for this kind of a copy or I would send my check in this letter.

Your very prompt attention to this will be greatly appreciated.

Truly yours,
s/ (Mrs. W.A.H.) Florence S. McIlvaine
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OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER
JAN 20 1926
U.S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS
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3998
Rev(olutionary) War
INVALID.
File No. 3998
Benjamin Sturgis
Pri(vate), Rev(olutionary) War
Act: June 7, 1838
Index: -; Vol. A; Page 356
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 16

Mar. 6, 1896
Soldier pensioned to Theo. M. Banks, New York City.
1926 Jan. 15 - Mrs. W.A.H. McIlvaine, 30 S. Wade Av., Wash. Pa., given date of birth & rec(ord). See cor(respondence) in Jedidiah Sturgis, S.3994.
1926 Feb. 5 - Photos mailed to Mrs. McIlvanie. A.W.
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MRS. W.A.H. McILVAINE
30 SOUTH WADE AVENUE
WASHINGTON, PA.

Jan. 23, 1926.

Mr. Winfield Scott,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Enclosed please find money order in the amount of $1.75, drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior, this being in payment of a photostatic copy of the Revolutionary War pension claim of Benjamin Sturgis, claim S.3998, he having served with the New Jersey troops. Your favor of the 21st instant advises me that the number of pages to be copied in the above case is ten and this at the rate of fifteen cents a page, with certification costing twenty-five cents will amount to the amount of my money order enclosed.

Kindly send this copy at your earliest convenience and oblige.

Truly yours,

s/ (Mrs. W.A.H.) Florence S. McIlvaine
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OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER
JAN 25 1926
U.S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS
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3-2233 | 113
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division

Jan. 26, 1926
Chief Rev(olutionary War) Sect(ion) [crossed out: Division]
I have this day received from Mrs. Florence S. McIlvaine (Mrs. W.A.H.) m(oney) o(rder) No. (blank) for $1.75, requesting photostat copy [crossed out: post office addresses] as per letter herewith. OK & clp.

1926 Feb. 5 - Photos mailed & Finance Div(ision) notif(ied). A.W.

O.J. RANDALL
Chief Finance Division.
H.C.L.
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Request for Photostating | 3-2006 | Ex. A.W.
(To be prepared in duplicate.)

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK
Job No. 2970 | Date Jan. 30, '26
Subject: Benj(amin) Sturgis, Rev., S.3998.
1 (no.) copies of 5 (no.) pieces consisting of 10 (no.) pages to be forwarded when completed to the Rev & 1812 War Sec. Division.
Remarks: (blank)

Approved: s/ R.E. Wikow
Chief [crossed out: Division.] Sect(ion)

s/ (blank)
Chief Clerk.
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Jas. L. Edwards, Esq.
Pension Office.

[illegible]
Page 22

Mr. Edwards

The two accompanying cases, David Bakers & Abner Condict are each formally admitted to the Pension Roll under the law of 1818 & suspended by the Act of 1820 & now restored. Their proofs & declarations, I presume, are on the files of the Pension Office.

An original discharge of Lieut. Baker will be found with his, as these cases will probably require but little time for investigation, you will greatly oblige me & them by as early a decision as may be in your power.

Sec(retary), Will they not be restored to their former list?

P.S. I add a 3rd. Viz.: Benj(amin) Sturges, who claims for services in Continental Army in the Wagon Master's Department & for militia service also.

Very respectfully yours &c.,
s/ Lewis Condict
Morristown, N.J., August 24th 1832

Cases of Baker & Condict; taken but being on old rolls.
s/ R.E.
Page 23

Morris County
New Jersey//

Before the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Com(mon) Pleas in & for said County, personally came Benjamin Sturges of said County, who has been to me personally well known for many years & whom I can recommend as a man of truth & good standing in society & who being sworn according to law doth on his oath declare, that the printed certificate of enlistment as a Waggoner, hereunto annexed dated 1778, which is considerably defamed & worn by time & in some respects scarcely legible, was originally given to him, the said [Benjamin] Sturges, by Ezekiel Gilderslive, who enlisted him. That this deponent is the same Benjamin Sturges therein named & that said certificate has been in his possession ever since it was issued. The paper parted thereon was for the sake of preserving it only. And further this deponent saith not except that he rec(eive)d no written discharge.
s/ Benjamin Sturges

Sworn & subscribed before me in Open Court this 30th July 1832.
s/ William Brittin
Page 24

Benjamin Sturges

Not on roll [illegible]

Waggoners are not entitled to pensions under the Act of the 18th March last.
Rejected

L. Condit
Page 25

State of New Jersey
Morris County//

On this Sixth day of May, A(nno) Dom(ini) 1818, before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Morris, personally appears Benjamin Sturges, aged Sixty years, resident in Chatham Township in said County, who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late Act of Congress entitled, An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War."

That he, the said Benjamin Sturges, enlisted near Morristown in said County on the 16th day of May A(nno) Dom(ini) 1778 as a Waggoner or Team Driver in the Army of the United States in the Waggon Brigade, commanded by Captain Ezekiel Gilderslive of the Pennsylvania line, whose certificate of his enlistment is hereto annexed. That he is the same Benjamin Sturges mentioned in said certificate. That he continued in said brigade nearly one month when he was transferred to the 5th Regiment of the Jersey line, commanded by Col. Oliver Spencer, and continued in the same more than eleven months, when he was regularly discharged by said Colonel Spencer at Minisink in the State of New Jersey. That previous to his enlistment in the Continental Service as aforesaid, he was several times out on tours of militia duty in the service of the United States against the common enemy and was in the battles at Woodbridge, Ash Swamp, Carmans Hill and other places in New Jersey. That he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence in addition to that now offered of his said services.
s/ Benjamin Sturgis

Sworn to and declared before me at Morristown the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Lewis Condict
Page 26

State of New Jersey
County of Morris//

Be it known that on this 18th day of May A(nno) Domini 1818 before the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, personally appears James Donaldson, in the 68th year of his age, who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary War in the service of the United States for the term of six years & six months. That for the term of three years, as many as he now recollect, he was under the command of Colonel Oliver Spencer of the 5th Regiment of the Jersey line in Captain Benjamin Witherby's Company. That he very well remembers Benjamin Sturgis as a Waggoner attached to said regiment. That he then knew him well in that capacity for the term of nearly a year. That he was esteemed a faithful & trusty man in that capacity & that this deponent verily believes the facts set forth by said Sturgis, in the deposition subscribed by him, are correct & true to the best of his knowledge & belief.
s/ James Donaldson

Sworn & subscribed before me this 18th of May, A(nno) Domini 1818.
s/ Lewis Condict

I, Lewis Condict, a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the County of Morris, do hereby certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Benjamin Sturgis did serve in the Revolutionary War against the common enemy as stated in the foregoing deposition. And I now transmit to the Secretary for the Department of War the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, pursuant to the directions of the Act of Congress of the 18th March 1818.
s/ Lewis Condict

Morristown, New Jersey
May 18th A(nno) Domini 1818.
Page 27

State of New Jersey
County of Morris Js, I Robert H. M. Carter, clerk of the said county of Morris, do certify, that Lewis Condich Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavits are made, is, and was, at the doing thereof duly enrolled One of the judges of the Inferior Count of Common Please in and for the county of Morris, and that full faith and credit is due and [word] to the given to his official acts as [word]
In Testimony where of I have here with [unclear] my name and affixed the Seal of the said county of Morris the nineteenth day of May eighteen hundred and eighteen
Rob H. M. Carter
Page 28

State of New Jersey}
Essex County Js
On this second day of January eighteen hundred and nineteen before one [unclear] one of the judges of the inferior court of common please and for the said county personally appeared [unclear] Green of said county who being by one first duly sworn according to [iunclear] that he became acquainted with Benjamin Sturgis a waggoner of Col Spencers Regiment in the service of the United States some time in the month of June 1775 and that he ^has a perfect recollection of the Said Benjamin Sturgis continuing to do duty as a waggonier in said Regiment until the first of may following this  [word] saith that he was a soldier of the [word] Regiment during his acquaintance with the said Benjamin Sturgis [unclear] Saith not
Sworn to and declared before
the day and year [word]
[unclear]
I hereby certify that [word] Green [unclear] a man with whom I have been acquainted upwards thirty years, he has always been considered and repeated as a man of truth and honesty
Abr Reynolds
Page 29

New Jersey} SS.
Essex County

I Siles Whitehead Clerk of the inferior court of common please in and for the county of Essex, do hereby certify that Abraham Reynolds Esquire before whom the within proceedings were [word] and had [unclear] and still is one of the judges of [unclear] and that free forth and [unclear] due to the within as well as to all his other official acts as such as well in court of law as elsewhere

In testimony whereof I have here unto subscribed my name and office the seal of said court the seventh day of January in the year of [unclear] one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
Siles Whitehead