Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,576, for Simon Lucas, New Jersey
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Service
New Jersey

Lucas, Simon

Number
S.4576

Carded
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New Jersey - 31,47

Simon Lucas, 
of Gloucester Co in the State of New Jersey
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Steenman of the regt. commanded
by Col. Westcott, in the New Jersey
line for 6 months private
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of July,
1838, and sent to J. C. Smallwood, Esqr. Woodbury N.J.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838, $140.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 10.00
=
$150.00
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by G T Rhodes Clerk,
Book E. 2. Vol. 3, Page 144.
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Revy  March 25.

The Hon. William N Shinn Esq.
Washington,
D.C.
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Balto. March 14th, 1836.
The Hon. William N. Shinn Esq.
Sir
Agreeable to your request I return the Rev Simon Lucas' petition. I cannot discover but
that he has pursued the course the law directs in such cases; nor can I perceive but that he is entitled to at least 6 months pay as a common soldier; overlooking his other services, which in my opinion (and is the prevailing opinion of the whole neighbourhood) far exceeded the regular services and attended with more danger-
In such estimation was his character held, that
he received a Captain's commission from the Governor of this State (recorded in the County of Gloucester), but the situation of his family prevented his acceptance of it-- It would now be possible for him to claim this commission but such is the integrity of the man, he disclaims against any advantages that might
be taken in the case-- Being so concientious together with his failing memory; his friends believe that all the services he has rendered his country are not set forth in the petition. He is poor and infirm bend ing under the weight of more than eighty winters-- & his amiable consort fast sinking to the grave-- His integ
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rity, virtue, and piety (which must be known to you) is attested by thousands of the pious of our country and would be rejoiced to see the patriarchs comfortable the remaining hours they are with us-
I trust you will use your influence to procure
him the desired pension -
yours most respectfully
Jesse Richards.

The Hon William W. Shinn Esq.
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32.239-
Simon Lucas
New Jersey
6 mo pri
$20.

J. C. Smallwood
Woodbury
NJ
Hon W N Shinn
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24th Cong,
2. Sept
Petition
of Simon Lucas, for compensation for revolutionary services
1837. Jan. 14, referred to the
Com: on Revolutionary Claims
Jan 23. desch & ref to
Pensions
" 25, discharged

Wm Wall
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To the Honorable, the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, thr petition of Simon Lucas , Respectfully presents.
That your petitioner is a native of Galloway
Township, Gloucester County in the State of New Jersey, and has resided in that township  on the spot where he now lives since he was ten years old. Your petitioner will be eighty
two years old on the seventh day of December 1832, and although, under the blessing of God, he has hitherto been able to provide for himself by his own labour, yet he is admonished by his great age and feeble health, that his ability to do so, must soon
cease, Indeed, owing to a severe injury from a recent fall is now unable to minister to his own wants, and he therefore is induced to present his claim for the benefit of the act of Congress passed on the 7th of June 1832, entitled "An act Supplementary to the "act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution," to which your Petitioner
presumes the allowing circumstances will entitle him.
During the war of the Revolution, your petitioner was drafted as a militia man in the company of Capt Zachariah Steenman
forming such of the regiment of Col Richard Westcott, and served one months tour of duty under these officers, at Amboy, Your
petitioner was absent from his home on this occasion, from five to six weeks
He afterwards volunteered in the Company of
Capt Joseph Estell, belonging to the regiment of Col Elijah Clark, and served a second tour of duty of one month, under these officers; during which time your petitioner was in the battle of Trenton. Your petitioner's brother was a Lieutenant in the the same company, and was wounded in a skirmish with the enemy at Petticoat bridge and he was afterwards killed near Gloucester. The troops being dismissed at
the end of a month, your petitioner returned home. But the services of the militia, being again invoked, your petitioneer, volunteered a second time under the same officers, and served a third tour of one months ? ?of the winter during ?
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time, he was stationed at Somerset in New Jersey. This service being over, your petitioner as before returned to his home. Another appeal however was soon made to the militia of his native State, and your petitioner volunteered for a third time under the same captain, the regiment being commanded by Col Hilman, and the detachment by Genl Ellis.
The troops were stationed at Haddonfield; and on this occasion your petitioner continued in the service for one month, at the expiration of which time, they were dismissed and your petitioner returned to his home.  But the presence of the enemy in another direction soon called him again into the field
It was rumoured that the British had fitted out
an expedition to burn and destroy the buildings and property at Chestnut Neck, near the head of Egg Harbour bay, to which place
a number of prizes taken by our privateers had been sent. The militia of the county turned out to defend the spot, and repel the enemy. Your petitioner then acted as Lieutenant and was one of those who volunteered in this service. Preparation was made to receive the enemy, and a fort was built on the neck, in the
construction of which your petitioner labored with his comrades. But orders were finally given by whom your petitioner knows not
to abandon the works and retreat into the country. This was done and the British landed and burnt and destroyed the buildings
and property. But after the enemy had retired, it was still deemed necessary to maintain a guard at this post, and your petitioner was frequently out on this duty.
On another occasion, The Militia were called out to drive a party of Refugees from Tuckerton, and your petitioner, still holding
the rank of Lieutenant, made one of the number despatched on this duty. But the Refugees had dispersed before we reached
the ground
Your petitioner was also frequently charged with the duty of escorting to Philad 'ia, prisoners brought into Egg Harbour river
by privateers and private armed vessels. He has a distinct recollection of having performed this duty, on three different occasions - he believes that he did it oftener. but at this distance of
time, he cannot speak with confidence to more than three occasions of this kind.  Your petitioner has thus stated with
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as much accuracy as he is able to do the prominent points and circumstances of his service both as a private and and a Lieutenant, in the militia during the Revolution. He was out as above set forth full four months, perhaps a little more, as a private; and three of those four
months he was a volunteer. At this distance of time he is not able to state with precision, the duration of each particular tour of duty which he performed, in that regular and desultory service, in which he was engaged as a Lieutenant, some of the particulars of
which he has given above; and intending to be strictly conscientious in his representation he has abstained from attempting to state the length of time that he was our on each occasion.
He can say with confidence however, that this irregular duty in the whole, exceeded two
months and that his whole term of service exceeded six months. He begs leave to add, that the above statements must not be regarded as embracing the whole amount of duty rendered by your petioner during the Revolution. Feeling as he did, a deep interest in the struggle, he was always ready at a
moments notice, to render such services as might be in his power; and the proximity of his residence to the theatre of the war, during a great part of the contest, and the number of Refugees and Tories in that section of the country gave full and frequent opportunity for exertion and enterprize on the part of
every Whig in it. Under these circumstances
your petitioner was more or less constantly on the alert, and by his activity and zeal, rendered himself particularly obnoxious to the enemy. As an evidence of it, your petitioner will mention, that his house was
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set on fire during absence on duty by a party of the enemy, headed be a Tory and Refugee of the name of Joseph Mulliner, who commanded a British boat well manned, and with which he did much mischief and inspired tenor, by making incursion into the country
bordering on Egg Harbour River. Your petitioner with a party of men, was in pursuit of him at the very time he fired petitioners house. He was afterwards taken prisoners, tried
and executed at Burlington.
Under these circumstances your petitioner
prays that you will be pleased to direct such payment to be made to him, as he may be entitled to under the provisions of the act of the 7th of June 1832.
Simon Lucas
Personally came before me the 
Subscriber presiding Judge of the
Inferior court of Common pleas
in and for the County of Gloucester Simon Lucas the above named applicant and on his
solem oath said the above declaration and statement is in all things just and true according to the best of his knowledge and
belief and he further states he is old
and infirm & unable to appear before the
county court, Sworn before me the
28th day of November AD 1834

John Clement
---
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The undersigned citizens of the United States, respectfully repsent to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States
That they are personally well acquainted with
Simon Lucas of Galloway Township Gloucester County, State of New Jersey; many of them reside in the same neighbourhood with him, and have known him all their lives. They take a peculiar pleasure in bearing testimony to the fact, that he is a man of the most exemplary
life and piety, respected and beloved by all around him. He has long been a prominent and highly useful member of the Methodist church in his vicinity, and no one can be more esteemed than he is, for integrity and uprightness of conduct. The most implicit
reliance may be placed on his word
The undersigned have read his petition
addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury praying for a pension, and they have no hesitation in saying, that it may be received implicitly as the truth-- because they are confident, that no consideration, would
induce him, knowingly, to depart from the truth, and because also, it accords with the tradition of the neighbourhood and the recollection of its oldest inhabitants, in relation to his Revolutionary career according to which, his heart and hand were devoted to the service of his country in the day of trouble and he is believed and understood to have given
most of his time to her service, when she needed it. He is now far advanced in life, and very feeble
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in health and constitution; and the subscribers sincerely trust that the prayer of his petition will be granted, as they believe that his services to his country justly entitle him to it.
John Weeks
Jesse Richards
B. W. Richards
Samuel Richards
Job Thick
A. H. Richards
Benjamin Day
---
Thos Richards
Magin S. Powell
Thomas S. Richards
Charles Peterson
Jos. Wiltse
Samuel B. Finch
Geo. Barrow
Richard C Cake
Joseph Heritage
Richard Higbee
John Cone
-
Mathias Cotner
Mahlon Johnson
---
David Southard
John Richards
John More
Thomas Baxter
Samuel P Richards
John Shields
William Smith
Michael Dougherty
Joseph H Peterson
William Montgomery
John Hogan
Benjamin Ford
Peter Johnson
William Burr
Josiah Ford
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County of Gloucester County
State of New Jersey ss;
Before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas of said County, personally appeared Jesse Richards Esq
and Thomas H Richards whose names with others, are set to the annexed and for
going paper a Certificate addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and having been by me severally sworn & affirmed say, that they reside in the same neighbourhood with Simon Lucas, near the dividing line of Gloucester and Burlington
counties in the State of New Jersey, and have
known him all their lives. They further say that the representation made in the foregoing paper a Certificate to which their names are attached is correct and and true as we verily believe Nov. 29. 1834
Jesse Richards
Thomas H. Richards
Sworn and subscribed before the Richards
the day and year afore'd
-
John Clement
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I John C. Smallwood Clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester in
the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that
John Clement Esquire before whom the foregoing proceedings and affidavit of Simon Lucas and affidavit of Jesse Richards and Thomas H Richards, were had and made, was at the doing thereof, and still is Presiding Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that the signature of the said John Clement subscribed to the said affidavits is genuine- In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this twenty Sixth day of January AD One thousand eight hundred and
thirty five
Smallwood clk
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Simon Lucas
adl Evidence
New Jersey
-
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Receipts for one years interest paid on certificates given by the Commissioners in the several counties for Militia services

No of Voucher
15
No of certif 
282 
Date
1st May 1784
Signed by
 Thos Carpenter
Payable to
Simon Lucas
Amt
L S D
7.0.3
Ann
L
"
Int
S
8
D
5
State of New Jersey
I James D Westcott Secretary of State of the state of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true extract from a book of accounts headed "Receipt for one years interest paid for certificate given by the commissioners in the several counties for militia services, and endorsed on the cover "Militia Notes 1st year", now remaining in my office
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal this sixteenth day of
January A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty eight
(1838)
James D. Westcott
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Hon. Wm Fry
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Washington City June 18th 1836
To the Hon Mr Fry
Dear Sir
Understanding from the Charman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, that the
Petition with the accompanying papers of Simon Lucas was handed to you for examination; Permit me to state to you, and through you to the Committee, of which you are member, that I have been acquainted with the petitioner for thirty years or upwards, and during all that time he has been a local Preacher and member of the Methodist
Church and a man of exemplary piety; he is exceedingly conscientious, and in making his statement for fear that his age & lapse of memory might lead him into error, he has omittes (as is generally believed) to state a considerable portion of his services. He never troubled the Government for aid,while his late misfortune of being lame togeather with the natural infirmities of old age. I live in the neighbourhood in which part of his services were performed, and I have not the Slites doubt of the truth of his statement, neither do I know any man of his age upon whose statment. I could place more confidence
and I further believe there is no person living in
the neighborhood of the Petitioner who has any doubt about the services as set forth in the declaration of said Petitioner
I should not hesitate to verify this statement, by my affidavit, if necessary
Respectfully yours &
William N. Shinn
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Lucas
Woodbury NJ
July 25th
? at July 27 
NJ

Free
J. L. Edwards Esq
Pension Office
Washington
DC
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Woodbury July 25 1838
J L Edwards Esq
Sir
I have just received a letter from the Hon Wm Halsted enclosing a letter from you to him on
the subject of Simon Lucas' pension
The old man will accept the pension for six months. He might establish his claim for a longer term, but he is so aged and infirm that he would prefer a pension of that amt
rather them take the trouble and expence of looking up more proof
Yr very respectfully
J. C. Smallwood
-
please send the Certificate to me
J C S
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N. Jersey
Simon Lucas
Letters to Hon. W. Halsted 21. July '38
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Rev War
4576
INVALID.
File No. 4576
Simon Lucas
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 230
{Arrangement of 1870.}
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[Stamp} Mount Holly  N.J.  Jun 20

John C. Smallwooe Esqr
Woodbury New Jersey.
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Mount Holly 16th June 1838
Sir,
Since I received yours of the 23 ult
I have made a Thorough search amongst my papers for my worthy friends S. Lucas pension papers subsequent reflections, however, enables me to say that they must be on file in Mr Franklins( the Clerk of the House of Representatives), office, as they where presents by me in that body & refered to the
Committee on Pensions, who made an unfavourable report, and of course they were sent to the Clerks table or desk, and filed by that officer
Yours Respectfully &c
William S. Shinn
To John C. Smallwood Esq