Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6129, for Waitel Snethen, New Jersey
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SERVICE NUMBER
New Jersey    Snethen, Waitel    S. 6129
carded
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30.9.20
Pennsylvania
Waitel Snethen of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylv. who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Ogden of the regt commanded by Col. Saly in the N. J. militia for six months
_________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 20 Dollars --Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of Dec 1836 and sent to Revd. James Wittbank Philadelphia
________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1836     $110
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch 37     10.00
                                                    $ 120.00
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Wm J Allison Clerk, Book E, 2 Vol. 5, Page 57
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See letter Jan. 10. 1837 to Rev. Jas. Wiltbank 
do: 25 Jany 1837
let 19 May 1837 D. J. Snethen.
Dead
Letter to J. M. Doran 26th Jun 1839 
Saved pension 16th July 1939.
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J. L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions.
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Philadelphia, July 11th: 1839.
Sir,
I transmit further documents in support of the claim of Mrs. Nancy Snethen, the widow of the pensioner, Waitel Snethen. After some trouble, I have been able to procure the Pension certificate from the person who unlawfully held it, which I also forward to you; and trust that my client has now strictly complied with all the requisitions of the law to entitle her to a pension. 
Yours very respectfully, Joseph M. Doran No. 245 South 3d At:
J. L Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington
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33,901
Waitel Snethen
Pennsilvania
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Interrogatories propounded by the Court to Waitel Snethen an applicant for a Pension and his answers thereto.
1. Where and in what year were you born? 
Ans. Cumberland County New Jersey on 5th March AD 1792
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Ans. A part of the family record now in court
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where are you now live?
Ans. Living in Cumberland County N.J. when called into service. has lived there in the city + county of Philadelphia since
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom
Ans. volunteer
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 service.
Ans. Capt. Richard Howell, he believe was of the Regular Army + Capt. Jos Bloomfield for general circumstances refer to his Declaration herewith presented.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Ans.--never recd. a discharge, was in service until close of war
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier + musician of the Revolution.
Ans. Caspar Batchelor, Isaac Richmond - Rev Jas. Wiltbank, Jacob Alter and others 
Waite Snethen
Sworn + subscribed to Nov 21 1836 -- in open court of Common Pleas for the Cunty of Philadelphia Geo. Norton pro Pert
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Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of Pennsylvania County of Philadelphia}Ss.
On this Twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six personally appeared in open court, before the court of Common Pleas for the city and county of Philadelphia now sitting Waitel Snethen, a resident of the city of Philadelphia in the county of Philadelphia and state of Pennsylvania aforesaid aged seventy four 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 17th 1832 -----
    That he entered the service of the United States under the following names officers and served as herein stated -
    That he, Waitel Snethen, was born in Hopewell Township, County of Cumberland and state of New Jersey on the 5th day of March A.D. 1762 - in corroboration whereof is exhibited that payt of the family record containing the memorandum of his birth - That he was living in Cumberland County aforesaid when he entered the service as a fifer in a volunteer company commanded by Captain Samuel Ogden and attached to a Regiment under the command of Colonel Enes Seeley - that he then marched with a detachment to the Tavern at that time known by the name of the "Blazing Star," between Amboy and New York in order to protect Staten Island from plunder by the enemy supposed to be Hessians - That he was afterward attached to a company commanded by Lieutenant Azariah Moore when the British fleet lay in the Delaware Bay - Lieut. Moore's company having been ordered to guard the shore from their depresentions - That when the British took Philadelphia they sent a strong detachment to take Red Bank fort, at which time he was at [Sandtown] in the militia, and next morning proceeded under orders to the fort and reached there just after said detachment had been repulsed by the American forces at the fort - That he saw the conflagration and blowing up of the British vessels Augusta and Martin - afterward proceeded under the orders of General Washington to Haddonfield and Mount Holly and was at one of those places during the engagement of Genl. Washington with the enemy at Trenton - That he was engaged in the service upwards of four years, and probably more than five and even six - That as he made no minute or memorandum of notes he is unable to say precisely but that according to his recollection he entered the service within two years after the
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Declaration of Independence while farmers were gathering their corn - day or year not remembered and so continued to the close of the war - That he was not engaged in any action but was always ready + subject to e called upon - that he does not recollect having received a discharge, and that he was not engaged or employed in any civil business during the said term of service - that he has lived for thirt five years last past or thereabout in the City and county of Philadelphia aforesaid and that previously thereto he had lived from the close of the war in the county of Cumberland aforesaid - that there are living in his neighborhood the following named persons who, from their acquaintance with him, can testify as to his character for veracity + their belief of his services in the Revolution as a fifer and soldier - viz - Caspar Batchelor, Isaac Richmond, James Wiltbank and Jacob Alter and others -- and that he knows of no person now living who can testify to his service - with the exception of Lawrence Caspar who declined to be sworn, but who has expressly stated in the presence of Rev James Wiltbank + Henry Hilgard his knowledge of the service of the Declarant as will appear by the certificate of said James + Hency 
   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.  Waitel Snethen
Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia Geo. Norton pro Put
We, James Wiltbank, a clergyman, residing in the City of Philadelphia and Jacob Alter of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Waitel Snethen, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a fifer and soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion     James Wiltbank  Jacob Alter
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid viz this 21st day of Nov: A.D. 1836 in open Court of Common Pleas for the Count of Philadelphia}  Geo: Norton
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    And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the aforesaid applicant was a Revolutionary musician and soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that James Wiltbank who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the city of Philadelphia and that Jacob Alter who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. Ed King Arch Randall J Richter Jones
I, Robert Morris, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of Waitel Snethen for a pension and that the above named E King, Arch Randall and J Richter Jones are Judges of said courts duly commissioned and that the above signatures are of the proper handwriting of the judged respectively.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the said office to be affixed this twenty-first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six. [sig. illegible]
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admitted for six months
$20.
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Amendment, {to the Declaration of Waitel Snethen, dated Nov. 21. 1836, In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.}
State of Pennsylvania County of Philadelphia}Ss.--
    On this third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six personally appeared in open court, before the court of Common Pleas for the 
City and County of Philadelphia, now sitting, Waitel Snethen, a resident of the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania aforesaid who, in order to comply with the requisition of the Pension office for more specific detail of his several tours of service during the war of the Revolution before he can be entitled to the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. doth on his solemn oath duly administered according to law, declare and say That at the time when he made his declaration to which this is a supplement he was not duly sensible of the necessity of a more minute and particular detail of the periods of his service, and therefore said in general that he entered the service within two years after the Declaration of Independence, and now in compliance with the suggestion  as the letter of the Commissioner of Pensions to the Revd. J. Williams dated 25th November 1836 he makes the following statement in which he refers to events recorded in the history of the war and by which he is enabled to fix the dates of his service
    That the first tour of duty performed by him was near the tavern known by the name of the Blazing Star, northward of Perth Amboy where he was stationed about
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one month to watch the motions of the enemy who were in possession of New York and had troops stationed on Staten Island.  that he remembers that this was before the capture of the Hessians in Trenton and while the American army occupied New Jersey in the fall of the year (1776) while farmers were gathering in their corn.  While lying there he well remembers that he went over one day upon Staten Island with part of his own company + some others of the Regiment who all volunteered to go over to meet the enemy and that a part of this detachment had a severe skirmish with the enemy in which two or three men were killed - having departed, the part to which he belonged dd not fall in with the enemy. --
    That his second tour of duty was with the militia which were all called out at the time Genl. Washington was preparing for his expedition against the British at Trenton in December 1776 at which time deponent marched to Moorestown + Haddonfield + drew off a detachment of Hessians from the operations at Trenton - which diversion it was understood at the time was the object intended by Genl. Washington in calling out the militia and stationing them at those places - a powerful detachment of Hessians was sent down against the militia who were accordingly routed
    That his third tour of duty was during the ensuing summer (1777) performed under Lieutenant Azariah Moore when he was stationed down on the Delaware Bay side perhaps three months to guard the shore from the enemy's shipping having command of the Bay. He remembers while stationed there on one occasion a boat from one of the large  British ships came a shore and landed on a marsh a number of men, that he + others
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pursued them and drove them back to their boat out of the reach of shot, when one of them in endeavoring to prize the boat off, which had grounded, sunk the bulk of his gun so deep in the mud that he could not get it up in time + was forced to leave it, which was soon taken possession of by the militia and sold at a venue among them for a treat.
    That the next tour of duty was when he marched to Sand Town as stated in his declaration with a detachment under orders to repair to the bridge across Mantua Creek running a little below Red Bank Fort + between that and Billingsport then in possession of the British where they were stationed for nearly one month.  It was understood by the militia that they were put there to guard Red Bank Port from the enemy who were at Billingsport and other posts below in their possession and as an attack from the city of Philadelphia upon Red Bank fort was apprehended + expected the militia to which he belonged were believed  to be in great danger between the two fires.  In the evening a little before Sun set an attack was made on Red Bank Fort by Count Dunop, the firing was very severe + heard by them distinctly at the bridge, and an officer of the fort who was out reconnoitering being cut off by the enemy from the fort remained with the militia all night and gave his reasons for being satisfied that the fort was not taken. The next morning the militia marched + were heartily received by Col. Green + the troops in the fort who were highly animated
    The next tour was towards the fall of the ensuing year, the weather was rather cool + the militia wore thick clothing when he was called out under Major Daniel Maskell a field officer their place of Rendezvous being at Roadstown on the Road from Cohansic Bridge to Alloway Creek.  They had been called out on this tour on account of the landing of a party of British + tories who proceeded up alloway's Creek to Hancock's Bridge.  They massacred a detachment of militia at midnight and continued on to Quinton Bridge where they had a skirmish with our militia, in which he was engaged + in which the
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militia lost several men.  The British being superior in force caused the militia to retreat and the enemy finding themselves checked filed off toward Salem were they took boats and returned to their shipping - that this tour continued for about one month as nearly as he can recollect - The militia were not then discharged although it was the last tour of the actual service of the deponent who was taken sick from exposure and was not fit for military duty for nearly two years after, during which sickness he was attended by Doctor Robt. Patterson who was afterwards Director of the Mint - had he been fit he must either have stood his draft or hired a substitute and this deponent further says that at the time he first started on his expedition to the Blazing Star it was quite as early + he firmly believed earlier in the season than when he returned from Quinton Bridge, and further that this is the voluntary declaration of said deponent + that he distinctly remembers all the circumstances herein mentioned and detailed - Waitel Snethen Sworn + Subscribed to in open court of common pleas for the County of Philadelphia the day and year aforesaid. [illeg] Dec. 3. 1828 pro Put. Geo Norton
State of Pennsylvania, County of Philadelphia}
    On the same day + year herein before mentioned personally appeared in open court, before the court of Common Pleas, aforesaid, now sitting, Caspar Batchelor a resident of the County of Philadelphia aforementioned who being duly sworn according to law doth declare and say that he is now eighty four years of age and had been personally acquainted with Waitel Snethen since the attack on Red Bank Fort by Count Dunop where his acquaintance with him first commenced and where he was a great favorite with every one. That he recollects distinctly to have seen him at that time and place and heard of him repeatedly during the war and that he often heard at that time people express their admiration of his zeal and activity.  That he was pretty wicked against the enemy +this deponent further says that he was residing in Phila. when said Snethen came there to reside, that he has known him well since that time and believes him to be an honest + upright man.  That he was acquainted with one David James of Cumberland Count N.J. formerly an orderly sergeant in the regular troops who would frequently come to Phila. and a visit to said Snethen + this deponent and would often talk with men of the scenes which they had passed through in the revolution + has heard him speak of the danger in which militia was believed at that time to be at Montua bridge.  that he has heard him speak of the time when he left Cumberland County which was before said Snethen left, and of his astonishment when he first returned from that + neither had gone with the militia, of the anxiety of his, Snethen's, parents, every time in the sd. James would visit home, which he was permitted to do at various times and of many other circumstances when confirmed the belief of this deponent of the services of said Snethen performed by him for years in the Revolutionary War  Caspar [his mark] Batchelor 
Sworn + subscribed to in open court of Common Pleas for the County of Phila in the day + year aforementioned to wit Dec. 3. 1830.  Geo: Norton Pro Prob Test JBroom
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   And the said Courts do certify that the foregoing affidavit was made by Caspar Batchelor in open Court and that he appears to be of the age he represents: and do also declare their opinion that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit. - Arch Randall J. Richter Jones    Philadelphia Decr. 3rd 1836
I, Robert Morris Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the city ad county of Philadelphia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the further proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Waitel Snethen for a pension. and that the above named Arch Randall and I Richter Jones are judges of said court duly commissioned and that the above signatures are of the proper handwriting of the said judges respectively - 
    In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the said office to be affixed this third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six. Robert Morris Pri.
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State of Pennsylvania City of Philadelphia Ss
    Personally appeared before me Samuel Badger one of the aldermen of said City ex official Justice of the Peace Waitel Snethen who being sworn saith that in the commencement of the Revolution he was a bay and played the fife for Capt. Samuel Ogden's company and for Captain Forbes Company and for the regiment commanded by Col. Seely - that some recruiting officers were down in the County of Cumberland New Jersey where deponent then resided - that he was equipped by his father with a house in oak + [illeg] and also a uniform + that he rode away miles from home - and that the first company he was out in was Captain Ogdens where he was a fifer + that he never was discharged Waitel Snethen 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of May 1837 L. Badger [illeg]
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The Satate of New Jersey, Cumberland County Ss}
I Samuel Seeley Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Quarter  sessions                  of the Peace in + for said County, do hereby certify that Elizabeth Riley, Esq. is one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County of Cumberland and Commissioned and sworn as such, and to all his [illeg] acts  faith and credit is due + ought to be given.
   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court hereunto this seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.
Samuel Seeley Clke
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James L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
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Philadelphia December 21 1835
Dear Sir, 
   On the 5th Inst, I enclosed to your address the papers of Waitel Snethen, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of 7th June 1832, and to this date have not been honored either with an answer, or an acknowledgement of their receipt.
    Mr. Snethen has called at my office several times since, and I have been at a loss what to say to him respecting his application; whether it was under advisement, or whether there was any other preliminary matter to be done by him  before he could be entitled to the benefit of the Act under which he claims. 
   Your early attention is respectfully solicited.  Your Obedient Servant, Jacob Broom
James L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions
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Philada: 27 Decr: 1836
Dear Sir,
    Persuaded that it was more respectful + bearing the appearance of life urgency upon you in your various calls, I lately addressed a letter to my friend Captn Bennett, requesting him to inquire into the prospects of the old Revolutionary soldier in whose behalf I had lately visited Washington. Presuming that the character in whose behalf I had so much interested myself, had not been forgotten by you, I omitted his name.  
   I refer to Waitel Snethen, whose petition, with other papers presented on the 22 ulto: were retured to me on the 23d with your objections.  These objections we thought we had obviated by a more minute inquiry into this several periods of his service, and forwarded a minute detail early in Decr.  To this we have received no reply. 
    A benevolent + grateful feeling towards the soldiers of the Revolution prompted me thoroughly to investigate his claim to a pension.  Under these circumstances being fully satisfied, in my own mind, of his right, and persuaded that the documents will establish it, I respectfully solicit your serious inquiry and early decision on the case so highly interesting to a poor veteran soldier not only of -76 but in his 76th year of age, under  pressing poverty.  
Very respectfully Your most obt: James Wiltbank
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Hon:  Mr. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Dear Sir
    I have been possibly more indefatigable in preparing the claim of my good old friend Snethen that I should, had the proceeds to have been my own. I am now about to join the crew of the U.S. Ship Independence and respectfully ask whether the enclosed written handed to me by himself if duly sworn to + will not induce you to increase his pension.
   He is poor, - he is honest - he is old + his memory greatly impaired and his associates in the war all dead.
   Could you see and hear him you would have no doubts of the justice of his claim, and I truly hope that under all the circumstances you will, after the testimony to his veracity, find it consonant with the spirit of the law to contribute to his relief.  I leave here for Boston on Monday.  Any reply which you may think proper, may be directed to his son David J. Snethen, 441 Market St. Philda.
Very respectably your most obt: James Wiltbank
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Philadelphia   Decr 5, 1836
Dear Sir,
    Enclosed I send you the Declaration of Waitel Snethen amended agreeably to the suggestion contained in your letter to the Revd. Mr. Wiltbank of the 25 [illeg]
After the lapse of so many years it appears to be impossible to procure further testimony in relation to the services of Snethen.  The amendment to his declaration is exhibited in detail his service for two years in the N. Jersey militia, and the whole seems to present a straight succession of the events of the day; having two periods of his service confirmed by the certificate of Mr. Batchelor - The Court had no hesitation in declaring their opinion which will be found, I think, as satisfactory as can be desired. And I trust the whole aspect of the case may be sufficiently clear to ensure him the full benefit of the Act of 7th June 1832.
   The enclosed power of attorney is forwarded as a part of the original papers, presented by Dr. Wiltbank when in Washington. I presume it will now nbe of no service unless it should be rendered necessary for hi to visit Washington again which necessity, it is desired, may be obviated by your forwarding a draft for the amount which may be awarded to Snethen, to be enclosed to me. 
   It is due to Mr. Wiltbank to observe that he has interested himself in the application of Snethen solely from feelings of benevolence and philanthropy, and purely with a desire that the achievers of our Independence may enjoy the provisions made for them by their country-
Very respectfully Your Obedient Servant Jacob Broom  Atty for W. Snethen
James L. Edwards Esquire
+c.  +c.    +c.
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We James Wiltbank of the City of Philadelphia and of the State of Penns: minister of the Gospel, and Henry Hilyard of Hopewell Township Cumberland County in the state of New jersey, do hereby declare, that on this seventeenth day of November A.D. eighteen hundred + thirty six, we did call on Lawrence Casper of the state of New Jersey and County and Township afsd: in company with Waitel Snethen, a native of the same township with a view of ascertaining from said Casper whether he personally knew whether the said W. Snethen to have served in the capacity of a soldier or fifer in the Revolutionary War. That the sd: Casper declared that he had frequently seen said Snethen with other soldiers equipped with guns, knapsacks + canteens, that while a school boy he and his schoolmates had been frequently pursued and called upon to join them as waiters for the army, that boys consequently ran from the whenever they saw them approaching, and that Snethen afterwards marched off with the militia - That upon our asking sd: Casper whether he would declare this on oath before the magistrate said, "no. I don't want to get myself into trouble." From this reply, we were both persuaded that he was impressed with the idea, that his deposition might subject him to a jaunt to Washington or some such thing. We believe said Casper an honest man, but entirely unacquainted with public transactions, tho' nearly seventy years old.  James Wiltbank Henry Hilyard
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State of New Jersey Cumberland County Ss
This is to certify that the undersigners appeared and were sworn before me this 18th day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty six to the within statement --
Sworn and Subscribed  before on the above date Elijah D Riley Justice of the Peace in and for said county --
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pa    Jan 19
J. L. Edwards Esqr
Comm. of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Phila: Jany: 16, 1837.
Dear Sir,
    I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 10th which you conclude with the declaration "I am constrained to require other evidence than that already exhibited in this (Snethen's) case."
    The Mr Brooms and myself had persuaded ourselves that Snethen's specific detail of his four different tours comprising two years with possibly no more respit than many Regulars enjoyed in their encampments, together with the certificate of Caspar Batchelor, forwarded early in December, with requisite vouchers would have been deemed satisfactory.
    Presuming that these have been received, examined and found wanting, I most respectfully request that you would state the particular defect.  For altho the memory of this good old man has greatly failed thro' age + infirmity + his old associates gone to receive their pension in another world, I am in hopes, by renewed researchers, to be yet enabled to comply with the requisitions of the law. Having set my hand to the plow, I am not inclined to look back, but impaled by every feeling f sympathy towards this poor + famishing good old soldier to use all honorable means to substantiate his claim. I hope, Dr Sir, you will bear with my importunity and view it consonant with the dignity of your office + your feelings of humanity, to tell us wherein we are deficient in testimony, to the gratification of Your Obt James Wiltbank:
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J. L. Edwards Esquire 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Phila: Jany: 7, 1837.
Dear Sir,
    I have recd: your grant of a pension to Waitel Snethen for $20. Per: an: from the March 1831 during his natural life. Having voluntarily and gratefully undertaken the vindication of the rights of this poor old soldier, who fought for mine when a child, I am persuaded you will indulge me in the exercise of the importumity of the poor widow in seeking bread for her famishing friends.
    Satisfied of the integrity of Snethen, I patiently heard the story of his military services and firmly resolved to investigate the facts, and if established to prosecute his claim. With this view I traveled with him, nearly 40 miles, to the place of his nativity, + there ascertained it to be the general impression that he had been a soldier in the revolution and obtained the testimony of an old man of credit, that he had seen him with his gun + under march with the troops; as stated in my certificate.
    Aware of the difficulty of procuring living tsetimoy to notorious facts of -76, and of the indulgence granted to soldiers, whose veracity is certified by men of respectability, I presented Snethen's petition accompanied by the certificate of Jacob Alter Esqr. and myself to that effect, all of which were duly made, and declared satisfactory, in open court, as attested by the Judges +c. This you admitted as evidence of S's having served one term of 6 months, + entitling him
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to one quarter of soldier's regular pension, adding that 4 different terms of militia service must be established to authorize a full pension. To meet this S. on my return, gave a very minute detail, perfectly satisfactory to the Hon: Jas: M. Broom, his Son Jacob S Atty: and myself, of 4 different tours, with many incidents in conformity with the history of the day. This with other testimony, approved by the Court, was duly forwarded, - to which I recd: in reply the grant to S. of a pension of the $20 as above stated. 
   To the papers in your office, I respectfully refer.
    Persuaded that there may be some misunderstanding - That S' moral and religious character (for which I pledge my own) may be considered in the light of many of his grade, or that the subject may not have undergone that consideration, which its importance to the Petitioner seems to call for, we have resolved to retain the draft, in hopes, by a respectful appeal, to induce you to reconsider the case.
    On this point, please bear with my Importunity. 
    Having made the most minute inquiries into this claim, with the sole view of relief to the necessities of one, who in my childhood, devoted his services and hazzarded his life in securing the independence, which I, in common with my fellow citizens, enjoy, and having myself not a single doubt as to his just and legal right to a full pension, I cannot but be importunate. 
    I admit his claim may not be established by public documents or living testimony -- the law admits the impracticability
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of adducing such evidence, and hence a supply to the defect by respectable testimony to the integrity of the claimant approved by a Court of Justce.  This has been done 
    Impositions no doubt have occurred.  This not one.  The imposition of ten [illegible], I am sure, would not afford you as much pain as the rejection of one real soldier, to beggary + want. This I deprecate in the case of Snethen. Do I know my motives, they are pure. Do I know any thing from the testimony of an honest man (fand that corroborated by strong circumstantial evidence) I know S. to be entitled to the full pension of a soldier: and being thus assured, I must importune and beg you to judge charitably in his case, and not to turn off one poor old famishing soldier 76 years of age, with such a plausible claim, thro' fear that a crumb may fall into the lap of the underserving. 
Very respectfully submitted by Your friend + hble: Servt: James Wiltbank 
Dart Wiltbank impiled by the most charitable and worthy motives has been indefatigable in his research touching the claim of the within mentioned applicant.  and I believe most sincerely that the most perfect reliance may and ought to be placed upon the result of his investigation.  Henry Horn
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Waitel Snethen Penna Act 7th June 1832
$20 per annum
to what time last paid
Penson Office
15 July 1839}
to the 4 Sep 1838 JLB
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7.77                        
                    8.77
Snell Ling
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in the commencement of the Revolution I was a Boy and played the fife for Capt Samuel Egens [illeg] and for Captain [illeg]  company and for the Ridgment and some recruiting officers were down recruiting in our County + uniform hors bridle and sadle found me by my father a way miles from home and the first company I was out  I was [illeg] and I was never discharged. These curcumstances I entirely for got at the first of my applying      Waitel Snethen
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Ascertain to what time Snethen dec. was paid. Perhaps it is a case payable under the act of Apl. '38 at the [illeg] Dep
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6129Waitel Snethen
Pri. Rev. War
Act:  June 7" 1832
Index: --Vol. M, Page 350
[Arrangement of 1870]
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J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
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To J. L. Edwards, Esquire,
Commissioner of Pensions
Philadelphia. June 17th: 1839
Sir,
On behalf of Mrs. Nancy Snethen, of this city, th widow of Waitel Snethen, a Revolutionary soldier,
Enclose sundry documents showing her to be his widow and his death regulary taken before a Court of Record and therefore claim the arrears of the pension due to him and that she may be allowed to receive a pension as his widow according to the Act of Congress.  Mrs. Snethen informs me that the original pension certificate of Waitel Snetyhen is not in his possession or under her control, but she believes it to be in the possession of her step-son who shortly after the death of her husband got possession of it with some other papers and now refuses to deliver it to her. 
Yours very respectfully, Joseph M. Doran. Attorney at Law. (No. 245 South Third St:)
Snethen record his pension in this city J.M.D.
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THE NATIOHAL ARCHIVES Form VAM-51
12-5-41
BOUNT LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Snideeker, Moses   GRADE  Private    LINE  New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7771
ISSUED March 1, 1790 to William Holly, assignee
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* The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty Land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records sin the National Archives.