Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42,847, for John Letts, New Jersey
Page 1

Service. New Jersey

Letts, John

Number S. 42847
Page 2

13680

New York

John Letts        4

of Shelby in the state of New York who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Ogden of the New Jersey line, for the term of 9 months   1776

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 3d of July 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the     of      and sent to S. Luke Esqr

Batavia New York

Arrears to the 4th of March 1819  $64.51
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1819   48

8 mos 3/21                               $112.51

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March 1818. }

Continued
Page 3

13680

New York

John Letts 4

of Shelby in the state of New York who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Ogden of the New Jersey line, for the term of 9 months 1776

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 3d of July 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the of and sent to S. Luke Esqr

Batavia New York

Arrears to the 4th of March 1819 $64.51
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1819 48

8 mos 3/21 $112.51

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March 1818. }

Continued
Page 4

John Letts

Private

Col Ogden's Regiment
New Jersey Line

1778 - 9 months

found on roll in Longstreet's co.
1st for Sterling's regt.

Adm



S. Luke,
Batavia N.Y.
Page 5

State of New York
Genesee County ss.

John Letts mentioned in the within or annexed affidavit being duly sworn says that he served in the New Jersey Line, that Lieut. Vorres lived at the Town of New Brunswick & Col. Ogden was a citizen Elizabethtown.  Both in the State of New Jersey.  And further says not.

Sworn & subscribed this 14th day of June 1810 Before me

Saml Lake, Dep Clk
for Genesee County

John Letts
Page 6

Declaration

State of New York
Genesee County  }  ss.

Pursuant to an act of the Congress of the United States of America passed March 18th 1818 to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the said United States in the Revolutionary War I John Letts aged 60 the 20th January last of the town of Shelby in the County of Genesee and State of New York aforesaid do hereby make the following solemn Declaration under oath before the Honorable Elijah Hawley Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in + for the County of Genesee and State aforesaid in the terms following to wit, I do solemnly and sincerely swear and declare that I am a resident citizen of the said United States and in the town County and State aforesaid; and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I am in need of assistance from my country for support.  I do further swear, that I served in the war of the Revolution against the common Enemy, in teh capacity of a Private in the continental establishment: and that I served in the said war upwards of eighteen months.  That I belonged to Captain Vincent Weatherby's Company in Colonel Finnan I believe David Finnan's Regiment in the New Jersey line.  That I entered the said service on or about the 21st of April in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, and directly joined the american army on Long Island.  I was in the battle of Long Island and after retreating as far as Fort Washington was taken sick + I was sent over on the Jersey side of the River to the Hospital where after remaining some time I was verbally discharged by
Page 7

the Surgeon there or rather he recommended me with four others to return home if we could go + we did go home    I again enlisted for nine months in the Spring of 1778 at Mount Pleasant in New Jersey, in a company commanded by Captain Longstreet but the company was generally commanded by Lieutenant Peter Vorres.  In Colonel Ogden's in General Maxfield's Brigade.  I was at the battles of Monmouth and the day previous was in a scouting party that was defeated at Craigg's Mills and did not join the main army the day of the battle untill it was over.  I was afterwards in the battle at Elizabethtown.  I received my discharge after serving the nine months of Colonel Ogden at his house at Elizabethtown which discharge I have lost.  Sometime after I again enlisted under Captain James Morgan to guard the shores and coast for one year and after serving about four months I married and hired a man by the name of Garrit Lambertson to take my place who was accepted and I left the service excepting occasionally, going out on alarms sometimes a month and sometimes less on a [illegible].

And I do further declare that in addition to my former Declaration and pursuant to the restrictions of the aforesaid act I do hereby fully relinquish every claim I have to any + every pension which might or has been allowed me by the said United States previous to the passing of this act.

In witness whereof I have subscribed this Declaration in presence of the Judge above mentioned at Ridgeway in the State of New York this twenty third day of July in the year of our lord 1818

John Letts

Sworn this 23rd day of July 1818 before me Elijah Hawley Judge of Genesee Coun. Pleas

Judges Certificate

State of New York
County of Genesee }ss

I Elijah Hawley Esquire a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Genesee and State of New York (the said court being a court of Record within the said state do hereby
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Certify to the Honorable the Secretary of War of the United States, agreeably to the provisions of an Act of the Congress of the said United States, passed March 18th 1818 entitled An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War that the said John Letts named in the foregoing Declaration personally appeared before me the said Judge this twenty third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and in my presence subscribed the same Declaration; and at the same time in [illegible] took an oath before me on the holy evangelists of Almighty God that the said Declaration was true.  And I having examined the said John Letts touching the matters in the said Declaration contains and having also examined David B[illegible] Esquire and Captain James Whitney, two neighbors of the said Letts and [illegible] to me well known and being satisfied that the facts stated herein are true and the only evidence in his power produce.  I do further certify that it appears to my entire satisfaction that the said John Letts did actually serve in the Revolutionary War aforesaid, against the common Enemy, in the manner and for the time by him stated in his said Declaration and that the said Declaration is in other respects true.  And from the decripid + crippled state of the said John Letts and his reduced circumstances ..... [covered with other note]   Elijah Hawley


As I supposed the affidavit of the line in which Mr. Letts served was not very important as embracing any official responsibility as it respects the equity of the claims I administered the oath.  Affidavits taken before me in the absence of the clerk are admitted in our courts as evidence.  I    a report on this claim so soon as possible.  -- Yours Saml Lake
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Certify to the Honorable the Secretary of War of the United States, agreeably to the provisions of an Act of the Congress of the said United States, passed March 18th 1818 entitled An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War that the said John Letts named in the foregoing Declaration personally appeared before me the said Judge this twenty third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and in my presence subscribed the same Declaration; and at the same time in [illegible] took an oath before me on the holy evangelists of Almighty God that the said Declaration was true. And I having examined the said John Letts touching the matters in the said Declaration contains and having also examined David B[illegible] Esquire and Captain James Whitney, two neighbors of the said Letts and [illegible] to me well known and being satisfied that the facts stated herein are true and the only evidence in his power produce. I do further certify that it appears to my entire satisfaction that the said John Letts did actually serve in the Revolutionary War aforesaid, against the common Enemy, in the manner and for the time by him stated in his said Declaration and that the said Declaration is in other respects true. And from the decripid + crippled state of the said John Letts and his reduced circumstances in life believe him entitled to the benefits of the said act.  All which said [illegible] before me + the testimony produced in the case, I do certify + transmit to the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War according to the directions of the act of Congress aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Seal at Ridgeway in the State of New York this 23rd day of July in the ear of our lord 1818

Elijah Hawley
Page 10

State of New York
Genesee County//

I, Simeon Cumings, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that Elijah Hawley, before whom the within declaration was made is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, acting under the authority of this State and that the within are his [crossed out: respective] signatures.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & County Seal at Batavia, August 1, 1818.
s/ Simeon Cumings, by Sam'l Luke, Dep. 

John Letts
Private
Col. Ogden's Regiment

[crossed out: Rhode Island] New Jersey Line 

1778 - 9 months

Found of roll in Longstreet's Co.
1st (or Steling's) reg(iment)

Adm(itted)

[crossed out: The time in which the alleged services must be found. 28 April 1849.]

S. Lake, Batavia, N.Y.
Page 11

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Courthouse in the village of Batavia, in and for the county of Genesee, in the State of New York, on the Fifteenth day of June of the term of June 1820, being a Court of Record, in pursuance of the 41st article of the Constitution of the State of New York, which has unlimited jurisdiction, keep records of its proceedings, and has immemorially exercised the power of fine and imprisonment.

Present, the Hon. John H. Jones, Richard Smith, Isaac Wilson, Judges.

GENESEE COUNTY//

On this fifteenth day of June 1820, personally appeared in Open Court, (being a Court of Record,) John Letts, aged Sixty three years, resident of the town of Shelby in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows:

That he served nine months in Capt. Longstreet's Company in Col. Ogden's Regiment, in the New Jersey Troops. Also served several other short campaigns. Was discharged from the company in February or March in 1778 or 1779. His Declaration was dated the 3rd of July & his certificate is numbered 13,680. 

And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an 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,” passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.

Real Estate:
I have none. I have an article of agreement for the purchase of One Hundred acres of land, of the Holland and Company, on which there is paid said company about Thirteen Dollars 75 cents. That it was purchased for his son, John Letts, Jun(ior), who has built a log house and made nearly Thirty acres of improvements. All the improvements and betterments made in the above lot belong to my son above mentioned and I do not consider that I have any legal or equitable interest in said lot.

Personal Property:
 - 1 cow & calf
 - 3 sheep & 1 lamb
 - 1 old wagon entirely worn out; having been used about 24 years
 - 1 iron kettle badly cracked; will hold about 16 gallons
 - 1 6-gallon iron kettle broken
 - 1 2-gallon [crossed out: iron] pot, broken
 - 1 small kettle
 - 1 bake kettle; set & kettle cracked
 - 1 old frying pan
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[duplicate:
 - 1 cow & calf
 - 3 sheep & 1 lamb
 - 1 old wagon entirely worn out; having been used about 24 years
 - 1 iron kettle badly cracked; will hold about 16 gallons
 - 1 6-gallon iron kettle broken
 - 1 2-gallon [crossed out: iron] pot, broken
 - 1 small kettle
 - 1 bake kettle; set & kettle cracked
 - 1 old frying pan]

 - 1 old shovel & tongs
 - 1 pair cast iron and irons
 - 1 small pair steelyards
 - 3 old flower barrels
 - 1 wash tub
 - 2 wheels & 1 common old table
 - 1 old 4-quart tin pail
 - 1 stone jar
 - 6 pewter plates
 - 6 silver teaspoons; a present to his wife
 - 1 old copper tea kettle

And the deponent further says he is a farmer by occupation; but that he has been so decrepit and lame, he has not been able to labor for several years. That he lives with his son, John, on whom he is dependent for support. That he has a wife aged about Fifty seven years named Christina and one daughter named Jane, aged 19 years, and that the wearing apparel for himself and wife and bedding do not exceed Fifty Dollars in value.
s/ John Letts

Sworn and subscribed the 15th day of June 1820 before me.
s/ Almon Stevens, Deputy Clerk of the Court of Com. Pleas afore(said) in Open Court
Page 13

John Letts
Property $46.00

13,680

Sept 1819
Exe(cuted)

Con.
Page 14

I, Simeon Cumings, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Genesee do hereby certify that the foregoing oath (or affirmation) and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Forty six dollars and (blank) cents. $46

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on this Seventeenth day of June 1820.
s/ S. Cumings, Clerk of the Court for the County of Genesee


[illegible] Court of Common Pleas in and [illegible] hereby certify that the foregoing [illegible] annexed are truly copied from [illegible] and I do further certify that [illegible] the opinion of the said Court [illegible] the total amount in value [illegible] [illegible] property exhibited in the [illegible] said schedule is Forty six [illegible].

[illegible] whereof I have hereunto set [illegible] affixed the Seal of the said [illegible] teenth day of July 1820.
s/ S. Cumings, Clerk of the Court for Genesee County
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I, Simeon Cumings, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Genesee do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court. And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of [crossed out: the] property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Forty six dollars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on this Fifteenth day of July 1820.
s/ S. Cumings, Clerk of the Court for Genesee County
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October 25, 1939.

BA-J/CC
John Letts
S.42847

Mrs. J.H. Gorman
R.F.D. #3,
Medina, New York.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Letts of New Jersey.

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S.42847, based upon service of John Letts in the Revolutionary War.

John Letts was born January 20, 1753, place of his birth and names of his parents are not shown.

He enlisted about April 21, 1776, served as private in Captain Vincent Weatherley's Company, Colonel David Forman's New Jersey Regiment, and was in the Battle of Long Island; enlisted in the spring of 1778, at Mt. Pleasant, New Jersey, served as private in Captain Longstreet's Company, Colonel Ogden's New Jersey Regiment, and was in the Battles of Craig's Mills and Elizabethtown; enlisted (date not shown) served as private in Captain James Morgan's New Jersey Company, and was later called out on other alarms, officers not stated. The length of his service about eighteen months.

The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed July 23, 1818, at which time he was a resident of Shelby, Genesee County, New York.

In 1820, he was living with his son, John Letts, Jr., in Shelby, Genesee County, New York and stated his wife, Chestine, was aged fifty-seven years, and a daughter, Jane, aged nineteen years. No further family data are shown.
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...In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of John Letts, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

John Letts
Certificate #13680
Issued March 5, 1819
Rate $8.00 per month
Commenced July 3, 1818
Act of March 18, 1818
New York Agency.

Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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R.F.D. #3,
Medina, New York.
Oct. 5, 1939

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C

Gentlemen:

The Adjutant General has referred me to you for information I am seeking regarding a Revolutionary Soldier.

Can you give me the rank, company and regiment of John Letts, enlisted in 1778 from either Middlesex or Monmouth County, New Jersey? I have a government record stating that his pension was paid until Sept. 4, 1840, and he died a few days later.

I shall greatly appreciate any data that you can supply concerning him.

Yours respectfully,
s/ Margaret Letts Gorman
(Mrs. J. H. Gorman)
Page 19

429 W. Lovell St
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Jan. 16, '07

Pension Office
Washington

Sirs,

I wish to learn all I can concerning one John Letts (or Liets) who is on the Pension Roll of 1835, under Genesee Co., N.J.

He had served in the N.J. Line and was placed on Pension Roll March 1819.

If there is anything else I should do in this matter kindly let me know. Trusting I may have the information as soon as...
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...possible, I remain.

Very truly,
s. Mrs. J.P. McCarthy
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42847
INVALID.
Rev(olutionary War)

File No. 42,847
John Letts
Pri(vate), Rev(olutionary) War

Act: 18 March '18
Index: -; Vol. G; Page 292
{Arrangement of 1870.}

1907 Jan. 25 - Hist(ory sent) to Mrs. J.P. Mac Carthy. C.
1939 Oct. 25 - Hist(ory sent) to Mrs. J.H. Gorman. A.C.
Page 22

O.W. and N. Division.
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C.

[illegible]
In file 42,847

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of John Letts, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [crossed out: (or his widow's)] application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. (CAPTAIN/COLONEL) | STATE.
Apr. 21, '76 | 9 mos. | Pri(vate) |Vincent Weatherley | David Furman | N.J.
Apr. '78 | 9 mos. | (blank) | Longstreet [crossed out: Lt. Peter Voorhees] | Ogden | (blank)
* (blank) | 4 mos. | (blank) | James Morgan | (blank) | (blank)

Battles engaged in, 2nd Craigs Mills, Elizabeth Town
Residence of soldier at enlistment, (blank)
Date of application for pension, July 23, 1819
Residence at date of application, Shelby, Genesee Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, June 20, 1759 (?)
Remarks: 1820 - Mentioned his wife Chestine was 57; son John (age not stated); dau(ghter) Jane 19 yrs. No further data.

* - Date not given - married - and he was a substitute for rest of tour.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

20581b3m11-05