Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 13708, Reuben Dennis, New Jersey
Page 1

STATE: New Jersey
SERVICE: Dennis, Reuben
NUMBER: PP. 13708
Page 2


Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. The 
State of New York
County of Seneca ⎬ SS. On this 6th day of October 1832. personally
appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of
Common Pleas of the County of Seneca now sitting Reuben
Dennis a resident of the town of Ovid in the County of Seneca and State of New York aged seventy nine 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 7th 1832.
that he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers and served as herein stated  that when he was in the twenty second year of his age he resided in the 
or middlesex
town of Piscataqua the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey, that he belonged in the Militia, in a company which was classed
and called out every other month into service
that when he was in the said twenty second year of his age he was called into service as a private in the said Militia and went out under one Captain Lapandas in Col. Micajah Dunns Regiment in General Hurds Brigade, and served in all under the said Captain
Lapandas as much as three years,
that after the expiration of said service he moved into the town of Bridgewater being in the State of New Jersey, that after moving into Bridgewater he went into service under one Captain Van Ardellan in Col. Freelinghuysen Regiment, and continued to serve under
him until the close of the war, that he was in the battle at Monmouth and at Springfield and
also in several skirmishes during his service, that he was at Elizabeth town, Trenton, Monmouth, Newark Powles Hock and many other places during his said service, that when the war ships and Reuben headed up to New York he was stationed at Powles
Hook, that for the last two years of his service
he was a Sergeant and served as such until the
close of the Revolutionary war, that he does not recollect the day, month or year when he first went
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into service but recollects he was in the twenty second
year of his age, that it was about the commencement
of the war, and that he was in the service a great
part of the time until the close of it. That he has no 
documentary evidence and that he knows of no person
whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his
service except John Mesler of the town of Covert in
the county of Seneca whose deposition is hereunto
annexed.
That 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.
Interrogations propounded by the court to Reuben
Dennis the applicant as required by the Secretary of
War, in which he answers as follows -
That he was born in the town of Lebanon in the
year one thousand seven hundred and fifty three.
That he resided in that town with his father until
he was about ten years of age, when his father moved 
into Piscataqua Township in Middlesex County in the 
said State of New Jersey, that he was put and served 
as an apprentice to the tanning and curring(?) business
with one Samuel Whitehead, that when he was 
in the twenty second year of his age he went into 
service as above stated.
That he has no record of his age in this county
it was in an old bible but was worn out before he
left New Jersey.
That he was living in the county of Middlesex
when he went into service, but does not recollect 
whether the name of the town was Middlesex or not.
That he went into service as a private and
served as such until about the last two years of 
the war which he served as sergeant.
That he knew General Dickerson, Gen. Hard
Col. Freelingheisen and was afterwards Gen. Freelingheisen.
That he does not recollect of ever receiving a 
discharge in writing from any officer during the war.
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That he is acquainted with General James Brooks,
Abijah Barnam, Joshua Bloomer, Daniel Scott, James 
Wheeler and Asgill Gibbs Esquire P.M. at said , who all 
reside near and in the same town and can testify 
to his character for truth and veracity.
That he remained in the town of Bridgwater
in the county of Summersette in the State of New Jersey 
after the Revolutionary War until about twenty eight 
years ago he removed into the town of Ovid(?) in the 
County of Seneca and State of New York and has
ever since and still does reside in the said town of 
Ovid in the said County of Seneca and State of New York.
Sworn to and subscribed, in open court
the day and year aforesaid.
Seba Murphy Clerk,
State of New York
County of Seneca (?): Delos Hutchins a Clergyman
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the town of Ovid
in the County of Seneca and State of New York and, 
James DeMott of the town of Ovid, in the said County of Seneca and state aforesaid, (on residing in the said town of Ovid in the said County of Seneca and state aforesaid) hereby certify that we are well 
acquainted with Reuben Dennis sho has subscribed 
and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe 
him to be seventy nine years of age, that he is respected 
and believed in the neighborhood where he resides,
to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that 
we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed this 6th day of October 1832
before 
- in open court.
Delos Hutchins
James DeMott
And the said court do hereby declare
their opinion after the investigation of the matter
and after putting the interrogators prescribed by 
the War Department, that the above named Reuben
Dennis the applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier
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certifies that it appears to them, that Delos Hutching who has signed the proceeding certificate is a Clergyman residing in the town of Ovid in the County of Seneca and State of New York, and that James DeMott [Esquire?] who has also signed the same is a resident ┃
in the said town of Ovid in the said County of Seneca and State of New York and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit,

J. Seba Murphy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Seneca and State of New York
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Reuben Davis
for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have
here unto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the 6th day of October 1832, Seba Murphy Clerk,
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[unintelligible} 8014950
Reuben Dennis
[unintelligible]
N. York

from Josiah Fierres
Jamesburg, New Jersey
Page 7

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive
that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed.
The notes and the regulations will show what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, shewing the service of Reuben Dennis, Seneca County

______
Period when the service was rendered.
[] 1775
______
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years - 3
Months
Days
______
Rank of the claimant.
_____
Names and Rank
of the Company
whom he served.
[unintelligible]
Captain Van Ardellan
____
Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers.
____
Battles in which
the applicant was
engaged.
____
Country through 
which he marched
The state of 
N. Jersey
Elizabeth
Trenton
Monmouth
 Parcel Hook
Trenton
Newark 
____
Place of abode
when he entered the service, and age at the present period
79 years
middlesex county
N.J -
______

Evidence by
which the decla-
ration is sup-
ported


I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,]
evidence
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claim-
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in-
stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of } ss.
On this    day of      personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
of       aged (c)      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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
and
---
served in the
(e) regiment of the
(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy,
---
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
&c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same )
who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
1.
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
&c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
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 services.
6. {To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
{To an Officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
------------------------------
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason ofold age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For  [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]. For [blank]- months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] and for such service I claim a pension."

it is important in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate

Proof of Service.

[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
-->The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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['Acts of July 14, 1862 and March 8, 1878.' crossed out]

13708
REJECTED
--------------------
P. O. _________________
__ Reuben Dennis ____
Service: ___ Revy ______

Enlisted: _________________, 18   .
Discharged: ______________, 18   .

Application filed: __________, 18   .

Alleges: ____________________
Re-enlisted: _________________

Attorney: _____________________
P. O. _________________________
___ Recognized.  _____ Contract.
___ Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ______, 18. .
Page 11

Pension Office
OFFICIAL BUSINESS

14.93[illegible]

Reuben Dennis
New York

Josiah Ferris
Let. Sept. 11. 1833
Josiah Ferris June ['15/54' crossed out or smeared]

Act June 7, 1832
Page 12

Jamesburg Middlesex Co. N.J.

[cut off], Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.

Dr. Sir, In overhawling [overhauling] my
old papers to send the useless ones to the
Paper Mill I found the enclosed application
of Mr Reuben Dennis, which I made out
for him when I resided in the Town of Ovid Seneca Co. State of New York and forwarded to Hon. J. L. Edwards Comr. of pensions, it was returned to me with E.i.j. marked on the enclosed as you will perceive, by looking it over I perceive the defect in the papers were owing to the want of a certificate from the Magistrates setting forth the Credibility of the witness who proofed up the services, why that was omitted, I do not know, Mr Dennis is dead, Judge Wheeler is dead and I presume Esqr Miller & the two old
men who were his witnesses I did not know
I had his papers with me. I removed from that State about fifteen years ago and have not been into that neighborhood since
Page 13

as it respects the credibility of the witnesses
they lived but a little way from me, and had known them from about 1811.  I do not
recollect of ever hearing their names brought
in question as to their truth and veracity
If their testimony has been given in any other case where application has been made for a pension. I presume their credibility as to truth and veracity has been sustained.

Very respectfully
I am your obt. Servt
Josiah Ferris

You will please address me at
Jamesburg Middlesex Co. New Jersey
Page 14

[following written beneath the name and address of commissioner:]
Reuben Dennis N.Y. 
Applicaiton for a Pension
Act 1832 Susp.

Papers returned - N.Y. index
for letter

let. to Joseph Ferris N.Y. or N..

[stamp:] JAMESBURG N.J. JUN 11 Free

[stamp:] PENSION OFFICE JUN 15 1852

Hon Commissioner of Pensionbs
City of Washington
D.C.

[parts of letter behind the sheet above:]
Co. N.J.

[cut off] ing any
[cut off] to the
[cut off] application
[cut off] made out
[cut off] town of
[cut off] York and
[cut off] Commr. of
[cut off] with
[cut ff] as you
[cut off] own
[cut off]any men
[cut off]cate from
[cut off'edibility
[cut off] services,
[cut off] know,
[cut off]er is dea
[cut off] two old
[cut off] not know\[cut off]ned from
[cut off]go, and
[cut off][illegible] since
Page 15

State of New York
County of Seneca SS. Jacob Doty being duly sworn deposes and say, that Reuben Dennis who has made the annexed Declaration for a
Pension was a brother in law to this Deponent
when living, that the said Reuben Dennis is now dead, that he died this last spring that this Deponent knew and was well acquainted with the said Reuben Dennis during the Revolutionary war and also knew Capt Lapanders the capt he served under as he has set forth in his declaration, and knows that they both were out in the service during the war, and that the said Reuben served under him, and this Deponent further says that he verily believes that the said Reuben Dennis served the length of time he has set forth and also in the manner as set forth in his said declaration
            his
Jacob   X   Doty
           mark

Sworn and subscribed this 7th day
of June 1833 before me
Gilbert T Miller
Justice of the Peace in
and for the County of Seneca

State of New York
County of Seneca SS. I  Seba Murphy Clerk of the County of Seneca do Certify that Gilbert T. Miller before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been made was at the date of the same a justice of the peace of the County of Seneca, and that I am well acquainted with
his hand writing, and verily believe his name
subscribed to said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County the 7th day of June 1838. 
Seba Murphy Clk.
Page 16

14950
Reuben Dennis
----------------
Pension papers

Witness

Filed 6th October 1832


Jamesburg from
J. Ferris
Middlesex Co. N. Jersey


[stamp:] PENSION OFFICE JUN 13 1859
Page 17

State of New York
County of Seneca} SS.
John Mesler of the town of Covert in the County of Seneca being duly sworn deposes & says that he is well acquainted with Reuben Dennis of Ovid in said County of Seneca and has been acquainted with him ever since the Revolutionary War, that he became acquainted with him by being in the United States service with him, and belonged to and served in the same company with him, which was commanded by Capt Van Asdells, and that an acquaintance has been continued and kept up ever since, that we have both lived between the Lakes for twenty eight or nine years past. And this Deponent further says that he has always considered the said Reuben Dennis to be an honest man and does believe he has served as much as two years or more during the Revolutionary war in the service of the United States
          his
John   X Mesler
         mark

Sworn & subscribed this 29th
day of August 1832 before me
Levi Wheeler a Judge of
the Court of Common pleas
in & for the County of Seneca.