Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 667, for Peter Johnston, New Jersey
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Service Number
New Jersey Johnston, Peter S. 667
carded
Contents
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New Jersey
Peter Johnston
Monmouth Co in the State of New Jersey who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Hume of the New Jersey Militia as Sergeant $120.
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 120 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831 Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of March 1833 Sent to H.B. Polhemus, Freehold N.J.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 240.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 1833. 60.00.  $300.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832 Recorded by John T Sprague Clerk Book D Vol. 4 Page 157 Paid at the treasury [illegible] the Act of the April 1838 from 4th March 1838 to 4 Sept 1838 Agt notified 4 June 1830
Order to pay 4th October 1841
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No. 5137 Peter Johnston [illegible] Nov 25 1832 4.5.14.16
Adm@2 yrs Sergeant $120.00
H.D. Polhemus Freehold N.J. E
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Brief in the case of Peter Johnston of Monmouth County. in the State of New Jersey (Act 7th June 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Inferior Court of C. Pleas
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant was disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 81 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and field officers under whom he served. In 1776 August 1 months As a private Gen. N.J. Militia. Capt. Hankinson. Same year 1 month private Capt. Hunne Performed tours till close of war Capt. Weeton
5. In what battles was he engaged? Several skirmishes
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Freehold Nj.J.
7 Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Two swear generally 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective credibility of witnesses not certified papers nor properly attached. 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. J. M. Duffiell Examining Clerk
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Monmouth County N.J. Peter Johnston Declaration under Act of [illegible] 1832 for a pension
No. 5137
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I Daniel H Ellis Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the annexed contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Peter Johnston for a pension- and that John Patterson and John Headden Esquires before whom the annexed affidavits were taken were at the respective dates thereof duly enrolled in my office as Justices of the Peace and Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in said county of Monmouth, duly [illegible] and sworn into office, and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all their official act as such and further that I am acquainted with the hands writing of the said John Patterson and John Headden, and verily believe their names respectively signed to said affidavits to be their own proper hand writing and signatures. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office at Freehold this 27th Day of December in the year of our Lord one thousan, eight hundred and thirty two. D.H. Ellis
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State of New Jersey Monmouth County
On this thirty first day of July A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth now sitting Peter Johnston a resident of the township of Freehold in the county of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey aged eightyone years who being first duly sworn accordingly doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress Papered June 7th AD 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following naned officers and served as herein stated. That on August 1776 he belonged to a company of Militia commanded by Captain Hankinson of the Township of Freehold in the county and stae aforesaid that one half o f the militia of the county were ordered out upon a tour of duty for one month. That the order to determine who of the company to which he belonged should perform the first tour of duty they drew lots, and one half of his company when out, and he among them. Much he believed the same thing was done on Capt. Thomas Hunn’s company That they were ordered under Captain Hunn in Middlesex Co. to Amboy and that they went from Amboy to Long Branch in Monmouth County and served their month out- that they were then relieved by a company of Capt. Hankinson composed of one half of his own men and one half of Capt. Hunn’s men
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that at the end of another month he went out again under Captain Hunn and served one other month. That the British Tories then for a time obtained the ascending in the county and they were obliged to lay down arms. That after the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, they resumed their arms and he again commenced the performance of his monthly tours of duty in the militia and several under Captains Elisha Walton and John Walton until the close of the war doing militia duty every other month, and very frequently performing duty in the intermediate months upon alarms and personal calls of the militia- That his services as a militia man were confined pretty generally to the county of Monmouth in defending its shores at different Points and in protecting the lives and property of her citizens, from the lawless depredations of British, Refugees, and Tories. That in the summer of 1777 he marched with the Militia under the command of Col Scudder from Monmouth County to SourLand Mountains, then to Steels Gap. That they were divided and put under Command of Major Longstreet under whom command he then was marched on the south side of Raritan River to New Brunswick crossed the River and marched to Bonhampton- That they returned to Brunswick and were discharged and went home-It was about the time the British left New Brunswick. The next day after their discharges he heard
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the Report of Cannon and understood it was at the Battle of Short HIlls between Washington’s army and the British- That in the latter part of the year 1777 while on one of his monthly tours of duty upon the shores his company then under the command of Captain Elishu Walton recieved orders to march into Pennsylvania-that several companies of Militis, Captain Burrowes company of Regulars and Captain Huddy with two pieces of heavy artillery marched from Monmouth Court House under the command of Col. Holmes and General Forman for Trenton-That they crossed the Delaware River there and joined Genl Washington’s army at or near Germantown. That he was engaged in the Battle of Germantown-That after the Battle of Germantown-They marched under Gen Forman to Trenton where they were discharged adn went home. That previous to the Battles of Monmouth in June 1778 he marched under Capt. John Walton and joined Col Morgan of the Rifle Corps belonging to the regular services in the neighborhood of Allentown and marched with them within a few miles of Monmouth Court House where they arrived on saturday the day before the Battle of Monmouth. That he was not actively engaged in the Battle of Monmouth being attached to Morgan’s command who was not in the Battle and was on the right flank of the American army to the SouthWest of the Court House,
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that during the war he was engaged in a number of skirmishes with the british and Refugees, and was frequently outwhom scouts under a variety of officer, a minute detail of which he is unable to give. That he feels great confidence in saying that in the aggregate his various services amount to more than two years. That he know no officer alive, under whom he served and that he has no documentary evidence of his services- But he is able to procure the testimony of [illegible] Chessman & Aaron REed who know much concerning his services. He recollects and thinks it was in the early part of the year 1777 as there was snow on the ground. that he marched with many others under the command of Col Holmes & Genl Forman to Sandy Hook. That he understood the object of Gen Forman was to take the Light House there in the possession of teh British and Refugees, who were continually harassing the citizens of the Couty by their Regiment Piratical excursions-That they were defeated by a British ship of war who fired into them and forced them to retreat, otherwise they would have been cut offf by the British who were about to Land in the rear of them_ that he was born July 9th 1757 in the Township of Freehold where he has always resided_ That the record of his age is in his family Bible now in his possession-that he entered the militia under the laws of the state of new Jersey, being enrolled in the Militia at 18 years of age That David Baird & Benj Van Schoick
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can testify to his character in his neighborhood- That he hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pensionor annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any state. Peter Johnston
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid John Patterson
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County
Personally appeared in open court William Cheesman of Monmouth County who being sworn according to law deposeth and oath that he has known Peter Johnston at least 60 years- saw him out with the Militia often times during the Revolutionary War-served in the same company of militia with him many times-That he verily believes the said Peter Johnston served more than two years in the militia of Monmouth- that he has heard the declaration of the said Peter Johnston made and he believes from his knowledge of the matters and thing sit further therein-that the same is true. William Cheesman 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. John Headdon
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County

Personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Inferior court of Common Pleas for the county of Monmouth Aaron Reed residing in said County who being sworn according to law deposeth and said that he is 76 years of age that he has known the said Peter Johnston for 60 years-that he has seen the said Peter Johnston out with the Militia of Monmouth County on the performance of his monthly tours of duty and he upon alarms and generale calls during the Revolutionary War-that deponent often served with the said Peter Johnston in the same company of Militia. That he cannot pretend to say how long the P. Johnston served in the Militia- But judging from the different times that the deponent saw him out, and from the character the said P. Johnston sustained as agood [illegible] and good soldier, all the time that deponent, he verily believes the saith P. Johnston served more than two years in the milita, and that he is justly and honestly entitled to be placed upon the Pension Role under the Act of June 7th 1832-that the declaration of the said Peter Johnston has been [illegible] read to this deponent and he believes that the matter and things set forth therein are true. 
Aaron Reed
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Headden
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We David Baird and Benjamin Van Schoick of Upper Freehold township hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with peter Johnston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 81 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. Benjamin Van Schoick. David Baird
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid John Patterson
And the said above 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 no Clergyman resides in the neighborhood of the said applicant and that the said David Baird and Benj Van Schoick who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the neighborhood of the said applicant and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. John Patterson. John Headdon. John Hull.
I Daniel H. Ellis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Monmouth do hereby certify that the foregoing con
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tains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Johnston for a pension. In testimony whereof I have here unto let my hand and affixed the seal of said court this 31st day of July AD 1832. D.H.Ellis
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Revolutionary War Records Section 3-525
AW S667
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C……., 19…….
In reply to your request of ……., received……for a statement of the military history of Peter Johnston a soldier of the revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (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
1776 Services at various times until late in 1782, according in all total of 37 mos.15 das.  Rank; Pvt and Orderly Sgt. Captains Hankinson, Thos. Hunn Elisha Walton. John Walton Cols. Hohnes Scudder, Morgan. State. NJ
Battles engaged in- Germantown
Residence of soldier at enlistment Freehold Twp. Monmouth Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension July 31, 1832 Has cl was al, 
Residence at date of application, Freehold Twp. M.Co. NJ
age at date of application, born Freehold Tsp. M.Co. N.J. July 9, 1751
remarks: No family data; date of place of death not on record
Respectfully, Commissioner.
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Invalild.
Rev War
File No. 667
Peter Johnston. Priv. Nj.J. Line
Act June 7, 1832
Index:-Vol A, Page 1193
Arrangement of 1870
1920 Feb, 17 Hist. to C.A. Hoppin, 27 bank St. New York City. See his letter in John vannatter, S33853 
1925 Mar. 6. C.A. Hoppin inf. no letter with dollar bill rec’d and advised of cost of copies.
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Treasury Department
Second Comptroller’s Office May 13th, 1839
Sir: Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled “An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,”Peter Johnson, a Pensioner on teh Roll of the New Jersey Agency, at the rate of one hundred and twenty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June , 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1838, to the 4th Sept., 1838. Respectfully, yours, 
J. Seaner
Acting comptroller
to the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
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Trenton October 2, 1841
Sir
The enclosed voucher of Peter Johnston being for twelve months pension requires your special direction for payment. I am respectfully Your obt Servt, P Dickinson W P Hunt JS Edwards  Commissioner of Pensions Washington
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Peter Johnston’s Supplemental Affidavits
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Supplemental Affidavits
State of New Jersey
Monmouth County 
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace, in and for the COunty of Monmouth, in the State of New Jersey, Peter Johnston, an applicant for a Pension, being the same person named in the papers marked N. 5137, who being duly sowrn deposeth saith that by reason of old age and the consequent laps of memory he can not 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- that I served in the Militia of New Jersey in the year 1776 one months and fifteen days as a Private-In the year 1777 five months as an orderly Sergeant. In the year 1778 six months as an orderly Sergeant- In the year 1779 six months as an orderly Sergeant- In the year 1780 as an orderly Sergeant six months. In the year 1781 six months as an orderly Sergeant and in the year 1782 six months as an orderly Sergeant- And for such service I claim a Pension- That the periods mentioned by me as above, fall short of the time I actually served in teh War of the Revolution- That I generally served one month at a time, sometimes longer, and every other month under the Militia [illegible] of New Jersey- That I rendered these services at different times, and at this late period of my life being in the 82nd year of my age, I am unable to designate the months particularly in which I served. Neither can I detail more precisely my servcies in the Revolutionary War than I have already done. Peter Johnston
Sworn and subscribed before me this 26th day of December AD 1832 John Headden
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omit
I John Headden, a Justice of the Peace and one of the Judges of the Inferior court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the affidavits of William Cheeseman and Aaron Reed relative to the services of Peter Johnston in the Revolutionary War and annexed to the declaration of the said Peter Johnston and forming a part of the original proceedings of the court in the matter of the application on the said Peter Johnston for a Pension which proceedings are marked No. 5137 were sworn to and subscribed before me in open Court and that the said William Cheesman and Aaron Reed are known to me and are persons of credibility. Sworn under my hand this twenty sixth day of December Eighteen hundred and thirty two. John Headden
I Daniel H. Ellis, Clark of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that John Headden before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken, was at the date thereof duly enrolled in my office as a Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the court of Common Pleas in said county of Monmouth, duly commissioned and sworn into office, and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all of his official acts as such and further that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said John Headden and verily believe his name subscribed to said affidavit as well as to the above certificate to be his own proper handwriting and signature. In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of office at Freehold this twenty seventh day December eighteen hundred and thirty two. D. H. Ellis Clk
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[Stamped]
U.S. Pension Office
Feb 24 1925

967 Madison Avenue New York, N.Y. February 21/25
Dear Sir
About three weeks ago I addressed to you a letter, inquiring if I could be supplied with a photostatic copy of the declaration of Peterf Johnson of Monmouth County, N.J. soldier of the Revolution. I enclosed a one-dollar bill in that leter. Evidently, the letter did not reach your office. I already have the declaration of a Peter Johnson who was living in Tennessee when pensioned. He is not the Monmouth N.J. man. I will await advices before remitting again. Very respectfully C.A. Hoppin
money not received by AW Rev, 1872 Section
S667 N.J. Peter Johnston page 6
Money not rec’d by mail and [illegible] sec. Ean
Money not received by Finance division. HCL 3/6/25
Everything searched no trace of letter with dollar found see notes above
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. 
March 6, 1925
Mr. C. A. Hoppin, 967 Madison Ave. New York city, 
Sir: 
In response to your letter of the twenty-first instant, I have to advise you, that a careful search fails to show that any letter with a dollar bill enclosed, has been received from you recently. If you desire  photostat copies of the declaration of the Revolutionary War pensioner, S.667, Peter Johnston of Monmouth county, New Jersey, the same will be furnished you, at the rate of fifteen cents a page, with twenty-five cents extra for certification, if that is wished. The number of pages to be copied is six. The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior. Respectfully, Hays Haymaker. Acting Commissioner. 
Send decla of July 31, 1832- 5 pages and his aff. of Dec 26, 1832.