Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 953, Abraham Bennet, New Jersey
Page 1

SERVICE
New Jersey

Bennet, Abraham

NUMBER
S. 953.

carded.
Page 2

9663
4.364
New Jersey
Abraham Bennett Ser
of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey
who was a Sergeant in the Compy commanded
by Captain Williamson of the Regt, commanded
by Col. Nelson in the New Jersey
line for 2 Years
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey
at the rate of 120 Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of June
1833 and sent to Hon. J. F. Randolf Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33                   $240
Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible] 45   60
---
$300
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
G S Stiles Clerk,
Book 6, Vol. B. Page 102.

May 26 1839
Page 3

The application of
Abr'am Bennet for
pension
Page 4

for a period or term of two months or more
then at New Ark one month or more, then
at Bergen and Paulus Hook one month.
then a period or term of two weeks when
the Pennsylvania troops revolted, then at
Springfield this time can't positively say -
then at Perth Amboy when the British fleet
were off that port for a period or term of one
week or more, a tour of service as a
guide to scouting parties on the British
line & two skirmishes with the British at
same time at Van Harlingens orchard on
Georges Road Middlesex County & Recugons
on same Road & various duties for six 
months.
Interrogatories propounded by the Court to
Abraham Bennett an applicant under the
Act entitled an Act for the releif of certain
surviving Officers and soldiers of the Revolution
passed June 7th 1832.
Ints. 
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2 Have you any record of your age and if so
where and what 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 out into service - were
you drafted, did you volunteer or were you
a substitute and if a substitute, for whom?
Page 5

Ints 5 - State the names of some of the
Regular Officers who were with the
Troops when you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments
as you can recollect and the 
general circumstances of your 
service
6 - Did you ever receive a Commission
& if so by whom was it signed and
what has become of it - or did you 
ever receive a discharge from the service
7 - State the names of the persons to
whom you are known in your
present neighbourhood, and who
can testify as to your character
for veracity & their belief as to your
services as a soldier of the 
Revolution
Answers to the foregoing Interrogatories
To Int. 1 - I was born on the [blank]
day of November in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred
and forty seven in Bushwick
Long Island New York Kings
County
2 - My Birth is recorded in my
fathers family now in my
possession
Page 6

3 - I resided on Georges Road Middlesex
County New Jersey about six miles from
the City of New Brunswick, and
have since the Revolutionary War
continued there, until two or three
year past when I removed to New
Brunswick Somerset County where
I now reside
4 - I was drafted into service and served
when called out in my class as it
was then called in the Militia were
classed in the district I lived & was
regularly enrolled by their Officers -
one tour of services I was a substitute
5 - Generals Sterling & Sullivan of the
Continental Army and Genl Heard
Col. Neilson, Col Hyer, Col Remsen
&c of the Militia
6 - I never received any written Commission
was appointed Orderly Sergeant
by the voice of the Company & no
written discharge
7 [text below is crossed out]
Garret Nevius and [blank]
being duly sworn according to Law in
Open Court on their oath say, that they
have heard the foregoing declaration
of Abraham Bennett the declarant &
That the matters & things therein set
forth so far as it regards the service of
Page 7

[crossed out: the claimant]
Int 7. The claimant is very well known
in the neighbourhood with Col John
Neilson, John Bray Esq. Staats
Van Deursen, Nicholas Booraem
Esq Wynant Dehart, Garret Nevius
&c
Abraham Bennet

Sworn and subscribed in
Open Court this 31st
day of July 1832
Thomas Hance Judge

Garret Nevius and Andrew Bowman being
duly sworn according to Law in Open
Court on their oath say, that they have
heard the foregoing declaration of
Abraham Bennett the declarant -
That the matters and things therein set
forth so far as regards the service of the
claimant are true & they believe that
the sd declarant served at different times
for the term of two years or thereabout
and they saw the sd declarant at many
and various times on duty & in the
service as stated
Garret Nevius
his
Isaac x Bowman
mark

Sworn in Open Court
& subscribed this 31st
July 1832.
Thomas Hance Judge
Page 8

The Claimant has no writings or documentary
evidence to prove the foregoing facts, and he
refers to the depositions herewith annexed
as evidence of his service. 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
Abraham Bennet

Sworn & subscribed in
Open Court the day
& year aforesaid
Thos Hance Judge

And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion of 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 Garret Nevius and Isaac Bowman
who have signed the preceding certificate
are residents in the County Middlesex in
this State and are credible persons and
that their statement is entitled to credit.
Thos Hance
N Booraem
Jos Ford
Judges
Page 9

I Ferdinand S. Van Arsdalen Clerk of the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and
for the County of Middlesex and State
aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the
said Court in the matter of the application
of Abraham Bennett for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal
of Office this thirty first
day of July in the
yeare of our Lord eightee
hundred and thirty two
F. S. Van Arsdalen Clerk
Page 10

We Samuel B How a Clergyman residing in
the City of New Brunswick in the State of New
Jersey and James S Nevius residing in same
place hereby certify that we are [crossed out: well] acquainted
with Abraham Bennett who has subscribed
and sworn to the declaration herewith.
that we believe him to be about eighty five
years as stated by him, that he is reputed
and beleived in the neighbourhood where he
resides to have been a soldier of the
Revolution and that we concur in that
opinion.
Samuel B. How
James S. Nevius

Sworn & subscribed
in Open Court the day & y afs
Thos Hance, Judge

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 Samuel
B. How who has signed the preceding certificate
is a Clergyman resident in the City of New
Brunswick in the State of New Jersey, and
that James S Nevius 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.
Thos Hance
N Booraem
Jos Ford
Judges
Page 11

N. Jersey
Middlesex ss:
Supplementary affidavit of Abraham
Bennet the forgoing applicant
Personally appeared before me the undersigned
a Justice of the peace in and for the
County of Middlesex & State of New Jersey
Abraham Bennet the forgoing applicant
who being duly sworn on his oath deposeth
and saith that by reason of old age and 
consequent loss of memory he cannot swear
positively as to the precise length of his service
but to the best of his recollection he served
not less than the periods mentioned below
and in the following grades viz. For the
period of one month & more as a private in an
expedition to Long Island to disarm the Tories
as he believes in the winter of 1776 in the company
commanded by Capt. John Nielson (afterwards
Col Neilson) In June 1776 he served also as a
private for two weeks in Capt. Lawrences company
& under Col. Nielson & the following two weeks
as a volunteer in the line. For the period of
3 months as orderly Sergeant under Col Nielson
at Branbury early in the year 1777 during which
time was engaged in two skirmishes with the
British near the lines at New Brunswick.
For 4 months to wit June, & July, September
& October 1778 in the same capacity & in the
same company & under the same officers.
For 6 months to wit May June & July, September,
October & November 1779 under Capt.
Williamson & Col. Nielson & in the same
capacity on the lines at Elizabethtown & New
Ark. In June 1780 as a private for 1 month
at the Cheesquake in New Jersey. From this
time he served as orderly Sergeant his regular
Page 12

tours till the end of the war twelve months
& more but cannot assignate the months
and for such service he claims a pension.
And on his oath aforesaid he further states
that he knows of no other persons than those
whose affidavit he has already obtained &
is hereunto annexed, whose testimony can
avail him. Few who served with him are
living & they so aged and infirm & their mind
& memory so much enfeebled by age as
to be unable to recollect the specific periods
of his service. And he further states that
he was not employed in any civil pursuit
during the time of his service above specified
& that such service was rendered in embodied
corps only called into service by competent
authority
Abraham Bennet

Sworn & subscribed
before me this 3d day
of June A.D. 1833
Jos. Ford Justice of the peace

I Nicholas Booraem Clerk of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas in & for the County
of Middlesex & State of New Jersey do hereby
certify that the forgoing contains the
original & supplementary proceedings the
former had before said court & the latter
before Josiah Ford Esq a Justice of the
peace in the matter of the application of
Abraham Bennet for a pension.
And I further certify that the said
Page 13

Josiah Ford is a Justice of the
Peace in & for the county of Middlesex
in New Jersey & also a Judge
of said court of common Pleas
duly commissioned & that the
name "Josiah Ford" above annexed
is in the proper hand writing
of said Josiah Ford.
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal
of said court this third day of June AD
eighteen hundred & thirty three.
N Booraem Clerk

[separate page - part of interrogatories]
a substitute and if a substitute, for whom.
Page 14

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County SS
On this thirty first day of July in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty two personally appeared in open court, before the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County
of Middlesex & State aforesaid now sitting Abraham
Bennett Senior aged eighty five years in November
next 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. The Regiment to which this deponent
was attached was commanded by Capt John
Neilson and the Company by Col Williamson
both of whom resided in the State of New Jersey
& John Messeroll of the same State was a
Lieutenant & your claimant Orderly Serjeant
of the same. that he enlisted in said Company
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and seventy five & that he served
for a period of one month or more in the
campaign of Long Island & marched from
New Brunswick to Elisabeth Town from
thence to Paulies Hook N. Jersey, crossed over
to the City of New York and thence to Long
Island and there remained until the
retreat of the main army to New York &
New Jersey. the claimant believes that
Page 15

Genl Heard had command of the
Militia from the district of the State he
marched from. that he resided in the
County of Middlesex and State aforesaid when
he entered the service. that he served at the
battle of Monmouth under the Officers before
mentioned. then under Capt Morgan
for a period of one month as a guard
and was then discharged. then a tour
of service under command of Col Remsen
Capt Lawrence & Lieut Hallet or Hollett as
a substitute in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred & seventy six on
Long Island for a period or term of two
weeks or more & then as a volunteer in
the line two weeks. afterwards left Long
Island with the army crossed to New York
& New Jersey. then a tour of service at
Cranberry under command of Col John
Neilson, Capt Williamson & Lieut John
Messeroll for a period or term of three
months, then discharged. then a tour
of service as a guard in the Militia at
Cheesequake New Jersey under command of
Capt Morgan & Lieut Van Wickle in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and eighty for a period or term of one
month. then on a tour of service at
Elizabeth Town under same Officers as
Page 16

3-525
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
Revy
S. 953
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.
corrections & additions
made by AW. July 11, 1915

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank]
for a statement of the military history of Abraham Bennet
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.

[table]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
1775
[blank]
[blank]
[blank]

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
and served
at various
tour 2 yrs
4 mos. in all

RANK.
Prvt
Sergeant
[blank]
[blank]

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS ENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
John Neilson
Williamson
Morgan
Lawrence

COLONEL.
Remsen
Hyde
John Neilson
[blank]

STATE.
N. J.
[end of table]

Battles engaged in, 2 skirmishes at New Brunswick, monmouth.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, on Georges Road, Middlesex Co NJ
Date of application for pension, July 31 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, New Brunswick, Somerset N.J.
Age at date of application, born Nov 17 at Bushwick, Kemp Co. N.Y.
Remarks. Soldier died May 6 18[illegible]
[illegible] on file.
He was pensioned as Abraham Bennett Sr.
The above noted is the only A B of N.J. found on the Rev War
records of this Bureau
Respectfully,
[blank]
Commissioner.
Page 17

1914. Mch 27: hist to Mrs
John J. Morrison (Letter in
W. F. 395 Jacob Booraem. M. 13. H
1917 July 11. Hist to Mrs J. B. Gowing. AW
1919 June 27. Hist to Sarah Oliver. AW

INVALID.
Rev War
File No 953
Abraham Bennet
Sergt N. J. Line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index:-- Vol. A, Page 25
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 18

4367
Abraham Bennett
Admitted
Sergeant 25 months
New Jersey Militia
Littleton Kirkpatrick Esq
New Brunswick
N J
Page 19

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
April 29 1833
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 shew 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 [blank]

[table]
Period when the service was rendered.
[blank]

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years.  | Months. | Days.
[blank] | [blank] | [blank]

Rank of the claimant.
[blank]

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
[blank]

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
[blank]

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
[blank]
[end of table]

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

Mr Abraham Bennett
Page 20

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 at 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 claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, 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 of     in the county of      and State, Territory or District
of      aged      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)      , with      and
served in the       (e) regiment of the       line, under the following named officers:
(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 entered 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, &c.)
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.
I        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     and C.D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with      , 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 days 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.
I,          Clerk of the Court of          do hereby certify 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, 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
Page 21

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 exexpected.
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.
(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
one has become of it?
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 the 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.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will for
low the rule laid down for his guidance.
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.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
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
termine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
definite as to enable the Department to deterloss
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
of old 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---year-
-- months, and days, I served as a-   -- For months and days, I served as a -; 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 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must affix his seal, and 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.
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 oath 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 applies to continental troops only.
Traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 22

[postmark]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
D
MAY 3 1917
Page 23

Chicago, Illinois,
May 1, 1917.

Bureau of Pensioners,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:-
Some time ago I wrote you for a copy of my
ancestor's pension giving service, but did not get a reply.
Hope I may have one at once.
His name was Abraham Bennett who served
in New Jersey, born about 1746
Any help you will give me will be greatly appreciated
and I am much in need of it to join the D. A. R.
Very truly yours,
Mrs. Jabez P. Gowing
Room 1333, 30 North LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois.

[illegible] letter was received
It is probably S903. That is the only one in N J
but no [illegible] injury in that record
Page 24

[postmark]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
K 
JUN 18 1919
Page 25

Bureau of Pensions
Gentlemen
Can you give me
any information concerning
Abraham Bennett, Private
Middlesex Co. New Jersey Militia
1777. 1778. 1780 and 1782
born in Bushwick Long Island
lived at Georges Road, Middlesex
Co near New Brunswick N. J.
when applied for pension
died May 26, 1839.
also Abraham Bennett Sergeant
and Orderly Sergeant
according to pension claim
Page 26

(Invalid no 953) born 1757
this was given to me by the
Adjutant General of New Jersey
any information about either
of the soldiers mention above
or their families will be
greatfully recieved
respectfully
Sarah Oliver
Jamesburg
New Jersey