Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4503, William Hambleton, New Jersey
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(8-1776)     
                      Service                                                  Number
                   New Jersey     Hambleton, William          R. 4503

Contents
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The State of New Jersey
County of Burlington }ss.
On this fourth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared before me George Haywood one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the county of Burlington and one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, William Hambleton who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the precise length of service in the army of the Revolution but according to the best of his recollection doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th AD 1832, that he is aged between eighty eight & eighty nine years.  That he was born in the township of White Marsh in the county of Philadelphia and state of Pennsylvania, that he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year seventeen hundred & seventy six or seven, that he then lived at Miretown in the County of Monmouth & state of New Jersey, that he enlisted at Mannahawkin in said county under Captain Peter Wykoff in Col. Hendrickson's regiment.  That he enlisted for six months and served as a private under said officers and Lieutenant Longstreet five months, when he was taken sick of a fever and his captain gave him a written discharge.  That soon after his enlistment he was marched to Freehold thence to Allentown, thence to Trenton where the company was reviewed.  From thence we were marched to New York and soon after joined the standing army on Long Island.  Thinks that Genl Washington was there either at New York or on Long Island.  That he was in one battle there but does not recollect the names of the officers in command.  That he was in several skirmishes on Long Island - the particulars of only one are now recollected viz. our troops were entrenched on Long Island with an eight gun battery
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at one end of the trench.  The British appeared and attempted to come round behind us, we rallied out to meet them & they retreated.  Several men were killed on both sides but do not recollect that any officers were.  That the next night we crossed over to New York where we staid about one week and left there for the White Plains in New Jersey where I remained (except being sent out on a few occasions on duty) until taken sick & discharged.  I then returned to Miretown where I resided for eight or ten years, then moved to Cedar Bridge, where I lived fifteen or sixteen years & then moved to where I now live in the township of Northampton in the County of Burlington.  He does not know or recollect any person or persons now living who have a personal knowledge of his services.  He does not know the year of his birth & has no record of his age.  He enlisted in the service when he entered.  Cannot recollect the names of any other officers than those mentioned herein before nor anything in particular of the continental or militia regiments.  He does not recollect the year or month he entered the service.  Knows that the weather was warm when he entered & cold when he left it and thinks that it was about a year after the war began.  There is no clergyman residing in the neighbourhood which is thinly settled.  He is personally well known by Clayton Newbold, Clayton Newbold Jr., Watson Newbold, Caleb Newbold, John Black and John Chambers (all of whom own land in the neighbourhood of deponent) and also by Thomas Swaine, Esq. of Pemberton and many others, all of whom reside in the county of Burlington and could testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.  That he relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the
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pension roll of any agency in any state.  That the disease contracted in the army continued for several months.  That the fever fell into his right leg which has now been well or sound since.  That for three years past he has been nearly blind, and from old age and bodily infirmities has been prevented from labouring for his subsistence; for the last five years- and for three years past has been confined to his bed & unable to turn without assistance.  That his written discharge has been lost or mislaid.  That during the period of his service he was all the time on actual duty in the continental army and that he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
X his mark 
William Hambleton

Sworn & subscribed the 4th day of March AD 1834.  The words "aged" "of" "Newbold" "and many others" being all first interlined before me
Geo Haywood one of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Burlington and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said county.
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State of New Jersey
County of Burlington}ss.
On the fourth day of March AD 1834 personally appeared before me George Haywood, one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said county and one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County - Elizabeth Hambleton, aged fifty eight years, who being duly sworn according to law saith that she is a daughter of William Hambleton the annexed declarant.  That she has lived with her said father and near him all her lifetime, that she has all her life been accustomed to hearing him and others talk of his having served in the Revolutionary army, that she has often heard him state all the facts set forth in the annexed declaration and many more, and with more particularity than is used by him now.  That old age and other infirmities have impaired his faculties so as to prevent his remembering dates and detailing particular circumstances with accuracy at this time, but that she verily believes that all that is stated in said declaration is honestly and materially true.
X her mark
Elizabeth Hambleton

The words "years, who being duly sworn according to law saith" & "that" interlined all done before signing & swearing.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year above written before me.  Geo Haywood Judge & Justice as above said.

The State of New Jersey Burlington County ss.
On the sixth day of May AD 1834 personally appeared before me George Haywood one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said County, Cleayton Newbold, who alleging himself conscienciously scrupulous of taking the oath on his solemn affirmation said that he has been personally well acquainted with William Hambleton for about thirty years past, that he believes said Hambleton is of the age
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he represents and who is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood to have been a revolutionary soldier and that he concurs in the opinion, that that belief has been general in the neighbourhood and this affirmant has no doubts on the subject or heard doubts expressed.  That during the last thirty years he has had frequent dealings and intercourse with William Hambleton and has all ways found him to be honest and honourable, and believes him to be a man of good character for veracity- has often heard him speak of his revolutionary services at a time when his faculty of body and mind were unimpaired and believes that the material facts now herein stated by him are in accordance with his representations then.  That he has been well acquainted with the above deponent Elizabeth Hambleton for the last thirty years, that she has always sustained a good reputation for veracity and honest. 
Cleayton Newbold

Affirmed & subscribed the day & year above written before me
Geo Haywood Judge & Justice as aforesaid

State of New Jersey - Burlington County ss.
On the 29th day of May AD 1834 personally appeared before me Geo Haywood one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said county Watson Newbold & Clayton Newbold Jr. who alleging themselves consciously scrupiously of taking an oath on their solemn affirmation say that they have been personally well acquainted with William Hambleton for 15 to 20 years past & that they believe said Hambleton is of the age he represents, & that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood to have been a revolutionary soldier.  And that they concur in the opinion that that belief has been general.  And these
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affirmants have never doubted or heard doubts expressed on the subject.  And that from the time of their first acquaintance with him they have had frequent intercourse with him & have always found him honest & honourable & believe him to be a man of good character for veracity, have heard him speak of his revolutionary services at a time when his body & mind were not so impaired and believe that the general facts now herein stated by him are in accordance with his representations then.  Tho some particulars are now omitted through as we suppose his failure of memory.  That they have been well acquainted with the above deponent Elizabeth Hambleton for these 15 to 20 years & that she has always sustained a good reputation for veracity & honesty.
Watson Newbold
Clayton Newbold Jr. 

Affirmed & subscribed the day & year above written before me.
Geo Haywood 
Judge & Justice as above said.

And I George Haywood, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and a Justice of the Peace of said county do hereby declare my opinion after investigating the matters and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant, William Hambleton was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.  And I do further certify that I am
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Clayton Newbold Jr. and Watson Newbold who have affirmed to and subscribed the preceding certificates, that they are residents of the County of Burlington of highly respectable character and standing in said County and that their statement are entitled to full credit, and that the foregoing are their genuine signatures.  And I do further certify that the said William Hambleton cannot attend the court by reason of bodily infirmity.
Geo Haywood

I John R. Slack Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Burlington in the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings in the matter of the application of William Hambleton for a pension.  I do further certify that George Haywood is a Justice of the Peace of said county, and also a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, duly commissioned and sworn, and that the foregoing are his genuine signatures.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
John. R. Slack
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REJECTED
4503
P.O.

William Hamilton
Service:
Enlisted: ___________,18  .
Discharged: ___________,18  .
Application filed: ___________,18  .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract.
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William Hambleton
New Jersey
Rejected,
Letter 26 June 1834
Hon W. N. Shinn
4503
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29,165
William Hambleton
Rejected
26 June '34
Hon. W. J. Shinn

Hd16
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War Department,
Pension Office
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 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.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace (this:  } ).  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, showing the service of  Wiliam Hambleton
Period when the service was rendered
Duration of the claimant's service
Years. Months. Days.
Rank of the claimant
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service
Proof by which the declaration is supported

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, musicians 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 (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)    , 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 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. 
 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
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person 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 Milita, 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 service.
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 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.
[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 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 no 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, 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 employed 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 paper.
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 [l] 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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The National Archives
Vorm VAM-51
12-5-41

Division of Veteran's Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD *

Name Hamblin, Bazaleel
Grade Corporal 'in the Invalids"
Line 
Warrant Number 13224
Acreage 100
Issued January 26, 1790 to John May, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776 and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.