Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3988, for Elijah Stites, New Jersey
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(3-1776)
SERVICE New Jersey  Penn.
Stites, Elijah 
or Stiles 
NUMBER   S.3988
carded
CONTENTS
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1885 Sep 30 Hon Al S P Guild with history 
Prior   
Date of death not in AB
Ohio   22.327
Elijah Stiles 
of Hamilton Co in the of Ohio was a Private in the Co commanded by Captain Morrell
of the Regt commanded by Col Spencer in New Jersey line for 2 years   
Elijah Stites  Inf.  Pa. Line Records O.K.   [unreadable]
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831    
Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of Oct 1833 and sent to J. B Gaines Cincinnati Ohio – 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833.          200.    
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 mar 34   40. 
$ 240-
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}    
Recorded by Book Wm. S. Palmer Clerk
Book E  Vol. 8. Page 25
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State of Ohio
County of Hamilton } Ss.
On this 23 day of February one thousand seven Hundred and Thirty Three personally appeared in open court before the court of Common Pleas of said County of Hamilton and State of Ohio now sitting Elijah Stites a resident of Warren County in Said Warren county in same District of Ohio 
at this [unreadable] of many years a resident of said county of Hamilton aged seventy three years on the 22nd day of March last who being first duly sworn [unreadable] to the following [unreadable] in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of June 7 1832.  
That he entered the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution at Elizabeth Town in the State of New Jersey in the month of May (as well as he now recollects) in the year 1777 in the company commanded by Captain Morrell in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Oliver Spencer that he held no commission in said company and Regiment or in any the subsequent service during said War but was a private merely from first to last; – that the nature of his services was that of a private soldier and he acted in that character fully two years and
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upwards being at all times bound to perform duty and at no time during said period of two years and upwards was he excepted from active duty in the service of the United States for more than a few weeks;  that this state of New Jersey was for nearly if not quite all of the said period of two years in the theater of the War, and the British Army making frequent incursions in said State – that the company to which said applicant was attached was engaged in scouting guarding the lines and occasionally in active battle; that he was in the battles at Amboy and Monmouth, and engaged also in erecting the breastworks at Elizabeth town point and while thus engaged himself and associates were frequently fired upon by the British; that marching to Monmouth he recollects that the American Army to which he was attached passed through Piscataway – that General Washington was present in person at the battle of Monmouth – General Lee having retreated before Genl Washington came up and assumed the command said applicant also states that he in the Battle at Piscataway in which both Regulars and Militia were opposed to the British Army – he was in the battles at Quibbletown and Lyons Farm that he was acquainted with Captain Benjn Lane of the Jersey Militia at Amboy as also with several other officers but cannot now recollect their names; – he was also acquainted with Col Jaquish at the Battle of
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of Monmouth he the said Jaquish being a Militia officer; that he had not an opportunity of knowing much of the Continental officers in the last named battle in as much as the Militia were not much in their company; -  that in the battle of Piscataway the applicant saw Col. Danl Morgan with his rifle company; - that Col. Spencer of the New Jersey Militia commanded at the time of erecting the breastwork at Elizabeth town Point, at which time Major Wade of this  regiment was also present; - that he never had a discharge, but was permitted to resume his usual occupation on his father’s farm in Essex County, on “Scotch Plains”, soon after the British evacuated New York when it became unnecessary to observe such rigid discipline as was indispensable during the times of their stay; - that he has no documentary evidence of his [unreadable], and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure (except Hezekiah Stites) of Hamilton County aforesaid who knows of only a part of the time that he served who can testify to his service.- He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the
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present and declares that is this not on the Pension roll of the agency of day State.   
Elijah Stites
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.-
Danl Gano Clerk}   
We James Lyon Jr. a Clergyman residing in the said County of Hamilton and State of Ohio and Hezekiah Stites, and John Ferris residing in the same County, hereby by certify that we are well acquainted with Elijah Stites, who has sworn as to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood  where he resides as well as in the neighbourhood of said County of Hamilton, where he long resided before his removal to Warren County his present residence, to have been a soldier of  the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion; - and the Hezekiah Stites states in addition to his foregoing that he was enlisted in the same service in the War of the Revolution with the said Elijah
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Stites and well knows of his having been in the service of the United States in said War for twenty four months of the time [unreadable] 
James Lyon Jr.
John Ferris
Hezekiah Stites 
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid} 
Danl Gano Clerk}
And the said Court [unreadable] their opinion [unreadable] after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories proscribed 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 James Lyon who has signed the preceeding certificate is Clergyman resident in said County of Hamilton Ohio and that Hezekiah Stites and John Ferris, who have also signed the same are residents in the same County are [unreadable] persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.  
Danl Gano Clerk}
And the Court at the same time propounded the following interrogatories to the above named applicant – 
1st Where and in what year were you born?  
Answer I was born in Essex county New Jersey on the 22nd day of March 1758 – 
2nd Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?  
Answer - my age was recorded by my father in his family Book from which I copied and inscribed it for my record book more than 40 years since.
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8th Interrogatory – What induced you to come out of your own County to make your application;-  Answer – Because Hezekiah Stites my only witness who has any knowledge of my service resides here.  
3rd Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war; and where do you now live?-
Answer. – I was living with my father on Scotch Plains Essex County New Jersey when called into service, I removed to Green County Pennsylvania at the age of 22 years and lived there [unreadable] years when I [unreadable] Hamilton Warren Twp 
4 – How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? -   
Answer – I was a volunteer “Minute man” and never was drafted or acted as a substitute for New Jersey [unreadable]   
5th 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.- 
Answer – Col. Morgan of the Regular army [unreadable] with him in the Battle of Piscataway – he the said application cannot from infirmity and loss of memory now recollect the names of the [unreadable] the regular officers; - the Militia officers who were with me were Genl Maefield Col. Wind; Col. Spencer; 
6th  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?  
Answer – [unreadable] but was permitted to return to my father’s farm on Scotch Plains Essex County New Jersey when the British left the neighborhood & my term of two years had expired.  
7th - State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the
Revolution.
Answer – I am known both in Warren where I now reside & also in Hamilton where I resided upwards of 22 years – to nearly all of the early settlers – I refer to Genl J Findlay & the Honorable Thos Erwin of Congress, 
I Daniel Gano of the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton County Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Elijah Stites for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 23rd day of February 1833.  Danl Gano Clerk}
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23605   22.327
Elijah Stites
Hamilton Co. Ohio
Adm. 2 years
$80
H. P. Gaines agt
Cincinatti Ohio
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WAR DEPARTMENT,          
Pension Office,       
20th April 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 tubular 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 Elijah Stiles Hamilton Co. Ohio
Period when the service was rendered.  Vol. 1777 Minute Man  Duration of the claimant's service. 2 Years   Rank of the claimant.   Private   Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  Cap. Morrell   Col. Oliver Spencer’s Regt.  Genl Washington  Maj. Wade   Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.   74  Essex Co. N. Jersey    Proof by which the declaration is supported.  Traditionary
Hezekiah Stiles as to 2 years
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 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) 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 that of 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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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
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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 Town officer 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. 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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 not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as 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 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 wife nesses, 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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December 14, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Grace F. Gentry
1019 Adams Avenue,
Evansville, Indiana.

BA-J/CC
Elijah Stites or Stiles
S. 3988

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of Elijah Stites of New Jersey.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S.2988, based upon service of Elijah Stites in the Revolutionary War.
Elijah Stites was born March 22, 1736, in Essex County, New Jersey. The names of his parents are not shown.
While residing with his father on his farm at Scotch Plains, Essex County, New Jersey, Elijah Stites volunteered in May, 1777, and served at different times on short tours, at least eighteen
months in all, as a private in Captain Morrel's company, under
Colonels Oliver Spencer and winds in the New Jersey Troops; he
was in the battles of Amboy, Piscataway, Quibbletown, Monmouth
and " Lyons Farms". In 1780, he moved to the "Red Stone Country"
of Pennsylvania, enlisted there and served eight months against
the Indians; dates of service and names of officers are not shown.
After residing for fourteen years in Greene County, Pennsylvania, he moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, and lived for twenty-two years,
then moved to Warren County, Ohio, where he was residing when he
was allowed pension on his application executed February 23, 1833.
There are no data as to wife and children.
In 1833, one Hezekiah Stites was living in Hamilton County, Ohio,
and made affidavit in support of the claim of Elijah Stites for pension he stated that he served with said Elijah a part of the time but gave no relationship.
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In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of Elijah Stites, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data;

Elijah Stiles, as he was pensioned, 
Certificate No. 22327
Issued October 12, 1833
Note $60.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Ohio Agency.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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December 13, 1936

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/MHF/col

Mrs. A. H. S. Lopeman
129 Bancroft Road
Burlingame, California

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you state that John Geno states was born September 9, 1778, in Cincinnati, Ohio, reared in Newark, married Martha Cory in 1808, in New Jersey, had a son, Joseph Cory Stites, born in Cincinnati, in 1815, and
you desire to know the name of his father, grandfather of said Joseph Cory Stites.
Assuming that the father of Joseph Gene Stites may have been a soldier of the Revolutionary War, the records have been searched under the surname Stites and two soldiers of Ohio found, Elijah
and Hezekiah. Their records are given herewith hoping they will aid you in your research. The War of 1812 records have been searched but no claim for pension found based upon service of a Joseph Stites. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 data furnished by this office.
Your stamped envelope is returned herein.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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December 13, 1935

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/EEL
Elijah Stites-S.3988
Hezekiah Stites-S.16260

Mrs. A. H. S. Lopeman
129 Bancroft Road
Burlingame, California

Dear Madam:

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.3988, based upon the military service in that war of Elijah Stites.
Elijah Stites was born March 22, 1758, in Essex County, New Jersey. The names of his parents are not shown.
While residing with his father on his farm at Scotch Plains, Essex County, New Jersey, Elijah Stites volunteered in May, 1777, and served at different times on short tours, at least sixteen months in all, as a private in Captain Morrel's Company, under
Colonels Oliver Spencer and Winds in the New Jersey Troops: he was in the battles of Amboy, Piscataway, Quibbletown, Monmouth and Lyons Farms". In 1780, he moved to Greene County, Pennsylvania, enlisted there and served eight months against the Indians: dates of service and names of officers are not given.
After residing for fourteen years in Greene County, Pennsylvania, he moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, and lived for twenty-two years, then moved to Warren County, Ohio, where he was residing when he was allowed pension on his application executed February 23, 1833.
There are no data as to wife and children.
In 1833, on Hezekiah Stites was living in Hamilton County, Ohio, and made affidavit in support of the claim of Elijah Stites for pension: he stated that he served with said Elijah a part of the time but gave no relationship.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Elijah Stites (s.3988), you should
apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
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Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Elijah Stites, Certificate No. 22327, issued October 12, 1833,
rate $80 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Ohio Agency.
*****
Hezekiah Stites
S. 16260

Hezekiah Stites was born August 13, 1761, at Scotch Plains, Essex County, New Jersey. The names of his parents are not shown.
While living with his father on his farm in Essex County, New Jersey, Hezekiah Stites volunteered in February, 1778, and served until August, 1779 at different times on short tours, generally  on tours of one month each, but due to the conditions in New Jersey, he was engaged almost constantly doing guard duty, scouting and protecting the inhabitants and sometimes engaged in skirmishes and battles, as 1st sergeant under Captains Lane and Moss and Colonel
Jaques in the New Jersey troops. He was in the battles of
Elizabethtown, Connecticut Farms, Springfield and "Woodruff Farms" and was at the taking of a fort on Staten Island.
Two years after the close of the Revolution, he moved to New York City, and lived for two years, then moved to the Northwest Territory, to what was later Hamilton County, Ohio.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February
19, 1833, while residing in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio.
There is no reference to wife or children.
In 1853, his brother, Elijah Stites, was residing in Warren
County, Ohio, and made affidavit in support of the claim of Hezekiah Stites for pension.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the
name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Hezekiah Stites (S.16360) you

-3-
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should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Hezekiah Stites, Certificate No. 19746, issued August 29, 1833, rate $90 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Ohio Agency.

very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 19

1019 Adams Ave., Evansville, Ind.
November 25, 1939

Received Nov 28 1839 [illegible]
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs, 
Please furnish me the Revolutionary War record of Elijah Stites (sometimes spelled Stiles in old papers) of New Jersey. I would like to know who his parents were and where they lived, whos Elijah Stites married, names of children, if known, and who received his pension after his death.
This or any other information or suggestions you may offer will be gratefully received by me, is there a charge for this service?

Very truly yours

Mrs. James A. Gentry
Grace F. Gentry
Page 20

Received Nov 18 1935 [illegible]

129 Bancrofft Rd. 
Burlingame, Calif.
Nov 14 1935

Department of Vital Statistics 
Washington D.C.
Joseph Cory Stites was born in Cincinnatti Oct 1st in 1815. 
John Geno Stites, his father, was born Sep 9th 1778 also in Cincinnatti Ohio. As a matter of history he was the first white child born in the Miami valley. Can you tell me ho
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to find out who was father of John Geno Stities? He was brought up in New York, and married Martha Cory in New Jersey Oct 1808 I am the only remaining daughter of Joseph Cory  Stites
Respectfully, 
Amanda Stites Lopeman

stamped envelope enclosed
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FEB 18 1903   
Commissioner of Pensions       
Washington D C      
Dear Sir        
Will you please tell me if my of these warrior [unreadable] were pensioners?
Revolution:   Elijah Stites - New Jersey Payne - Culpepper Co. Virginia   James St John – New York   
Signed War of 1812 – V. Stites Son R
Mexican War – O. Stites 
US PENSION OFFICE D FEB 16 1903   
Yours very Respectfully    
Mrs. Maud Tichenor 
Warepen Wis
Feb 12 1903
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The State of Ohio 
Warren County } Sct.  Additional Declaration 
Be it remembered that on this 16th day of September eighteen hundred and thirty three, in his own person in open Court in the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County aforesaid now in Elijah Stites, who on his oath doth make the following additional declaration in order to obtain a pension under the Law of the United States passed June 7, 1833.   That he was born in Essex County in the State New Jersey that that was his place of residence during the whole or his service as mentioned and described in his former declaration – with the exception of about eight months service as hereafter states - Applicant further states that all the service he performed as a Minute man was performed in New Jersey - that he moved afterwards to the Red Stone County in Pensylvania and performed other service at that place against the Indians in the time of the Revolutionary war - He also states that the services which he rendered in New Jersey amounted to at least eight months, and he served in manner as set forth in his former declaration, but he cannot at this distance of time and in consequence of his frail memory give a more accurate account of the nature of his service and of the Officers under whom he served, that is given in his former declaration -- His service at Red Stone amounted to at least eight months, but he cannot for reasons aforesaid give any better account of them than he has heretofore given. Applicant states that he served two years and upwards, as before stated, in the revolutionary war -performed actual service - but at the end of his service, never obtained written discharge - He was during the term of his service, in a number of engagements, which are mentioned in his former declaration.  As mentioned in his first declaration, he entered the service in May 1777 and as "minute man" was engaged in Scouting - guarding the lines, and occasionally in skirmishes and battles - All of his services
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in the Red Stone County was performed in Garrisons or Fort – he states that he can state nothing about his service more particularly than he has already stated - He stands in need of a pension & is richly entitled to it on account of his services. The reason why he has not perfected his papers in Hamilton County Ohio, is that he is unable in consequence of his age infirmities and frailty to travel from his residence in Warren County situate about 35 miles from Cincinnati where the Hamilton Court is holden      
Elijah Stites
Sworn to & subscribed open Court the days year aforesaid 
N. K. Wilds Clk}  
The State of Ohio 
Warren County} Ss  
I  Nathan K. Wilds Clerk of the court of Common Pleas within for the County aforesaid do certify that the aforegoing additional declaraton of Elijah Stites in the matter of his application for a pension was sworn to & subscribed in said Court as is above stated    
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid at Lebanon this 30th day of September A.D. 1833 
N K. Wilds Clk
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Feby 28. 1903
Mrs Leand Tichenor
Waupon Wi
1935. Dec, Hist to Mrs
A. H. S. Lopeman Et
1939 - Dec 14 Hist to
Grace F Gentry  cc
Rev War
INVALID.
File No.  3988
Elijah Stiles
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7" 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 356
[Arrangement of 1870.]
N. J. and Pa. Line
Elijah Stites, Records corrected 
Mar 23 '04