Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33894, James Whitehead, New Jersey
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(3 - 1776) 
SERVICE New Jersey 
CONTENTS Whitehead, James
 NUMBER S.33894
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376 New Jersey 
James Whitehead 
Capt Myers private 14 Jersey Line In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to con the 9th of April 1818- commence on --- Certificate of Pension issued the 6th of Mar 1818 and sent to the Pensioner, same ┃ of Hon J S Pennington & Newark, New Jersey Arrearages to 4 Sept 1818. 40 mos Revolutionary claims, Act 18th March, 1818 by Continued $39.73 may Suspd 10 Nov. 1825 & susp removed 15 Dec. 1825. See letter to Hon. R. Condict, Notification sent to Wm Pennington 29 Sep 1820. New Ark 78 ( 2 10 1
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James Whitehead
376
Septr 1818
continue
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 At a Special District Court of the United States for the New Jersey District, held at Newark in Essex County PRESENT the Honorable Wm S. Pennington district of New Jersey. Be it Remembered, That on the thirteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty personally appeared in the District Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey in open court, the said court being a court of record for the District of New Jersey held in said County of Essex James Whitehead aged Fifty seven years, resident in Springfield Essex County State of New Jersey who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows: Enlisted May 12th 1777 1st New Jersey Regiment, In Capt. Myers Company, at the battle of Germantown said Captain was killed at the Stone house-- then served in Capt. Wangelin & Company was in the battle of Brandywine, then served under Capt Aaron Ogden was at the battle of Monmouth, also with Sullivan after the Indians 1783. about the 1st January was taken sick & I sent to the hospital at Newburg, the Doctor advised me if I had any friends to send for them on if I could to get them as quick as possible-- If I ever wanted to see them-- The Dr gave me a discharge from the Hospital to the Captn gave me a furlough, I returned to my friends & remained sick after the close of the War My discharge was sent to me which was left at the war office the time my land Warrant was obtained and that his original declaration is dated the sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and that his pension certificate is No. 375
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AND I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, ""An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war." passed on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed, to wit: 
1 dog for hunting $12.00 Wheel barrow $5.00 ( total $17 
Garden Rake spade & line- 1.00 
3 Hoes. Bog: Stack of corn (h..)  2.94 
2 Axes $3.12 ½ shovel $1. Drawing Knife From & Wedge 5.12 ½
 Iron pot to cook in $ 1- Gridel .75 to an Iron $1- 2.75 
 2 Kettels sundry crockery Jugs & Bottels  
3 old Barrels & Sundry (hollow?) tubs 3.00
2 old chests Dressers table  2.92 
1 Bedstead 50. Bed ( ) Bed clothing $3 - 3.50 Tubs mortar & six old chairs 1.12 ½ 
knives & forks $1.00 
$42.83
And that he is indebted to Charles Johnson the sum of Sixty Dollars
Sworn & subscribed to before me this 13th day of July 1820 William S Pennington James Whitehead District Judge
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I, William Pennington Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the New Jeney District Do hereby certify, That the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said Court: and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Forty five Dollars
 In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, this 27th day of July 1829 
M Pennington
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James Whitehead
private
New Jersey Line
commences 6th Apl 1818
care of Honbl W S Pennington
Distct Judge
Newark,
New Jersey
Admitted
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District of New Jerseyss.- Be it remembered that on the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, appeared before me William S Pennington district Judge of the United States in and for the district of New Jersey, James Whitehead who being sworn according to law saith that some time in the year of an Lord 1776 or 1777. this deponent regularly enlisted in the Company commanded by Captain Myers in the first Regiment of the  of the Jersey line commanded by Colonel Matthias Ogden the said Regiment being attached to the Brigade commanded by General William Maxwell. That this deponent served from that time until the termination of the war, that this deponent was discharged in New Burgh in the State of New York about the time of the close of the war, and received an Honorable discharge, which discharge he has since lost and cannot now produce the same. that this deponent is very indigent and poor and by reason of his reduced circumstances hands in need of assistance from his coming for support- Sworn before me the day year first before written James Whitehead 
William Hamington District Judge I I William Scamington District Judge of the United States in and for the New Jersey District being satisfied that James Whitehead the applicant above named, served in the Revolutionary war
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against the common enemy from the early part of the year Seventeen hundred and Twenty seven until the end of the war, on the continental Establishment, do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration oath was made before me as therein set forth, all which is respectfully transmitted the secretary of War William Pennington
 I Wm Pennington Clerk of the District of New Jersey, do certify that the signature of to this instrument is the proper hand writing of Wm Pennington Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey As witness my hand and the State of the said District Court at Newark this 6th day of April A.D. 1818.
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33894
Revy INVALID.
No. 33094
James Whitehead
Pri Rev War
Act: 18" March 18"
Index:- Vol. 8, Page 450
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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James Whitehead
Payable on the 4th
March 4th viz 4th Sept
in each year by the
Agent, Trenton Banking Compy, Trenton
New Jersey
#33.894
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
I CERTIFY, That in [illegible] with the Law of the UNITED STATES, of the 18th March 1818 - - - - - James Whitehead late a private - in the Army of the Revolution - - is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the New Jersey Agency, at the rate of Eighty - dollars -- cents [crossed out] per month, to commence on the sixth day of April  one thousand eight hundred and eighteen 
GIVEN at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES
this sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred and eighteen --
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of war
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Oct. 20th 1888 paid to Sept 6 1818
Mar 29 1819 paid to Mar 4 1819
Sept 6. 1819 Paid to Sept 4 1819
May 5 1820 Paid to Mar 4 1820
Mar 19, 1891 Paid to Mar41 1821
Apr 14 1822 [illegible] to Mar 41822
Sept 16. 1822 Pd to Sept 4 1822
Mar 19, 1823 Pd to Mar 4 1823
Sept 4, 1823 Pd to Sept 4 1823
Apr 6 1824 Pd to Marr 4 1824
Apr 15 1826 Pd to Sept 4 1824
Mar 14 1825 P to Mar 4 1825
Mar 6 1829 Pd to Mar 4 1829
Sept 10 1829 pd to Mar 4 1829
3 4/5 [circled]
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J.L. Edwards Esqr 
Trenton  8th Jan 1825
Sir
Your favour of the 28th (Attimo?) was thankfully received and it is with reluctance that I again trouble you on the subject therein contained nothing but a sense of duty could have compelled me to (int..  ) myself in favour of the Persons whose pensions I (lain? )with ( ) right have been suspended - No one perhaps is more unwilling than myself to see the funds of the General Government lavished or bestowed upon unworthy objects or to see Men who are able to support themselves, maintain idleness at the public expense; But my dear Sir the cases before us I am perfectly satisfied are of a different character. I live in the Town of Springfield in the County of Essex and am well acquainted with  Mr Whitehead and Mr Vreeland and partially so with Mr ( ) as to the (  )  circumstances of Mr Whitehead I can say unquestionably that he is poor, has been reduced to the necessity of taking the benefit of the insolvent law of our State about two years time, has raised a large family of children ..(cont)
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altogether, I think thirteen in number two of which however are lads and are yet home with him and need schooling in order to quality them to become good members of County and without the aid which he has thankfully rec'd from his country I am satisfied he is unable to give them for or decently maintain himself and family. Mr Whitehead for a man of his age is healthy and able to do a tolerable days work but he has a cancer on the side of his neck which I have no doubt will in a short time terminate his existence-  with Mr Vreeland I have been acquainted from my childhood, he has ever been given my knowledge of him very industriously engaged to procure for himself and family a living his business was what we call a huckster and from my first recollections of him untill within the last eight or ten years he drove his own waggon and at first two horses, then one and as age and poverty advanced upon him he was at last deprived of his own horse and waggon and obliged to abandon his trips to New York which were once regular and some times profitable, now it is but seldom that be manages to make a trip to Newark of Elizabeth Town
(Continued)
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with a small load and a hand horse and waggon the proceeds of which must necessarly be small kinded another means of livelihood (if I may  call it) of the old man is (and my sympathies have often been called into exercise at the light) on public days at training & to go with his bushel on his arm selling boiled eggs, Sugar Candies & I do not mean to be understood that this is occasional with him but that it is his constant practice. you will please to pardon me for this (  ) it ( ) of his manner of getting his living. my object is that you may be able to judge of the probable truth or untruth of the allegations of the memorialists to the war department. ( )  that M V. has a house and also a small lot attached to it on which he lives and has the use of I assume without paying rent for it and no doubt will continue to enjoy it until his death but I never before had the question made until I read  your communication that it had been placed in the hands of his son as a cover ( ).  I will not contradict it as for to me it is new, but cannot believe it and be that as it may with or without it he is poor, its value consists in making for him and his family a domicile and furnishes no means or next to none of making a living -

   M  (L )
over
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Mr Lacy as I before observed I formerly knew better there at present and where at present un- willing to say much on the subject as respects him, knowing however that 8 or 10 years ago he was poor and occasionally during him five & knowing him and the whole family their habit and character I am satisfied of his poverty but as to his service in the Army I know nothing nor have I any information on the subject-When I return home I shall communicate to him the knowledge of the Suspension of his pension and let him pursue what course he may think best. as yet I have only communicated the intelligence to Mr Whitehead & that by letter to which I have rec'd no answer and to him I said nothing of the other two- 
I now come to the consideration of the cause which produced the ( manuals?) and the consideration to which they are entitled, and first I observe that having heard nothing from the parties on the subject I am left from my own acquaintance with the Pensioners and (memorlists)and a knowledge of some facts which have taken place to conclude that the memorial originated in malice and a rankling hatred in the bosom of one or two of the (memoralists) by whom the memorials were no doubt got up and (  ) and subscribed by those  who no doubt would subscribe a petition
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(is  from the pension but every name on it It will be seen by reference to the (moral )agent W. +F . that the subscribes profess to be of the Co of Essex & worthy of the Township of Springfield. I observe on looking over the names that but six of them are residents of the Township of Springfield that fifteen of them are of the County of Morris,  and the others are principally of the Township of New Providence in Essex - The other (memorial) is presented by the same persons with one or two other names- It is (unecessssary )for me to observe that a memorial should be under consideration only in proportion to the respectability of the (Missionalists) and their knowledge of the facts which they attempt to represent, as to the respectability of the subscribers to these memorials I have but little to say nor do I wish to say anything against one of them the rest of them are respectable and men I  esteem but from the local situation I am convinced that most of them cannot be well enough acquainted persons to be qualified to judge of the property of suspending their Pensions. That some others are opposed to the Pension law altogether and that those who are but acquainted with them have been actuated by malice and have been the prime movers of the Missional
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The Bearer hereof Mr (  )  a member of our State Legislature will make further explanations to you on this subject of (  ) , and being as I am a total Stranger to you permit me to refer you to the Hon Geo Cassady now in your City-- should further and better information be thought necessary before those pensioners or any of them can be restored to the Pension list, will you have the goodness to communicate to me of what that evidence ( ) ( ) or if the explanation which I have given shall be thought satisfactory. I  shall be happy to learn the fact-- I hope shall not be thought officious by attempting this explanation to the war Department without  just letting the Pensioners know that their pay it stopped. In so doing I am actuated by the hope that I shall be saved the painful task of communicating to them tidings so sorrowful altogether. 
With testaments of the 
 highest respect I am sir your ( ) 
 William Stites ( or Stiles)
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I might have referred you to Capt Wade of the Ordinance department who I presume is at Washington also to a friend of his and mine Mr Isaac S Miller both of whom are natives of our place and who though some time from there yet perhaps they may give some satisfaction on the subject. Mr Miller being more recently there will be most likely to communicate satisfactory information.- I had forgotten one charge contained in the memorials to wit Intemperance I request to say that they (I speak more particularly of Whitehead and Vreeland) are in a degree intemperate men, but I (       ) to say that most of the Revolutionary Pensioners with whom I am acquainted are more or less so- But that those  go to the degree represented I cannot subscribe nor that they are more to find the receipt of their pension than before; neither am I aware that intemperance is a bar to a pension under the Law which granted them- Please (dient) to me at Springfield Essex Co N.J.
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To the Honorable James Barton (  ) of the United States

 The subscribed residents of County of Essex & mostly of the Township of Springfield in the said County and State of New Jersey, being informed  and that James Whitehead and Daniel Vreeland of said township have made application & succeeded in getting their names placed on the list of Revolutionary Pensioners under a late act of Congress. Now we  do certify & represent that the said persons are both( not?) in such circumstances as to  require this public aid- That one of the said persons Daniel Vreeland has placed his property in the hands of his son as a mere cover a pretense. that both the said persons are intemperate & spend all the money or nearly that they receive from government in buying rum and behave themselves ( ) as make the receipt of this pension perfect (nuisance?) to the neighborhood. 
Dated Springfield
 Oct 28 1825 
Signature illegible
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Isaac Sayre
John Sayre
 Simeon Morehouse

 Philmon Elmer 
Daniel S Wood 
David Wood 
David Morehouse 
David L. Baldin 
Ellis D Baldin
 Caleb Dickinson
 Philimon Dickinson
 Moses Hedly
 Davis Gining
 Abner Williams
 John Trobridge 
Miller Walker
 Isaac Crane
 David Walker jr
 Moses Baldwin 
Thomas Bond jr
Linus Burnet 
 Wm H Spencer
 Amos Potter Jr 
Gardner Bell
 Peter D. Valentine
 Edward Huges
David Ham
Jeremiah?  Crane
Abraham? Clark