Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 924, for Richard Swain, New Jersey
Page 1

3-1776

SERVICE
New Jersey 

Swain,  Richard

NUMBER

S. 924

carded. 

CONTENTS
Page 2

11.165

17363

New Jersey

Richd Swain 
of Middlesex in the State of N Jersey
who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain Syar of the Reg commanded by 
Col. Meitsen on the N. Jersey line for 13 Mad. 

Inscribed on the Roll of N Jersey
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Aug 1831 and thereto V H (?)
Mg (?)

Arrears to the 4th of M(?).  $86.66
Som-ant. allowance ending 4 September.  21.66
                                                   -----------------
                                                    $108.23

{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by P C. Stiels.  clerk 
Book E. Vol. 1. Page 130
Page 3

alleged service as a guard at Springfield (?) allowed sec letter Aug 16, 1833

aomd
13 mo. pri

$43.33

James F Randolph 
N Brunswick 
Clerk
Page 4

State of New Jersey
Essex County//

On this Sixteenth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before [illegible], the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Essex now sitting, Richard Swain, a resident of Springfield in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, aged Seventy seven or Seventy eight 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 Act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That is to say, early in the war, he was enlisted in Springfield in this County by a Recruiting Sergeant by the name of Peter [illegible] for six months and soon after went to New York and was attached to the company of Captain David Swan; stayed in New York but a short time; returned to New Jersey and served out his term of enlistment, he thinks, altogether in [New] Jersey except the short time spent in New York; can't tell the year. Then held there being out eight times in service. After this six  months service, returned home (lived in Springfield at that time.) and stayed [crossed out: at] for first time...
Page 5

...can't tell how long; was afterwards called out as a drafted militiaman and served under Capt. Condit at Morristown one month, or a little more, in the summer season; can't recollect positively the year, but says very confident, it was the season before General Washington was at Black Horse Tavern. Was never enlisted after the aforesaid six months, but was ready all the time in the service from the [illegible]. He was out under Capt. Condit at Morristown until the close the war but cannot recollect so as to describe the month's duties and services &c. separating and [illegible] but has no doubt that what he was out more than two years during the Revolutionary War. Was attached to the guard at and near Springfield for a number of months; lost the thumb of his left hand by the premature discharge of the alarm gun on the hill above Springfield while stopping the neck of the gun. A man by the name of Pike was killed by the same discharge. They were firing an alarm. Was in both of the Battles of Springfield; was also in the Battle of Monmouth...
Page 6

...under Captain Harriman, but does not recollect his maj(or) or colonel.

Was born in Springfield in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey; is not certain in what year he was born. Has no record of his age. Was enlisted in Springfield when called in the service and has lived there almost all the time since the Revolutionary War, and lives there now. Was called into service as a drafted militiaman except the six months for which he was enlisted, first mentioned. Never received a written discharge from the service. Has no documentary evidence and knows no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except what accompanies this statement. He hereby relinquished 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.
s/ Richard Swain (X - his mark)

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
s/ A. Reynolds, Judge

We, Philemon Dickinson, a Clergyman residing in the Township Springfield in Essex County, and William R. Wood, of the same place [crossed out: residing in] in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Swain, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration. That we believe him to be Seventy seven or Seventy Eight years of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
s/ Philemon Dickinson
s/ Wm. R. Wood

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
s/ A. Reynolds, Judge
Page 7

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogators 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 Philemon Dickinson and William R. Wood, who have signed the foregoing certificate, are both residents in Springfield in the said County of Essex and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and that the said Philemon Dickinson is a Clergyman.
s/ A. Reynolds
s/ Sam'l B. Miller
s/ William Williams
Page 8

New Jersey
Essex County//

Anthony Sayre and Jacob Wood, being severally duly sworn according to law on their oaths say that they were acquainted with Richard Swain in the Revolutionary War. They knew him to have been wounded while attending the alarm gun. They further know that he was out and served in the militia and that he served the time stated in his foregoing declaration and as they verily believe for a longer time.
s/ Jacob Wood
s/ Anthony Sayre

Sworn & subscribed before me in Open Court Aug. 16, 1832.
s/ A. Reynolds, Judge

New Jersey
Essex County//

Noah Little of Springfield in said County of full age being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he was acquainted with Richard Swain in the Revolutionary War. He knows that he entered the service on the First of March 1778 in Captain Horton's Company in a Regiment of Militia, commanded by Col. Jacques and served until the First of October 1779. That said company as employed in guarding a magazine at Springfield. The magazine was afterwards removed to Morristown & deponent knows the said Richard Swain after the magazine was to removed to Morristown; served as a guard one month to said magazine at Morristown. Deponent has always understood and believes that the said Richard Swain performed other services in the Revolutionary War but deponent cannot specify the particulars.
s/ Noah Little (X - his mark)

Sworn & subscribed in Open Court Aug. 16, 1832.
s/ A. Reynolds, Judge
Page 9

Declaration &c. of Richard Swan.
Springfield in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey.

No. 6699

Pauper
[crossed out: rec(eived)]
Page 10

State of New Jersey
County of Essex

I Elias VanAndale Clerk of the Imperial court of Common Pleas in the said county of Essex (the same being a Court of Record) do hereby certify that the foregoing & within papers contain the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Swain for a Pension;  and I do further certify that Abraham Reynolds, Samuel B Miller & William Hillicins are Judges of the said court duly commissioned & sworn That I am acquainted with their handwriting & that wherever they or either of their have subscribed their names to the within proceedings or any of them that said signatures are 

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this twenty third day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & thirty two - 

E VanAndale Ck
Page 11

New Jersey
Essex County//

On the Tenth day of June A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty three before me, William Stiles, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said Court of Essex, personally appeared Richard Swain, who in amendment to his foregoing declaration in application for a pension under the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832 on his oath deposeth and saith that, after reflection and reconsideration, he is confident the first six months mentioned in his declaration hereunto attached was performed, the first part of it, under Captain Lyon at New York & the residual under Capt. Gronendyke at Elizabeth Town & that the tour was possibly March to August 1776. Has no other evidence of this service than the attached affidavits. He also served one other month at Morristown under Capt. Condit, as stated in his first declaration, in 1776, and after the six months services first mentioned. And on reflection feels confident it was not later or November; certainly performed the service but he also served from May to October, both successive in 1777 under General Winds in Capt. & Harriman's Company as a volunteer in the State of New York up the Hudson River and is entirely confident of being out at that time at least six months. Has no evidence of the service except the amended affidavit of Jacob Wood. Knows of no other living witness. He also served in Capt. Horton's...
Page 12

One year and eight mos. March 1778 to Nov. 1779.

...company in the years 1778 and 1779 a great part of the time and was constantly employed at the magazine or arsenal in Springfield in this County. During the time, cannot recollect the precise command or termination of this service; is confident it commenced in the spring of 1778 and that he served
constantly until the fall of 1779, at which time the magazine was removed to Morristown & said declarant continued to reside at for some time at Morristown but cannot tell how long or after its removal, but is confident it was at least one month marching. Together, one year and eight months; recollecting from the First of March 1778 to the First of November 1779 and for particulars of this service, he refers to the annexed affidavit of Noah Little.

And the said declarant further 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 specified above and recapitulated below in the [crossed out: (illegible)] grade of a Private Soldier. That is to say for six months under Captains Lyon & Gronendyke from March to August, inclusive in 1776
for one month under Capt. Condit in October or...
Page 13

... November 1776.

Six months under Captain Harriman from May to October 1777, inclusive and one year and eight months from March 1778 to October 1779 under Captain Horton, making in all two years and nine months. And for said service claim a pension. During the last mentioned period, declarant was detached from Capt. Horton's Company to join Capt. Harriman and under Capt. Harriman marched from Elizabeth to Monmouth & was in the Monmouth Battle and returned afterwards to his own company under Captain Horton.
s/ Richard Swain (X - his mark)

Sworn & subscribed before me the 11th day of June 1833.
s/ William Stiles

New Jersey
Essex County//

I, Jacob Wood, being duly sworn and declares on his oath saith that he was acquainted with Richard Swain in the Revolutionary War and knows that he left home & served in the army in May 1777 & did not return home until October the same year. And understood at the time that he was under General Winds up the Hudson River but did not see him there, for I was not there myself for his repealed in the service under Capts. Brookfield & Horton and was present when the said [Richard] Swain had his thumb blown off firing an alarm gun. Knows of his having been...
Page 14

...a long time attached to Captain Horton's Company in Col. Jaques Reg(iment) which company was employed in guarding a magazine making cartridges &c. at Springfield and of his having been in the Monmouth Battle.
s/ Jacob Wood

Sworn & subscribed before me the 12th day of June 1833.
s/ Williams Stiles, Judge

I do hereby certify that Jacob Wood, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing affidavit is a man of truth and veracity and a credible person & that his affidavit is entitled credit and belief.
s/ Williams Stiles, Judge

I, Abram Reynolds, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Essex, before whom the foregoing affidavits of Jacob Wood, Anthony Sayre and Noah Little were taken, do hereby certify that the said Jacob Wood, Anthony Sayre and Noah Little are credible persons and that their affidavits are entitled to full faith and credit. Given under my Hand the 26th day of June A.D. 1833.
s/ A. Reynolds
Page 15

State of New Jersey
County of Essex//

I, Elias Van Arsdale, Junior, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for said County of Essex, do hereby certify that William Stiles, Esq., before whom the annexed affidavits of Richard Swain and Jacob Wood were made & taken, was at the time of taking the said affidavits & still is one of the Judges of said Court & a Justice of the Peace for said County residing herein duly commissioned and sworn and that the name "William Stiles" subscribed to said affidavits and the certificate thereunder written, is his proper handwriting. I do further certify that Abraham Reynolds, whose certificate as to the credibility of Jacob Wood, Anthony Sayre and Noah Little is hereto annexed, is also one of the Judges of said Court residing in said County duly commissioned & sworn and that the name "A. Reynolds" subscribed to the same is the proper handwriting of said Judge.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my Hand [crossed out: (illegible)] and the Seal of said Court at Newark the Twenty sixth day of June A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Thirty three (1833).
s/ E. Van Arsdale, Jr., Clk.
Page 16

James F. Randolph
Present
Page 17

State of New Jersey
Essex County//

On the Twenty fourth day of July A.D. 1833 before me, William Stiles, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, and the same William Stiles before whom the foregoing amended declaration was made, personally appeared Richard Swain, the foregoing declarant, who in further amendment of his hereunto attached declaration on his oath saith that during the one year & eight months spoken of by him in his first amendment to his said declaration, he was constantly and continually employed in & at the magazine as stated by himself in his foregoing amendment & as proved by the affidavit of Noah Little. That he was not absent from the service during the whole time unless detached to perform some military service or a temporary absence by permission of his officers. The guard consisted of a part of Capt. Horton.s Company. The guard was not always of equal strength but generally consisted of about Twenty men. Capt. Horton (now dead) was much of the time at the magazine & commanded the guard personally & when absent, the guard was commanded [crossed out: by] sometimes by one officer & sometimes by another. Among others, recollects Jonathan Shinsell and Seth Raymond (both of whom are dead). Each commanded the guard; thinks they were lieutenants and the declarant further saith that he was not during the aforesaid service employed in any civil pursuit but was wholly devoted to the public service and the whole time subject to martial law. Cannot recollect how he bound himself to the performance of this service; thinks he volunteered; is certain he performed the service in Capt. Horton's Company & that Capt. Horton's Company belonged to Col. Jaque's Regiment of New Jersey Militia.
s/ Richard Swain (X - his mark)

Sworn & subscribed before me.
s/ William Stiles
Page 18

State of New Jersey
County of Essex//

I, Elias Van Arsdale, Jun(ior), Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Essex, do hereby certify that William Stiles, Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavit of Richard Swain was made and taken, at the time of taking the said affidavit was and still is one of the Judges of said Court residing in said County duly commissioned and sworn. That I am acquainted with the handwriting of said Judge and know that the name "William Stiles" subscribed to the annexed & last made affidavit is the genuine signature of said Judge.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my Hand and the Seal of said Court at Newark in the County aforesaid the Twenty ninth day of July A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Thirty three (1833).
s/ E. Van Arsdale, Jr., Clk.
Page 19

RECORDS DIVISION. | 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C., (blank) 19 (blank)

S.7686

In reply to your request of (blank), received (blank) for a statement of the military history of Richard Swain, 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. S.F.934.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. (CAPTAIN/COLONEL) | STATE.
March 1776 | Aug. 1776 | Pri(vate) | *-Lyon & Brookfield | (blank) | N.J. |
Oct. or Nov. 1776 | 1 mo. | (blank) | Condit | (blank) | (blank) | 
May 1777 | Oct. 1777 | (blank) | Harriman | (blank) | (blank) | 
Mar. 1778 | Nov. 1779 | (blank) | Horton, Harriman | (blank) | (blank) | 

Battles engaged in, Springfield, Monmouth. Lost thumb of left hand by bursting of a gun at Springfield.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Springfield, Essex Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 16, 1832; His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Springfield, Essex Co., N.J.
Age at date of application, b(orn) 77 or 78 years. Born in Springfield, N.J.
Remarks: There in no family data on file.

* -  There is no Capt. David Lyon and soldier says First Capt. Lyon in 2nd declaration. Probably Capt. Abraham Lyon.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

6-2856
Page 20

1699
Richard Swain

Suspended.
To be reconsidered.

5 Adm(itted).

James F. Randolph, Present
Page 21

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Richard Swain, which require further proof or explanation.

I.   Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? (blank)
II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? (blank)
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? (blank)
IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? (blank)
V.   *Has he mentioned 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? No. Rule quere 5, last clause.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? (blank)
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? (blank)
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? (blank)
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate ? (blank)
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? (blank)
Page 22

2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? (blank)
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? (blank)
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? (blank)
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? (blank)
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? [crossed out: No.]
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? (blank)
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? (blank)
XVI. **Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? (blank)
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? (blank)

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* - QUERE V. 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 (blank) year (blank) months, and  (blank) days, I served as a  (blank). For  (blank) months and  (blank) days, I served as a  (blank); and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 23

3

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 shewn 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.

*QUERE XIV. 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 claimants 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.

**QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.

In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

The guard service is inadmissible without further proof.
Page 24

Rich(ar)d Swain

Payments to be made at Lieut. on by Pres(ident) Reg(imental) Co(mpany), Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of [illegible] N.J.

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E; Vol. 3; Page 15 by Wm. B. Stiles, Clerk.
Page 25

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Rich(ar)d Swain of the State of N. Jersey, who was a Private in the Revolutionary Army, is entitled to receive Forty three dollars and Thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this 11 day of Aug. one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.

s/ Lewis Cass, Secretary War.

Examined and Countersigned.} 
s/ J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 26

Sep. 11, 1833 - Paid to Sep. 4, 1833.
Ma. 14, 1834 - Paid to Mar. 4, 1834.
Page 27

Rev(olutionary) War
INVALID.
File No. 924.
Richard Swain,
Pri(vate), N.J. Line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -; Vol. A; Page 365.
{Arrangement of 1870.}

1916 Jan. 16. History [sent] to Mr. Chester N. Jones. Letter in S.F.3299. James Doty M.B.H.