Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7099, Samuel Elston, New Jersey
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Service
New Jersey             Elston, Samuel          W.7099
                                          Charity
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New Jersey 1.756 ['1' partially covered, could be another numeral]
-----------------
Charity Elston
widow of Samuel Elston decd.
who died on the 14 February 1812
of Somerset Co in the State of N.J
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Potter of the_________commanded
by_____________in the New Jersey line for 23 months
-----------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 76 Dollars 67 Cents, per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
----------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Febry 1838 and sent Hon. S.L. Southard Senate N [remainder cut off]
-----------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838      $498.35
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '38.  $38.33
________
$536.68
_________
{Revolutionary Claim,Act July 4, 1836
Section the 3d}

recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2d Page 126

[hand-written on right:  'Died Apr. 22. 1838.']
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Declaration to obtain the benefit of the 3rd Section of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July, 1836.
State of New Jersey, Somerset County ss.
On this 25th day of July, 1837, personally appeared, Charity Elston, before the subscriber, a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County, the said Charity Elston being a resident of Bernards township in Somerset County aforesaid, & personally well known to me as a woman of truth & of fair reputation, whom I hereby certify as being unable from age & bodily infirmity to attend the Court at Somerville: --who, being by me duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836.

I am the widow of Samuel Elston, who was I believe, a soldier in the army of the revolution, & an enlisted soldier in Captain Samuel Potter's company & in Colonel Dayton's regiment, & who served for one year in the Northern Campaign. After this period of enlistment
had expired, it is my belief that he was prevented by severe sickness from returning home with the rest of his company & was thereby detained for the space of 3 or 4 months after the return of Captain Potter, for which detention it is my belief he was paid in settlement of his accounts, at the same rate per month, as when fit for active duty. After his return home, I believe he performed active Militia duties under the command of various officers, & at all times when Militia service was required, until the war ended. The amount of service performed by him, I cannot tell; but must rely upon such testimony as I may be able to obtain from the memory of his comrades, very few of whom remain to this day.

I was married to the said Samuel Elston, in the year 1773 on the 5th of August by David Elston
Esqr a Justice of the peace, in Woodbridge township, Middlesex County New Jersey.
I had two children by my husband, born in wedlock before the war began, & my
third child was born a few months after my husbands enlistment in Captain Potter's company. I was born & brought up in Middlesex County aforesaid, & was as nearly as I can tell about eighteen years old when I was married. My husband was without any Education- he could neither read nor write, nor can
I write my name. We never had any family record at all, either of our marriage, or of the ages of our children. There is not a person living, who was present at our marriage, as I verily believe.  My name was Charity Gray, before marriage.  My husband was born in Rahway, but I do not know when. He lived in
New Providence, Essex County New Jersey, when he enlisted, where he lived till the
year 1788, & then he removed to Bernard's township Somerset County, where I now live, & where he my said husband died, on the 14th day of February 1812, & I have remained a widow from that period to the present time, as will more
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fully appear by the proof hereunto annexed.

Sworn & subscribed before me,
at the dwelling of Mrs. Elston in Bernards
township, Somerset County, New Jersey,
on this 25th of July 1837-

            her
Charity. X. Elston
          mark

Saml S. Doty

I have been acquainted with Mrs Elston for more
than thirty years I knew her husband before his death also, they lived together as man and wife & I believe they were such . Mrs Elston's character for truth is very good.

Saml S. Doty

I also certify, that the aforesaid Samuel Elston died about 24 or 25 years since, & from my acquaintance with his widow, I am confident that she has remained a widow to the present time.

Saml S. Doty
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State of New Jersey
Somerset County }. SS
I John M Mann Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify
that Samuel P. Doty before whom and by whom the above Affidavit and Certificate was made and whose proper signature is thereto subscribed was at the time of the date thereof a Judge of said Court duly commissioned and sworn. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this twenty first day of September Eighteen hundred and thirty seven-

J.M. Mann
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3 -- 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.,___________, 19__


In reply to your request of_________, 
received_____________for a statement of the military history of Samuel Elston a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in [crossed out:  'his (or'] his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.     28.7.099
------------------------------------
[Table, with six columns with the following headings:  (1) DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.  (2) LENGTH OF SERVICE.  (3) RANK.  (4) OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. {subheadings 4a. CAPTAIN.  4b COLONEL.  (5) STATE.

[text in columns:] (1) Jan. 1776, Jan. 1777. (2) 1 year and served at various times 11 mos. in all. (3) Pvt. (4a) Samuel Potter, Daniel S Wood (4b) Dayton, Jeremiah Smith, Thomas & Jaques (5) N.J.

Battles engaged in, __Expedition to Canada, Springfield_____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ___New Providence, Essex Co. N.J._____
Date of application for pension, ___July 25. 1837. Her claim was allowed.______
Residence at date of application, ___Bernard Twsp, Somerset Co. NJ.____
Age at date of application, ___She was born in Middlesex Co. N. J. and was 18 years of age in 1773
Remarks: He was born in Rahway, date not stated, he married in Woodbridge
Twsp. Middlesex Co N. J. Aug 6. 1773 Charity Gray or Quimby, he died in Bernard Twsp. Somerset Co. N J. Feb 14. 1812. She died Apr. 22 1838. Three Children are mentioned, names not stated.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

6-2856
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Rev Sec
-
Bloomsburg, Pa. 10-31-1814.
Commissioner of Pensions:-
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:- kindly give record from your office of the following New Jersey Revolutionary War
Soldiers: -
Samuel Elston (or Elstone)
and Andrew Elston (or Elstone)
-
Thanking you for your courtesy

Yours very truly
&

J. S. Brace

[stamp at bottom of page:  'PENSION OFFICE 
U.S. 
N
NOV
3
1914]
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[left column]
1914 Nov 5: History to Mr
G.S. Brace.  M.B.H.
----------------
[right column]
Revy WIDOW, &c.
-----------
File No.__7099___
Charity Elston
Wid, of
Samuel Elston
Pvt N.J. line
---------------
Act: July 4/36, Sec, 3d
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 213

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of New Jersey Essex County
Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County personally appeared Jacob Potter of New Providence township Essex County an aged & highly respectable citizen personally well known to me as a man of truth, & fully entitled to belief, who being by me duly sworn according to Law, saith as follows, viz: I am in the 83rd year of my age, was a Militia Soldier in the war of the revolution, was well acquainted with Samuel Elston now decd
who then lived in Essex County & within half a mile of me.  Samuel Elston was an enlisted soldier in the years service, in Captain Samuel
Potter's company, & in Colonel Dayton's regiment, according to the best of my recollection & belief.  He was absent with Captain Potter for a year, from the early part of the year 1776 through the spring, summer, & fall of that year, & until some time in the winter following, as I believe. I did not see him in that service, but being his neighbor, I know he was absent from his family all that time, & the general belief of all who knew him, was, that he was in that service. After Captain Potter's return
from the Canadian expedition, Samuel Elston performed monthly tours of Militia duty, in
Captain David S. Wood's company & in Colonel Smith's regiment of Essex Militia, & I have often seen him engaged in the performance of militia duties, in monthly tours & alarms, whenever his services were required. I can recall to memory but a few instances of his Militia duties- but some of them I can recollect.- I recollect Elston at Elizabeth town in the winter season, we were both in Capt Wood's doing guard duty & I recollect an affray which I had with a stranger who abused Elston & I took his part.  We
we there a month, & I think it was in 78.- I was frequently on tours of monthly duty at Newark & at the Scotch plains, & I recollect Elston on duty with me on a monthly tour at each of the places performing guard duty in Captain Wood's company- once in the fall season, & once in the spring of the year, in time of corn planting. I recollect him also at the battle of Springfield in
the summer season of 1780, when Springfield was burnt by the enemy.

Capt Samuel Potter enlisted his company for the Northern Campaign in the winter
of 1776, in January as I think, & Elston enlisted about that time. He went off with his company, early in the spring following, I think as soon as the navigation was open. He did not return home as early by a month or more, as his fellow
soldiers, having been detained be illness, as was said oblivious . Elston was a married man when he enlisted in Capt. Potter's company in 1776 & then had two or 3 children. He then lived within about half a mile of me. After the war ended he moved to Somerset Co. where he died. I now live in the house which Elston
occupied in the war. He was by trade a shoemaker & weaver.

Jacob Potter

Sworn & subscribed before me at New Providence, October 5th 1837
John Lyon Justice of the Peace
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State of New Jersey, Essex County
Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County, personally appeared George Townley of Somerset County in said State, who being duly sworn according to law saith as follows, viz:- I am now in my 83 year was a militia soldier in the war of the revolution, was well acquainted with Samuel Elston then of Essex County, in which County ['Samuel Elston' crossed out] I myself then lived. He the said
Samuel Elston, as I then understood & believed, was an enlisted Soldier in Captain Samuel Potter's company, in the expedition against Canada in the year 1776, which was then commonly called the year's service. He lived in what is now called New Providence township, & about 4 miles from where I live & within a half a mile of me then.  He was absent on that duty, as was believed by myself & others, from February or March 1776 to some time in the winter following, probably until in the spring. And after this service he belonged to Capt. Daniel S. Wood's company of the Essex County Militia
in which he performed monthly tours of Militia service throughout the war of revolution. I performed one tour of Militia duty with Samuel Elston at Elizabethtown near Deacon Ogdens; I was in my brothers. Capt Richard Townly's Co. & Elston was in Capt. Danl S. Wood's company. We were in that service a month, & it was in the
fall season & cold weather, & we lay in cloth tents, performing guard duty. He was then a married man, & and lived where Deacon Jacob Potter now lives, about two miles from this village, New Providence. I have no distinct recollection of other services which I can specify, as my memory is very frail & imperfect. He was a weaver by trade & had long red hair which he wore in a queue down his back.

Further, this Deponent saith not.

George Townley

Sworn & subscribed at New Providence, October 5th 1837
Before me, John Lyon Justice of the Peace
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State of New Jersey, Essex County ss
I Elias Van Arsdale Jun. Clerk of Essex County hereby certify that John Lyon Esqr before whom the depositions of George Townly & Jacob Potter hereto annexed were taken on the 5th October 1837, is a Justice of peace in & for said County, duly commissioned & authorized, & the signature of his name thereto, "John Lyon", is genuine.

['Twentieth' crossed out] Witness my signature & the seal of my office at Newark, this
Twentieth day of October, Domini 1837-

E. Van Arsdale Clk
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State of New Jersey Morris County
Before the subscriber a Justice of peace in & for said County personally appeared David Burnet of said County an aged & highly respectable citizen, personally well known to me for many years, as a man of truth, & having been duly sworn according to law, on his oath saith as follows.

I am in the 82d year of my age, was a soldier of Militia in the war of the revolution & served as such, from beginning to the end of said war. I was personally & intimately acquainted with Samuel Elston decd whose widow, Charity Elston, formerly Charity Quimby, is now an applicant for a pension. Samuel Elston was by trade a shoemaker & a weaver, & we both lived
when the war broke out, in Essex County New Jersey, at a village called Turkey, now New Providence.  He had formerly lived in Rahway & moved from Rahway to Turkey with his family 3 or 4 years before the war began. He was then a married man, & had 2 or 3 children when he removed to Turkey, & the said Charity now his widow, was then his wife. In the first year of the war, when troops were raised for the expedition against Canada, Samuel Elston enlisted in Captain Pottern's company for one year, in the fall season, & marched off with Captain Potter from Turkey for Canada, as was said & believed by all the neighbors., I believe he was in Colonel Daytons Regiment on that expedition, but I am not positive. He enlisted & went away with his company under Capt Potter in the fall season of 1775, was gone a year, & returned either late in the next fall or early in the winter of 76.  After his return from Canada to his family in Turkey, he performed his regular tours of
Militia duties as other militia men in the same neighbourhood, which generally were of a month in duration, when they were relieved by others, who took their places. When the enemy came strong, advancing into the County, the whole body of militia were ordered into service, &  were retained in service, for a longer or shorter period, according to the danger. Samuel Elston belonged when in the militia service to Captain Daniel S. Woods company in Colonel Jeremiah Smith's regiment & Genl Williamson's brigade of Essex Co. Milititia. My Captain was Brookfield & after him Capt. Horton in the same
neighbourhood-- belonging to the same regiment & Brigade, & we were often employed in the farm Militia duties, guarding the lines, at & near Elizabeth town, Springfield, Rahway, Connecticut farms, Lyons farms, Scotch plains & many other places in different years. I recollect him oftener at & near Elizabeth town
than elsewhere. I remember him at that place in the spring of 77 in Capt Woods co in Col. Thomas's Regiment on guard duty a month. In the summer following, I recollect him in the same company a month, performing guard duty at Rahway, in Col Jaques' regiment; & in the fall of the same year I recollect him performing a months guard duty at Elizabeth town point in Capt. Woods company under Colonel Thomas.
In the Summer of 78, before the Monmouth battle, I remember him on a months militia duty at Elizabeth town under the same officers. In the fall season,I remember him at Aquakanack a month, under Cap. Wood & Colonel Smith, when there was a battle with the enemy at the bridge, Genl Winds commanding the Militia. I recollect said Elston another tour of a month in the forepart of the winter following in Elizabeth town, in Capt. Woods & Col. Smith's command, performing guard duty about Christmas holidays.-  In the spring following, in corn planting, I remember Elston performing a month of guard duty below Rahway, opposite Staten Island, in Capt Wood's company & under Col. Jaques' command.  I remember him on a months tour of militia duty at Connecticut farms in the spring of 1780, when the enemy burnt the Church & village, after a battle, in which Genl Winds commanded the Militia. The wife of Revd Mr Caldwell was shot at this place & time, through a window.  I remember Elston on another tour of a month, under Captain Wood, in the summer following w[rest cut off]
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in the farm following [all crossed out]
the enemy came over from Staten Island in a large body & burned Springfield in Essex
County, after a hard battle, in which Genl Winds commanded the militia.
I recollect seeing Elston upon a tour of a month, in the following fall, at Elizabeth town,
Captain Wood's company & Colonel Smith's regiment, performing guard duty
Elston had long red hair, & wore a queue or tail of it, hanging down his back from
which he had the nick name of Carrot, given him by his comrades, & was after vexed
by being so called in his mess. After the war ended. I removed to Somerset County near
to Vicktown, & in a short time after, Elston & his family removed there also, where he died
some years since, & Charity his wife, still remains his widow. I knew them both, well, 
& their children also. They lived reputably together as husband & wife & just many years, &
one to my knowledge or belief, con doubt their marriage.
David Burnet
Sworn & subscribed at Morris town, Sept. 26th 1837 
Before me,
Elijah Ward J.P.
New Jersey Morris County} ss
I Joseph Dalrimple Esq Clerk of Morris County, hereby certify that Elijah
Ward Esq. before whom the foregoing Deposition of David Burnet was taken is a
Justice of peace in & for said County of Morris duly commissioned & authorized 
& that the signature of his name thereto, "Elijah Ward", is genuine
Witness my hand & the seal of my office, at Morristown
this 27th day of December, 1837
Jos Dalrimple Clerk
[written perpendicular] 
Free J. P. B. Maxwell 
for Lewis Condict
Morristown N.J.
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3136
N. Jersey 3136
Somerset County
---
Sarah Elston }
Widow of }
Saml Elston }
on roll Capt Potters Co
in Mr. Lewis room
admitted for
27 mnth pns
$76.66/100
of
Hon S..L. Southard
Senate US
[Return to Lewis Condict 
Morris town N. Jersey all crossed out]
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Revolutionary services of Saml Elston, of N. Jersey.
1776 - 12 months by enlistment, in Capt Potter Co afterward Col. Potter
on the Northern Campaign. Col. Dayton is believed to have been the Colonel.
(The Commissioner of Pension is respectfully referred to an old Book of
Capt Saml Potter, now believed to be in the Pension office & probably
may be found with the vouchers, in support of the Claim of Isaac Halsey
or of his widow. This book was a sort of memorandum book, showing
payment by Capt. Potter to the men of his Co on that expedition, & there is
little doubt that Elston's name, will be found therein. This same book was
admitted as evidence in the claim of Dan.  (perhaps) Potter, in 1833, (not Jacob Potter's)
After examination this, the book was returned, & again in the summer of 1837, was offered by Saml B.
Miller Esqr in support of Halsey's, claim, who says it is in the office again.) If Col Dayton
rolls of that campaign with being perhaps they may from that year service by Elston
1777
1 mo in the spring season, at E. Town - witness David Burnet
1 mo in Summer at Rahway    "     Do {witness David Burnet]
1 mo in fall E. Town point      "       Do [witness David Burnet] }
1778 1 mo at E. Town  " Jacob Potter } Perhaps these 2 tours, may be one & the same service
1 mo at Newark   "     Do [witness Jacob Potter]
1 mo at Scotch plains     "     Do [witness Jacob Potter]
1 mo at Aquakanock in the fall     "  D. Burnet 
1 mo about Christmas Holiday     '    Do [witness D. Burnet] }
1 mo. spring season at Rahway  Do  [witness D. Burnet] } these [3] tours probably were inn the year 1779
1780 1 mo at Connecticut Farms        Do [witness D. Burnet]
1 at Springfield in summer     Do [witness D. Burnet]
1 at Elizth town in fall     Do [witness D. Burnett]
______
23 months service, provided the years service is sustained.

(upper left edge) 
[symbol unknown] Am of [?] Potter
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Doct N. W. Condit
525 Broadway