Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 952, Thomas Belton, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey

Belton, Thomas

NUMBER S.952
carded
===
CONTENTS
Page 2

[left side]
28.117
New Jersey
Thomas Belton
of Livington in the State of N. Jersey
who was a private in the com commanded
by Captain Williams of the [blank] commanded
by Col Conway in the N. J. Troops
line for
13 mo
===
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jer
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Feb'y
1834 and sent Hon
P. Dickerson, Ho. of Rep
===
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 $108.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending Mar 1834 21.66
[total] $129.99
{ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 103

[right side]
See letter 21 Sept 1837
S. B. Miller
Page 3

State of New Jersey
County of Essex } s.s. On this 8th day of October
A.D. 1832, personally appeared before me Abraham
Reynolds a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of Essex Thomas
Belton a Pauper of the Township of Livingston
aged ninety three years labouring under bodily
infirmity and unable to appear in open Court being
first duly sworn according to Law on his oath make
the following Declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832
That he was born on the 14: day of June 1739,
in the County of West Meath in the Province of Ireland,
39 miles from the City of Dublin. That he sailed
for America on the First day of May 1759 and landed
in the City of New York in the latter part of the
month of July following. From thence he went on
to Long Island where he continued to reside about
Five years and from thence to that part of the Township
of Newark now called Livingston in the County
of Essex and State of New Jersey where he has
continued to reside to the date hereof, except such
portion of the time as he was in the service of the
United States as a soldier of the Revolution.
That he entered the service as a Volunteer in the
Revolutionary war under the following named Officers
and served as herein stated. That he performed
one months service under Captain Pierson, thinks
his name was Josiah Pierson at which time he
was marched on to Long Island and assisted in
erecting Fortifications on Brooklyn Heights,
That he performed one months service under Capt
Elijah Squier at which time the company was
employed in throwing up a Fortification near the
Narrows on Long Island That he also performed one
months service under Captain Elijah Squier at
Page 4

which time the company was stationed in the
Bergen woods in the County of Bergen, Thinks that
the three several tours of service was performed in
the year 1775. That he knows the British was at
Boston during the same time and the principle
object of the service in which he was first engaged
was preparation to their coming to the City of
New York. That he performed one Tour of service
under Captain Thomas Williams stationed at Newark
That he was a regular enlisted soldier in the
six months service under Captain DeHart (that
his name was Cyrus DeHart) under whom he
continued to serve the period of his enlistment
That he joined the Regiment to which Captain
DeHarts company was attached at a place called
the First Bridges near the confines of the
Counties of Morris and Bergen, and was stationed
at the following named places viz at the English
Neighbourhood near Hackensack, at Tappan near
the Hudson River, at West Point, and at Pompton
where he received a regular discharge signed
by Col Conway the Commandant of the Regiment
to which he belonged. That he cannot
particularize the years but knows that Major
Andre was a Prisoner while he was stationed
at Tappan. That the discharge he received
of Col Conway was afterwards surrendered
to a Mr Halsey who was acting as a Paymaster
and from whom he received one months pay
and which is all he has ever received for
the six months service performed under Captain
DeHart.

That he enlisted for nine months in a
Company Commanded by Capt Pierson (thinks his
name is Josiah Pierson). The principle
circumstances relative to that service are as follows
Page 5

that he joined his Company at Newark New Jersey
at which place Captain Pierson had
the bone of leg fractured consequently a
Lieutenant Lyon took Command of the Company
and by whom he was marched to a place
called Matouchin near New Brunswick. Major
Hays Commanded the detachment to which he
belonged. That he served the period of his
enlistment and stationed at the following named
places. Matouchin, Quibbletown and Bound Brook
during which he had frequent skirmishes with
the Enemy's Patroling and Plundering parties, that
he cannot particularize the year, but knows the
British were lying at New Brunswick during the
same time. That he performed Two separate
monthly tours of service under Captain Isaac Reeves
That all other service that he now recollects
to have performed except as above stated was under
the command of Captain Elijah Squier. Sometimes
as a volunteer and sometimes as a drafted Militia
man, and thinks he performed one monthly tour
of service as a substitute for Ephriam Camp
That he was a member of Captain Squiers Company
and engaged with the British and Refugees at
Second River near Belville at which time he thinks
General Wynes Commanded and succeeded in
driving the Enemy; that he with the American force
the Passaic River and pursued them to the
neighbourhood of Hackensack. He was also under
Captain Squirs Command, and was in the
ingagement with the British at Springfield and
Connecticut Farms; and was one of a party who
succeeded in taking a company of Hessians near
the Church at Connecticut Farms That he was also
one of a party of Volunteers commanded by
Page 6

Captain Squier that set out in the night
from Springfield and marched near to Elizabeth
Town and succeeded in capturing one of the
Comys in the Piquet Guards stationed on the road
toward the Town of Newark, and marched
back to Springfield before sunrise the next
morning from thence they was marched to Morris
Town as Prisoners of War.

He was also one of a party commanded
by Captain Squier and succeeded in capturing
14 or 17 of the British in a skirt of woods, near
Elizabeth Town point on the day the Americans
succeeded in driving the British from Elizabeth
Town on to Staten Island.

That it is impossible for him to particularize
the length of service or number of tours performed
a Captain Squier; but as the greater portion
of his time was spent in the service of the
United States from the commencement to the
close of the Revolutionary War, he knows that
the service performed under his immediate command
cannot be less than Eighteen months and thinks
that all his service during the war will amount
to from 3 to 4 Years.

That he has no documentary evidence, and
the only persons he now recollects whose testimony
he can now procure to testify to his services
John [illegible] Caleb Ward, Moses Ely and Anthony
King. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares
that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State
or Territory of the United States. The principle Field officers under
whom he recollects to have served are Genl Wyne & Maxwell Cols
Conway, Ogden, Dayton, Van Courtland and Major Hayes.

  his
Thomas X Belton
  mark

Sworn and Subscribed the day & year afforesaid
A Reynolds Judge
Page 7

State of New Jersey -
Essex County SS On this 19th day of June 1833
personally appeared before me Abraham Reynolds a
Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in
and for the County of Essex Thomas Belton who being
duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of extreme
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 period mentioned below and in the following
grades

for three years I served as a private soldier
and for such service I claim a pension

And I also further swear that I served at different
periods of the war and at different periods of each and
every year from 1775 til the close of the Revolutionary

  his
Thomas + Belton
  mark

Sworn and Subscribed
before me
A Reynolds

Interrogatories propounded to Thomas Belton
First where and in what year were you born

Second Have you any record of your age and if so
where is it

Third Where were you living when called into service
Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War
And where do you now live

Fourth How where you called into service, were you
drafted or did you volunteer or were you a
substitute And if a substitute for whom

Fifth State the names of some of the Regular officers
who were with the troops where you served Such
Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect
Page 8

and the general circumstances of your service

Sixth Did you ever receive a discharge from the service
and if so by whom was it given and what has
become of it

Seventh 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 in the Revolution
---
To the first Interrogatory the said Thomas Belton
answers and says that he was born in Ireland
on the 14th Day of June 1739 as set forth in his
original declaration according to the account
given him by his parents and which he believes
to be true

To the Second he answers and says That he has no
record of his age

To the Third he answers and says that he resided in
that part of the Township of Newark in the County
Essex and State of New Jersey, Now Called
Livingston when first called in to service that he
has resided at Livingston since the Revolutionary
war and that he now lives in the Poor House
as a pauper of the township of Livingston in the
County of Essex.
-
To the Fourth he answers and said that he entered the
service as a volunteer  has served some times as a
drafted Militia Man and for nine months as
an enlisted soldier and thinks he served one
monthly tour as a substitute for Ephraim Camp
all of which is set forth in his original declaration

To the Fifth he answers and says That Col Dayton's Regm't
of Regular troops were with him at the Battle of
Page 9

Springfield and Connecticut farms in New Jersey That
his old age and loss of memory will not admit of
a more specific statement of facts and circumstances
of his service than is already set forth in
his original declaration

To the Sixth he answers and says That he did on one
occasion receive a regular discharge which was
surrendered to a Paymaster as set forth in his
original Declaration

To the seventh he answers and says that in addition to
the several names mentioned in his original
declaration whose affadavits and signatures are duly
annexed to the same he now gives reference to
the Honorable John Condit of Orange also Caleb
Tichener Joseph Harrison and Parker Seed Esqr
residing in the Township of Livingston

  his
Thomas X Belton
  mark

Sworn and subscribed
before me this 19th day
of June 1833
A Reynolds

State of New Jersey
County of Essex } ss. I Elias Van Arsdale Junior Clerk of the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that Abraham
Reynolds before whom the foregoing affidavits of Thomas Belton were made
& taken at the time of taking the same was & still is a Judge of said Court
duly commissioned and Sworn - That I know the
hand writing of said Judge, and that the Signatures
"A Reynolds" affixed to said affidavits are
genuine.
-
In Witness Whereof I have hereto set my hand
& the seal of said Court the Twenty first day of
June AD Eighteen hundred and thirty three

E Van Arsdale Jr Clk
Page 10

I Abraham Reynolds do hereby
certify to the Secretary War and
to the Commissioner Pensions that
at the date of the Declaration of Thomas
Belton and his examination had
before me, the said Thomas Belton
was very much bowed down in consequence
of extreme old age, that he was
so deaf it was with great difficulty to make him
understand. He was entirely blind and in other respects so
infirm that it was deemed imprudent to have him removed
from his residence, a distance of thirteen miles over a mountainous
road to the town of Newark the regular place of holding
the County Court, consequently I attended at the special request
of the Overseers of the Poor of the township of Livingston at their
Poor House (Thomas Belton being a pauper at the time) and
at which place the said examination was had. I do further
certify that I have visited the said Thomas Belton who is
yet living but find him so deaf that it is impossible to
converse with him and his mind is now so much
impaired that a further explanation from him is deemed
by me to be entirely useless and therefore declined
reducing it to writing.

Given under my hand this twenty sixth day
of November 1833.

A Reynolds

[Written vertically in right margin:]
The result to be communicated to A. Reynolds Paterson N. Jersey

[Written vertically at bottom:]
Suspend

[Inverted toward bottom:]
Ph. Dickinson
NJ
["at Mr Hills" crossed out] HR
Page 11

Rev War. INVALID
File No. 952
Thomas Belton
Pri. N.J. Mil.
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:-- Vol. A, Page 25
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 12

New Jersey
Revo
Act 7 June 1832
Thos. Belton
Suspended
Letter to
Hon P Dickenson [Philemon Dickerson]
H of Rep
10th Decr 1833
Page 13

Thomas Belton (the "l" inserted]
15,705

The result to be communicated to A. Reynolds
Paterson New Jersey
Page 14

We John Watson - a Clergyman residing in the Township
Livingston County of Essex and State of New Jersey and
Frederick Chapin residing in the same place do hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Belton who
has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - That
We believe him to be Ninety three years of age. That
he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution
and we concur in that opinion

John Watson
Frederick Chapin

Sworn and subscribed this
12th day of October 1832 before
me
A Reynolds Judge
Page 15

We Moses Ely and Caleb Ward residents of Livingston in
the County of Six do hereby certify that we are both
acquainted with Thomas Belton who has subscribed and
sworn to the foregoing Declaration in order to obtain a
Pension and we do further certify that we were
members of Captain Squiers Company doing duty in
the service of the United States being the Revolutionary
War And we have distinct recollection of seeing the
said Thomas Belton from time to time and at various
places doing duty in the same company and do verily
believe that he must have been in the service
of the United States during the Revolutionary War / in all,
not less than three years

Moses Ely
Caleb Ward

Sworn and subscribed thus
12th day of October 1832 before
me
A Reynolds Judge
Page 16

I John Teed a resident in the Township of Livingston aged
seventy six years do hereby certify that I am well
acquainted with Thomas Belton who has subscribed & sworn
the foregoing Declaration And that I knew the said Thomas
Belton during the Revolutionary War. that I was doing
duty in the service of the United States at various times and
places with the said Thomas Belton during the Revolution
land I do further certify that I have a distinct recollection
of seeing the said Thomas Belton in the service of the United
state And engaged with the enemy at Second River and
Belville. That I saw him engaged with the enemy at the
Battles of Springfield & Connecticut Farms And that I frequently
saw the said Thomas Belton during the time he was stationed
at Matouchin- Quibble Town & Boundbrook and
know that he belonged to Captain Piersons Company at the
same time And I do further certify that I recollect of
seeing the said Thomas Belton on one occation doing duty
in the service of the United States on Long Island and I also
recollect seeing the said Thomas Belton doing duty in
the service of the United States at Newark and from the
general knowledge that I have had of the said Thomas Belton
during the Revolutionary War am fully satisfied that he
must have been in service during the Revolutionary
War in all more than three years a portion of which time
we were members of the same company and doing duty
together

John teed

Sworn and subscribed
at the house of John Teed this
12th day of October 1832 before
me
A Reynolds Judge
Page 17

Essex County S.S. On this 13th day of October 1832 personally
appeared before me Abraham Reynolds Judge of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Essex
Anthony King who being duly sworn according to law
deposeth and saith that he was a regular enlisted soldier for
and during the Revolutionary war and is now a United
States Pensioner and this deponent further saith that he
is well acquainted with Thomas Belton who has subscribed
and sworn to the foregoing Declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 and
that he saw the said Thomas Belton doing duty in the
service of the United States and knew the said Thomas
Belton when he was a member of Capt De Harts company
stationed at Tappan and this Deponent saith that he
was doing duty at Tappan at the same time

  his
Anthony X King
  mark

Sworn and subscribed the
13th day of October 1832
before me
A. Reynolds
Page 18

I Abraham Reynolds a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas and for the County of Essex and State of New
Jersey do hereby declare my 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 I do further certify that John Watson who has
signed the preceeding certificate is a Clergyman, resident
in the township of Livingston and that Frederick Chapin
who signed the same is a resident of the same place is a
credible person and that their statement is entitled to
credit. And I do further certify that the extreme
age and bodily infirmities of Thomas Belton renders
him unable to appear in open Court I do further
certify that Moses Ely, Caleb Ward, John Teed and
Anthony King who has severally signed the remaining
certificates are credible persons and that their
statement is entitled to credit

October 13th 1832
A. Reynolds
Page 19

State of New Jersey
County of Essex ss: I Elias Van Arsdale Junior
Clerk of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas in & for said County of Essex Do
hereby certify that Abraham Reynolds before whom the
foregoing proceedings in the matter of the application
of Thomas Belton for a Pension were had
& taken at the time of taking the same was
& still is one of the Judges of said Court duly
Commissioned & sworn That I am acquainted
with his hand writing & that the signatures
"A Reynolds" subscribed to the foregoing Declaration
Affidavits & Certificate are the genuine signatures
of the said Judge.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & affixed the seal of my
said Office this twenty second day of
October AD 1832

E Van Arsdale Jr Clk
Page 20

James L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions
Washington
Page 21

Newark July 29th 37
Sir

At the request of a friend
of Mr Thomas Belton permit me
to say that I have known him
(Belton) for nearly forty years &
resided for a great part of the time
within a few miles of his residence
& have been conversant with the public
opinion in relation to his revolutionary
services --- He has always been
considered among the aged people
of his place as one of those veterans
& I have seen him treated on 4 of July
celebrations with more attention
and respect than any other of those
Heroes present on those occasions.
He is poor -- wholly dependent -- very
infirm -- nearly if not quite blind --
and not far from 100 years old
He has the sympathies of the
public in his favor to a very
great extent & I am sure that
an extension of his pension
would very much gratify this
entire community on account
of his deserts as well as his great
necessities.

Very Respectly
your obt
Servt
John LS. Darey

Jas L Edwards
Page 22

15708
Page 23

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

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

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?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No

*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 amout of pension
he is entitled? No

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?
yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? the Judge has

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

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?
yes
Page 24

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? Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing it?

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? Witnesses

XIV. [dagger] 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?
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?

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? Yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No

XVII. [double dagger] Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? no

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 ___
year ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___ For ___ months
and ___ days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 25

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 months is to indefinite,
and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state 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.

[dagger] 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.

[double dagger] 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.

[pointing hand] 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.
Page 26

J. L. Edwards Esq
Comm'r

[written downward:]
admit 13 mo
43.33

Hon P Dickerson
H R
Page 27

Dr Sir

I am informed by Judge Reynolds that
no further evidence can be obtained in the case
of Thomas Belton an applicant for a pension
from the county of Essex in the State of New Jersey
He therefore wishes you to act finally upon the
case. From your letter and from the case
made He thinks that Mr Belton is entitled
to a certificate for 13 or 14 months service
Please communicate to me the result of
your investigation.

I am yours very respectfully
Ph. Dickerson
Feby 4, 1834

J. L. Edwards Esq

N. B. The papers are on file except the one enclosed.
Page 28

James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 29

Newark New-Jersey July 27th 1837

L. Edwards Esq

Sir I herewith enclose to you the
Declaration and Evidence of Mrs Margaret White Widow
of Thomas White deceased & as it is stated that said
White was an Enlisted Soldier in the New Jersey
Brigade. I presume you must have some Evidence
of his service in the war Department. Provided the
Old Records are all in existance.

I will further take this opportunity
to state that Mr Thomas Belton at present a
Resident of the City of Newark New-Jersey said to be
one hundred and four years of age Blind & Infirm
and a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $43.33
per annum- Has requested me to mention his
Case to you. he is under the impresion that upon
a particular review of his papers filed in your
office you will be induced to Increase the amount
of his pension, which he insists is much less then
it ought to be & particulerly he thinks he has
not been allowed for the six months service
mentioned in his affidavit, Relative to the services
of Thomas White Enclos'd. The old man Insists
he served half the war of the Revolution and
from his known good Character and reputation
as a Revolutionary Soldier I have no doubt he is
entitled to receive a larger pension then he is
at present allow'd. If further evidence should
be required to support any part of his original
Page 30

Declaration it is probable some may be found, he
has no other means of subsisting and his present
Pension is altogether inadequate to his maintenance

You are aware of the great difficulty in making
at this day full proof of the services of those who
are known to have served long & faithfully as
in many Cases A. Man's Companions and all
those who knew of his services are dead, and
binds Mr Belton from his very helpless, situation.
has been obliged to depend upon the
efforts of others if others to procure the evidence
which has been decided upon by you. It will
give him great satisfaction for you to Reexamine
his Case although you should make no alteration
he now believes you must have made some
mistake or have in some particular misapprehended
his Case.

with full confidence in
your desire to do justice
to all I Remain respectfully
Yours &c
Sam'l B. Miller

N.B. I also enclose to you a letter from General
John S. Darey Marshal of the of New-Jersey, Relative
to Mr Thomas Belton. -- S. B. Miller