Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 999, Thomas Egbert, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey
Born in N. J.

Egbert, Thomas

NUMBER
S.999
carded
===
CONTENTS
Page 2

28042
New Jersey
===
Thomas Egbert
of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey
who was a Major JC. in the Comp commanded
by Captain Wade of the Rgt. commanded
by Col. Heard in the ["Meadsills"? crossed out]
line for 22 months Major
2 " Lieut. " } N. J.
===
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 576 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Jany
1834 and sent to T. Frelinghysen US Senate
===
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33  $1441.86
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M. '34  288.33
[sum] $1730.19
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. C. Stiles Clerk,
Book E Vol. 1. Page 110.

[right side]
1153.53 [+] 288.33 [=] 1441.86
Page 3

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss. On the first day of August in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two, personally
appeared in open court, before Thomas Hance, Nicholas Booraem,
Josiah Ford, Robert McChesney & others
Judges of the Inferior Court of Common pleas, in and for the said
County, now sitting; Thomas Egbert, of the township of North
Brunswick in the said County of Middlesex, 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 7th June 1832. -- That he was born in New Brunswick
New Jersey 18th June 1752, and with the exception of a few years,
has resided there always; and that he has a family record of his age;

At the commencement of the war of the revolution he joined a
uniform company of Infantry Commanded by Captain John Van
Emburgh, and was appointed an orderly Sergeant; and went with the
party Commanded by Colonel Nathaniel Heard to Long Island to disarm
the tories; the object of the enterprise having been accomplished,
he returned to New Brunswick, and shortly after was appointed third
Lieutenant in Captain Van Emburgh's company. On the arrival
of the British forces in the city of New York, his company were
ordered to Bergen point, at which place, & at Elizabeth Town they
were stationed for some time; his local situation, and being of
mature age, imposed upon him frequent and severe duties, and
was at this Juncture obliged to be prepared for action at all
times at short notice. When the british army overran New Jersey
and General Washington with the amean forces retreated into
Pensylvany, he with other officers, Viz. Van Emburgh, Frelinghuygsen,
Van Neste, Morgan, Voorhuse and several others went over into
Pensylvania, and tenderedered their services to Gen'l Mercer,
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2
that he remained with the army, and was at the battle of Trenton
at the capture of the Hessians; after which he was attached
to the regiment of Col John Neilson, and received the
appointment of Adjutant, the British army there being in
the city of New Brunswick; the midlesex [Middlesex] militia were then
principally west of New Brunswick in the vicinity of
Cranbury, from which place parties were frequently sent to
reconoiter, to haras & intercept the forraging parties of the
enemy; while stationed at Cranbury he received a Majors.
commission. On the British army leaving N Brunswick
his regiment were stationed at Elizabeth town, and remained
there some time, nothing special occurring.

Soon after returning to New Brunswick, the battle of
Monmouth was fought at which he was present & with
John Taylor were appointed Aids to General Philemon
Dickerson [Dickinson]. After the battle of Monmouth, was again
stationed at Elizabeth Town, as a Major in the regiment
of Col. John Neilson, and was afterwards at the battle of
Springfield, and again acted as an aid to Gen Dickerson [Dickinson].

This deponent further states that his commissions &
discharge have been lost, or distroyed, & cannot now be produced,
but declares and verily believes that he performed at least two
years of active service in the war of the revolution, after
receiving a Majors commission, and 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 the
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3
agency of any State. And this deponent further states
that he is very infirm, indigent, and for many years
has lived in retired obscurity, and has no personal
acquaintance with the Clergy of the neighbourhood where he now
resides, they all having lately settled among us. neither
can be produce a witness, who can testify in detail at
this distant day, to the particular facts set forth in the
foregoing declaration; and altho now poor, and & living in
obscurity, he has the pleasing recollection of once having
enjoyed the social intercourse of the prominent citizens
of New Brunswick and its vicinity, most of whom are now
dead, and of those still living I would name John Neilson
John Bray, Joseph W Scott, Doctor Jacob Dunham, Doctor
Augustus Taylor, William Supp James C Van Dike, Matthew
Egerton Aaron Hassert, Thomas Hanes, Robert Litton Tho's Letson
Bordin M Voorhees Staats Van Deuneu, Captain Simon Addis and
Andrew McDowell, persons to whom I am personally known, &
who can testify as to my character for veracity, and their belief
of my active services as an officer in the war of the revolution,
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
in open Court

Thos Hance, Judge }

Thomas Egbert

We Garret Nevius & Lewis Johnson residing in the township of
North Brunswick and County aforesaid do hereby certify that
we are personally acquainted with Thomas Egbert, who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe
him to be Eighty years of age, that he is reputed & believed
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4
in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been an officer
in the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, &
we do furthermore certify, that we have often seen him
in different places, and at different times in the performance
of military duty during the war.

Garret Nevius
Lewis Johnston

Sworn and subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
in open Court
Robert McChesney Judge

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after
the investigation of the matter, and after putting the 
interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the
above applicant was a revolutionary officer and served
as he states, and the court further certify that Garret
Nevius & Lewis Johnson who have signed the same are
credible persons, and that their statement is intitled to credit.

Robert McChesney
Thos Hance
N Booraem
Joseph McChesney } Judges

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County }  I F.S. Vanarsdalen Clerk of the
Inferior Court of Common pleas in & for the County
of Middlesex, do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the
matter of the application of Thomas Egbert for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of my office this
first day of August in the year of our
Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty two
F J Vanarsdalen Clk

[Left margin, upward] No. 5349
Page 7

Personally came before me Abraham L. Van Deursen one of the
Justices of the peace in and for the County of Middlesex in
the State of New Jersey Simon Addis, aged eighty seven years
who being sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted
with Thomas Egbert the foregoing declarant, that
he knew him during the war of the revolution to be an
active enterprising and efficient officer, and that he
recollects that having been stationed at Trenton for a
considerable time, or military duty, and the said Thomas
Egbert was then there and acted as Major - this deponent
further certifies, that he has good reason, to believe that
the said Major Egbert fully performed all his military
services, during the war of the revolution, as set forth
in the preceeding declaration.

Simon Addis X his Mark

Sworn & Subscribed before me
the 31st day of May AD. 1833
Abm J Van Deursen

Justice of the peace

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County}
Personally came before me the undersigned a
Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid
David Voorhees of the City of New Brunswick aged Seventy Six
years who having been sworn says that he is well acquainted with
Thomas Egbert the foregoing declarant, that he knew him
during the war of the Revolution that he has frequently seen
him in active service in various places, and that at an early
period of the war this deponent was stationed at Bergen, that
the said Thomas Egbert, was there also, and acted as a Major
that he was highly esteemed and considered as an active
and enterprising Officer, and was then considered as a rigid
and strict disciplinarian and he verily believes that he
served more than two years in the war of the Revolution, after
he received a commission as Major.

David Voorhees

Sworn & Subscribed before me,
this third day of June AD. 1833.

Abm Van Deursen
Justice of the Peace
Page 8

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss.
Personally came before me the subscriber
one of the Justice of the peace in and for
the County John Van Deventer of South Brunswick aged seventy
six years, who having been sworn deposes and says, That during the
winter of 1776 when the brittish forces were in N. Brunswick,
the Middlesex militia were stationed at Cranbury about
twelve miles west of N. Brunswick, that this deponent was there
during that time on duty as a fifer in Captain Williamson's
company, that the foregoing declarant Thomas Egbert was also
there during the whole period, and was also on duty as an
Adjutant in Col Neilsons Regiment and was considered as a
very useful and good officer, and also that he knew the
declarant after he received a commission as Major,

John Vandeventor

Sworn & subscribed before me
the third day of June AD. 1833
Abm J Van Deursen
Justice of the Peace

Supplementary affidavit of Thomas Egbert, the foregoing declarant --
Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in
and for the County of Middlesex. Thomas Egbert, who being sworn
deposeth and saith, that the documents and papers herewith
sent to the War Department relate in part to his personal
services, during the war of the Revolution, they are a very small part,
(and which have been accidentally formed) of a Series of
Memoranda that were noted by him, at the times they bear date, --
the residue are receipts and indications of the early date at
which he received a commission of Major in the War of the
Revolution. This deponent now further declares, that as
soon as hostilities began at Lexington, he joined a Company
of Infantry, under the command of Capt John Van Emburgh
and was appointed an orderly Sergeant, his first service was
performed before the arrival of the British Fleet at Sandy
Hook, his company went with Gen'l Nathaniel Heard
to Long Island to disarm the Tories this service occupied
Page 9

less than a month. On his return to New Brunswick
he was elected a Lieutenant in the same Company and was
attached to Col John Neilsons Regiment. On the arrival of the
British fleet at Sandy Hook in 1776 the militia of New
Jersey adjacent to New York were very frequently called out
upon regular tours of duty, and very often upon alarms given by
incursions of the enemy. In the fall of this year the British Army
came to New Brunswick, that he about this time was appointed
Adjutant to the Regiment to which he then belonged, that on
the arrival of the enemy at New Brunswick the militia in
and about that place took post and encamped at Cranbury
that he remained there until June following, and before leaving
Cranbury, received a Majors Commission in June 1777 in
which capacity he served until the close of the War.

This deponent further declares that from the great lapse
of time that has intervened and from the impaired State
of his health and memory occasioned by an advanced
age he cannot with precision state the exact periods of
service performed in the different grades in which he
served at different times but according to the best of
his recollection, avers and believes that he served as a
Sergeant in Capt Van Emburghs Company about one
month in actual service, as a Lieutenant in the same
Company at least three months, as Adjutant at least
four months and as a Major at least two years and
for such service he claims a pension.

Thomas Egbert

Sworn & subscribed before me
the eighth day of June A.D. 1833

Abm J Van Deursen
Justice of the Peace

Note the papers forwarded as documentary testimony were produced
by the declarant under oath and are severally endorsed by
me with the words- "Exam'd"
A.J.V.D. J.P.
Page 10

I Nicholas Booraem Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex in the State of
New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
both the original proceedings had before said Court
and the Supplementary proceedings had before
Abm J Van Deursen a Justice of the Peace in and for
said County, in the matter of the application of
Thomas Egbert for a pension, and I do further certify
that Abm J Van Deursen before whom said
supplementary proceedings were had is a Justice
of the Peace of said County duly commissioned
and that the signature thereto is in the proper hand
writing of the said Abm J Van Deursen.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
Set my hand and affixed the seal
of said County this Eleventh day of
June in the year of our Lord Eighteen
hundred and thirty two

N Booraem
Clerk
Page 11

State of New Jersey
Mid'x [Middlesex] County } ss: On this Seventh day of
December, Eighteen hundred & thirty three, personally
appeared before me a Justice of the Peace
in and for the County aforesaid, Thomas Egbert,
known to me to be the same Thomas Egbert named
in an application for a Pension in papers
Marked 5349, who being duly sworn on his oath
saith, that by reason of old age, the loss of memory
and other infirmities, he cannot positively & distinctly
remember all the service he performed in the Revolution,
nor all the particulars connected therewith,
but that according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned
below, & in the grades therein described. He
entered the service in a company commanded by Capt
John Van Emburgh, in the capacity of Sergeant,
and in the latter part of the year 1775 or beginning
of '76, he went with his company on an expedition
to disarm the tories on Long Island, and
was engaged in that service not less than two
Weeks, he thinks it was nearly a month but can't
be certain of more than two weeks. In the Spring
of 1776 he was appointed a Lieutenant in said
Company. His commission as such was long since
lost or destroyed, as it was not supposed to be of
any value. In the Summer of this year, at the time
the British came into the waters of New York, he was
called into active service, and from that time to
the close of the year he was almost constantly on
duty, and performed not less than three tours of duty
of a month each, viz: tours of a month each
at Bergen & that neighborhood, and one tour
of a month on the retreat of the army through
New Jersey, and ending with the battle of Trenton
the 25th of December 1776. In all of these
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tour he was under the command of Col Neilson
except at the battle of Trenton when he was under Gen. Mercer.
In the Winter of 1776-7 he received the appointment
of Adjutant in Col Neilson's regiment, and
acted in that capacity for upwards of five
months. During this winter & up to June of 17[77]
he was stationed at Cranberry [Cranbury], under Col Neilson,
where a large body of militia was stationed,
the British being then in New Brunswick,
and constantly making incursions into the
country adjacent, & committing various depredations,
and performed at least four months continuous
service as adjutant at & in the neighborhood
of Cranbery, in watching & repelling
the enemy. The whole body of militia were
out during all this time - that is, the militia
of all the neighboring counties of Monmouth,
Somerset, Essex & Bergen, as well as Middlesex.
On the expiration of this
four months service as adjutant at Cranbery
to wit, in June or July 1777, he received the
appointment of and was duly commissioned
as Major in Col Hyers regiment, he having removed within his bounds. This Commission, like that of Lieutenant
is also lost or destroyed. During the
remainder of this year he was stationed at
Elizabethtown, when in service, and performed not
less than three tours of a month each (the
Militia being then regularly classed & ordered out)
on that station under Col Neilson then in command [illegible], engaged
in guarding the lines from the Brittish on
Staten Island & in the City of New York. In the
. In the year 1778, he was out on his regular
tours, and performed certainly not less than four
tours of a month each. Two of these tours were
performed on the Elizabeth town station in guard-
Page 13

there, under Col. Neilson, one tour of a
month at Spotswood and that neighborhood
in protecting the lives & property of his fellow
citizens there, under Col Hyer and one tour at the
time of the invasion of the State by the
British from Philadelphia, during which the ever-
to-be-remembered battle of Monmouth occurred.
He was in this battle, and had the honor
to act as one of the aids of Gen. Dickerson [Dickinson]
at the time. In the year 1779 was out again
on the lines between Amboy & Elizabethtown
and performed during the year at least four tours
fourty [?] of a month each all on that station,
and in the usual service of guarding the lines.
Two of these tours, as he believes, were under Col.
Neilson, and two under Col. Hyer. In the
year 1780, he was still stationed as before on
the lines near and at Elizabethtown, where,
in fact, most of the said service of the state
was performed, and did four tours of duty of
a month each in guarding the lines, and in
the battle or battles which took place in that
year. He was at Springfield at the battle there
in this year, and acted again, as at Monmouth,
as aid to Gen. Dickerson [Dickinson]. In the remainder of the
service of the year he was under Col Neilson
& Col Hyer, about an equal portion of this time.
In 1781, he performed not less than four tours
of duty of a month each, one at Spotswood
under Col Hyer, during which the Pennsylvania
line revolted, and three at Elizabethtown
with Col. Seely & Neilson, one under the former &
two under the latter, all the time engaged
in watching the movements of the enemy and
preventing & punishing his depredations. He
Page 14

was out again in the year following, and
did at least three tours of duty of a month
each on the Elizabethtown station, under
Col Neilson & Hyer in the usual duty
of guarding the lines. He continued in
active service till the final evacuation
of New York, and can safely say he did his
full share of service, and as much as any
other militia officer in the state. He
corrects an error into which the gentleman who
drew up his original papers has fallen, as to the regiment
to which he belonged after his appointment
as Major. It was Col Hyer's not Col Nielson's
regiment, and he so stated, but, it seems, was
misunderstood. He makes this correction
because he wishes to be scrupulously correct
in all that he states. He respectfully refers
to the evidences of his services now in the
possession of the department, and to the
testimony of living witnesses, annexed to his
papers, and hopes that these may be considered
as so far corroborating his own statements
as to entitle him to a pension.

Thomas Egbert

Subscribed & Sworn to the
day & year aforesaid
before me Peter P. Runyon
Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss } I Nicholas Booraem Clerk of the
Inferior Court of Common pleas in & for said County of
Middlesex do hereby certify that Peter P Runyon before whom
the foregoing deposition or affidavit of Thomas Egbert was
taken, was at the time a Justice of the peace in & for said
County duly commissioned & sworn and that his signature thereto
is genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand &
Seal of office this 13th day of December AD 1833

N Booraem Clerk
Page 15

5349
Thomas Egbert
Admitted
Major 22 months
Lieut 2 do
Dec 6 33
Hon T Frelinghuysen
[crossed out: "J. F. Randolph Esq Present"]
[Calculations:]
600 - 26.66 = 573.34
550 + 26.66 = 576.66
25 * 12 = 300
29.40 * 12 = 352.80
300 / 12 = 29.40 [erroneous]
Page 16

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
Dec 6 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by compling [sic] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, shewing the service of Thomas Egbert

[Chart, listed by row, rows numbered and columns indicated by letters]
[1a] Period when the service was rendered.
[1b] Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. Days.
[1c] Rank of the claimant.
[1d] Names and Rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
[1e] Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
[1f] Proof by which the declaration is supported.

[2a] After Battle of Lexington
[2b] 1 [month]
[2c] Sergt
[2d] Gen Heard

[3a] 1776
[3b] 3 [months]
[3c] Lieut
[3d] Col Nilson

[4b] 4 [months]
[4c] Adgt

[4a] June 1777
[4b] 2 [years]
[4c] Major

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 17

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every brand of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of ___
County of ___ } ss.
On this ___ day of personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of ___ in the county of ___ and State, Territory or District
of ___ aged (c)___ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ___, with ___ and
served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of ___
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, A.B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a
revolutionary solider, and served as he states.

I ___ of the Court of ___
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of ___ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
___ day of ___ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the ___ and C.D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ___, who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be ___
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a
Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, ___ Clerk of the Court of ___ do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ___ day of ___ &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission;
but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledges of the
services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 18

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be
attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be
expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.

1. Where and what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary
war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by who was it given
and what has become of it?
{To an officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can
testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of who should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary solider, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can
procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
----
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will
follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[THE LINE ABOVE IS UNDERLINED.]
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. 
[THE PRECEDING SENTENCE IS UNDERLINED.]
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 consequent loss of memory, he cannot sweat 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."
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 tot he 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 expression 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 shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent
authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers,
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which
contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well
as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the
witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers, and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and seat to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 19

[Reverse of page in image #20]
[Block letters]
EGBERT, THOMAS
(N. J.) S-999
Page 20

Rec'd from Major Egbert thirty one Dollars in full
for to much advanced to Wm. Neilson at Elizabeth
Town -- 21 March 1778
John Neilson
[stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
Page 21

[Reverse of page in image #23, partial]
Exam'd ALVD. JP
Page 22

[Reverse of page in image #23, partial]
[Block letters]
EGBERT, THOMAS
(N. J.) S-999
Page 23

United States of America To Maj'r Thomas Egbert.--- To Services, as ADCamp to the
Honorable, Major General Dickinson, at Springfield, commenced June 15th 1780.

[two-row table, listed by column]
Rank | Major
Day of Entrance | June v. 15.
Day of Discharge | June v. 27.
Time in Service | 13 days
Monthly Pay | 50 Dollars
amount of monthly Pay | [pounds]8~ 2~ 6
Rations fr. day intitled to & not drawn | 2 rations
allowance fr. Ration | old 1/3
number of days no Ration was drawn | 13 days
amount of Rations not drawn | [pounds]2~ 8~ 9
Total amount | [pounds]10~ 11~ 3
Page 24

3. a. Orderly book of Major Thomas Egbert, New Jersey militia
for March, 1777.
b. Ditto, for January, 1781.
c. Abstract for the 3d Battalion Midx. Militia for the alarm
in the month of January, 1781.
d. Instructions of Governor Livingston, dated Nov 28, 1780,
as to manner in which alarm of expected invasion shall be
given.
e. Letter of Jno. Taylor, Secretary Whig Society of Somerset,
dated Dec 13, 1780, relative to illegal trade with the enemy.
f. Five receipts for pay, signed Joachim Gulick, William
Halfpenny, Nathl Hunt, John Neilson, and John L. Voorhies.
Taken from the claim of Thomas Egbert, No. 999.
[handwritten in margin] War Dept Apr 30/ 04
Page 25

[Reverse of page in image #26]
Maj'r Egbert
Exam'd AJVD. JP

Egbert (Thomas)
S. File 999
New Jersey
Page 26

Sir)
In consequence of an order from the Gov[ernor?]
I have orderd four Classes to appear at Brun'k [Brunswick]
Thursday next & as I do not think that I
shall be able to go myself Expect you to
attend them -- If I should be better
tomorrow I shall be in Town -- Yrs H
Wm Smuder Le'r Col
Tuesday Evening
Maj'r Egbert
Page 27

[Left side]
Apr 30/04 Papers to War Mem. within

[Right side]
Rev War INVALID.
File No. 999
Thomas Egbert
Maj. ["Mass" crossed out] L[illegible]
N. J.
Act: June 7. 1832.
Index:-- Vol. A, Page 111
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 28

By his Excellency William Livingston
Esquire Governor Captain General &
Commander in Chief in and over
the State of New Jersey & the
Territories thereunto belonging
Shancellor [?] & ordinary in the same

To all to whom these presents shall come

This is to certify that the Bearer Major
Egbert is a Major in the Militia of this
State, a Gentleman of a fair & respectable
Character & esteemed a friend to the United
States of America.

Given under my hand & seal
at arms in Princeton the fifth
day of June in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven
hundred & eighty one

Wil: Livingston
Page 29

J. L. Edwards Esq'r
Commissioner for Pensions
Washington City
Page 30

New Brunswick 11th June 1833

J.L. Edwards Esqr

Sir, I herewith return the pension papers of Major Thomas
Egbert with additional testimony, and his own
supplemental affidavit, also some documents & memoranda
of his services as a zealous officer during the war,
indicative of the duties performed, as well as the estimation
in which he was held by prominent men of that day.
The certificate of his rank and character signed by
Governor Livingston was given to him at a time
when he went out of the State on a private mission;
I should be much gratified if he, as well as Isaac
Vridenburgh should obtain a pension, not only
from the needy circumstances to which they both
have been reduced but also from a consciousness of
their intrinsic merit. Please to direct to me
as soon as convenient.

Very respectfully your humble serv't
Staats Van Deursen
Page 31

New Jersey
Revol
Thomas Egbert
Suspended
See letter to
Staat Van Deursen
18 Oct'r. 1833
Declaration in this case
deliv'd to J. F. Randolph
for amendment Dec 6 1833
Act 7 June 1832