Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1048, for Samuel Lewis, New Jersey
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SERVICE
New Jersey
Va.

Lewis, Samuel

NUMBER
S. 1048

carded
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22923
New Jersey
Samuel Lewis of Lodi in the State of N Jersey
who was a Private in the Compy commanded by Captain Forbes of the Regt commanded
by Col Davis in the Virginia and N.J. line for 2 years
N.J. Line added May 23 '03

Inscribed in the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Dec
1833and sent Hon L Condict
Present
-
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 33 $200
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  40
$240.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Jno Cromwell Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 120
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Declaration of Samuel Lewis in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832
State of New Jersey
Bergen County SS:
On this twenty fourth October in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Cout of Common Pleas holden at New Berlin, in and for the County of Bergen now sitting Samuel Lewis resident of the Township of Lodi in said County aged
Seventy Six 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 June 7th 1832. That he was born as he believe in the month of July AD. 1756 at Highworth in Wiltshire old England, and was at twelve years of age put apprentice to a Tailor
that in the year 1774, he obtained a passage for Virginia in the Ship Brilliant and on arriving there was indented for his passage money to Mr. [illegible] for the term of three years during which term his indentures were transferred to Mr. Ballentine at New [illegible] of James River above Richmond & that about July 1777 he was enlisted in Lieutenant [illegible] in Captain Forbes Company in the fifth Regiment of Virginia Troops commanded by Col. Davis, as a substitute for a Mr. David Morris Jun and
another person for three years or during the war, according to a regulation of Congress. That in the first of that year he proceeded to
Hospital quarters near Alexandria then in Virginia, with others of the same Regiment where he [illegible inoculation for the small
pox, that on his recovery he marched to Lancaster in Pennsylvania where he received [illegible] then  recrossed the Susquehanna
to York Town to guard Congress then sitting there. That in the spring of the year 1778 he joined the main army at Valley
Forge when the third, fourth and in the Virginia Regiments were joined into one and made a part of General Mechlenburgs brigade
That on the British leaving Philadelphia he crossed Delaware
River with the main Army and was present the Battle of
Monmouth in New Jersey on the 28th June. On the day of the
battle when marching towards the enemy with a corps ordered to escort and cover three pieces of field artillery the strap of his knapsack broke when he stopped on the side of the Road to adjust it . On going on he came to water and while drinking General Washington rode up with several officers reconnoitering and asked him for a drink, he immediately gave him and the other officer his cup filled with water, and offered the contents of his canteen, but the General declined adding that the soldier want it himself win the course of the day and to carry on and take his place in the line as soon as possible as
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as they would shortly be in action - before and while they were within Cannon son of the enemy the corps frequently marched in
quick time changing their positions to give the artillery a better opportunity to bring to advantage but no musketry were discharged, nor were any of their regiment killed or wounded to his knowledge though several died of the heat. That after the battle he marched with the army to White Plains Near New York, thence to the North River near West Point,  thence to Pompton in Jersey, where when taken sick and remained in the family of Jacob Van Houten as is testified by Rulef Van
Houton one of the sons of the said Jacob Van Houten now eighty one years of age & whose affidavit thereof is herein to annexed, while the Regiment went into winter quarters near the Raritan River. That in the [illegible] of the year 1779 he joined his Regiment at Bound [illegible] New Jersey, and marched to Suffering at the [illegible] line of New York and New Jersey, where he was detached on an 
expedition under Major Lee against Powles Hook that he was left with a party as a war guard at the old bridge on Hackensack River,  that after the capture of One Hundred and sixty prisoners at Paulus Hook July 19th 1779, he was sent with a party to [illegible] first to Morris Town and then to Philadelphia.
That on his return he was left to take care of Thomas Hoffman of the same regiment who was taken sick, that after he joined the Regiment they were ordered to the Southward and he marched down as far as near the Pennsylvania and Maryland line, when being almost barefoot and his foot became frozen and he fell in the [illegible] and continued in
unfit for duty, until his enlistment expired. That being by trade a tailor he was regularly entered on the roll as an artificer excused
from Camp duty and employed in patching and mending the officers and mens clothes, at which he has full payment, and sometimes engaged with other tailors of the regiment in making and fitting new clothing, but in the presence of the enemy on a march he did duty the same as other soldiers. That he continued in the service of the United States until
the term of his enlistment expired as aforesaid - That after leaving the army he was enrolled in the Militia of New Jersey and did duty in several companies at several times until the
conclusion of the war under Captains Vreeland and Thomas Davis - That he has always lived in the Counties of Essex and Bergen in the State of New Jersey since the war
That he never received any written discharge from the service has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
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annuity except the present, and to declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State
Samuel Lewis
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

John A. Westervelt
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states
John Westervelt
Chas. Kinney
Henry W. Banta

I Abraham Westerwelt Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Bergen do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Lewis for a Pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty fourth day of October eighteen hundred and thirty two.
A Westerwelt clerk
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17057
New Jersey
Samuel Lewis
Admt
["rejected" crossed through] 24 mo. pri
80$
see letter to Hon Lewis Condict
5 August 1833
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Rev War
INVALID.
File No. 1048
Samuel Lewis
Priv. Va & NJ Line
Act June 7, 1832.
Index: - Vol. A,  Page 219
[Arrangement of 1870.]

N. J. Line added May 23 '03
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Testimony of Levi Vincent  susanna Hopper in the case of Saml Lewis an applicant for a pension
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State of New Jersey
Essex County Ss.
Personally appeared before me E Hall
one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said
County Levi Vincent and Susanah Hoper his Sister, he being over ninety years & his Sister Susannah being over Eighty five years of age being duly Sworn upon their oaths severally
do depose and say that some time during the Revolutionary war between this country &
England Samuel Lewis came to the house of their Father Levi Vincent then living in this State & County and- Brought with him a sick solder and that they boath staid at the house of their father for nearly three months and that the said Samuel Lewis went once a week to Newark to draw rations for him & his Sick Companion and that the said Samuel Lewis as he then said belonged the Continentinel army and that he had a gun, Knapsack, and
other accuterments such as men belonging to the army then used
His
Levi X Vincent
mark
her
Susannah X Hoper
mark
taken & subscribed this
30th day of July AD 1833
before me
E Hall Justice of the Peace

I do hereby certify that I am and acquainted with the above named deponents and have no hesitation in believing that what they say about the said Samuel Lewis is true and I do believe them competent witness in any matter that they are acquainted with
E Hall
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State of New Jersey
Essex County I Silas Condit of Newark in said
County of Essex do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Eliphalet Hall Esq of Bloomfield in the County aforesaid and know him to be acting as a Justice of the peace in & for said County as such qualified to take affidavits and administer oaths & that 
his signature of the within affidavit to be genuine.  In testimony whereof I have hereto
inscribed my name this thirty first day of July AD 1833

Silas Condit
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17057
Samuel Lewis
of
New Jersey

(rejected)
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Samuel Lewis which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device of inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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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?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining 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?
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?
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? No see Quere 14
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?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  No see Quere 16
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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.
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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 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.
His name is not on the Virginia rolls. See in that case Quere 14 above.
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War Department
Pension Office
July 20. 1833
Sir
Your letter of the 18th inst was received this morning. The papers of Samuel Lewis are herewith returned. I regret very much that I cannot admit his claim without some additional proof of Service. I cannot
find his name on the Virginia continental
rolls, where it should appear, if he served
as he has stated.
I have the honor to be
very respectfully

Very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
J. L. Edwards

Hon. Silas Condit
Newark
N. Jersey
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Secretary
I yesterday forwarded Saml Lewis' papers and the affadt of Brant, I now enclose the affidavit of Levi Vincent & his sister Mrs. Hopper who knew Lewis in the revolutionary war well as quartering with a sick soldier at their fathers in West Bloomfield, formerly called Crane Town about two miles from my fathers residence
they swear that Lewis went weekly to Newark and drew his rations which circumstance he had related me & at my suggestion he hunted up the old people who will recollected the facts as stated.
I have no doubt of the truth of Lewis declaration, altho I cannot account for his name not appearing on the Virga roll
perhaps however he has mistaken the regiment into which he enlisted. Look into this matter.
In haste yr Sv
S. Condit
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[Illegible] Aug 17. 1833-
Dear Sir
When I transmitted the papers of
Samuel Lewis, I requested that if you thought it would be of service for him to come in person, that you would so write me - I have not heard from you at all in regard to his case, and as the time of your stay at Washington must be drawing to a close, I have advised Mr Lewis to go on immediately- I think the Secretary at War if not for Mr. Edwards would be convinced from his statements that he was enlisted and actually served more than two years
I make him the bearer of this letter to you and hope you will assist him all you can-
H [illegible] ..ith a reputable old man - he once had considerable property but is now poor.
Yourr very sincerely
Silas Condit
Dr L. Condit
P.S. Present my best regards to the Dr & wife
Mr Hale and Mr & Mrs Smith
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I Joseph Homblower of Newark in the
County of Essex & State of New Jersey,
certify that I have known Samuel Lewis
of Bergen County in the said State for more than forty years - that he has always
sustained the character of an honest and
industrious man-
Jos. C. Hornblower
Aug. 24. 1833
We the subscribers do certify that we have
been acquainted with the above named
Samuel Lewis, for many years, & we cheerfully unite our testimony to that above given, respecting the character of the said Samuel Lewis-
John Dow
Gustaves Abeel
Anthony Rutgers
I the subscriber, officiating as lay reader in
the Protestant Episcopal Chapel in the village of Belleville, County of Essex and State of N. Jersey do certify that the above named Samuel Lewis is a member & communicant of said church,  and that his standing as such, & character generally are unimpeachable
John P. Lathrop
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I certify that the name of Jos. C. Homblower, subscribed to the foregoing recommendation
is in the proper hand writings of the Chief
Justice of N. Jersey & whose certificate
aforesaid to the character of Mr Lewis is entitled to the utmost confidence
Augt 24. 1833
Thos Freilinghusen
I hereby certify that Mr Samuel Lewis having
attended occasionally upon the services of the church of which I am Rector is believed by me to be of respectable standing in the Community and of [illegible], honesty, moral character
Matthew A Henderson
Rector of [illebigle] church Newark N.J.

October 13th 1833
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Washington Decr 6th 1833-
Jas. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm of Pensions,
Sir,
Permit me to solicit your attention to the case of Saml Lewis now of N. Jersey formerly a soldier in a Virginia Regiment, but whose officers I cannot now remember. The
objection to the allowance of his pension was, that his name could not be found on the rolls, & he could find no proof his services. During the past summer, he came here in person, whilst I was here & in his presence & mine. you searched the Viga rolls, but his name could not
be found. Doctor Crump came into the room, & upon questioning Lewis, it appeared that he enlisted in the very place where the Doctor
had lived -- could tell the names of many of the old people & families living there when he enlisted - their occupation - residence &c.
you then enquired the names of his Lieut. & Ensign orderly Sergt & Corporal in succession, & found their names as he gave them, together with the names of several of the privates. Doct Crump asked him where he had the small pox. He answered prompt & told
the time, place & circumstances - giving precisely with the facts, in the mind of the Doctor. I think the place was Almanda
He further states that his accts had never been settled - that before his enlistment has expired he fell sick had a Coy illness, & never rejoined the company or regimt which accounted for the non-appearance of his name on the Virga. rolls.  His statemt. being corroborated so far by the rolls, & by D Crumps knowlege of the acts
you remarked you had no doubt of the truth of his statement & were willing to allow his pension. You then enquired whether he belonged to any church & could bring a certificate of good character from his minister. He answered, that he was
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an Episcopalian, & could bring a certificate from the Clergyman at
Newark, or at Belleville, I am not certain which-
I then proposed, that he should forward as soon as possible, such a certificate & that you should omit any further action upon the case until it should be rec'd. -
In about a week, I rec'd a certificate of his unimproachable character from the Clergyman at Newark, another I think from the Minister at
Bellville - one from Chief Justice Hornblower of N.J. & one from Mr. Frelinghuyen of the U.S. Senate. But before these papers were rec'd
you had suddenly been called into N. Jersey by the illness of your daughter & did not time till after I had left Washington. These certificates, with letter to the same effect from S. Condit Esq. I handed to you a few days past, & will feel myself under renewed obligations to you for final action in the case of said Saml Lewis
your obt servt & friend
Lewis Condict
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In consequence of the satisfactory proof which the within recited circumstances furnish coupled with the fact that the claimant did
not return [illegible]to receive his certificate of depreciation (the only evidence of that service in the office) and the very strong testimonial of character he is admd by special instruction
from the Hon Secy without its being deemed a precedent to depart from the rues respecting
proof of Contl. service
Adm'd
24 mo pri
80$

Lewis Condict
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Declaration of Samuel Lewis - Bergen County New jersey
17057

Hon. S. Condit
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State of New Jersey
Bergen County Ss. Personally appeared before me - David S. Christie one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County, Ralph Van Houten, Farmer, of the Township of Franklin in the County of Bergen, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God upon his oath deposeth and saith, that he is well acquainted with Samuel Lewis of the Township of Lodi in the County of Bergen and State of New Jersey and knows the said Samuel Lewis to have been or was a soldier in the Virginia line (or Troops), in the Revolutionary War, that part of Gen. Washington's army went into winter Quarters at a place Called Pompton (now Township) then in the Township of Franklin in the winter of 1778/79. That the
said Samuel Lewis was then taken sick
while working at the Taylors Trade for the
officers of the regiment at the House of Mr Decman - that said deponents father Jacob Van Houten fetched said Lewis from said Decmans to his fathers house, where said Lewis laid sick from some time in the latter part of the fall of 1778 untill in the spring of 1779
attended by William Murrey a Companion of said Lewis and (also soldier of the same Company) to attend him -
that in the spring of 1779 (after the said Lewis
had got well again) the said Lewis left the
House of deponents father [crossed through - together with William] to join the army the said Williams [illegible] Remaining at said deponents fathers House ( he being lame & unable to join the army at that time) & after a short time he Lewis Returned again and took William Murry with him to Join the Army as is said - that said deponent is now in his Eighty second year. & further saith not

Rulef Vanhouten

Sworn & Subscribed to before me the
25th day of September A.D. 1832-
David S. Christie Justice of the peace
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State of New Jersey,
Bergen County  I Abraham Westervelt Clerk
Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Bergen and Clerk of the County of Bergen do hereby certify that David S. Christie who has signed the within Jurat was on the 25th of September 1832 an acting justice
of the peace in and for the County of Bergen duly appointed and sworn into office; and that his signature to the within Jurat is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this
24th day of October Eighteen hundred
and thirty two
Abr. Westervelt Clerk

I David S. Christie one of the Justices of the peace of the County of Bergen, before whom the within affidavit of Rulif Van Houten was sworn and subscribed to hereby certify that the said Rulif Van Houten is a credible person
and that his statement is entitled to full faith & credit
Given under my hand in the County aforesaid this fourteenth day of February A.D. 1833.
David S Christie Justice of the Peace
State of New Jersey
Bergen County  ss: I Abraham Westervelt Clerk of the inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Bergen and Clerk of the said County of Bergen Do hereby certify that David S. Christie who has signed the above certificate
was on the 25th September 1832 & also on the day of the date of said Certificate an acting Justice of the peace in & for said County duly commissioned & sworn & that his signature to the said Certificate is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of Office this fourteenth day of
February A.D. 1833
Abr. Westervelt Clerk