Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 10361, for John Swick, New Jersey
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey
Swick, John
NUMBER
R 10361

CONTENTS
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34.322
John Swick
Pennsylvania

Hon
Thos Henry
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State of Pennsylvania}
County of Beaver} Ss.

On this twenty seventh day of November 1837 personally appeared before the Hon. John Bredin President, and Benjamin Adams and John Nesbit Esquire, Judges of the Court of Common pleas of Beaver County aforesaid. John Swick a resident of North Seweekly township in the County of Beaver and state of Pennsylvania aged seventy three 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 1778 with Lieutenant Pettigrove, and served in a regiment under the command of Colonel Jacob West, of the New Jersey line, under the following named officers-.  Lieutenant Pettigrove, and Captain John Maxfield. Drum Major Allshouse and General William Maxfield, - that he left the service after having served three years and seven weeks, of which he received a certificate of discharge from Captain John Maxfield, which I since gave to General Tannehill for the purpose of procuring a pension, and has never seen it since - That he resided in Greenwich township, Sussex County, New Jersey - That at the time he enlisted he was marched by Lieutenant Pettigrove to Easton in the state of Pennsylvania, and after remaining there about two week - he was marched to Bound Brook on the Raritan, where a part of the army lay, and from thence was sent to Amboy under the command of Captain Maxfield and Major Piatt, and having remained at Amboy a week or ten days was sent back with a son of Major Piatt to Easton to learn to beat the drum, and Piatt to learn the fife, and remained there under command of Drum Major Jacob Allshouse until discharged, - That not being able to find his discharge, he procured a certificate from Captain
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Maxfield, which cannot now be procured on
account of its having been placed in the hands
of General Tannehill, who is dead - That there is
no person now living of whom he has any knowledge who can testify to his services, and that there is no minister stationed in his neighborhood whose evidence he can procure as to his reputation
And further that the reason of his not having
applied for a pension sooner is that he had not
heard until very lately of the passage of the act
of Congress of June 7th 1832
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity except the present: and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency of any State
John Swick
Sworn and subscribed in open 
Court the day and year aforesaid
John A Scroggs Peo

We Sampson Pierson - and Solomon Bennet and William McQuiston - residing in the county of Beaver in the state of Pennsylvania do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Swick who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he has for years been reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion 
Sn_ Piersol
Solomon Bennet
William McQuiston
Sworn & subscribed in open 
court the day and year aforesaid
John A Scroggs Pio
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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
who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents of the county of Beaver aforesaid, and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
J. John A. Scroggs Clerk of the court of 
Common Pleas of Beaver County in the state of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Swick for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand and seal of office this 27th day of November A.D. 1837
John A. Scroggs Pio
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March 29, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/ady
John Swick
R. 10361
Hon. Louis E. Graham
New House Office Bldg. R.1626
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Graham:

Reference is made to your request, by
telephone, March 28, in behalf of Dr. J.
Howard Swick who desires the Revolutionary War record of John Swick of New Jersey and
Pennsylvania.

There is one claim for pension, only,
on file based upon service of a John Swick
in the Revolutionary War. His record follows
as shown in his claim (R.10361).

On November 27, 1837, John Swick, son of
Martin, then aged seventy-three years and a
resident of North Sewickley Township, Beaver
County, Pennsylvania, applied for pension and
alleged that while residing in Greenwich Town-
ship, Sussex County, New Jersey, he enlisted
in 1778 in Captain John Maxfield's (probably
meant for Maxwell's) company, Colonel Jacob
West's New Jersey regiment and after serving
about six weeks was taken out by General
William Maxfield (probably meant for Maxwell)
because of his youth and sent to Easton, Pennsylvania, where he was placed under Drum Major Jacob Allshouse to learn to beat the drum; that "he believed when removed he was placed on the roll as a substitute for his father" but did not know whether it was a New Jersey of Pennsylvania organization, that he remained in Easton until about the close of the war, and that his entire service amounted to three years seven weeks. He stated also that his uncle, Peter Swick, was a lieutenant in the army at the time of his service.
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John Swick's claim for pension was not allowed as he did not furnish proof of his service as required by the pension law. The date of his death is not shown. 

There are no family data except the above references to the father and uncle of this soldier. 

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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June 8, 1934.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/ady
John Swick
R.10361

James Ezra McQuiston
2252 South G East
Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your request for the record of John Swick, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, R. 10361, based upon [crossed out: his] military service [inserted: of John Swick] in that war.

On November 27, 1837, John Swick, son of Martin, then aged seventy-three years and a resident of North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, applied for pension
and alleged that while residing in Greenwich Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, he enlisted in 1778 in Captain John Maxfield's (probably meant for Maxwell) Company, Colonel Jacob West's New Jersey Regiment and after serving about six weeks was taken out by General William Maxfield (probably
meant for Maxwell ) because of his youth and sent to Easton, Pennsylvania, where he was placed under Drum Major Jacob Allshouse to learn to beat the drum; that "he believed when
removed he was placed on the roll as a substitute for his father, but did not know whether it was a New Jersey or Pennsylvania organization, [crossed out: and] that he remained in Easton until about the close of the war, and that his entire service amounted
to three years [crossed out: and] seven weeks. He stated also that his uncle, Peter Swick, was a lieutenant in the army at the time of his
service.

John Swick's claim [inserted: for pension] was not allowed as he did not furnish proof
of his service as required by the pension law. The date of his death is not known.

There are no family data except the above refererences to 
the [crossed out: his] father and uncle of this soldier.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
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Hon. Louis E. Graham
Rm. 1628 New House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C., called by telephone
behalf of Dr. J. Howard
Mch. 28, 1939, in behalf of Dr. J. Howard
Swick (of M. Graham's  Dist. in Pa), for the  
Rev. War record of John Swick of New Jersey
and late of Penn., who was a drum major and who mar. Miss Reno.
MHT
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Aadminstrators of Vetrans Affairs
Washington D C.
Dear Sirs Please furnish a Recoord
of John Swick R 10361
James Ezra McQuiston
2252 South 9 East.
Salt Lake City
Utah

May 28 - 1934
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Pennsylvania
Beaver County Ss

Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county John Swick a resident of the county of Beaver aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law, Saith, That he enlisted in New Jersey four and a half miles from Easton Pennsylvania at a place called the Straw Tavern, under Lieut Pettigrove, who at that resided in Easton, and was taken to Amboy where he remained about six weeks when Gen'l. Wm.. Maxfield took him out and sent him to Easton, saying that he was too young to carry arms (being between fourteen and fifteen years of age) under command of  Drum Major Jacob Allshouse, for the purpose of beating the drum. - That he cannot say whether he was in the New Jersey line or a Militia or whether after his removal to Easton he was in the Pennsylvania line. That he believes when removed he was placed on the roll as a substitute of Martin Swick his father, and remained in Easton until about the end of the war. - That Col. Jacob West commanded a regiment, to which he first belonged, but is not certain whether of the regular army or militia he cannot say. - That his uncle Peter Swick was a Lietenant (sic) in the army at the same time under Genl. Maxfield. - That he cannot ascertain anyone now living who has a knowledge of his having served. - That his discharge was signed by a Colonel whose name he cannot now remember, but that afterwards [inserted: it was] lost. And that afterwards he got a certificate from Capt. John  Maxfield signed by him and Peter Swick and two other persons. And further saith not 
John Swick
Sworn and subscribed before me this 19th day of June AD 1838
W. Clarke
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State of Pennsylvania
Beaver County Ss.
I John A Scroggs Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Said County, do hereby Certify, that the within named W. Clarke is and was at the time of signing the within deposition an acting Justice of the peace in and for Said County duly Commissioned and Sworn And Sworn And that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official, acts as Such and that his signature to the within deposition is genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Said Court at Beaver this 22nd day of June AD 1838  John A. Scorggs Pro 

Hon. Thos Henry WR
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John Swick
Pennsylvania
Suspended

(crossed out text)

10361
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10361
John Swick

Service:-----


Enlisted:-------

Discharged:-------


Application filed:---------

Alleges: 1852 Rejected Book -gives Reasons for suspension
Re-enlisted: no proof of service

Attorney:-----

P.O.---------



------ Recognized       _----Contra
------ Cert of Dis    Searched for----- 18
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J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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H.R. Washington. 28 June 1838


Dear Sir/

I enclose you a letter from Wm B. Clarke Esq the Depy. Atty Genl for the County of Beaver (?) Penna in which enclosed two deposition, and asking as to the consideration of the claim of John Swick for a pension.

In transmitting those papers, I have no hesitation in considering an opinion with Mr.  Clarke that Swick's claim is a Just one, and that I think further, that the adoption of the rule made with (unknown word) to claimant's for a pension that at this late period, there is not one an fifty of those old veterans could now find living (unknown words) to prove their service. 

I hope you are well again take this matter up and give a favorable consideration. 
I have the honor to be
with high regard
Thos. Henry

Hon J.L. Edwards
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War Dept. Pen Office
Jan 26, 1837

Sir,
The declaration of John Swick has been exc & filed with suspended cases in this office. 
He alleges to have served as an enlisted soldier in a regt. of the New Jersey Line commanded by Col Jacob West. No officer of that name commanded a regt. of the N Jersey line and the applicant's name is not found in the rolls of those who served in that line. If therefore he served as alleged, he should amend his declaration as to the name of his Colonel and prove his service as required in note [j ?] in the enclosed printed sheet.
The affidavit of Samuel Zane in his case has been filed with his original papers in this
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office. The militia of Pennsylvania were on no occasion in service continuously by order of competent authority for so long a term as six months. 
If the company to which he belonged remained at the fort for a term making up six months, it was voluntary service entered into for their [mutual] protect[ion] against the depredations of the savages without the order of the regularly constituted authorities, and [issue] was not as therefore of that character provided for by the act under which he claims. I herewith return M. Clark's letter to you.

Hon. Thomas Henry, 
H. R.

[written vertically on right side: Hon. T. Henry
Dec 26, 1837
Ss.
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War Dept. Pen Office
June 29 1838

Sir
The amended declaration of John Swick and the traditionary evidence in support of his claim have been examined and filed. He alleges to have enlisted in the army and that he remained at Easton Pa. during the war. Those who served as enlisted soldiers, were not stationed at any one place as stated. If the applicant had served as an enlisted soldier he would in common with other enlisted soldiers performed actual service in the army in different parts of the United States, but from his statement it is evident that he did not serve as such. If he was enrolled at all it must have been as a militia man. It would seem that he entered into Lieutenant Pettigrove's company as a substitute and being too young to serve was sent to Easton, after having marched to several places in N. Jersey.
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It does not appear from his original declaration that he performed any actual service after he went to Easton. He alleges to have been employed while there in learning to beat the drums. I herewith return the letter of W.B. Clarke Esq to you

Hon. Thomas Henry
H.R.

[written vertically on right side: Hon T. Henry
June 29, 1838
Pa. B.C.
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Hon. Th. Henry
HR
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Pennsylvania
Beaver County Ss 

Personally came before the Subscriber a justice of the peace in and for said county Robert White, Jonathan Hall and William Morton who being duly sworn according to law say that they have been acquainted with John Swick an applicant for a pension for many years--that he is and always has been reported to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that his character for truth and veracity is good and that they do not believe he would state anything, but what he believed to be strictly true that he is old and inform, and in such circumstances that a pension would be of great service to him. (Unknown word) further signed, Sworn and subscribed before this  22 day of June 1838
J.H Van Gorder
Pennsylvania
Beaver County, Ss

(signatures) 
Robert White
Jonathan Hall
William Morton

J.H. Van Gorder, a justice of the peace in and for said county do hereby certify that the persons above named, who have signed the above affidavit are respectable citizens and that they are persons of veracity and that their statement is entitle to credit. 

June 22 1837, J.H. Van Gorder
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State of Pennsylvania

Beaver County, Ss

I, John Scroggs Prothonotary of the Court of Commons filed in and for the County of Beaver do hereby certify,  that within (unknown word) J.H. Vangorder is and was the time of signing the within affidavit , an acting Justice of the peace of foresaid County, duly (unknown word) and Sworn, and that for all faith and (unknown word_--is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such, and that his signature to the within affidavit is genuine, In (unknown word) which of--I have known to to Act (unknown word) hand and the Seal of said court of Beaver this 22nd day of June ss 1838

John A Scroggs