Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9620, for Jacob Sisco, New Jersey
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Service - New Jersey 

Sisco, Jacob

Number - R9620
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New Jersey, Morris County
Declaration of Jacob Sisco for a Pension
July 1st, '34.
31884
Col. L Condict  20 June '35

Return to Louis Condict, Morristown, N. Jersey
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State of New Jersey, Morris County ss:
Court of Common Pleas, July Term, 1834.
On this 7th day of July,1834, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Interior Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Jacob Sisco of Hanover in said County, in the 75th year of his age, well known to this court to be a man of fair character & good reputation & fully entitled to belief, & having been first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.  I was born in Springfield Township, Essex County New Jersey, on the 7th day of January 1760, acccording to a record kept by the midwife then residing at Springfield, & who was said to have introduced me an infant into the world.  My father died when I was very young, & the date of my birth I derived altogether from the midwife's book just mentioned.  I know not whether said book be in existence yet or not.  I believe however the record is accurate.  It is the only rule by which I have always listed my age.  I lived in Springfield Township when I first entered upon my Militia services in the war of the revolution, where I resided until within 20, or 22 years past, when I moved to Hanover in Morris County, where I have lived ever since, & where I still live.  I entered the service of the United States in January 1776 in the Militia company commanded by Capt. Robert Nichols & was stationed at Newark, quartered at the stone house of John Ogden.  Capt. Nichols' command consisted of from 10 to 12, or 15 men drafted or volunteered from the neighbouring Militia companies, who were collected under Nichols as Captain of the guard, stationed at Newark, to protect & defend the inhabitants against the depredations of Tories and Refugees, who at that time greatly annoyed the people by plundering their cattle & seizing & carrying away the leading & influential Whigs & putting them in prison.  This company of guards was distributed at night in different quarters of the town & guard was mounted regularly every night.  Major Samuel Hays had the chief command of those guards.  He lived in Newark & was intimately acquainted with the haunts of the Tories and Refugees.  Those of the guards who were drafted remained in service I believe for one month when they were discharged.  I was a volunteer & remained in service & in performance of this duty & staid here on this station till the first week in May & was out at this time from the middle of January to the 7th of May.  There was a great many Tories & Refugees in some parts of Essex & in Bergen County adjoining Newark, separated from the town only by the Passaic river.  They frequently came over in strong parties & were often led by one  Hatfield.  I recollect they took & carried off Caleb Bener [?], David Morehouse, & a Wm Ball - all active & leading Whigs, &  treated them with just cruelty.  The tories & refugees had a little fort on Bergen neck, not very far from Newark, called "Negro fort", to which place they always retreated when pursued, & which served them as a rendezvous for all the runaway slaves in the neighbourhood, & as a deposit for all the plunder which they could collect, to be conveyed thence to New York, which the enemy occupied till the close of the war.  This fort had some guns mounted & was made strong.  I do not recollect the time when the "Negro fort" was constructed, but upon further reflection, I think it was not until after the British had taken possession of New York  city, & of Long Island & Staten Island. -- I had been at home but a short time, not exceeding a week or 10 days, before another urgent call was made on the Militia for the defence of New York, as the British were then expected with their fleet & army from Boston.  I volunteered my services under Capt. Reeves, & we marched to Powles [Paulus] hook, opposite New York.  We were stationed here & at Communipaw & along the neighbouring shores of Bergen - sometimes employed in throwing up temporary defences & sometimes performing guard duty.-- It was immediately after planting Corn (probably the middle of May) when we went to Powles [Paulus] hook & I remained on duty there as a Volunteer, till after the battle of Long Island was fought.  We saw the fleet in the bay & harbor of N. York & heard the firing both of muskets & cannon, in time of the Long Island battle & could see distinctly the smoke.  There was a large Corps of Jersey Militia lying in the neighbourhood of New York - along the Bergen shores at this time. Major Hays of Newark was among our most active officers & commanded us more than any other one.  I believe there were also several Colonels of Regiments out.  I think our Colonel Hunt & Colonel Taylor & Major or Colonel Bott were present.-- I remained here on duty, till the latter part of August - I did not get home till as late as the 25th August - when I was verbally discharged & went home.  Captain Reeves did not remain here so long - probably not longer than a month or 6 weeks.-- I remained as a
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a Volunteer & was transferred by my own consent to a company this commanded by a Lieutenant, whose name I do not now recollect from Newark. -- After the Long Island battle, & the retreat of the American army under Genl Washington from Long Island to New York,  the enemy pursued him to fort Washington - White plains - Westchester & across the Hudson river into New Jersey. The Jersey Militia from about Newark & the surrounding County were kept almost constantly under arms, & I did not remain at home more than two weeks, before I again volunteered my services under Capt. Nicoll or Nichols.  It was early in September, when early apples were good.  We were stationed in Newark, & mounted guard every night, at Ogden's house & at the school house at lower end of the town.  We were stationed on duty here under command of Major Hays when Genl. Washington with his retreating army passed through Newark. -- All the Militia here fell in with him, & we marched in rear of his army as far as N. Brunswick. -- The main army pushed through New Jersey & across the Delaware into Pennsylvania & we returned home, as did most of the Militia of Essex & of some of the neighbouring Counties. -- It was quite cold weather when we reached home & according to the best of my remembrance & belief, not earlier than the 20th or the 25th of November. -- Soon after arriving home, an alarm was given, on account of an enemy's force passing up through Elizabeth town & as far west as to Springfield, when there was a sharp action fought.  I went out under Captain Reeves, & was present in that fight.  The Militia of all the adjoining County was out & I believe Genl. Heard commanded.  Genl. Williamson I think was present also & several Colonels, among them Colonel Ford, Colonel Munson & Col. Bott.  A body of Hessians or Waldeckers were taken prisoner between Connecticut farms & Springfield, & sent to Morris town under a strong guard.  I remember that a large hole or pit was dug in the earth, on the East side of the Rahway creek, on a little eminence near the Elizth. town road, into which the enemy threw the bodies of their dead soldiers.  Many of them lay so near the surface that the rains soon washed bare & exposed to view the hands feet & limbs of the dead.
I recollect a British officer, mounted on a white horse in the course of the battle, who had both his thighs shattered & almost cut off by a cannon ball, which passed through the body of the horse.  His thigh bones were shattered to pieces & the flesh dreadfully mangled. -- Both limbs were taken off by the Surgeons - but it was said the officer died in a few hours after the operation. -- After the enemy retreated & returned to Elizth town & Staten Island we were stationed between Elizth town & Springfield, to guard the County & protect the inhabitants, where I served out the rest of the month.  This fight at Springfield was pretty early in the winter - probably early in December.
In the following spring (1777) before the frost was out of the ground, I again volunteered to serve with Captain Reeves.  We were stationed at Newark to perform guard duty & protect the citizens from plundering parties of the enemy & against the raids of the tories & refugees, who annoyed the inhabitants more than the British themselves.  We mounted guard every night, some at each end of the town, under the direction of Major Hays, who always had command of the guards when I was stationed at Newark. -- When the first month of this spring duty was expired, most of Captain Reeves' men who were then out, were dismissed & returned home. -- Being fond of a soldier's life & having no family I volunteered my services to Major Hays & continued to perform guard duty on the Newark Station as before, & was placed under command of a Lieutt. Denman. (I think was his name.)  At the expiration of this month I was discharged & went home, & assisted in planting corn & potatoes.  It was about the middle of May - probably between the 15th & 20th May.
We had several little [illegible] with the tory & refugee scouting & plundering parties during this spring, & often chased them across the meadows to the ferries on the river.  They often stole cattle from the meadows & drove them off to the enemy.  [note to the left of the following bracketed passage reads "Inserted before, # as to the fort"] [left bracket] They had a small fort on Bergen neck, called by us, Negro fort, which was a rendezvous & refuge for runaway negros from which place they quietly harrassed the people of Newark & the Country around. [right bracket] #-- In the warm season & about the beginning of Rye harvest, I was again out as a volunteer under Captain Reeves one month, at Newark, performing guard duty as before, under the direction of Major Hays.--  In the months of September & November I was again out as a volunteer, doing guard duty at Newark, under the direction of Major Hays.  The first of these monthly tours, Captain Nichols commanded the company & Captain Reeves the second.
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In the year 1778, in the month of April, I went out as a Volunteer, under command of Captain Laing [?] & was stationed with him, on the shore, to guard the Salt works at Barnegat, which I believe is in Monmouth County.  Salt was very scarce & very dear all over the County & it was understood that order was issued either by the Governor or some other authority, to guard these works by Militia force.  We were not relieved from this duty until after the season of Wheat harvest & of cutting Hay was over.  I think it was not till the middle or 20th August that we were discharged & went home.  Whilst on this tour of duty, we heard very distinctly the cannonade of the Monmouth battle on a hot Sunday in June.
In the fall season, about the ripening of Corn, I performed a month's duty at Newark under Capt. Reeves & another month early in Winter under his Lieutent. Denman.  The first tour was in October, when farmers were gathering corn & digging potatoes, & the last in December when the ground was hard & partly covered with snow.  Our duty was directed by Major Hays & our guard house was an old stone building belonging to old Capt. Ogden, in a street which is now called Washington Street.  We had another station at the South end of the town, in a school house; & in one or the other of these two, we were generally quartered.
In 1779 I performed 4 months duty - two under Capt. Reeves, the first in March & the second in July.  The two other months were under Capt. Nicholls - one in May & the other in Sept. & in October.  Our station was in & near Newark, as directed by Major Hays, & our duty consisted in protecting & guarding the .  inhabitants in the town & along the shores of the Passaic river & the ferries.  In 1780, I performed a months duty at Newark in March in Capt. Reeves' company, at the stone house under Major Hays; & one months duty at Elizabeth town under Lieutenant Denman.  Our station was at our Stackhouse - just above the stone bridge, performing guard duty.  The last tour was in May.  Before the last tour was ended the enemy came over from Staten Island in a large body & forced their way through the County to Connecticut farms, when they burnt the Church & village.  We had a sharp skirmish with them here & on their retreat back the Militia greatly annoyed them in their march & had another fight with them at the cross roads below Elizabeth town before they crossed over to Staten Island.  The whole Militia of this part of the County was often out & I think Capt. Reeves took the command of his company.  Before we were dismissed for home, the enemy came out again with a strong reinforcement, driving all before them as far as Springfield, where there was a [illegible] battle fought.  Some part of the troops of the regular army was present & engaged.  Col. Dayton's regiment & Col. Angel's Regiment of the Rhode Island troops were engaged, the latter suffered severely & many of them were killed at the bridge.  Capt. Reeves commanded our Company & was wounded by a musket ball, which entered near the side & lodged in or near his back.  He was carried on a hand litter from the field to Stephen Parkhurst's mill & laid on a sled.  He asked for some water, & when drinking, I saw the water & blood gush from the wound.  After the fight was over, I saw Genl. Washington ride up to our wounded Captain - he dismounted from his horse & examined his wound, & endeavoured to comfort him.  The Genl. (Washington) was not in this battle, but was with his army above Springfield & between Morris town & Springfield, expecting the enemy would attempt Morris town.  The enemy burnt the village of Springfield & the Church & returned - the Militia annoying them all the way to Elizth. town.  This fight I think was late in June 1780, & we did not  reach home till near the middle of July - having been kept on guard duty, watching the movements of the enemy & protecting the citizens.  In the month of September following, I performed a months guard duty at Newark, under Capt. Nicolls, & another in November & December under direction of Major Hays, & was stationed at the stone house of old Capt. Ogden as before. -- Capt. Reeves never was able to do Militia duty after his wound.  He lingered for 12 or 16 years & finally died in consequence of the wound, as was said.  I believe his Lieutent. Thomas Denman, was chosen Captain.
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in his stead.  I performed a month's guard duty under him at Newark in April 1781, at the stone house - under Major Hays.  I also performed two months duty under Capt. Nicolls in 1781, at the same place & under command of Major Hays - one in the summer (harvest time) & the other in the early part of the fall.  I also served several tours upon alarms, when we were out sometimes 2 days, sometimes 8 or 10 days & more at a time - but of these times, which were frequent, I cannot now give any farther details.
I never recd. any written discharge & all my services were rendered as a private & as I believe in the character of a volunteer.  Serving for so many years out of the County & away many miles from the place where my services were done, I do not know of a single man living who served with me. And altho I have made diligent enquiry, as far as my frail health, with extreme poverty & old age will permit, yet I have not found a single living man who served with me.  I remember many who did serve with me - some of whom have recd. pensions & are dead, as I am told.  I recollect Jacob Dean, John Dean, Timothy Meeker, Aaron Earl, Joseph Bond, Nathaniel Bond, Elijah Lyon, John Russell, Moses N. Combs, John Teed & some others - but I know not where to find them, nor whether they be living or dead.  Those whose names I have mentioned I am told are dead.
I may have in some instances mistaken the months & years in which particular duties were performed & perhaps in some also I have mistaken the names of my Captains.  But in all my statements, I have faithfully followed the dictates of my memory, honestly, & according to the best of my recollection & belief.
In all the tours of Militia duty which I have stated, I have not been engaged or employed in any civil pursuit, but have faithfully & constantly acted in obedience to the orders of my superior officers & never been absent from duty, except when my Captain may have given permission to go home for a change of clothes or a pair of shoes or some similar occasion.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.  From 1776 to 1781, inclusive, I have faithfully performed upward of two years & 8 months duty, volunteer service for which I claim a pension under the act of June 7th 1832.  I usually attend the Methodist Society but they have no place of worship within several miles of me, nor any regular preacher; for my private character & reputation as having been a soldier, I refer to Joseph Dalrimple Esqr. & to Seely Tomkins, two of my neighbors [signed] Jacob Sisco
Sworn & subscribed in open Court this first day of July 1834. [signed] Wm Morrell
Attest [signed] Jos. Dalrimple Clk
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We the subscribers, Joseph Dalrimple Esqr & Seely Tompkins, residing in the County of Morris & in the neighbourhood of Jacob Sisco, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with said Jacob Sisco, who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding Declaration, that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reputed & believed to be in the neighbourhood where he resides a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
[signatures] Joseph Dalrimple  Selee Tomkins
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. [signed] Wm Morrell

And the said Court, do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Joseph Dalrimple Esqr. & Seely Tompkins who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of the County of Morris aforesaid & are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit [signed] Wm Morrell

I, Joseph Dalrimple, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jacob Sisco for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this first day of July, ADomini 1834 By order of the Court. [ signed] Jos. Dalrimple Clk
[seal & ribbons affixed to the left of the signature]
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Record Division.       3 -- 525.for

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., ___________, 190 ___

In reply to your request of ___________, 
received __________ for a statement of the military history of Jacob Sisco a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.                   R. 9020
Only Jacob Sisco found on Rev. War pens. records.
----------------------------------
[table follows with 5 columns; column headings are as follows:]
(1) DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
(2) LENGTH OF SERVICE.
(3) RANK.
(4) OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  {sub-headings:}  a. CAPTAIN.
b. COLONEL.
(5) STATE.

[text beneath column headings as follows:]
(1) 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781
(2) 9 mos., 5 ", 6 ", 4 " , 5 ", 3 "
(3) Pri.
(4) a. { Robert Nichols, Reeves; Nichols & Reeves; 
Serring & Reeves;  Nichols & Reeves; Reeves & Nichols; {Lt. Thos. Denman, Nichols
b. Maj. Samuel Hayes; Maj. Samuel Hayes
(5) N.J.
[end of table]

Battles engaged in, (2 yrs. 8 mos.)__ Springfield Dec. 76 & { June 80 - Capt. Reeves wounded - Conn. Farms June 80
Residence of soldier at enlistment, __ Springfield Twp., Essex Co., N.J. ____
Date of application for pension, __ July 1, 1834 ___
Residence at date of application, __ Hanover, Morris Co., N.J. ___
Age at date of application, __ b. Jany. 1, 1760 Springfield Twp. Essex Co., N.J. ____
Remarks: ___ His claim was never allowed for the reason that the claimant was unable to furnish proof of his alleged service ____

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

31793b5m1C-97
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[left side of page]
1908 May 6. Hist to Mrs. John F. Wood, C

[right side of page is a printed form with handwritten entries]
["Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873." crossed out]
9624  REJECTED 
P. O. Jacob Sisco
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: NJ, 18[blank].
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank].
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank]
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P. O. [blank]
[blank] Recognized.  [blank] Contract.
[blank] Cert. of Dis.  Searched for [checkmark], 18[blank].
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No. 31.884
New Jersey
Jacob Sisco
Suspended
let to Condict 21 June 35
let   "     "         21 July   "

Papers enclosed to same
Nov 10: 1836
9620
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Morristown Oct 20th 1834

Dear Sir

The Pension Declaration of Jacob Sisco of this County was returned to him, to ascertain whether or not there might not be persons who served with him, by whom his claim might be proven.- It is herewith returned with his own deposition, showing that his efforts have been fruitless & unavailing. I have no doubt myself, that there are individuals living, who served in the same companies with Sisco, but the period is so long since he removed out of the County in which he then lived, & from among his army associates, that he has become a stranger at his old home. He has always lived secluded from society, in his shoemaking shop, & is scarcely known 3 miles from home. He is however, as honest & as upright a man, & as
free from guile & deceit, as is known any where. He is so poor, that he cannot hire a conveyance to travel around & look for testimony, & is to my knowledge, very decrepid [decrepit], & totally 
unable to walk a mile. He is at all times a sober man, a man of known piety & his truth as 
unquestioned as any man. It is a case, in which I believe no evidence can be produced, not because the same was never performed, but because many, & perhaps all who served with him, and either dead-- removed, or are unknown to him. Neither the law of Congress, nor the Instructions of the Department have been predicated on the supposition that proof could be obtained in all cases. He hopes that his good character, sustained by his neighbors, may be of some avail to him, in deciding his claim.

The original Declaration of David Horton is also forwarded, & Danl. Skellinger's.

Yours with esteem & respect
Lewis Condict
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P. S. -- Govr Dickinson is personally well acquainted with some of the persons who certify to the fair character of Sisco - altho I do not think he can know Sisco himself.  He also is well acquainted with Judge Horton of Chester, brother of David Horton & a witness of his Militia Services.  I would refer you to him for their standing & of the standing of Mr. Skellinger also.  [initialed] L. C.

[written upside down at the bottom of the page]
Jas L. Edwards Esq
Pension Commissioner
War Department
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April 21/1908

TW

[stamp:] RECORD DIVISION MAY 2 1908

Bureau of Pensions

Gentlemen-

Kindly send me a pension certificate- of our
Jacob ['Siser' crossed out] Sisco who fought in the American Revolution in a Reg. of New Jersey

The Rev. Records of N.J
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Sisco of that name fought in the War 
Inf- came from almost the same locality- in N.J.

[stamp:] U.S. PENSION OFFICEA APR 30 1908
[stamp:] U.S. PENSION OFFCE A APR 23 1908
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are poor and this Adj. General at Trenton gave me what was on file there-  but the N.S.D.A.R
ask for a pension Certificate- in order to
make my claim valid

Very truly-

May H. Wood

Mrs. John F. Wood
Huntington
L.I.
N.Z.
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AW

Record Division.       3 - 1865.         GCK
[stamp:] U.S. PENSON OFFICE A APR 30 1908

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 278, 1908.

Mrs. John F. Wood,
Huntington, Long Island
New York.

Madam:

In reply to your letter dated the 21" and  received the 23" instant, You are advised that the Revolutionary War pension records fail to afford any information in regard to "Jacob Siser" described therein.

Very respectfully,
V. Warner
Commissioner.

Should be Jacob Sisco
"Jacob Sisco"
Sorry to trouble you Mrs Wood
Respt-
John F. Wood
Sisco


has been ill which accounts
for the writing
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3 -- 595.
----------
Record Division.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,

May 2 1908.
Searched by __ S.D. Lamparter ____
Original No. _________________
Certificate No. ________________
Claimant, _____________________
Soldier, ___ Jacob Sisco _____
Service, _________________
_________ Rev. War _____________
_______________________________
Remarks: __ No claim as above _______
 __except Rej. # 9620
___________________________________
    _________________________
                       Chief of Division.

27498b4m2-07
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To the Hon the Secretary of War & Commissioner of Pensions.

We the subscribers, citizens of Morris County, New Jersey, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted, personally with Jacob Sisco of Hanover township in this County, now an applicant for a pension for Militia services performed in the war of the revolution. We have known him many years, some of us for a period of 40 years, some for 20 & 30- & none of us for a less period than 15 years. He has always borne the character of an honest & industrious  man, whose character for truth we have never doubted ourselves, nor have we ever known his integrity & probity questioned or doubted by others. Wherever he is known, his word is believed. He possesses as little guile, as any man we know; & altho we ourselves know
nothing of his services as a soldier, yet we can [illegible] for those who may decide upon
his application that his narrative of his services would be very generally believed where he is known, & we cheerfully recommend him to the favorable notice of the Pension Department, as a man of truth & of good standing with his neighbours, & whose circumstances are very poor & needy.
Morris County, N. Jersey, July 1834
J. Crittenden
Stephen Conger
Joseph Jackson
Mahlon Munson
The Rev. Henry Clark
Moses Aber
Peter Tomkins
Samuel Palmer
Job Talmage


Most of the persons whose names are subscribed to this paper, are personally well known to me to be highly respectable men, & entitled to the fullest  belief. J. Crittenden, is the Physician of the village, & a worthy man, Stephen Conger & Jos. Jackson, are Judges of the Com: Pleas Court of the County, Henry Clark is a Methodist Preacher, & the other 5 signers, are respected  farmers, - neighbors of Jacob Sisco.-
Lewis Condict, late a
Rept from N. Jersey
Morristown, August 18th 1834.
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Certificate of
D. Skellenger accompanying
to be connected in the name
& in the State of his residence
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
Washington
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Morris town, N. Jersey August 5th 35

Dear Sir,

I recd yesterday, your favor of the 1st inst enclosing the Certificates of Pension for David Horton & Daniel Skellenger. The latter, in the hurry of business is spelled incorrectly, as you will perceive. It is written Skellington instead of Skellenger, of New York, instead of N. Jersey. Presuming it is proper to correct both errors, I return it herewith.

I regret very much, the hardship of Jacob Sisco's case. It is one of those cases which it appears to me was intended to be provided for in the instruction from the War Department, viz: in which no proof can possibly be found.-- I would not  renew my importunity, did I not know him to be as honest, & as truth telling a man as any ever living. He has all the simplicity of a child. & could not be tempted, knowingly to relate an untruth, if it would ensure him a full pension. His services were all performed in Essex Co. & soon after the war he removed to the farther part of Morris Co dist. about 30 
miles from all his old associates. His whole life, for more than 50 years past has been spent, sitting upon his Shoemakers bench, having never visited Essex since the war but once, which was since he applied for his pension. Time had so changed both him & those where he was born & brought up that he knew not a face, nor was he known by any. He mentioned to me many names there whom he once knew &
with whom he had served in the war of the revolution; but not one was living whom he could recollect, nor was he known by any then living in the place. His poverty prevented him from riding about the County & his lameness & other infirmities rendered it impossible for him to travel about on foo, in quest of testimony. No one has more faithfully earned the soldier's  reward than this same poor man, & yet I am certain he cannot find the evidence, which is asked for. Under these circumstances, may not his narrative be admitted as the traditionary evidence, so far as the known history of events & his own fair character may go, in support of his claim?. - His character is stated by the most respected men of the neighborhood, as free from reproach, & fully entitled to belief, & I feel constrained, by a full conviction of his faithful services in the revolutionary war, to solicit in his behalf, your personal inspection of his case, to relieve him from the most pressing wants of old age & poverty in the extreme.

With much respect & esteem,
your friend & obt. svt.
Lewis Condict

Pleas return me Skelinger's Certificate, ['answered' crossed out] corrected.
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State of New Jersey Morris County ss:
Before the subscriber, a Justice of Peace in said County personally appears Jacob Sisco, of said County known to me to be a man of integrity & truth, an applicant for a pension & being duly sworn, saith as follows viz:-- I am the same Jacob Sisco who made my Declaration for a pension before the Judges of the Common Pleas Court of said County on the 1st day of July, last, 1834, which Declaration has been returned from the Pension office for want of proof of my services & an intimation is given in the letter from the Commissioner of Pensions that there are, or may be survivors, who served in the same Militia companies with me, in the County of Essex, whose affidavits might be had. I have just returned from a visit to that County, in the hope of finding some living person who might have served with me in Militia duties, & who might now recognize me. I went with great difficulty & much fatigue, as far as the neighborhood in which I lived, when my services were rendered, viz: in what is now the township of Livingston, where Captain Reeves our Militia Captain also then lived. I found there, ["Aaron" crossed out] Abner Ball & Aaron Burnet, well known to me in time of the war who after a little conversation recognized me, but neither of them had any remembrance of me as a Militia man, nor have I any recollection of them in Militia service.
John Dean, Jacob Dean, Timothy Meeker, Elijah Lyon, John Teed, John Russell, Joseph Bond, Moses N. Combs, and some others of my old neighbours with whom I was intimate when a boy & a young man, & with some of whom I had been a companion in arms, were either dead or had removed to other places. I found not a living person whom I knew in the service. I removed from Essex to Morris County about 20 or 25 years since, & distant from Livingston probably about 15 or 18 miles, & have not since then visited the place, till now, where I found myself a stranger among the children & grandchildren of my old companions. I endeavored to go down over the mountains to Newark, where I had been often stationed on duty, to see whether or not I could find any associates living there, who might have served with me, either under Capt. Reeves, or Capt Nicholls. My strength however was so far exhausted that I could hobble with my staff & on foot, no further, & I have not a shilling to hire conveyance, nor a friend to convey me another mile. And if I were now in Newark, I should probably find myself an utter stranger there & entirely destitute of friends of whom to enquire. I conscientiously declare that I do not know a single survivor who was with me in any Militia duty & can as conscientiously declare that my various tours of service as stated in my Declaration, under Captains Reeves, Nichols, Serring, Denman, Major Hays & other officers were all honestly [underlined] & faithfully [underlined] performed for the benefit of my Country. And I sincerely trust that my claims will not be rejected, because after the lapsing of 50 or 60 years, the witnesses of my services have either died, or removed, or may have forgotten a poor & decrepit old man, whose face they may not have seen in half a century. I can with confidence appeal to any of my reputable neighbours who know my character to vouch for my truth, & respectfully refer to those who have given their certificate as annexed.  [signed] Jacob Sisco
Sworn & subscribed before me at Morristown
this 16th day of October, 1834.
[signed] Charles Freeman J. Peace 

I hereby certify to the Commissioner of Pensions, that Charles Freeman Esq the magistrate before whom the above Deposition of Jacob Sisco was taken, is well-known to me to be a Justice of Peace in the County of Morris, duly authorized & commissioned, & that the signature of his name thereto is genuine
[signed] Lewis Condict late a Rep. from N. Jersey
Morristown N.J. 16th Oct. 1834.