Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1472, Phinehas Chidester, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey

Chidester, Phinehas
Pitney, Rebecca
Former widow

NUMBER
W.1472
CONTENTS
Page 2

New Jersey 3.081
===
Rebecca Pitney, who was
widow of Phinehas Chidester
who died on the 22d. April 1814
of Morris Co. in the State of N. Jersey
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Cook of the regt. commanded
by Col. Ford in the N. Jersey Militia
for 10 months & 10 days
===
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 34 Dollars 44 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 12. day of October
1839 and sent to Hon Lewis
Condict, Morristown, N.J.
===
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 39  292.74
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '40  17.22
[total] $309.96
{ Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the 3. &
act of 3d March 1837 }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book A. Vol. 2. Page 130

[right side]
Order to pay 5th April 1841
Let to Hon C. Morgan Aug 16. 1842

[written vertically, right margin]
Date of death not on AB [?]
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Declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the 3d section of the Act of 4th July 1836. & of the 1st section of the act of 3rd March, 1837.

State of New Jersey ss: On this 22d day of December, 1837, personally appeared before the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in & for the County of Morris, Mrs Rebecca Pitney, a resident of the township of Mendham in the County of Morris & State of New Jersey, aged 78 years (in her 78th year), who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836, & the act explanatory of said act, passed March 3d, 1837; viz: That I was married to Phinehas Chidester, April 10th 1780, at the dwelling house of Zenas Condict, in Mendham township, Morris County New Jersey, by Reverend Mr Jones, who was, as I understand, a Clergyman connected with the Army, & as I believe, a Chaplain therein. Of this I am not certain; he was not however the Reverend Timothy Johnes, then the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown.

My husband, the said Phinehas Chidester, was a Militia soldier in the Militia of Morris County aforesaid, before our marriage & performed Militia service in the Revolutionary war, both before & after our manage as I verily believe. I cannot give any minute details or particulars of his services, except as I have heard my said husband speak of them, & as I have sometimes heard them spoken of by others. I believe my said husband was a private militia soldier, & performed his militia duties as such, sometimes under Captain Peirson, sometimes under Captain Day & Captain Cook, & in the regiment which sometimes was under command of Col. Drake & sometimes of Colonel Ford, in General Heards & General Winds Brigade.

I believe that he was an enlisted soldier in the 5 months service, & afterward in the 3 month service, beside his other services in monthly tours of duty, & upon alarms. I believe also from his own narration, that he was once enlisted as a Team Driver in the service of the United States, & drove his team, or a team of the United States to Strasburg in the State of Pennsylvania, but I do not know that I shall be able to make any proof whatever of this service. And for the details of his militia services. I must refer the commissioner of pensions to the testimony of two or three of his comrades, who have some remembrance of his militia duties. I allude to Ephraim Carnes, Job Loree, & Isaac Bedell, & to Reverend Henry Clark, Minister of the Methodist Church, all of whom were well acquainted with my said husband in the war of the revolution.

I believe my husband the said Phinehas Chidester resided in Mendham in Morris County when he first entered the Militia service in the revolutionary war, & that he spent his life there. I do not know that he ever rec'd any commission in that service, or any written discharge. We had a large family of sons & daughters, viz 4 sons, &
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& 6 daughters, of all of which, there are now but 8 living. My husband, the said Phinehas Chidester died on the 22d April 1814. I have no record of the time of my marriage to him. I have a record of the birth of our several children, kept by my said husband in his life time, in our family bible, of which a leaf has been taken out, which contains the original entry, & accompanies this Declaration, & is attested by John J. Ballentine Esq'r a Justice of peace, on the 4th Dec'r 1837. Two of our children were born before the Treaty of peace was ratified, viz Phebe, on the 21st February, 1781, & Melinda on the 7th October 1783.

After the death of my aforesaid husband Phinehas Chidester, I remained a widow until the 21st day of April 1823, when I was married to Mahlon Pitney, by Reverend Jacob Briant, Minister of the Gospel in Randolph township, Morris County, who died at his residence in Mendham township in said County, on the thirtieth day of December ADomini 1834 & I have remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.

Sworn to, & subscribed, on the day & year first before written before me Ephraim Marsh
J. Peace & Judge of the Common Pleas

Rebecca Pitney XX her mark

By order of the Court.
Joseph Dalrimple Clk
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State of New Jersey, Morris County ss:

Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in said County of Morris, personally came Isaac Bedell of Mendham in said County, aged, as I believe, between 70 & 80, well known to me personally as a man of truth & fair character, & having been by me duly sworn according to law, saith as follows, viz:

I was well acquainted with Phinehas Chidester in the Revolutionary war, & many years afterward. I was fifer in Capt Peter Layton's company, when about 13 or 14 years old, in 1776. And when Gen'l Washington's army retreated before the enemy, through New Jersey, in November 76, said Chidester was with the army retreating, & I believe he belonged to Capt. Dan'l Cook's company which was recruited to serve for 5 months, & had been at New York & Long Island that summer, as was understood & believed, altho' I did not personally see him thus engaged. I saw him however during that retreat, often. In the winter following he was under Gen'l Winds & Colonel Seely's command, at Van Mulinor's [Vermeules], near Quibble town & New Brunswick, in Captain Cooks company. A militia encampment was formed here, for defence of the Country around Brunswick & Amboy, in which places the Enemy were in quarters for the winter, which did not break up till some time in the spring. I often saw said Chidester there during the winter, but how long he was in that service I do not know certainly, but I believe he was in duty there not less than two months. In March 1778, Chidester was stationed month on guard duty at Elizabeth town, under Captain Cook & Colonel Seely & General Winds. I saw him after during that month, & being acquainted with him previously, had frequent sports & diversions with him. General Winds had command of the whole militia force there.-- In the month of October following, there was a Militia force from Morris County sent up to Minisink along the Delaware river, under Gen'l Winds, for the defence of that frontier against the Indians. My father had removed from Morris County to the Delaware river, in the latter part of April previous, & after my tour at Elizabeth town had expired, I was then in Capt. Peter Westbrook Company & was stationed at Colonel Rosekrantz on the Jersey side of the Delaware, & there I saw General Winds, at the head of the Morris Co. Militia, & I there also saw Phinehas Chidester performing militia duty under Winds, who was stationed in that quarter a month for defence of the frontier. Col. Hathaway was under Gen'l Winds, & I believe Capt. Horton, had command of the Co. in which Chidester performed his duty a month in that place.

Isaac Bedell

Sworn & subscribed at Morris town, July 2d, 1838, before me.

Eliah Ward J. P.
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State of New Jersey Morris County ss

Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County personally appeared Rev'd Henry Clark a preacher of the Gospel in the Methodist Church, & a man of consistent moral & Christian character, aged 77 years in January next, & being by me duly sworn according to Law saith as follows, viz: I am either 77, or 78 years old in January next. I was a Militia soldier in the war of the revolution, in Captain Artimas Day's company & performed Militia duty under his command, as well as under other Captains. I was then well acquainted with Phinehas Chidester, who lived within about one mile & half of me & both trained in Capt. Artimas Day's company when at home. In the winter of 1776-7, when the British army lay in New Brunswick & Amboy I performed militia duty from late in December till late in March, under Captain Dan'l Cook, who was wounded by a musket ball through his shoulder at the battle of Bridgetown, & his company was commanded the rest of the winter by his Lieutenant. John Carnes, & in Colonel Ellis Cook's regiment, Gen'l Winds Brigade. I well recollect said Phinehas Chidester was on that Militia tour of duty in that winter, at least one month, viz: in part of January & part of February, but he was not then all winter as many of us were. He was not with us at the Bridgetown battle, but after we went into winter quarter at Van Muliner's [Vermeules], & he went home before spring. He married Rebecca Byram, & died some 12 or 15 years past, leaving his widow, who afterward married Mahlon Pitney & is now the widow Pitney. Said Chidester was married, a little before, or about the close of the revolutionary war.

Sworn & subscribed before me, at Morristown, Nov. 21 1837. Henry Clark

Elijah Ward J.P.
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State of New Jersey, Morris County ss.

Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County, personally appeared Robert Young, an aged citizen, long well known to me personally, & believed by me to be a man of truth, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, saith -- I am in the 87th year of my life, was a Militia man & an enlisted soldier, in the Revolutionary war. I was well acquainted with Phinehas Chedister [Chidester] before the war & always lived in the same neighbourhood with him until his death, which happened more than 20 years since. His father was Andrew Chedister, a neighbour of my father's. I often saw Phinehas Chedister perform Militia duty in the Revolutionary war. It was generally known & believed by all his neighbours, that he enlisted & served in what was called the 5 months service in the summer of 76, & was upon Long Island & in the City of New York, & with Genl. Washington's army in the time of the Long Island battle -- at White plains, Westchester, & also in his retreat thro' Jersey, in the fall of 76, called the "Mud rounds". I recollect seeing him in that retreat performing military duty between Elizabeth town & N. Brunswick, under Capt. Cook. In December 76, the enemy overrun the County from Elizabeth town to Springfield, where a battle was fought by the Militia under Gen'l Heard & Col. Spencer, Col. Ford & others. Chedister was on duty under Capt. Cook on this occasion, & was detained in service on guard duty near Eliz'th town, a month. In the same winter (76-77,) Chedister was stationed at & near Quibble town, in the neighbourhood of New Brunswick, with a large Militia force encamped there, under Gen'l Winds, Gen'l Dickinson - Col's. Seely, Frelinghuyson [Frelinghuysen] & others, not less than two months, to protect the County ag't the depredations of the enemy then lying in Brunswick & Perth Amboy. In the following summer & fall, he was engaged on Militia tour of a month, at Pompton, & toward New Windsor, under Gen'l Winds & in Capt Day's company, a little before Burgoyne's army surrendered. I saw him again in Capt. Day's company on an expedition against the Indians at Minisink, in the summer or fall season, under Gen'l Winds & Col. Seely. We marched through Succasunny [Succasunna] & Newton in Sussex, & were absent from home on this tour over a month -- not less than 5 weeks. I saw him on the tour at Haddonfield & red Bank, on the Delaware, below Philadelphia, before the Monmouth battle, in Capt Day's Company. We were engaged a month on this tour, under Col. Seely. He served another month's duty, under Capt. Day Col. Seely & Hathaway & Gen'l Winds near Aquakanok [Acquackanonk], where a severe skirmish was had at the bridge in the fall season; & another near Hackensack, where another skirmish was had at the Polifly fort, the same officers commanding, & the month was spent guarding the frontier near Hackensack & Newark. I recollect Chedister guarding the public stores at Succasunny one month, in Capt. Brown's company
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the spring following Burgoynes surrender. He was at the battle of Connecticut farms in Essex County in May 1780, & again at the battle of Springfield in June following. I believe he was in Capt. Day's company in both instances, & he was stationed a month, below Springfield, in the neighbourhood of Elizabethtown guarding the frontier against the enemy's depredations. I saw him when performing a tour of a month of Militia duty at Chatham, in the fall of 1781, under Capt. Day & Colonel Starke. I frequently was out with Chidister upon alarms, for a few days at a time, beside the monthly tours before mentioned.

Some years after the death of Phinehas Chidister, his widow (who was Rebecca Byram when a girl) married Mahlon Pitney of Mendham, who was a Pensioner for his revolutionary services, & who died in the year 1834, & she is now the widow of said Mahlon Pitney.

# N.B. The words "or fall," in line [blank] of the other side, were interlined before signing & swearing

Sworn & subscribed, July 3d, 1838. Robert Young

Before me, Elijah Ward J.P.
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State of New Jersey Morris County ss:

Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County of Morris, personally appeared Job Loree, of Mendham in said County, an aged citizen, personally well known to me as a man of truth & fair moral character, & having been by me duly sworn according to law, on his solemn oath declares as follows, viz:

I am now in the 78th year of my age, & I was personally well acquainted with Phinehas Chedister in the war of the revolution, & before that time. Our fathers lived within 3/4 of a mile of each other, & when boys of the same neighbourhood, we were often together, engaged in boyish play.

In 1776, Capt. Daniel Cook raised by enlistment, a company of 5 months men, for the defence of New York city & its neighbourhood. I recollect Phinehas Chidister as an enlisted soldier in that company, & I think Col. Maxwell commanded the Regiment. I frequently saw Chidister parade & train in the company, before they marched from home for New York. He was gone from home on that service all that summer & fall, & as I always understood & believe, was under Capt. Cook when the battle of Long Island was fought. When Gen'l Washington retreated from N. York & through Jersey in the fall of 76, I saw Chedister in Eliz'th town under Capt. Cook's command in that march, called "Mud rounds" His time in the 5 months service expired about that time, & in December following he was again upon Militia duty at the battle of Springfield, in Col. Ford's regiment, & in Capt. Day's Company, & was stationed after that battle below Springfield & near Eliz'th town, a month, performing guard duty.

In January & February 77, Chedister served in Capt. Cozad's company at Van Mulinor's [Vermeules], near Quibble town & N. Brunswick, in the Militia encampment under Gen'l Winds & Gen'l. Dickinson, & until April, when the British left New Brunswick for Philadelphia. The whole Militia of East Jersey were kept on duty, to keep the enemy
in check, who were then quartered in Brunswick & Amboy & Chedister was on this service not less than 3 months.

I served one month with Chedister at Elizabeth town in the summer of 78, under Gen'l Winds at Elizabeth town, at the time of the battle of Monmouth. I served one month under Capt. Brown, at Elizabeth town in the summer of 1781 performing guard duty, & one month at Chatham in the fall of that year, under Capt Day, in Colonel Starke's regiment, & Chedister was with me both tours.

Sworn & subscribed before me, at Morris town, June 26th 1838.

Elijah Ward J.P.
Job Loree
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I, Joseph Dalrimple, Clerk of Morris County, hereby certify, that Ephraim Marsh Esqr before whom the Declaration of Mrs Rebecca Pitney was taken, is a Judge of the Court of Common pleas in & for said County, & that Elijah Ward Esqr before whom the several annexed depositions of Isaac Bedell, Rev. Henry Clark, Robert Young, & Job Loree & Ephraim Carnes # were taken, is a Justice of peace in & for said County:- the signatures of both Marsh & ward, are genuine, & they both, are duly commissioned & authorized.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, & affix my official Seal, at Morris town, this 5th day of July, ADomini 1838.

I also further certify, that John I. Ballentine, who has certified to the leaf taken by him from the family bible of Phin's Chedister hereto annexed, is a Justice of peace in said County of Morris, duly commissioned & authorized, & that the signature of his name thereto is genuine. Also, that Rev'd. Jacob Briant, who has certified to the marriage of Mahlon Pitney & Rebecca Pitney, is Minister of the Presbyterian Church in Randolph, in said County & that his signature thereto is genuine.

Witness my hand, seal of office &c: as before written.
# The name of Ephraim Carnes, was interlined before signing.

Jos. Dabrimple Clk
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THE NEW
TESTAMENT
OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR
JESUS CHRIST:
WITH
ARGUMENTS
PREFIXED TO THE DIFFERENT BOOKS:
AND MORAL AND THEOLOGICAL
OBSERVATIONS
AT THE END OF EVERY CHAPTER.
COMPOSED BY
THE REVEREND MR OSTERVALD, PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY,
AND ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH AT NEUFCHATEL IN SWISSERLAND.
===
TRANSLATED AT THE DESIRE OF, AND RECOMMENDED BY
THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.
===
BERWICK:
PRINTED BY AND FOR JOHN TAYLOR.
MDCCXCIII.
Page 12

Andrew Chidester departed this Life
Febury 15th Ado 1791
Phin's Chidester Born July 8th adom [anno Domini] 1757
Rebkah his wife Born June 6th AD. 1760
Phebe Born Febury 21st AD 1781
Melinda born Octbr 7th 1783
Stephen Born Octbr 7th 1785
Ruhamah Born January 22 1787
Amze Born March 2d 1789
Buram Born April 3d 1791
Sarah Born Novm'r 16th 1793
Penina Born August 23 1796
Lewis Chidester Born July 16th AD 1799
and Died the first day of May 1801
Clarissa Born Decm'r 20th AD 1805 - 1804
Milinda Chidester departed this life
August the 8th 1806
Sleep her Child thy days are ended
God hath Called the to Rest
gone by angel gard attended
the Lord hath thought it Best

Phineas Chidester departed this life April the 22nd 18
In the 57th year of
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I do hereby certify that I have cut those two leaves out of the family Bible belonging to Phineas Chidester Des'd one stating the time of his Birth the other the time of his death and also the birth of his wife & their children which I believe to be correct

December 4th 1837

John G Ballentine one of the Justice of the peace in & for the County of Morris
Page 14

I certify that on the 21. day of Apr'l 1823 I married Mr Mahlon Pitney to Mrs Rebecah Chidister, both of Mendham Township Morris County & State of New Jersey as witness my hand this 14. day of Dec'r AD 1837-

Jacob Briant Minister
of the gospel
Page 15

January 10, 1936
W.1472
Phinehas Chidester
BA-J/AWF

Mrs. James E. Morton
49 State Street
Warsaw, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to James and Phinehas Chidester, soldiers of the Revolution from Morris County, New Jersey.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land made to the United States, based upon service in that War. A search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the Revolutionary War service of James Chidester, under any spelling of the surname.

The record of Phinehas Chidester furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W. 1472, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Phinehas Chidester was born July 13, 1757, place not stated; he was the son of Andrew Chidester who died February 15, 1791, name of his mother is not given.

While a resident of Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey, Phinehas Chidester enlisted in the fall of 1775 and served as a private at various times until sometime in 1781 in the New Jersey Militia under Captains Pierson, Daniel Cook, Artemas Day, Brown, Robert Gaston, Nathaniel Horton, Colonels Maxwell, Seeley, Drake, Ford, Ellis Cook, Hathaway, and Starks; he was at the battle of Long Island, in the retreat through New Jersey, battles of Connecticut
Page 16

Farms, Springfield and served in all about one year.

Phinehas Chidester married April 10, 1780 in Mendham Township, New Jersey, Rebecca Byram. She was born June 6, 1760, place not given nor are the names of her parents stated.

Phinehas Chidester died April 22, 1814. His widow, Rebecca Chidester, married April 21, 1823, Mahlon Pitney, [handwritten note: "a pensioner too"] who was also a soldier of the Revolution; he died December 30, 1834.

Rebecca Pitney was allowed pension, on account of the service of her husband, Phinehas Chidester, on her application executed December 22, 1837, then a resident of Mendham, New Jersey.

The children of Phinehas Chidester and his wife, Rebecca:

Phebe born February 21, 1781
Melinda " October 7, 1783, died August 1, 1806
Stephen " October 7, 1785
Ruhamah " January 22, 1787
Amze " March 2, 1789
Buram " April 3, 1791
Sarah " November 16, 1793
Penina " August 23, 1796
Lewis " July 16, 1799, died May 1, 1801
Clarissa " December 20, 1805.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 17

Phinehas Chidester
1776 0. 5. 0 Capt Gaston Col Maxwell
" Militia 0. 1. 0 
1777 1. 0 Capt Day
1. 0 - " " Red Bank - further proof -
1778 1. 0 " " Minisink
1. 0 " Cook Monmouth
-----
10. 0
 1
-----
 9. -
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(3984)
New Jersey, Morris County
Rebecca Pitney widow of
Mahlon Pitney, & widow of
Phinehas Chidister
Act 4 July 1836
First husband died 22 April 1814
Married to first husband

10 April 1780

Col Ford } N. Jersey
Capt Cook } Militia

See Certificate of Sec of
State - 22 days ending 1st June 1782
Admitted
Private 10 mo & 10 days

Return to Lewis Condict
Morris town, N. Jersey
Page 19

State of New Jersey, Morris County ss:

Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for Morris County, personally appeared Ephraim Carnes, an aged citizen, residing in Mendham township & personally well known to me as a man of truth & of fair character, who being by me duly sworn according to law, saith,

I am in the 81st year of my age, was a Militia soldier from beginning to end of the war of the Revolution, part of the time in the Infantry, & part of the time in the Cavalry, under Captain Jacob Arnold. I was well acquainted with Phinehas Chidister before & after said war. We lived when boys in the same neighbourhood in Mendham. In the fall of 1775, before Independence was declared, we served together a tour of Militia duty, of one month at Elizabeth town, performing guard duty & building breast works opposite Staten Island. I believe Captain Shadrach Pierson commanded our company & Col. Ford the regiment. In the spring following, I was present & saw said Phinehas Chidester enlist in Captain Rob't Gaston's company, to serve for five months, for defence of Long Island & New York, which time he served out. I believe Col. Maxwell commanded the Regim't. In the fall of 76, he was in the retreat with Gen'l Washington's army, through Jersey. I saw him at Elizabeth town on that retreat called the "Mud rounds", frequently. -- I saw him again at the Springfield battle in the month of December 76 under Cap't Cook & Col. Ford, & he was stationed below Springfield a month, near Elizabeth town, performing guard duty.

I saw him frequently at & near Quibble town, in the months of January & February, under command of Col. Seely & Gen'l Winds, the British being stationed in N. Brunswick & Amboy. He was there on this duty, not less than two months, all the neighbouring Militia being there encamped. -- I remember him also at Elizabeth town under Gen'l Winds just before the Monmouth battle, in June 78, under Capt. Cook. We were marched beyond Brunswick & near Spotswood, & then returned to Elizabeth town, where we completed the months service. I saw him in service at the battle of Connecticut farms in May 1780, & again in June 1780 at Springfield battle. Both these villages, with their Churches, were burnt by the enemy, & the militia were stationed to guard the Country near Elizabeth town, a month, where I often saw Chidister on Militia duty under Col. Seely & Gen'l Winds. -- These two last tours, were after Chidister's marriage to Rebecca Byram, which was on the 10th April 1780. I was a guest at the wedding & saw them married by Rev. Mr. Jones, at Zenas Condits, in Mendham. The Clergyman, Jones, I believe was an army Chaplain. Some months after this, I saw Chidister performing a tour of duty under Capt. Day, a month stationed at Chatham, in the spring season, 1781. The interlining in the 8th line above was done before signing & swearing. Sworn & subscribed at Morristown, June 30th 1838.

Before me
Elijah Ward J.P.
Ephraim Carnes
Page 20

The said Ephraim Carnes further deposes & saith, I was personally & intimately acquainted with Mahlon Pitney, the second husband of Rebecca Pitney, who was before her said marriage, the widow of Phinehas Chidester. Mahlon Pitney & I were near neighbours in Mendham, living within half a mile of each other many years, before his marriage to said Rebecca. I also knew them both, well, after their marriage by Rev. Mr. Briant, & to the time of said Mahlon Pitney's death. He died at his residence in Mendham, on the 30th day of December, AD. 1834, & she is still his widow.

Sworn & subscribed at Morristown this 30th day of June, 1838.

Ephraim Carnes

Before me. Elijah Ward J.P.
Page 21

N. Jersey
Rebecca Pitney
Hon'l. L. Condict 29. Aug. 1839
Act July 1836
Page 22

New Jersey
Pension Office
March 31 1841

Sir

The enclosed voucher requires your special direction for payment

I am respectfully
Your Ob Serv
Phil Dickinson
P. Agent N. J.

J L Edwards Esq
Page 23

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
AWF

May 21, 1928

Mrs. H. W. Satterfield
122 Netherwood Ave.
Plainfield, N. J.

Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 1472, it appears that Phinehas Chidester (son of Andrew Chidester, who died February 15, 1791) was born July 13, 1757, place not stated.

While a resident of Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey, he enlisted in the fall of 1775 and served at various times until in 1781 in the New Jersey Militia under Captains Pierson, Daniel Cook, Day, Brown, Robert Gaston, Nathaniel Horton and Colonels Maxwell, Drake, Ford, Seeley, and Starke, he was in the battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield and served in all about one year.

The soldier married April 10, 1780 in Mendham Township, Morris County, New Jersey, Rebecca Byram, who was born June 8, 1760.

He died April 22, 1814, and she married, April 21,
Page 24

1833, Mahlon Pitney, who died December 30, 1834.

She was allowed pension, on account of the services of Phinehas Chidester, on her application executed December 22, 1837, while a resident of Mendham, New Jersey.

Their children were-

Phebe born February 21, 1781.
Melinda " October 7, 1783, died August 1, 1806.
Stephen " October 7, 1785.
Ruhamah " January 22, 1787.
Amze " March 2, 1789.
Buram " April 3, 1791.
Sarah " November 16, 1793.
Penina " August 23, 1796.
Lewis " July 16, 1799, died May 1, 1801.
Clarissa " December 20, 1805.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 25

REV. & 1812 WAR SECTION

3-2027
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON

MDY

October 13, 1925.

Mrs. H. W. Satterfield
122 Netherwood Avenue,
Plainfield, New Jersey

[Round stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE F MAY 17 1928

Madam:

I have to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Japhet Byram or Phineas Chidester.

Respectfully,
[Signed] Winfield Scott
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.

[The above is evidently returned to the Pension Office with the following hand-written response:]

Dear Sir:

[arrow to "Phineas" above] In regard to above -- The Adj Gen at Trenton has notified me that his information is from the "Widows Pension Claim No 1472) the original of which is filed in the Bureau of Pensions Washington. Will you please investigate this for me?

Also the pension of Capt Ter. Rissle of Sussex Co. N. J.

Very truly yours,
Harriet F. Satterfield
Page 26

Warsaw Wyo. Co. N.Y.,
Dec. 30 - 1935
Veterans Administration
Washington D.C.

Dear Sirs: I would like information of James [interlined: "or Chichester 67 Phinias"] Chidester any record you might have, if he was granted a pension, or any data in regard to his service in the Revolutionary War, among the Bureau of Pensions Department. He would have come from New Jersey Was a resident of Morristown in 1745 and a member of the Presby' Church there. Found in the Church
Page 27

records of Morristown N. J. His brother Phineas Chidester was a private in the Rev. War found in New Jersey Adjutant Gen. Office, Official Register of Officers & Men of New Jersey. If there is anything to be found about James Chidester in the Bureau of Pensions Dept. will you kindly send me full statement of the same.

Very truly yours,
Mrs. James E. Norton
49 State St.
Warsaw N.Y.
Page 28

[left side, written downward]
1928- May 21 - Hist to Mrs. H. W. Satterfield AWF
1936- Jan. 10 - " " " James E. Morton AWF

[right side]
Revy. WIDOW, &c.
File No. 1472
Rebecca Pitney who was
Widow
Phineas Chidester
Priv. Rev. War.
Act: July 4, 1836.
Index:-- Vol. M, Page 130
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 29

N. Jersey, Morris County
Rebecca Pitney, formerly
Rebecca Chidester, claiming a
pension for Rev. services of her
husband, Chidister.
Additional testimony to her
Declaration on file in office.
Page 30

State of New Jerry Morris County ss:

Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County personally appeared Isaac Bedell, an aged & respectable citizen of Mendham township, believed by me to be a man of truth & fair character, who having been first duly sworn according to Law, saith as follows viz: I am in the 76th year of my age, was a soldier in the war of the revolution, was well acquainted with Phinehas Chidester in the war of the revolution, & in the Declaration of Mrs Rebecca Pitney for a pension on acc't of the services of said Chidister her first husband, I testified what I then recollected of said Chedisters services. I now recollect a fact which I believe was not then stated.-- In January 1777, a few days after the battle of Princeton, I was stationed at Van Muliners [Vermeules], near Quibble town & a few miles from N. Brunswick, where the British army was quartered, & I was during some of that tour, employed in playing the fife in Capt. Layton's company, & part of the time I carried a musket in the stead & place of my father, as his substitute. -- In the afternoon of a certain day, I saw 3 men of our own party on foot, & a British officer on horseback, as a prisoner, all of them marching up towards Gen'l Winds' head quarters, then in Van Muliners [Vermeules'] house. When they approached within a few rods, I discovered that Phinehas Chidister was marching in front, the horse & the British officer in his red Coat, cocked hat & sword by his side, following close behind, & one man on each side of him, armed with muskets. Chidister enquired for the Captain, who appeared, & then said the General must be called. General Winds then came to the door without his hat, & his name was announced. The officer on horseback bowed to Gen'l Winds, & said, "I acknowledge myself your prisoner"; & drew his sword from his belt & handed it to the General, who told him, to replace it, & alight from his horse & come into the house, which was done. Chidister said he & his two men were scouting & reconnoitering in the woods, & this officer was met & ordered to stand, or he was a dead man. He then surrendered & was brought up. The officer was in the same afternoon, dispatched to Morristown to Gen'l Washington's quarters, under an escort of light horse men, Joseph Totten being one of his guard. I remember Chidister was armed with a bright Rifle as he brought up the prisoner, & my belief is, that he then was a Sergeant.-- In the year 78, in October, I was on duty under Major Westbrook at Minisink, at Col. Rosecrantz's, my father having then moved to Sussex County, & I recollect seeing Benjamin Leonard & Phinehas Chidister performing Militia duty on that frontier, in Capt. Nathaniel Horton's company & under General Winds, against Indians. They were on that duty two weeks. Sworn & subscribed before me at Morristown May 22d, 1839.

Isaac Bedell

Before me Silas L. Condict Justice of the Peace
Page 31

State of New Jersey, Morris County ss:

I, David B. Hurd, Clerk of Morris County, hereby certify, that Silas L. Condict Esq. before whom the within Deposition of Isaac Bedell was taken & subscribed, on the 22d May 1839, is a Justice of the peace, in & for said County, duly commissioned & authorized, & that the signature of his name thereto (Silas L. Condict) is genuine.

Witness my hand, & seal of office at Morris town, this 23d day of May ADomini 1839.

D B Hurd Clerk

[written vertically]
N. Jersey, Morris County
Rebecca Pitney formerly
Rebecca Chidister, claiming a
pension for Rev. services of her
husband Chidister.

Additional testimony to her
Declaration on file, in office.

Return to Lewis Condict
Morris town, N. Jersey.
Page 32

Oct 10
[illegible]
N. J.
Rebecca Pitney

[written downward]
N. J.
Rebecca Pitney
FREE
James L. Edwards Esq'r.
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
Washington

[written upward]
N. J.
Rebecca Pitney
adm'd act 1836
No. 3,081
Page 33

Morristown N.J. Oct 5th 39

Sir,

In reply to your letter of 29th Aug't 39, permit me to remark, that in the Certificates signed by James D. Westcott & Isaac Southard Esq'rs. the Secretary & Treasurer of N. Jersey, both of which were left by me in your office a day or two after the examination was made of the Claim of Rebecca Pitney, formerly widow of Phinehas Chidester, will be found some evidence of the Militia service of said Phinehas Chidester, one certificate No 2061, for [pounds] 1..7..9, & one, No. 96, for [pounds] 1..10..0. The Certificates of the Secr'y & Treas'r embrace a considerable number of names. Claimants in your office, & are designed as evidence in each can to which they may apply.

I believe no further testimony in relation to this case can be expected, & I hope you may be able to decide upon it promptly.

At the same time, I left in your hands, an abstract of all the cases sent by me to your office & not yet decided. Some of them have been there 12 & 18 months. I then endeavoured to classify them according to the respective Acts of Congress on which they are founded, as you will observe by reference to the 3 or 4 lists containing their names.

I would not urge them again upon your attention, if it were not for the great impatience manifested by the Claimants.

Very respetfully
y'r ob't serv't &c.
Lewis Condict

Colonel J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions