Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 887, John Hufman, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
New Jersey

Hufman, John
or
Hoffman

NUMBER
S887

Carded
-----------------------------
CONTENTS
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Page 2

17435
New Jersey
--------------------
John Hoffman
of Hunterdon Co. in the State of N. Jersey
who was a Private in the Co. commanded
by Captain Jones of the Regt. commanded
by Col Taylor in the New Jersey
line for 9½ miles
31. 67 /100
---------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey
at the rate of 31 Dollars 67 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Aug.
1833 and sent to C. Bartles, Flemington N.J.
---------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 -             63.34
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept '33. 15.83
                                                                    _____
                                                                  $79.17
                                                                  ______
{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832.   }

Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer
Book E.    Vol. 3.   Page 115


Date of death not on AB
Page 3

State of New Jersey Hunterdon County SS:
On this twenty third day of October AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hunterdon aforesaid now
sitting John Hoffman a resident of the Township of Amwell County and State aforesaid aged seventy nine 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he was born in the Township of Readington
and County of Hunterdon aforesaid on the ninth day of January AD 1753. That he knows his age from having frequently seen it recorded in his father's family bible from which he copied it - That he entered the militia service in the revolutionary war he thinks in the year 1775 in Readington aforesaid. That being drafted he marched to Amboy he thinks in the fall of 1775 where he remained three months- That the company to which he was attached was commanded by Captain Thomas Jones and belonged to a regiment commanded by Colonel
John Taylor of General Helms brigade as nearly
as he can now recollect--  That about the 1st of December 1775 he marched to Boundbrook along the Raritan river where he remained
till the 1st of March 1776 under the officers before mentioned, three months - That early
in the summer of 1776 he marched to Elizabeth Town under Captain Joseph Haufunson and the other general officers before mentioned where he remained one month. After which during the same summer he marched to Millstone under Captain Abraham Conover &f the same general officers as before stated where he remained one month. That during this latter period the British lay at New Brunswick.

That just before the battle of Princeton in the winter of 1776.77 there was a general alarm when he marched towards Princeton and was out two weeks under Captain Abraham Conover and Colonel John Taylor.  That he was frequently called out upon general alarms during this period, but that at this distance of time it is
Page 4

impossible for him to remember the times or occasions.  That at the time that General Sullivans brigade was encamped in the Township of Amwell aforesaid on their
 march to the Short Hills, in the early part of the
Summer of 1777, himself and team were pressed one month into the service to cart baggage. That he went with his team to the Short Hills where he was discharged.  That he was not particularly acquainted with any
officers except those under whom he more immediately did duty - That he never received a written discharge.  That he has lived since the revolutionary war principally in the Township of Amwell aforesaid where he now resides. That Colonel David Schamp and [blank] of the County of Hunterdon aforesaid can testify as
to his character as a man of truth and veracity, and as to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.  That he has no documentary or other written evidence of his revolutionary services and that he knows of no person
surviving except Colonel David Schamp before
mentioned whose testimony he can procure as to his revolutionary service. And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
John Hufman

Sworn and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
in open court-
George Rea
Page 5

J. Hoffman ert.
Page 6

We Elijah Wilson and Benjamin Egbert Judges of of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Hunterdon aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Hoffman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, That we believe him to be seventy nine years of age, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a
soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in
that opinion
Elijah Wilson
Banj. Egbert

Sworn and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
in open court
Genge Rea

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 Elijah Wilson & Benj. Egbert Yenner --- are
credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Thompson Joseph Thornton George Rea Judges &c.

I Isaac G. Farlee Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hunterdon aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Hoffman for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty third day of October AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Farlee  Clk
[seal affixed at left]
Page 7

State of New Jersey, Hunterdon County SS:
Personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Hunterdon John Huffman who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age & 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 nine months & a half as a private in the militia of New Jersey. The services were performed in the places mentioned in my declaration, and consisted in keeping guard there & round about to prevent the men from injuring the country. They were performed in a company called into service by competent authority, and during such service he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
John Hufman

Sworn & subscribed this 15th
[line illegible]
Geo. Henry

Application of
John Hoffman for
a pension
20247

State of New Jersey Hunterdon Co. SS.
I Isaac G. Farlee Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas [illegible] of said County of Hunterdon Do hereby certify that George Henry who has signed the foregoing affidavit and Certificate of credibility is one of the Judges of said Court and that the signature thereto annexed are in his own proper hand writing, and that [illegible]
& Benjamin Egbert who signed the certificate of belief in the Revolutionary services of applicant are also Judges of the same. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court this 15th day of June AD 1833.
Farlee Clk
Page 8

State of New Jersey Hunterdon County. SS.
David Schamp of the township of Readington 
in the County of Hunterdon & State aforesaid aged 77 years being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he was well acquainted with John Hoffman who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration
in the time of the Revolutionary war that they
then lived about 4 miles apart. That he recollects that the said John Huffman was one of the men that volunteered under Capt William Hazlett & deponent as Lieutenant when the militia was first called out in the Revolutionary war in 1775. That he marched with that company down to Amboy & over on to Staten Island & served one month that in 1776 after Deponent returned from the five months service & raised a volunteer company the said John Huffman was frequently out in the service in the other militia & deponent saw him out in the service at Elizabeth Town & at Millstown
and heard of his being out at other times & places in the militia in the service of the United States. -- and further saith not-
David Schamp

Sworn & subscribed
August 22d 1832 before
Robert H Reading
Judge &c.

State of New Jersey, Hunterdon County ss. I, George Henry one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Hunterdon do hereby certify that I am acquainted with David Schamp who has made the foregoing affidavit & believe him to be a man of truth & veracity & 
his statement is entitled to credit, and I do further certify that it appears to me that the said John Huffman knows of no Clergyman he can procure to certify for him but three.  Given under my hand this 15th day of June 1833
Geo. Henry
Page 9

3 -- 525
---------
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____________, 19__

S. F. 887

In reply to your request of _________, received ____________ for a statement of the military history of John Hoffman 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.
--------------------------------
[table follows with 5 columns; headings 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) 1775, 1777
(2) served at various times 8 1/2 mos, 1 mo
(3) Pvt {[4 names after bracket under 'CAPTAIN']}; 'as a Teamster, and assisted in carting baggage to Short Hills' written across this and next column
(4) a. Thomas Jones, Joseph Hankinson, 
Abraham Conover, William Hazlett  b. John Taylor
(5) N.J.
[end of table]

Battles engaged in, __[check mark] ___
Residence of soldier at enlistment, __ enlisted in Readington N.J. _________
Date of application for pension, __ Oct. 8 1832 His cl. was al. _________
Residence at date of application,___ Amwell Twp. Hunterdon Co. N.J. ____
Age at date of application, __ born Jany 9, 1753 in Readington Twp. Hunterdon Co. N. J. ___
Remarks: __ There is no data on file as to his family ___________

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

6 -- 2856

mo     wks
3          2
3
1
1
Page 10

May 21, 1936

Mr. George B. Wert
501 Washington Street
Hackettstown, New Jersey

John Huffman - S.887
BA-J/AWF
[illegible initial]

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you
request information in regard to John Hoffman of New Jersey,War of the Revolution.

The data furnished herein were obtained from
papers on file in pension claim, S. 887, based upon the service of John Hufman (as his signature is found
in the claim) in the War of the Revolution. This
is the record of the only John Hufman who served with the New Jersey troops, found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office. The surname was searched under similar spellings.
John Human was born January 9, 1753 in the
Township of Readington, Hunterdon County, New Jersey,
names of his parents not given.
He enlisted in said Township, in 1775, served
at various times as a private in the New Jersey troops,
under Captains Thomas Jones, William Hazlett, Joseph Hankinson, Abraham Conover, and Colonel John Taylor, length of this service eight and one half months. He served in 1777, one month as teamster, and assisted in
carrying baggage to Short Hills.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
October 23, 1832, at which time he was living in
Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
The papers in this claim contain no data rela-
Page 11

tive to the family of the soldier, John Hufman.

If you desire information in regard to the last
payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C.
and give the following:

John Hoffman (as he was pensioned)
Certificate # 17435
Issued August 21, 1833
Rate $31.67 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
New Jersey Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 12

[Hand written]

John Hoffman

17.435
Adm 9 month and
15 days

[check mark]

C. Bartles
Flemington
P. J. [indecipherable] New Jersey.
P[indecipherable]
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Hoffman which require further proof or explanation.

1. 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 amou[n]t of pension he is entitled?    No see quere 5

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 or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
Page 14

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?    No

XIII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?    No

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
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?      No.

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?

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 [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank].  For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 15

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.
Page 16

[left side]
1917 Apr 28 Hist. to Mrs. Jas. A. Edgar
1921 Mar. 31 Hist. to Russell Hoffman
Letter in S.F. 2159 Jesse Dalrymple
1936 - May 21 hist. to George B. Wert

[right side]
Rev War      INVALID.
--------------
John Hufman
Priv. N.J. Line
------------
Act: June 7, 1832.

Index: -- Vol. A, Page 175

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

Edgar
16

[stamp:]. U.S. PENSION OFFICE O APR 16 1917
Page 18

Pension Dept of U.S.

[stamp:]. Army and Navy Division FILES APR 18 1917 RECEIVED

Sirs,

Will you kindly inform me whether there is any record of John Hoffman of Schoharie Co. N.Y. or of Hunterdon Co. N.J and also of Ebenezer Petty of Mt. Pleasant, Hunterdon Co. N.J. on your roll of Revolutionary pensioners.

Sincerely
Mrs James A. Edgar
202 Grant Ave
Highland Park
New Brunswick
New Jersey

April 13, 1917
Page 19

[stamp:]. RECEIVED MAY 15 1936 MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS. ADM. READER #17

Hackettstown N. J.
May 14th 1936

Veterans Bureau
Department of Records

Gentlemen, - Will you please advise me the company and regimen tin which one John Hoffman [illegible] N.J. ser.  fought
during the Revolutionary War?

I believe he was a native of Morris County.

Family tradition says he was a Minute Man.

Very Respectfully
George B. Wert
501 Washington St
Hackettstown
N. J.