Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3921, for John O C Smith, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Smith, John O. C. | S3921.
CONTENTS
B in Dec 1760 in Oxford Twp. Sussex Co. N.J.
res. at enl. Mansfield, Twp. Sussex Co. N.J.
res in 1832, Pickaway Co. Ohio
Page 2

[left panel]
See letters 27 Sep 34 to
J. L. Green & [illegible] agent at
Cincinnati & Pitts 8
Dropped [illegible] Potts by roll
Paid at the Treasury under the Acts
of the C. April 1838 [illegible] 4 Sep
1840 to 4 March 1841. Agt Notified
30 Dec 1841
[right panel]
Ohio [crossed out] 22.683
John O. C. Smith
Pickaway in the State of Ohio
who was a Private in the [illegible] commanded
by Captain Powell of the Rgt commanded
by Col Burd. in the [crossed out] N. J
line for 1 year & 3 mos
[illegible]
N.J. line Records O.K.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pitts [illegible]
at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd day of Dec.
1833 and sent to S. P.
Denny Circleville,Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833. 125.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34 25.00
No death date | $150.00.
Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Wm R Palmer Clerk
Book E. Vol. 8. Page 127
Page 3

Application of
John O. C. Smith
Page 4

State of Ohio Pickaway County ss
On this 23d day of October A.D. 1832 personally
appeared in open court before the Hon Frederick Grimke President
and the Hon David Kinnear Thomas Renick and Samuel
Lybrand associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County
now sitting the Rev. John O. C. Smith, a resident in said County of Pickaway 
aged seventy one years last December 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 in the year 1776 he thinks though he is not certain as to the year
some time in the month of May he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer
in the company commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Warner Applicant 
then lived in Mansfield Township Sussex County New Jersey we were
marched to Minisink to Col. Rosecrantz where we made our head
quarters and were employed in scouting parties against the Indians. Major
Piatt I think had command as Major. Applicant was at that time
full six months in the service. Applicant further states that in the spring
of the year 1779 as near as he can recollect he enlisted for nine months
by the name of John Smith in the service of the United States and served his
tour at that time in what was called Sullivans campaign. He enlisted under 
Captain Powell Shipman, Col. William Bond commanded the
regiment and Gen. Sullivan the division.  We rendezvoused at Easton or
[illegible] to Wyoming, thence from place to place
Page 5

of the year 1777 as near as he can [illegible]
by the name of John Smith in the service of the United States and served his
tour at the time in what was called Sullivans campaign. He enlisted under 
Captain Powell Shipman, Col. William Bond commanded the
Regiment and Gen. Sullivan the division. We rendezvoused at Easton or
Eastown marched from Easton to Wyoming, thence from place to place
to Tioga Point after some weeks at Tioga we were marched to Chemung
At Chemung we had something of an engagement with the enemy principally
Indians. we were at divers places on the frontiers, and were marched back 
to Easton and there at the expiration of the nine months applicant was
discharged which discharge he has long since lost.  Applicant was
born in Oxford Township, Sussex County N.J. in Dec. 1760 as he believes but
has no record of his age. Applicant lived in New Jersey some time after
the revolutionary war, then moved into Maryland then into Virginia
he lived in this State about 21 years in  Pickaway County, and now lives
in Walnut Township in this County. Applicant knows of no person living
by whom he can prove his first six months service. Charles Darga
of Walnut Township in this County and Samuel White of Franklin
County, Ohio, know something of the service of this applicant last
Page 6

above stated but it is not in the power of applicant to bring said
White into this Court to testify concerning the same.
Applicant 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 to his knowledge-- John OC Smith
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid S.S. Denny
At the same time came Charles Duryea and made the
following statement under oath, towit
I Charles Duryea residing in Walnut Township
Pickaway County Ohio hereby certify that I am well acquainted 
with the Rev. John O. C. Smith, who has subscribed and sworn to the
above declaration and believe him to be of the age he has above
represented himself to be that I was acquainted with him in the State 
of New Jersey in Sussex County in the Revolutionary war and who
knew him to perform some services in the militia during that war the
knew him to enlist for nine months in the army of the United States
in the year 1779 as near as I recollect knew of his going out on
that tour and saw him when returning home at the expiration 
of said nine months, and believe that he is a man of truth and
that his whole statement is entitled to credit.
Sworn to and subscribed the | Charles Duryea
day and year aforesaid
S.S. Denny Clerk
Page 7

that tour and saw him when returning home at the expiration
of said nine months, and believe that he is a man of truth and
that his whole statement is entitled to credit.
Sworn to and subscribed the | Charles Duryea
day and year aforesaid
S.S. Denny Clerk
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 do further certify that it appears to them that
Charles Duryea who has signed the preceding certificate is a
resident of Walnut Township in this County and is a credible
person, and that his statement is entitled to credit.
Page 8

The State of Ohio | 
Pickaway County ss | 
I Samuel S Denny Clerk of the Court of Common pleas
for said County of Pickaway, do hereby certify, that 
the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of said
Court in the matter of the application of John O C Smith, for a pension
[seal applied] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
my seal of Office this 23d day of October 1832
S.S. Denny Clerk
Page 9

May 25, 1933.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 | BA-J/ADY
Mrs. H. O. Pile, | John Toland,
122 Edison Avenue, | S. 18628
Circleville, Ohio. | John O. C. Smith
 | S.3921
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John
Tolland and John O. C. Smith, soldiers of the Revolutionary
 War.
The data contained herein are obtained from the
papers on file in the Revolutionary War claims for pension,
based upon their military services in that war.
John Toland
S. 18638
John Toland was born July 10, 1762 or 1763, place not
stated.
While a resident of New Castle County, Delaware, John
Toland enlisted in March 1780, served in Captain John
Rudolph's Company, Colonel Henry Lee's Regiment of Horse,
was in the battle of Guilford and served to the close of
the war in 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
August 10, 1832 while a resident of Wayne Township, Pickaway
County, Ohio.
In 1833 it was stated that his wife was dead and his 
[right margin note: Date of death not on A.B.]
children far from him. In 1841 he was living with a daughter
, a widow, and four small children, their names not stated, 
in Adams County, Ohio, where he had resided about eight years.
Soldier's daughter, Mrs. Sarah Trask, was living in 1859, her
address Fulton, Hamilton County, Ohio.
John O. C. Smith
Date
S.3921
John O. C. Smith was born in December 1760, in Oxford
Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.
While a resident of Mansfield Township, Sussex County,
Page 10

New Jersey, he enlisted in May 1776 and served six months
in a company commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Warner
under Major Piatt, which marched to Colonel Rosecrantz'
at Minisink and was employed in scouting against Indians.
He enlisted in the spring of 1779, served nine months in
Captain Powell Shipman's Company, Colonel William Bond's
New Jersey Regiment, was engaged in General Sullivan's
Indian Expedition and was at the battle of Chemung.
Some time after the Revolutionary War soldier moved
from New Jersey to Maryland, then to Virginia, and later
to Ohio.
[right margin note: Date of death not on AB]
He was allowed pension on his application executed
October 23, 1832 while living in Walnut Township, Pickaway
County, Ohio.
There are no family data.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 11

[Left Panel]
1927 Feb 5 Hist to Adj. Gen. State of
N.J. etc. AW
1933 May 25 Hist to Mrs H.O. Pile See her letter
in Rev War clm. John Toland S15628. A.D.Y.
[right panel form]
Rev War
3921
INVALID.
File No. 3921
John O. C. Smith
Privt Rev War
---
Act: June 7" 1852
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 345
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 12


TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
Dec. 23, 1841
Sir:
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States, John O. C. Smith.
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio Agency, at
the rate of Fifty Dollars and _____________ cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1840.
to the 4th March 1841
Respectfully, yours
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 13

28.476.  22,683
John O. C. Smith
Ohio
Adm 1. yr & 3 mo
$50
S. P. Denny
Circleville
Ohio
Page 14

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of _______________
[blank form not filled out]
Duration of the
claimant's service.
Rank of
the
claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Age at present.
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
I am respectfully
Your obedient servant
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 15

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but no those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, & c., Teamsters, Boatmen &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded form the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places as night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Person employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in the Department, all person claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832
State, Territory, or District of} ss..
County of
On this day of personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District 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 9d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under mor than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank, and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engage, and the country through which he marched. [pointing figure symbol] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A.B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do herby declare their opinion (g) that the above names applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the state Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz.:
(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them the A.B. and that C.D., who was signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge of commissions,; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produced such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 16

alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier
{To an Officer.
{Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure , taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
______________________

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled. 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 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 that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For year months, and days, I served as a . For months and days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.

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 papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of take or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service. 

 [j] 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 claimant's 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.
[pointing hand symbol] The notes form [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is not [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaraties.
Page 17

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The State of Ohio, Executive Office.
I, Robert Lucas, Governor and Commander-in-chief of the State of Ohio, do
hereby certify, that Jacob Grubb before whom the foregoing
affidavit was made, now is, and was at the date of said
affidavit an acting justice of the peace in
and for the County of Franklin in the State of Ohio
duly commissioned as such; and that his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, as
well in Courts of Justice as thereout.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed
[seal applied] my name, and caused the Great Seal of the State of
Ohio to be hereto affixed, at Columbus, this
October day of thirtieth
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-three
Robert Lucas
by the Governor:
M.H. Kirby
Secretary of State.
Page 18


this 30 day of October 1833
The State of Ohio Franklin County ss 
Before me Jacob Grubb one of the Justices of the Peace
for said County personally came Samuel White who being
personally known to [illegible] to be a person of good character and entitled to belief
duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he was
out in the revolutionary war in the year 1777 under General
Sullivan and this deponent further states that he was
acquainted with John Smith he was an enlisted Solider
for nine months in Capt Shipman Company said Company
was under the command of Col Bond and under Brid General
Maxfield said Company started from East town in North
Hampton County Pennsylvania this deponent further States
that East town was the place where he first was acquainted
that the said John Smith was in the army and further
States that he is well known to the fact that the
said Smith remain with the army until they
return back again to East town and further this
deponent saith not
Sworn to and subscribed
before me at the County aforesaid Saml White
this 30 day of October 1833
Jacob Grubb Justice of the peace [seal drawn]
I have made this interlining between the
second and thirdlines above Deposition stating
the Character of Samuel White having
been acquainted with him upwards of
twenty years as to any Statement he
has made can be  [illegible] on he stands
fair as to truth and veracity
November 13 1833
Jacob Grubb Justice of the peace
Page 19

IN REPLY REFER TO
No.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL  L
TRENTON
February 7, 1927.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of February 5th, and to express my appreciation
of your courtesy in furnishing the information
contained therein, concerning Revolutionary 
War pensioners named JOHN SMITH.
Very truly yours,
Frederick Gilkyson,
The Adjutant General.
John O.C. Smith
Page 20

IN REPLY REFER TO
No.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
TRENTON
February 4, 1927.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Among the transcripts of Revolutionary War pension
claims made for our files several years ago from the originals
in your office, the following are listed:
[check mark] Widow No. 2479. John Smith, 1750-1799. Private, State
Troops and Monmouth County Militia.
[check mark] Invalid No. 4854. John Smith, born about 1756. Private,
Essex County Militia.
[check mark] Invalid No. 4860. John Smith, born about 1762. Private,
Hunterdon County Militia, and Teamster.
[check mark] Widow No. 6129. John Smith, 1749 - 1828. Private, 2d Regiment
, New Jersey Continental Line.
[check mark] Rejected No. 9760. John Smith, born 1756. Sergeant,
State Troops, and Private, Monmouth County Militia.
[check mark] Invalid No. 34502. John Smith, born about 1753. Private,
New Jersey Continental Line, and artificer, Essex
County Militia.
[check mark] Invalid No. 34507. John Smith, born about 1755. Private,
Middlesex County Militia, and New Jersey Continental
Line.
[check mark] Invalid No. 18228. John H. Smith, born about 1764. Private,
Bergen County Militia and State Troops.
An applicant has just made request for the record
of a JOHN SMITH for whom the following service is claimed:
Private, Colonel Jacob Drake's Western Battalion, Morris
County Militia, Colonel Jacob Ford, Jr., Regiment, New Jersey
State Troops, and First Regiment, New Jersey Continental Line.
Born, 1742. Died, May 23, 1814.
[Bottom margin notes]
+ S3921. John O. G. Smith, b. Dec 1760 living 
in Pickaway Co. Ohio in 1832
AW
See private correspondence with a former Adj. Gen. of NJ locked
up in cupboard in the Safe relative to the clerk from that
State who copied the records for the state
Page 21

A similar record is listed on page 758 of Stryker's OFFICIAL
REGISTER OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF NEW JERSEY IN THE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR, published by this State in 1872, but I
am unable to find a single reference in this office at this
to corroborate the statements noted.
Is there on file in your office the pension claim
of a JOHN SMITH, of New Jersey, not included in the list
which I have quoted? There is a rather vague reference to
"papers lost out of Jackets" in Invalid No. 34510 (John 
Smith ). [written note] not lost consolidated with 34507
For this reason I am writing to inquire if your
records throw any light on a record apparently missing,
since not a single reference in the many men of this name
shown on our rolls pertains to the man described.
Very truly yours,
Frederick Gilkyson,
Brigadier General,
The Adjutant General.
Page 22

[left margin notes]
I used the word Invalid (instead of Survivor) re referring
to these claims as they were all placed in [illegible]
Old War Invalid files (see small blue packets) 
when the New Jersey records were copied for [illegible]
the word Invalid was used. (see end letter)
[typed letter]
Rev. & 1812 War Section.
February 5, 1927

General Frederick Gilkyson,
Adjutant General of New Jersey,
Trenton, New Jersey.
Dear Sir:
In response to your letter of the fourth instant,
I have to advise you, that there is but one more Revelationary
War soldier of the New Jersey Troops, named John Smith,
found on the records of this Bureau, other than those listed
in your letter and you are herewith furnished his history.
The papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, Invalid
File 34510 were consolidated with the papers of the
Pensioner, John Smith of the New Jersey Troops, Invalid File
34507, as they belonged to that soldier and were erroneously
placed by themselves after the adjudication of the claim.
A careful search of the records fails to afford information
in regard to a John Smith who served in any New Jersey
Troops and was born in 1742 and died May 25, 1814, as described 
in your letter.
From the papers in the pension claim Invalid File 3921,
it as that JOHN O. C. SMITH was born in December 1760,
[bottom margin note]
Do not write
in this form
again
Page 23

2
in Oxford Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.
While living in Mansfield Township, Sussex County, New Jersey,
he volunteered in May, in the year 1776, probably,
but he was not certain of the year, and served six months
in a company commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Warner under
Major Piatt, which marched to Colonel Rosecrantz' at Minisink
and was employed in scouting against Indians.
He enlisted in the spring of 1779, served nine months
in Captain Powell Shipman's Company, Colonel William Bond's
Regiment, was engaged in General Sullivan's Indian Expedition
and was at the battle of Chemung.
He was allowed pension as a private on his application
executed October 23, 1832, while living in Walnut Township,
Piokaway County, Ohio.
There is no information on file as to family.
Very truly yours
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.