Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11929, John Abbot, New Jersey.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey. Abbot, John
or Abbott.

NUMBER
S.11929
CONTENTS     Carded!
Page 2

20.059
New York
John Abbott*
at Tompkins Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Private in the Comp [commanded]
by Captain Bonwell of the Reg. [commanded] 
by Col --- in the N. [illegible]
line for 7 Mos.
John Abbot*
N.J. line
[illegible] May 20/18
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day ofAug.
1823 and sent to J. Mack
Ithaca
Arrears to the 4th of Ma. '33
46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '37 11.66
[total] $58.32
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by C. Stiles Clerk
Book E. Vol. 3. Page 41
Page 3

[left side]
In the Matter of
John Abbot
Applicant for a Pension
25402

[right side]
Testimony of Wm McIlroy
in the matter of the
application for a Pension
by John Abbot
Page 4

State of New York
Tompkins County, On this 28th day of May in the year 1833 personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County, now sitting at the Court house in the village of Ithaca in, and for said county John Abbott of the town of Newfield in said County aged Seventy Years on the 29th day of March last. Who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named office and served as herein stated.

That according to the recollection of the Deponent as to time, in the Month of May, the first part of the Month in the Year 1780 or 1781 he entered a company in the New Jersey Militia or State Troops commanded by Captain James Bonnell, as a substitute for one John Williams, and then agreed to serve seven months. The name of the Lieutenant of the Company was Caleb Hartfield that of the Ensign Anthony Blackwell. The Company had been enlisted to serve for nine months on the Delaware Frontier on account of murders and depredations committed in that quarter by the Indians. The Company was stationed at the town of Greenwich, in the County of Sussex, near the Delaware River at the time deponent enlisted. It was not attached to any Regiment but was raised for the particular service above mentioned. Deponent remained in, and did duty in said com [company]
Page 5

[com]pany until the early part of December following when the said John Williams rejoined the Company and this deponent was discharged. Deponent has a written discharge given to him by the Captain but he has since lost it. The last time he saw it was about twenty years ago.

He enlisted and served the whole time as a private soldier. He was in the service as a private soldier for the full term of seven months in the said Company.

The Company was for the whole time stationed at one place in the aforesaid town of Greenwich, the part of town where the Company lay was called Bloomsburg. The members of the Company were by turns detailed in squads and sent out into the woods back from the river on scouting parties and to guard the Frontier from the approach of Indians. Deponent was not engaged in any Battle. There were no regular troops station with or in the vicinity of deponent while he was in the service. While he was in the service as aforesaid he was not engaged or employed in any civil pursuit.

Deponent does not know of any person by whom his said service can be proved except for William McIlroy who now resides in the town of Greenwich above mentioned, and whose affidavit deponent has provided. Deponent cannot state with certainty the year but gives his best recollection in that respect.

Deponent was born in the town of Oxford County of Sussex and state of New Jersey according as he has always understood.
Page 6

and believes in the year 1763

Deponent never had or saw a record
of his age.

When deponent entered the service he
lived at Oxford above mentioned- He
continued to live at Oxford until about
four years after the war when he 
moved to Nolton, in Sussex County New 
Jersey, lived there seven years, and
moved to Briar Creek township Northumberland County Pennsylvania - lived
there eight years, and moved to Fishing
Creek township, Luzerne County, same
state - lived there four years and then
moved to the town of Scipio, Cayuga
County, New York - lived there four years
and moved to the town of Newfield
where he has continued to reside ever
since.

Deponent entered the service as a substitute 
for John Williams.

There were no continental troops, or
Militia Regiments stationed, with or near
deponent while he was in service. He
was all the time entirely employed in
scouting parties and on Guard duty as
before mentioned -

He received a written discharge from his
Captain but has lost it-

He is acquainted with Reuben Champion
Solomon Kellogg George Dudley Capt. Job Beckwith

He hereby relinquishes every claim 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

John Abbot

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court 
the day & year aforesaid

Saml. Love Clerk
Page 7

We Reuben J Champion & Job Beckwith
residing in the Town of Newfield in the County of Tompkins
and State of New York, hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with John Abbot who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe
him to be seventy years of age. 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

R J Champion
Job Beckwith

Saml Love Clk

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 Reuben J Champion & Job Beckwith who have signed the preceding
certificate are residents of Newfield, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, Samuel Love Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
in & for the County of Tompkins do hereby certify that 
the foregoing contains the original proceedings of
said Court in the matter of the application of John
Abbot for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and Seal of Office, this
28th day of May 1833.

Saml. Love Clerk
Page 8

(1)
State of New Jersey
County of Warren ss
On this Nineteenth day of March in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
personally appeared before me Abraham Warne one of the Judges of 
the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County William
McIlroy a citizen and resident of the Township of Greenwich in said
County of Warren aged eighty three years who being first duly sworn
according to law deposeth and says that he is acquainted with
John Abbot of the Township of Newfield in the County of Tomkins [Tompkins] 
in the State of New York, That said Abbot entered the service of
the United States as a Substitute for John Williams a private in the
Company of New Jersey State Troops commanded by Captain
James Bonnell, Lieutenant Caleb Hartfield and Ensign Anthony
Blackwell at the Minnisink in the County of Sussex in the
State of New Jersey in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 
hundred and eighty one, about the beginning of the Month of 
May - said Company was enlisted for nine months. 
Deponent enlisted as a private in said Company at Bloomsbury 
in the Township of Greenwich in the County of Warren 
aforesaid (then Sussex) and marched as a private with said 
Company up the Delaware to the Minnisink against the Indians 
who had committed some murders and plundered the Inhabitants 
at the Minnisink; there were no other companies of Militia 
State troops Volunteers or Continentals served on that station, 
at the time that said Abbot entered the service in said
Company as a substitute for said Williams, one month of
the term of enlistment of said Company had expired, and Abbot 
was apparently about twenty years of age when he entered the
service as aforesaid. he served as a private in said Company
engaged in scouting parties from the first of May aforesaid
untill the latter part of November next succeeding when he
was relieved by said Williams - Deponent states that
the members of said Company received no written discharges
from the service, and he know of no member of said 
Company now living excepting the said John Abbot - 
said Abbot performed his duty in said service
Page 9

creditably, and as a good soldier, and was in the service
as aforesaid about seven months - said Abbot when he entered
service as aforesaid was a resident of the Township of Greenwich 
in the County of Warren (then Sussex)

William McIlroy

(2)
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
before me -- Abraham Warne

(3)

I Abraham Warne one of the Judges of the Inferior Court
of Common Pleas of the County of Warren aforesaid do certify
that William McIlroy the above deponent is a citizen of the Township
of Greenwich in the County of Warren aforesaid, that he is a 
credible person whose statement is entitled to full faith and credit 
and that he is apparently eighty three years of age - as 
Witness my hand this Ninteenth day of March in the year [of] 
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three

Abraham Warne

(4)

State of New Jersey
County of Warren ss
I Phineas B Kennedy Clerk of the
County of Warren aforesaid do certify that the above named 
Abraham Warne in a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common 
Pleas of said County and that the above signature is 
the genuine signature of the said Abraham Warne.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of the said County of Warren, this [blank] day of March
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
three

P. B. Kennedy Clk
Page 10

No 25462
John Abbott Tompkins County New
York

Admitted
Private 7 months

Stephen Mack Ithaca Tompkins County
New York
RWW
Page 11

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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. Those 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 John Abbott Tompkins County New York
Period when the service was rendered.
Sub [?] 1. May 1780 or 1781

Duration of the claimant's service.
7 Months.

Rank of the claimant.
private

Names and Rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Cap Bonnell

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
70 years
Sussex County New Jersey

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary evidence & one witness - papers correctly attached

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
[This page is on back of page 12]
Page 12

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 not 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 from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at 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. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians 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 }
County of } ss.
On this ___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of ___ in the county of ___ and State, Territory or DIstrict
of ___ aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the 
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), 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 more 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 engaged,
and the country through which he marched. [pointing hand] 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named 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 such 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 declaration; 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 a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___
and that C. D., who has also 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 or commission; 
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 produce 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 13

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. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, 
and what has become of it?
To an Officer. 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
enquiry 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 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 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 --- 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 person 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 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.

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 wi[tnes]ses,
and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[pointing hand] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
[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 declaration.
[Faintly visible from reverse side, in margins:]
No. 25462
Stephen Mack Ithaca Tompkins County New York
Page 14

Rev han [?]
11.929
INVALID.
File No. 11.929
John Abbott*
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index:-- Vol. A, Page 1
[Arrangement of 1870.]
John Abbot*
Records corrected May 20, 1905.
Page 15

Hon. Lewis Cass
Secy of War
Washington City
[written upward:]
June 11
N. Y.
25462
[Postmark]
ITHACA NEW YORK JUNE 2
Revolutionary Claim
[stamp] FREE
Page 16

Ithaca Tompkins Co. N.Y. June 1st 1833-
Hon. Lewis Cass.
Sir.
Enclosed is the declaration 
of John Abbot, a soldier of the Revolution,
who claims a pension under the late act
of Congress, as soon as his claim shall
have been passed upon, I wish to be informed
of the result--
I wish you to send me the form of a
power of Attorney for drawing money
due on pensions, under the act of June
7th 1832-
Very Respectfully
your obt Servt
Stephen Mack