Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33,554, for David Rhea, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey

Rhea, David

NUMBER
S.33.554
B.L.Wt.1800 - 450- Lieut. Col.
Issued Dec. 21, 1795 to
Jon'a Rhea, assignee.
also recorded as above
under B.L.Wt.2657 -
no papers.
===
CONTENTS
Page 2

(17) New Jersey
David Rhea,
Colo Maxwell
Major, N J Line
In the Army of the U. States
At $20 Yan mo: to com'e [commence] 24th Mar: 1818.
Cert: issued 31st March, 1818. and
Sent to Hon. Judge Bowne, Freehold,
New Jersey.
Arr's [arrears] to 4th Sept. 1818. 5 8/28 mos $106.42
Rev'y Claim
Act 18th March, 1818
Jersey Line
2 yrs
Dead
Continued
Monmouth Co
Page 3

New Jersey
Monmouth ss: 
Personally appeared before me the
Subscriber one of the Judges of the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and
for the County of Monmouth, Col. David Rhea
who by reason of his reduced circumstances in life
stands in need of assistance from his Country for
support, and who being duly sworn on the Holy
Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose and say
that he this deponent entered into the service of the
United States in the Revolutionary war with Great
Britain, some time in the year of 1775, as a
Major in the second Jersey Redgment [Regiment] of the Jersey
line, shortly after was ordered on an expedition
against Quebec, where he remained in the service
of the United States until after the fall of General
Montgomery this deponent returned to New Jersey
and was shortly after promoted to Lieut. Col in
which capacity he continued in the service afs'd [aforesaid]
between two and three years, then was removed
to the forage Department of N.J. as one of the
supernumerary officers, where he continued to the end
of the war or nearly that time

David Rhea

Sworn & Subscribed before me
this 24 March 1818

Wm J Bowne
Page 4

I the Subscriber Clerk of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth
in the State of New Jersey do hereby Certify that
William J. Bowne Esquire before whom the within and
annexed depositions appear to have been taken, is &
was at the time of the making thereof one of the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County
duly appointed Commissioned and Sworn into office
and that full faith and credit are due and ought
to be given to all his official acts as such.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my Hand and affixed my seal
of Office at Freehold the twenty
fourth day of March in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
eighteen.

J, Phillips Clk
Page 5

New Jersey -
Monmouth }

Personally appeared before me William J. Bowne
one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of common Pleas
in and for the said County of Monmouth Thomas
Henderson Esquire aged about seventy four years
who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of
Almighty God did depose and say that he has
been acquainted with David Rhea now usually
called Col. Rhea well [?] from early in life. That in
the beginning of the revolutionary war between
America and Great Britain he took an active
part in favor of his Country. That it was
generally reported and this deponent thinks that
he has satisfactory reasons to believe that it was
true That the said David Rhea took a Commission
of what rank this dep't [deponent] does not know but saith
that at an early period he generally heard him
called Major That he went on the expedition
into Canada and was with the troops when they
retreated out of Canada after Gen. Montgomery
fell. That this Deponent saw Major Rhea after
his return from Canada and heard him relate
circumstances that had taken place while there
This deponent thinks that he again entered the
service of his Country and continued therein for a
considerable time. This Deponent further saith
that the said David Rhea now resides in his
neighborhood and is far advanced in life appears to be
in needy circumstances and quite unable to support
himself.

Tho. Henderson

Sworn & Subscribed 24th March 1818.

Wm. J. Bowne
Page 6

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County } ss
Personally appeared before me
William Bowne one of the Judges
of the inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for
the County of Monmouth William Lloyd,
aged Nearly Sixty one years who being duly Sworn
on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God did depose
and say that he has been acquainted with
David Rhea now called Col. Rhea for many years
that during the revolutionary War between
America and Great Brittain a few days before
the battle of Monmouth he saw him the
said David Rhea in the Service of his Country
with Gen'l Maxwell at Crosswicks in the County
of Burlington that he saw the said David
Rhea at that time have the command of a
party of Continental troops and advanced with
them several miles towards the enemy who
then lay at or near the black Horse in said County
that this deponent with several others on
horseback accompanied him near to the enemy
This deponent further saith that he saw the
said david Rhea at the battle of Monmouth
on horseback and appeared in an officerlike manner
on the field of battle
The said David Rhea resides in this neighborhood is
far advanced in years and appears to be in
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needy circumstances and quite unable
to support himself

William Lloyd

Sworn & Subscribed
before me this 24 day of
March 1818-

Wm J. Bowne

I William J Bowne one of the Judges
of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and
for the County of Monmouth in the State of New
Jersey do hereby certify to the Honourable
J.C. Calhoun, Secretary of war, that it satisfactorily
appears to me that the applicant Col.
David Rhea mentioned in the annexed
affidavits served in the Revolutionary war
against the common enemy, and that the said
Col. David Rhea is far advanced in years
and is in indigent circumstances and altogether
unable to obtain a support.

Wm. J. Bowne
Page 8

Aaron Davis
on behalf of David
Rhea in Sanc [?]
C
Wm Ten Eyck
Freehold
N J
Page 9

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County ss}
On this twentieth day of October
eighteen hundred and twenty
personally appeared in Open Court, being a Court of
record and the Inferior Court of Common Pleas
in and for the said County of Monmouth, Aaron
Davis a resident of said County of full age a person
authorized to take care of David Rhea, a resident
of said County and who is inscribed on the Pension
List, Roll of the New Jersey agency and who is at
this time partially insane and incapable of attending
Court and of taking an oath, and that the said
David Rhea has not any income, property, Securities
or debts due to him, nor has any person in trust for
him the same or any part thereof, other than what
is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and
by me Subscribed, to the best of my information
knowledge and belief.

Schedule of said David
Rhea's property produced to the court by the
said Aaron Davis, towit,
One old chest, 1 pair Saddle Bags
One portmentau [portmanteau] 3 old Books

Aaron Davis

Sworn to and declared in open
Court this twentieth day of October
A.D. 1820. Before me
John Patterson
one of the Judges
of the said Court

I the Subscriber Clerk of the Inferior Court
of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth
do hereby Certify that the foregoing oath and the
Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the
records of the said Court. And I do further certify
that it is the opinion of the said Court, that
Page 10

the total amount in value of the property Exhibited
in the aforesaid Schedule is two dollars.-

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto
Set my hand and Affixed the Seal
of the said Court on this twenty fifth
day of October A.D. 1820.-
Wm Ten Eyck Clk
Page 11

May 3, 1935.
BA-J/ILL
David Rhea
S. 33554

A. S. Abbott
Bethel, Ohio.

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request
the Revolutionary War records of the following named soldiers of
New Jersey, Richard and William Abbott, Jr., of Hunterdon County,
Thomas Smith of Salem County, David Rhea, Major and Lieutenant
Colonel, and David Rhea, Jr., of Monmouth County.

A search of the Revolutionary War records fails to show
claims for pension or bounty land on file which have been made
to the United States based upon service of a Thomas Smith of Salem
County, New Jersey, of any William Abbott who served from New Jersey
or applied for pension while a resident of that state, of any Richard
Abbott, or David Rhea, Junior. The record of David Rhea, the officer,
has been found and is given herein as shown in his claim for pension,
S. 33554.

David When entered the service sometime in 1775 as Major
of the 2# New Jersey Regiment, was in the expedition to Quebec and
remained until after General Montgomery fell, returned to New Jersey
and shortly afterwards was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, was in
the battle of Monmouth, service as Lieutenant Colonel between two
and three years, was removed to the forage department of New Jersey
as a supernumerary officer, where he continued until near the end
of the war.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 24,
1818, at which time he was a resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey.
His age is not shown, but it was stated in 1818, that he was far
Page 12

advanced in years.

Colonel Rhea, as he was called, died June 14, 1821.

In 1820, one Aaron Davis, a resident of Monmouth County,
New Jersey, was legal guardian of the above noted officer; no
relationship between the two was stated.

There is no reference to wife or children of David Rhea in
this pension claim.

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

Do not refer to bounty land. - Mrs Finch.
Page 13

In reply to your request of ___ received ___
for a statement of the military history of David Rhea
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.
S. F. 33554

[Table, listed by column, with rows indicated by letters]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
[a] 1775.
[b] soon after
[c] Immediately after

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
[a] until after battle of Quebec
[b] Between 2 & 3 yrs.

RANK.
[a[ Major
[b] Lt. Col.
[c] Supernumerary Officer. Forage Dept. of N.J. until about the end of the war

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
[a] [check]
[b] [check]

COLONEL.
[a] [check] 2" rgt.
[b] [check]

STATE.
[a] N. J.
[b] "
In
Battles engaged in, [check]
---
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [check]

Date of application for pension, Mch. 24. 1818. His cl. was al

Residence at date of application, Monmouth Co., N.J.

Age at date of application, [check]

Remarks: No data as to family.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
6 -- 2856
Page 14

Bethel, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1935.

U. S. Pension Office,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:-

Will you kindly give me all the information available about
the military services and personal history of the following soldiers of
the Revolutionary war,

Richard Abbott, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Continental Line, also militia.

William Abbott, Jr. Hunterdon Co. N.J. in Capt Philip's Co. Militia.

Thomas Smith, Salem Co. New Jersey, Capt. Penton's Co. Militia.
David Rhea, Major, 2nd. Batn. 1st. Est. Lieut. Col. 2nd Batn. 2nd. Est. (Co. unknown)

David Rhea, Jr. Monmouth County, N. J.

Very truly,
A S Abbott

[Stamp] REC'D JAN 28 1935 MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS. ADM READER #4
Page 15

1867
THOS. McCULLOUGH'S SONS
DAVENPORT, IOWA

WILLIAM J. McCULLOUGH
FRANCIS J. McCULLOUGH
June 13th., 1912.

J. L. DAVENPORT, COMMISSIONER,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
DEP'T of the INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON D.C.

DEAR SIR:--

Will you have looked up for me in the "Record Division"
information regarding MAJOR DAVID RHEA who died June 14, 1821? he
was of Monmouth, County, New Jersey.
[handwritten above "DAVID RHEA":] 833084

I should like the facts as to his place of birth and his
father's name; also state whether Major David Rhea was married
and if there were children of the union and their names.

Very truly yours,
William J. McCullough
101 Security Building,
Davenport, Iowa.

[Stamp} U. S. PENSION OFFICE D JUN 15 1912
Page 16

AB5
1867
THOS. McCULLOUGH'S SONS
DAVENPORT, IOWA

WILLIAM J. McCULLOUGH
FRANCIS J. McCULLOUGH

June 13th., 1912.

J. L. DAVENPORT, COMMISSIONER,
FUREAU OF PENSIONS,
DEP'T of the INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, D. C.

Dear Sir:-

Upon separate sheets, herewith enclosed, I am asking for
information regarding a number of RHEA'S and RAY'S who served in the
Revolutionary War. I particularly mentioned the "Record Division"
of your office at the place to make the search, as I received such
satisfactory report from you in Jan. 28, 1910, upon an inquiry
about another name, made at that time.

Very truly yours,
William J. McCullough
101 Security Building,
Davenport, Iowa.

Six enclosures

[Stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE D JUN 15 1912
Page 17

33554
Revy INVALID.
File No. 33,554
David Rhea
Major Rev. War
Act: 18th March 18"
Index:-- Vol. 2, Page 338
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side]
June 8, 1903 - His to
Mrs. R. A. Vase
Owego, N. Y.
---
June 18, 1912. History to
Wm. J. McCullough,
Davenport, Iowa Fr.
Page 18

David Rhea
#33.554
Page 19

War Department, No. 17.
PENSION OFFICE,
April 19 1821

SIR:

You are hereby informed that the Schedule of your
property has been examined, and the Secretary of War has directed
your name to be continued on the Pension Roll.

You will be paid, at the ensuing semi-annual payment in September
next, the sum that may be then due from the time of suspending
your pension. Funds for the purpose will be transmitted at that
time; but no arrearages will be paid previous thereto.

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards

To Mr. David Rhea
Care of Aaron Davis Esqr
Guardian of David Rhea Esqr
Page 20

Free
The Honourable
J. C. Calhoun
Sect'y of War
Washington City

[written downward on sides:]
Mr Boyd
in form under the Law.

[calculations, inverted:]
[Mar 23, 1818 to Sept 4, 1818 = 5 mos. 28 days]
[$20 per month times 5 mos., 28 days = $106.42]
Page 21

The Honourable J.C. Calhoun
Sect'y of War

I herewith transmit the testimony on the part
of Col David Rhea, who was an officer in the
Revolutionary war, to substantiate his claim to a
pension under the late act of Congress, which if
not deemed sufficient, would beg leave to refer
you to Gen'l Jos: Bloomfield now a representative
in Congress from New Jersey who is considered to have
a personal knowledge of Col. Rhea.

Your Respectful & obd't Serv't.
Wm. J. Bowne
Freehold NJ. 24 Mar. 1818