Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,671, for John Jorden, New Jersey
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(3-1776)
SERVICE    NUMBER
New Jersey    Jorden, John   S.2.671
carded

CONTENTS
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Saltea 22d       April 1837       Pen agent

New Jersey 17.918
John Jorden
of Salem County in the State of N. J.
who was a Priv in the [blank] commanded
by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded
by Col Ellis in the N. J. Troops
time for 7 mo

Inscribed in the Roll of [illegible] N. J.
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of October
1833 and sent W. N. Jeffers - Salem N. J.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 $63.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending       16.66
                                                  $79.99

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by ED Bullock Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 117
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11954
John Jorden
Salem County
New Jersey

Return f. no.

46.66
16.60
63.33

W. N. Jeffers
Salem
New Jersey
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
15th May 1833

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.

Statement, shewing the Service of John Jorden Salem Co. N. Jersey

Period when the service was rendered | Duration of the claimant's service Years Months Days | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country though which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported.

Drafted May 1777 |  | 1 |  | pv | Capt Newkirk | | | | 73 | |
Oct 1777  |  | 6 |  | " | Capt Haywood | Col Holmes Col Ellis |  | N. J. | Salem Co N. Jersey | Traditionary
    |  | 7 |

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, musicians or privates, will in the first in stance, 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 }
in County of                         } ss
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank]A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers: [blank]

(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 enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. 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 [blank]

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 hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank]for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank]
& 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 [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] 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 day 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. [blank] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank]
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of [blank] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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8
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 your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that he 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 he can here he resided. If he should gail 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 clamant 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. D. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of the old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he can swear positively 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 services 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.  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 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 mush 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 affidavit the time of the claimant's entering the service, the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
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 note [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.
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State of New Jersey }
County of Salem } ss

On this twenty seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and hundred and thirty two. Personally appeared in open Court before the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Salem now sitting John Jordan a resident of the Township of upper Pennsneck in the said County and State aged seventy three years and upwards who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832

That he entered the service of the United States under Captain Cornelius Newkirk of the said County of Salen being drafted on the 15th day of May 1777. The said company was commanded by said Newkirk and Lieutenant David Sithers and Ensign Alderman. That he was out at this time one month - was stationed at Elsinborough in this County and in the neighbourhood of Whiglane in this County, and on the 20th day of October 1777 he was drafted again in the same company and membered under the command of Capt Joseph Haywood to Haddonfield when he joined the Battalion under the command of Col. Benjamin Holme- the Regiment was Commanded by Col. Joseph Ellis, from Haddonfield he marched to Mount Holly in the County of Burlington and was in a skirmish near the Blackhouse where the detachment lay and was in a battle at Coopers Bridge in the County of Gloucester, and at the commanding of Trenton the day before the Battle of Princeton. That he was at Red Bank at the time of this battle or attack upon mudfort. That his time of service was upwards of six months, and he was honorably discharged but does not know what has become of the same. That his name appears upon the original muster roll of Captain Newkirks Company as his informant
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payroll of said Company stationed at Haddonfield on the 6th February and 7th March 1777. That he has no other documentary evidence to refer to or any in
his possession. 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 Jorden

Subscribed and sworn
in open Court the day and year
aforesaid

Saml L James [illegible] Judge of the Court

We Thomas Fox and Henry Grant residing in the County of Salem, the said Thomas Fox being a clergyman residing in the said County and Henry Grant a Justice of the peace of said County hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Jorden who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe seventy three years of age and that he is reputed and [illegible] in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that he concurs in that opinion

Sworn and subscribed in
open Court the day & year aforesaid

Thomas Fox
Henry Grant

Saml L James [illegible] Judge
of Court

County of Salem ss Samuel Nelson being duly sworn doth depose and say that he received from Jacob Newkirk a grandson of the late Cornelius Newkirk a Captain in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war
some paper purporting to have been master rolls of drafts in the Militia and pay rolls of the regiment under the command of Col. Joseph Ellis - that he then finds
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the name of John Jordan as a private and that he remember said John Jordan being out in the line and this deponent was out at the same time and that he believes the statement of the said Jorden to be true in all things.

Samuel Nelson

Sworn & subscribed in}
open Court the day & year}
aforesaid}

Sam L James Presiding Judge
of said 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 applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court for the certifies that the above named Thomas Fox is a Clergyman living in the immediatey vicinity of the applicant and also that the said Thomas Fox and Henry Guest who have signed the preceding certificate
are credible persons are resident in the County of Salem and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Sam L James Presiding Judge
Merriman Smith
Samuel Finley
Charles Swing
Henry Freas
David B Smith

County of Salem SS
I Joseph Kille Clerk of }
the Inferior Court of Common  Pleas in and for the County of Salem do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Jorden for a pension-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty seventh day of September in the year of our Lord {illegible covered by seal] & thirty two -
Joseph Kille Clerk
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January 9, 1939

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

BA-J/ady
John Jorden
S. 2671

Mr. J. D. Gindhart, Jr.
Moorestown
New Jersey

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter relative to John Jordan, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.2671, based upon the military service of John Jorden in that war.

The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of John Jorden are not shown.

John Jorden enlisted in Salem County, New Jersey, about December 1776, served one month
as private in Captain Cornelius Newkirk's New Jersey Company and was in the battle of Trenton.
He enlisted October 20, 1777, served six months as private in Captain Cornelius Newkirk's and
Joseph Hayward's Companies, Colonel Joseph Ellis' New Jersey Regiment; was in a skirmish
near the Black Horse and in a battle at Coopers Bridge.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 27, 1832, at which time he
was aged seventy-three years "and upwards" and a resident of Upper Pennsauken Township, Salem County, New Jersey.

There are no family data.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly
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the date of soldier's death, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting
Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C. and cite the following data: John Jorden,
Certificate No. 17918, issued October 11, 1833, rate $23.33 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

Brief of the claim of John Jorden to a pension and the evidence herewith transmitted to the department.

[illegible] private

W N Jeffers
Salem
N.J.
Page 13

Brief of the claim of John Jordan to a pension, and the evidence returned with his papers to the war department

I. The declaration for which [illegible] making out seven months service

II. See Evidence herewith transmitted
1. Document marked "A", being headed "January 30, 1777 "A list of the guns and other articles returned that we drawn in Philadelphia on Dec. 13. for Capt. Newkirk's Company, "upon which paper the name of the said John Jorden appeared.
2. Document marked "B" being headed "october 20.1777 classed the fort militia belonging to army Company Cornelius Newkirk Capt" upon which document the name of the said John Lord is found in "Class 7".
3. Document marked "C" and headed "Hattonfield February 6th 1778. This paper appears to have been a memorandum or muster & pay roll of the regiment or Battalion and [illegible] addendum of other matter, "John Jordan" is charged with "a gun" de.
4. Document marked "D" headed "A pay roll of Capt Cornelius Newkirk's Company of foot militia in Col. Benjamin Holmes Battation for the County of Salem and under the command of Col Joseph Ellis in Haddonfield March 9th 1778." The name of John Gorden appears upon this roll.
5. Document marked "E" and headed "March 18. 1778 Capt Newkirk to Cartridges""John Gorden" name appears here, tho differently spelled, is no doubt the same person, as he was the only person whose name bears any resemblance  in sound to "John Jorden."

Remarks
These documents have been found amongst the papers of the late Colonel
Newkirk, formerly Capt. Newkirk of the County of Salem. They carry upon the four of them, all the marks of authenticity, there can be no doubt, they are records of that eventful and glorious era of our history, and prove the services of the respectable but indigent applicant who solicits the County of his Country.
2. There can be no doubt but Mr. Jordon is mistaken in the year, he says "1777" this must be error, as he was in Philadelphia Jany. 1777 and returned the "Articles"
what had been drawn " 13th Dec. 1776.  See document "A"
By the paper purporting to be the "Pay roll, it would appear as this Jorden was discharged "6 March 1778" See doc "D" If discharged he must have entitled again
as he received "cartridges" on the 18 March 1778. The pay roll seems to have original "April" instead of "March."
4. The fair presumption is, that Mr. Jorden entered the service in 1776 and served
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a part of 1777-8.
5. Should this evidence, in the Judgment of the Department, be deemed insufficient, the Commissioner of Pension is respectfully requested to return the papers and further evidence will be sought after.  The applicant is very infirm and is no miles distant, and
quite destitute of means

Respectfully submitted by

W. N. Jeffers
Salem 27 June 1833
Page 15

Trenton Bank
Pension Office
April 8 1837

Sir

I enclose the Certificate of Daniel Applegate, to be cancelled.

Also the certificate and voucher of John Jorden unpaid for more than one year for your special direction for payment

I remain respectfully
Your obedient Servant
Phil Dickinson Prest

J L Edwards by
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 16

1939 Jan 9 J [illegible] to J.D. Gindhart

Rev War

INVALID

File No. 2671
John Jorden
Prvt Rev War

Act June 7 1832

Index:- Vol. A, Page 194

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

Re Pension
John Jordan - Salem Co N J. Revolutionary War

Invalid #2671

Department of Pensions
Washington DC

Can you give me copy of application of above pension claim also a record of when it ceased and if widow survived

memo from Trenton NJ
John Jorden
Private Cap Cornelius Newkirk's Co. end Reg Salem Co. Militia

In active service Dec 1776 Jan 177=Mar 1778 or rolls. Mch 18 - 1778 was in skirmish near Black Horse Burlington Co, at battle of Coopers Bridge near Red Bank

I wish to connect up a family tree and find part of my information depending on this pension roll information

Thank you for your courtesy

JD. Gindhart Jr
Moorestown
Burlington County
N. J.
If any expense is involved please send me the bill - I will remit promptly

[circular stamp]
RECEIVED
NOV 16 1938

[linear stamp]
12 Received A.G.O. NOV 16 1938
Page 18

ORD-mvc

Wrapper Indorsement.

War Department, A. G. O. , November 18, 1938 - To the Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.