Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10192, for Matthias Stine, New Jersey
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(2-1776)
Service New Jersey
Stine, Matthias
Number R. 10192
Contents
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11292
Application of Matthias Stine of Warrant New Jersey for a pension

If Pension allowed please direct the certificate to J. M. Sherrerd
Belvidere
Warren Co. 
New Jersey
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Declaration of Matthias Stein in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832
State of New Jersey
Warren County ss.  On this first day of September in the year of our Lord 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said county of Warren now sitting, Matthias Stine, a resident of the township of Knowlton, County of Warren, State of New Jersey, aged seventy seven years on the twenty fifth 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 act of congress passed June 7, 1832.
I was born at the Dutch Valley as it is called in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey on the 25th day of March 1755.  I had a record of my age in my Bible which I copied from my fathers Bible, but by letting my children take it to school (having no other) it became destroyed, and I have no other record of it.  
I am well satisfied that the above is the time as recorded in my fathers Bible and from what my parents told me.  When I was first called into the service of my country in the Revolution, I was living at New Germantown in Hunterdon County New Jersey and was an apprentice with Frederick Bartles to learn the business of leather breaches maker and was very nearly out of my apprenticeship. I was classed in the militia and drafted to go out, think it was in the month of April, don't know what year, but
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knows it was the year the British took New York.  I went out as a private in Captain Godfrey Rhineharts company the first tour.  John Read was Lieutenant and Aaron Lane Ensign.  We marched to Amboy in New Jersey and laid there one month under Colonel John Taylor and Major Mark Thomson.  I then staid home one month and went out again under the same captain every other month, being at home one month and the next out, for four years, making two years full service, under Captain Rhinehart until he was made a Major.  While under Rhinehart as our captain, we were chiefly all the time at and about Elizabethtown in Essex County New Jersey.  We had one skirmish with the British army this time, at Freehold, Monmouth County, (when General Lee proved treacherous) and we had but little fun.  The weather was uncommonly hot and many of the soldiers perished for want of water.  While at Elizabethtown, I recollect Colonel John Meken had command of the militia until he got sick, and then Col. John Taylor took the command. 
After Rhinehart was made Major, I went out under Captain Cornelius Covenhoven and Benjamin Cooper in the militia of New Jersey nearly three years every other month, and until the end of the war.  Every month I went out in my own place and not as a substitute for any other person.  Colonel John Taylor still commanded during the whole of this term. During this term of three years, we were chiefly in the neighborhood of Elizabethtown, but recollect being about one month at
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Trenton.  Was often marched through Penington - Princeton - Millstone - Brunswick - Pluckemin - Somerset and laid at each of these places some part of the time.  About the close of the war, I enlisted in the free months Continental service under Captain Morris Wurts but never went out as peace was proclaimed as Washington had fought the big battle at Yorktown.  I have no documentary evidence nor ever had any by which I can prove my services, nor do I know of any persons living by whom I can prove my services unless it be John Fisher in Morris County and John Blane in same county who were living about five years ago but whose testimony he don't know that he can procure being very poor himself and too infirm to go there.  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.  
He has no clergyman living in the neighborhood who can testify to the neighborhood belief of his services.

X his mark
Matthias Stine
Sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid. 
Garret Lacey
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We John Flay, residing in the township of Knowlton aged sixty six years and upwards and Nicholas Harris residing in said township, both in the said county of Warren hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Matthias Stine, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven 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, and that there is no clergyman living in his neighborhood.
John Flay
Nicholas Harris

Sworn and subscribed the day said in open court
Wm. P. Robison

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after the putting the interrogatories presented 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 John Flay and Nicholas Harris who have signed the preceding certificate are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.  And that there is no clergyman living in the vicinity of the said applicant.  
Wm. P. Robison
Garret Lacey
P W. Blair
Wm Kennedy
Wm. Mulbough
Abm Wains
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State of New Jersey
Warren County }ss.
Before me, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeared Matthias Stine, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832, 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 as the following grades. 
For two years and one month I served as a private, and for such service I claim a pension, during all which time I was engaged in no civil pursuit.  And in further answer to the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, I state
I.  I was born at German Valley in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey on the 25th March 1755.
II.  I had a record of my age in my bible which I copied from my fathers bible, but it was destroyed by my children using it at school (having no other one and being too poor to buy another. )
III.  I was living at New Germantown in Hunterdon County, New Jersey when called into service.  Since the Revolutionary war, I have lived at Knowlton in the County of Sussex, (now Warren) in said state, where I now live.
IV.  When called into service, I was classed and drafted as a militiaman, did not volunteer or go as a substitute.
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V. I recollect some of the names of the regular officers who were with the troops where I served, to wit, Captains Rhinehart, Covenhoven, Cooper and Wurts.  Major Thompson and Colonels Taylor, Seeley, Mehelm, Generals Dickerson and Hurd. 
VI.  I never received any discharge in writing. 
VII.  In my original declaration I stated the names of John Flay and Nicholas Harris to whom I was known in the present neighborhood, who testified to my character for veracity, their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution, and also the neighborhood belief of the same.  
X his mark
Matthias Stine
Sworn and subscribed the 2nd July 1833 before me. 
Wm. P. Robison
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State of New Jersey
Warren County }ss.
I Phineas B. Kennedy, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Matthias Stine for a pension.  In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the first day of September A.D. 1832
P. B. Kennedy Clk

State of New Jersey
Warren County }ss.
I, Phineas B. Kennedy, Clerk as aforesaid further certify that the signature of William P. Robison Esquire attached to the additional declaration and affidavit of Matthias Stine is genuine, that at the time of doing thereof, he was a Judge of said Court, and Justice of the Peace in and for said county and that the papers hereto attached (except said additional affidavit), are the original proceedings of said Court on the application of said Mattias Stine for a pension.  Witness my hand & seal of office second day of July A.D. 1833
P.B. Kennedy, Clk
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Mathias Stine
Warren Co. N.J.
Suspended
Return e i m
Must state times when & places where actual services performed. can't prove by but testimony [illegible]
Where is the co idea of Fisher & Blane?
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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 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 show 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 (this:  } ).  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, showing the service of Matthias Stine of Warren Co. New Jersey
Period when the service was rendered
Classed in the militia & drafted the year the British took New York
Enlisted about the close of the war in the continental service but [illegible] 

Duration of the claimant's service
Years. Months. Days.
Served 1 every other month for [illegible] four years making 2 full years  

Rank of the claimant  
Private

Names and rank of the Company officers under whom he served. 
Capt Rhinehart
Lieut John Read
Ensign Aaron Lane
Capt. Cornelius Covenhoven
Capt. Benj. Cooper

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers
Col. John Taylor
Major Mark Thomson

Country through which he marched
Amboy 
[illegible]
Elizabethtown, NJ
To Trenton 
[illegible]
Pennington
Princeton
Millstone
Brunswick
Somerset
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
New Germanton in Hunterdon County State of New Jersey
Aged 77
 
Proof by which the declaration is supported
Traditionary

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 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.  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 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 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.    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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
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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 Milita, 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 service.
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 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 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 no 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 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 employed 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 paper.
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 witnesses and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
 The notes from [a] to [l] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in 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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1918 May 14  Hist. to Raymond W. Smith

10192
P.O.  Matthias Stine
Service:
Enlisted:___________,18
Discharged: ___________,18
Application filed:  ____________,18
Alleges:  List of suspended claims printing in 1852 shows cause of suspension as follows:  "No proof of service."
Re-enlisted: _________
Attorney:
P.O.  
Recognized
Contract
Cert. of Dis.
Searched for   ,18
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[illegible]
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523 Scotland Street
Orange, N.J.
May 6, 1918
Rev Dec Jnis

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Gentlemen-
If the records of the Pension Office contain any information relative to the Revolutionary services of Matthias Stine, who served, I am informed, in the New Jersey militia from Middlesex County, I would be greatly obliged for a transcript of his record.
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& such other information as may be available.
Thanking you in advance for your courtesy, I am
Your very truly
Raymond W. Smith

Postmarked May 10,1918
Medi Division
Certificate Section
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Hon. S. Condict
13 Dec 1833
J E
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War Dept.
Pension Off.
Dec 13, 1833
Sir, 
The claim of Samuel Perry has been [illegible] but no certificate can be issued until the day of his  death & the names of his heirs are certified by the Court.  The papers are placed on our files. 

Matthias Stine alleges two years & 1 mo service in the militia of N. Jersey without producing any direct proof of any part of it.  It cannot be admitted that so much service is insusceptible of proof by a claimant still residing where it was rendered in the midst of numerous applicants for similar service.  And the regulations require the best evidence in the power of a claimant to produce.  His claim is suspended & his papers are placed on file.  
Act 7 June

Hon L. Condict
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In reply to your request of ....................., received...........for a statement of the military history of ........................... a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment [illegible]
Length of Service [illegible]
Rank [illegible]
Officers under whom services was rendered
Captain   Colonel
[illegible]
State [illegible]
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Date of application for pension
Residence at date of application,
Age at date of application
Remarks:  [illegible]

[appears to be handwriting on the lines, but too faint to decipher]
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Addl Afft of M. Stine of death of Fisher & Blane
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State of New Jersey
Warren County }ss.
Before me, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County on the second day of [illegible] personally appeared Matthias Stine of said county an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832, who being duly sworn according to law saith that  since the return of his papers from Washington he has been over to the County of Morris and found that John Fisher and John Blain are both dead.  That John Fisher died in county of [illegible][illegible] Blain removed west where his friend informed me where he died several years since and further that the knows of no other person living by whom he can prove his services in the Revolutionary war.
 War.
X his mark
Matthias Stine
Sworn & subscribed the date said before me.
J. Kinney Jr

State of New Jersey
Warren County }ss.
I, Phineas B. Kennedy, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said county of Warren certify that the above signature of J. Kinney Jr. Esq. is genuine and that at the day thereof he was a Judge of said court, duly sworn into office.  Witness my hand & seal of office the 3rd December 1833
P. B. Kennedy Clk.
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Specification of tours of duty of Matthias Stine


L. Condict
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State of New Jersey
Warren County }ss.
Before me, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county on the 10th August 1833, personally appeared Matthias Stine of the township of Knowlton in said county, aged seventy eight years and upwards, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832 whom I certify is a credible person and his statement entitled to credit, who being duly sworn according to law saith that he is the same Matthias Stine who has here before made a declaration to obtain a pension under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832 before the Court of Common Pleas of the said county of Warren, upon being informed that it is necessary for him to make a specification and more particular detail of his tours of service, upon reflection and recollection maketh oath and saith that they were as follows, during all which time he was engaged in no civil pursuit.  My first tour was as a drafted militia man (as all the rest of my tours were) in month of May 1776.  I was out one month under Captain Godfrey Rhinehart, Lieutenant John Crawford in Colonel John Taylors Regiment of New Jersey Militia.  We marched from New Germantown in Hunterdon County New Jersey to Amboy, recollect seeing the farmers planting corn on my way.  When dismissed, I returned home & staid there one month. 
Second tour was one month under Captain John Meddock Lieutenant Crawford in Colonel Taylors regiment.  It was month of July 1776.  We marked to Elizabethtown Point, laid there the whole month.  Recollect the great firing and rejoicing this month on account of the declaration of independence.
Third tour was one month.  September 1776 under Captain Benjamin Cooper, Lieutenant John Beckman, Colonel Taylors regiment.  We marched from
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New Germantown to Elizabethtown Point, where we laid the whole month.  I recollect the farmers in the neighborhood beginning to harvest the corn this month.  Some of the soldiers helping them at odd spells in exchange for some milk.
Fourth tour for one month.  November 1776.  We went from New Germantown to Elizabethtown city under Captain Rhinehart, Lieutenant John Teeple - one Frelinghuysen commanded us but can't recollect whether he was a Colonel or General.  Recollect the weather got so cold that when on guard, we was relieved every hour instead of every two hours as before.  At end of month, returned home.
Fifth tour for one month.  January 1777.  March from New Germantown to Elizabethtown City & spent whole month in and about that place under Captain Cooper, Lieutenant John Read, in Colonel Taylor's regiment.  At end of month returned home.
Sixth tour for one month.  March 1777 went from New Germantown to Elizabethtown & spent whole month marching about that place.  I was under Capt Rhinehart, Lieut Crawford & Colonel Taylor.  Nothing particular occurred that I recollect.  At end of month returned home.  
Seventh tour for one month.  May 1777 marched again to Elizabethtown & was there and about it all that month under Capt John Meddock, Lieutenant Teeple and Colonel Taylor.  At end of mo return home. 
Eighth tour for one month.  July 1777.  Marched again to Elizabethtown.  Was there and near it the whole month.  Recollect distinctly the great firing & rejoicing as had on 4th under Captain Rhinehart, Lieutenant Read, Colonel Taylor and I think General Hurd.  
Ninth tour for one month.  September 1777.  Marched again to Elizabethtown.  Was there all that month under Captain John Tinbrook Lieu. Crawford and Colonel Taylor.  At end of mo returned home. 
While home recollect that there was great rejoicing on account of the capture & surrender of Burgoyne and army at the north
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Tenth tour for one month November 1777.  We marched from New Germantown to Elizabethtown & was there & in the neighborhood the whole month under Captain Cooper in Colonel John Helms regiment.  Returned home at end of month.  Staid home a month during which time my father moved to Crosswicks in Monmouth County N. Jersey.
Eleventh tour for one month, January 1778. We marched to Shrewsbury and was the whole month marching about there under Captain Benjamin Covenhoven, in Colonel Formans regiment.  General David Forman commanded.  While out this month we took a refugee and recollect distinctly General Forman caning him for his having called him Black David.  The Tories stole several of Stophel Longstreets horses during this tour. Returned home at end of month. 
Twelfth tour for one month.  March 1778.  Marched to Shrewsbury & Freehold and scouted about the whole month under Capt. Covenhoven and Colonel Forman.  Returned home at end of month.
Thirteenth tour for one month.  Part of June & July 1778 under Captain Logan in Colonel Hankinson regiment & under General Forman.  During this month we marched towards Trenton & helped tear up a draw bridge across the [illegible] just before British arrived on their way across the Jersies.  Capt Logan & guard were in woods when British came up just in evening.  Distinctly recollect seeing an officer with Epaulette on his shoulder & saw Capt Logan and guard shout at them & saw them scamper away.  During this tour I was in the battle of Monmouth & recollect distinctly the circumstances of it.  The heat was most offensive.  Lee proved traitor.  We had but little to do with it - being ready but after Lees retreat we were also ordered to retreat. 
I have no documentary evidence within my knowledge & have no living witness by whom I can prove my service.
X his mark
Matthias Stine
Sworn & subscribed the date above before me
Wm. P. Robison
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State of New Jersey
Warren County }ss.
I, Phineas B. Kennedy, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county certify that the signature of William P. Robison Esq to the foregoing affidavit is genuine and that at the time of doing thereof he was one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county.  
Witness my hand & seal the 10th August 1833.
P. B. Kennedy, Clk
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New Jersey
Revo.
Mathias Stine
Suspended
Letr Hon L. Condict 13 Dec 1833

10192
Act 7 June '32