Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3985, for James Steelman, New Jersey
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(3-1776)

SERVICE         
New Jersey

NUMBER
S. 3985
 
Steelman, James     


carded

CONTENTS
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(Left column)

[illegible]

(Right column)

6945
New Jersey

James Steelman

of the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the company commanded by captain Thomas of the [illegible] commanded by Col. Thomas in the  New Jersey line for 2 years 2 months Private - $160.00

Subscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 80 Dollars - cents per annum to commence on the fifth day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of March 1833 and [illegible] to Hon. R[illegible] Confi [illegible] N. Jersey

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $160.00
Semi-anl allowance ending [illegible] $40.00

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

recorded by Vincent Luce (?) Clerk, 
Book [illegible]
Vol. 4
Page 173
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(Right column)

Rebecca Francis enquires the particulars of her father's service
James Steelman
a pensioner on the Trenton N. Jersey list who died about Sept. 1834 at great Egg harbour N.J.

Be pleased to direct to D.S. Browna 42 Crosby (?) Street New York
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Know all Then by these Presents that I, Rebecca Francis of the city of New York , only daughter and joint heir at law of James Steelman deceased have made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make constitute, and appoint D. S. Browne of said city my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, place, and stead to ask and receive from the government of the United States of any affair thereof duly authorized to act in this matter by virtue of his office, information in regard to the enlistment, service and such(?) of my late Father James Steelman who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, now a pensioner of the United States Pension payable at Trenton N.J. and who died at Greet Egg Harbour, N.J. on or about the month of Sept. 1832, leaving no widow and but two children, giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the third day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of  
Wm. H. Browne

her X mark
Rebecca Francis

State of New York, country of New York} ss.

Be it known, That on the - third day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty two. before me, William H. Browne, a notary public in and for the State of New York, duly commissioned and sworn, dwelling in the city of New York, personally came Rebecca Francis known to me to be the person described in and who executed the above and acknowledged the above Letter of Attorney to be her fair act and deed.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office, the day and year last above written.
William H. Browne
Notary Public
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James Steelman

Rich. M. Cooper
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State of New Jersey Gloucester County SS: On this twenty first day of February in the Year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three - Before the Subscriber One of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Please in and for the County of Gloucester personally came Thompson Price who being duly sworn according to Law Deposeth and sayeth that he will be eighty seven years old the fourteenth day of August next - was born in Shrewsbury in the Eastern part of their State. removed to Egg Harbour in this County in his One and twentieth Year, there he has lived ever since near Somers Point. This deponent has a distinct recollection of a Body of Troops called the Egg Harbour Guards as they were detached for the protection of the Coast from Cape Island to Sandy Hook from the depredations of British Cruizers, to  prevent their landing and (?) carrying off provisions, and doing any other injury to the inhabitants of the part of the County (illegible) the Coast being such as to afford them facilities for  so doing. And also to protect the inhabitants from being molested by the Refugees who came thither from New York and elsewhere in great numbers on account of this sparse settlement of the County. They were paid by the then Colony of New Jersey. This deponent served in the Guard from its commencement until its termination at the end of the war - recollects well that James Steelman served in the same during the war of the Revolution - Is confident he serves as long as two years, perhaps longer. Thinks he, this deponent, served in the same company, thinks it after the year 1778 - In their service they could have no fixed station - they were from one end of the Coast to the other as their services were required, by the appearance of British vessels on the coast or refugees in a particular neighborhood - They had at different times much skirmishes with the latter, killed and took a number prisoners - It was a hard service in consequence of the length of Coast exposed(?).
This deponent receives a pension from the State of New Jersey for his services in the Guard.
Affirmed and subscribed before me the day above
Michael C. Fisher

his X mark
Thompson Price
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I, Michael C. Fisher, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester, do hereby certify that I believe the within named Thompson Price whose office visit was taken before me to be a credible witness and that his affidavit is entitled to full credit and belief.

Witness my hand this twenty fifth day of February AD one thousand and eight hundred and thirty three.
Michael C. Fisher

I John C. Smallwood Clerk of the Inferior court of Common Pleas of the county of Gloucester do hereby certify that Michael C. Fisher Esquire before whom the within affidavit was taken, is one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of Gloucester County and that the name "Micheal C. Fisher" subscribed thereto is the proper handwriting of him the (illegible) Michael C. Fisher.

Witness my hand and seal of office this twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Smallwood clerk(?)
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State of New Jersey Gloucester County ss On this twenty first day of February AD Eighteen hundred and thirty three before the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, personally came James Somers, who being duly affirmed according to Law upon his solemn affirmation sayeth, that he well recollects the Eggharbour Guards, that they were a Body of troops in the service of and paid by the then Colony of New Jersey, were detached for the protection of the Coast from Cape Island to Sandy Hook, that the inhabitants thereof were in constant danger from parties of the Enemy landing and carrying off provisions and doing other injuries, in conjunction with the Refugees who frequented that part of the County - that this affirmant distinctly recollects that James Steelman served in this Corps. He knows that the said James served therein at least two years and verily believes that he must have served as much as three years. Yet from inability to recollect dates, he will not affirm positively to (illegible) long. He knows of the service of said James in the said Corps from having seen him frequently on duty, and having served for some time with him in the Corps - having(?) seen him working at two Forts which were erected at the mouth of Eggharbour river near where this affirmant lived and knows of his absence from home when the Corps was ordered elsewhere, and the said James reported to be with it - that David Somers, John Jeffreys, Wm Barton(?), James Steelman and Hezekiah(?) Steelman have lived all their lives within two miles of this affirmant and all served together in the Guards - He recollects that Cols Rich(?) and Somers + Robert Tayor and Capts John Somers, Samuel + Robert Snell, were officers in the Guards at this
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affirmant cannot tell in what years the said James performed the service above mentioned. He does not recollect dates and will not undertake to affirm thereto. This affirmant is now upwards of seventy one years old, was born and has lived all his life time at Somers Point, where much of the services spoken of were done and further this affirmant saith not.

Affirmed and subscribed before me the date above
Michale C. Fisher
James Somers

I Michael C. Fisher one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Gloucester before whom the within affidavit was taken, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with this affirmant James Somers that he is a wealthy and respected citizen of this County, and that his affidavit is entitled to full credit and belief.

Witness my hand this twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three.
Michael C. Fisher

I John C Smallwood Clerk of the Inferior court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester, do hereby certify that Michael C. Fisher Esquire, before whom the above affidavit was taken is one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County, duly commissioned and affirmed. And that the named Michael C. Fisher thereto subscribed is the proper hand writing of the said Michael C. Fisher.

Witness my hand and seal of office this twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.

Smallwood clerk(?)
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State of New Jersey
County of Gloucester } SS

On this Fifteenth day of October A. D. One thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared, in open Courth before the Honorable Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Gloucester, now sitting James Steelman, a resident of the said county of Gloucester and State of New Jersey aforesaid aged 74 years on the 14th day of July last, who being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath, Make the following declaration - in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, entitled "An Act Supplementary to an act for the relief of certain Surviving Officers and Soldier of the Revolution.

That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated:

In October 1775 I entered the Services of the United States in Capt. Somers company and Col. Richard Somers Batalion, we met at Absecon in the county of Gloucester on Parade, from there crossed over to Brigantine Beach and attacked and took prisoners the crew of the Transport, Rebecca J. Frances, a Ship, I think of 20 guns, then lying in the surf in about 2 or 3 fathoms water, we saved some provisions and, I think, a few of her guns, sails, rigging and whatever else was valuable. I think we took 51 prisoners in all from her. They were taken to Philadelphia to prison. We did but little other service during that tour. Was discharged after one month's service.
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In March 1776 I entered the service again, under the same Officers at Somers Point. We met at Absecon and marched to Somers Point. Service one month and was discharged.

In June 1776 I again entered under the same Officers and served a month at the Same place, in the county of Gloucester and was discharged.

In November 1776, I was in Philadelphia and pressed into the service, on board a vessel and taken to Trenton under Captn. Aaron Ashbridge and Liut. Clement Humphreys and was employed in attending the sick soldiers had John Scull to assist me and we had upwards of 30 men to wait upon. They had the fever among them - I was in this service two months. We brought the sick men to Philadelphia and delivered them over to the commisary and were discharged. I took the fever immediately afterward and was sick near 3 months - I took it from the men.

In December 1777, I volunteered for one month under Capt. John Scull and Col. Isiah Hillman. We paraded in Mays Landing and marched to Haddonfield about 40 miles, in the county of Gloucester, where we were quartered about 2 weeks. I went with about 60 others, to act as guard at Kaighn's Point and Coopers Ferry, on the Delaware, opposite Philadelphia. We were routed by the British in the night, who pursued us to Haddonfield, when we arrived there we found that our troops had evacuated the place in the Middle of the Night and no one knew where they had gone. We
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Marched on to Moorestown, in Burlington County, where we learned that our troops had passed thorugh that place to Mount Holly, where we joined them. We remained at Mount Holly several days, were quartered in the the Quaker Meetinghouse. The weather was very stormy. We marched from there to Coopers Creek, near Coopers Ferry at a place then called Spicers Bridge, now Coopers Creek, lower bridge, we had a smart engagement with a detachment of the British troops. The Firing brought over a reinforcement from Philadelphia when we were obliged to retreat. The British loss was very considerable; ours was trifling. We marched to Haddonfield that night there were several other companies with us at the Battles but I cannot recollect many of the Officers.

I remember that Capt. Cully commanded the cape May company. Col. Joseph Ellis was at the Battle. General Wayne was there and I think Gen. Pulaski. I think he had his horse killed at the Battle of Spicers Bridge.

In March 1778, I was entered in Capt. Scull's Company, Co. Taylor's Batalion, the company paraded in Mays Landing in the county of Gloucester and Marched from there to the Forks of LIttle Eggharbour river and from there to Clam Town, now Tuckerton in Burlington County, a place much infested by Torries and Refugees. We found them too strong for us and were obliged to return without attacking them - service one month and was discharged.

In September 1778, I entered the service under Capt. Samuel Smith + Col. Somers
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We paraded at Chestnut Neck in Gloucester County and were quartered there, were reinforced by Col. Proctor with 400 or 500 Men; we removed to Leeds Point, about three Miles below on the Little Eggharbour river; From there we went to Somers Point. We built two small forts there by direction of Col Proctor. I saw Col Proctor lay out the Forts and entrenchments and helped to dig them. I was out two months and then discharged.

In October, the latter end of the month 1778, I entered for one year in what was called the Eggharbour Guards, under command of Capt. Samuel Snell and Col. Robert Taylor. At the expiration of which term I entered again and at the expiration of that term I entered and served another year. In all, 3 years in the Guard Service.

Our tour of Service was very extensive and harassing; involving in it an irregular series of hard duty in which few regular engagements could be held(?) but in which we were more generally engaged in [illegible]ing and skirmishing with the British Refugees and Tories, from Great Eggharbour River, to Raritan river. I cannot recollect all the service performed in this service.

I recollect going with Capt. Badcock to Barnegat in Pursuit of a troublesome Refugee by name of Bacon, we surrounded his father's  house in the middle of the night, we found a number of Men in the house, but he was not among them. I recollect that  that we took a Refugee's sailing Boat on Squan Beach with Tar and Cranberries on board, bound to New York; we
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took out what was valuable and then set her on fire.

I recollect that in May or June 1778 I was entered as a volunteer and served a month under Capt. Snell and Col. Taylor we quartered at Somers Point, in the Guard House. During this tour we took 40 or 50 Reffugees prisoner and their Captains, Turner and Heuling after marching them about a mile we lodged them in a house under a guard and went in pursuit of their Boats and the remainder of their company. During our absence they rose on the Guard, and those left to secure them, but were subdued and tied. we took one of their Boats but the other escaped. We marched them to Mays Landing, about 10 miles from  whence they were sent to Philadelphia, to prison. I think that both of the Captains Heuling and Turner escaped from the Guard on the passage.

I did not go out again during the war, there was no enemy in the neighborhood.

I was born in the Township of Eggharbour County of Gloucester, New Jersey on the 14th day of July 1758. I have no record of my age. I was living in the Township of Eggharbour when called into Service and have lived there ever since. I was drafted once and after that I always volunteered when called into service.

I saw Col Proctor at Leeds Point and Somers Point, he laid out
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out the Fort at the latter place - I saw Genl Wayne at Mount Holly. I saw Gen. Washington at Trenton. He rode on a Grey Horse. I saw Proctor Regiment of Artillery at Little Eggharbour at Leeds Point  he fired at the British Gallies as they were going down the River. Genl Wayne had 400 troops at Mount Holly and Genl Washington's Army was at Trenton when I was there.

I never received a written discharge but one that was from Capt. Ashbridge, my house was burnt many years ago, this paper and everything I had was burnt at the time which was in 1793.

I am acquainted with Major John R. Scull, Gideon Leeds, Daniel Baker, Honorable(?) Richd M Cooper James Mattack Esquire, Jacob Glover Esquire and others in my county and neighborhood.

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.

Sworn and subscribed
Oct. 15th 1832 in open court
Ephraim Miller

his X mark
James Steelman
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We Jesse Smith and Jacob Glover residing in the County of Gloucester New Jersey, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Steelman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four year 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.

Affirmed and subscribed
15 October 1832
Ephraim Miller

Jesse Smith
Jacob Glover

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 Jesse Smith Esq, and Jacob Glover Esquire who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in the said county of Gloucester and are highly respectable citizens, the former filling the Office of Sheriff and the latter of Surrogate in the said county and that their statement is entitled to full credit.

Ephraim Miller
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I, John C. Smallwood, Clerk of the Court of Common Please of the said county of Gloucester do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of the said court in the Matter of the application of James Steelman for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 15th day of October 1832.

Smallwood clk
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The State of New Jersey Gloucester Co SS

On the fifteenth day of October A.D. 1832 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester personally appeared David Somers of the said County, aged seventy five years and upwards, who being duly sworn according to law, saith that he is well acquainted with James Steelman and knew him before and during the war of the Revolution. That he well remembers that the said James Steelman did a great deal of service during the said war; because he and this deponent served most of the time under the same officers and in the same company- the first term of duty, they served together was in Brigantine Beach in the County of Gloucester in a Company Commanded by Capt. John Somers (father of this deponent) in Col. Richard Somers Batalion in the Month of October 1775. This service lasted one Month and during the time we took a ship called "The Rebecca T. Frances." She was a Transport ship of 20 guns, She had got aground in the Surf, and the men were obliged to leave her. We took them prisoners as the came ashore, they amounted to 50 or thereabouts.

The next service, which they performed together was at Somers Point
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Point in Gloucester County in March 1776, this service was in the same company and same Batalion as the first mentioned service this is Capt. Somers and Col. Richd Somers Batalion lasted one month.

The next service they performed together was in the Month of June 1776 at the same place under the same officers this service lasted one month and we were discharged.

The next service they performed together was in the Month of March 1778 under Capt. Saml Snell in Col. Robert Taylors Batalion, the Company paraded at Mays Landing and Marched from there to the Forks of LIttle Eggharbour River, from there to a place then called Clam Town, now Tuckerton in Burlington County, where we had a slight skirmish with the Tories and Reffugees, they were too strong for us and we were obliged to retreat. this service lasted one month, when we were discharged.

The next service, they performed together was in a Company commanded by the same Capt. Snell in Col. Somers Batalion. we Marched to Chestnut Neck where we joined Col. Proctor's Regiment of Artillery. We remained there about three weeks and then Marched to Somers Point where we built two small forts that
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were laid out by Col Proctor, this service lasted two months

The next service that they performed together was in what was called "The Eggharbour Guard" in a Company Commanded by Capt. Saml Snell in Col Taylors Regiment, Col. Somers, who formerly commanded this REgiment had gone to Philadelphia. This service commenced in the latter part of October. I think it was on the 23 of October 1778 that we entered the service and continued until October 1781. When we were discharged.

And this affirmant further saith that he remembers that the said James Steelman was out in the Month of December 1777 in a company commanded by Capt. John Scull in Col. Hillman's Regiment, he remembers this because Capt Scull's company relieved Capt. Rapes(?) Company in which last Company this deponent served, and this deponent remembers to have seen the said James Steelman in Capt. Scull's Company before he left Haddonfield or on the road home, is not certain which, and further this deponent saith not - 

Sworn and Subscribed 
October 15 1832 
David Somers
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The State of New Jersey Gloucester Co SS

On the fifteenth day of October 1832 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester personally appeared John Jeffreyes Senr - aged seventy five years and upwards, who being duly sworn according to law, saith that he has heard the foregoing affidavit of David Somers, read over and that he remembers that the said James Steelman performed all the services mentioned in that affidavit except the first on Brigantine Beach and the services in December 1777 under Capt. John Scull, these services he does not remember but the other services he does remember because this deponent and the said James Steelman was out at the same times and places and performed the same services.

Sword and subscribed
Oct. 15 1832
Ephraim Millers 
John Jeffreyes

The State of New Jersey Gloucester Co SS

On the fifteenth day of October 1832 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester personally appeared Zephamiah Steelman aged about seventy two years; and William Beaston
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Beaston aged seventy six years, who being severally duly sworn according to law, upon the respective oath declare and say, that they are both of them well acquainted with James Steelman and knew him during the Revolutionary War. That they remember that the said James Steelman served in the said War in a compny commanded by Capt. Hohn Scull in Col Hillman's Regiment and that he was in an engagement at Spicers Bridge, not far from Philadelphia, in Gloucester County New Jersey because these deponents served in the same company at the time and were in the engagement with him and saw him there.

Sworn and subscribe
Oct 15th 1832
Ephraim Miller
His X Mark
ZephamiahSteelman
His X Mark
William Beaston

Gloucester SS I John C. Smallwood, Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that Ephraim Miller Esquire before whom the foregoing Affadavits appeared to have been taken was at the doing thereof One of the Judges of the said court of Common Pleas [obstructed] duly commissioned and affirmed, and that the signature of the said Judge thereto subscribed is genuine - 
Witness my hand and seal of office this 15th day of October 1832
Smallwood Clk
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I, Ephraim Miller, one fo the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester, do hereby certify that I am acquainted with David Somers, John Jeffreys Jenr(?) Zephaniah Steelman and William Beaston, who have subscribed + sworn to the preceeding affidavits which affidavits were made before me. They are all of them citizens of this country and persons of credibility and their affidavits are entitled to full faith and credit. Witness my hand January 8th 1833.
Ephraim Miller

Gloucester County SS: On the twenty first day of January A.D. 1833 before me, Ephraim Miller, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County, personally appeared James Steelman, the same person who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, who being duly sworn according to law saith that the whole length of time that he served in the Revolutionary War and whilst in a Regular Organized Corps was four years during which time he served as a private, with the following companies to wit -
Three months in a company commanded by Capt. John Somers in Col Somers batallion
Two months in a company commanded by Capt. Aaron Ashbridge; during this period I was engaged in attending the sick in the Hospital at Trenton, I did Military duty also, It was at the time that Gen. Washington's army was at Trenton.
One month in a Company commanded by Capt. Mcdade(?) under Hillman's Regt.
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also, It was at the time the Gen. Washington's army was at Trenton.
One month in the company commanded by Capt. Mcdade(?) under Hillman's Regt.
One month in a company commanded by Capt. Sam Snell under Taylor's Regt.
One month in a company commanded by Capt. Badcock in Col Somers Regt.
Two month in a company commanded by Capt. Samuel Snell in Col Somers Regt.
Two months under Capt. Robert Snell in Col. Richard Somers Regiment during this service, Capt. Snell was killed by one of his own men who was standing Guard, Capt. Snell having refused to give the Countersign.
In my declaration I mentioned serving but one month under Capt. Robert Snell, the service of the other months I had forgotten until after my declaration was made out - And three years in what was called "The Eggharbour Guard," and for which service of four years this deponent claims a pension.
Sworn + subscribed the date above before
Ephraim Miller
His X mark
James Steelman

Gloucester County SS
I, John Smallwood, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do certify that Ephraim Miller, Esquire, before whom the above affidavit was made is one of the Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas, duly commissioned + affirmed and the Signature of said Judge is Genuine. Witness my hand [illegible] Jany 21, 1833
Smallwood Clk
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32 S
New York. Mar. 4/32

Steelman, James

D.T. Browne
inquiries
(one enclosure/
Respectfully, a friend(?) to the Commissioner of Pensions, [illegible] or(?) in-formed
L. Thomas (?)
[illegible]
Alp. office
Mar. 8/52
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Adjutant General
U.S. Army

Sir,

Rebecca Frances, the only daughter and joint heir at law of her father James Steelman, late a Pensioner on Trenton, New Jersey list, who died about September 1834 asks for information in relation to the service of her father She is the only heir with the exception of one brother.

Your consideration will much oblige.

Your Most {illegible]
D.T. Browne
42 Crosby Street
New York

4 March, 1852
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New Jersey Roll, Act of June 1832
James Steelman, for $80 per annum,
To what time last paid
to 4th March 1833
B.L.B.
Pension Officer Cole
Maj. Bogard(?)
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{Left Column}

INVALID
File No. 3985
(vertically written) Revolary

James Steelman
Priv. Rev. War
Act June 7th 1832
Index: Vol. A, Page 356

[Arrangement of 1870]

{Right column}

C.E. Godfrey
exd(?) papers
Mar. 26 96
JMs(?)