Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23744, for Abraham Kelly, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE New Jersey
Kelly, Abraham
NUMBER S.23744

CONTENTS
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[left side of page] letter to J Kelly June 20 47.

[right side of page] No. 6589
Pittsburgh
=============
Abraham Kelly
of Greene Co. in the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Private in the company
commanded by Captain Baker of the Regt. commanded by Col. Jaques in the N. Jersey Militia [crossed out]: line
for 2 years Private $80.00
=============
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh
at the rate of 80 Dollars [crossed out]: Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=============
Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of March 1833 and sent to Hon. A. Stewart H. R
============= 
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832   |              120.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 March} | 
                                                   1833} | 40.00
                                                        ====== 
                                                        |  $160.00
                                                         ====== 

{Revolutionary Claim
{Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by [signature: D. Brown] Clerk
Book D.  Vol. [illegible] Page 176
Page 3

declaration
of
Abraham Kelly
19210
Page 4

Greene County           }
State of Pennsylvania } [illegible initials]

On this 10th day of September 1832
personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the Court of Common pleas for the County of Greene State of Pennsylvania now [illegible] Abraham Kelly a resident of Jefferson Township County / State aforesaid aged Eighty years the first 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 the 7th day of June 1832. That he entered the service of United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.
That he was born in Middlesex County
New Jersey in the year 1752 that he resided there until he entered the service which was as follows, that served in the spring of 1775 before the battle of Flatbush on Long Island.  He volunteered [crossed out: under] in
Captain Mathias Bakers Company of New Jersey Militia attached to Col Jaques Regt for one month, and was marched from Middlesex County to a place called "Bargain" on the north river, at which place he performed that months service
[crossed out: illegible] That soon after this in 1776 he again volunteered in Capt John Craigs Company, of Jaques Regt for two months, and that this two months service was
performed in Woodbridge Middlesex County,
Page 5

that his next service was as a volunteer under Capt Nathaniel Randolph for one month under the same (Col Jaquish) that this service was also performed in Woodbridge. That he was in a number of skirmishes during these several periods of service, that the British was then in New York and Long & Staten Islands,
That he again volunteered in Capton Asher Randolphs company for two months & performed this service in Woodbridge, under the same Col, That the whole of this six months was performed during the summer & fall of 1775. and all in the State of New Jersey,
That in the spring of 1777 he volunteered in Captain Mathew Freemans company of Jersey troops for three years, under the command of Col Jaquish - that this service was performed at Woodbridge [illegible], Westfield and at Monmouth. In June 1778 that he was
in the battle of Monmouth, that he was in a battle at [illegible], and engaged in most engagements at Elizabethtown. - that all his services were performed in the State of New Jersey. That he served as a volunteer from the spring of 1776 to 1780, [crossed out: about] at least three years & six months, that he never received a written discharge.  That he can prove his services by one man in his neighborhood, that he has no documentary
Evidence of his services, but that the gentlemen & [illegible] will certify as to his reputation.
Page 6

That he continued to reside in Middlesex County N. Jersey for several years after the war, that he then [illegible] to this country and has resided where he now lives in Greene County PA for about 30 years. That he is 80 years of age but has no record of his
He hereby [illegible] whatever to any [illegible] or [illegible] except the [illegible] age and believes that his name is not on the pension Rolls or agency of any state
[signature] Abraham [his mark] Kelly

Sworn and Subscribed
Sept 11th 1832
[signature] Wm T Hays [illegible]

Mr. George Litzenburg and Phineas Moore of the Greene County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Kelly of Greene County Pennsylvania who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. that we believe him to be eighty years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
[signature] Geo Litzenberg
[signature] Phineas Moore

Sworn & subscribed
Sept 11th 1832
[signature] Wm T Hays [illegible]
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department. That the within named applicant was a soldier of the revolution & served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them George Litzenberg & Phineas Moor who have signed the proceeding certificate are residents of Greene County PA and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.

Greene County 
Pennsylvania    ⎬

I William T Hays Prothonotary of the Court
of Common pleas for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding [crossed out: of] the said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Kelley for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal office this 20th day of November AD 1832
[signature] Wm T. Hays
Page 8

Greene County 
Personally was brought [crossed out: illegible]
before me by Abraham Kelly, William Kelly his
brother who states on oath that the Abraham Kelly lived in Woodbridge in East Jersey, Middlesex County during the revolutionary war and says he the [illegible] Abraham was out in the [illegible] of the Provinces against Great Britain three times in the Militia under Capt Baker & Capt Craig [illegible] Capt Freeman and was also under Captain [illegible] some of which Lost their lives in the Service & thinks to the best of his knowledge the said Abr Kelly was in the service of their Government of the now United States nearly if not altogether three years
During the time of what is now termed the revolutionary war and further states that it was the current report both of the officers of one of the men who was in battle of Monmouth that Abraham Kelly served in that Battle and that the report was his brother Abr. was in the [illegible] between Woodbridge & [crossed out] 
Sworn & Subscribed Before me this 8th Sept
1832
[signature] Abr Kelly [his mark] 
[signature: illegible]
Page 9

Pennsylvania
Greene County⎬ [illegible initials] I William T. Hays, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Greene do certify that William Kincaid Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been taken is and was at the time of [crossed out: the] taking the same an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the said County duly Commissioned, and full faith and credit are due to his official acts. And that I believe the signature purporting to be his is genuine.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Waynesburg the 27th day of Nov. A.D. 1832
[signature] Wm T. Hays

I hereby certify that the within-named deponent
and the applicant in whose case the affidavit
was taken, are persons of credibility, and that their statements are entitled to belief --
[signature] A. Stewart
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of Abraham Kelly a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([crossed out: or his widow's]) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S 23744

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.|
LENGTH OF SERVICE.|
RANK|
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.|
CAPTAIN.| COLONEL.|
STATE.|

[crossed out: Spg] 76|1 mo.| |Mathias Baker|
Jaquish| NJ.|
76|2 "| |John Craig [crossed out: s]|"| |
76|1 "| |Nathanial Randolph|"| |
76|2 "| |Asher Randolph|"| |
Spg 77| 3 yrs| |Mathew Freeman|"| |

Battles engaged in, Monmouth, Elizabethtown
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Middlesex Co NJ
Date of application for pension, Sept 11 1832
Residence at date of application, Jefferson Twp - Greene Co Pa
Age at date of application, [crossed out: 80] born Middlesex Co NJ 1752 Mar 1
Remarks: [illegible] allowed
Page 11

Abm Kelly 3 1/2 years

Admit
$80
Hon A. Stewart
[illegible]
Page 12

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Abraham Kelly which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? [handwritten] yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? [handwritten] yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? [handwritten] yes

V. * Has he mentioned 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?  [handwritten] yes
[handwritten] Some more definite detail of the tours [illegible] by the allegation of 3 years aggregate service is required

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? [handwritten] yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? [handwritten] yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? [handwritten] yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? [handwritten] yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? [handwritten] yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
[handwritten] No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
[handwritten] No

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
[handwritten] ------

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? 
[handwritten] No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 
[handwritten] Yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
[handwritten] Yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
[handwritten - blurry] No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
[handwritten] answered

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ____ year ________ months and _______ days, I served as a __________.  For __________ months and ______________ days, I served as a ____________ ;
and for such service I claim a pension."
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 [italicized] about three or four months
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

QUERE XIV. [italicized] Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.

QUERE XVI. [italicized] Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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,
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Jefferson Green County PA
May 29 1847

Dear Sirs
Abraham Kelly a pensioner died on the 22nd of December 1842 being 3 months & [blurry] 18 days pay due him
you will please to forward the proper papers so the pay can be got No. of Certificate 6589 he formerly drawed at Pittsburgh PA

Respectfully yours
Jos Kelly

JL Ewards Esqr
Commissioner of
Pensions
Page 16

[handwritten sideways] [illegible]

Jefferson PA
May 30th

[handwritten sideways] Abr Kelly 6589 Pa Pvt

Paid 3

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City DC
Page 17

[left side of page]
[handwritten] Revolution
23744
INVALID.
File No. 23744
Abraham Kelly
Pvt Rev War
---
Act: June 7 [illegible]
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 217
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side of page]
1905 Sept 22. Lillie V. Todd
Mapleton, Stark Co. Ohio
hist. of service. [initials] aw
Page 18

[left side of page]
[stamp]: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
RECEIVED
SEP 19 1905
P & M. DIVISION,
4814 | MISCLS.
- - -
September 18, 1905
Mapleton, Ohio.

Lillie V. Todd.
- - -
Requests information concerning Abraham
Kelly, a pensioner of the Revolutionary War.
- - - 
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR,
September 20, 1905.

Respectfully referred to the Commissioner of Pensions for reply to writer, and the latter so advised.

[signature] Jesse E Wilson
Assistant Secretary.

[right side of page]
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Office of the Commissioner,
Sept. 21, 1905.

Mr. Bryant,
Chief O. W. & N. Div.:
Please furnish the information called for if of
record and forward the same through this desk.

[stamp]
To Chf. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Div
Action _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  [handwritten: M]
SEP 21 1905

[stamp] U.S.
OLD WAR & NAVY
SEP 22 1905
FILES.
P. [illegible]

[stamp]
To [faded] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
Action _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  [handwritten: M]
SEP 21 105 
COMMISSIONER
Page 19

Mapleton O.  Sept 18 1905

Dept of Interior
Washington D.C.

Will you kindly give me all information possible in regard to Abraham Kelly of Green Co. Pa. who served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary War.
I am told he was wounded in battle (I think the battle of Monmouth) and drew a pension of $8.00 per month during the balance of his life.
I am a descendent of the above Abraham Kelly and wish to become a member of The National Society of the D.A.R. and have been directed by
them to write to you for information and will be thankful to you for same.
Yours very Truly
Lillie V Todd
(Stark Co.) Mapleton Ohio