Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 918, for Abraham Speer, New Jersey
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Speer, Abraham | S.918.
carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

New Jersey 9732
Abraham Speer
of Bergen in the State of New Jersey
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Lyon of the Regt. commanded
by Col ___________ in the _______ New Jersey
line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 80 Dollars -- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of June
1833 and sent to Peter Bently, Jersey City NJ
Arrears to 4th of March 1833 for $60.00
Semi-annual allowance ending  4 ? - 40.00
                                                               ====
                                                             $200.00
            Revolutionary Claim,
             Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J W Clagett, Clerk
Book 6   Volume 3   Page 130
Page 3

To the Questions put by the Judge:
Answer to First Question. Was Born at Preakness (sp.) in the County of Bergen and was born in the year 1753 in March.
Answer to Second Question. Has no record of his age
Answer to Third Question. He lived at a place called the Notch four miles from Acquackanonk (sp.) before the war and since that time he has lived at Bergen Point in the County of Bergen and at Jersey City where he now resides & has lived for Twenty three years.
Answer to Fourth Question. He sometimes volunteered sometimes was drafted.
Answer to Fifth Question. He cannot name any except those heretofore named with the addition of Col. Philip Van Cortland who was his col. at New York & White Plains in his first five months service.
Answer to Sixth Question. Never received a discharge in writing as he recollects of.
Answer to Seventh Question. That he is acquainted with doctor Josiah Hornblower and Cornelius Van Riper of Bergen.

State of New Jersey
Bergen County//

I, John Cassidy, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Bergen do certify that from personal observation as well as the declaration of the said Abraham Speer that he was not able to attend the County Court.

I consider him as unable to attend said Court from bodily infirmity and old age. I have therefore agreeably to the instructions of the War Department taken the aforesaid Declaration and put the question as is required of the Department by the Court and have subjoined their answers.
s/ John Cassedy
Page 4

State of New Jersey
Bergen County//

I, Abraham Westenell, Clerk of the County of Bergen and Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that John Cassidy before whom the within proceedings were had, was on the day of the date thereof one of the Judges of the said Court commissioned and sworn and duly authorized to take the same, and further that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge & verily believe that the signature "John Cassedy" subscribed to the Jurat of the within Declaration & to the within certificate is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Twelfth day of November A.D. 1832
s/ Abraham. Westervelt, Clerk
Page 5

Abraham Speer

Let the applicant state his residence.

This declaration is informed the particular time of entering & leaving the service should be stated, and especially that should be done, as it relates to the battles & service of the applicant. He should for that period of time, state as well the time of entering the service, and the names of his capt., col. & the Regiment Line to which he belonged. A blank form of declaration is herewith sent. Let this papers be returned with the names.
s/ Abraham Westervelt, Declaration Agent 
12 July 1821

Hackensack
Bergen County
New Jersey

Proof of service is required.
Page 6

District of New Jersey
Bergen County//

On the 12th day of June A.D. 1821, before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Bergen, personally appeared in open court being a Court of record, possessing a Seal, having a jurisdiction  unlimited in point of amount & proceeding according to the course of the
common law, Abraham Speer, aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818, and the first of May 1820 that he, the said Abraham Speer, entered the service & enlisted shortly after the commencement of the war in the Jersey line in the company commanded by Capt. John Connor under the command of General Maxfield; that he remained under Capt. Conner for the space of one year, that after the expiration of that year he entered the army in the Jersey line in the Company under Capt. Blanch, Commanded by Col. Ogden for six months, & after that expiration of the six months he again entered the service for five months in Capt. Lines Company in the Regiment commanded by Col. Cortland, & that he remained in the service during the whole war, that he was in several
skirmishes, and was at the battle of White Plains, and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services except as above stated, and I
do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen on the 18th March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my
property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war passed the 18th March 1818, and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed that my occupation is that of a shoemaker, that I am totally incapacitated from following my occupation on account of a tremor (sp.) in my limbs, that my family consists of myself & my wife aged Forty five years, who has but one arm; and that I rely on the charitable assistance of my country for support.
s/ Abraham Speer (X - his mark)

Sworn to in open Court & declared the 12th June 1821. 
s/ Peter Sip

Schedule referred to in the foregoing Deposition-
* A house standing on leased ground, valued at $100.00
Household furniture valued at 30.00
$130.00
s/ Abraham Speer (X - his mark)

Sworn to in open Court & declared the 12th June 1821. 
s/ Peter Sip

State of New Jersey
Bergen County//

I, Abraham Westervelt, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Bergen do hereby certify that the foregoing oath & the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that 
the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforementioned schedule is One Hundred and Thirty dollars.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court on this Twelfth day of June A.D. 1821.

* - Let the nature of this lease be particularly stated, how long it runs, the terms or be a lease for 99 years.
s/ Abraham Westervelt, Clerk of the Inferior Court
Page 7

Abraham Speer's Declaration
Page 8

District of New Jersey
Bergen County//

On the twenty fifth day of October A.D. 1821, before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Bergen, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record possessing a Seal having a Jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount & proceeding according to the course of the common law, Abraham Speer, resident in the County of Bergen aged Seventy one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the act of Congress of the 18th March 1818, and the first of May 1820 that he, the said Abraham Speer, entered the service in the year 1775, in the Jersey line in the company commanded by Captain Drummon that he remained under Captain Drummon one month, that in the same year he entered for five months under Capt. Abraham Lines under the command of Col. Cortland, that after the expiration of the five months he entered in the Company commanded by Capt. Blanch under Col. Cortland at Elizabeth Town in New Jersey in the year 1779, that he also served for one year in the company commanded by Capt. John Conner under the command of General Maxfield, and that he remained in the service during the whole war, that he was in several skirmishes & was at the Battle of White Plains, and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services except as above stated, and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled, "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary war," passed the 18th March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribing that my occupation is that of a shoemaker, that I am totally incapacitated  from following my occupation on account of a tremor (sp.) in my limbs; that my family consists of myself & my wife aged forty five years
who has but one arm, & that I look to the charitable assistance of my country for support.
s/ Abraham Speer (X - his mark)

Sworn to in open Court & declared the 25th Oct. 1821. 
s/ G.T. Howlen

Schedule referred to in the foregoing Deposition.
A house standing on leased ground being in width in front and rear 25 feet, & in depth 100 feet, subject to a ground rent of six Spanish milled dollars, yearly, which lease expires as soon as default is made in the payment of the rent, and runs as long as the rent is paid up.
Valued at - $100.00
Household furniture valued at 30.00.
$130.00
s/ Abraham Speer (X - his mark)

Sworn to in open Court and declared this 25th Oct. 1821
s/ G.T. Howlen

I, Abraham Westervelt, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas...
Page 9

...in and for the County of Bergen, New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said Court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is One Hundred and Thirty dollars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County on this Twenty fifth day of October A.D. 1821.

s/ Abraham Westervelt, Clerk of the Inferior Court
Page 10

New Jersey
Bergen County

Abraham Speer's application for a pension.

Militia services

20215

$1.00
Page 11

State of New Jersey
Bergen County//

On this thirtieth day of October in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two, personally appeared before me John Cassidy, Esquire, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Bergen, Abraham Speer of the town of Jersey in the Township of Bergen & County of Bergen & State of New Jersey, aged seventy nine years, who being by me 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. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated viz: that he first entered the army at Newark under the Captain Abraham Lyons & then proceeded to the State of New York and lay for some time in the City of New York, also went to a place called White Plains and was in an engagement which took place
there and that he was gone five months in that campaign and that said Lyons is now deceased and after that tour he went to Bellville and served under Captain Abraham Speer in the County Essex as a guard at different times & that he served as he thinks at one time six months without any salary and at
other times under said Captain Abraham Speer for six or seven months more but is not certain which, and after that he went for a term of nine months on a tour to Closter and back and laid (sp.) at Elizabeth Town for some time under General Maxfield, has forgotten the names of his other officers at that time, and did duty as occasion required, at other times in the Militia service in his native State and that he has no discharges or other vouches
to show his discharge from service and that he served altogether in the said war between two and three years but has no means [crossed out: to]
whatever to give the year or month that the aforesaid service was performed in and that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that [duplicate: that] his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.
s/ Abraham Speer (X - his mark)

Subscribed & sworn before me
this 30th day of October 1832.
s/ John Cassidy
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No. 20215
Abraham Speer, Bergen County
New Jersey

[crossed out: Returned due to]

Adm. 2 years
$80.00

The deposition of Capt. Abraham Speer who testifies
to the service of the above
named applicant is appended
to the papers, of G.N. Garrabrant No. 20.214.
s/ F.S. Evans
7th June 1835

Peter Bentley, Jersey City, New Jersey
Page 13

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
7th June 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.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Abraham Speer, Bergen County, New 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 through
which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
- | 5 | - | Private | Capt. Lyon | | White Plains | Marched to New York to White Plains | 79 years Newark, New Jersey | No evidence of any kind. The Judge certifies the applicant is unable to appear in Court - but gives no opinion on the applicant claim.
- | 6 | - | Private | Capt. Speer
- | about 6 or 7 | - | Private | Capt. Speer
- | 9 | - | Private | | Gen'l Maxfield

I am, respectfully your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2

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//

On this (blank) day of (blank) personally appeared (a) before 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 provision (sp.) 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 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 (sp.) 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 applicant 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. 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 application (sp.) of (blank) for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal (blank) 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...
Page 15

3
... 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?
6. (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 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 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 not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For (blank) year (blank) months, and  (blank) days, I served as a  (blank). For  (blank) months and  (blank) days, I served as a  (blank); 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 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 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 [i] 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.
Page 16

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525
S.918 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 1921

In reply to your request of (blank), received (blank) for a statement of the military history of Abraham Speer, 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.918

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | CAPTAIN/COLONEL. | STATE.
1775 | Served at various times in all 2 or 3 years. | Private | Drummond, Abraham Lyons, Blanch, John Connor, Abraham Speer | Philip Van Cortland, Ogden | N.J.
Battles engaged in, Wh(ite) Plains
Residence of soldier at enlistment, The Notch, 4 miles from Acquackanonk (sp.) N.J.
Date of application for pension, June 12, 1821. His certificate issued June 12, 1833.
Residence at date of application, Jersey City, Bergen Co. N.J.
Age at date of application, b(orn) Mar. 1753 in Preakness (sp.), Bergen Co. N.J.
Remarks: In 1821 his wife, name not stated was 45 yrs. old.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 17

Jersey City, N.J.
30 November

December 3
N.J.

20214
15

Honourable Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City, D.C.

Signed
Page 18

Jersey City, Nov 30th 1832

Dr Sir,

I am entrusted [crossed out: to] by the two applicants in the enclosed papers named, to send you the same for your consideration in their behalf for a pension under the late Law of Congress. I wish you would send the entire answer you can of the disposition made of said papers and address your Humble Servant.

s/ Peter Bentley
To Hon. Lewis Cass
Page 19

Abraham Speer

Applicant married, 71 yrs. old

Wife, only one arm. 45 yrs. old

32.28.045

Amt. Schedule $130 being in part a house leased at $6 per annum.: Lease expires with default of payment & continues while it is paid.

There are several enlistments mentioned in the declaration, but the only one which might entitle him to a pension is for "one year" under Gen'l Maxfield.

There was no Capt. Conner in the Jersey line, but a Capt. Conway commanded a Company in 1st Regiment which was commanded by Law Sterling, afterwards by Maxfield.

The rolls of the regiment has the name of Abraham Speer in Capt.
Page 20

...Morrison's Company enlisted 27 May 1778 for 9 months, & discharged the follow February.

ad 32-28045
Page 21

Revolution

INVALID.
File No. 918
Abraham Speer 
Priv(ate) N.J. Line
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index: - Vol. A, Page 353

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1921, Oct. 17 hist(ory) to Wm. J. Conkling, Esq.
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THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY
SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
REV. LYMAN WHITNEY ALLEN, D.D.

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
HARRY FRANK BREWER

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
HON. LOUIS F. DODD

SECRETARY
DAVID LAWRENCE PIERSON

TREASURER
EARLE ANDERSON MILLER

REGISTRAR
WILLIAM JOHNSON CONKLING

GENEALOGIST
SAMUEL COPP WORTHEN

HISTORIAN
REV. M.S. WATERS

CHAPLAIN
RT. REV. WILSON REIFF STEARLY, D.D.

CHANCELLOR
RAYMOND TOWNLEY PARROT

TRUSTEE OF NATIONAL SOCIETY
CHARLES SYMMES KIGGINS

Members of the Board of Managers
Sylvester H.M. Agens
Alfred William Alsbury
Bridgewater Meredith Arnold
Frederick B. Bassett
Elvord G. Chamberlin
Samuel C. Cowart
S. Carl Downs
William Simonson Eddy
J. Stewart Gibson
Frederick D. Hahn
Ray Henry Hart
H. Donald Holmes
Arthur C. Kenney
Archie H. Loomis
Charles M. Lum
Hon. Adrian Lyon
Gilbert D. Maxwell
Charles McDougall
Rev. Frank Austin Smith
Stanley O. Thompson
Willett Weeks
Thomas Wright Williams

PAST PRESIDENTS
John Leonard Merrill
Major W.I. Lincoln Adams
Chester Neville Jones
Carl Montaigne Vail

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Headquarters
44 HARRISON STREET, EAST ORANGE, N.J.
Telephone 3190

September 29, 1921.

Hon. Washington Gardner, Commissioner
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: -

Will you kindly furnish a certificate showing the military history of ABRAHAM SPEER, PRIVATE, NEW JERSEY MILITIA & CONTINENTAL ARMY, BERGEN CO.

In published list of pensioners his name appears under BERGEN COUNTY, N.J., as having been placed on list June 12, 1834.

The information is desired to prove the eligibility of an applicant to membership in this Society.

Very truly yours,
Wm. J. Conkling
Registrar N.J.S.A.R.

C/E