Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6253, for Joseph Tomkins, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE

New Jersey 

Tomkins, Joseph 
or Tompkins

NUMBER

S. 6253

Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

17.617

New Jersey
Joseph Tompkins
of (blank) in the State of NJ
who was a Pri in the com commanded by Captain (blank) of the Regt commanded by 
Col. Dayton in the  N J Militia 
14 mo 

Died 1st day of October 30
Inscribed on the Roll of NJ 
at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Augt 1833 and sent -  L Coucict
M.D. Morristown N.J- 

Arrears to the day of his death - 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 
certificate issued in favor of his widow $73.36

{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832} 
Recorded by E D Dullock Clerk 
Book E Vol 3 Page /33-

Joseph Tomkins 
Records corrected 
May 19, 1904 SS
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Declaration of Joseph Tompkins 
15737

paid
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State of New Jersey
Essex County SS

On this nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the court of Common Pleas for the County of Essex aforesaid now sitting Joseph Thompkins a resident of the Township of New Providence in the county. of Essex Aged Seventy Seven years who being first 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 Seventh day of June AD 1832. 

That he was born on the third day of February Seventeen hundred and fifty five at South Orange in the County of Essex aforesaid. The Family Bible which contains the original record of his age he now has in his possession.  

When he first entered the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War he resided in the Township of Orange in the County of Essex and has continued to reside in Said County ever Since- he served at different times in the Revolutionary War as a Volunteer and once Enlisted for three months in a Uniform Company Called Rangers under Captain Wheeler  he first Volunteered in Captain Isaac Smiths Company in Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six and served under them one month was in Long Island a part of the time and when the British Troops landed there, we returned to Elizabethtown where we remained until my time was out.  Then entered under Captain Isaac Gillan for on month at the expiration of which time entered under Captain Reeves for one month on the expiration of which time entered under Captain Elijah Squire for one month and at the expiration of said time Enlisted for Three months in the Company of Rangers under Captain James Wheeler, during the time we were at Elizabethtown point making Forts when the enemy came over and we had a pretty sharp Engagement with the (?) Coats at a place called Galloping Hill near Elizabethtown and again the next day at Second river and followed them the next day over the Passaic River, was out almost daily in one month Scouting
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in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven served again under Saptains Smith, Reeves, Gillam and Squire on months each and he thinks one month under Captain John Peck but cannot say to a certainty in the year Seventeen hundred Seventy eight volunteered under Captain Thomas Baldwin & served Two months, served also under Captains Elijah Squire this month Capts Joseph Sigler one month and Captain Reeves on month recollects of serving also monthly tours under Capt. Eliakin Little, Captain Thomas Williams Captain Robert Neal, Captain John Ogden, Captain John Edwards, Captain Jonathan Condit, Captain Samuel Herriman Captain Elias Balwin, Captain Robert Gould, Captain Stephen Chandler Captain Matthias Lyon was part of the time under Colonel Philip Van Courlland, & Major Samuel Hays and part of the time under Colonel  Matthias Ward.  Remembers well the Engagement of Connecticut Farms when the place was burnt he was there in Captain Elijah Squires Company, Colonel Elias Dayton Regiment of Regulars came up & kept possession of the hill all day in that engagement we had two men of our Company killed. was next at the Battle of Springfield under Captain Isaac Reeves after that served regularly every other month under the different officers above named, at the time of the Battle of Monmouth we marched for that place there under General Hurd and got as far as Woodbridge when we halted for the night, the next day heard the Enemy had retreated and returned - continued to do duty regularly Every two months until the close of the war remembers General Green, General Maxwell and Genl Sullivan well, he cannot recollect the particular months or years that he served under every particular officer but  is certain he served under all named the times stated -  does not recollect any Continental or Militia Regiments by name or number - never received a written discharge from Service -  Is personally acquainted with and refers to the following persons for a statement as to character and Tradition any evidence of Service in the Revolution - namely Abner Ball Esquire
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John N Baldwin and George Osier, who can all testify to his services -  he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the presents and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State or Territory in the United States 
Joseph Tomkins 

Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid 

Saml B Miller - Judge 

Mr Stephen Thompson a clergyman residing in the Township of Union and John Little of New Providence do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Thompkins who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him from our knowledge 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
Stephen Thompson
John Littell

Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Saml B Miller Judge

We John N Baldwin and George Price of the County of Essex do hereby certify that we are personally acquainted with Joseph Tompkins who has Subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, and that we have at different times known him to do duty at different times & under different officers during the War of the Revolution. 
John N Baldwin
George Price
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Saml B Miller Judge
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Personally appeared in open court Abner Batt who being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with the services of Joseph Tomkins in the Revolutionary War that the deponent belonged to the Same Company during the War and believes what he has stated in his declaration true and that he does believe that the said Joseph Tomkins served during the more than 2 years in actual service. 
Abner Ball 

Sworb & Subscribed this 18th day of Sept 1832 in open court 
A. Reynolds Judge
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories suscribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & Served as he states, And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Stephen Thompson Who has signed the preceding certificate isa a Clergyman resident in the township of Union in said county of Essex & that John Littell who has also signed the same is a resident in the township of New Providence in said County is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit - 

By order of the Court
Elias Audale Clerk 

J Elias Audale J Clerk of said Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Joseph Tompkins's for a Pension  In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this Twenty second day of October AD 1832
Elias Audale J Clerk
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State of New Jersey
Essex county Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Essex John Lyons Esq. of New Providence in the county of Essex and Jacob G Bavedwell the same place who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that they were personally acquainted with Joseph Tompkins late of New Providence deceased and have known him for upwards of twenty years last past, that he died at New Providence aforesaid about the first of October last past and left a Widow who is now living named Jerusha, that the said Joseph Tompkins deceased was the same person named in this declaration hereto annexed, that he was a man of irreproachable character in the neighborhood where he resided, having been a Ruleing Elder in his church for upwards of Twenty Years. He was generally respected and believed to have been a Soldier of the revolution, and from our own knowledge of him say his statements are justly entitled to full credits for (?) and veracity and further saith not. 

John Lyon
Jacob G Bavadwell 

Sworn & Subscribed before me this 6 day of June 1833. 

John (?) Justice of the Peace
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State of New Jersey 
Essex County 
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Essex Jerusha Tompkins aged 68 years who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she is the Widow of the Joseph Tompkins in the annexed declaration named and that her said husband Died on the 1st day of October last at New Providence in the county of Essex aforesaid, that his deponent was married to the said Joseph Tompkins in the year 1805. that they always from said time to the day of his decease resided in the County of Essex, has often heard her deceased husband say he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and has also heard him name over a number of Officers under whom he served but by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory cannot now remember them all, recollects the names of Captain Smith, Captain Wheeler, Captain Gillain, Captain Reeves, Captain Squire, Captains Peek Captains (?) Baldwin Captains Little Captain Neal Captain Gould Captains Chandler and Captains Lyons and further this deponent saith not. 
Jersusha Tomkins
Sworn and Subscribed before me this 6th day of June 1833
John (?) Justice of the Pease
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6253
Rev War
INVALID.

File No. 6253
Joseph Tompkins 
Privt Rev War 

Act: June 7 1832
Index: - Vol. M, Page 376
[Arrangement of 1870]
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State of New Jersey 
County of Essex 

I Elias Van Arsdale Junior Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in aforesaid County of Essex Do hereby certify That Samuel B. Miller Esq before whom the several affidavits within mentioned were made & taken, and Abraham Reynolds Esq. before whom the affidavit of Abner Ball annexed to the foregoing (attached by (?)) was made and taken, were, when the said affidavits were made & taken & still are Judges of said court residing in said county duly commissioned & sworn, and That the names "Saml B Miller" and "A Reynolds" subscribed to said affidavits are genuine & the respective handswriting of said Judges - 
I further certify That John I Plume Esq. before whom the several affidavits hereto annexed of John Lyon, Jacob G Broudwell & Jerusha Tomkins were made and taken, was when the same were made & taken a Justice of the Peace for said County residing therein duly commissioned & sworn - That the name "John I Plume" subscribed to said affidavits is the proper hand writing of said Justice - 

In Witness Thereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the Seal of said Court  at Newark in the County aforesaid the Twelfth day of June AD Eighteen hundred and thirty three (1833)
E Van Arsdale Jr Clerk
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15737 

(?) 
16 (?) private 
(?)666

Jerusha Tompkins 
widow 

L Condid
John J Plume (crossed out) 
New ark (crossed out)

New Jersey
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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office. 
June 28 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 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, (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, showing the Service of Joseph Tompkins 

Period when the service was rendered. 
Duration of the claimant's service. 
Years. Months. Days. 
Rank of the claimant. 
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. 
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 
Proof by which the declaration is supported. 

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, mucicians 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   ss.
                                         County of

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. [finger pointed towards this sentence] 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
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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 days 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
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore. these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your 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 bis 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 mouths 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 au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie 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 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 [j] 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 17

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Devision of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Tomkins, Nathaniel 
GRADE. Private 
LINE New York

WARRANT NUMBER  7875
ACREAGE.  100
ISSUED September 29, 179? to John Archer, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of  September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.  Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.