Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1049, for Samuel Leigh, New Jersey
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New Jersey
Leigh, Samuel
S. 1049
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New Jersey 9515
Samuel Leigh
of Hemington in the State of N. Jersey
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Gould of the Reg.t commanded 
by Col. Philip in the New Jersey
line for nine mos. 

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
At the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of May
1833 and sent to Charles L. Partles, Hemington, NJ
Arrears to the 4th of March. 33. 60--
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 33. 15.
$75.00
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Samuel Leigh
Pension Papers
22072
22088
22122
to be sent to Cha L Partles
Hemington, NJ
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Declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress
Passed June 7th 1832
State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County
			on this fifteenth day of October [inserted: 1832] personally appeared Samuel Leigh Before me Benj’n Egbert one of the Judges of the
Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County
of Hunterdon Aged 87 years, 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
from bodily infirmities cannot well get from home any distance at
this time cannot go to the Court House while the Court is sitting
he entered the Service of the united States in the year 1776 - was
warned out and marched to New York was there at the time the
British fleet arrived at the narrows Saw them fine in [indecipherable]
then disembark. Saw their boats and saw them land on Staten Island -
got [indecipherable] to go home in this tour was out at least 2 weeks does not
recollect his officers after that was out same year under Capt. Titus
does not recollect who was the Lieutenant or Ensign but Braily was
his major Philip was his Col. Houten was his Lieutenant and Col. Dickeson
was my Genl now under those officer - marched to Trenton as guard
[?] this tour was out one month. I was called out under Capt. Guild
marched to Elizabethtown this tour was out one month got leave
to come home. was at home about two weeks when he was again
called and had to go again. back to Elizabethtown officer this Depon
ent does not recolect this tour was out one month Except a 
few days he stayed home to procure some provisions for his Family
before he started as the call was sudden and unexpected was out
at least one month or more every year during the war - as a Militia
man and well recolects of being two months in one year, besides he
was out every year in times of Alarm Some times say ten days Some
times perhaps not so much I was out in the Service of the united
States as a Militia man in the Revolutionary war as much as nine
months or more has no perfect recolution of the exact time. has not
person in this part of the Cuntry that he can prove his Services by
all that Remains of his Fellow Soldiers is either dead or having
Moved away from this State except Elijah Blackwell who lives
in the County of Warren - Andrew Barten John Barten & David
Barten was all out with him at Different times who would by good
witnesses if Living. the last time this deponent heard from them they
was Living in the State of Kentucky which was five or six years ago
Cannot recolect distinctly any thing more particuless of his officers or
who they was at this time. was born in the year 1745 in the Township
of Hopewell in said County of Hunterdon, his age is recorded in his
Father old Family Bible which he now has in his House -
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was Living in the County of Somerset with his father when he was
called into Service. has Lived in the Township of Bethlehem where
he now Lives. was called into Service by being warned by the officers
of the Company was not a Substitute for any person. Remembers of
Being out under the following named officers - Col. Houten
Col. Philips Major Philips Major Brailey Captains Guild
Hunt & [Quick: name struck through]. Dickenson was Gen’l. This deponent further saith
he never [illegible] any written discharge. his Discharges was all verbil
as far as he recolects. was frequently impressed in the waggon service which is not innumerated in the nine months service -
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity,
except the present and I declare that my name is not on the
pension roll of any agency in any State [inserted: or in any] only on that of the agency
in the State of New Jersey -
Samuel Leigh

Sworn to and Subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Before me - Benj Egbert Judge

We Holloway W. Hunt clergyman residing
in the Township of Bethlehem County
of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey
and Jacob Anderson of the same —
hereby certify that we are well acquaint[ed]
with Samuel Leigh who has sub=
=scribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be eighty seven
years of age, that he is reputed and
believed inn the neighborhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of
the revolution and that we concur
in that opinion — Sworn and subscribed
this 15th of October A.D. 1832 -
Holloway W. Hunt -
Jacob Anderson

Before me
Benj Egbert Judge
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We, the subscriber Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Hunterdon, State of New Jersey, now sitting at Flemington in & for said County, do hereby certify and declare that after examining the within declarations of Samuel Leigh, the within named applicant, and the said Benjamin Egbert, one of the said Judges before whom the said declaration was made & sworn to having put to the applicant the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, we are of opinion that the said Samuel Leigh was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served as he states and the said Benjamin Egbert doth further certify that [crossed out: Holloway W. Hunt who has signed the foregoing certificates said] Samuel Leigh is unable to attend court 
through bodily infirmities. And the said Court doth further
certify that Holloway W. Hunt, who has signed the
preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the
Township of Bethlehem and that Jacob Anderson
who has also signed the same is a resident of the 
same township, is a credible person and that their
statement is entitled to credit. Done in open court October term 1832. 
s/ George Rea

s/ Jno. Thompson
s/ Joseph Johnston
s/ Benj(amin) Egbert

State of New Jersey 
Hunterdon County//

I, Isaac G. Farlee, clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Hunterdon, do hereby certify the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the said Court in the matter of the application...
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...of Samuel Leigh for a pension and I do hereby further certify that Benjamin Egbert, Esquire, before whom the within Declaration of Samuel Leigh & also the affidavit of Holloway W. Hunt & Jacob Johnson were taken, then was & now is one of the Judges of the said Court & that the signature "Benjamin Egbert"
to the same is his genuine signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Flemington in this Twenty fifth day of October in the year of our
Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two.
s/ Isaac G. Farlee, Clk.

Samuel Leigh, application.

To be sent to Charles Bartles, Esq., Flemington.
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12.

No. 22,122

Sam'l Leigh, Esq.

[crossed out: case reg.]

9515

Adm. for 9 months.

Chas. S. Bartles, Esq., Flemington, New Jersey
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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. Those 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 Samuel Leigh, Hunterdon 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 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.
Marched out 1776 | (blank) | [illegible] | Alleged 14x | Private | Capt. Gibson, Col. Philip, Major Braily, Lieut. Houten, Lieut. Dickerson, Capt. Gould | County of Somerset, State of New Jersey - aged 89 | Traditionary

Alleges he was out at least one month or more during the war, in every year & recalls of being two months in one year. He was out in the service nine months or more in all.

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 _____ 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. (illegible) This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. __________ A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, __________, of the Court of __________ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of
__________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the __________ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with __________, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person...
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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?
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 inquiry 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 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 in 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 that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: __ For ______ year ________ months, and ________ days, I served as a ________; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important , in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase, "about three or four months," is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that was the 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.

(Illegible) 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 (illegible) note [j] applies to continental troops only. 

[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration:
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...information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Samuel Leigh S.F. 1049.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. (CAPTAIN/COLONEL) | STATE.
1776 | served at various times 9 mos. | Pvt. | Titus, Guild & Hunt | Phillips & Houghton | N.J.

* - Was also in Wagon Service. No dates or offices stated.

Battles engaged in, (blank)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Somerset Co. N.J. with his father.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 13, 1832. Has [illegible]
Residence at date of application, Twp. of Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co., N.J.
Age at date of application, b. in 1745 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co., N.J.
Remarks: No data as to family.
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1911 Nov 28 Hist. to Freeman Leigh, V.L.M.
1913 July 16 Freeman Leigh has stated that soldier was married &c. 
1913 July 22 Freeman Leigh how to apply to auditor.
1914 Mar(ch) 17 Hist. to Mrs. R.B. Armstrong

Rev(olutionary) War

INVALID
File No. 1049
Samuel Leigh

Priv(ate) N.J. Line

Act: June 7, 1832

Index: - Vol. A, Page 219

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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March 9th 1914

Pension Department
Revolutionary War
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen: 

Kindly give we record of service of each of the following soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, State of New Jersey.:

1. Elijah Leigh
1st Battalion
Somerset, N.J.

2. John Leigh
2nd Regiment
Capt. Growandyke's Co.
Somerset, N.J.

3. Samuel Leigh
(no company given)

4. Isaac Dunn
Middlesex, N.J.
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Thanking you, I remain Very truly yours,
s/ Mrs. R.B. Armstrong
1673 72nd St.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
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171 E. High Street, Somerville, N.J.

November 22, 1911.

United States Pension Office,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

I have information to the effect that my great grandfather, Samuel Leigh, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and received an annual pension of $30 throughout his life.

I would thank you to verify this if possible, advising me as to the regiment he served with, the length of service, and any other items of interest that you may have at hand.

Hoping that you will not find this too much trouble.

I remain, Very truly yours,
s/ Freeman Leigh
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171 E. High St.,
Somerville, N.J.
July 11, 1913.

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,

Dear Sirs-

My great-grandfather, Samuel Leigh, was a Revolutionary pensioner. Please advise me if his wife, Amy Blackwell, survived him. If so, did she receive a
widow's pension. If she did, no doubt her date of birth, and death is on file with you. Also, her date of marriage to Samuel Leigh.

I desire this information to become a member of the S.A.R.

Hoping you can favor me with an early reply,

I remain, Respectfully yours,
s/ Freeman Leigh
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V.L.M.

Rev. War Section.

July 16, 1913.

Mr. Freeman Leigh,
171 East High Street,
Somerville, N.J.

Sir:

In reply to your letter dated the 11" and received the 12" instant, you are advised that in the claim of Samuel Leigh, Sur. File No. 1,049, it is not stated that he was ever married, nor is there any family data, as you were informed in a communication from this Bureau dated November 28, 1911.

Very respectfully,
s/ E.C. Tieman
Acting Commissioner.
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171 E. High St.,
Somerville, N.J.
July 18, 1913.

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions.

Dear Sirs:-

My great grandfather, Samuel Leigh, was a Revolutionary soldier, and was granted a pension of $30 per annum in 1832. Your records must show when his pension stopped because of his demise. I would like to know the date of his death so as to complete my application papers for admission to the N.J. Society S.A.R.

Hoping you can favor me with an early reply,

I remain, Very truly yours,
s/ Freeman Leigh
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V.L.M.

Rev. War Section.

July 22, 1913.

Mr. Freeman Leigh,
171 East High Street,
Somerville, N. J.

Sir:

In reply to your letter dated the 18" and received the 19" instant, in reference to the claim of Samuel Leigh, Sur. File No. 1,049, Rev. War, you are advised that in order to obtain the date of last payment of his pension, person to whom paid, and probable date of his death, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U.S. Treasury Department, citing the following data:

Samuel Leigh Certificate No. 9,515, issued May 23, 1833, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the New Jersey Agency.

Very respectfully,
s/ E.C. Tieman
Acting Commissioner.