Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5653, for Thomas Keepper, New Jersey
Page 1

Service 
New Jersey
Keepper, Thomas
Number S.5653
carded
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5994
New Jersey
Thomas Keepper
of the State of New Jersey who was a
Private in the company commanded
by Captain Rope of the Reg commanded
by Col Newkirk in the New Jersey line for
Private 6 mo 23 days $22.52
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 22 Dollars 52 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Feb
1833 and sent to Hon R. M. Cooper
House Reps
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1833 - $33.78
Semi=ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833 11.26
$45.04

Revolutionary Claims
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk
Book D
Vol. 4
Page 158
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Thomas Keeper
[illegible] 2 Jan. 1833
Obj. 5.16
Hon. R M Cooper
Ho. of Reps.
Admitted
Private
6 mo 23 d
$22.52
Page 190
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Thomas Keeper County
of Gloucester in the State of New Jersey
(Act 7th June 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 80 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
In 1777 Jany - April
1 July -
1778 Feb &. March
June-

Duration of Service.
Years. Months. Days.
2 month

Rank.
As a
private
[illegible]

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen.
Capt. Christopher Rope uncle of applicant
Capt Haywood
Linus Sithes Col Newkirk
Capt Peter Dubois


5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Pittsgrove, County of Salem

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence
No clergyman & no reason given for the omission

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Defective - time of service not definitely at
Papers not attached

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
Vinal Luce Examining Clerk
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Thomas Keeper
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State of New Jersey
Gloucester County ss
On this fifteenth day of October AD 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas
of the County of Gloucester, now sitting,
Thomas Keeper a resident of the said
County aged eighty years nearly who being first duly sworn according to law, upon his solemn 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, that is to say,

In the month of January 1777 he entered in a Company commanded by Capt Christopher Rope, the Capt Rope is an uncle of applicant the Company paraded at Haddonfield from which place we marched through Morristown, Mount Holly Trenton and other places to Somerset Court House from there to Millstone
the main army had gone on before we arrived, we remained in this service two months and were discharged in the month of March 1777, whilst at Millstone I remember very well guarding on the Bridge which crosses the stream of that name which is a Branch of
the River Raritan, I believe; He
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He next entered in a Company
Commanded by Capt Heywood of the
County of Salem, this was in the Month of April 1777, the Company Marched to Haddonfield, where we waited the arrival of other Companies several companies arrived, but they being small the companies commanded by Capt Heywood, Capt Vincent and Captain Beesley formed themselves
into one Company and Volunteered to serve till the first day of July the next under Capt Beesley. The other Captains and a few of the men  went home. W then marched to then Morristown to headquarters where we remained few days and then marched to a place Called Pompton Plains where we
quartered till about the first of June then returned to Morristown then went to Baskingridge to Keep Guard where we were dismissed, and returned to our homes-- I do not know who commanded here we seldom saw any field officers they had gone with the
Main army.  Major Anthony Sharp was at Pompton Plains whilst we were there, and we saw officers when we were at Morristown, but I did not know them.  There were no other Companies with us from West Jersey at this time and no other Company but our at Pompton
Plains, we acted there as a guard
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He next entered in a Company commanded by Luit Sithens in Colonel Newkirks Regiment, We paraded at Thompson Bridge and lay there at the time of the Massacre of our Troops by the Refugees at Quinton Bridge, we marched from there to a place called the Cross Roads now Roadstown, there we joined
Col Green's Regiment, we remained there a few days and returned home, during this tour Col Greens men took a number of prisoners, they were Marines and Reffugees, our 
Company was not in the skirmish this service was performed during the latter part of February and the Month of March 1778-

He next entered in a Company Commanded by Capt Peter Dubois this was in the month of June 1778 just about the time and a little after the British left Philadelphia.  We Marched to Haddonfield then the Morristown Mount Holly Slab Town, Allentown and then to Monmouth Court House, and arrived there the day after the
Battle.  We remained there but a few hours, we then marched to Englishtown where we were
quartered until discharged from there our Company marched home and I was not out
again during the war
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Excepting for a few days at a time when
an alarm might have been created by the Refugees or enemy and when there was no Regular organized corps - I was never in an
engagement. The whole time that I served during the war, and when in regular organized corps was about Seven Months
I was born in Pittsgrove in the County of Salem New Jersey on the fifth day of June, 1753, I have a copy of the record of my age taken from my fathers Bible, where the bible
is, I do not know, I was living in Pittsgrove Salem County, when called into service, and lived there ever since until within a few years
past, when I moved into Gloucester County where I now live. I was sometimes Drafted and sometimes entered as a volunteer. Col Green
was with the troops at Cross Roads. Major Anthony Sharp was with the troops at Pompton Plains, and we saw a great many officers at
Morristown, but I did not know any of them.  Col Greens Regiment was at the Cross Roads immediately after the Massacre of our troops by the Refugees
I never received a written discharge
I know John Cade, James L Gibbs Esquire, Moses Crane Esquire
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Jonathan Richman Esq. Charles Elwell Esquires and many other in my neighbourhood, and this deponent further saith that he has documentary evidence, and that he knows of
no persons whose Testimony he can procure other than that of Joseph Johnson hereto annexed
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or Annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the
Pension Roll of the Agency of any State
Thomas Keepper

Sworn & subscribed
the date above before
Ephraim Miller

We John Cade and James L Gibbs Esquire
residing in the County of Gloucester in the
State of New Jersey do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thomas Keepers who has subscribed and from to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty years of age nearly, 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
John Cade
James L Gibbs
Sworn and subscribed
this 15th day of October 1832
in open Court
Ephraim Miller
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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 John
Cade and James L. Gibbs Esq. who have signed
the preceding certificate are resident in the
said County of Gloucester and are respectable citizens and that their statement is entitled to full
credit
Ephraim Miller

I, John C. Smallwood, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Gloucester, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Thomas Kepper, for a pension
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal
of Office this 15th day of October
1832
Smallwood Clk
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The State of New Jersey, Gloucester County
On the fifteenth day of October AD 1832 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said County, personally appeared John Cade of the said County, who alledging himself to be conscientiously [illegible] of taking an oath, and being duly affirmed according to law, saith that he is well acquainted with Thomas Keeper the foregoing Petitioner and has known him for nearly forty years past that this affirmant lived
a number of years a neighbour to the said ┃
Thomas, And this affirmant further saith that the said Thomas Keeper has always borne the character of a sober Industrious and honest man in his own neighbourhood and this affirmant
has no hesitation in saying that the statement of the said Thomas Keeper may be relied upon, and that he would say nothing but the truth according to the best of his knowledge  & recollection
John Cade
Affirmed & Subscribed
date above before

Ephraim Miller
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Gloucester County ss On the 7th day of February AD 1833
before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas of said County, personally appeared
Thomas Keeper the same person who has subscribed
and sworn to the foregoing declaration, who being
duly sworn according to law saith that by reason
of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot
swear positively, as to the 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 two months as a private in
Company Commanded by Capt Christopher Rape
For three months as a private part of the time under
Capt Haywood and part under Capt Beesley. For
One Month as a private in a company commanded
by Captain Peter Dubois and for three fourths of a
Month in a company commanded by Lieutenant
Sithens in this Company he served as a private and
for which service of six months and three fourths
of a month, he claims a pension
Thomas Keepper

Sworn Subscribed date
above before
William Porch

I John C Smallwood Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester, in the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that William Porch Esq before whom the above affidavit was made is one of the
Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of sd
County, duly commissioned, and sworn, and that the 
Signature of the said Judge thereto subscribed is
genuine - Witness my hand
and seal this seventh day of
February AD One thousand
eight hundred thirty three
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The State of New Jersey Gloucester ss
On the fifteenth day of October
AD 1832 before me the Subscriber one of the
Judges of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas of the County of Gloucester, personally
appeared, Joseph Johnson of the said
County, aged Seventy two years and
upwards, who being conscientiously
scrupulous of taking an oath, and
being duly affirmed according to law
Saith that he is well acquainted with
Thomas Keeper and knew him
well during the Revolutionary War
and that this affirmant further faith
that he knows that the said Thomas
Keeper served in the said War, as a
Militia man and that he was
in Capt Heywoods Company, and
Marched in that Co. to Haddonfield
and that he was in Capt Beesley
Co of Volunteers, and marched in that
Company to Morristown New Jersey
to headquarters from there to Pompton
Plains to Keep Guard, that he was
in Lieutenant Sithens Co at Thompsons
Bridge Salem Co New Jersey. That
he was in Capt Peter Dubois' Company
and Marched from Salem Co to the
County of Monmouth and arrived
there the day after the Battle, and ┃
from there Marched to Englishtown
where the company remained
some time and was discharged
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The service under Capt Heywood &
Beesley was from the month of April to the
month of July 1777. the service in
Capt Commandant Sithens Company
was in February & March 1778 in
Col Newkirks Regiment Salem Co
Militia the service in Capt Dubois Co
was in June 1778 at the time and
directly after the British army
left Philadelphia I cannot tell
in what Regiment this last service
or the service under Haywood &
Beesley was performed in,  I remember 
Major Sharp was with us when
we lay at Pompton Plains; I know
the foregoing services were performed
by Thomas Keeper, because I was
in the same companies with him
and performed duty at the same times
I also remember that at the time
mentioned by him Thomas Keeper in
his declaration as being out under
Capt Christopher Rape at Somerset
he was gone from home and out of
the neighbourhood and I heard at
the time that he was gone with
Capt Rope in the Militia, and I believe that he did go with him. I
believe so because I heard so at the
time and knew he was was gone
and because he and I lived in the same
neighborhood and I was very often
at his mother's house, where he lived
when at home and learned from her
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her that he was gone out with
his uncle the said Capt Rape
Joseph Johnson

Affirmed & subscribed
the date above before me 
Ephraim Miller

And I the said Ephraim Miller
do hereby certify that I am acquainted with
Joseph Johnson above named, he
resides in this neighbourhood he is a
man of good character for Truth and
veracity, and his affidavit is entitled
to full faith and credit
Ephraim Miller

I John C Smallwood Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas of the said County
of Gloucester, do hereby certify that Ephraim Miller Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavits of John Cade and
Joseph Johnson appear to have been
made is one of the Judges of the said
Court of Common Pleas, duly Commissioned and
affirmed, and that the signature of
said Judge thereto subscribed is genuine
Witness my hand and seal
of Office this fifteenth day
of October AD eighteen
hundred and thirty two
Smallwood Clk
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWB/eel

July 15, 1929

Mrs. Karl C. Sackman
25 South Pierson Road
Maplewood, New Jersey

Dear Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S. 5653, it appears that Thomas Keepper was
born June 5, 1753, at Pittsgrove, Salem County, New Jersey.
While residing at said place, he enlisted and served
with the New Jersey Troops as follows:
From in January, 1777, two months in Captain Christopher
Rape's (soldier's uncle) Company; from in April, 1777,
three months in Captains Haywood's and Beesley's Companies;
In February or March, 1778, three weeks under Lieutenant
Sithens, Colonel Newkirk's Regiment; from in June, 1778,
one month in Captain Peter Dubois' Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
October 15, 1832, at which time he was living in Gloucester
County, New Jersey.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
Very truly yours
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
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Bureau of Pensions
Can you give me any information
concerning Thomas Keepers
(Captain Josiah Crane's Co. Colonel
Silvanus Seeley's Eastern Battalion
Morris Co. N.J. Militia-Rev War)
Any dates would be appreciated.
I have a pension claim (Invalid
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No 5653) Was this pension granted? Do the records show the birth year? 
Thanking you, 
Yours truly 
Mrs. Karl C. Mildred M. Sackman
25 So Pierson Road
Maplewood N.J.

U. S. PENSION OFFICE
MAR 21 1929
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Revolutionary
5653
INVALID
File No. 5653
Thomas Keeper
Prvt Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Indes: - Vol M, Page 202
(Arrangement of 1870.)
1929 - July 15 [illegible]
Mrs. Karl C. Sackman [illegible]
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Philadelphia
Sept the 25th 1835
Mr Smallwood Pleas to pay the Power
John [illegible] The Sum of
Ten Dolars $10.00 for money owe me

Thomas Keepper
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dead
Thos Keepper

Payments to be made at Trenton New Jersey
by the [illegible] Trenton Bank Co
Agent for paying Pensioners
in the Agency of New Jersey

x5653

Recorded by Vinal Luce
Clerk, in Book D Vol. 4
page 158
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, Thomas Keepper of the State of New Jersey who
was a Private in the Army of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Twenty two dollars
52 cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this
20 day of February
one thousand eight hundred and thirty three

Examined and
Countersigned.
J L Edwards
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April 10. 1833 Paid to 4 Mar 1833
Oct 16. 1833 Paid to 4 Sept 1833
April 2. 1834 Paid to 4 Mar 1834
Oct 25, 1834 Paid to 4 Sept 1834
April 10 1835 paid to 4 Mar 1835
Sep 29 1835 - Paid to 4 Sep 1835

5994
Page 25

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Kees, Daniel
GRADE Private
LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9743
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED August 14, 1793 to Jasper Iserloan, 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.