Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,598, Peter Williamson, New Jersey
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(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Williamson, Peter | S.3,598

carded
CONTENTS
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New Jersey | 17,904
Peter Williamson of Hunterdon Co. in the State of New Jersey who was a Private & Fifer in the Co(mpany) commanded by Captain Williamson of Reg(iment) commanded by  Col. Nelson in the New Jersey line for 13 mos.:
8 d(itt)o Private......26.66 2/3
5 d(itt)o Fifer........18.66 1/3
                      ==========
No. 25,118.............45.00

Inscribed in the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 45 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of October 1833 and sent to P.J Clark, Flemington, N.J.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833..........112.50
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '34.....22.50
                                       ========
                                        $135.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer, Clerk.
Book E; Vol. Three; Page 135.

Date of death not on A.B.
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State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County//

On this Seventh day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty three, personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hunterdon aforesaid, now sitting Peter Williamson of the Township of Anwell and County of Hunterdon aforesaid, aged Sixty nine 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 Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he was born at Six Mile Run in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey on the Twenty fourth day of July One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty three. That his age is recorded in his father's family Bible, which he has in his possession. That he has no documentary evidence of his Revolutionary Services as herein after stated. That he received a written discharge from what was called the six months service but that he has lost the same. That he does not know of a witness living who can testify to his Revolutionary Services. That he has resided since the Revolutionary War in the Township of Amwell, where he now resides. That the Reverend Jacob Kirkpatrick is the Clergyman nearest the residence of this declarant. And that he, this declarant, is well known to the said Clergyman Nathan Price and to many other respectable citizens and residents of the Township of Amwell aforesaid who can testify to this declarant's reputation...
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...as a man of hath and veracity.

And this declarant sets forth the following as a true narrative of his services in the Revolutionary War. To wit.:

That he was enrolled as a volunteer when quite a boy at Six Mile Run aforesaid for five months in what was called The Flying Camp, or Minutemen, in the year 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Taylor of the regiment or battalion commanded by Major Powell.

That during this period he went to Long Island thence to New York and Staten Island. And thus from place-to-place till the Battle of Long Island on the 27th August 1776, in which he was engaged. That at the end of his five months service, he received a written discharge from Captain Taylor, which he has since lost and cannot now find.

That in January 1777, he went out as a substitute for his father to a place called the Sand Hills under Captain Addis and was there at the time of the Battle of Princeton. And that at this time he was out two weeks.

That in the May following, he went out again as a substitute for his face under Captain William Williamson of the battalion commanded by Major John Vanemburgh and of the regiment commanded by Colonel John Neilson. That at this time he marched to Elizabeth Town where he remained one month and was discharged.

That after being at home about one month he went again as a substitute for his father...
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...upon a general alarm to Woodbridge, and was out at this time ten days.

That in the month of October following, he marched to Newark and Elizabeth Town under Captain John Barkalow and that he was at the latter place at the surrender of Burgoyne. And that at this time he was out one month.

That in the month of June 1778, he was out one month under Captain Joakim Gulick and marched to Spotswood and Washington in the County of Middlesex aforesaid. That he was out, as the thinks and believes, about eight or ten days in the year 1779 upon a general alarm but that from failure of memory he is unable to state the particulars of this service.

That in October 1780 he was called out and entered a company commanded by Captain John Naglan and marched to a place called Hart's Point and remained there one month.

That in June 1781, he was again called out and entered a company commanded by Captain John Naglan and marched to Springfield where he was attached to the brigade commanded by General Heard and was in the battle at that place. And that this time he performed a service of one month.

That in the November following, he entered the company commanded by Captain Joakim Gulick of Colonel Wetherell's regiment and marched to Cranbury, where he remained one month. And that in the fall of 1782 he was again...
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...called out and entered a company commanded by Captain William Williamson of the regiment commanded by Colonel John Neilson and marched to Elizabeth Town where he remained one mouth.

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.
s/ Peter Williamson

Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court this 11th day of May 1833.
s/ Jacob J. Young, Judge

We, [crossed out: John] George Maxwell, a [crossed out: Clergyman] Freeholder residing in the Township of Amwell and Nathan Price, residing in Flemington in the said County of Hunterdon, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Williamson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be Sixty nine 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.
s/ G. Maxwell
s/ Nathan Price

Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Samuel Hill, Judge

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...
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7/246

July 30, 1936

BA-J/EEL
Jacob Williamson - W.2393
Peter Williamson - S.3598

Mr. George B. Blackwell
11140 South 53rd Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of several soldiers with the name Jacob Williamson, the record of Cornelius Williamson and that of Peter Williamson, all of New Jersey.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request for Revolutionary War data.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Cornelius Williamson. The record of a Jacob Williamson and a Peter Williamson are furnished you herein as found in the claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.

Your three cent stamp is enclosed.

Jacob Williamson
W.2393

The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Jacob Williamson are not shown.

While residing in Harbourtown, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, where he was apprenticed to one Jacob Decker, a blacksmith, Jacob Williamson enlisted in June, 1776, and served at various times on alarms on tours of one month each, about twelve months in all, as a private under Captains Henry Phillips, Ralph Guild, John Schenck, and David Johns (probably meant for David Jones), Colonels Isaac Smith and Frederick Frelinghuysen in the New Jersey Troops. Specific dates for these tours are not given. He was in the battle of Monmouth...
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...During the Revolution, Jacob Williamson moved to Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, where he was residing when he was allowed pension on his application executed August 18, 1832, aged seventy-two years. It was stated that he was at one time judge of the Court of Common Pleas for said Hunterdon County.

He died July 17 or 19 (both dates are given ), 1841, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

The soldier married June 22, 1813, in Somerset County, New Jersey, Mrs. Martha Suydam, widow of Charles Suydam. Her maiden name was Martha Baldwin and she was married to Charles Suydam on October 7, 1808, and Charles died November 21, 1812 in the sixty-third year of his age. The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Martha are not shown nor is it stated that soldier had been previously married.

Martha Williamson was allowed pension on account of the services of her husband, Jacob Williamson, on her application executed July 20, 1853, at which time she was aged seventy-six years and resided in Clover Hill, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

On March 30, 1855, Martha Williamson, then a resident of Somerset County, New Jersey, made application for the bounty land which was due on account of the services of her husband, Jacob Williamson, in the Revolutionary War. She was allowed one hundred sixty acres of bounty land on Warrant No. 26211 under the Act of March 3, 1855.

In order to obtain information in regard to the location of the land cited above, you should address The Commissioner of the General Land Office, Interior Department, this city, and furnish that official with the number of the warrant, the acreage and the act under which said warrant was issued.

The names of the following children of Jacob and Martha Williamson are shown:

Hannah Williamson...............born August 23, 1814.
Jacob Suydam Williamson.........born February 1, 1816, in 1857, the name Jacob S. Williamson appears as a witness for the signature of Martha Williamson.
Juity Vandervere Williamson.....born January 29, 1818...

- 2 -
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...In 1853, John S. Williamson was a Justice of the Peace and
Commissioner of Deeds for Hunterdon County, New Jersey: no relationship to the family was shown.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War widow, Martha Williamson, widow of Jacob Williamson (W.2393), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Martha Williamson, widow of Jacob Williamson, Certificate No. 2252, issued October 4, 1853, rate $40 per annum, commenced February 3, 1853, Act of February 3, 1853.

Peter Williamson
S.3598

Peter Williamson was born July 24, 1763, at Six Mile Run, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The names of his parents are not shown.

While residing at said Six Mile Run, Peter Williamson enlisted in 1776, served as a fifer in Captain Taylor's New Jersey Company under Major Powell in the Flying Camp, marched to Staten Island and Long Island, was in the battle of Long Island, and served five months: he enlisted in January, 1777 and served at various times on short tours (three of these tours as a substitute for his father) about eight months in all, as a private under Captains Addis, William Williamson (no relationship shown), John Barkalow, Joakin Gulick, John Waglum and John Hogeland, Colonels John Neilson and Wetherell and General Heard in the New Jersey Troops.

He was allowed pension on his application executed May 7, 1833, while residing in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

It is not stated that soldier was ever married.

In 1833, one Isaac Williamson, aged seventy-four years made affidavit in Middlesex County, New Jersey, that he had known the soldier, Peter Williamson, since boyhood but gave no relationship...

- 3 -

Notes:
I think this Major Powell was a Md. man, so i did not use State.
Probably Rob't Taylor.
Could not identify.
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...In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Peter Williamson (S.3598), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Peter Williamson, Certificate No. 17904, issued October 7, 1833, rate $45 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New Jersey Agency.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

- 4 -
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3598
Peter Williamson

May 7, 1833 - Amwell, N.J. - 69.
'76 Six Mile Run, N.J. - Capt. Taylor - Maj. Powell - 5 , 2 mos.
Bat(tle of) Long Is(land).
Jan. '77 - Capt. Addis - Col. (blank) - 2 weeks.
Bat(tle of) Princeton
May '77 - Capt. Wm. Williamson - Major Jno. Vanemburgh - Col. Jno. Neilson - 1, 2 mos.
Oct '77 - Capt. Jno. Barkalow - Col. (blank) - 1, 2 mos.
June '78 - Capt. Joakin Gulick - Col. (blank) - 1 mo.
Oct. '80 - Capt. Jno. Naglan - 1 mo.
Jun. '81 - Capt. Jno. Naglan - 1 mo.
May '81 - Gulick - Col. Wetherell - 1 mo.
'82 - Wm. Williamson - Col. Neilson - 1 mo.
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

On this Twentieth day of August A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty three, personally appeared before me, Josiah Ford, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, Isaac Williamson, aged Seventy four years, who being by me duly sworn according to law on his oath deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Peter Williamson, who has now made application for a pension and has been from boyhood. The said Peter [Williamson] served as a private during the Revolutionary War under Capt. William Williamson in the militia. And, he recollects to Elizabeth Town, he was called out, and frequently during the war, the said Peter [Williamson] was called out in the militia services.
s/ Isaac Williamson

Sworn & subscribed before me the day & year foresaid
s/ Jos. Ford, Judge Com. Pleas

I do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the aforesaid named Isaac Williamson and believe him to be a man of [crossed out: the] truth & veracity & that credit is due to his statements.
s/ Jos. Ford, Judge Com. Pleas

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

I, Nicholas Booraem, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, do hereby certify that Josiah Ford, before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken was at the time a Judge of said Court duly commissioned & sworn and that his signature thereto affixed is genuine.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal of Office this 20th day of August A.D. 1833.
s/ N. Booraem, Clerk
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Application of Peter Williamson.
25,118

P.J Clark, Agent
Flemington, N.J.
Page 14

...George Maxwell Esq., who have signed the same, is [crossed out: a Clergyman] a Freeholder resident in Flemington in Hunterdon Co. and that Nathan Price, who has signed the same, is a resident in the Village of Flemington and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the Court does further certify that it appears to them that the applicant cannot procure the attendance of a Clergyman without much trouble, inconvenience & expense. Done in Open Court the day & year aforesaid.
s/ Samuel Hill

I, Isaac G. Farlee, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Hunterdon, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Williamson for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this Thirteenth day of May A.D. 1833.
s/ Farlee, Clk.

State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County//

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, one of the [crossed out: Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas] Justices of the Peace in & for said County [duplicate: of said County] of Hunterdon, Peter Williamson, who has made the foregoing declaration, who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that, by reason of old age & 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 period mentioned below & in the following grades. For 5 months as Fifer in what was called The Flying Camp and for at least 8 months as a private in the militia as detailed above, and for this service he claims a pension. He went when quite a youth in the 5 months service as above stated, with his fife, under the officers above mentioned and performed duty throughout the said term. He recollects that Gideon Van Camp was the oldest of the fifers who had charge of the rest but he was subordinate to Major Powell, who was a fifer himself, and often instructed them. That when this tour expired, he quit fifing, finding he could not stand it. That his constitution would not permit it. And that his other services were performed as a militiaman. That at this time he was considered stout [crossed out: or a private] as a private for his age and he recollects attracting the attention of Col. Nelson [Neilson] on his first trip, who spoke in terms of commendation of his ability & willingness for duty at such an age...
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...That he has performed other services than he has detailed but cannot now recollect sufficiently well the details. That his mother was a very sickly woman (who afterwards died of consumption) and was unwilling that his father should leave her. Therefore, he acted as his father's substitute.
s/ Peter Williamson

Sworn & subscribed this 22nd of August A.D. 1833 before.
s/ Elnathan Moore, Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County//

I, Isaac G. Farlee, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Hunterdon, do hereby certify that Elnathan Moore, before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken, then was & now is one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned & sworn and that his signature thereto affixed is genuine.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this 23rd day of August A.D. 1833.
s/ Isaac G. Farlee, Clk.
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25,118
Peter Williamson

Adm(itted) 8 months, Private.......26.66
Fifer, 5 months....................18.33
                                  ======
                    [crossed out: $44.99]
                                  ======
                                  $45.00

Certificate to be sent to P.J. Clark, [crossed out: (illegible)] Flemington, N. Jersey.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Peter Williamson, which require further proof or explanation.

I.   Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? (blank)
II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? (blank)
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? (blank)
IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? (blank)
V.   *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No. See query 5.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? (blank)
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? (blank)
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? (blank)
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate ? (blank)
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? (blank)
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? (blank)
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? (blank)
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? (blank)
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? (blank)
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? (blank)
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? (blank)
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? (blank)
XVI. **Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? (blank)
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? (blank)

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* - QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For (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."
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3

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 shewn 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.

*QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

**QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.

In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

It appears that the applicant was but 12-years-of-age when he entered the service. He cannot be considered as having been capable of the performance of military duty at that age, nor was he liable to be called out for that purpose. [crossed out: For the] Proof of service is required to substantiate his claim.
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No. 3598.
INVALID.
Rev(olutionary) War
File No. 3598.
Peter Williamson
Pri(vate), Fifer, Rev(olutionary) War
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index: -; Vol. A; Page 417.
{Arrangement of 1870.}

Sep. 18, 1900 - Hist(ory sent) to Anna M. North, Trenton N.J.
Oct. 11, 1904 - Hist(ory sent) to Thos. Little, N.Y. City.
1936 July 30 - Hist(ory sent) to Geo. B. Blackwell; Letter in case Jacob Williamson, W.2393. E.L.
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THOMAS LITTLE.
30 BROAD STREET.
NEW YORK.

OLD WAR & NAVY FILES.
JUN, 18, 1904

New York, June 16, 1904.

The Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

I am told that Peter Williamson an old Revolutionary Pensioner died about 40 years ago near Johnstown, Licking County, Ohio.

Will you kindly furnish me with his military history &c. and should you have on file in support of his claim any bible or family record also send me a copy of the same, and oblige.

Yours truly,
s/ Thomas Little
30 Broad Street.
New York, N.Y.
Page 22

A.W.

Old War and Navy Division.

3-523.

Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D.C., Aug. 3, 1904

Sir,

In reply to your communication of a recent date, you are informed that this Bureau is unable to furnish a history of the service of any soldier of the Revolutionary war or of the war of 1812 unless he or his widow was a pensioner or an applicant for pension or bounty land; and that under the rules such
a history is furnished only to the soldier's descendants, and to them only when it is desired for historical or genealogical purposes.

The large number of inquiries made on this subject, and the length of time required to make a proper search of the records in each case, will not permit of information being given to any applicant concerning more than two soldiers.

In order that the soldier concerning whom you desire information may be identified, you are requested to furnish as much as possible of the data called for below.

Very respectfully,
s/ B.J. Ware, Commissioner

Mr. Thomas Little
30 Broad St.
New York, N.Y.

Full name of soldier, Peter Williamson.
Where did he enter service? In New Jersey, probably in Monmouth County.
Under what officers did he served? (blank)
Place of residence after service, Near Johnstown, Licking Co., Ohio.
Approximate date of death, About 1864.
Given name of widow, (blank)
Did either the soldier or his widow receive a pension? He received a pension.
Additional information, (blank)

Signature: (Mrs. or Miss to be prefixed if a lady signs.)
s/ Thomas Little

Post-office address, including street and number, town, county, and State:
30 Broad St.
New York, New York

14554b5m5-1900