Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 2447, Moses N Combs, Continental New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Continental
New Jersey

Combs, Moses N.

NUMBER
S 2447
===
CONTENTS
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5523
New Jersey
===
Moses N. Combs
of [blank] [lined out: in] the State of New Jersey
who was a Sargent [Sergeant] in the Comp'y commanded
by Captain Sawyer of the Rej [Regiment] commanded
by Col Lindsay in the N. Jersey
line for 1 year Artificer -- $72.00
1 do Sargent [Sergeant] -- 60.00
[sum] 132.00
===
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 132 Dollars [line out: Cents] per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of Feb.
1833 and sent to Hon. L. Condict
House Reps
===
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 -- $198.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833 -- 66.00
[sum] $264.00

{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk
Book D Vol. 4 Page 145
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Moses N. Combs
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DECLARATION, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS, PASSED JUNE 7, 1832.

Morris Common Pleas, August Special term, 1832.

STATE OF NEW-JERSEY,
County of Morris. } ss.

On this Eighteenth day of August, 1832, personally appeared, in open court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Moses N. Combs a resident of Randolph in the County of Morris and State of New-Jersey, aged seventy eight 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 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated:

He was born in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, on the 2nd of [lined out: June] January, 1754, & entered the service of the United States, in Captain Caleb Sayres' company of Grenadiers, early in the summer of 1776. Was marched from Newark to New York, & from thence to Long Island, where he was when the British fleet came into the Narrows & landed on Staten Island. His company remained on Long Island about 3 weeks, when he was dismissed & returned to Newark. He was very soon afterward, drafted to perform another monthly tour of Militia duty, in Captain Josiah Pierson's Company & stationed at Elizabeth town point, upon guard duty & protecting the inhabitants from being plundered by the enemy. General Livingston at first commanded this detachment, but being soon after chosen Governor, he was succeeded by Gen'l. Williamson. The Governor elect, on retiring from the command, gave a patriotic address, urging & encouraging the men to persevere in the good cause. Samuel Hayes acted as Adjutant on this tour. Having served out the month, he was discharged & went home.

He served another month at Elizabeth town point, on the same duty as before, & under command of the same officers, & soon after his discharge from the former tour. He was discharged verbally, & went home to Newark, a few days before General Washington retreated through New Jersey, before the British Army. He was soon called again into service, under Captain Josiah Pierson, & followed in the rear of the American Army, in what was then called the "mud rounds", thro' New Jersey, & returned home about the 1st of January 1777. He then enlisted for three months, under Capt Josiah Pierson, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Eleazar Lindsly of Morris County, & was discharged in April following. From April 1777, he served half the time in monthly tours of Militia duty, until April 1778. On the 1st May 1778, he enlisted in Capt. Jeremiah Bruen's company, in Col. Baldwin's Regiment of Artificers, for the period of one year, a Mr Little, & James Hedden being Lieutenants. In this

[in left margin, next to time periods:] 1 1 1 3 5 [sum] 11
Page 5

company & Regiment, which he considered as on Continental establishment, he remained & did duty to the 1st of May 1779, when he rec'd his discharge. He afterward performed several tours of duty, but has at this time, no distinct remembrance of the number nor of the Captains who commanded, until in the spring of 1780, when he was drafted to serve five months, in Major Gooche's battalion, in Captain Blanch's company. He [crossed out: is not certain, whether he] was drafted, [crossed out: or enlisted, or volunteered], in this 5 months service. He was stationed at New bridge, above Hackensack in Bergen County, & at Closter, in the same County. He served out the 5 months, & was discharged about the 1st of November 1780. He performed monthly duty in different companies after this, to the close of the war, & to the best of his remembrance as much as two thirds of the time doing that period. He was also often called out upon alarms, beside the regular & monthly calls, sometimes only for a few days, & at others for one, two, or three weeks. He cannot relate the order of his service under his several Captains, but he has performed duty under the following viz: Josiah Pierson, Robert Nichols, -- Reeves, Isaac Gillam, Elijah Squire, James Wheeler, Abraham Speer, -- Jerdman, -- Little, & Israel Hedden. He was a Sergeant in his company & performed Sergeants duty & rec'd Sergeant's pay. He was under command of various field officers, viz: Col. Cortland, Col. Seely, Col. Spencer, who had his horse shot under him at Springfield battle. He was under command of Generals, Livingston, (afterward Governor), Williamson, Winds, Dickinson & Wayne. Beside the monthly tours, & duty on alarms already mentioned, this deponent also performed several monthly tours of guard duty at Newark, protecting the inhabitants from foraging & marauding parties of the British & Refugees.

[in left margin by above paragraph, light:] bro't over 11 12 5 [sum] 26 mos as sergeant

He was engaged in an action at Springfield in the fall of 1776, in which several of our men were wounded. (Not the battle & burning [underlined] of Sp'd.) He was in two engagements or skirmishes, in the winter of 1777, one near Woodbridge, & the other at Short hills. "Was at the attack of the Block house of Bergen heights, with General Wayne's division; volunteered & joined his (Wayne's) artillery, & placed within 70 yards of the fort, with 4 pieces, 6 pounders each, & remained till "we had fired 110 rounds with each gun. I was with the last gun that retreated

[in left margin:] Comb's own words.
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"when but three men beside myself ^were left to manage the gun, the rest having all been killed or wounded, or employed in carrying off the wounded and dec'd. Of our 4 horses, one was killed & two wounded. Two men who served the cartridges were shot. I served the remainder, until the last was expended. I was in two other actions [inserted: both at Newark], viz: in the fall of 1780, the other in the summer before. In one of them I took a prisoner, & obtained his musket as my prize, which I sold for a hog, & 100 continental dollars, the 100 dollars being worth one silver dollar. After this, I was in two actions, one at Connecticut farms, & another at Elizabeth town point, in Captain Nathaniel Camp's company of Artillery. [end quote for which left margin says "Combs' own words."] He verily believes, he served faithfully as much as four years during the revolutionary war, for which he claims the bounty of his government.

He has a record of his age in his family bible, copied from a record kept by his father. He lived in Newark when called into service Has lived in Newark & in Morris County, all his days, now lives in Randolph, Morris County. He sometimes volunteered, but more frequently ^was drafted in Militia service & ordered out by officers when occasion required. When he entered the regular service, it was by enlistment. He was in Col. Baldwins Reg't of Artificers, knew Col. Ogden, Col. Cumming, Gen'l Dayton, Lord Stirling, Gen'l Lee; Gent Winds, Gen'l Livingston, Gen'l Williamson & Gen'l Heard. Col. Seely & Col. Frelinghuysen. Rec'd a written discharge from the corps of artificers, which he has lost or mislaid -- no other discharge except a verbal one. Never rec'd a Commission, but acted as Sergeant in his Militia tours. He refers to the certificate of Col. James Hedden hereunto annexed in support of his declaration & claim for a pension. He refers to Dr Lewis Condict [inserted: & Daniel Horton Esq'r] who have known him many years, in proof of his character, & of the general belief of his having served as a soldier of the revolution
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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, is only on that of the Agency of the State of New Jersey.

Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

[signed] Moses Combs
Stephen Vail

We Daniel Horton Esq'r & Lewis Condict residing in the County of Morris hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Moses N. Combs who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur
in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

Daniel Horton
Lewis Condict

William Brittin

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 Daniel Horton who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the Township of Chester in the County aforesaid, and that Lewis Condict who has also signed the same, is a resident in the Township of Morris in the County aforesaid and are credible persons, and that their statement is enitled to credit.

William Brittin
Stephen Vail

I David Day Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Moses N. Combs for a pension.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

David Day  Clk
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Moses N. Combs
No 4632
New Jersey
Susp. 7 Jan. 1833
Obj. 5.16.
Hon L. Condict
28. Jan'y 1833
Obj. 16
1 yr Artificer 72.00
1 " Sergeant Inf 60.00
[sum] 132.--

P. 197
P. 223

132
66
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BRIEF in the case of Moses N Combs of Randolph County
of Morris 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? 78

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[Table, 4 columns, 6 rows]
Period. |
Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days. |
Rank. As a | 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

Summer In 1776 | 1 [month] 21 [days] | Sargeant | Capts Sawyer, Pearson

 | 1 [month] | | Col Lindsay

 | 3 [months] | Genl Winds & Wayne

April 1777 to Apl 1778 | 6 [months] | 

May 1778 | 1 [year] | Artificer | Capt Bruen, Col Baldwin

Nov 1780 | out on monthly tours to the end of the war

5. In what battles was he engaged? Springfield, Bergen Heights

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Essex County, New Jersey

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living & traditionary

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct Except part [underlined] of his service not stated as required by the Regulations

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

1 years service in the Continental establishment } Jas Mclean Examining Clerk.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
May 15, 1926

Mrs. B. E. White
1019 Steuben St.,
Utica, New York

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 2447 it appears that Moses N. Combs was born January 2, 1754 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.

While a resident of Newark, New Jersey he enlisted early in the summer of 1776 and served at various times, amounting to about three years in all, as a sergeant in the New Jersey Troops under Captains Caleb Sayres, Josiah Pierson, Blanch, Robert Nichols, Recon, Isaac Gillam, Elijah Squire, James Wheeler, Abraham Speer, Jaraloman, Little, Israel Hedden, Nathaniel Camp, Major Goetschius, and Colonels Eleazer Lindsley, Cortland, Seeley, and Spencer. He also enlisted May 1, 1778 and served as sergeant in Captain Jeremiah Bruen's Company, Colonel Baldwin's Regiment of Artificers until discharged May 1, 1779. He was in the battles of Springfield, Woodbridge, Short
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Hills, Elizabethtown Point, Connecticut Farms, Bergen and two at Newark.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 18, 1832 while a resident of Randolph, Morris County, New Jersey.

It is not stated whether he was ever married.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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[left side]
1926. May 15. Hist. to Mrs. B. E. White. MMNF

[right side]
2447
Rev War
INVALID.
File No. 2447
Moses N. Combs
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index:-- Vol. A, Page 72
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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March 25, 1926.

Pension Bureau,
Washington D.C
Gentlemen:-

I'm desirous of joining the D.A.R. and I know my ancestor Moses Newell Combs fought in the Revolutionary War

I would like to know when and where he was married.

I thought his affidavit for pension might tell this, or could you tell me how I could find this information and what the cost would be.

Yours truly,
Mary R. White

Mrs. B. E. White,
1019 Steuben St.
Utica, N.Y.

[round stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE H MAR 29 1926
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Moses N. Combs.
No 4.632
Page 15

New Jersey Essex County ss: Personally appeared before me William Lee one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Essex afores'd Col. James Hedden to me personally known, who being duly sworn according to law on his Oath saith that he is well acquainted with Moses N. Combs formerly of Newark in the County of Essex aforesaid now residing in the County of Morris in the State aforesaid, and has known the said Moses N. Combs before and ever since the Revolutionary war that he knows that the said Moses N. Combs served during the said war, in militia of the State of New Jersey, in Capt Josiah Pierson's company ^and in the Regiment commanded by Colonel [lined out: Benjamin] Lindsay of Morris County [inserted: (which was formed after the 29th of November 1776.) from the 29th day of November AD. 1776, untill and in the month of April AD. 1777. And that he knows that the said Moses N. Combs served in Capt Jeremiah Bruen's Company of Artificers in the "regiment commanded by Col. Baldwin one year in 1778 and 1779, of which Company this deponent was then Lieutenant, and that he knows that the said Moses N. Combs served many monthly tours of duty in the Town of Newark as a guard &c the particulars of which this deponent does not at this ^time recollect, but is confident that he did said duty from this deponents knowledge of the said Moses N. Combs at the time and of the services then performed by him. The above is what this deponent knows and what this deponent verily believes and further he saith not

James Hedden

Sworn to and subscribed this thirteenth day of August AD. 1832, before me William Lee Justice of the Peace
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I hereby certify that Moses N Combs, the maker of the foregoing declaration is personally known to me and has been for the last thirty four years, and that his character during that time for probity and truth has ranked high in the estimation of his neighbors. I also certify that during the time afores'd he has enjoyed the reputation of having been engaged in the revolutionary contest in defence of the liberties of his country.

[signed] Silas Condit
Member of the House of Reps
U. S. from the State of N. J.
Aug't 22d 1832