Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,523, for Nicholas Stephens, New Jersey
Page 1

Service:  Continental (N.J.)

Stephens, Nicholas

Number: S 40523
Page 2

(Left side of paper)

???: cop'd see letter to ? P. Gaines Aug 21 1830

1889 July 19 SF Cary - history - Prier
(very faint written line vertically - hard to read)

(right side of paper -  edge of paper torn)

12.234    R
OHIO

NIcholas Stephens
of Hamilton County in the state of Ohio
who was was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Spencer on the New Jersey line, for the term of three years.

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month to commence on the 15th of June 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd of June 18--(torn off)
 and sent to Samuel F. Hunt Esq.
Cincinnati Ohio

Arrears to 4th of March 1819.             69.29
Semi-anl. all's ending 4 Sep 1819      48.00
8 Mo 16/30 4/31.                                $117.29

{Revolutionary claim
Act 18th March 1818}
Page 3

Date of death not  -?- AB
Page 4

160
Nicholas Stephens
12,234
23 June 1819

Sep 19
wounded Sept 1779

Samuel F. Hunt
Cincinnati, Ohio

Clerks -?- $2.50
Page 5

Hand written bottom of page transcribed:

I further declare, that I am by occupation a farmer, that I have a wife living, and nine children my children are all of such an age that they are capable go providing for themselves, I am of a weakly and sickly constitution and unable to maintain myself, by labour, I have lived for several years past with my children, who are of age, and who have materially contributed to my support, I in consequence of my bodily infirmities and extreme poverty start greatly in need of the assistance of my country, for support, and further I declare not.
Nicholas Stephens his X mark

This 29th day of August 1820 in Open Court
Dan'l Gano Clk.
Page 6

Schedule of property belonging to Nicholas Stephens a U. States pensioner on the Ohio agency made and sworn to and subscribed this 29th day of August 1820 viz:
3 Hogs, small size.                        6.00
4 old chairs                                    2.00
1 old table                                       1.00
1 new sugar kettle                         4.50
1 iron pot                                         1.00
1 old trunk                                         .75
1/2 doz cups and saucers             1.00
1/2 doz knives and forks                1.00 
1 -?-                                                  1.00
1 tea pot                                             .37 1/2
____________________________________
                                                       $18.12 1/2

Nicholas Stephens his X mark
Sworn to and subscribed this 29th day of August
1820 in Open Court
Dan'l Gano  Clk.

I Dan'l Gano Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton County in the State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule therein annexed are truly copied from the Record of the said Court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is eighteen dollars and twelve and a half cents.
In Testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 14th day of September 1820
Dan'l Gano Clerk
Page 7

Nicolas Stephens
Private 
Col. Spencer's (written in above: Forman's) Regiment
New Jersey Line

1777 - 3 years

Admitted

(Faint writing below)
"The seal of the court and certification of Clk is wanting"
Page 8

The State of Ohio
County of Hamilton

Personally came before me the undersigned one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid Nicholas Stephens residing in the county of Hamilton who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that some time in the month of March 1777 at Monmouth Court House in the State of New Jersey he enlisted in the Army off the United States  to serve for three years, or during the War, in Captain John Burrow's company of the 5th Regiment of the New Jersey Line commanded by Colonel Spencer as to it's being the fifth Regt. deponent is not certain, but is confident that the Regiment was commanded by Colonel Spencer and belonged to General  Maxwell's Brigade, that was in Capt. Burrows company about two years was then under the command of 1st. Lt. Gilbert Imlay, and continued under his immediate command for a considerable time, but that towards the close of his Service and at the time of his discharge Capt. as 1st. Lt. Kirkpatrick commanded the company, that this deponent served for about three years and nine months in Colonel Spencer's....
Page 9

(continued from previous page)

......Regiment and was discharged at Mendham in the State of New Jersey and that his discharge was signed by Colonel Spencer which he soon afterwards lost, and lastly this deponent deposits and saith that in consequence of bodily infirmities, he is unable to support himself by labour and that he has not sufficient property to do it without and that from their causes he absolutely stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.

Nicolas Stephens
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of June 1818
William Burke associate Judge   H.C. -?-

The State of Ohio Hamilton County
   I Paul Gano clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton County do hereby certify that William Burke Esq. before whom the above deposition was taken and whose certificate is annexed was at that time acting associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county due commissioned and sworn unto my office all of which appears in Records in my office.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Cincinnati this 14th day of May 1819.

Paul Gano Clk.
Page 10

State of Ohio
Hamilton County

   I William Burke one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that I have this day Examined the deposition hereinto annexed and the said Nicholas Stephens having been first duly sworn declared on oath that from Reduced Circumstances he stands in need of assistance from his Country for Support.  I am satisfied that he served at least nine months at one period of the Revolutionary War on Continental Establishment against the Common Enemy and I herewith enclose the vouchers which together with his examination and the examinations of others induced me to believe that he stands in need of Support from his Country.

William Burke
Associate Judge H.C. (O)

Cincinnati
15th June 1818
Page 11

December 23, 1931
BA-J/EEL

Dr. M.S. Gregory
708 Medical Arts Building
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter relative to Nicholas Stephans, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. 

The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.40523, based upon the military service of Nicholas Stephens in that war. 

Nicholas Stephens enlisted at Monmouth Court House, New Jersey, in March 1777, served as a private under Lieutenants Gilbert Imlay and Kirkpatrick and Captain John Burrowes, Colonel Spencer's New Jersey Regiment and was discharged in 1780, having served three years and nine months. 

He was allowed a pension on his application executed June 15, 1818, at which time he was residing in Hamilton County, Ohio. 

In 1820, he stated that he was then aged fifty-nine years, and that he had a wife and nine children, but did not give the names of wife nor children nor the date of his marriage and there are no further data as to his family. 

In 1830 he was still residing in Hamilton County, Ohio. 

It is not stated that he was living in Ulster County, New York, in 1790 or are there any places of residence given other than New Jersey and Ohio. 

The above is the history of the only soldier named Nicholas Stephens found on the Revolutionary War records of this office. 

Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator

(handwritten)  - Date of his death not on DB
Page 12

11/23/31

Pension Bureau
Washington D.C.

My dear Sirs,
   Do your Rev. War Records show a pension record of Nicholas Stevens (underlined) New York or Conn. and in that record does his family appear?  either Naomi or Sarah as a daughter - Sarah Stevens Gregory.
    Any information which you can give me will be appreciate.  He Nicholas Stevens was in Ulster County N.Y. in 1790s.
   Yours - M. S. Gregory
Page 13

Raymond A. Nelson
219 W. 28 St.
Los Angeles Cal.

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Record Divison

Briefed by JFB 12/3/21

Soldier     Nicholas Stephens
Service    Rev. andWar 1812
                    lived in VA.    


Remarks:  No 1812, Old War or Navy
No Rev. as above -
Page 14

Commissioner 
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
I have your letter of the 3rd of December in reply to mine of the 16th of November and received by you on the 21st [hand written note] (data on attached negative slip is what he gave re letter of Nov. 21. 1922)
of November in which you say "that the Revolutionary and 1812 War Records of the Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to pension having been claimed on account of the services of Nicholas Stephens described by you. You are requested to furnish any data in your possession relative to his alleged pension."
I have been awaiting communications from the State of New Jersey but upon receipt of these I now witch to give you the data in my possession. [hand written note] (this not given before)
Nicholas Stephens enlisted at Monmouth Court House, (Freehold, N.J.) as a Private in Captain John Burrows' Company, Col. Forman's Regiments, Continental Army, Feb. 27, 1777 for three years. He was at the battle of Monmouth and was later transferred to Coil. Spencers' Regiment. He was with Major General John Sullivan in his expedition against the Indians in 1779 [handwritten note] (under-scored not dated) and was wounded in September of that year . He was discharged May 1, 1780. He also  enlisted as Private in John Perrine's Company, Col. Frelinghuysen's Regiment of Infantry in the War of 1812.
I quote from the letter from the Adjutant Genera; of the State of New Jersey
"According to his claim for pensions, affidavit for which was taken in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1820, he was sixteen years of age at the time of his enlistment, (Revolutionary War) making his birth year about 1761. The original of the pension claim referred to in filed at the Bureau Pensions, Washington, D.C." } [handwritten note] this is correct

From above, I take it that there must be some record in your office of his pension. I would greatly appreciate it if you could tell me all you have in the way of information as to his record and his pension. Nicholas Stephens was my great great grandfather and I am interested in collecting all this data.
Thanking you in advance, I am 
Very respectfully,
Raymond A. Nelson
*address-
RAYMOND A. NELSON
219 WEST 28TH STREET
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
Page 15

(vertically on left side of paper)

1922 Jan 18 Hist. to Raymond A. Nelson (then initials)
1931 Dec 23 Hist to Dr. M. B. Gregory - EEL (initials)

(right side of paper)

40523
INVALID
Rev'y

File NO.  40,523
  Nicholas Stephens
  Pri Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
Index: - Vol. L / S (?), Page 487

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 16

(Hand written parts transcribed)

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment
   Mar 1777
Length of Service
   3 years 9 most.
Rank
   Private
Captain
   John Burrows / LT. Gilbert Imlay / Lt.       Kirkpatrick   
colonel
   Spencer
State
   NJ    

Battles engaged in,  none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment,    He enlisted       at Monmouth CH (Court House?) NJ
Date of application for pension,  June 15, 1818
    (illegible) was all.
Residence at date of application, Hamilton Co.       Ohio  
Age at application, 57

Remarks:  In 1820 he referred to his wife and 9 children but their names are not stated.
It is not stated on said claim that the soldier served in the War of 1812 or resided in VA as given in your inquiry of Nov. 16 1921.  Nor is it stated that he was in the battle of Monmouth or in the Settler and Indian Expedition or that he was wounded as stated in your letter of the 10th
-?-.
For letter to Mr.Nelson only - do not add again.

Commissioner
Page 17

Post Mark:  Cincinnati Aug 5

The Honorable J--. H. (last name unclear)
Secretary of War
Washington D.C.

(vertically on left side)

Pension Office     Public Business 
Aunt 11th (? - poss. 4th)1830
Page 18

Cincinnati, Ohio
August 4th 1830

Dear Sir,

  The old Revolutionary Soldier named Nicholas Stephens, a resident of this county, has recently employed me to procure from the War Department a copy of his vouchers filed with his declarations in 1819 when he was placed on the Pension Roll-
I regret much that I cannot procure those vouchers or any.....
Page 19

(continued from previous page)

....substitute for them without trespassing on our politeness and they are indispensable to the success of our application to the Executive of New Jersey for the amount due Mr. Stephens for his services in the Line of that State or Continental Establishment - I presume Sir, that I am sufficiently known at Washington, to obtain the credit of honest and correct motives for all of my applications, as an agent at any of the Public Offices - A Power of Attorney is usually attended with expense - and it surely cannot be.....
Page 20

(continued from previous page)

.....right to subject an old soldier to a tax in procuring through a public agent, the mere copy of his vouchers,  certified in the usual manner - when using that copy and other evidences (underlined) in the contemplated application, in N. Jersey, a Power of Att'y will be necessary because the agent empowered to receive the money or claim of (smudge / blot on paper) - ever character it may be,   (blot) invested with an important trust.
I therefore hope you will order this copy made out and sent on directed either to Mr. Stephens or myself - Both.....
Page 21

(continued from previous page)

.....of us reside in Hamilton County ,Ohio, and in this city. If you decline sending the requested copy, you will please state whether any & what evidence is in the War Department in relation to his term of enlistment  (ink blot) he then was in for 3 yrs or during the War?
I am respectfully H. P. Gaines
Page 22


(at top left):
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

(at top right):
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name - Stephans, Peter
Grade - Drummer
Line - New Hampshire 

Warrant Number - 3470 and 307-60-55
Acreage - 100
Issued - Mar. 25, 1790, to - not shown -

* 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.