Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 5980, for Courtland Kinsey, New Jersey
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(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Kinsey, Courtland| R.5980

CONTENTS
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No. 38,328

Courtland Kinsey,
New Jersey
June 7, 1832

Hon. Jas. Cooper
Senate U.S. 

Mr. John S. Pollard
Ridgway, N.J.
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

On this Twenty sixth day of February 1851 personally appeared, Courtland Kinsey, a resident of the Township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, aged Eighty seven 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 in the spring of the year 1780 he was enrolled and entered the service as a volunteer in a company of Minutemen commanded by Capt. Asher F. Randolph in a regiment commanded by Col. Moses Jaques. That he was at and served in the Battle of Springfield, which was fought on the 23rd day of June 1780. That on the evening of the day aforesaid he, this deponent, was detached to return a team to and carry the news of the battle to Woodbridge. That on his way there he was find upon by a party of British troops who lay in concealment near the road and from whom this deponent escaped with difficulty. That in the fall of the year 1781, this declarant with several others from Capt. Asher F. Randolph's company were detached to guard the persons and property of the people in the neighborhood of Crows Mill near the Raritan River and give an alarm whenever the British foraging parties appeared. That in the month of November, this declarant and his associates towards the close of the day, discovered a British Sloop, with a foraging party on board, coming up the Raritan River. That this declarant and his associates concealed themselves near the landing place and poured upon them a well directed fire, which caused great confusion on board the sloop, causing the crew to retreat immediately to Perth Amboy

That in the fall of the year 1782, a British foraging party succeeded in landing near Crows Mill and attempted to draw away a number of Milch Cows [a.k.a. Dairy Cows] belonging to Major Porter of that neighborhood. That this Declarant and his associates alarm the neighborhood and prevented the cows aforesaid from being carried on board the sloop...
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...That during the winter of 1780 & 1781, the sound between Staten Island and Woodbridge was completely frozen over and the in so strong that teams with heavy loads could cross it with safety. That the services of Capt. Randolph's company, to which this declarant belonged, was constantly required during said winter to guard and protect the inhabitants of Woodbridge from the marauding parties from Staten Island. That this declarant's father, John Kinsey, served as a volunteer in Capt. Asher T. Randolph's company from the commencement of the war in 1776 until the close of the same in 1783. That during the war aforesaid, the family of declarant's father, John Kinsey, was frequently insulted and plunder by the British troops and Tories. That this declarant entered the service aforesaid on the First of March 1780 and continued to serve until the First of December following, 5 months. Again on the First of April 1781 and continued to serve until the First of November following, 7 months. Again on the First of May 1782 and continued to serve until the First of January following, 8 months. Again on the First of March 1783 and continued to serve until the First of May following, 2 months. Making in all 26 months. In addition to which services this declarant was frequently directed with other boys of his age during the years 1776, '77, '78 & '79 to collect the cattle and the stock in the neighborhood of Staten Island Sound and drive them back to the Short Hills to prevent them falling into the hands of the British troops and Tories. That in this served the persons & employed, suffered many privations, being often obliged to spend whole nights in the open air and sleep if they could on the cold ground. For the services so rendered as aforesaid, this declarant claims a pension. He has no documentary evidence.
s/ Courtland Kinsey (X - his mark)

The words, "of Militia belonged" and, "during said winter" interlined [i.e. underlined]

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
s/ Edgar Freeman, Judge Pleas
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

Thomas Bloomfield, a resident of the Township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being first duly sworn according to law, on his oath saith that he is Ninety years of age and is a pensioner of the United States. That he is acquainted with Courtland Kinsey. That he has heard the declaration of the said Courtland Kinsey made for the purpose of obtaining a pension read and verily believes the statements therein made are true. That this deponent was intimately acquainted with John Kinsey, the father of the said declarant. That the said John Kinsey, the father, served from the commencement of the War of the Revolution in 1776 until the close of the same in 1783. That this deponent served with the said John Kinsey on many occasions during the Revolutionary War. That the said Courtland Kinsey, the declarant, from his age and the well known patriotism of his father's family must have performed
military service, as stated by him in his declaration aforesaid. That the laws of that day in the State of New Jersey required that all males capable of bearing arms should perform military duty. That the residence of the said Courtland Kinsey, the declarant, was near Crows Mills. That the British foraging parties frequently came that Landing for the purposes of plunder and that many skirmishes took place there during the last years of the War of the Revolution.
s/ Thomas Bloomfield (X - his mark)

The word "heard" interlined [i.e. underlined]
s/ Edgar Freeman

Subscribed this 26 day of Feb. 1851 & sworn to before me.
s/ Edgar Freeman, Judge Pleas
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

Joseph Sofield, a resident of the Township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being first duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he is Eighty eight years of age and a pensioner of of the United States. That he is intimately acquainted with Courtland Kinsey. That he has heard the declaration of the said Courtland Kinsey made for the purpose of obtaining a pension read and verily believes the statements therein made respecting said Kinsey's services to be true. That this deponent was well acquainted with John Kinsey, the father of the said Courtland Kinsey. [crossed out: That] That the said John Kinsey served under Capt. Asher F. Randolph, as deponent believes, from the commencement of the Revolutionary War in 1776 until the close of the same in 1783. That this deponent did not serve in the same company with the said Courtland Kinsey but on some occasions this deponent and the said Courtland Kinsey served together. That in the fall of the year 1782, as deponent believes, a British foraging party succeeded in landing at Crows Mills and attempted to drive away several Milch Cows [a.k.a. Dairy Cows] belonging to Major Porter. That on that occasion the said Courtland Kinsey was present and assisted to retake the cows aforesaid. That the residence of the said Courtland Kinsey's father was in the neighborhood of Crows Mills. That parties of the British troops and Tories frequently crossed the sound from Staten Island to Crows Mills aforesaid during the last four years of the war and many skirmishes took place there between those parties and detachments of the Woodbridge Militia. That the family of John Kinsey aforesaid was frequently
insulted and plundered by the British troops and Tories. This deponent further saith that the said Courtland Kinsey, the declarant aforesaid, is an upright and honorable man and like this deponent in indigent...
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...circumstances and further this deponent saith not.
s/ Joseph Sofield (X - his mark)

"1782" interlined [i.e. underlined]
s/ Edgar Freeman

Subscribed & sworn this 27th Feb. 1851 before me.
s/ Edgar Freeman, Judge of the Pleas in Middlesex County aforesaid
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

Nathaniel F. Randolph, of the Township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being first duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he is in the Seventy eighth year of his age. That he is the eldest son of Capt. Asher F. Randolph, deceased. That he is well acquainted with Courtland Kinsey. That he has heard the declaration of the said Courtland Kinsey for the purpose of obtaining a pension read and verily believes the facts therein
set forth are true. That he, this deponent, was well acquainted with John Kinsey, the father of the said Courtland Kinsey. That the said John Kinsey, according to deponent's father's statement to this deponent, served from the commencement to the close of the War of the Revolution. That this deponent, though but seven years of age in the year 1780, recollects perfectly well that it frequently required the assistance of all the men and boys in his father's neighborhood to protect the persons and property of the inhabitants living near Staten Island Sound and that every person capable must have rendered assistance on such occasions. That this deponent has been acquainted with the said Courtland Kinsey, the declarant aforesaid, from childhood and knows him to be an upright and honorable man. That this deponent well recollects that the said Courtland Kinsey served in his, deponent's father's, company in the years 1780, '81, '82 & '83 and that this deponent does not doubt that the said Courtland Kinsey performed the services specified in his declaration aforesaid.
s/ Nathaniel F. Randolph

The word, "Doubt."

Subscribed and sworn this 26th day of Feb. 1851 before me.
s/ Edgar Freeman, Judge of the Pleas
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

William B. Barton, of the Township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being first duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in the Township of Woodbridge. That he has been acquainted with Courtland Kinsey, the declarant, named in the foregoing declaration, for many years past. That he believes him to be Eighty seven years of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and I concur in this opinion.
s/ Wm. B. Barton

Sworn to and subscribed this 27th day of Feb. 1851 before me.
s/ Edgar Freeman, Judge Pleas

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, the Honorable Edgar Freeman, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex, who being first duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with Thomas Bloomfield, Joseph Sofield, Nathaniel Randolph and William B. Barron, witnesses whose hand certified in the foregoing case of Cortland Kinsey, an applicant for a pension, and that they are believed generally men of good character for honesty, integrity and [illegible] and are so esteemed in the neighborhood in which they live and that he has no doubt of his truth of those statements in the above behalf, and further the deponent saith not.
s/ Edgar Freeman

Sworn and subscribed this Twenty sixth day of February A.D. Eighteen Hundred an Fifty one before me.
s/ James McKelvey, Justice of the Peace

I certify that I am personally acquainted with Edgar Freemen, the person who sworn and subscribed this affidavit. That he is one of the Judges of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey and that he is a (man) of good character for truth & veracity & that full credit is due to his statements.
March 3, 1851
s/ John Van Dyke, Dep(uty) 4th Court Dist(rict) N. Jersey
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I certify that Courtland Kinsey, the declarant, before named by reason of bodily infirmity is not able to appear in court.
s/ Edgar Freeman

Woodbridge, 27th Feb. 1851

State of New Jersey 
Middlesex County//

I, Nicholas Booraem, Clerk of the County of Middlesex aforesaid do hereby certify that Edgar Freeman, Esquire, before whom the foregoing
declaration of Courtland Kinsey was made and the affidavits of Thomas Bloomfield, Joseph Sofield said Nathaniel F. Randolph were taken, was at the time of the making said declaration & taking said affidavits as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid, duly commission and sworn, and further that James McKelvey, Esquire, before whom taken the foregoing affidavits of Edgar Freeman was taken was at the time of their taking thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned, therein & their respective signatures to the Jurats 
of said declarations & affidavits are genuine. 

In Witness whereof I herein hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 28th February A.D. 1851.
s/ N. Booraem, Clerk
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No. 38,328
Courtland Kinsey,
New Jersey
[crossed out: (illegible)]

Let(ter to) Hon. James Cooper April 22/'52
N. Sargent Sep. 15/'53
F.F.C. Triplett 20th Dec. 1853
F.F.C. Triplett 10th Jan. 1854

5980
June 7, 1832
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James Cooper
James E. Heath Esquire
Com(missioner) of Pensions
Washington, Dis(trict of) Col(umbia)

Jan. 16, 1852
Appl(ication) of Courtland Kinsey

Triplett

org.

Address:
John S. Pollard
Ridgeway, N. Jersey
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[crossed out: Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.]

REJECTED

5980

P.O. 

Courtland [crossed out: King] Kinsey

Enlisted: (blank)
Discharged: (blank)
Application filed: (blank)

Alleges: (blank)
Re-enlisted: (blank)

Attorney: (blank)
P.O. (blank)
(blank) Recognized. (check mark) Contract.
(blank) Cert. of Dis. Searched for (blank)
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I.  Courtland Kinsey, application for pension, Jan. 1852, M. Cooper.
II. Levi Monday, application for pension, Jan. 1852, M. Cooper.

Ex. by J. Cooper, Jan. 1852
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Courtland Kinsey, N.J., Act '32 Susp(ended)
Please allow F.C. Triplett to examine above here.
s/ J.S. Pollard

Levi Mundey, N.J., Act '32 Susp(ended)
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Cortland Kinsey, N.J. Act 1832
I am satisfied he is now being.
s/ S.P.M.
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Affidavit of Levi Munday in the case of Courtland Kinsey, N.J.

N Sargent, Washington, D.C.
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

Levi Mundy, a resident of the Township of Piscataway in the County aforesaid, being first duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he is Ninety one years of age. That he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. That he served as a private in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Rob't Ross. That
he was well acquainted with Courtland Kinsey. That the said Kinsey served as a private in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Ashton F. Randolph. That the said companies commanded by Randolph and Ross often served together during the years 1780, '81, '82 & '83 and more particularly during the winter of 1780 when the sound between Staten Island and Woodbridge was frozen over and the ice so strong that cannon and other heavy loads were transported across the sound on the ice. That the winter of 1780 was called the hard winter on a/o [i.e. "account of"] of the severity of the cold. That during the winter aforesaid the company of Capts. Randolph & Ross were almost constantly employed in military service. That this deponent is certain that Courtland Kinsey did serve during and in the years specified above, but that he is not sure as to the length of the tours in each year. That from the best of his recollection, he is satisfied that Cortland Kinsey served in all, two full years, during the War of the Revolution.
s/ Levi Mundy (X - his mark)

Sworn and subscribed this 30th day of June 1853 before me, Alanson Newton, a Judge of the Pleas in and for the county aforesaid.
s/ In presence of Alanson Newton, Mrs. Sarah Stelle
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Hon. L.P. Waldo
Com(missioner of) Pensions

Courtland Kinsey, N.J., Act '32
C.M. Triplett
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Washington, Dec 15, 1853

Sir,

In the case of Cortland Kinsey, N.J., Act '32, besides his own declaration, and the affidavit of several old men was certified to be of the highest respectability showing his service under Capt. Ashton Fritz Randolph. The evidence of the service of Capt. Randolph is in your office. Levi Munday, a witness & claimant, has herewith been allowed for services performed, and I think there can be no other than Kinsey is entitled. I await an examination of his case.

Very respectfully &c.,
s/ F.F.C. Triplett
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Senate Chamber
Jan. 13, 1852

James E. Heath, Esq.
Com(missioner) of Pensions:

Sir:

Enclosed you will find the application of Courtland Kinsey, a revolutionary soldier praying for a pension. This application was placed in my hands in March last; but was mislaid, and not reopened until a day or two since.

You may communicate on the subject to John S. Pollard, Esq., now residing in Ridgeway, New Jersey, or with the subscriber.

Yours with great respect,
s/ James Cooper

P.S. My neglect [crossed out: has] prevented the filing of this paper at the proper time. May I beg you, as a favor, to have it examined promptly?
s/ J.C.