Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 656, Zachariah Hawkins, New Jersey
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Service 

Hawkins Zachariah 
or Hankins
“Hawkins “

Number 
656
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16059
New Jersey 
Zachariah Hawkins 

Of Monmouth Co in the State of New Jersey 
Who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Randolph in the New Jersey Militia

2 yrs Private  $80.00

Enrolled on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of March 1833
Sent to H D Polhemus Freehold NJ

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.   160.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 40.00. 
Total 200.00
 
Revolutionary claim act June 7 1832

Recorded by John T Sprague. Clerk
Book8 Vol. 4 page55
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County

On this thirty first day of July A.D. 1832
Personally appeared in open court, before
the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas of the County of Monmouth now
sitting, - Zachariah Hawkins, a resident of 
the Township of Freehold in the county
of Monmouth and State of New Jersey aged
Seventy Eight years, who being first duly
sworn according to Law, doth on his oaths
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 this United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, as 
That in the latter part of the year 1776 her performed his first monthly tour of duty under Captain Reuben Randolph of the Township of Stafford in the County and State aforesaid that his company was composed, one half of the Dover militia and one half of the Stafford militia, that they were marched to Amboy in the County of Middlesex and there remained one month on duty - That while stationed at Amboy he recollects hearing of the Battle of White Plains - That after he was discharged from his monthly tour at Amboy he went home to the Township of Dover - he then being a resident of that Township - That shortly after that, he went out upon his second monthly Tour of duty under Capt Cook of Dover Township - this was sometime in Dec of 1776 - That he marched under him and joined Washington's army in Pennsylvania
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some days before the Battle of Trenton - that he was engaged in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton - that after the Battles he marched with Washington's army to Morristown where they went into Winter quarters that he remained there until about the first of April. A Major Holmes of Monmouth County and a Col Randall of Philadelphia were his officers and he thinks Col Randall had the command of the militia at Trenton. Col Randall discharged him at Morristown. He started for home, crossed the Delaware at Coryells ferry, with 15 or 20 other [illegible] and [illegible] on the Pennsylvania side of the River to Philadelphia and [illegible] got home, - that their object in adopting this circuitous route was to avoid capture by the British, who at that time had possession of the country through which they would have been obliged to cross if they had taken the direct route - that after his return home, he performed one or two monthly tours of duty in the militia, and was on one of his monthly tours of duty at Monmouth Court House under Captain Michael Sweetman, when they received orders to march to Pennsylvania in the latter part of the year 1777 - That Captain Sweetman's company and some other companies of militia, Captain Burrow's company of Regulars and Huddy's Artillery all under the command of Col Homes and Gen David Forman marched from the Court House to Trenton and there crossed the Delaware into
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Pennsylvania - That they joined Washington's Army at or near Germantown the night before the Battle - That the Battle commenced early in the morning - That he was engaged therein with the militia; after the Battle they remained a few days with the Army - and came back to Trenton under Gen Forman, - That his company was discharged at Monmouth Court House and he went home - That he continued to do Militia duty every other month until the end of the war, and frequently doing duty in the intermediate months upon alarms and general calls - That on these monthly Tours of duty he was engaged in defending the shores, and in going after the British and [illegible] that he was engaged in many skirmishes with them, at various times, a minute detail of which he will not attempt to give - He was at the Battle of Monmouth June 28th 1778 - He then was in Captain Peter Wikoff's company of militia - Previous to the Battle they marched under Gen Forman to meet the British on their retreat from Phila. He thinks that near Mt Holly in Burlington County they fell in with the British and retreated before them to Crosswicks Creek in the same county where they cut down the Bridge and made a stand, a pretty severe skirmish ensued and number of men were killed upon both sides - on the march they were joined by detachments of the American Army - His company was with Morgan's Riflemen and
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were on the right flanks - Morgan's men and the militia companies he thinks formed a flanking party and were not engaged in the Battle, although they had some little skirmishing - That his services in the militia during the Revolution amounted to more than two years That he never took any written discharge and has no documentary evidence of his services, - That the officers under whom he served are all dead he believes - And he knows of no person living who can testify to his services except William Lloyd[by?] and Aaron Bonnett* from [illegible]
the day and year aforesaid
John Patterson Zachariah Hawkins X His Mark

*That he hereby relinquishes any claim for a pension or annuity except the present - declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any state
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No 5131
Zachariah Hawkins

 28 . 1832
4.5.16

2 yrs
$80

H. D. Polhemus
Freehold
N.J.
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BRIEF in the case of Zachariah Hawkins
of Monmouth Co. in the State of New Jersey
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
Inferior Ct. C. Pleas
If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
How old is he?
78 years
State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
In 1776
777

Duration of Service.
Months,
1
Days.
one or two monthly tours. Continued to do duty every other month till the end of the war.

Rank.
As a private
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
N.J. Militia
Capt. Randolph
Capt. Cook 
Col. Randall
Capt Sweetman
continued to do duty
every other month the
the end of the war
In what battles was he engaged?
Trenton, Princeton, Germantown, Monmouth
Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Dover, N.J. 

Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
one witness swears, generally, that he was in service
Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Defective, not properly attached
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
J M Suffield
Examining Clerk.
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March 18,1939

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mr. Charles H. Adare, Jr.
Keyport
New Jersey

BA-J / ady
Zachariah Hawkins or
Hankins, S. 656

Dear Sir :
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Zachariah Hankins, born near New Brunswick, Middlesex Country, New Jersey, probably, or near Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, was severely wounded in the battle of Princeton, was at Valley Forge, also in the battle of Monmouth, received a pension of $12.00 per month and lived to be ninety-six years of age.

Only one claim for pension has been found based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a soldier of New Jersey with name similar to the above. His record is on file under the name Zachariah Hawkins. Upon examination of the papers in his claim for pension (S. 656) his name is shown as Zachariah Hankins as written by the Clerk of the Court. His signature is by mark. only, therefore some confusion in the spelling of the surname, perhaps. His name was borne on the pension roll as Zachariah Hawkins. That record follows as found in the claim for pension cited above. No record has been found of the pension of $12.00 a month to which you refer. It may have been paid by the state from which he served.

Zachariah Hawkins or Hankins was born January 18, 1754, place, and the name of his parents are not shown.

In December 1776, while a resident of Dover Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, Zachariah Hawkins or Hankins enlisted and served at various times until some time in 1782, more than two years in all, as private under Captains Reuben Randolph, Cook, Michael Sweetman and Peter Wikoff, Colonels Randall and Holmes, in the New Jersey troops.
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He was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown, Monmouth and many severe skirmishes. He made no reference to having been wounded.

Zachariah Hawkins or Hankins was allowed pension on his application executed July 31, 1832, while a resident of Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

There are no family data on file.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of soldier's death, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and cite the following data: "Zachariah Hawkins, Certificate No. 11069, issued March 22, 1833, rate $80.00 per annum, commerced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New Jersey Agency".

Very truly yours

A. D. HITLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.

[Illegible]
(Mrs Heioson) paid this soldiers [illegible] in their records was Zachariah Hawkins by X. March-8, 1850 in Monmouth, N.J., where he has resided for 30 years and that his earn paying pension was made March. 11, 1850 to his ally; covering the period from Sept. 4, 1849 to March, 4, 1850

[illegible]
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Rev. War Section
September 13, 1933

Laura B. Stokes
9 Vought Ave.,
Freehold, New Jersey

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim S. 656 it appears
that Zachariah Hawkins of Hamblin was born January 18, 1754.

In December 1776, while a resident of Dover Township, Monmouth County 
New Jersey, Zachariah Hawkins enlisted and served at various times un-
til sometime in 1782, more than two years in all as private under 
Captains Reuben Randolph Cook, Michael
Sweetman and Peter Wikoff, Colonels Randall and Holmes, in the N.J. troops.

He was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown,
Monmouth and many severe skirmishes. He made no reference to having been wounded.

Z. Hawkins was allowed pension on his application execut-
ed July 31, 1838 while a resident of Freehold Township
Monmouth County, New Jersey. There are no family data
on file.

To (?)

Respectfully,

Date of death not available.

Acting Commissioner.
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Keyport, N.J.
March 11, 1939

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen,

I would appreciate you 
furnishing me with the pension record of my ancestor
ZACHARIAH HAWKINS, who served in the second regiment
Monmouth County Militia during the Revolutionary War.
I believe he was at Valley Forg, wounded at 
Princeton and fought at Monmouth, and received 
a twelve dollar monthly pension for life.

Thanking you in advance for any information that you can furnish me. I am
very truly yours.

Charles H. Adare Jr.

Charles H. Adare Jr.
Keyport, N.J.

Received March 14, 1939
Had been ans(wered)
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Veteran Administration
Washington DC
Keyport NJ
Feb 4th 1939

Will you be kind enough to furnish me with the pension record and war record of my ancestor Zachariah Hankins who served in the Revolution.

Zachariah Hankins was probably born near New Brunswick Middlesex Co. NJ or near Freehold NJ Monmouth County NJ. He participated in the battle of Valley Forge, Monmouth and Princeton being severely wounded in the battle [latter].  

He received twelve dollars monthly pension and lived to be ninety six years old. 

He had eight children. One was James. 

If you can furnish me with the records from the information which I have furnished you, it will be greatly appreciated. 

Yours Truly,
Charles H. Adare Jr. 
Keyport, NJ
Page 14

Rev War
Invalid
File No. 656
Zachariah Hawkins
Pno. N.J. Line

Act. June 7, 1882
Index: - Vol. [signed] Page 156
Arrangement of 1870
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1923 Sept. 13 - Hist(ory) to Mrs. Laura B. Stokes. Letter in 
al. S.597 of Aaron Bennett - MMHS
1939 Mar(ch) 18 Hist(ory) to Chas. H. Adare Jr. A.D.Y.
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Mrs. Hewson, General Account-
ing Office, reported by telephone,
March 17, 1939 that the last pay-
ment of pension of this soldier 
was made March 11, 1850 to his attorney
to cover period Sept. 4, 1849 - March 4, 
1850 -,  that March 8, 1850, the
soldier was living in Monmouth Co., 
N.J. where he had resided for Fifty-
years and prior to which he lived
in said county. His signature
was by X and in her papers
called by Hankins or Hawkind

MNT

(Leave in case.)
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I David H Ellis clerk of the Interior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that the annexed contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Zachariah Hankins for a pension - and that John Patterson Bay before whom the annexed affidavits were taken, was at the date thereof duly enrolled in my office are his true of the Peace and a hedge of the Court of Common Pleas in said County of Monmouth, duly commissioned and sworn into office and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such. And further that I am acquainted with the said John Patterson's handwriting and hereby believe his name subscribed to said affidavits to be his own proper handwriting and signatures. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Freehold this 29th day of December in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five. 

D H Ellis [ ]
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Monmouth, N.J. 
Zachariah Hawkin's 
Declaration to
under act of June
1832  - for a pen-
sion

No. 5131
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County

Personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth [redacted] residing in the County of Monmouth who being sworn according to law deposeth and sayth that he has known Known Zachariah Hankins for 60 years attesting that he has seen the said Hankins out with the Mr. [ ] of Monmouth County in the performance of Monthly tours of duty and also upon a[ ] and funferal calls during the Revolutionary War - that deponent often served in the same company of militia with the said Hankins that they cannot pretend to say how long the said Hankins served in the militia  - but judging from the different times that deponent saw him out and from the character he said Hankins sustained as a ship and foot soldier all the time deponent knew him he verily believes the said Hankins served more than the two years in the militia and is justly and honestly entitled to be placed upon the pension roles under the act of June 7th 1832 - that the declaration of the said Hankins has been distinctly read to this deponent and he believes the matters and things set forth therein are true and [redacted]

from [ ] the day and year after said John Patterson

[ ] Bennet
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Mr. William Paust of Freehold and Aaron Bennett of Dover Township hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Zach Hankins who swore and subscribed to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 78 years of age that he is [reported] and behaved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a solider of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. 

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid  John Patterson
William Parenty
Aaron Bennett

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interragatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - and the Court for this certifies that no clergyman now resides in the neighborhood of said applicant and that  the facts Wm Parent and Aaron Bennett who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the neighborhood of said applicant and that they are credible persons and that these statements is in titled to credit. 

John Patterson
John M Davison
William Dyer

I Daniel H Ellis [ ] of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas on and for the County of Monmouth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said
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count on the matters of the application of Zachariah Hawkins for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affect the seal upon court this 31st day of July Eighteen hundred and thirty two.
D.H. Ellis
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Zachariah Hawkins
Supplemental Affidavit
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Supplemental Affidavit
State of New Jersey:
Monmouth County: 
Personally appeared before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Zachariah Hawkins an applicant for a Pension and mentioned in Pages No 5131. Who being duly sworn deposeth and saith, That he was born the 18th day of Jany 1754- That by reason of old age and the consequent Loss of memory he cannot swear positively as the precise length of his service- But according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below- That I served in the militia of New Jersey , altogether as a Private and as no other capacity, That in the year 1776 I served three months- That in the year 1777 I served six months- That in the year 1778 I served six months- In the year 1779 I served four months- In the year 1780 four months- In the year 1782 I served two months, and for such service I claim a Pension- That at this late period of my life I am unable to designate particularly the months in which I served- That the periods of service mentioned above fall far short of the time I actually served during the war- That I did duty every other month in periods of one month and sometimes longer- That I am unable to detail more precisely my services in the militia during the war than I have already done.
Zachariah Hawkins  X (his mark)
Sworn and Subscribed before me this 19th day of December A.D. 1832
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I, John Patterson a Justice of the Peace and one of The Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for The County of Monmouth in The State of New Jersey Do hereby certify that the affidavit of Aaron Bennett relative to the services of Zachariah Hankins in the Militia during the war of the Revolution & amend to the declaration of the [illegible] Zachariah Hankins [crossed out] and forming a part of the Original Proceedings of the Court/and [illegible] no 5131) in the matter of the application of the [illegible] Zachariah Hankins [crossed out] for a Pension as sworn to & [illegible] before me in open Court [illegible] that the [illegible] Aaron Bennett is known to me and is a person of credibility.
Given under my hand this 26th day of December in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Thirty Two
[signature] John Patterson
I, Daniel H. Ellis, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey, Do hereby certify that William Lloyd [Esq?] before whom the [illegible] affidavit was taken, was at the date thereof duly enrolled in my office as a Justice of the Peace in for [illegible] County duly commissioned [illegible' into office, and that full faith [illegible] are due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such - And further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the [illegible] William Lloyd and