Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6555, for Gideon Lyon, Connecticut
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn

Lyon, Gideon 

NUMBER
R. 6555

CONTENTS
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Application of Gideon Lyon 
of Somerset County New Jersey
No 6617
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State of New Jersey 
Somerset County ss. 
On this thirteenth day of August Eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before William B. Gaston Esqr. and- others - Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Somerset & State aforesaid Gideon Lyon a resident of the Township of Montgomery in the county & state aforesaid aged eighty one 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. 
He entered the service under Capt Seth Silliman who raised a troop of horse, in the State of Connecticut. He was Lieutenant to the Troop after the battle of Bunker hill- He went to Norwalk where the British landed to plunder every now and then; James Hoyt commanded one of the British boats. Hoyt was a refugee. He was acquainted with Hoyt, they had been boys together He was also at Fairfield (which is his native place) and is about twelve miles from Norwalk; He was also at Stafford. The officers of the Militia were, first, a man by the name of Abeels who was Major & Gould was a colo. all in that district- He was a member of this company two years- After this he came to settle in New Jersey in the Township of Hopewell and ["State" crossed out] of County of Hunterdon, a single man and joined Capt Joab Houghtons company as a militia man for five months They first met at Maidenhead and John Clifford was chosen lieutenant and this deponent Sergeant- Wm Houton Solomon Stout & John Vankirk belonged to the company but he does not know that any of the Company is now alive- He marched to New York and went to Long Island, was at the battle of L. I. and after the battle retreated into New York and had a small
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-teen 

skirmish at Harlom [Harlem] and they then went about eight miles into the State of New York to White Plains. Houghton and Phillips commanded and they were at the battle of White Plains- He then crossed the river and came to Newark in New ["York" crossed out] Jersey and kept on home and was discharged, as he thinks at Rocky Hill- 
He remained at home three days and entered the service under Capt Guile and went to Pennsylvania across the Delaware at Motts Island and remained opposite to Trenton a short time, and then moved up to Howells ferry and staid [stayed] till 1 Febuary [February] of same year with the Battle of Princeton- His company acted as Ferrymen to carry goods and baggage. They ferried across the Hessians taken at the battle of Trenton. He went out in November & continued four months, untill 1st of February - He then returned home and remained one week and then marched to Dr. Van Derveers in the County of Somerset and was in the service one month Then went up the Raritan and quartered at Domin[illegible] Hardenburghs, remained one month and then came home where he stayed one week, and then went to Middleburgh where he staid [stayed], as he thinks, till the British left New Brunswick- Came home and staid [stayed] about two weeks and then went to Woodbridge or the blazing star, not less than one month or more than two, came home and staid [stayed] two weeks then went to Elizabeth Town. Houghton he thinks was colonel and Heard General. They went to Staten Island and took the British guards. Staid [stayed] one month again at home and then returned to Elizabeth Town. Came home again for two months and then went back to Elizabeth Town under Capt Mott for Two months. He then came home again for about Two months and returned he thinks to Elizabeth Town
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where he staid [stayed] three weeks under Gen Dickerson- This deponent was at the battle of Springfield under Capt Simon Duryea; Col Van Dike and Gen Heard General Maxwell commanded the Continentals- He was also at the battle of Monmouth under Capt Guile, Parkes Lieutenant, Colo Houghton & Maj Cornelius Stout. Gen Lee did not do, as he was ordered and Gen Washington sent Lee to Englishtown, and then led all the American forces- 
Besides these regular tours this deponent was frequently called on to march short marches. The times &. places not remembered and he believes that he was in actual service more than three years- 
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- 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid- 
Gideon Lyon
Wm. B. Gaston
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We David Bartine [original "David Bartine" crossed out. "George S. Woodhull" also crossed out] a clergyman residing in the County of Somerset & state of New Jersey and Oliver Hunt residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Gideon Lyon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be of the age of Eighty one years that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion- 
Sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid- 
David Bartine
Oliver Hunt 
Wm. B. Gaston 

and the said Court of Common Pleas 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 David Bartine is a clergyman resident in the township of Montgomery County of Somerset and that Oliver Hunt who has also signed the same statement is entitled to credit. 
Wm. B. Gaston
Danl: H Disborough
John Kirkpatrick
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I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Somerset do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gideon Lyon for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court this fourteenth day of August Eighteen hundred and thirty two. 
J.M. Mann
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State of New Jersey 
Hunterdon County ss
Personally appeared before me Lewis Evans Esqr. one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County John Vankirk of Hopewell in said County who being sworn according to Law saith - That he is personally acquainted with Gideon Lyon of Montgomery Township Somerset County- That said Gideon Lyon served as a soldier in capacity of orderly sergeant in the war of the revolution in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six- first in the militia of New Jersey, under the command of Captain Joab Houghton of Hunterdon County- and afterward as a volunteer in the five month service under the command of the said Captain Houghton and that he the said deponent belonged to said companies in said services and was then personally acquainted with said Gideon Lyon- and further saith not 
John Vankirk
Sworn and subscribed before me Lewis Evans one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County of Hunterdon this Twenty second day of August AD 1833 
Lewis Evans
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Additional declaration of Gideon Lyons to obtain a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7- 1832-
In addition to what he mentioned in his first declaration he says, that he remembers, that Colonel Johnson was there [their] col. in the five months service in the year 1776 and that he was killed in the battle of Long Island and Col. Phillips, who had been our major took his place- He recollects further that General Sullivan and Lord Stirling were both taken prisoners at the same time- He recollects that Dr. Baldwin was surgeon to the battalion- He, the said Gideon Lyon was[?] on[?] the five months in actual service- returned home in November 1776 and then went to Pennsylvania as mentioned in his original declaration He recollects further that he performed a tour in Captain Ralph Guiles company under Col. Houghton in the year before the battle of Springfield of three months- our Major General was Philemon Dickinson- and the said Gideon Lyon
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doth depose and say, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise lenght [length] of his service during the revolutionary war but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below, and in the following grades
For the period of five months as sergeant in the company of Joab Houghton- ["Ralph Guile" crossed out]- and in the ["same" crossed out] company of Ralph Guile as a private soldier for more than two years- He further makes oath that he has no documentary evidence of his service- He is now old and wishes this business closed- and will be satisfied upon receiving a pension, as if he had served only as a private militia man for the period of two years and five months-
Gideon Lyon
Sworn & subscribed before me this twenty sixth day of August 1833-
John Lowrey Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Somerset
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On the application of Gideon Lyon for a pension under the act of Congress June 7th 1832 William Collins [Collings] aged seventy six years and upwards, being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that he came to live in the township of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey on the 7th day of April 1778 and became acquainted with Gideon Lyon, the applicant for a pension, a short time afterwards and has known him ever, since, and he has always maintained a character as a man of truth and veracity- they have lived together in the same neighbourhood- they both belonged to the company under the command of Captain Ralph Guile- and attached to the regiment of Col. Joseph Phillips- the lieutenant Col. was Joab Houghton I joined the company in 1778- at which time Gideon Lyon belonged to it.= I was with Gideon Lyon in the company of Captain Guile and under Col. Phillips at the time the British burned the village of Springfield and Connecticut farms in this State
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I think, that this was in the month of June 1780- I remember Baron Steuben was in that neighbourhood- I cannot recollect the precise time that Gideon Lyon and myself were out in service during the year 1780- in the company of Captain Guile, but I am satisfied that we were in actual service during that year six months at least- In the year 1781 when there was a mutiny of the troops of the Pennsylvania line, stationed in New Jersey, we were called out in to the service, and Gideon Lyon and myself were stationed for two weeks, at Hopewell Meeting House and then we were marched to Princeton and were stationed in the College and remained in actual service during this tour one month- and this deponent does believe, that from the year 1778 to the close of the revolutionary war, that he was with Gideon Lyon in actual service, as a private militia man in the company of Captain Ralph Guile and under Col. Phillips, a period of two years and up[wards]
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[up]wards 
wards- and further this deponent saith not.
William Collings
Sworn and subscribed before me this twenty fourth day of August 1833
John Lowrey Justice of the Peace

Isaac Dunn aged seventy one years being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that he removed into the township of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon in the year 1776- and became acquainted with Gideon Lyon, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress. It was reported then and believed, that the said Gideon Lyon was attached to the five months service, and performed that service. In the month of June 1777 Gideon Lyon and this deponent belonged to the Company of Capt. Ralph Guile and performed one tour at Millstone ["Elizabeth Town" crossed out], in the company under Colonel Joseph Phillips. This deponent then removed to Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex- and performed military tours from that quarters- but is satisfied that he
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saw the said Gideon Lyon several tours in actual service at Elizabeth Town during the year 1778 and 1779- In 1780 this deponent moved back to Hopewell and was with the said Gideon Lyon one tour at Springfield in the company of Captain Ralph Guile- Col. Philips was our Colonel with Colonel Houghton- this was in the month of June 1780- He performed another tour, with Gideon Lyon under the same officers in 1781- when there was a mutiny of the troops of the Pennsylvania line. This deponent further says, that he is well acquainted with the said Gideon Lyon and that he is a man of truth and veracity and that reliance may be placed on his statements, and this deponent further says, that he is acquainted with John Vankirk of Hunterdon County, and that he is a man of fair character and that his statement is entitled to full credit and belief-
Isaac Dunn
Sworn and subscribed before me this twenty sixth day of August 1833
John Lowrey Justice of the Peace
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this is to certify, that Gideon Lyon, William Collings and Isaac Dunn are men of good repute for truth, and that their statements under oath are entitled to full credit. Dated this twenty sixth day of August- 1833.
John Lowrey Justice of the Peace

I, William B. Gaston, judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Somerset do hereby certify, that Gideon Lyon is a man of truth and veracity, and that it appears to my satisfaction, that William Collings, Isaac Dunn, and John Vankirk, the witnesses, who have been examined, are men of veracity, and entitled to credit, and it further appears, that the papers hereunto attached by a peice [piece] of tape and directed to be passed under the seal of this court, are the original papers on the first application of the said Gideon Lyon.
Wm. B. Gaston
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I, John M. Mann, clerk of the court of Common Pleas of the County of Somerset do hereby certify- that William B. Gaston, Daniel H. Disborough and John Kirkpatrick, whose names are subscribed to the original application of Gideon Lyon, were at that time and still are judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Somerset- and I do further certify, that John Lowrey, before whom the additional declaration, and the testimony of Isaac Dunn and William Collings were taken, is a judge of the said Court and one of the justices of the peace in and for the County of Somerset- and that the signature of the said officers are genuine. and their official acts as aforesaid are entitled to credit.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed the seal of said Court at Bridgewater this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty three-
J.M. Mann
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Power of attorney
case of
Mary Lyon daughter of Gideon Lyon
New Jersey


Mr[?] Cole
Aug 14/32
F.E. Hassler
Present
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.*

STATE OF New Jersey
COUNTY OF Mercer
Be it known that before me John S. Leigh ~ a Justice of the Peace ~ personally appeared Mary Lyons - aged 58 years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that she is the daughter & heir of Gideon Lyon -- who was a Revolutionary Soldier ["Pensioner" crossed out] in the State of New Jersey and that he died on the Eighteenth day of September 1838 and that her mother, named Anna Lyon - - died on the twenty fourth day of February 1837 and that they were married on the [blank] day of [blank] in the year 1778, and that they were residents of Somerset County, in the State of New Jersey - and that they resided there fifty -years, and that she - resides in Princeton, Mercer County and that furthermore she, BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints, and fully empowers and authorizes, irrevocably and with powers of substitution, F. E. Hassler, of Washington city, D. C., as her true and lawful Attorney for her and in her name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U. S. Government and State officers her rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land, that may be due her as heir - of Gideon Lyon, who died leaving same undrawn, as in right of law she -- may be entitled.
In witness whereof, she has on this twenty seventh, day July, A.D. 1852, hereunto signed her name, and affixed her seal. 
Mary Lyon SEAL.
Witness: Abraham P. Updike
Witness: R. Smith Leigh
Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me; and I further certify, that Mary Lyon aforesaid, has always by the community been known as the heir of Gideon Lyon. --
Dated on this twenty seventh, day of July, A. D. 1852. 
John S. Leigh, J. P.

State of New Jersey
COUNTY of Mercer to wit:
I hereby certify, That John S Leigh ---- Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgement were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signative above written is genuine. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Clerk of Mercer County Court, this Twenty eighth day of July ~ one thousand eight hundred and fifty two ~
Ralph H. Shreve Clerk.

* [illegible] a Widow applies, state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband." 
† State under what act pensioned, or when pension commenced, if a pensioner - and amount of pension.
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Power of Attorney
from 
Henry Applegate
executor on[?]
to[?]
John H Anderson
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Power of Attorney 
State of New Jersey 
County of Mercer ss. 
Be it known that before me David Thorn one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for the County of Mercer aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Henry Applegate a resident of the County and State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law states that he is the executor of the last Will and Testament of Gideon Lyon deceased of the County and State aforesaid who died on the twentieth day of September in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty eight at the age of Seventy five years. which said Gideon Lyon was a revolutionary soldier, and that he believes the United States, are still indebted under existing laws for the Pension that was due under the application heretofore made by said Gideon Lyon in his lifetime, and that he is directly interested as such executor. 
as a claimant in the pension for which application was heretofore made as aforesaid, and constitutes and appoints John H Anderson of the
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County of Somerset in the State of New Jersey, his true and lawful attorney with irrevocable power, to examine into investigate, and establish the claim for said pension and do all the acts necessary thereto[?]. 
In Witness whereof, the said Henry Applegate has hereunto, signed his name and affixed his Seal, this eighth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty six. 
Henry Applegate
Sealed and delivered in presence of 
T. G. Lytle.

Mercer ss[?]
Signed Sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to, before me, on this eight day of February A. D. 1856
David Thorn - Justice of the Peace
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF/eel

January 17, 1930

Alice H. Field 
North Branch Depot 
New Jersey 

Dear Madam: 
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 6555, it appears that Gideon Lyon was born in Fairfield, date not given. 
He applied for pension August 13, 1832, while residing in Montgomery Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, and stated that he was aged eighty-one years. 
He alleged that he entered the service under Captain Seth Silliman who raised a Troop of Horse in Connecticut, and was lieutenant in that company after the battle of Bunker Hill, after which he came to Hopewell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and joined Captain Houghton's Company, Colonel Joseph Phillips' New Jersey Regiment and served in 1776, five months as a sergeant and was in the battles of Long Island and White Plains, and continued to serve in the New Jersey Troops at various times as a private until the close of the war under Captains Ralph Guild, Mott, and Duryea, Colonels Houghton, Joseph Phillips' and Van Dyke, and was in the battles of Monmouth, Springfield, and Connecticut Farms. 
The claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish satisfactory proof of his service as required by the pension law. 
It also appears in said claim that the soldier married in 1778, Anna, her maiden name not given. 
She died February 24, 1837, and he died September 18, or 20, 1838, and it is stated that he was aged seventy-five
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years at the time of his death.
Their daughter, Mary Lyon, in 1852, was aged fifty-eight years and was residing in Princeton, New Jersey.
There are no further family data.
Very truly yours

EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
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gideon Lyon died about the 20th of ["Septemb" crossed out] September 1838 AD[?]
we think that the time that he maid [made] his appliction [application] for his pension was in 1832 AD[?] 
["we" crossed out] the person that we gave the power of Attorney was haster or hestor we have for got [forgot] wich [which]
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PRINCEN. N. J.
AUG 30

FREE

J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

PRINCEN. [illegible]
AUG 30
Page 26

Princeton Augt 29- 1833

Sir
at some expense old Mr. Lyon has been enabled to procure some testimony of his services during the Revolution. He abandons any claim, as a commissioned officer - which he was, while in Connecticut, and asks a pension as a private, for what he did, while in New Jersey. I hope the papers will authorize the department to allow the pension, and that his certificate will be sent to me.
with great respect
yr. obt servt-
Jas. S. Green
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James S. Green Esq
Princeton
N.J. 

N.J.
James S. Green
14 Octr 1833-

Recorded vol 10. P 339-
Recorded Vol. 29 p. 44.
Page 28

War Dept
P.O.
14. Oct 1833. 

Sir
on examination of the papers in support of the claim of Gideon Lyon it is found to be impossible to reconcile his various statements. He alleges that after the battle of Bunker Hill he was appointed Lieutenant of Silliman's [illegible] of Cavalry in Connecticut and was a member of this company two years. He then came to New Jersey and joined Capt Houghtons Company in the five months service as an orderly sergeant and in his original declaration states generally ["various" crossed out] other services amounting to about eleven months 
In his supplementary declaration he omits all notice of his service in Sillmans cavalry mentions his five months service to have been performed in 1776 and states three months service besides & conclude with claiming to have served five months as Sergeant & more than two years as private. 
As the claimant does not specify the particular tours of service which make up his two years service, the admission of his claim for that time is out of the question in the present state of the papers As one means of shewing his accuracy in other respects it is desirable to ascertain whether he was in fact appointed a Lieutenant in Connecticut. All appointments of that kind were made by the general assembly of the State and the records in the custody of the Secretary of State will shew it
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["the fact." crossed out] if such was the last[?] [case?]. it will be advisable to obtain the certificate of the Secretary of that State as well as a furnish a specification of the actual service as a private of militia in New Jersey. In the mean time the papers are placed on file

N.J.
James S. Green
14 Octr. 1833-

Recorded vol 10. P 339- 
Recorded Vol. 29 p. 44.

James S. Green Esq
Princeton
N.J.
Page 30

Hon C Skelton
April 22nd 1853
Page 31

[illegible]
Pension Office
April 22, 1833

Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 20" inst. I have to inform you that the claim of Gideon Lyon, of New Jersey, was presented here several years since, but was not allowed
The enclosed copy of a letter of the 14" October 1833, to James S. Green, Esq. will shew the objections to the admission of the claim

Hon C. Skelton
M.C
Trenton
N.J.

Rev
Page 32

NJ
Henry J Applegate
17 March 1836
OC

[illegible]
Page 33

War Dept
Pension off[?]
March 36

Sir

In reply to yours of 11 inst I have to state that Gideon Lyons papers are on the files of suspended cases in this office & that James S. Green Esqr. acted as his atto. to whom a letter was addressed on the 14 Octr. '33 of which a copy is herewith enclosed- 
no papers have been recd. since- in the case 

OC

Henry J. Applegate Esqr
Princeton
N. Jersey
Page 34

Dec. 21/81 Hon. J.H. Brewer informed that no pension or arrears of pension can be allowed. white
1897 Augt 20 HR Sanders - no pension allowed & descendants not entitled to arrears & Prior 
1930 - Jan. 17 Hist to Alice H. Field See her letter in John Todd S.42510 awf

["Acts of July 14, 1862 and March 3, 1870." crossed out]

6555
P. O.
Gideon Lyon
Service:

REJECTED
Enlisted: [blank], 18[blank]
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank]

Application filed: [blank], 18[blank]
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for suspension-
Alleges:
Re-enlisted: "Claims as Lieutenant under Connecticut authority, and service as a private in New Jersey. Proof is required from the records of both states."
Recognizes.
Contr[illegible]
Cert. of Dis. 
Search for ✓ , 18[blank]
Page 35

UNITED STATES
POSTAL CARD.
NOTHING BUT THE ADDRESS TO BE ON THIS SIDE.

PENSION OFFICE
AUG 15 1891

Chief of Pension Deptt.
Washington,
D. C.
Page 36

8 Hill St. Morristown, Morris Co, New Jersey.
Gideon Lyon
Gideon Lyon, a Soldier of the Revolution in a Conn Regiment. Information from time to time of Pension money for heir at Washington. 
Is there any process by which his people can procure payment of the same?
Respectfully
Wm. R. Sanders

Oct 14 1833 James S Green
Mch 16 1836 J Applegate
April 22 1853 C Skelton

own
Page 37

66[illegible]
New Jersey
Revol
Gideon Lyon
Suspended

See letter to 
["James S. Green 
14 Octr. 1833. 
Lt Henry J Applegate 16 March 36 
Letter to Hon. C. Skelton April 22d/ 1853" crossed out]

6555
Act 7. June 1832
Page 38

The National Archives
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Lyon, Henry
GRADE Private
LINE Connecticut

WARRANT NUMBER 6092
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED Jan. 28, 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.