Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8042, for Edward Lewis, New Jersey
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(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
Continental (New Jersey) | Lewis, Edward / Nancy | W.8042

CONTENTS
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New Jersey | 455

Nancy Lewis, widow of Edward Lewis (N.J.), who died on the 27 May 1877 of Monmouth Co. in the State of N. Jersey, who was an Asst. Commissary of Issues commanded by Captain (blank) of the (blank) commanded by (blank) in the Continental line for 2 years.

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 600 dollars [crossed out: cents] per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Increased from $480.

Certificate of Pension issued 23rd day of April 1839 and sent to Hn. J.Q. Adams, Present.

Arrears to the 4th of March '39.
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep.

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3rd.}

Recorded by D. Brown, Clerk.

Book A; Vol. 1 [crossed out: 2]; Page 148

Dead.
Paid at the Treasury Dep. the act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 March 1831 to 29 March 1838, the day of her death. Ag(en)t. notified 10 June 1839.

Paid as above from March 1831 to 29 March 1838. Ag(en)t. notified 7 March 1840.

[crossed out: Hon. W.L. Dayton, Senate, August 26, 1842 and August 27, 1842. D(itt)o to Hon. W.L. Dayton Dec. 11, 1848.]
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,

May 28th, 1839.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Six of the seven child(ren) of Nancy Lewis, a Pensioner on the Roll of the New Jersey Agency, at the rate of Four Hundred and Eighty Dollars [crossed out: and -- Cents] per annum, under the law of the 4th July 1836, have been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838 to the 29th March 1838, the day of her death.

Respectfully yours,
s/ Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

Raised to $600 per annum 23rd April 1839, the difference payable at the agency.
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,

January 28th, 1840.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Edw'd Morris Lewis, 1 of 7 child(ren) of Nancy Lewis, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Trenton, N. Jersey Agency, at the rate of One Hundred 20 Dollars [crossed out: and -- Cents] per annum, the difference between $480 and the increased rate $600 per annum [duplicate: per annum], under the law of the 4th July 1836, has been paid to of said pension at this Department, from the 4th of March 1831 to the 29th March 1838, the day of her death.

Respectfully yours,
s/ Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
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No. 95

Declaration of Nancy Lewis under the Pension Act of July 4th A.D. 1836.

Though there is no direct proof of service after Dec. 1781 when the marriage took place, yet as the Depot & the Office of Commissary, Lewis must have been continued so long as any military establishment was kept up & troops held in [crossed out: trust]. Lewis in the vicinity of Morristown, I think the fair & legal presumption is that he served after Dec. 1781. The claim is therefore allowed.
s/ B.F. Butler

Wm. L. Dayton
Feb. 4, 1837
Freehold, N. Jersey
Agent
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Third Section of the Act of Congress of the fourth of July 1836.

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

On this fifteenth day of August A.D. Eighteen Hundred & Thirty six, personally appeared before me, Samuel J. Doty, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Somerset aforesaid, Nancy Lewis, a resident of Basking Ridge in the Township of Bernards in the County and State aforesaid, aged Seventy eight years on the first day of November last, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Edward Lewis, who
was an Assistant Commiss(ioner) of Issues in the Continental Army of the United States during the War of the Revolution. That she has been informed and believes that the said Edward Lewis entered into the regular service in said Continental Army in the early part of the war but, from old age and consequent loss of memory, she cannot swear positively to the time though she has often heard her husband speak of the same during his lifetime. That she has always understood from her said husband, Edward Lewis, that he was in the army during the...
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...whole war. And that he was not discharged from the service until its close. She furthermore believes that not only his commission but his discharge were in the house of her husband up to the time of his death in May 1817 and for a long time afterwards and she thinks that she has in the same. That the said Edward Lewis was an exceedingly accurate and careful man with his papers. That he kept [crossed out: (illegible)] his revolutionary papers in a long box where the same were regularly filed and labeled. That this box of papers was preserved by him with great care up to the time of his death. That subsequent thereto, she, this deponent, moved from the homestead farm to a place in the neighborhood with her son Edward M. Lewis and the box in question was then placed by the said Edward in his barn; from which time the papers of her husband began to be destroyed. That a large portion thereof were in existence the up to the last winter, when the whole were destroyed by the said Edward M. Lewis, as she has been informed and verily believes. Excepting the few which have been picked up on diligent search from among (other papers &) straw & manure of the barnyard & which are herewith transmitted.

That she is unable to specify the particular officers under whom her husband served further than that she has often heard her husband, the said Edward Lewis, mention...

with pride, that he was introduced to General Washington and recommended to him as the most accurate Commissary and account(ant)
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further than that she has often heard her husband, the said Edward Lewis, mention

...with pride, that he was introduced to General Washington and recommended to him as the most accurate Commissary and accountant in the service and that for some time thereafter. Gen'l Washinton drew supplies for his table & otherwise from him, the said Edward Lewis. That this was when the army lay at Pluckemin Kemble's Mountain & Morrison, at which places (particularly the latter) and times, to wit, thro(ugh) the years 1779 & 1780, the said Edward Lewis was in the service.

That this deponent does not now remember the name of the Commissary General under whom her husband served (unless it was Col. Ottoman, as appears by the
account book just found). That she believes he acted as Commissary for the Brigade, commanded by General Conway but is not certain. That she has forgotten the many facts & incidents communicated to her by her husband but she remembers to have understood from him that he was at the Battle of Springfield in June 1780. That he was at the Great Battle in Virginia, which was the end of the war, but this deponent cannot now remember whether it was called Yorktown or not. She knows he went away with the army to Virginia. She remember this because it was not a great while before her marriage. That she was engaged to marry him when he went off and did marry him almost immediate after he came back. That she is sure he was with the regular army for seven or eight months in the year 1781 generally stationed at Morristown because she was engaged...
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...to him for that length of time and she remembers well enough that his duties kept him from seeing her [crossed out: for] and for the same reason she remembers that he was with the Regular Army a long time before they became engaged but while he was visiting her.

That she remembers of his telling her of his being at many other battles and one somewhere on the Jersey Shore. That he used to tell about [crossed out: all] the wonderful silence with which Gen'l Washington at one time [crossed out: (illegible)] (crossed a river by night with his army while the enemy was near) at this time, he, the husband of this deponent, had a large train of stores in wagons &c. under his command on the march. Is sure that he often told her about crossing the Schuylkill [River] and thinks this may have been the river but can't say for a certainty. This Deponent is sure that he continued in the service after the marriage and particularly through the winter following the marriage. She knows this because he was absent from her (at the Commissary Depot at Morristown, N.J.) all that winter on business with the army or for the army. That owing to his absence, she did not leave her father's to live with him (but he came to her father's as often as he could) until about the first of June 1782 when she went to his (her husband's) father's at Basking Ridge and from which time her husband, the said Edward Lewis, spent a great deal of his time at home with her. But from...
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his time at home with her. But from

[crossed out: (illegible)]

...their marriage 9th Dec. 1781 to May or June 1782, he was in the service as aforesaid and she has always understood from the said Edward Lewis and others that he continued enrolled in the army and engaged in no other business or civil pursuit until the final discharge at the end of the war.

That Edward Lewis served the father of her said husband; lived at the commencement of the war at Basking Ridge in the County & State aforesaid. And this deponent thinks that at the time of her husband's entering the service, his residence was at the same place.

That this deponent has not been able to find any documentary evidence except such as is herewith transmitted, marked Exhibits, Nos. up to 73. That the revolutionary papers of her husband, which had been regularly filed & labeled in manner aforesaid, were destroy by the said Edward M. Lewis, as aforesaid. 

And this deponent further declares that she was married by the Rev'd Mr. Bradford at Bottle Hill, N.J., to the said Edward Lewis on the ninth day of December in the year Seventeen Hundred Eighty one. That her husband, the aforesaid Edward Lewis, died on the 27th day of May 1817 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed.
s/ Nancy Lewis

Sworn & subscribed August 15, 1836 before me, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Somerset County - 28th line on 2nd page to 14, 34 on 3rd, 14th, 25th, 29 on 4th through 1st on 5th page & word "Bradford" on 23rd line of 5th page first interlined & on several occasions first made. 
s/ Sam'l S. Doty
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New Jersey
Somerset Co.//

Wm. L. Dayton, being duly sworn saith that he hath examined the records of the Clerk's Office in the County of Morris and that records of marriages do not commence until the year 1795, being a number of years after the marriage of the said Nancy Lewis and consequently her marriage is not recorded in the Public Records of the County. That the act requiring such records to be made passed in the year 1775.
s/ Wm. L. Dayton

Sworn & subscribed this 16th of August 1836 before me, one of the Judge of the Somerset Pleas &c.
s/ Sam'l S. Doty
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New Jersey
Somerset County//

Henry Southard of Baskin Ridge, Somerset Co., N.J., aged 89 years last October, being duly sworn upon his oath saith that he was well acquainted with Edward Lewis, the husband of Nancy Lewis, the applicant in the annexed declaration and was acquainted with him at, during & before the Revolutionary War. This [crossed out: this] deponent lived in the same house with the father of said Edward Lewis before and during the war. That this deponent is satisfied that the said Edward Lewis entered the Army of the United State as early as the month of December 1776. The deponent arrives at the date in this way. The said Edward Lewis was engaged with his father in the mercantile business and trusted Lord Sterling, who was expending immense sums on his property in that neighborhood to a very large amount. That the said Lord Sterling became unable to meet the demands against him & broke, by reason whereof the said Edward Lewis became involved to a large amount, and this deponent became his bail. But the amount of debts being more than this deponent & the said Edward Lewis could possibly pay, he, the said Lewis, was finally taken to the jail at Millstone (N. Jersey) and continued there (tho(ugh) not closely confined) teaching school in the old Courthouse until the same was burnt in the fall of 1776, as this deponent thinks. Immediately after, which this deponent believes, he, [crossed out: entered]...
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...the said Edward Lewis, entered the Regular Army and continue with it to the close of the war. That he was always considered an accurate man and connected with the Commissary Department. He was considered and acted as Commission thro(ugh) the war, tho(ugh) this deponent does not remember to have seen his commission. That immediately after the marriage of the said Edward Lewis & the said Nancy, this deponent thinks that the said Edward Lewis brought his wife Nancy up to his father's on a visit (when this deponent saw them & considered them as a married couple). That his father and this deponent then lived in the same house and the said Edward Lewis & Nancy, the applicant, were then received by the family & all the friends as man & wife. Consider then & ever have been to have been legally married. That this marriage took place, to the best of this deponents recollection and belief, a long time before the services of the said Edward Lewis were closed. That this deponent believes they were married on the 9th of December 1781. That he is well
acquainted with the handwriting of Edward Lewis, dec(eased). That the entry of the marriage in the Family Bible (now known to deponent) is in his, the said Lewis', handwriting and this deponent is satisfied that entry is correct.

That he continued an acquaintance with the said Lewis (having married his sister) up to the time of his death. That he was present at his death and saw him die. This was about the year 1817. And upon being shown the entry in the Family Bible or record, deponent says he...
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he was present at his death and saw him die. This was about the year 1817. And upon being shown the entry in the Family Bible or record, deponent says he.

...has no doubt but that it is right, to wit: 17th May 1817. That the said Nancy Lewis has continued to reside in the neighbor and of this deponent since the death of her husband and has not been married since his death. That this deponent has no doubt but that her husband was an Issuing Commissary through the war and that she, the said Nancy, is fully entitled to the benefits of the Act of Congress granting half pay to "widows" &c. passed July 4th 1836. That this deponent was himself a Commissioned Officer in the service and draws a pension of $320 per annum. And that, independent of his personal knowledge, he has always understood, and such is public repute, that the said Edward Lewis served as Commissary as above stated.
s/ Henry Southard

Sworn & subscribed this 15th day of August A.D. 1836 before me (the 11th line, 18th - 27th of 1st page, the 12th - 27th of 2nd page, the 6th & 13th of 9th page first interlined.
s/ Sam'l S. Doty, one of the Judges of the I(nferior) Court of Common Pleas of said County

New Jersey
Somerset County//

Edward M. Lewis, aged 37 years last April, being duly sworn upon his oath saith that he is the youngest child of Edward & Nancy Lewis, the within applicant. That he has heard read the decla(ration)...
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...(decla)ration of the said Nancy Lewis, his mother and the facts as therein set forth in reference to the box of revolutionary papers are entirely correct. It was a box, 7 or 8 feet long & about one foot wide & one [foot] high. That the same was entirely filled with said accounts. That the same had been useless and in the way for more than 50 years. That after the same had been moved [crossed out: for] by this deponent from the old homestead to the farm on which he now lives, the same were placed in his barn. That when idle on rainy days, he has read those old papers for hours together. That among them were numerous letters directed to his father [crossed out: from officers often] as "Commissary of Issues" from many persons in the army and from many
different places. That among other papers was an old worn book of accounts containing account of issues, month-after-month & year-after-year, commencing at least as early as the [crossed out: beginning of the] year 1778 and continued thereafter year-after-year for at least five [crossed out: and thinks six and seven] years, if not longer. This book appeared to be a perfect account of all matters connected with his duties as Commissary, specifying the amount of issues, the times when the persons & places to whom & where the same were delivered. This deponent has spent many an idle hour in overlooking these old papers (one of which containing army accounts he is certain was dated in 1782) but not supposing them of any value and needing the box (which was an excellent one) he last winter emptied the whole remaining contents of said box into filth of the barnyard. That the papers were some blown off and others trodden into the filth of the yard. That the manure...
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emptied the whole remaining contents of said box into filth of the barnyard. That the papers were some blown off and others trodden into the filth of the yard. That the manure.

...[crossed out: has since] in the spring was dry and entirely carted out of the yard and afterward scattered over different parts of this deponent's farm. And for that reason, he is unable to find more of the papers in the barnyard. That the account of sales at the Comm(issary) Store at Morristown by Edward Lewis, of Comm(issary) of Issues, he found still in the barnyard & the same No. 3 of Exhibit.

This deponent says on his oath that these papers were destroyed from a belief of their utter useless and he never was sensible of their importance until informed of the passage of the Pension Act of July 4th 1830, when he commenced a diligent search for such as can still be found.

This deponent has frequently heard his father, Edward Lewis, say he was in the Army of the United States about seven years during the revolution.

This deponent knows his father's writing and says that the following entered are copied from the old Family Bible where the same entered (in the handwriting of his father), to wit: "Edward Lewis, son of Edward Lewis, Esq., born the 10th of May 1750 and married to Nancy Crowell the 9th day of December in 1781 by the Rev'd Mr. Bradford." That this Bible contains the only family record of ancient date. That he knows of and he remembers the same as the original family record as long as he remembers anything. That Crowell was the maiden...
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...name of his mother. That his mother, the said Nancy Lewis, has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband, Edward Lewis, which happened on the 27th day of May 1817.

That this deponent found Exhibit No. 1 among his father's papers in the house. That the filling up of the blanks in said exhibit, he thinks, is in his father's handwriting and he is sure that the signature thereto is so. That the according to the Commissary, sale of damaged articles at Morristown is likewise entirely in his fathers handwriting, tho(ugh) not the names of purchases &c. (That the book of accounts marked Exhibit 13 is likewise in his father's handwriting.) That the other papers marked Exhibits &c. &c., marks this deponent & others found among his fathers papers &c. &c. &c.
s/ Edward M. Lewis

Sworn & subscribed this 16 day of August before me, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County. The 26th of 2nd page & 31st of same & 27th of 3rd & 14th of 4th pages first interlined.
s/ Sam'l S. Doty, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Somerset
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Fortune was a slave & not sworn &c.

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

[crossed out: Fortune Anderson, a colored man being duly sworn upon his oath saith that he is about (blank) years old. That he remembers Edward Lewis of Basking Ridge, now dec(eased). That he knew him during the Revolutionary War. That he was then an officer in the army and that this deponent [crossed out" was certain] drove a load of provisions from Morristown to Springfield at the battle at that place under the orders of the said Edward Lewis and...]
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New Jersey//

Israel Canfield of Morristown, N.J., aged 78 years in next July, being duly sworn upon his oath saith that he was well acquainted with Edward Lewis (now dec(eased)) of Basking Ridge during the Revolutionary War. That a Commissary Station was placed at Morristown as early as the year 1777 [crossed out: That he remembers] and was continued as such to at least the early part of the year 1783. That this deponent was during all that time engaged with as clerk in a store in Morristown or doing business on his own account and has a distinct recollection of the Commissary Depot at Morristown aforesaid. He further has a distinct recollection of said Edward Lewis [crossed out: at the] who was the husband of Nancy Crowell and an officer in the army during the revolution. He has frequently seen him & thinks constantly saw him during the time of the war at the Commissary Station in Morristown [crossed out: (whose ___ appears to Commissary Station)]. That he was then an officer in the army and stationed at Morristown aforesaid & connected with the Commissary Department, as he believes. That he has no doubt but that he served as an officer in that department to the close of war but all events as long as the Commissary Depot continued at Morristown aforesaid.
s/ Israel Canfield

Sworn & subscribed this 16th of August 1836 before me. The three interlineations on this page were first made &c.
s/ Sam'l S. Doty, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the s(ai)d County
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New Jersey
Somerset County//

Benjamin H. Moore of Basking Ridge, aged 24 years, being duly sworn saith that he has lived with Edward M. Lewis, the son of Nancy Lewis for [crossed out: upwards of] nearly three years past. That he has seen the large box of revolutionary papers (before referenced to). That he once saw the book of accounts, referred to above, and examined it for about half an hour. It contained accounts for provisions &c. delivered to different persons & places thro(ugh) the war for a [crossed out: number of years] but the exact time of its beginning & ending he cannot remember. That he has a number of times set in the barn and heard the said Edward M. Lewis read over these papers & old letters directed to his father, Edward Lewis, as Commissary &c. in the time of the war. That the papers were in the box in the barn until last winter when they were emptied into the cow yard & he, this spring, shoveled up a great many of them with the manure & they [crossed out: came] were carted out & thrown over the farm with the manure. The box was wanted to put flax seed in.
s/ Benj. H. Moore 

Sworn & subscribed this 16th of August 1836 before me, one of the Judges of the Somerset Pleas. The 6th, 11th, 16, & 23rd lines were first interlined.
s/ Sam'l S. Doty, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court in and for the County of Somerset
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New Jersey
Somerset Co.//

Be it remembered that I, Samuel S. Doty, one of the Judges of the [crossed out: Somerset] Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County, do hereby certify and declare my opinion that Edward Lewis, the husband of Nancy Lewis, the within applicant, was a Revolutionary Officer and served in as therein stated. That I personally know the said Nancy Lewis & did her husband in his lifetime and that he died about the time within stated & he has since remained his widow.

I do further certify that the old Family Bible & family record within entered to was produced in evidence before me and that the copy of the marriage as set forth in the affidavit of Edward M. Lewis, taken from said record is correct. And that the same record is beyond doubt the original family record & the entry of the marriage in the handwriting of Edward Lewis, which is well known to me. I do further certify that the said Nancy Lewis, the within applicant, cannot by reason of bodily infirmity, appear before a Court of Record. I do further certify that William L. Dayton, Henry Southard, Israel Canfield, Edward M. Lewis & Benjamin H. Moore, the within named witnesses, serves as within stated and that they are credible persons and their statements entitled to credit. That the within papers contain the original proceedings had before me in the matter of the application of Nancy for a pension & are.

Witness my Hand & Seal of Office Aug. 16, 1836. (Two interlineations first made.)
s/ Sam'l S. Doty
s/ Sam'l S. Doty

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common.
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I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Somerset, do hereby certify that Samuel S. Doty, the officer before whom the annexed declaration & affidants were made & sworn & by whom the above certificate is given is a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County duly commissioned & sworn and that his name is enrolled as such in my office. That he is [crossed out: duly] a Judge of said Court of Record & duly authorized to administer an oath. That I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Samuel S. Doty and having examined his signatures to the annexed declaration & the five affidavits & above certificate thereunto attached and that said several [crossed out: certificates] signatures are genuine. That the annexed papers contain the original proceedings had in the above matter &c. "The word "Signatures" written over erasure."

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this Nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Thirty six
s/ J.M. Mann
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October 2, 1939.

BA-J/ILL
Edward Lewis
W.8042 | O.W.N.

Mrs. W.H. Saisson
308 Wills Road
Connellsville, Pennsylvania.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter, which has been referred to this office for reply, requesting information in regard to Edward Lewis, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, who served in the Revolutionary War, and in regard to Stephen Morris and his son, Daniel, who were among the first settlers of Morris County, New Jersey.

A search of the Revolutionary War records of this office has been made and no claim for pension or bounty land found which was made to the United States based upon service of the Stephen and Daniel Morris cited by you. The record has been found of only one Edward Lewis who served from New Jersey. The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W.8042, based upon his service in that war.

Edward Lewis, son of Edward Lewis, Senior, was born May 10, 1750 in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey, and lived there with his father before the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The name of his mother was not given, nor the date of birth of his father.

Edward Lewis, the son, entered service sometime late in 1776, as Assistant Commissary of Issues for New Jersey in the Brigade commanded by General Conway and continued to serve until the early part of 1783. During his service, he was in the battle of Springfield, in 1780, was in another large battle in Virginia "at the end of the war", and in many skirmishes on the New Jersey shore.

This officer died May 27, 1817.

Edward Lewis married December 9, 1781, Nancy Crowell; the names of Nancy's parents were not given. She remained at home with her...
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...father that winter, and in June 1782, went to live in the home of her husband's father, Edward Lewis, Senior, in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Nancy was born November 1, 1757, place not stated.

Nancy Lewis, this officer's widow, was allowed pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary War on her application executed August 15, 1836, at which time she resided in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. She died March 29, 1838.

Reference was made to seven children of Edward Lewis and his wife, Nancy. The only name given was that of Edward M. Lewis, their youngest child, who was born in April 1797. After the death of Edward Lewis, the above noted officer, Nancy Lewis moved from the homestead in Basking Ridge, to a farm in the neighborhood, and lived there with this son, Edward H. Lewis. She lived there with him in 1836.

Judge Conger, of Morris County, New Jersey, was a son-in-law of this officer, but the name of his wife was not given.

William L. Dayton, this officer's grandson, lived in Freehold, New Jersey, at the time Nancy Lewis made application for pension. In 1848, William L. Dayton, was a United States Senator from New Jersey.

In 1836, Henry Southard, aged eighty-nine years, resided in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey. He married the sister of Edward Lewis, the officer, and lived in the same house in Basking Ridge when Edward and Nancy came there in June 1782.

In order to obtain the name of the persons to whom the last payment of pension was made, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following data:

Nancy Lewis, widow of Edward Lewis,
Certificate #455
Issued November 18, 1837
Rate $480 per annum, increased from $320 per annum.

Act of July 4, 1836
New Jersey Agency.

Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

2.
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Edward Lewis, Wid. F. 8042.

Three receipts to Edw'd Lewis, A.C. of Issues, dated respectively Nov. 21, 1777, July 14, 1778 and July 1781.

An account of provisions received for the use of Gen. Conway's Brigade by Edw'd Lewis, A.C.I., from Jan. 1, 1778 to Jan. 31, 1778.

A letter addressed to Edw'd Lewis, A.C.I., requesting provisions for the use of Gen. Knox's Artillery signed Thomas Jones, D.C.G. Issues, and dated Pluckemin Dec. 20, 1778.

Four letters from Edw'd Lewis, A.C.I, dated Feb. 4, 1779, Feb. 11, 1779, Mar. 4, 1779 and Mar. 26, 1779 to other Officers of the Commissary Dept. forwarding and explaining accounts and requesting instructions.

A letter addressed to Edw'd Lewis, A.C. of Issues, requesting him to forward an account of provisions on hand and a return of the month of February, signed Gustavus Risberg, D.C.G. of Issues and dated Philadelphia, Feb. 24, 1779.

A report by Edw.d Lewis,...

(over)
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...A.C. of Issues, showing the sale of damaged flour and fish at the Commissary Store in Morristown, Feb. 6, 1779.

The above papers have been removed from this claim to send them to the War Dept.

F.W.(C)
Feby. 1, 1911.

"3 letters relative to supplies, 3 receipts, 2 sheets of accounts, 3 orders."

Sent to War Dept. Jan. 16, 1913.

O.W.N.
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Mem(orandum) from the Commissary Book of Issues of Edward Lewis, dec(eased).
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Extract from Edw'd Lewis Book of Issues &c.

1778 Jan. 1-31: (£ S.D.)
To bal. due E. Lewis bro(ught) from another book.....61.11.1
To salary for A.C.I. from 1st Jan. to 31 unclaimed...22.10.0
To d(itt)o for clerk..................................13.2.6
To d(itt)o for clerk for scales (John Taylor).........11.5.0
To returned rations to 31 Dec. 1777...................5.11.8
                                                    ========
                                                    £114.0.3
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Oath of Allegiance
Exhibit No. 1
Page 30

I, Edward Lewis, Assist(ant) Commissary of Issues for the Brigade lately commanded by Geo. Conway, do acknowledge the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA be Free, Independent and Sovereign States and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third, King of Great Britain, and I renounce, refute and abjure any allegiance or belief to him; and I do swear that I will at the utmost of my power, support, maintain and defend the said United States, against the said King George the Third, his heirs and successors and his or their abettors, assistants and adherents, and will serve the said United States in the office of Assist(ant) Commissary of Issues, which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of my skill and understanding.
s/ Edward Lewis, A.C. of Issues

Sworn the 28 May 1778 before me.
s/ Nat'l Greene, M.J.
Page 31

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. | 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C., (blank) 19 (blank)

W.F.8042

In reply to your request of (blank), received (blank) for a statement of the military history of Edward Lewis, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in [crossed out: his] (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. (CAPTAIN/COLONEL) | STATE.
1776 | To end of war. | As Assist. Commissary of Issues for the brigade commanded by Gen'l Conway. | N.J.

Battles engaged in, Springfield in 1780 and another large battle in Va. at end of war.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Basking Ridge, Somerset Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 15, 1836 & after it was al(lowed).
Residence at date of application, Basking Ridge, Somerset Co., N.J.
Age at date of application, She was b(orn) Nov. 1, 1757 and died Mar. 29, 1838.
Remarks: 

Soldier for the son of Edward Lewis and was born May 10, 1750 at Basking Ridge, N.J. He married Dec. 9, 1787 Nancy Crowell and died May 17, 1817. Seven children are referred to; Edward Morris Lewis, who was 37 yrs. old in 1836 is the only one whose name is stated. Judge Conger of Morris Co., N.J. was her son-in-law and Wm. L. Dayton, a grandson, was living in Freehold, N.J., in 1836. The only soldier of this war.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

6-2856
Page 32

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON

August 31, 1939.

Mrs. W.H. Saisson,
203 Wills Road, (308 Aug. letter)
Connellsville, Pa.

Dear Madam:

Your letter of August 16 has been forwarded to the Veterans' Administration, this city.

Very truly yours,
(Sgd.) C.C. DAVISON
Acting Chief Clerk.
Page 33

Connellsville, Pa.
Aug. 16, 1939

Dept. of Interior

Dear Sirs:

Can you give me the war record of Edward Lewis of New Jersey in the Rev. War. He was from Morristown or Basking Ridge born 1722; born 1722. I am tracing my family genealogy and a tradition in our family is that he was a major in that war.

Also would like to get...
Page 34

...the record of Daniel Morris and his father, Stephen Morris, one of the first settlers in Morris Co. N.J.

If you are unable to give me these records, will you kindly tell me where I can write for a name.

Sincerely,
s/ W H. Saisson
308 Wills Road
Connellsville, Penna.
Page 35

Atlantic, Iowa
June 27, 1914

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,

I am trying to look up the record of my revolutionary ancestor, Edward Lewis of Morris County, New Jersey. Someone told me if I would write to the Pension
Office, I would be likely to learn something. I wish to obtain this information so that I may become a member of the D.A.R. I know the line is as follows: Levi Lewis, Edward Lewis, David Lewis, Edward Lewis, David...
Page 36

...Maynard Lewis, Anna Lewis Nichols. The first Edward Lewis is the man for whose record I am looking. I do not know if his father, Levi Lewis, was in the revolution or not. My ancestors lived until the last two generations around Dover, Morris County, New Jersey. I sent to the Adjutant General of New Jersey and be sent me an affidavit that the records of his office show that Edward Lewis was in commission as lieutenant in the Morris County, New Jersey Militia during the Revolutionary War. The other items which are required, I do not know such as dates of his birth and marriage, wife's name,...
Page 37

...number of his regiment or company. If you could give me any light on the topic, I should be very grateful and shall, of course, be willing to pay for it.
s/ Mrs. Anna Lewis Nichols
707 Poplar Street,
Atlantic, Iowa
Page 38

Rev(olutionary War)

WIDOW, &c.

File No. 8042
Nancy Lewis, wid(ow) of Edward Lewis, Asst. Comm(issioner) of Issues, Rev(olutionary) War.

Act: July 4th of '36, Sect. 3rd.

Index: -; Vol. A; Page 427

{Arrangement of 1870.}

1914 July 9 - Hist(ory sent) to Annie L. Nichols. V.L.M.
1939 Oct. 2 - Hist(ory sent) to Mr. W.H. Saisson. J.L.L.
Page 39

Edward Lewis#, a commissary and rev(olutionary).
His widow Nancy Lewis, pensioned $600 under act of 1832.
s/ Wm. L. Dayton

# - his rank?

N. Jersey Roll.
Page 40

Mr. Brown will issue new cert(ificate) at the rate of $600 per annum.
Page 41

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Comm(issioner) of Pensions
City of Washington, District of Co(lumbia)

Aug. 22.
Act 4 July 1836.
Page 42

Freehold, Monmouth Co., N.J.
Aug. 19, 1836.

J.L. Edwards, Comm(issioner) &c.

Sir,

Mrs. Nancy Lewis, the applicant in the within case is exceedingly frail and an examination of her case at an early a day possible as may be consistent with the rules of your department will be esteemed a favor.

If the least doubt be entertained in this case, I beg leave to call your attention to the high respectability of Messrs. Southard & Canfield, who have sworn to the duration of her husband's services. The former of these gentlemen is, I am informed, personally known to you. And for the character of the latter, refer you (if necessary) to Sec. Dickenson.

The records of the War Department would, I presume, have obviated the necessity of other proof but lest they should not, to save the time, (that would be consumed by a [illegible] of the papers in the old lady's state of health) I have prepared collecting and forwarding the evidence in the first instance. If it be not too much trouble, be good enough to inform me whether the records do not fully show his services.

From the office of her husband and the pay he drew, I presume the applicant will draw the highest and allowed. See page 14 & 18 of Book of Issues forwarded.

Very respectfully your obed(ient) servant,
s/ Wm. L. Dayton
Page 43

Mem(orandum) of Dayton.

Pension of Nancy Lewis of B(asking) Ridge, Somerset Co., N.J.
Page 44

Mem(orandum) from W.L. Dayton.

In matter of application of Nancy Lewis, widow of Edward Lewis, dec(eased) for increased pay, &c.

A certificate for $320 was issued in the above case under the Act of 4th July 1836; is dated 4th Feb. 1837 & numbered 455.

I desire you to apply for an increase of pay.

The facts are fully made out & the allowance is doubtless for 2 yrs. service but the dept. have not allowed the amt. of pay, to which she is entitled by the rank of her husband in the service.

Edw'd Lewis was an Assistant Comm(issary) of Issues for 6 or 7 years & attached to the regular service. The only question is what amt. of pay sho(uld) the widow draw? 

[crossed out: Beyond no doubt] I think she is entitled to at least $480 per yr. & if any captains in the Continental Line to which Edw'd Lewis was attached drew more, [crossed out: he] she is entitled to more, or in other words, to the largest amt. that has drawn by any captain in the circles which he was attached.

In Scott's Treatise on Military Tactics &c., he says an Assist. Comm(issioner) of Issues ranks with a captain or full regimental surgeons. See pages (blank). The same rank is assigned him as other military treaties & into some of which I desire you will (if you have access to any at Washington, look for me). The family of my grandfather (E. Lewis) have always understood that he ranked thr(ough) the war as a major. But be that as it may, the...
Page 45

...rank assigned him [crossed out: with] in Scott's and one other Military Treatise, into which I have looked, is sufficient for present purposes.

He ranks at least as captain in the Continental Service and I can imagine no possible reason why the certificate was issued for $320 [crossed out: being her lessor payment] if I rightly understand the Act of 1832. [crossed out: (illegible)]

I remarked that if any captain in the Continental Line to which my s(ai)d father was attached rec(eived) more than $480 then his widow sho(uld) receive such larger amt.

This is so because his rank was at least equal to any captains and his pay was more than equal, if I can understand his entries in an old Comm(issary) Book, which I forwarded & to which I refer you. 

You will find in it any account current between my grandfather & the U. States & the following is taken from it.:

1778 Jan. 1-31: (£ S.D.)
To bal. due E. Lewis bro(ught) from another book.....61.11.1
To salary for A.C.I. from 1st Jan. to 31 unclaimed...22.10.0
To d(itt)o for clerk..................................13.2.6
To d(itt)o for clerk for scales (John Taylor).........11.5.0
To returned rations to 31 Dec. 1777...................5.11.8
                                                    ========
                                                    £114.0.3

You can find out his salary from the above and moreover other entries in the old Comm(issary) Book.

I wish that you would look into this question in as much as I am prepared with the belief that the allowance sho(uld) have been for captain's pay but still I may be mistaken.

Yours &c.,

s/ Wm. L. Dayton
Page 46

His pay is regulated by the pay of the line to which he belonged.

My impression is that he did not belong to the New Jersey Continental Line but to the Continental Line [crossed out: Army] of the gen(era)l gov(ernmen)t (if such exists). The seal of his oath of office is signed by Maj. Gen'l Green & is among the papers. And it appears he was sworn in Assist. Comm(issioner) to the regiment [crossed out: generally comm(anded)] once commanded by General Conway. And from this, you can find the line to which he belonged, his pay, &c.
Page 47

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Comm(issioner) of Pensions
City of Washington

Nov. 4
Resp. G.
N.J. claim
4 July 1836
[crossed out: war]
Mrs. Nancy Lewis, N.J.
Page 48

J.L. Edwards, Esq.

Dear Sir,

I have this moment rec'd a letter apprising me of the fact that Mrs. Nancy Lewis of Somerset Co., N.J. (widow of Edward Lewis, dec(eased)), an applicant for a pension under the Act of July 4, 1836, has failed so rapidly with in the last few days as to justify a belief that her end is near. It is supposed that she cannot survive many weeks, & may not many days. The information comes to me from her son-in-law, Judge Conger of Morris Co. and I give it entire credence.

Urgent thereby the strong necessity of the case permit again to [crossed out: (illegible)] ask the speedy, the immediate actions of your department on her case. Her husband was Assistant Commissary of Issues in the regiment commanded at one time by Gen'l Conway and continued in the Continental Service for some years. A experience to the evidence & documents forwarded will be found. I apprehend emolosive and independent of that, I have not a doubt but a careful examination of the records in the War Department will fully substantiate her claims.

I have already written twice to you requesting to know if [crossed out: (illegible)] the papers had been rec'd & when they would be acted upon, but have rec'd no answer. Other cases which were forwarded at & some, I think, after the mail by which I [crossed out: for(warded)] sent those of Mrs. Lewis have long since been acted upon. Why is it then that this case, which is important in [crossed out: (illegible)] amounts important is referenced and to the critical situation of the applicant, why is it that it alone has not been attended to? The papers must have been on your files nearly three months (unless altogether lost) and one of your...
Page 49

...certificates issued within the last few days is numbered under 100. A single clerk, with deference could have turned off [crossed out: (illegible)] almost as many unless two are rejected to where there is one allowed. The immense number of applications under the act 1832, accounted sufficiently for the delay attending their examinations; but such is not the case now. The applicants must, from the nature of things, be fewer in numbers and the former in your department (unless much evidence) amply sufficient to give them prompt attention.

But I am not disposed to complain unnecessarily. Let me respectfully but earnestly request an examination of Mrs. Lewis' claim. She is in the last stages of conversations and crossed out: the] my firm conviction is that unless the action of your department be speedy, the grave will forever shut out the bounty of Congress from its object.

Is not the sickness of the applicant a sufficient reason for the examination of the case out of its turn? If it possibly be out of its turn.

Respectfully your obed(ient) serv(ant),
s/ Wm L. Dayton

Freehold, Monmouth Co., N. Jersey, Oct. 30, 1836.
Page 50

State of N. Jersey 
Morris County//

Before the subscriber, a Justice of (the) Peace in & for the County of Morris, personally appeared Israel Canfield, Esq., of said County, who having been by me duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare as follows; Viz.:

I am in the 78th year of my age, was born in the [crossed out: Township] County of Morris, where I have spent all my years. I was, in the early period of the Revolutionary War, a Dragoon or Horseman in Captain Jacob Arnold's Troop of Horse in the New Jersey Militia & performed considerable of Militia duty
in said troop in defense of the County. My father being over infirm & I, the oldest son of a numerous family, I quit the troop in the year (blank) & aided my father in attending to business of his farm & merchandizing, altho(ugh) I occasionally, upon alarms, performed militia service until the war ended. My home was in Morristown, which was headquarters of the American Army in the winter of 1776-7 & in 1779-80 & perhaps again in 1781. Morristown was considered from its location & other circumstances to be a place of safety from hostile invasion & there was established an extension Depot of Military Stores, clothing, provisions, arms, ammunition &c. for the use of the army & from which supplies were transported from place to place as the wants of the army & militia required. A quartermaster & a Commissary's Department were established in that place & buildings even erected & hired for their accommodation & officers were appointed to superintend & manage them under the direction & conted of the United States.

Among these officers was Edward Lewis, a nature & resident of Basking Ridge, Somerset County, whom I him my will at that time, & until his death. He belonged to the Commissary Department & I was connected with it, according to the best of my remembrance & as I verily believe, from its first organization (probably in 1776, or '77) to the time when it was finally broken up at the disbanding of the army when the remnant of the public stores, together with the testimy in which they were stored, were disposed of for benefit of the United States. [crossed out: For some time after hostilities ceased & whilst] The enemy continued in possession of Staten Island & of New York. Lines of defense or observation were maintained from the neighborhood of New Brunswick, along the sound, through Woodbridge, Rahway, Elizabeth Town & Newark to the Hudson River in Bergen County. These lines of defense & observation were manned principally by the Militia of New Jersey, who on their marched to & from the lines, some of them, needed their supplies from the public stores at Morristown, as long as this kind of duty was performed. The precise time when it ceased, I cannot tell. But according to the best of my remembrance & belief, this Commissary Establishment remained with all its organization until late in the year 1782 & most probably until sometime in 1783. And I verily believe that Edward Lewis was attached to it & performed his regular duties, as an Assistant or as a Deputy Commissary, either issuing or receiving supplies, or in both characters perhaps, so long as the depot was kept up at Morristown. No other residence was within 40 or 50 rods of this depot...
Page 51

...& I was well acquainted with Edward Lewis, whom I often saw in the performance of his ordinary duties in & about the Commissariat Establishment, sometimes daily & frequently, in the course of the work. His family & friends, I believe, resided at Basking Ridge, distant about 7 miles from Morristown & it is probable he may often have visited them. But according to the best of my recollection & as I verily believe, he was a faithful & vigilant officer & punctual in the discharge of his public duties at the depot in Morristown until it was finally broke up at the breaking up & disbanding of the army & discharging the militia from further duty along the lines & the shores of Staten Island.

I am unable to say what was the rank or title of said Edward Lewis or from what source he derived his commission, except that he was considered & believed to be in the employ of the United States & attached in some way to the staff of the General Army.
s/ Israel Canfield

Sworn & subscribed before me at Morristown Nov. 26th 1836.
s/ Elijah Ward, Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify to the Secretary of War & to the Commissioner of Pensions that Israel Canfield, Esq., the above deponent, has been personally & intimately well known to me more than 40 years. From the close of the Revolutionary War to the year 1810 or 1812, he was one of our most active & intelligent merchants, possessing the confidence & respect of all our citizens. He was Sheriff of Morris County for two successive years & his integrity has never to my knowledge been questioned. I believe there is no man in this vicinity whose situation & circumstances were more favorable than his to enable him to know the official standing & character & the duties performed by Edward Lewis than Israel Canfield. He is well known also to the Hon(orable) Mahlon Dickerson, present Secretary of the Navy, to whom I would refer for his character, if the Commissioner of Pensions shall desire to enquire further.
s/ Lewis Condict

Sworn to & subscribed before me at Morristown this 29th Nov. 1836.
s/ Elijah Ward, Justice of the Peace
Page 52

State of New Jersey 
Morris County//

Before the subscriber, a Justice of Peace in & for said County, personally appeared Mrs. Elizabeth O'Hara of said County, to me well known as a woman of fair character & fully worthy of belief & who having been by me first duly sworn according to law on her oath saith as follows. Viz.:

I am in the 77th year of my age, & in time of the War of the Revolution, I lived in Morristown where I have ever since lived till the present time. I lived in the family of a widow Pitney, a relation of mine & well recollect when General Washington had his quarters in Morristown & when his army were in huts upon the hills near the town. I remember well the storehouses in which the army stores of provisions & clothing for the army were kept. I was then well acquainted with Edward Lewis of Basking Ridge, who belonged to the Public Military Stores in Morristown & was called a Commissary or a Deputy or Assistant Commissary & these public stores were often called Commissary Stores. I recollect Edward Lewis was one of the officers who was in daily attendance upon these public stores in dealing out supplies from them of provisions & clothing & shoes &c. to the soldiers & those who were authorized to receive them. Edward Lewis was then engaged from the time when their public stores were established to the time when they were broken up & the public buildings in which they were kept were sold. This time, according to the best of my remembrance & belief, was when the war ended & the army was finally discharged. Until this time, I used to see Edward Lewis engaged in this employment, as I understood & believed, sometimes once or twice in a week & sometimes daily. He boarded within a few doors of the house in which I lived. He passed the door daily & often was at the house & was intimately acquainted in the family of my Aunt Pitney, with whom I then lived. I cannot tell distinctly the year in which said Edward Lewis left the Commissary duties at Morristown but I feel confident he remained there, so engaged, until the termination of the war & the sale of the buildings. One of these public storehouses was purchased & converted into a dwelling house & was owned & occupied as an hotel or tavern by me & by my dec(eased) husband, George O'Hara (to whom I was married in 1779) for 20 years or longer, fronting on Morristown Green, & is now occupied as an hotel by John Drake. I know not what was the rank or title of Edward Lewis but he was called Commissary or Deputy Commissary & was considered to be an officer in the Army of the United States.
s/ Elizabeth O'Hara

Sworn & subscribed before me at Morristown this 26th November 1836.
s/ Elijah Ward, Justice of the Peace
Page 53

I, Joseph Dalrimple, Esq., Clerk of Morris County, N. Jersey, do hereby certify that Elijah Ward, Esq., the Magistrate before the within deposition of Elizabeth O'Hara, widow of George O'Hara, was taken & the annexed depositions also of Israel Canfield & of Lewis Condict were taken, is a Justice of (the) Peace in & for said County, duly commissioned & authorized, & that the signature of his name to each of the said depositions is genuine.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name & affix my Seal of Office at Morristown this 29th November A.D. 1836.
s/ Jos Dalrimple, Clk.

Hon. S.L Southard 
Senate, U.S.
Page 54

Sam'l L. Southard

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Comm(issioner) of Pensions
Washington

Conv. | Feb. 4
Con(tains) his papers.

Hon. S.L Southard 
Senate, U.S.
Page 55

Dear Sir,

May I beg an answer to the case of Mrs. Lewis. I suppose there can no longer be any serious difficulty about it.

The case also of Freeman & the others, which I left with you. I rec'd the case of Fidler, Mrs. Breadley & Mrs. Robinson.

I am respectfully &c.,
s/ Sam'l L. Southard
Wash(ington) 3 Feb. 1837

J.L. Edwards, Esq.

If you cannot possibly allow Mr. Freeman to have a pension (which I hope is not the case, as I know his merits) I beg you to enclose all his papers to me & I will endeavor to prove a law in his favor, which I don't wish to do. But I know the Justice of his case & I am not willing to rest until he has what is right.
Page 56

To J.L. Edwards Comm(issioner) &c.

Dear Sir,

By a strange oversight, I did not hand to you the enclosed affidavits. They are important in the case of Mrs. Lewis. They seem to me to establish beyond all possible doubt the service after the marriage. They are so distinct, taken in connection with my father's affidavit, that I suppose the only question can be the amount of pension. This I presume will be the highest of the grade in the brigade.

I leave here tomorrow for a few days & hope on my return to find her pension certificate.

I am respectfully &c.,
s/ Sam'l L. Southard
17 Jan. 1837.
Page 57

To J.L. Edwards, Esq.

Sir,

I am personally acquainted with John Morris of the City of Trenton & have known him for many years. He is a respectable & credible witness and I should not hesitate to rely upon his truth & accuracy in the affidavit, which he has given upon the application of Sarah Robinson for a pension.

I am respectfully &c.,
s/ Sam'l L. Southard
Wash(ington) 13 Jan. 1837
Page 58

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Comm(issioner) of Pensions
Washington City
Page 59

Freehold (N.J.) Oct. 28th 1837

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Comm(issioner) &c.

Dear Sir,

By the report of the Pension Department of Sep. 29, 1837, the pension of Nancy Lewis was raised from $320 to $480 & I was required to forward the old certificate, which is entered, for the purpose of having a new one issued.

Be so good as to enclose the new certificate to the Hon Wm. L. Dayton, Member of Council, Trenton.

Yours respectfully,
s/ Jos. F. Randolph
Page 60

Nancy Lewis

Payment to be made at Trenton, N.J., by P. Dickinson, Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of New Jersey.

Mrs. Lewis requests that in the new certificate the pension may be made payable in the City of New York.
s/ J.Q. Adams

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book A, Vol. 1, Page 148 by:
s/ D.M. Curdy, Clerk
Page 61

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that, in conformity with the 3d section of the law of the United States of the 4th July, 1836, Nancy Lewis of New Jersey, widow of Edward Lewis, who was an Assistant Commissary of Issues, in the Army of the Revolution, is entitled to receive Four Hundred & Eighty dollars and (blank) cents per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September. Issued in lien of a certificate for $320, dated 4th February 1837.

Given at the War Office of the United States this Eighteenth day of November, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty seven.
s/ (blank)

Examined and countersigned.
s/ (blank)
Page 62

Nancy Lewis

Payment to be made at Trenton, N.J., by Ph(ineas) Dickinson, Esq., Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of New Jersey.

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book (blank), Vol. 1, Page 148 by:
s/ D. Brown Clerk
Page 63

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that, in conformity with the 3d section of the law of the United States of the 4th July, 1836, Nancy Lewis of the State of New Jersey, widow of Edward Lewis, who was an Assistant Commissary of Issues, in the War of the Revolution, is entitled to receive Three Hundred and Twenty dollars [crossed out: and (blank) cents] per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September. 

Given at the War Office of the United States this Fourth day of February, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty seven.
s/ B.F. Butler, Secretary of War ad interim

Examined and countersigned.
s/ J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
Page 64

Paid to 4 Mar. 1837.
Paid to 4 Sep. 1837.
Page 65

Senate Chambers
26 Aug. 1842

Sir,

My objection was to ascertain the exact rank of Edward Lewis &  when his promotions took place. Neither are stated.

Your obe(dient) ser(vant),
s/ Wm. L. Dayton

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Page 66

Senate Chambers
26 Aug. 1842

Jas. L. Edwards, Esq.

Sir,

Nancy Lewis of Somerset Co., N.J., the widow of Edward Lewis, dec(eased), was first allowed a pension under the Act of 1836 as the widow of an Asst. Commissary of Issues.

Her pension was subsequently increased.

Be good eno(ugh) to say in reply to what amount and on what evidence?

Be good eno(ugh) to give me, in some detail, the evidence of his increased rank, where found and by whom supplied?

Yours truly,
s/ Wm. L. Dayton

[crossed out: Thompson]

[illegible]
Page 67

Hon. W.L. Dayton
Aug. 27, 1842
Page 68

425

Pen(sion) Off(ice)
Aug. 27, '42

Sir,

In answer to your further enquiry in the case of Mrs. Nancy Lewis, I have the honor to inform you that her late husband was appointed Asst. Comm(isary) of Issues 18 Sep. '77. He held no [crossed out: (illegible)] rank [crossed out: while] but his pay was about that of a major and affords his widow the highest rate of pension.

Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, Senate
Page 69

415

Pen(sion) Off(ice)
Aug. 26, '42

Sir,

In answer to yours of 24 inst. respecting the case of Mrs. Nancy Lewis of N.J. under the Act of 4 July '36, I have the honor to inform you that her claim was adjusted at 320$ per annum in Feb. '37 & her certificate forwarded to Hon. S.L. Southard. In Nov. 1837, an application for increase to 480$ per annum was made by Hon. J.F. Randolph. Upon a memo of references & arguments drawn up & signed by you, the increase was allowed & the certificate transmitted to you on 18 Nov. 1837.

At a subsequent time, an application was made for a further increase to 600$ per annum, which was also allowed & the certificate transmitted to Hon. J.Q. Adams on 23 Apr. '39. These charges in the rate of pension were made upon information derived from the journals of the Continental Congress & from the
returns of the Quar(ter)mas(ter) Generals among the Washington...
Page 70

...papers in the State Dept. as to the pay, the staff officers & rank of at each increase the amount of the certificate was calculated from 4 March '31 subject to the deduction of whatever had been paid upon the previous certificate.

Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, Senate
Hon. W.Q. Layton, Aug. 26, '42
Page 71

Edward Lewis was of the same grade with [illegible] DeGraff - was appointed Sep. 18, 1777. See Vol. 3, 2M returns in the State Department Washington papers.

Admitted.

Assistant Commissary of Issues, 2 years, $600.

Hon J.Q. Adams, Present
Page 72

N. Jersey
Act 4 July 1836

Nancy Lewis, widow of Edward Lewis, rec'd pension for his service as Commissary, $480. Pay at $600 per annum is claimed.

See the papers and report to Hon. J.Q. Adams.

Did Lewis serve in the same grade in which Mr. DeGraaf of Schenectady served? If so, the pay should be increase.
Page 73

Hon. W.L. Dayton
Dec. 11/'40.
Page 74

Pension Office
Dec. 11, 1848

Sir,

In answer to your enquiry, I have to inform you that Edward Lewis was an Assistant Commissary of Issues. He held no military rank. His widow, Mrs. Nancy Lewis, was pensioned at the rate of $600 per annum, which is the highest pension allowed by law to the widows of officers of the highest rank.
s/ Jho. Richards

Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, Senate U.S.
Page 75

Nancy Lewis, widow of Edward Lewis, Asst. Commissary of Issues, N. Jersey, Act July 4, 1836 3rd Section.

$320 per annum.

Hon. S.L. Southard, Senate U.S.
{Adm(itted) by Sec. War}
Page 76

New Jersey | 455

Nancy Lewis, widow of Edward Lewis, of Monmouth Co. in the State of N. Jersey, who was a Asst. Comm(issary) of Issues in the (blank) commanded by Captain (blank) of the (blank) commanded by (blank) in the Revolution line for (blank).

Increased to $480 per annum.

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 320 dollars [crossed out: (blank) cents] per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Feb. 1837 and sent to Hon. S.L. Southard, Senate.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '36..............$1,760.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. '37........160.00
                                            =========
                                            $1,920.00

Act July 4, 1836 3rd Sec(tion).

{Revolutionary Claim, [crossed out: Act June 7, 1832]}

Recorded by D. Brown, Clerk
Book -; Vol. 1; Page 148

J.F. Randolph, Esq.
Freehold, N.J.

Letter to Hon. Jos. F Randolph 24 Sep. 1887.
Page 77

New Jersey | 455

Nancy Lewis, widow of Edward Lewis, who died on the 27 May 1817 of Monmouth Co. in the State of New Jersey, who was an Asst. in the Comm(issary) of Issues [crossed out: commanded by Captain (blank) of the (blank) commanded by (blank)] in the Continental line for 2 years.

Increased from $320.

Inscribed on the Roll of Trenton, N.J. at the rate of 480 dollars (blank) cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Increased from $320.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of November 1837 and sent to Wm. L. Dayton, Freehold, N.J.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1837..............$3,120.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. '38.........240.00
                                             =========
                                             $3,360.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3c.}

Recorded by D. McCindy, Clerk
Book A; Vol. 1; Page 148.

Let(ter) to Hon. Jos. F. Randolph Nov. 25, 1837.
Let(ter) to Hon. J.Q. Adam 15 Apr. '39