Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5846, for Joseph Kelly, New Jersey
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(8-1776)
Service
New Jersey
Kelly,  Joseph
Number R. 5846

[illegible] 1812
Contents
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usno  his service
18- [illegible] 1848

D.C.

John A. Bryan
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District of Columbia
Washington City }ss.
Joseph Kelly, now of Georgetown in said District, being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he was born on the twentieth of March 1756, and from infancy until nearly [illegible] to [illegible] (when his father removed to near Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania) this deponent resided with his father in Anna Randell County, Maryland.  That in a little time after he removal to Pennsylvania, he thinks in less than one year, his father enlisted in the American Army & he, this deponent accompanied his father into the war & that he this deponent remained in the Army with his father & four of his uncles for full eight years & one half.  He, this deponent, was at the battle of Monmouth, recollects particular of that engagement, that he was wounded at the court house in the Monmouth battle.  That it was a hot siege.  Thinks it now on the 28th of June in 1778 & he recollects having seen Washington come up from Trenton & demand the land from Genl. Lee.  It was at Monmouth where he got his toe smashed in helping his father move one of the Artillery guns. This deponent recollects that there was a rendezvous at the Red Banks and that he with their new orders by General Washington to guard the enemy from driving off the cattle.  He recollects seeing General Washington in Bucks County Pennsylvania, opposite Trenton.  This deponent was also at the Battle of Brandywine in which he & his father were actively engaged.  He thinks the commencement of the battle was on Sunday, & that Washington then lay at Pools where they had a sort of skirmish, in which this deponent was engaged.  This deponent forgets the name of the Col. in command at Monmouth, Brandywine & their engagements. He recollects serving under Capt. Denny of  Annapolis Maryland, during a portion of the war.  That he served during the entire Revolutionary war & when his father was discharged, he this deponent went with him. 
And this deponent further saith that he also service in the last war.  That he entered the  Saturday before the battle of Chippewa in Canada which he thinks was the fourth day of July 1814 and that he was severely wounded in that battle, first in his right shoulder, then in the right knee, and not so severely with a saber in the left side of the head, all now distinctly showing themselves on the various parts of his body mentioned.  This deponent thinks Miller was the name of his colonel & Henderson the name of his captain.  He recollects that he was regularly enrolled in the 5th or 15th regiment N. York Militia.  That for all his services in the Revolution, as well as in the last war with Great Britain, he has received nothing from the government of his country.  That being now nearly ninety two years of age, decrepit poor & forlorn he has embodied the foregoing statement of facts in the hope of finding some relief from the bounty of the country he has served.  And further this deponent saith not.  

X his mark
Joseph Kelley

Signed in presence of James  Shafer

Subscribed & sworn to this fourteenth day of 1848 before me. Saml Stellinus J.P.
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Mary Kelly
child of 
Patrick,
alias Joseph Kelly
Power of Atty

New Jersey, Suspd
7 June 1832

Evans & Fant
Washington D.C.
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Know all men by these presents that Mary Kelly, daughter of Patrick Kelly, alias Joseph Kelly, who has been informed by a Mr. Dougherty, a Revolutionary soldier, that her father Patrick, alias Joseph, Kelly belonged to Capt. Lloyd's company 2nd Regt. commanded by Col. Ogden of the N. Jersy Cont. Line in the War of the Revolution and who applied for a pension in the spring of 1848 whose claim was suspended , or rejected, as by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory could not state positively the period length and grade of service in each engagement, & who died without receiving a pension, do hereby make & constitute & appoint Messrs Evans & Fant of Washington my attorneys to examine the papers on file in the Pension Office, to see if any allowance is due to me as the daughter of Patrick Kelly, alias Joseph Kelly, for his services in the war of the revolution.  
X her mark
Mary Kelly

Subscribed & acknowledged before me a commissioner in and for the County of Mercer, State of New Jersey. And I believe the aforesaid Mary Kelly of Pennsylvania to be a daughter of Patrick Kelly or Joseph Kelly.
Samual B. Stafford
Commissioner
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35550
Joseph Kelly
N.J.
5846
Let to claimant Aug 23 1843
Let to John A. Bryan Jan 6 1845
Let to same Sept 15 '48

Act 7 June 1832
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5846
P.O.
Joseph Kelly
Service:
Enlisted: _________,18  .
Discharged: _________,18  .
Application Filed: _________,18  .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract.
Cert. of Dis.
Searched for  _________,18  .
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[illegible]
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Washington, Sep 4 [illegible]
Sir
We herewith enclose the authority to examine the papers & prosecute the claim of Patrick alias Joseph Kelly, New Jersey Susp.  Act June 7 1832

Very respectfully
Evans & Fant


James E. Heath, Esqr
Comm of Pensions
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Washington, 27th Mar 1848

Col. J. L. Edwards
Dear Sir:
Will Col. Edwards allow me, in presenting the new additional affidavit from poor, old, decrepit Kelly (who with his wife of 79, are now in a state of wretchedness and destitution in Georgetown awaiting the action of the Department, to ask that his papers be immediately taken up.  I feel confident, if Col. Edwards will read over his last statement, that he will feel disposed, if no more pressing case is before him (and such an one can scarcely exist on record) to examine fully into the merits of his claim at once.
In a recent letter from your department, it is intimated that if Mr. Kelly would make a full affidavit of the particular facts within his knowledge, giving the grounds of his claim, there unto be little or no difficulty in deciding his case.  And in pursuance of this kind suggestion, I have put myself to the trouble of hunting up the old man and getting him to put down all such facts & particulars as were within his distinct recollection.  
May I again most respectfully solicit the kind offices of the Comm. in calling up this case anew.
Very truly
Your obt sevt
John A. Bryan
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December 47
Joseph Kelly
Revolutionary
Claims
Mr. Stafford
1. Dec 1847
Enquiries

New Jersey 
1832
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Case of Joseph Kelly a private in the Revolutionary War.  Maryland line under Captain Denney from Annapolis. Serviced under Genl Washington in the battles of Germantown, White March, Monmouth, Brandywine and under Wayne at Pools

Papers filed by Mrs. Stafford in 1841

Lives in Georgetown near the foundry on Main &  was wounded at Chippewa under Genl Scott.
Father died about the year 1800 is from Morristown Pa 1841
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Trenton New Jersey
June 24th 18 [illegible]

James L. Edwards, Esq.
Sir,
I herewith send the declaration of Joseph Kelley, and the accompanying affidavits.  When I wrote to Washington, I stated the case as Mrs. Kelley told me.  My impression then was, he had been a soldier before the Battle of Chippewa, (and not a volunteer) therefore I expected his name was recorded in the Secretary of War's Office, and perhaps it may be found among the names of those who were wounded at that Battle.  As I was engaged in my school hours, I had not any time to ask her any questions.  
She said they lived in the pines, near Squan where I could address a letter to them.
On receipt of your letter, I wrote to them, but the Post Master here said there was not any Post office at Squan.  I then wrote to the Post Masters at Manasquan, Howells Works and to Squankum,  either place I presume is ten or fifteen miles from Squan.  I stated that if information could be sent to Mr. Kelly, he would receive some instructions, that might be of benefit to him, by addressing a letter
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to me.  My object was to get an answer to the letters, from someone to whom I could send your letter and the "instructions" to.
The letters were received by the Post Masters and sent to Squan.  After passing through several persons hands, they were received by the Keeper of the Poor House, who delivered them to Mr. Kelly and instead of the keeper answering the letters, he sent the old man to me.   I presume the Keeper is like the major part of the people in this country, thinks there is no difficulty in establishing a pension claim, that the law is passed for them, only write a letter to Washington, for the money and that is sufficient.
When he arrived here, we asked him who were his witnesses, how he expected to prove his services & he mentioned among many others he knew in the Revolution, the names of George Parker and his brother Joseph Parker, he said he was five feet ten inches high and described him so minutely that a person went for Mr. Parker, when he instantly recognized him.    I wrote down his words as he related them to Mr. Parker.  Many of the incidents in his tours were omitted as being of to great a length.  I placed his narrative together, as well as I could in the form of a Declaration according to the "instructions" which was received from Washington.  Mr. Parker said his statement was true, and he would be very
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sorry if his case was rejected at the Pension Office. 
If he receives a Warrant, he says he will settle in Trenton, near the Pension Office, he has no legal residence in any place and I am informed as he is a United States soldier, (by the Laws of New Jersey) whenever he is taken sick that Township is obliged to maintain him, so if he gets sick, while in this Township they must provide for him, as his residence is as much here as anywhere else.  I am informed that the Squan Poor House is fifty five miles from here, in the pines near the sea shore.  Our neighbors have met together and thought it best to select some respectable man to take charge of his Warrant, and to see that his money is not spent uselessly, but for the benefit of his family, if the case is allowed.  If there is any error, please point it out and I will strive to have it corrected, as far as the form is concerned, or as far as I can. 
Please address your answer to Joseph Kelley, to my care and he will then receive it.
I am Sir,
Yours very respectfully
Sarah Smith Stafford

P.S.  Mrs. Parker, wife of Mr. Joseph Parker was taken with a chill, night before last and we have heard this morning that she is dead, she was well as usual and appeared to be very anxious that Mr. Kelly should get his pension,  She was 80 years I believe.
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Joseph Kelly
2nd Afft in relation to his late claim for a pension.
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District of Columbia
Washington City}ss.
I, Joseph Kelly, now residing temporarily at Georgetown in the said District, where I went to remain until my application for bounty law & pension should be finally decided, being duly sworn do depose and make oath to the following statement of facts in addition to the former affidavit now on file int he Pension office. 
As near as I can remember it was eight years and a half that I served in the Revolutionary war, having entered the service with my father who was a soldier, when quite young.  I have a distinct recollection of the year I was born from the fact of having seen the day, twentieth of July 1756, put down in my father's Bible, where I have seen and read it one hundred times.  This particular circumstance I cannot be mistaken in & besides, that was the day, the only day and year, that both my parents, father & mother always told me I was born.  
I served in both wars, that of the Revolution, and that of the last war with Great Britain & was severely wounded in both, first at the battle of Monmouth, and last at the Battle of Chippewa on the Canada Frontier.
Being at Buffalo, NYork, in the summer of 1814, on a peddling voyage, & hearing of the disturbances & fights below there, my blood was fired up to join in & help my country.
On the fourth of July of that year, one Williams & myself who had been company peddlers together from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where we first met had a talk about it and concluded to start immediately for Chippewa.  We mentioned our design to the landlord where we stopped, who said to us if we were willing to go he would furnish us with guns.  This gave us new encouragement and on the following day, the fourth of July 1814 we started off with our guns upon our shoulders, for the scene of action.  We crossed the lake below Buffalo in a Batteau, Williams and myself only being along. We landed, after a terrible accident befalling us on the way over, a little above Kingston in  Canada.  Our Batteau, as we were raw hands at such business, upset when part of the way over and we came very near drowning.  We made quite a miraculous escape, and distinctly recollect as well as I do the exclamation of some of the British Soldiers at the time who was walking back and forth on the shore, "There, the d_____d rebel rascals are drowned" but we reached the banks and on the following day (July 5th), we joined General Scott's army.  On that day, the battle commenced. It raged with great fury, in which I freely mingled and in which I was awfully wounded, at first supposed mortally.  I was first struck by a ball, a grape or musket shot, in the right knee which shattered it badly & which brought me to the ground, but this was a terrifying wound to those which followed.  Mingling again in the hottest of the fight, I was cut with a saber or cutlass on the left side of the head, a most terrible gash.  I lay where I fell until the following morning.  
When they came round to gather up the dead, I was taken by the army surgeon, whose name I have forgotten, & carried into a hovel or barn, some little distance off where my wound was dressed & such comforts afforded and as could there be procured which indeed were few and scanty.  I lay in that uncomfortable, miserable hovel for three or four months, my life during the time being often despaired of. It was thought by the surgeon & others that I could not survive.  Just before receiving the gash from the cutlass which will be better understood by seeing (as an awful scar several inches long is upon the left side of my head) a ball struck my right arm, just below the shoulder blade which most dreadfully shivered and shattered the bone.  So severe was this wound that the doctor wanted to take off the arm.  I at this time lay in a most shocking condition and I objected to the amputation saying that I had already suffered so much distress and agony that I could not bear the thought of undergoing such an operation.  Pain now as will not fail to be lessen awfully crippled by those several wounds.  My right arm and hand are drawn up so as to be utterly useless, and my right leg is about the same, tho I am enable with difficulty to walk some and this has been my [illegible] condition from the day of my recovery in 1814 to the present moment rendering me totally unable to do any business and utterly incompetent to earn a living.  
The reason of my delay in applying for some aid from my country may be stated in a few words.  It has been principally owing to my own ignorance of the way to proceed, & to several and [illegible] circumstances in my unfortunate life, which I will here relate under the solemnity of my oath.  
That a certificate from the Army surgeon detailing my wounds in the war, which was given me by him soon after the Battle of Chippewa.  That certificate with my pocket book & the papers receipts, money [illegible] & were stolen from me at Schenectady, N.York while at a tavern there about three years after the day of said certificate.  I made diligent search & enquiry after it, but after
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great effort to find it. I never was able to recover or find the same.  On the loss of this, to me, important paper, I supposed that I could never succeed in obtaining any aid from the government.  Under this impression, many years elapsed without my making any enquiry in reference to the matter, and until about fifteen or sixteen years ago, when I eventually met with Daniel W. Lincoln (as near as I can now remember his name) who served, as he then told me, in  Scott's Army.  I found him at Dunkirk, N.York, when on a tour of observation.  He knew me in the war, and hearing from me that I had never applied for a pension, he told me I had acted very foolish, and that I was probably entitled to one to his own knowledge and asked and why I did not go right on to Washington?  I replied that I had been told that volunteers & militia were not entitled to anything.  I said to him then, that I had showed my discharge to several who thought a militia soldier did not draw.  The said Lincoln remarked again that I had been fooled, that he knew my services and sufferings well & no one was more or better entitled than myself.  He said he would do any thing he could to serve me, and he sat immediately down and wrote a letter to Genl. Peter B. Porter at Black Rock, calling his special attention to my particularly distressing case.  That letter I took to Genl Porter with my own hand.  Genl. Porter signed the letter and I immediately took it & deposited it in the Post Office at Buffalo, addressed to the Pension Office or some proper office here at Washington.  On coming to this city soon after, at great charge & sacrifice & in the constant pain from my suffering limb, I could find no such letter.  This misfortune, added to my numerous other, nearly led me to despair of ever again making the attempt to obtain anything from my country.  But my wounds, poverty and distress, once more prevailed over this last resolution and again, while tottering on the verge of the grave, at the age of nearly ninety two years, I have concluded to make another application, probably my last on earth, to the justice of my government for assistance.  

X his mark
Joseph Kelley

Subscribed * sworn this 28 day of March 1842 before me
Saml Stellinus J Peace
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35550
Joseph Kelly
N.J.
Act 7 June 32
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, entitled An act supplementary to "An Act for the relief of the surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution"
State of New Jersey
Mercer County } ss.  1843
 
On this twentieth day of June AD 1843 personally appeared before me, Samuel Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Mercer, Joseph Kelly aged eight three years who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he was born in the county of Tyrone, in Ireland on the 20th of March 1760, Emigrated to America before the Revolution with his Father and mother, James and Mary Kelly, landed at New York City, lived there about two months, when a friend told his Father he could get work at Middletown Point, New Jersey.  
Removed there, his Father got work ditching for a man there, can not recollect his name now, we lived on his place several years, supposed he was about nine or ten years of age, when we first moved to Middletown Point, had only one sister, she was born there, died when she was about two or three years of age.  His mother died about the beginning of the War, and was buried in the old Chruch Yard at Middletown Point.
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HIs father James Kelly enlisted as a soldier at the first commencement of the War.  This depoinent thinks he was then about sixteen or seventeen years old, was determined to go into the Army with his Father, as he was alone. 
Went to a Recruiting Officer named Henderson and offered himself as a volunteer, went with him to the Rendezvous, it was an old Store House at the Water's edge, at Red Bank, Shrewsbury, in the County of Monmouth.
We were sent into Captain Shadwick's Company, the Lieutenant's name was Wilson or Williams, we were placed to guard the shore.  This deponent's father was an artillerist and he assisted him to fire the cannon off, we continued along the coast of Monmouth until General Washington sent for the Monmouth Troops as the British were coming up Cheasapeake Bay.  As many as could be spared from the shore went, and as fast as we could go, we arrived there in the beginning of September 1777, some miles below Phila.
Captain Smith went with us, he was one of Washington's Captains (Regular) we were placed under General Wayne at the Battle of Brandywine, which was a few days after we got there, it was a hot siege that we had there, the same night we left the battle ground and filed off towards Philadelphia
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We arrived there next morning, it rained and we were tired, and had a very bad time, we soon encamped on French Creek.  Shortly afterwards we were sent into General Wayne's detachment near the Paoli Tavern, he remembers the nights of the massacre well, and a horrid night it was to.  The British used the Bayonet only, and made terrible slaughter with our troops. 
The Battle of Germantown soon followed after the surprise at Paoli.
Our company did not arrive at Germantown until after the Battle was over, when we got near, we met the Americans retreating towards us.  Genl Forman and his troops from Monmouth, he saw them there, he was personally acquainted with the General and many of his men.  We were at White Marsh, had no fighting except some skirmishing, soon after our Army, being in great distress and the weather very cold, General Washington ordered us to encamp at Valley Forge, could not relate our sufferings there, we almost suffered to death, for days we had not meat, nor hardly any of the necessaries of life.  
There was not any engagement through the winter, that he can recollect, we staid in Pennsylvania until the British Army left Philadelphia, we followed them into New Jersey,  Captain Smith was our
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Captain, the same man we were with at Brandywine.
General Lee was our commanding officer, we were sent to [illegible] the British Army, we came up to them near Monmouth Court House, we retreated, and they followed us.  General Washington met us retreating, he was very angry, spoke sharply to Lee, ordered him away from us, told him to give up his sword.  This deponent was near General Lee, heard Washington tell him to go to other troops. He did go.  It was the hottest day, he thinks he ever felt, the Battle was fought near the meeting house, this deponent and his father and some others, were sent to take charge of a field piece which we did and he was wounded while at  the cannon, two bullets or ounce balls entered into the side of the calf of his left leg and the big toe on the left foot tore off, the balls were taken out afterwards, but a buckshot he received in his right knee is still in the joint of the knee, which has never been extracted.  
This deponent after being wounded was taken to a house near the Battle ground, where his wounds were dressed, he was then carried to the meeting house, where the wounded was taken and staid there until he was able to join the Army.
Cannot remember the date he returned to the Army.
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After this deponent had been with the army awhile, we received orders to attack Stoney Point, we tried to surprise the fort, it must have been twelve o'clock at night when we arrived at the fort, we took our cartridge boxes and tied them around our necks and waded through mud and water up to our waists.  We were ordered not to fire, but to defend on the bayonet only, General Wayne saying "boys remember Paoli". The General was wounded in the head, he thinks, saw him carried into the fort by the soldiers. 
Information was soon after received from Monmouth, by General Washington that the British and Tories from New York City were carrying the people of Monmouth off as prisoners & putting them in the 'old provo' and on board of prison ships and stealing their cattle, and had killed some of them (our people).
The Monmouth regulars and militia were anxious to return home when the intelligence was received.  
General Washington sent us home, to protect the coast of Monmouth. 
Saw some of Captain Stillwell's company on our return and was grieved to hear that our first Captain had been carried away by the British and Tories.  This deponent and father was greatly attached to Captain Shadwick (our first Captain) and many others who had been captured by them.
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When we arrived at Neversink in Monmouth County, Captain Shepherd and his men were there and Captain Barnes Smock, we entered Smock's company because he had the artillery. 
Tunis Vandeveer was our Sergeant (son of John) one of the Johnsons belonged to our company.  I have forgot his Christian name, and William Anderson belonged to the Artillery and one Joseph Parker was with us, a Revolutionary pensioner, whom this deponent has seen and talked with, since he came to Trenton, is the same man .  Knew him by his voice (and size) as soon as he spoke.
He further states that he and his Father James Kelley generally fired off the cannon, they mostly loaded the artillery, when there was any where they were, but sometimes we raised the musquit.
George Parker did not belong to the artillery.  Charles Gilmore belonged to Shepherd's company, he was their barber sometimes.
We continued to guard the coasts from Neversink hills to Egg-harbour until the War was over. 
After peace, this deponent and his father went to Pennsylvania.
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We lived at Potters furnace on the Schuylkill river, we followed Peddling until he died,  He died near Pittsburg Pennsylvania, at a tavern where we stopped, his pocket book was then stole and in it was our discharges, from the army.  Never saw the pocket book afterwards, nor anything that was then in it.  This deponent further states that he arrived at Buffalo, in the State of New York, on the third of July 1814.  The Tavern Keeper there informed him that the Americans had gone over the lake and were then a going over to have a fight with the British, told him it was good news, and if he would furnish him with a gun and ammunition he would give him his pack for it as he wished to fight the rascals.  
This deponent further declares, that she showed the Tavern Keeper the wounds he had received from the British at Monmouth Battle and said he fought them in one war and would fight the d__n rascals again.  The Tavern Keeper said Go you shall have a gun with or without the pack. 
The next morning, received the gun.  It was the fourth of July.  Three other Irish peddlers who had just arrived at Buffalo went over with him.  We had come to Buffalo to spend the 4th of July and could not please ourselves better than to go over to fight them and assist to give them a good flogging.
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We went up to a Sentry and told him we were volunteers, come over the lake to help thrass the d__n English.  A Sergeant conducted us to General Brown's Markee or Marquee (an officers headquarters), He asked us who we were and what brought us into the camp.  We told him we were Irish peddlers and wished to fight and get some satisfaction.  
This deponent further declares on his oath that he showed General Brown the wounds he received at the Battle of Monmouth and told him that nothing could give him more pleasure than to be allowed an opportunity to whip the d__n puppies!
General Brown ordered the Sergeant to conduct us to a tent and prepare us for the expected battle. 
The next afternoon, the Battle of Chippewa began (5th of July) while in close quarters, a British Officer came up to him and said throw down that musket you d__n son of a b___h, and took his sword and cut off his little finger and side of his right hand down to the wrist, which together with his arm has been useless ever since.  
A trooper rode up to us, we were in the Infantry to break through and shot him in his right arm, the wound is plainly now to be seen, and took his sword and cut him down with it across his head.  This deponent further
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solemnly declares, he then fell to the ground, dangerously wounded, the wound he received in his head from the Troopers sword rendered him senseless.  He lay on the ground with the wounded all night.
The next day we were carried to a Hospital (an old barn) where he was kept full of Laudanum for near two months.  He remembers nothing that occurred for four or five weeks after a part of the bones of his head were taken away.  He was informed by the surgeon that the skull bones he took out of his head weighed nearly an ounce.  Was conveyed over to Wilsons Tavern in Buffalo, the tavern he left his pack at, was there about seven months before he could go about. 
Never went into the army again.  Afterwards, as soon as he could, he began to peddle again.  Was in Baltimore some years ago, saw Colonel Richd. M. Johnson (late Vice President), showed him his wounds, he believed these wounds were received in battle, as well as every other person he ever conversed with.  Colonel Johnson told him to go to Washington and he would apply to Congress for him, went to Washington City, don't recollect the year, it was when President Adams was the President of the United States, was informed that Colonel Johnson was not in Washington, that he was sick. 
A few years ago, heard that General Scott, who was with us at the
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Battle of Chippewa was at the United States Hotel in Philadelphia, and being in that city, went to see him, showed the General his wounds, he promised solemnly he would intercede for him and get him a pension.  Never heard from him since, expected every year to receive his warrant, as the general promised he would try to get it for him, never applying to any person to assist him, to get it, (as he had no money to pay a lawyer) except General Scott, went to Lawyer Randolph at Freehold, told him, expected his warrant from Scott, asked Mr. Randolph to write a letter to him for him, said he would and he said he never received any answer to the letter.  Mr. Randolph promises to write again to him, but told him since, he forgot it. 
This deponent further states that he and his wife (whom he married in Pennsylvania) followed peddling a little.  People were kind to them, often gave them a little money, while travelling about, on account of his being wounded in the wars.  Went into Monmouth County about the year 1839, was taken sick at a tavern, the Tavern Keeper went to a Justice of the Peace, and he and his wife were sent to the poor house.  Did not expect to stay there, only until General Scott got his pension for him.
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They expected as soon as he received his pension to leave the poor house, has not any legal residence in Monmouth County, nor anywhere else, as he never owned any landed estate, nor served any apprenticeship to any business, except being a soldier in the War of the Revolution.

X his mark
Joseph Kelly

Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid before me
Saml Evans one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Mercer

I do hereby certify that the aforesaid Joseph Kelly is very aged and infirm being much crippled and in very indigent circumstances which render it inexpedient to attend in open court as is provided by law. And I do further certify that I am fully satisfied that the statements which he has given in the preceding declaration is substantially true as I must say that he is more scarified with evident wounds than any other person who I have before seen during my life.  Witness my hand this twentieth day of June A.D. 1843.
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Mercer.
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss.
On this twentieth day of June A.D. 1843 personally appeared before me, Samuel Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Mercer Joseph Parker of the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey who being sworn according to law on his oath saith
That he is a Revolutionary pensioner, was informed that a Revolutionary soldier was is South Trenton, that he had been acquainted with a Joseph Parker in the Revolution, went to see him to see if this deponent was the person, Joseph Kelly, the old soldier referred to, instantly said "you are the man" gave him a particular description of the men and places we were at in the Revolution, his statement in his Declaration, this deponent believes to be true, was acquainted with Captains Shadwick, Spencer and Smock, and his statement concerning them is true.  Captain Barnes Smock was the Captain of the Artillery, Tunis Vandeveer was the sergeant of the Company, the Rendezvous was at the old Stone House at Red Bank Monmouth County, his declaration was made to me, this deponent interrogated him as to his marches, the battles he was in, conversed
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with him for part of two days, that an opportunity might be given to have his declaration made out.  Asked many questions that he recollected, his description of the attack and surprise of Stoney Point agrees with what Benjamin Gray who was at the capture of the Fort said.  This deponent, many years ago, about tying their cartridges boxes around their necks, when they waded through mud & water the night of the surprise of the Fort, to prevent the water from getting to the ammunition.  This deponent thinks he justly merits a pension, he believes he was wounded at the Battles of Monmouth and Chippewa as he states.
Joseph Parker

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Saml Evans one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the County of Mercer

I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Joseph Parker, who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and know him to be a credible person and that his testimony is entitled to full credit & belief.
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Comm Pleas in and for the county of Mercer.
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss.
On this twentieth day of June A.D. 1843 personally appeared before me, Samuel Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer
Revd. John Young, Pastor of the Trenton and Lamberton Baptist Church in South Trenton, who being sworn according to law on his oath saith
That he has examined the wounds of Joseph Kelly, a Revolutionary Soldier, and believes that his declaration is true and he further declares that Joseph Parker, a Revolutionary pensioner is a member of his church and that he believes that his affidavit can be relied upon as correct, and that he is a reputable man and has been many years a member of said church.
John Young

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer.

I do hereby certify that the aforesaid Revd. John Young, who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, is a respectable clergyman of the Baptist Church, and that his affidavit is entitled to full credit and belief. 
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer.
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss.
On this twenty second day of June 1843, personally appeared before me, Samuel Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer, Doctor Peter Howell, a regular physician and surgeon, who being sworn according to law on his oath saith that he has examined Joseph Kelley, who states he was a soldier of the Revolution and is now making application for a pension and find the following scars on his person now.  A large wound on the left side of the head, destroying the upper part of the Os Frontis and Parietal Bones, leaving a large indentation so that the pulsation of the brain is seen and felt distinctly.   And on his left leg, two scars with the loss of the great toe.
On his right arm, a scar about four inches below the articulation of the arm with the shoulder.  Also the loss of the small finger of the hand, a scar across the hand that has rendered it perfectly useless.  Also a scar on the right knee joint.  
This deponent further states that he has reason to believe that he received those scars in the defence of his country from living testimony and that he saw the aforesaid Joseph Kelley in or about the years of 1826 or 1827 in Philadelphia medical [illegible] house, being then a medical student and he was shown the medical class, as a soldier, that had received wounds
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in the services of his country, and he is totally disabled from obtaining his subsistence from manual labor.
Peter Howell

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer

I do hereby certify that the aforesaid Doctor Peter Howell, who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, is a respectable physician and surgeon, and is personally known to me and that his affidavit is entitled to full credit and belief.
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss.
On this twenty second day of June A.D. 1843 personally appeared before me Samuel Evans one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer Doctor John Howell of the City of Trenton, formerly Surgeon of the United States Frigate Constatation, who being sworn according to Law, on his oath saith That he has examined the scars of Joseph Kelley and fully concurs in the examination made by Doctor Peter Howell and that he is totally disabled from obtaining his subsistence from manual labor.
John Howell

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer

I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Doctor John Howell who is a respectable physician and surgeon, who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and that it is entitled to full credit and belief.
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss.
On this 21st day of June A.D. 1843 personally appeared before me, Samuel Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer Charles McCoy of the County of Mercer, State of New Jersey, aged between sixty and seventy years who being sworn according to law on his oath saith that he has conversed with Joseph Kelley, a Revolutionary soldier who is now making application for a pension and has heard his statement, believes the declaration he has made of his services in the Revolutionary War to be true.  
Has examined his wounds believes them to have been received at the Battles of Monmouth & Chippewa.
Never saw a man wounded so badly to get well, it appears to me to be a miracle almost, for a man wounded in the way he has been, with his skull broken, his arm and hand rendered useless by a ball and shot in both legs, to be as well as he appears to be, or to walk at all, and thinks he is entitled to a pension as much as any man that he ever knew or heard tell of.
Charles McCoy
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer
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I Samuel Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Charles McCoy who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, and I know him to be a creditable person and his testimony is entitled to full credit and belief.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of June 1843.
Saml Evans, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Mercer
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss.
On this twenty second day of June A.D. 1843 personally appeared before me, Horace Smith, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County James Martin of the County of Mercer, State of New Jersey, who being sworn according to law on his oath saith, that he has conversed with Joseph Kelley, a Revolutionary soldier who is now making application for a pension and believes the declaration he has made of his services in the United States Army to be true, has frequently heard of the old soldier before he saw him in Trenton, has examined his wounds, believes he received them at the Battles of Monmouth and Chippewa.  Is astonished that he did not die with his wounds, his head cut across with a sword, right arm shot, hand cut from or between his fingers down to the wrist and the arm & hand entirely useless, and a buckshot in his right knee, two bullet scars in the left leg, and his great toe off on that foot and am sure he is entitled to a pension as much as man ever was.
James Martin

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me.
Horace Smith
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I Horace Smith, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey, am personally acquainted with James Martin who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, and I do certify that he is a credible person and his testimony is entitled to full credit and belief.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of June A.D. 1843
Horace Smith
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss.
On this twenty second day of June A.D. 1843 personally appeared before me Horace Smith one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Mercer
Nicholas Kromeick of the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey, who being sworn according to law, on his oath saith
That he has conversed with Joseph Kelley, a Revolutionary soldier
Supposes him to be upwards of eighty years of age, has heard his declaration, believes it to be true, thinks it is entitled to full credit.  
This deponent further declares that he has examined his wounds or scars, believes they were received while in battle, as he states in the service of his country, and believes him to be entitled to a pension as much as any man he ever was acquainted with.
Nicholas Kromeick

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Horace Smith
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I Horace Smith, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey am personally acquainted with Nicholas Kromeick who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and I do certify that he is a credible person and his testimony is entitled to full credit and belief.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of June A.D. 1843
Horace Smith
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State of New Jersey
Mercer County }ss
I Horace Smith, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Mercer do hereby certify that I have had a conversation with Joseph Kelley who is now an applicant for a pension, and from his statements and the appearance of his scars and wounds I sincerely believe that he has been a soldier in the service of the United States and that he is justly entitled to a pension.  
In witness whereof I now hereto set my hand this 22nd day of June 1843.
Horace Smith J.P.

State of New Jersey
I Charles G. McChesney, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do certify that Samuel Evans Esq. before whom the declaration of Joseph Kelley was taken [illegible] and affidavits of Joseph Parker, John Young, Peter Howell, John Howell and Charles McCoy were taken, and Horace Smith Esq, before whom the affidavits of James Martin & Nicholas Kromeick were taken were at the taking thereof, the former one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and both Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Mercer, duly appointed, commissioned & sworn, that full truth and credit is to be given to their official attestation and that their signatures hereto are genuine.  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Trenton in said state this twenty fourth day of June A.D. Eighteen hundred and forty three.
Charles G. McChesney
Sec. of State