Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1115, for John Steele, New Jersey
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(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Steele, John | S.1115
carded
CONTENTS
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22963
New Jersey | 22963
John Steele of Somerset Co. in the State of New Jersey, who was a Private in the Comp(any) commanded by Captain Ten Eyck of the Reg(iment) commanded by Col. Van Arsdale in the New Jersey line for 21 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey the rate of 70 Dollar 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of Dec. 1833 and del(ivered) to Hon L. Condict, Present.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33..........$175
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '34.....35
                                        ====
                                        $210

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Geo. C. Stiles, Clerk
Book E; Vol. 3; Page 136.
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No 4,391
Application of John Steel of Somerset, New Jersey, for a pension.

Forman's Certificate.
[crossed out: illegible]
Somerset, New Jersey

James F. Randolph
N. Bruns(wick)
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

On this Fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two, personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Bridgewater in said County, John Steele, aged Seventy seven years in December next, resident in Bridgewater Township in said County of Somerset, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passes June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officer and served as herein stated. That in the year 1776, he volunteered under (he thinks) Capt. P. Van Arsdale; marched to [illegible] [crossed out: Gen'l Herd commanding] served one (1) month. He again volunteered & served one (2) month at Bergen. He thinks in Capt. Ten Eyck's Company. He again volunteered & don't recollect his captain's name; marched to Paulus Hook; was there at the time Gen'l Washington left Long Island; served one (3) month. Saw the three British ships, Rodrick, Asia & Phoenix, come into the North River. He again served one (4) month under Cap Van Arsdale (he thinks) at Acquackanonk Bridge in New Jersey. He again volunteered & served one (5) month under Capt. Van Arsdale [crossed out: & Gen'l Herd com(manded)] at Pompton (Plains); Gen'l Herd commanded, who built a fort at that place at that time. He again volunteered & served one (6) month at Hackensack; can't recollect his capt(ains) name. He again volunteered & served one (7) month at Elizabeth Town under as he thinks Capt. Van Arsdale; Col. Frelinghuysen commanding. They had a battle. Capt. Lock was killed at deponent's...
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...side. He again volunteered and served one (8) month at Elizabeth Town (under Capt. Jacob Ten Eyck, as he thinks). He again volunteers and served one (9) month at Elizabeth Town & on the line (under Capt. Logan, as he thinks). He again volunteer and served one (10) month [crossed out: one month] at Bergen; can't say who was his capt(ain), Col. Meddock commanded, John Ten Eyck, he thinks, was major. He again volunteered & served one (11) month at Bergen & on the line; can't say who was capt(ain), Col. Herd commanded. He again volunteered & served one (12) month at Middlebrook & on the lines (under Capt. I Ten Eyck, he thinks). Had a battle there. Several Americans were killed in the fort near the bridge. He was out again & served one (13) month at Raritan Landing & on the lines under Capt. Van Arsdale. He was out again & served one (14) month along the Millstone River under Capt. Van Arsdale; Dickinson was gen(eral) & Linn major. Took a number of British baggage wagons. Some of the Americans were killed. He was out one (15) month under Capt. Van Arsdale; was at the Drawbridge and at the Battle of Monmouth; followed the British from the Drawbridge near Bordentown, N.J. to Monmouth. He was drafted & served under, he thinks, Capt. Smally at a place called Closter, near West Point. Was out nearly six months, if not quite, attached to the Continental Army; Gen'l Washington commanded. Was where [Benedict] Arnold deserted and [John] Andre hung. He is positive that he was [crossed out: out] in the service of his county more than two years. That at this distance of time he is unable to say who was his captain at each particular time. He believes that all his captains are dead & most of the men. He was born on the 25th day of December 1750 as stated in his father Bible, which is now in...
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...deponent's possession. He has always resided in the County of Somerset, near Washington Valley. Deponent further recollects that he served two months more than above stated, to wit one month at Newark (thinks Capt. Ten Eyck), one month at Westfield & in the neighborhood of Elizabeth Town under Capt. Logan or Van Taylor. Deponent was slated as a sergeant by Capt. Van Arsdale to take charge of a number of continental provisions or brigade wagons for the American Armory & went with them to Stormy Point on the north line. Don't recollect the time, thinks he was out before he got home then as four months. Deponent was with the main army when it was expected the British Army would cross the North River, according to [Benedict] Arnold's plot. He has no documentary evidence of his said services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
s/ John Steele

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

We, Isaac Southard, and Thomas Talmage, Jun(ior), now residing in said Township of Bridgham in said County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Steele, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be Seventy seven years of age. That he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
s/ Isaac Southard
s/ Thomas Talmage, Jun(ior)

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
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No 4,391
Application of John Steel of Somerset, New Jersey, for a pension.

Forman's Certificate.
[crossed out: illegible]
Somerset, New Jersey

James F. Randolph
N. Bruns(wick)

We, Isaac Southard, and Thomas Talmage, Jun(ior), now residing in said Township of Bridgham in said County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Steele, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be Seventy seven years of age. That he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
s/ Isaac Southard
s/ Thomas Talmage, Jun(ior)

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, Wm. B. Gaston, Presiding Judge &c., I certify the above named John Steele, who being by me duly sworn, deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss [of memory], he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below & in the following grades for one year & one month. I served as a sergeant and for one year & three months, I served as a soldier (and I believe longer) and for such services I claim a pension.
s/ John Steele

Sworn & subscribed this Eleventh day of March A.D. 1833 before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Somerset, hereby certify that William B. Gaston, Esq., before whom the above affidavit of John Steele was made and whose proper signature is subscribed thereto, was at the time of the date thereof and now is the Presiding Judge of said County in full commission. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Bridgewater this Eleventh day of March Eighteen Hundred and Thirty three.
s/ John M. Mann, Clerk
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Personally appeared before me, William B. Gaston, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, John Steele, the above named applicant, who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that he does not know of any person living by whom he can prove his said services as a sergeant. They are dead & moved away. Deponent, at the commencement of the war, united with others in hiring a British deserter to act as a fugleman for the company. Deponent was then Orderly Sergeant & took great pains to improve himself. The deserter spy instructed us [to] train a mark for a month or more. After this, I acted as fugleman for our & other companies. Often when out with Capt. Van Arsdale, I was sent out in his place to take charge of the Picket Guard at the capt(ain's) request, he being unwell. As Orderly Sergeant, I rec(eived) & distributed the rations among our men; gave receipts as he thinks. Deponent served two or three tours of duty of one month each at Middlebrook, Acquackanonk Bridge & Newark.
s/ John Steele

Sworn & subscribed this 15th day of June 1833 before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
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Somerset County//

John A. Anton, being duly sworn on his oath [saith] that he knew the above named John Steele before & during the Revolutionary War. Deponent was out in said service with said [John] Steele at Pompton [Plains] & one other place, but cannot recollect where. It was always understood that said John [Steele] was out different times.
s/ John A. Anton

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

Somerset [County]//

Christopher Van Arsdale, being duly sworn on his oath saith that that he well knows & served with him, the said John Steele, in the Army of the Revolution several times and at different places. Believes the statement by him made of his said services to be true.
s/ Christopher Van Arsdale

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he state. And it further appears to them that Isaac Southard and Thomas Talmage, Jun(ior), who have signed the foregoing certificate reside in said Township of Bridgewater & [illegible].
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[duplicate: Jun(ior), who have signed the foregoing certificate reside in said Township of Bridgewater &] are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. The Court further certifies that there is no Clergyman in the Congregation at this time in which said applicant resides & that a Clergyman could not be procured without considerable expense & inconvenience.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
s/ Rev'd Van Deovcer
s/ W.F. Hoover
s/ John Richpostnick

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original proceedings of the Court in the matter [illegible] declaration of John Steele for a pension.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Thirty two.
s/ J.M. Mann

Somerset County//

I, William B. Gaston, Presiding Judge of said Court, do hereby certify that John A. Anton and Christopher Van Arsdale, the witnesses above named who have testified to the services of said [John] Steele are persons of credibility & entitled to full credit & belief.

Given under my hand this Eleventh of March 1833.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
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[duplicate: Jun(ior), who have signed the foregoing certificate reside in said Township of Bridgewater &] are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. The Court further certifies that there is no Clergyman in the Congregation at this time in which said applicant resides & that a Clergyman could not be procured without considerable expense & inconvenience.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
s/ Rev'd Van Deovcer
s/ W.F. Hoover
s/ John Richpostnick

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original proceedings of the Court in the matter [illegible] declaration of John Steele for a pension.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Thirty two.
s/ J.M. Mann

Somerset County//

I, William B. Gaston, Presiding Judge of said Court, do hereby certify that John A. Anton and Christopher Van Arsdale, the witnesses above named who have testified to the services of said [John] Steele are persons of credibility & entitled to full credit & belief.

Given under my hand this Eleventh of March 1833.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
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I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County of Somerset, do hereby certify that Wm. B. Gaston, Esq., before whom the affidavit of the above named John Steele was this day taken upon this leaf within, was at time thereof & still is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal of Office this 15th day of June 1833.
s/ J.M. Mann, Clerk

[illegible]
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Rev(olutionary) War
INVALID.
File No. 115
John Steele
Priv(ate), N.J. Line.
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index: -; Vol. A; Page 355.
{Arrangement of 1870.}
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4391
John Steele
Suspend.
Admitted, Private, 21 months.

Hon. J.F. Randolph, Present
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
(blank) 183

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of [illegible].

Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. (Years/Months/Days) | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Field officers under whom he served. | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported.
1776 | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
(blank) | (blank) | 1 | (blank) | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] | [illegible] |
        ========================
(Total) | (blank) | 16 | (blank) | 

I am, respectfully your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of //
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of __________ in the county of __________ and State, Territory or District
of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____ , with _____ and
served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. (illegible) This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. __________ A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, __________, of the Court of __________ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of
__________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the __________ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with __________, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the __________, and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, __________, Clerk of the Court of __________ , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of __________ for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.

1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. //
To a soldier. // Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer. // Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:

"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and in the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection he served not less that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: __ For ______ year ________ months, and ________ days, I served as a ________; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important , in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase, "about three or four months," is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that was the either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

(Illegible) The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule (illegible) note [j] applies to continental troops only. 

[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration:
Page 18

John Steele, New Jersey.
For increase.
22,963

Ex(ecuted) by W.J. Allison.
[illegible]
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POWER OF ATTORNEY - Revolutionary Pension Claims.

Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Nehemiah V. Steele, hereby constitute and appoint William S. Allison my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of John Steele for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City; or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to Sarah F. Randolph, John Steele and Nehemiah V. Steele, the surviving children of the said John Steele, to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.

WITNESS my hand and Seal this 3rd day of June A.D., 1851.
s/ N.V. Steele

Signed and Sealed in the presence of.
s/ James Taylor

STATE of New Jersey
COUNTY of Somerset//

On this Third day of June A.D. 1851 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Nehemiah V. Steele and acknowledged the foregoing Power, of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, the day and year aforesaid.
s/ James Taylor, J. Peace
Page 20

Claim of John Steele to increase of pension.
Act of 7th June 1832.

STATE OF New Jersey
COUNTY Somerset//

Be it known, That on this Third day of June A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty one, before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Nehemiah V. Steele, a resident of Somerville in the County, and made oath according to law that he is the son of John Steele, who died on the Eighth day of May Eighteen Hundred and Forth six, leaving surviving Jacob Steel, Sarah F. Randolph, John Steel and Nehemiah V. Steele & that Sarah F. Randolph, John Steel & Nehemiah V. Steele are the only surviving children of John Steele, dec(eased), who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the New Jersey Agency at the rate of Seventy Dollars per annum; that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said Claim.
s/ N.V. Steele

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, before me.
s/ James Taylor, J. Peace

I, James Taylor, Justice of the Peace in and for said County do hereby certify that Nehemiah V. Steele, who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of the County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
s/ James Taylor, J. Peace

I, Henry D. Johnson, Clerk of the Circuit Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that James Taylor, before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed in his signature.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this Third day of June A.D. 1851.
Henry D. Johnson, Clerk
Page 21

STATE OF New Jersey
COUNTY OF Somerset//

It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Henry D. Johnson, Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County, that John Steele was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $ Seventy dollars per annum and that he died on the [crossed out: Tenth] Eighth day of May eighteen hundred and Forty six, leaving surviving Jacob Steele, Sarah F. Randolph, John Steele and Nehemiah V. Steele and that Sarah F. Randolph, John Steele and Nehemiah V. Steele are the only surviving children of the aforesaid John Steel.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this Third day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty one.
Henry D. Johnson, Clerk
Page 22

Wm. Wilson
John Sanders

Oct. 23 [illegible]
Page 23

New Brunswick, Sep. 10, 1833.

Sir,

I enclose the papers of John Steele, returned some days since for amendment. I have had a conference with Mr. Steele and he says that after the most diligent enquiry, he is unable to produce proof of his services as sergeant. From the tenor of your instructions of 27th ult(imate), I presume therefore that his claim as sergeant will not be allowed. As however, he produces three living witnesses (one of his captains, one of them) to his services as a private and as his application in that respect is otherwise well supported. I have advised him that I presumed his claim in that capacity would be admitted and he has authorized me to request that if his claim as sergeant be disallowed he may be admitted to a pension as private.

He is, in my opinion, unquestionably entitled to a pension as a private. He cannot prove his claim as sergeant because he served as such only in the company of Capt. Van Arsdalen and of that whole company, so far as he knows, he says he is the only survivor. There may be others living but he does not know of them.

Most respectfully your obe(dient) ser(vant),
s/ Jas. F. Randolph

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Com(missioner of) Pensions
Page 24

I hereby relinquish without condition the claim of John Steele for his pension as sergeant and comment that he be admitted as a private.
s/ Jas. F. Randolph, Agent for said [John] Steele
Dec. 1833.
Page 25

Supplemental or Amended Declaration of John Steele.

Personally appeared before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of said Court, John Steele, the above named applicant who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that his first statement was made in haste at Court where there was a great amount of confusion arising from the number of applicants before the Court. That he was entirely ignorant of the law, that a sergeant drew more pay than a private. Otherwise, his services as a sergeant would have been stated. That since his first declaration was made, in conversing with persons who were with him, many things in relation to his said services have been brought clearly & fully to his recollection. That at the commencement of the war in 1775, he was a sergeant in Capt. P. Van Arsdale's Comp(any)at Boundbrook in s(ai)d County of Somerset. In that year, I served two tours of duty of a month each under s(ai)d Van Arsdale at Bergen & Communion Pass. This duty done as a sergeant. In 1776, I served 4 tours of duty of a month each under s(ai)d Capt. [Van Arsdale], as near as I can recollect, at Acquackanonk Bridge, Pompton [Plains], Paulus Hook, Long Island & Elizabeth Town. This duty was done as a sergeant. In 1777, I served four tours of duty of a month each under (as near as I can recollect) Capt. Van Arsdale, Capts. J. Ten Eyck, Logan & DeGroat at Elizabeth Town & Bergen (two times at each place). One month of this duty was done as a sergeant (the others as a private). In 1778, I served three tours of duty of a month each as a private at Hackensack, Elisabeth Town & Bergen. Also in the same year, half a month at the Battle of Monmouth. I can't certainly recollect my capt(ain) but...
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...think it was Capt. James Taylor; this duty as a private. In 1779, I said three tours of duty of a month each; two tours along the Millstone River; one term under Capt. Sebring & served under Capt. Ten Eyck & the others at Amboy & Elizabeth Town & in 1780, I served [crossed out: six months] five [crossed out: or six] months in Wardsesson [crossed out: in Wardsesson], at a place called Closter near West Point, attached to but not with the Continental Army. The main army lay a little above us. This duty was done under Capt. Smalley. We were under the regulations of the Continental [crossed out: Troops] Army. This duty done as a private. [crossed out: (illegible)] In 1781, I served three tours of duty of a month each at Raritan Landing & along the Millstone River (thinks under Capt. [crossed out: (illegible)] Jacob Ten Eyck). In addition to the above, I was out on alarms & to guard the lines & property; watching the Tories & British scouting parties, three months as a private. All my services above described were done as a draft & volunteer (except said [crossed out: six] five months duty at Closter). My superior officers were Col. Frelinghuysen, Col. Meddock, Col. Hunt., Col. Ten Eyck, Gen. Wines, Gen. Herd, Gen Dickinson. Gen. Washington commanded when in lay at Closter. Our Majors Linn, Davison, Ten Eyck, Baird (I think Major Vroom). I entered said service at Bound Brook in s(ai)d County & resided there during said war.
s/ John Steele

Sworn & subscribed this 5th day of August 1833 before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
Page 27

We, John M. Brown, Jos. A. Gaston, James Moore, John Tarbert, Edmund L. Sergeant, George McDonald, H.A. Harder, Garrit Darling, Wm. J. Hedges & Col. G. Tunnisand, do hereby declare that we are well acquainted with the above named John Steel & that he is a man of good repute for honesty and veracity & we believe that his statement may with safety be relied on as correct.
s/ John M. Brown
s/ Jos. A. Gaston
s/ James Moore
s/ John Tarbert
s/ Edmund L. Sergeant
s/ George McDonald
s/ H.A. Harder
s/ Garrit Darling
s/ Wm. J. Hedges
s Col. G. Tunnisand

Sworn & subscribed this 3rd of August 1833.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

I, William B. Gaston, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Somerset, do hereby certify that the aforesaid gentlemen, who have sworn to the above statement and affidavit and persons of truth and veracity and that their statements are entitled to full credit and belief.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
August 9th 1833
Page 28

New Jersey 
Somerset County//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, do hereby certify that the forgoing (on this sheet) contains an original amended declaration in the case of John Steele for a pension made before William B. Gaston, Esq., one of the Judges of s(ai)d Court, together with the affidavits of John M. Brown, Jos. A. Gaston, J. Moore, John Tarbert, E.L. Sergeant, G. McDonald, H.A. Harder, G. Darling, W.J. Hedges & C.G. Tunnisand & certificate of character of s(ai)d witnesses made by the said Judge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal of Office at Bridgewater to this 10th day of August in the year of one Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty three.
s/ J.M. Mann, Clerk
Page 29

Somerset County//

Be it known that on this 11th day of November 1833 before me, William B. Gaston, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, personally appeared, Isaac Smalley, aged Seventy seven years, who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that he is a brother of Capt. David Smalley of the Revolutionary War of said County of Somersey. Deponent saith that in 1780 or '81 (thinks in 1780) a certain number of troops were raised in New Jersey for the purpose of guarding the banks along the North River & preventing the enemy from crossing over into New Jersey & committing depredations & carrying off the property. Deponent's said brother commanded one of these companies under Maj. I. Goethers. This deponent & John Steel, of the Township of Bridgewater in s(ai)d company, were soldiers under s(ai)d Capt. Smalley. We were marched to a place called Closter where we remained in s(ai)d service & in the vicinity at the english neighborhood for six months. The said [John] Steele was there & done his duty faithfully during the whole of s(ai)d six months service. This service was done the year [crossed out: that] of [Benedict] Arnold's treason& that [John] Andre was hung in 1780. We were considered at the time as State Troops under the same discipline as the standing army. Deponent thinks the whole of the whole of the regiment were enlisted for six months. He was the Orderly Sergeant a part of the time. Cornelius Riker was also one of deponent's brother's company who left this State many years ago. One Oliver...
Page 30

...& B. Corrington were there also as soldiers. Jeremiah Pope, who was shot in the thigh or leg, was one of s(ai)d company. I drew pay for six months service & now draw a pension for this together with five other months & thirteen months as an express rider to Gen. Washington. I am certain that we done six months continued service under my s(ai)d brother as above related. That is, the said [John] Steele & myself, as well as the others of s(ai)d company.
s/ Isaac Smalley

Sworn & subscribed the day & year first above written before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

Somerset [County]//

On this 18th of November 1833 before me the said Justice, personally appeared Cornelius Van Dike, who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that he was raised in the neighborhood with the above named John Steele. That he was out & served several tours of duty with s(ai)d [John] Steele in the Revolutionary Army in the militia at Bound Brook, Communion Farms & other places. We were out together in the year 1776 & continued to tour in & do duty together off & on to the and of the war. Said [John] Steele was out & done duty when deponent was at home. Deponent is in his 86th year & he cannot now name [crossed out: all] the places where he was with said [John] Steele in the Revolutionary War, more particularly than he has done...
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...The s(ai)d [John] Steele was always called a good soldier & a warm friend to his country & deponent has no doubt s(ai)d [John] Steele served at least two years duty in the Revolutionary War. Major Linn & Col. Hunt commanded us at Communion Pass. I did not serve in the command the same company with [John] Steele. He was in the company of Capt. Van Arsdale & I was in Capt. Jacob Ten Eyck's Company. Both companies belonged to the same regiment of Somerset Militia.
s/ Cornelius Van Dike

Sworn & subscribed the day & year first above written before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

Somerset [County]//

On the day & year last above before me the said Justice, personally appeared Richard Brokary, who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that he was well acquainted with the above named John Steele in the Revolutionary Army & has been acquainted with him ever since. At the commencement of s(ai)d war, deponent was enrolled  in Capt. J. Ten Eyck's Company & s(ai)d [John] Steele in Capt. Van Arsdale's Company; both in one regiment. I was out & done several tours of duty in s(ai)d service with s(ai)d [John]Steel at Communion Pass, Pompton [Plains], Boundbrook & other places in 1775, 1776 & so on to the close of the war. I cannot named the places or services of s(ai)d [John] Steele more particularly. S(ai)d [John] Steele was out & done duty when deponent was not. It was s(ai)d in the neighborhood...
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...& always understood s(ai)d [John] Steele was ready & willing to turn out & do his duty from what deponent know of s(ai)d [John] Steele's services personally & what he heard at the time he believes s(ai)d [John] Steele must have done at least two years duty in the Revolutionary War.
s/ Richard Brokary

Sworn & subscribed the day & year first above written before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston

Somerset County//

I, William B. Gaston, the Magistrate who administered the foregoing oaths, do hereby certify that Isaac Smalley Cornelius Van Dyke & Richard Brokary, who have sworn & subscribed the above affidavits are persons of truth and veracity and that their statements severally may be relied upon as strictly correct & worthy of full credit and belief.

Sommerville, November 18th 1833.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
Page 33

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do hereby certify that William B. Gaston before whom the above affidavits were made and by whom the above certificate was made and whose proper signature is subscribed to each of said affidavits and said certificate, was at the time of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & sworn.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Bridgewater this Eighteenth day of November Eighteen Hundred and Thirty three.
s/ J.M. Mann
Page 34

Personally appeared before me, Wm. B. Gaston, Judge of s(ai)d Court, the within named John Steele, who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that in relations to his s(ai)d services, it was as follows. That their company was drafted & whenever he rec(eived) information from his cap(tain), he turned out & in putting it down in his original declaration, he did not suppose there was any material difference in his turning out on such notice from his superior officer & volunteering. This deponent always went willingly & cheerfully to the calls of his country. That deponent was procured the additional testimony of Isaac Smalley, Rich'd Brokary & Cor(nelius) Van Dike, who are all the persons he knows (in addition to those personally obtained by whom he can prove his s(ai)d services). That the s(ai)d Riker referred to by s(ai)d Smalley left this State a great many years ago & deponent does not know where he, nor whether he is living. He don't know where s(ai)d Pope & Slover are. The s(ai)d Carrington is now very infirm, having lately had as deponent is informed & believes, had a stroke of the palsy.
s/ John Steele

Sworn & subscribed this 29th November 1833 before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
Page 35

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do hereby certify that William B. Gaston before whom the annexed affidavit was made and whose proper signature is thereto subscribed was at the time of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & sworn.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office this Twelfth day of November Eighteen Hundred and Thirty three.
s/ J.M. Mann
Page 36

John Steele of Somerset, N. Jersey.

James F. Randolph, New Bruns(wick)
Page 37

State of New Jersey
Somerset County//

Personally appeared before me the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace Jacob DeGroat, Esq., formerly a cap(tain) in the Revolutionary War, who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that he was well acquainted with John Steele of the Township of Bridgewater in said County before & during the said Revolutionary War. Said [John] Steele & deponent went to school together when boys. Deponent was a cap(tain) of militia in said army & the said [John] Steele done two tours of duty of a month each as a soldier under deponent at Acquackanonk & at Newark in said State, I think in 1777. The said [John] Steele was always said to be a good soldier & warmly attended to the cause of his country & deponent believes that his statement of services may be relied on as being correct. Deponent was well acquainted with Capt. Jacob Ten Eyck of the Somerset Militia, who was out as an officer. The said [Jacob] Ten Eyck has been dead for many years. There was also a Capt. Jeremiah Ten Eyck of the Middlesex Brigade, who is living.
s/ Jacob DeGroat

Sworn & subscribed this 20th day of August 1833 before me.
s/ John W. Voorhees, Justice of the Peace
Page 38

I, John H. Voorhees, a Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Somerset, before whom the affidavit of the within named Capt. Jacob DeGroat was taken, do hereby certify that the said Jacob DeGroat is a person of credibility & that his statement is entitled to full credit & belief. 

Done his 8th of August 1833.
s/ John H. Voorhees

Personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, John Steels of Bridgewater in & for said County, an applicant for a pension, who being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that the "Capt. J. Ten Eyck" referred to in his declaration as having served under, was Jacob Ten Eyck of the Somerset Brigade & not Capt. Jeremiah Ten Eyck of the Middlesex Brigade. Said Capt. Jacob Ten Eyck has been dead about Twenty years.
s/ John Steele

Sworn & subscribed this 20th day of August 1833 before me.
s/ Wm. B. Gaston
Page 39

Somerset County
New Jersey//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, do hereby certify that William B. Gaston & John H. Voorhees, Esquires, within named & who have subscribed their names to the forgoing affidavits and certificate, were at the time thereof and still are Justices of the Peace in & for s(ai)d County in full commission.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal of said County at Bridgewater this 20th day of August 1833.
s/ J.M. Mann, Clk.

I, Isaac Southard, of the County of Somerset & State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that I am and for some years past have been acquainted with the above named John Steele. That he is a man of truth and veracity and stands high in the estimation of his neighbors. I would place entire confidence in his statement and believe that his declaration in relation to his services in the Army of the Revolution may be relied upon as true.
s/ Isaac Southard

Sworn & subscribed before me, Jas. Taylor, one of the Justices of the Peace in & for s(ai)d County the 20th of August 1833.
s/ James Taylor
Page 40

Somerset [County]//

I, John M. Mann, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of s(ai)d County, do hereby certify that Jas. Taylor, before whom the affidavit of the Hon. Isaac Smalley was this day taken, was a Justice of the Peace [illegible] s(ai)d County in full commission. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal of Office this 21st day of August 1833.
s/ J.M. Mann