Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5686, for Jeremiah Leeds, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776) 
Service
Leeds, Jeremiah    Number: S. 5686
Millsent or Millicent  Number  B.L. Wt. 40018-160-55
Page 2

(left column)
[illegible] C. Smallwood. July 1/56

sent [illegible] 7

Vol L=59

(right column)

186.631. Act Mar. 3/58
July 10th/11
Milisent Leeds widow. Jeremiah Leeds
Milisent wid: jeremiah Leeds Pri: + St;
Pri: Lieut.
Capt. Joseph. Coenover
Col. Richard. Somers
Gloucester Co. Mi(litia?)
N. Jersey
Service. performed 1777. 78
Revol. War

(written across above: 40.018 Sept. 1/56)

Receives. pension. 60.00
NJ annl 32. 30401
[illegible]: [illegible] of pen: under 32. of Gloucester Co [illegible]
Adilledaa, Aug: 27/56
Boynton
P
John C. Smallwood
Woodbury
New Jersey
Page 3

(Left column)
30.401
New Jersey
Jeremiah Leeds of Gloucester Co. in the State of new Jersey who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Coenover of the regt commanded by Col Clark in the New Jersey line for six months private and three months Lieutenant.

Subscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 60 Dollars -- Center per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of Feb. 1836 and sent to Wm. N Shinn H of R

Arrears to the 4th of March 1840(?) $300.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept  30.00
$330.00

Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Danl Boyd cle(rk)
Book 69 Vol. 3 Page 144

(right column)

Letter 16 May 1837 Pen Agent
Order to pay 1 March 1838

Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to the 8th Oct 1838 the day of his death age notified 12 Nov. 1839

Declaration [illegible] for Jn & [illegible] Stewart [illegible] Jan 3 '46
bio ect. found in old letter book 7

reg Mar 3 (vertically written along left margin)
Page 4

186.631 
Millesent-Ledds
Declaration 

John Smallwood agent Woodbury N.J.
Page 5

Form of Declaration to be made by the widow of a deceased person who has not had a land warrant.

State of New Jersey. County of Atlantic. Ss

On this twenty ninth day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, before me Daniel Ingersoll a Justice of the peace within and for the County  and State aforesaid personally appeared Milisent Leeds aged sixty two years a resident of the township of EggHarbor within the county of Atlantic in the State of New Jersey who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Jeremiah Leeds deceased who was a Lieutenant in the Company commanded by Captain Joseph Coenover in the third Regiment of the Gloucester County Militia Commanded by Col. Richard Somers in the Revolutionary War.
That she is unable to state the length of time that her said husband was in the service nor where the service was performed but believes that he was in the service as long as eight or nine months and that he was at Haddonfield, Red Bank, Somers Point and Leeds Point and that the service was performed in the years 1777 and 1778. She further states that for the services which he performed during said war he made application and obtained a pension of sixty dollars per annum, which was paid to him till shortly before his death, and she respectfully refers to the pension papers of her said husband in the pension office.
Page 6

Office for particulars respecting his services.
She further states that she was married to the said Jeremiah Leeds in what is now Atlantic County, then Gloucester County New Jersey on the twelfth day of October AD 1817 by one Joseph Sharp Esquire (now deceased) then one of the Justices of the peace of the said County of Gloucester and that her name before her said marriage was Milisent Ingersoll, that her said husband died at the County of Atlantic aforesaid on the on or about the ninth day of October AD 1838 and that she is now a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty law to which she may be entitled under the Act approved March 3rd 1855. She also declares that she has not received a warrant for Bounty law under this or any other act of Congress nor made any other application therefor -
Millsent Leeds

We William Beckett and Ann Ingersoll residents of the township of Eggharbor in the County of  Atlantic in the State of New Jersey upon our oath declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Milisent Leeds in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.
That the said Milisent Leeds was married to the said Jeremiah Leeds deceased
Page 7

at Atlantic County aforesaid then Gloucester County in the State of New Jersey on the twelfth day of October AD 1817 by one Joseph Sharp Esquire than a Justice of the peace of the said County of Gloucester, that the name of the said Milisent Leeds before her marriage aforesaid was Milisent Ingersoll, that her husband, the said Jeremiah Leeds, died at Atlantic aforesaid on the ninth day of October AD 1838 that the said Milisent Leeds is still a widow. That the reasons upon which their evidence is founded are that they were well acquainted with the said Jeremiah Leeds in his life time and also with the said Milisent Leeds that they lived together and were reputed to be man and wife that they have known the said Milisent Leeds since the death of her said husband and that she is understood and reputed to be his widow that they remember the death of the said Jeremiah Leeds and altho they cannot state the day of his death, yet from their recollection they believe the date above to be correct, and also that they were married at the date above mentioned [illegible], the twelfth day of October AD 1817 and they further swear that they are disinterested whatever.
William Beckett
Ann Ingersoll

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be
Page 8

be credible persons, that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.
Daniel Ingersoll Justice

State of New Jersey
Atlantic County Ss

I Joseph B. Walker, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Atlantic do hereby certify that Daniel Ingersoll Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit and declaration were made and who has thereunto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Atlantic duly commissioned and qualified.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office the fifth day of July AD 1855.
The word "Atlantic" being first written over an erasure
Jos. B Walker clk

L Waldo Esq
Commission of Pension will Please Send my Bounty Land Warrant to the Case of John C. Smallwood of Woodbury Gloucester County who is my agent and he will deliver it me. Yours very respectfully 
Millisent Leeds

Witness present
Daniel Ingersoll
Page 9

was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony by the subscriber October 12th 1817 Jeremiah Leeds to Milisent Ingersoll of Eggharbour
Jos. Sharp justice

State of New Jersey
Gloucester County: Ss

I, William D. Scott, clerk of the Court of CommonPleas of the county aforesaid, do certify the forgoing to be a true copy of the marriage certificate as of record in my office in book B of Marriages, page 42.

Witness my hand and seal of office at Woodbury in the county aforesaid, this ninth day of July eighteen hundred and fifty five.
Wm. D. Scott, clk
Page 10

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office
Nov. 9th, 1839

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The widow of Jeremiah Leeds, dec'd a Pensioner on the Roll of the New Jersey Agency, at the rate of sixty Dollars and ---Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at the Department, from the 4th of March 1838, to the 8th of October, 1838, the day of his death.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present
Page 11

31.687
Jeremiah Leeds
N.J.

adm'd
6 mo pri -
3 mo Lieut
60$

Hon. W. N. Shinn
Ho Rep

J.C. Smallwood
Woodbury 
N. Jersey
Page 12

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832.

State of New Jersey
Gloucester County Ss

On the twenty fourth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared in open court before the judges of the inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester in the State of new jersey now sitting, Jeremiah Leeds a resident of the township of Eggharbour in the County of Gloucester aforesaid, aged eight year and upwards, who alleging himself to be conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath - and being duly affirmed accord to law, doth on his affirmation make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
The he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - that is to say -
In the month of September 1776 he entered as a private in a Company of Militia commanded by Capt Nehemiah Mays
Page 13

Mays in Col Somers Regiment, the Company paraded at Wrangleborough on Little Eggharbour River and went from there down the River in Boats to a place called the Fox Burroughs at which place a small fort had been built where we remained in the service one month and were discharged. -

In the latter part of the month of November 1776, he entered as a private in a company of Militia, commanded by Capt Zephaniah Steelman in Col Somers Regiment. the Company marched from Eggharbour by Blue Anchor to Haddonfield where we quartered and remained a few days, from there we marched by Moorestown to Mount Holly where we remained until driven out from that place by the Hessians - we retreated back to Haddonfield (staying one night at Moorestown), remained at Haddonfield but a very short time, then marched to Bordentown, remained there till the morning of the Battle of Trenton (being three of four days), that morning we marched to Trenton and were in the battle there on the 20 January 1777. early the next morning we marched to Princeton our company being in the rear
Page 14

rear of the army, we were not in the active part of the battle at that place. After the battle we remained at Princeton a few days then marched back by Trenton and Burlington to Haddonfield where we were discharged, after having served at least one month and a half.
In the month of March 1777 he entered as a private in a Company of Militia - Commanded by Capt. George Payne in Col Richard Somers Regiment. The Company marched from Eggharbour aforesaid to Haddonfield and from there to Coopers Ferry opposite Philadelphia where we were stationed as guard and remained in the service one month and were discharged. -
In the month of May 1777, he entered as a private in a Company of Militia - commanded by Capt. Samuel Snell in Col. Richard Somers Regt, the company marched to Haddonfield aforesaid, where we quartered and remained in the service one month and were discharged -
In the month of June or July 1777 he entered as a private in a Company of militia commanded by Captain William Price in Col Richard Somers Regt., the company  marched from Eggharbour to Haddonfield
Page 15

Haddonfield aforesaid, where we quartered and remained in the service one month and were discharged.-
In the month of August or September 1777 he entered as a private in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Christopher Rape in Col Richard Somers Regt. the company marched to Haddonfield aforesaid and from there to Coopers Ferry, where we were stationed as a guard - and where we remained one month, and were discharged -
He next served one  month in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Joseph Conover. He served as first Lieutenant of the company. The company was attached to Col Richard Somers Regiment and marched from Eggharbour, aforesaid, by Blue Anchor and Chews Landing to Red Bank - the Battle at Red Bank was fought the afternoon before we arrived. We were at Chews Landing at the time of the Battle and heard the firing - this service commenced in October 1777 and ended in November 1777-
He next served for one month as first Lieutenant in the same Capt. Conover's company in Col Somers Regiment. The company marched from Eggharbour to Haddonfield
Page 16

Haddonfield, where we quartered and remained in service one month and were discharged. This service commenced in December 1777 and ended in January 1778.
He next served two months as first Lieutenant in the same Captain Joseph Conover's company in Col. Richard Somers Regiment, the company paraded at the Forks of Little Eggharbor River, where we remained about 10 days or two weeks, from there we marched down to Chesnut Neck, where we remained till after the Battle at that place, in which the Town was burnt and the vessels to, from there we marched down the River to Leeds Point, where we remained till the British vessels left the Bay, which was about ten days - one of their largest vessels grounded in going over the bar, and being unable to get her off, after several days trials, they set fire to her and abandoned her - this is probably the reason whey they remained in the Bay so long -after they left the Bay we marched down to Somers Point, where we remained about two or three weeks when we were discharged late in the month of October 1778 after having served at least two months there
Page 17

the service having commenced in August. Col Proctor was at Eggharbour during  a part of this tour - this was the last service he performed during the war and the whole length of time that he served during the war - and whilst engaged in a regularly organized body, was ten months and half - six months and a half of which time he served as a private and four months as first Lieutenant of Captain Conover's Company - during all which time he was in active service either in the field or the garrison and during which time he was not employed in any civil pursuit - he has no documentary evidence and the only evidence of his serves is to be found in the affidavits hereto annexed.
"He was born in the County of Gloucester New Jersey at Leeds Point in the year seventeen hundred and fifty four."
"He has a record of his age at his own house in a family Bible, by which it appears that he was born on the fourth day of March 1754 about noon -"
"He lived when called into service in the county of Gloucester eEw Jersey near Leeds Point - he has lived since"
Page 18

"since the Revolutionary War, within then miles of the places where he was born - and now lives on Leeds Beach in the township of Eggharbour in the county of Gloucester" -
"He was drafted sometimes and some times volunteered - once he hired as a substitute (but got the measles and could not go) when called to the service."
"General Washington and Genl Putnam were with the troops where he served at Trenton and Princeton - Col. Green was with the troops where he served at Red Bank and Col Proctor at Eggharbour - General Washington's army was at Trenton and Princeton when he was there, he saw Regular troops at Mount Holly, Col. Proctor's Corp of artillery or some of them were at EggHarbour, and Col Green's Regiment at the Fort at Red Bank, he saw Col. Ellis' Regiment at Haddonfield and Col Somers at Eggharbour and other places."
"He thinks that he got a discharge from the service the last time that he was out; but if he did he has lost it along time ago."-
"He received a commission from the handy
Page 19

"hands of Col. Richard Somers, he cannot say by whom it was signed. he does not know what has become of it, he has seen within seven or eight years past, but has made diligent search and cannot now find it -  he supposed that he must have had it in possession nearly fifty years and frequently looked at it."
"He is acquainted with Daniel Lake Esquire, Daniel Baker Esq, Jno Dunham Esquire, Dr. Jonathan Pitney, Genl Enoch Doughty, Dr. Mahlon D. Canfield, and many others in his neighborhood." -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity accept the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any State -
Jeremiah Leeds

Affirmed to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Ephraim Miller

We, Peter Steelman and John Dunham Esquire residing in the County of Gloucester in the state of New Jersey, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jeremiah Leeds who has subscribed and affirmed to the above declaration, that we believe
Page 20

believe him to be eighty years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Peter Steelman
John Dunham

affirmed and subscribed the day and year aforesaid June 24 1834
Ephraim Miller

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 serves as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Peter Steelman and John Dunham Esquire, who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the said county of Gloucester, and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit -

June term June 24 1834
Ephraim Miller
Page 21

State of New Jersey Gloucester County Ss
On the twenty fourth day of June AD 1834 before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the county of Gloucester aforesaid personally appeared Levi Price of the said County, aged about seventy eight years whom I certify to be a person of credibility who being duly sworn according to law sait that he is well acquainted with Jeremiah Leeds, and he's known him since they were small boys. And t his deponent saith that he knew him very well during the Revolutionary War and performed a good deal of services with him sometime in the same company and at other times at the same place but in different companies -
They served together for one month in a company commanded by Capt. Nehemiah Mays in Col Somers Regt. This service was performed in the month of September 1776 at a place called the Fox Boroughs on Little Eggharbour River. They served together but not in the same company at Haddonfield, Mount Holly, Trenton, Princeton + in the month of December 1776 and January 1777 -
Page 22

and were at the Battle, at Mounty Holly and Trenton. He was in Capt. Zephaniah Steelman's company. [illegible] Capt. Weatherby's company - They served together in the same company at Red Bank in October 1777 in a company commanded by Capt. Joseph Conover, he was then first Lieutenant of the company - this deponent a private, they also served together and in the  same capacity at Haddonfield in the month of  December 1777 at Haddonfield in the same company - they also served together in the same company at the Forks of Little Eggharbour River Chesnut Neck, Leeds Point + Somers Point. He was still the first Lieutenant of the company - this deponent served with the said Jeremiah Leeds during the Revolutionary two months whilst he was a private and four months after he became the Lieutenant of Capt. Conover's company -
his X mark
Levi Price

Sworn to and subscribed the date above before me
Michael C. Fisher
Page 23


Gloucester County Ss: On the twentyfourth day of June AD 1834 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of CommonPleas of the said County personally
 appeared John C. Smallwood of the said County of  full age, and who I certify to be a person of credibility, who alleging himself to be a conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, and being duly affirmed according to law, upon his sworn affirmation saith, that in searching among the archives of the State of New Jersey in the Office of the Secretary of State, saith purpose of a sustaining the appointment of certain officers of the militia during the Revolutionary War, he found among other things, a paper in the words following to wit - "A list of the officers of the 3 Battalion of Gloucester County Militia not commissioned - Left Col. Elijah Clark, Maj. Richard Westcott, 3 Captain William Price, 1 Lef James Somers, 2 Left John Scull, Ensign Japhet Clark - 4. Capt. Joseph Estell, 2 L Arthur Westcott, Ensign Ebenezer Estell - 5 Cap. Christopher Rape, 1 Lt Samuel Springer, 2 L William Finch - 6 Capt. Joseph Conover, 4 L. Jeremiah Leeds, 2 L Jeremiah Risley, Ensign Nathaniel Sipples, 7 Capt. Samuel Snell, 1 L. Robert Snell,
Page 24

2 L Jacob Indicott, Ensign Elijah Burnett, 8 Capt Zephaniah Steelman -
Gloucester County Ss: I do hereby certify that the within named officers was duly elected by their several companies as by returns made to me of them Richd Somers Col. - Sept 18, 1777- 3 Battn - Gloucester R. Somers Co: 2 Field Officers 20 Sep 1777 to take rank from 1775, 6 Capt 10 Lieut 4 Ensign date 18 Sept 1777.-"

That he this affirmant carefully copied the said paper and then compared it and returned it to the file of papers from which he took it, where it now remains to the best of his beliefs -
JC Smallwood

Affirmed and subscribed the date above before
Michael C. Fisher

I John C. Smallwood Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Gloucester in the state of New Jersey do hereby certify that Michael C. Fisher Esquire before who the foregoing affidavits of Levi Price and John C. Smallwood were made was at the doing thereof and still is, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said county of Gloucester, duly commissioned and qualified, and that the signature of the said Michael C. Fisher thereto subscribed is genuine.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Woodbury in said County this fourteenth day of August AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
Smallwood clk
Page 25

I. John Smallwood, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Gloucester in the State of new Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court of Common Pleas of the county of Gloucester in the matter of the application of Jeremiah Leeds for a pension.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Woodbury in said County this fourteenth day of August AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
Smallwood clk
Page 26

November 13, 1936 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 

JAMES LEEDS S. 31817 
BA-J/MMF:MLB

Mrs. Walton Risley 21 North Second Street Pleasantville, New Jersey 

Dear Madam: 

 Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Daniel, Enoch, James and William Leeds, all of Gloucester County, New Jersey, and that of Captain Christopher Rape. You state that the photostatic copies of the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 5686, furnished June 9, 1936, have been of historical value and contained the information which you desired. 

There are no claims for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a William Leeds of New Jersey, nor of Daniel and Enoch Leeds, nor of any Christopher Rape. The record of James Leeds is furnished herewith as found in pension claim, S. 31817, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

 It is gratifying to know that the photostatic copies referred to herein have been useful in your research. Your enclosure of the invitation to attend the Dedication Ceremonies October 31, is appreciated. 

No charge is made for the record of James Leeds, herewith. Your stamps were returned, which you state you have received. 

Very truly yours A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 27

JUNE 8 1936 

thirty-nine pages are true 
photostatic copies of the original thereof, in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR claim for pension of JEREMIAH LEEDS and in the claim for bounty land of his widow, MILLSENT LEEDS, based upon his service in the REVOLU TIONARY WAR, on file under No. S. 5686, 

The above certification was filled in on Veterans Administration for 57 - Revised July 1931 For the **  furnished Mrs CWBlake

FRANK T. HINES
Page 28

MRS. CHARLES W. BLAKE, REGENT 
GENERAL LAFAYETTE CHAPTER, D. A. R. 
1100 SOUTH SHORE ROAD 
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J.   May 28, 1936 

Vertean's Administration, 
Washington, D. C. 
My dear Mr. Hiller: 

In reply to your letter of May 25th, -- BA-J/ MMHF/ILL Jeremiah Leeds S. 5686, Please mail the Photostatic copies being made to me. 

Very truly yours Georgiana C. Blake 
Mrs. Charles W. Blake, Regent

Rec'd
June 1 1935
Mail ***-DIV
*** ASM
****26
Page 29

BA-J/ILL
Rev. & 1812
No. 326

May 25     6.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section        Navy -Bt. 970

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Revolutionary war claim for pension of 

Jeremiah Leeds, S. 5686    Actual     1 of each page

List of papers in this order: soldier’s decl. dated June 24, 1834 – 8 pages con-
tinuing with affids. of Peter Steelman, John Dunham, Ephraim Miller, 
Levi Price June 24, 1834; J. C. Smallwood, same date, + ending with 
several of his signatures=entire 14 pages -
                                                                                                                 [etc.=3 pages
Letter from J. C. Smallwood, Woodbury, Sept. 16, 1834, saying return the papers.
Letter from J. C. Smallwood, Woodbury, Jan. 31, 1835, saying: Old mr. John Tiltmete
                                                                                                                                                2p
Affid. of Thomas Ford, Oct. 10, 1835 = 2 pages + that of Daniel Baker, Oct. 26, 1835 – 2p

Let. from J. C. Smallwood Dec. 16, 1835, says: enclosed is an additional etc -4p
                                                                                                                                          -4p
Letter from Phiy Dickinson, Prest. Feb. 26, 1838 – 1 p.
Letter from M. D. Canfield, Oct. 11, 1838, giving death of soldier – 1 p.

Treas. Dept. Compt. Off, Nov. 9, 1838, stating wid had been pd Oct. 8, 1838, datig sal's d- 
Decl. beginning: Form of ded. to be made by the widow etc, June 24, 1855= 1p
3 sheets with perforated tops or 5 pages.                     $9.75                       39 pages
Isaac Smith's & Mr. Leeds affids Aug 9-1856 =2p
Cy. Jacket & G. L. Jacket with warrant number - = 2 pages

         Kindly leave margin of 1 1/2 inch
at top of each page and return papers
in case in folder with corresponding 
name and number. 
                                                                    Chief, Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
Page 30

May 25, 1936

Mrs. Charles W. Blake 1106 South Shore Road Pleasantville, New Jersey. 

BA-J/MMHF/ILL 
Jeremiah Leeds 
S. 5686

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter of May 6, with which you enclosed check in the amount of $10.00 to cover cost of certified photostatic copies of thirty-nine pages as quoted to Mrs. Walton Leeds Risley of your city, April 22, 1935. You request that the copies be mailed to you but made in the name of Mrs. Risley.

Photostatic copies are not made in the name of any designated person, the only name shown on the records being that of the remitter and the person to whom the copies are mailed. 

The copies are now being made and will be mailed to you as remitter and as requested by you unless you or Mrs. Risley reverse the mailing address to her. 

Your reply will be awaited before copies are mailed. 

Very truly yours, A. D. HILLER, 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 31

April 22, 1936.

Mrs. Walton Leeds Risley 
North 2d Street and Brighton Place Pleasantville, New Jersey. 

BA-J/MMHF/ILL 
Jeremiah Leeds 
S. 5686

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request certified copy of papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension based upon service of Jeremiah Leeds of New Jersey 

In the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S. 5686, based upon service of Jeremiah Leeds, there are thirty-nine pages to be copied. The cost for photostatic copies is twenty-five a page, with twenty-five cents additional for certification, making total cost of copies ten dollars ($10). 

It may interest you to know that instead of photostatic copies, all papers in this claim will be examined carefully and a report furnished you without cost, in which will be incorporated all data found in regard to the residences, age, family, service, etc. of Jeremiah Leeds. These official reports have been accepted by various historical, patriotic and genealogical societies as authentic, and such a report might be just what you need. 

Very truly yours, A. D. HILLER, 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

a confidential letter written Mch. 1, 1835 from Custom House, Egg Harbor, by one M.D. Canfield was not included in this count
Page 32

MRS. CHARLES W. BLAKE, 
REGENT GENERAL LAFAYETTE CHAPTER, D. A. R. 
1100 SOUTH SHORE ROAD 
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. 

May 6 1936 

A. D. Hiller Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C. 
Ref. BA-J/MMHF/ILL 
Jeremiah Leeds 
S. 5686 

15072

Dear Sir:  

Enclosed please find check for $10.00 for which please send me the photostatic copies of the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S. 5686, based upon service of Jeremiah Leeds - thirty - nine pages to be copied at a cost of twenty - five cents per page, with twenty - five cents additional for certification, making a total of $10.00. as per your letter of recent date to Mrs. Walton Risley. 

Very truly yours, 
Georgiana C. Blake 
Mrs. Charles W. Blake. 

P. S. Please made the photostatic copies in the name of Mrs. Walton Leeds Risley, thank you. 

REC'D
May 8 1936
**
**
**
Page 33

Mrs. Walton Leeds Risley 
N. Second St, & Brighton Place 
Pleasantville, Atl., Co., New Jersey. 

Pleasantville, N. J. April 12th, 1936. 

United States Department of the Interior 
Bureau of Pensions 
Washington, D.C. 

Dear Sirs - In the year of 1930, a friend and myself had the pleasure to visit your office, and we read the pension papers of Leiut. Jeremiah Leeds of Egg Harbour, Gloucester County, New Jersey.

I am writting to find out what it will cost for a certified copy of these papers, even the letter that was inclose w with his war papers. The General Lafayette Chapter D.A.R. of Atlantic County, are placing extra solid bronze Official Revolutionary Soldier Marker, to all Atlantic County Rev. soldiers graves before May the 20th, 1936, and we would be pleased to have these papers to read at that time.

I am chairman of records for the Gen. Lafayette Chapter  D. A. R. 

Cordially and sincerely, 
Mrs. Walton Reeds Risley

 Received
Apr 14 1936
Page 34

(left column)

Apr 3rd 04 Paper to war Dept. Memo within
1936 Apr 22 Mrs. Walton Leeds Risley add cost of photos
1936 May 25 Mrs. Chas W. Blake add, as remitted for photos
they are being made and will be mailed to her or Mrs. Risley as directed - [illegible]
1936-June 9 - certified {illegible] to Mrs. C.W. Blake [illegible]
1936-Nov. 13. Mrs Walton Risley adv. rel. is photos, + [illegible] James Leeds etc.
See comms in James Leeds, S,3/817


(right column)
Rev War (written vertically along middle margin)
5686
INVALID.
File No. 5686
Jeremiah Leeds
Lieut Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:- Vol M, Page 220
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 35

Trenton Feb. 26 1838
Pension Office

Sir

I enclose the voucher of J. Leeds requiring your special direction for payment.

I remain respectfully your [illegible]

John Dickinson Prest

J.L. Edwards Esq
Page 36

P.O. Bargaintown Atlantic Co [illegible] Oct. 11 '38

J.L. Edwards Esq

Jeremiah Leeds, late a pensioner of the County, died on the 9 inst Tuesday

Your very respectfully

M.D. Canfield
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Leave this memo in claim with all the setup papers, application etc- L

A copy of a list of officers of the 3 Battalion of Glouster county militia, certified by the Secretary of State of New Jersey, August 28, 1834
Taken from the claim of Jeremiah Leeds, No. 5,686. 

14 War Dept
Apr 30
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JS Edwards Esq
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Woodbury Sept. 16 1834

JL Edwards Esquire

Dear Sir-

I return the papers of Jeremiah Leeds with a certified copy of a list of Col Somers officers - I was obliged to send this paper back to Trenton to get it corrected the name Risley was written Paisley.

In your letter containing objections to Mr. Leeds claim are some remarks relative to the lateness of his application that no application appeared to have been made till the discovery of this paper [illegible] - I gave you verbally an explanation of this, with which you appeared satisfied - but for fear it may have escaped your recollection, I will merely state, that it has been nearly two years since I was first spoken to in reference to this claim, this was by a friend of his, in July 1833. I was spoken to by the old man himself - I told his friend and him also, that unless he found his commission, or could get some pretty conclusive proof of his having had it, I thought it would be useless to make the application, he told me that he rec'd his comn from Col Somers that he expected when he first thought of making the application that he could lay his hand on it at once because he
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he recollected to have seen it at the time he moved to the house where he then lived (which was about 6 or 8 yrs before) and thought that he had laid it in a drawer with some other papers - but that he could not then find it. I told him that I was going to Trenton to examine the records in reference to some other old soldiers and if I found anything that would be serviceable to him I would inform him of it - and so the matter rested till I found the paper - sometime after this he came up but our court was not in session, and he went home, and came up again at June term, and made the application.
He has claimed for the 1 1/2 mos service at one tour, this was at the time of the battles at Trenton and Princeton, as his statement will show the company to which he then belonged had served their tour out, before they went to Trenton, and some of the company went home from Haddonfield, but others and he for one, went on with the army to Bordentown, then to Trenton and Princeton, and this detained him half a month longer.
He has claimed for two months service at the time of the burning of Chesnut Neck on Little Eggharbour River in 1778, an attack was expected on Great Eggharbour, as a number of prize vessels were also lying in that River. You read over the statement of these services, and as they were the only
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only instances of claiming more than one month at a time, and as the explanation appeared to be reasonable, you said that no difficulty would be made with those services, or at least I understood you to say so -

Yrs very Respy 
J. C. Smallwood
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Confidential
from
W.D. Caulfield Esq
case
Jere Leeds
res'd 12 December 1835
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Receiv'd (written diagonally upper left)

Castoni House Grt Egg Harbor
March 1st, 1835

J.L. Edwards Esq

Sir

Having recently heard that Jeremiah Leeds of this County is an applicant for a pension, I deem it proper to suggest a caution against its allowance. I have known Leeds living in the township more than 8 years and never until now understood that he was one of the "old Revolutioners" nor do I believe that he is. on the contrary I always heard him mentioned as belonging to the Quaker sect which {illegible] contains some  of his name in this quarter and has done for the last year or so --[illegible]. I know that he used the plain language and also of the lessons of the seal so far as his situation (living on [illegible] Beach) will allow.
I apprehend that many of them petitioned from this County are through the agency of John C. Smallwood, one county clerk whom allow acts officially in the [illegible]. I am told that he [illegible] on the no [illegible] no [illegible] system, and is therefore obviously liable to an improper influence. I do not say nor believe that he would do anything wrong but I have seen presently, on one occasion, when he was taking notes and could not -- [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]-- have [illegible] he assist on the failing memory of an old man. -
From some interrogatories which I
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have heard, I am led to think that one person [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] hereabouts - I will enquire further and write to you again. 
I trust that my motives in making this communication will not be misunderstood. The occupation of an informer I regard with honor and wisdom. But - I am an officer [illegible] the Govt of the U States and more than this I am shocked at the enormous [illegible] which had given [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] good and  [illegible] laws, and of the readiness with which even public functionaries (inconveniently I hope) [illegible] to the Lord's protection of many who take a  [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]--
My letter is confidential of course.
Resty  [illegible] Yours [illegible] Feb
Mr. D Canfield
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Woodbury N.J.
Jan. 31 1835
12 1/2

(written vertically along left margin)
N.J. Feb 2

J.L. Edwards Esq
Pension office
Washington, DC
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Woodbury January 31, 1835

J.L. Edwards Esquire

Dear Sir

Old Mr. John Tilton requests of me to ask you for information respecting his pension He is an invalid pensioner, and received his pension until March 1832 since which time it has been suspended, and as yet he has been unable to learn to cause of it. He will be much obliged if you will (in a note directed to me) inform him of the situation of his claim and the cause of the suspension of his pension -

I would also be much obliged if you would inform me what has been done with the claim of Jeremiah Leeds - I returned his papers to the Department in September last, these papers were examined whilst I was in your office in the month of July last. One objection to his claim was that he has claimed for 1 1/2 months service in one tour in the winter of 1777.8. during which time the Battle of Trenton was fought. this was in truth two distinct services, one month as a drafted man, the half month as a volunteer because the term of his service for which they were called out expired whilst they were at Haddonfield, and part of the company went home, but he and some others
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others volunteered to go on - another objection was made to 2 mos service in 1778 at the time Chesnut Neck was burnt. This service he says lasted two months and so say many others who were there at the same time, but inasmuch as he lives 60 miles from here and is much crippled in his legs and feet, he would rather one month of this service should be stricken out than to be at any further expense and trouble of getting more proof - provided the Department should not be satisfied to allow the whole claim. -- Another objection was made as to the length of time that had elapsed without making the claim and because the claim was not made till the certificate of his being an officer was found. to all these objections I gave an explanation in your office with which you seemed satisfied; if however, this last objection exists with the Department, it can easily be removed. I have not heard any thing on the subject of this claim since I sent it on - and would be obliged if you give me some information respecting it.


Very Respy  yours

J.C. Smallwood
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Woodbury Decem 16 1835
Hon: William N. Shinn

Dear Sir
Enclosed is an additional afft to support the claim of Jeremiah Leeds for a pension - I took the original papers to the Pension Office in the summer of the year 1834. Objections were then made to his claim because he did not apply till his name was found on the list of the officers of Col Somers Regiment, and to two tours one of 11/2 mos the other 2 mos and also because the paper containing the proof of his having been an officer was not properly certified. I had annexed my own afft to it, instead of getting a certificate from the Secretary of State - I explained to Col Edwards the reason for my having done so, which was that I happened at Trenton on Christmas Day and the Secretary being an Episcopalian was not in his office, and no one but a little boy, so I copied the paper and annexed my own afft to it, that objection however was removed by getting the paper properly certified by the Secretary - and Col Edwards at my request examined the Declaration so far as respected the services objected to, and I understood him to say that if I procured a proper certificate to the paper, no further objection should be made to the claim, but in that I may have been mistaken. -
The service for 11/2 mo was in truth two distinct services, one as militia man, the other as a volunteer, his term of service as a militia man having expired at Haddonfield in December 1776 and some of these members of
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of the Co went home, whilst he and some others went on to Bordentown, Trenton + Princeton and were in the battle at the two latter places in the early part of January 1777 which detailed him 1/2 month longer - Mr. Leeds says that he served for 2 mos in 1778 as he has stated, but if that be objected to, let one mo be stricken out and no doubt I apprehand can be entertained but that he served one month.
I explained to Col Edwards the reasons why he did not apply sooner, and he expressed himself entirely satisfied with them -
Some weeks after I had sent on the certificate of the Secretary of State, I rec'd a letter from Col Edwards, which I believe I showed to you, and which I think he could not have examined or if he did the explanation which had given him in his office and subsequently by letter must have entirely escaped his recollection - because the objections contained in the letter are the same in substance as those before made that is the lateness of the application and his not having applied as an officer until his name was found with some additions, which I will mention, -
The facts in reference to this application and which I stated to Col Edwards - are simply these, Mr. Leeds actually applied to me by a friend as early as the spring of 1833 - at least 15 mo before the date of his declaration to get him a pension. his friend told me that he was an officer but had lost or mislaid his commission, that he had served about one year, I told him that Mr. Leeds had better make search for
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for his Commission as I did not think he could succeed without it, or some conclusive proof of its existence; he also requested me to call and see Mr. Leeds If I should go into that neighbourhood. In the summer I went down to the Seashore and called to see him, he told me that he had searched for his commission but could not find it, his wife said that she would make further search, both remembered to have seen it at the time they moved to that house 7 or 8 years before - I told him that I intended to go to to Trenton at some future day to examine the old record and that I might possibly find some evidence of his commission there.
I went to Trenton at the time I have stated and found the certification of his election and sometime afterwards sent him word that I had so found it, He could not then have applied sooner than March term 1834, but he did not come up at that time. Possibly because he had not heard from me - he did however, come up shortly before that June term following, and was obliged to go home because the Court was not in session. during the session he came up again and his papers were prepared.
This is the whole story of his application. He appeared to me at the time others were applying. I told him that it would be useless to present his claim until he could procure evidence to support it, and when he gets that evidence he is told that he ought to have applied sooner and that he did not apply as an officer till his name was found on the list-- I do not suppose however that such an objection would have been made if the reasons for the lateness of his application had been
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been known - the enclosed afft will go to corroborate the testimony of Old Mr. Price, the person who made the afft. Old Mr. Ford is a respectable old man living near Pleasant Mills in the county - a critical examination is spoken of - and in order to show how far his statement in one instance will bear such an examination, I send you the enclosed old document, which is all in the handwriting of Gene Davenport who is now dead, this paper was  handed to me a short time since by Mr. White - under an impression that it might be useful in furnishing dates of the occurrences of those times - I wish if it would be too much trouble that you would compare the statement which old Mr. Leeds gave from memory alone, with the actual dates contained in this paper - and if the statement will not bear even a critical examination then I am greatly mistaken in what he did say. but it is said that Mr. Leeds belonged to the Quaker persuasion - this I presume is a mistake - see afft of Esquire Baker - he, Esq B, tells me that there were two families in that part of the County of the name of Leeds - one called the Quaker Leeds, the other the fighting Leeds and that old Jerry as he called him belongs to the latter family. he also told me that there was a man named Jeremiah Leeds, a cousin to the applicant who was a Quaker and is still living -
Excuse if you please the trouble I have given you. I mentioned this case to you when you were here last, and I requested that you would attend to it, you then requested a full explanation of the case - please return the old paper when done with it
Very Respy Yours,
JC Smallwood
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Evidence for Mrs. Milicent Leeds, wid of Jer Leeds application No. 186,631

Boynton
Mch 24/56

J.C. Smallwood, Agent
Woodbury, N.J.
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State of New Jersey
County of Atlantic Ss

On this 9th day of August 1856 A.D.1856 before me, the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County of Atlantic personally appeared Isaac Smith and William Leeds residents of the said county, to me well known, and whom I certify to be persons of credibility, whose statements are entitled to credit and belief, each of them is above the age of fifty years who being severally duly sworn according to law, do severally depose and say that they were well acquainted with Jeremiah Leeds late of said County (now deceased) in his life time, that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and obtained a pension as they have been informed and verily believe, that they were also well acquainted with his wife Milisent Leeds during his life time, and have frequently visited the house of the said Jeremiah Leeds and Milisent his wife in her life time, that the said Jeremiah Leeds died several years ago and the said Milisent Leeds, his widow, survived him and is now living in the County of Atlantic, and is the widow of said Jeremiah Leeds the soldier of the Revolution. they having both frequently seen her since the death of her said husband.
And these deponent further say that Atlantic County was formerly part
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part of Gloucester County.

Isaac Smith
his X mark
William Leeds

Sworn + subscribed the date above before me the date above
Robert Smith Justice

State of New Jersey
Atlantic County Ss

I John Ackley clerk of the Court of Common Plea of the County of Atlantic do hereby certify that Robert Smith Esquire before whom the foregoing written affidavit was made, was at the doing thereof and now is, one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County of Atlantic, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature above written is genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twelfth day of August, AD 1856,
John Ackly clk
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(vertically written along left border)
Oct. 15

(vertically written)
Jere: Leeds N.J. [illegible] dead

[illegible] mark Dead
30401

Bargaintown, N.J. Oct 12

Free

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Comm of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
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10,018

Rev War(?)
Page 57

Jeremiah Leeds deceas
N.J. 1133

Not in his files
16 Aug '56

Talbot Johnson
Addl Ev

(written vertically)
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Postmark: Woodbury N.J. Aug. 14
Page 58

Hon. L.P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Postmark: Woodbury, N.J. July [illegible]

(Written vertically)
186.691
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New Jersey

Jeremiah Leeds
suspended

Let J.C. Smallwood
12 March 1835
Page 60

Jeremiah Leeds
Pension papers

Presented by
Wm N. Shinn
HR

NJ

Hon. Wm N. Shinn
Feb. 6, 1832
Page 61

The State of New Jersey
Gloucester County Ss

On this tenth day of October AD 1835 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said county personally appeared Thomas Ford of the said county aged seventy seven years and upwards, whom I certify to be a person of credibility, and who being duly sworn according to law saith that he is well acquainted with Jeremiah Leeds, and has known him since the time they were boys and this deponent further saith that both he and the said Jeremiah Leeds performed services in the Revolutionary war - that this deponent was in the service at the time of the battle of Red Bank and was near there but not in the battle, and he well remembers that Jeremiah Leeds was in the service about that time and immediately after - he was the first Lieutenant of a company commanded by Capt. Joseph Conover, this deponent saw him at Red Bank and he saw him at Timber Creek and Haddonfield immediately after the time that they left Red Bank he believes that the said Jeremiah Leeds served during the tour at least one month as first Lieutenant of that company - and this deponent further saith that he remembers that
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that the said Jeremiah Leeds was in the service at the time of the burning of Chesnut Neck in the fall of the year 1778, he continued to be the first Lieutenant of Capt. Joseph Conover's company - he saw him frequently whilst there, he also saw him at Leeds Point and Somers Point immediately after that event - the troops were in the service during this tour about two months and he believes the said Jeremiah Leeds was there and in the service that length of time - and this deponent further saith that the said Jeremiah was in the service as a private at a place called the Fox Boroughs on Little Eggharbour River in the summer or fall of the year 1776 this deponent was there at the same time, and during the time they were there, a small Fort was built at that place, this deponent cannot say who the said Jeremiah was under at this place or how long he remained in the service but knows he was there, and helped to build the fort.
his X mark
Thomas Ford

Sworn and subscribed the date above before me
Michael C. Fisher
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Gloucester County Ss
On the 26 day of October AD 1835 before me the subscriber, one of the Justices of the peace of the said County, personally appeared Daniel Baker Esquire of the said county aged sixty five years on the last whom I certify to be a person of credibility, and who being first duly sworn according to law, upon his solemn oath deposeth and saith, that he is well acquainted with Jeremiah Leeds, and has known him since the time he (this deponent) was a boy, that he has lived the greater part of his life time in the neighbourhood of the said Jeremiah Leeds, and sometimes has been a near neighbour to him, that he has frequently heard that the said Jeremiah was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and that he held a commission as an officer in the Gloucester County militia, and that he believes that he did serve as a soldier and also as an officer during said war - and this deponent further saith that the said Jeremiah Leeds does not now nor never did belong to the Society of Friends as he verily believes - and this deponent further saith, that from his knowledge of the said Jeremiah, he does not think that the said Jeremiah could have belonged to that society, without this deponent having a knowledge of the fact,
Daniel Baker

subscribed + sworn the date above before me
Edmund Taylor
Justices of the peace
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Gloucester County Ss
I John C. Smallwoood Clerk of the County of Gloucester in the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that Michael C. Fisher Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit of Thomas Ford was made, was at the doing thereof, and now is, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the said county of Gloucester, duly commissioned and qualified, and that the signature of the said Michael subscribed to the said affidavit is genuine, and I do further certify that Edmund Taylor Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit of Daniel Baker Esq was made, was at the doing thereof, and now is, one of the Justices of the peace of the county duly commissioned and qualified and that the signature of the said Edmund Taylor subscribed to the said affidavit is genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Woodbury in said county this thirtieth day of October AD 1835
Smallwood clk