Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2767, for Cornelius Mc Collum, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey
CONTENTS
McCollum Cornelius
NUMBER
S.2767
Carded
Page 2

[column 1] Death out on AB.

[Column 2]

Ohio. S13.300
Cornelius McCollum
of Batavia
in the State of Ohio
who was an Ensign the
commanded
by Captain Paine of the Reg. commanded
by Somers in the New Jersey.
line for two years.
$240
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio,
at the rate of 240 Dollars 00. Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of June
1833.
and sent to
J D Morris Batavian C.C.: Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of March 33, 480.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 33. 120.00
$600.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by M R Palmer Clerk
Book E Vol. 8, Page Sixteen
Page 3

18605
13300
Cornelius McCollum
Ohio
Adm for 2 years
as Ensign


 
J.D. Morris Clk
Batavia
Clermont
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Cornelius McCollum
County
or Clermont in the State of
Ohio
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[chart]
Period. / Duration of Service. / Rank. / Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

In 1776 Vol / 1 mo /  Serg / Gen Washington, Dickerson Cap Paine, Col Somen

 / 6 mo / Ensign / Capt Wetterly Col Somen

/ 1 mo / Ensign / Capt Estill Col Hillman

Guarding the coast as a minuteman for two years.

5. In what battles was he engaged? Trenton, Princeton,

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? N.J.
Foster County
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary & living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not properly
attack
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with

evidence in the case above
mentioned.
Ch. Forrest
Examining Clerk
Page 5

State of Ohio
Clermont County
On this ninth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared
in open court before the Houl George P,Lawrence Past.
Judge and John Grey Israel Whitaker and Robert
flanner Esqr associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Clermont County Ohio now sitting
Cornelius
McCollum a resident of Late Township in said
County of Clermont aged
eighty three years who being first
duly sworn according to
law doth on his oath make the
following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under
the following named officers and served as he
Stated
he was born in upper Freehold Monmouth County in the State of New Jersey
on the 4th day of January 1769 [or 1749?]
and moved from there to Groton County in said State when
he was about seventeen years old and entered the
first company and first regiment raised in that County in
the Revolutionary war. Captain Geo Paine commanded
the company and Col. Somer commanded the
regiment he went on our tour of service of our
month under the command of Captain Paine with the
County.
The company went from said County of Gloster to Amboy and joined the virginia troops there. this was 
in the first of the war when the British
in New York
They entered the service as deponent thinks about the
last of September staid at Amboy and kept a guard
there Captain Pain volunteered his company to go over
to Staten Island to watch the motion of the British by
went over and staid about four or five house when
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a company of British said at that time to have committee of
three hundred men saw them and pursued them to their
boat. He Americans from the other side of the sound fired
on the British with their cannon and Captain Paine
County of about our hundred men of whom deponent
was our got safely over the company was discharged
and deponent went to his house in Groton
he believesthe next tour that deponent went
out on was a call for all the malitia to go out the
British were overrunning the Jerseys. Deponent volunteered
for six months. the company to which deponent belonged
under the command of Captain David Wetterly went the
Regiment to which it belonged under the command and
accompanied by Col. Richard Lowers Richard Higbee
was Lieutenant of the Company Richard Westcott were
Major and Elijah Clark was Lieutenant Colonel
Deponent was ranger of this company. they went
went to [illegible] Holly in the morning and the British
drove them off before night. The regiment then
went to a place called moores town and staid there about
a week waiting for further order he marched
Borden Town, and by there until the 1st or 2d day
Frears and then marched to Trenton and joined
Gen Washington army in the morning of the day after
having marched all night from Bordentown and
took part in the engagement with the British. [illegible]
and had fourteen field pieces on that occasion
of six at nine pounds that Gen Washington had taken
from the distant. The British third three times to force
the bridge on that day, and tried to crop the bridge below
the river - Captain Withy coming deponent with
there were stationed to cover the artillery which was
thing along an the pend. The action lasted from the about
Page 7

the time the sun was an high until about half an hour or
three quarter before seen set when they ceased firing on
both [illegible] and went to quarters. The Americans marched off
that night and went to Princeton and had a battle there that
day. The American army under Washington got to Princeton
about sun rise, the Pennsylvania line was ahead of
the Jersey line and the British dive them back. Geo
Washington took the command of the New Jersey line
and drove the British they retreated to the college and
Reed or did not make their [illegible] gave up the action
lasted about two how. Gel Mercer was killed on this occasion
and a captain of the artillery whose name deponent does
not remember was also killed the American took about
three hundred and fifty beside the wounded and sent their
where they had the[illegible] in Pennsylvania he [illegible]
but verily believes. The American army then went to
move town stopped as oversee the first night
they left Princetho next git they stopped at Blackman
and the next night arrived at home town where he
Washington went into winter quarter. He volunteer compay
under Captain Withy were attached to Major is battalion
and get Dickson Brigade-- The field officer who
commanded the before had returned home with the malitia
under their command before as deponent think the
battle of Princeton their months tour being out about that
time as deponent believe. Deponent went down with a
detachment under the command of Gel Dickerson to Barton
river to guard the county from the foraging of the British
they had been there about a week or ten days and a party
of the British who were out for in come out to a place called
mill stone creek. There was as deponent believes
two thousand of the British and about four hundred and fifty
Americans under the command of Gel Dickerson. He ameri
came were divided into three companies our company
was sent up to the head of the mill pond the other down below
the will
Page 8

and to other company attacked the British in front. Deponent
was in the front in Captain Wetherbys Company, his company
and Captain Cherman and a rifle company formed the
front. The companies that went up to mill pond could not
cross it on the ice has not hard enough and came down
and joined the company in front. which had also with it a [illegible]
fortified four - commanded by the captain of the old floating
battery on the Delaware. The British had the field
piece, think they were about three [illegible]. He company below took forty five hundering wagons. The American
line drove the British. The Americans lost two men on the
occasion our man of Captain Cherb, roughs Company and our of
he replemen-- The next day Gen Washington sent down Gel
lard with a reinforcement of two thousand enlisted the
the British came two or three days after the battle of Mill St
to Somerseth with four thousand men and four field and
ye leard who had taken the command stated to meet them, but
after they had started the light horse came up and into
them that the British were coming out by Middlebush
with three thousand men and whom the receipt of this
information the detachment under Gel leard turned
back and went to the bridge at bound brook and the
met the British they on one side of the Raritan with
their field pieces and the incant on the other
the parties fired at all other the wind blew hand north
West and drove the smoke of the Cannon into their
am, & was reported that the american
had killed and
[illegible] the teen of the British. one officer and the
private - none of the Americans were killed or word
in the skirmish. The six months time for which Captain
wetherby company had volunteered was now out and deponent
with to count
has this deponent who her range
in this expedition and continued so until the seed of the
The next time after their last service deponent went out
on a months tour under the command of Captain Joseph
Estil went to Hatton fired about seven miles from
War
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Philadelphia to keep guard to prevent the British from
plundering the country. Do not know the years but it were
in the same time the British were in Philadelphia. It was
in the winter towards the latter part of it. Col. Hillman
commanded the regiment. Samuel Ellis was Major. John
Adams was sentiment deponent was Ensign. Quigly
was 2d Lieutenant, and Oliver Tharpe was 1st Sargeant
marched from Little Egg Harbour in Gloster County to Hatton
field staid there our month and returned home
when the British went away from Philadelphia to he
York he refugee became very
bless and some
of his regiment excepted from going out on town of
duty and by were employed in guarding the court he
regiment guarded it about twenty miles from Little
E Carbour river to Great Harbour River and
the two river. A company of relisted take under the
command of Captain Davis and Station upon a place called
Chesnet neck. Captain Davis brother think his
name was John Davis was Lieutenant of the
company. Deponent was a minute man and continued
for two or three years. The refugee upon our occa
came into a place called out and came ashore
to plunder. they were reported and deponent believer
they were two hundred and fifty thong. My pended
our house & set it on fire. The minute men raised in
considerable force and were assisted by a guard for
then neck. He love the town, not information
that they had killed and wounded thirteen. The refugees
had taken a barrel of brandy away from the salt work
and kept it in a meadow - they could who after it and a
party of about thirty of the minute men among was the depo
new concealed themselves in a day did and bindon
them and killed twelve of them
Page 10

never had a written discharge. Lived in said county of Gloster
after the war until about twenty nine years since when he
moved to the farm in Tate township in Clermont County on
which he has ever since resided and now resided place
no documentary evidence
be hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present and declared
his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
State
Cornelius Mc Collum
Sworn to in open Court
Nov 9th 1832
Morris Clk

Mr Alexander Blair residing in the township of
Batavia County of Clermont and State of Ohio and
residing in Williamsburgh in
said County of Clermont hereby certify that
we are well-acquainted with Cornelius  McCollum
who has subscibed and sworn to the above declaration
time 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
Alexr Blair
James Perrin
Sworn to in open court of
Nov 19th 1832
-
D Monis Clerk
Page 11

Rev War
2767
INVALID.
File No. 2767
Cornelius M Collum
Ensign Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index:--Vol. A
Page 243
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 12

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Cornelius c Collum
which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
assigned for his not doing so?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No
V. Has he mentioned 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? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? yes-
VII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or in
by which it can be distinguished [illegible]
Page 13

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman
citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? witnesses
XIV.If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses the Court have not
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
[illegible]
of the
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? 7
and
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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 the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recolelection
he served not less than the periods mention
year
below, and in the following grades;
days, I served as a-
For
and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 14

3
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 in-
---
demnite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement; the particular place or places that the cause
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 he was 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating por
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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

more proof is required
pure as to the declarant
being an Ensign the Witness says he has known
her 50 years- it is within a few days of 30
years since the war ended
Page 15

Clermont County 
Before me the undersigned a Justice
of the Peace in and for the above named
County personally came Cornelius
McCollum who being duly sworn deposeth and
saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot State swear
positively as to the precise length this [illegible]
on the precise period of the war when and
service was rendered but according to
the best of his recollection he served
the time in the grade and that the period
hereinafter mentioned
the first tour of duty mentioned in my declaration
served as Sergeant for our mouth. The
service was rendered in (I think) but can
not be certain) in the year 1776
The next tour of duty mentioned therein I served
six months was
1777
his service was posponted (I think) in the
latter end of the year 1777 and the beginning of
the year 1778. I am certain that it was
about the time of the battle of Trenton & Princeton
The next tour of duty mentioned their war
not les than one month in the year when
the British lay in Philadelphia but I can
not remember the date I served on an ensign
in this tour and also in all the other except he first
Be actual service performed he
on a minute man mentioned at the
close of my declaration, was not let them
two years which I served as an ensign
his service was performed commenced soon
Page 16

after the British left Philadelphia in I think
the year 1778. and I continued to serve from
that time, till the end of the war surrender of
Comwallis, served occasionally some time
we were called out every two or three days, some
time we were once called into active service
for a week or two, but all the time we had
to be on our guard & ready and for such
I have a
service I claim a pensible
word of my age in my family copied from
my father family bible. The Hon Thomas
Movin, Alexander Blain, John Dunn
and Robert Lee Run me in my went
neighbourhood and can testify to
Character for veracity and their belief
of my service as a soldier of the revolution
did not know that the testimony of
Clergyman was necessary, I could not
obtain this  testimony of one at this time
without some inconvience to
Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 22d day of
April 1833
Clark
W Robinson-- J.P

State of Ohio
Clermont County
Before me the undersigned one of the Justices
of the Peace in & for the above named con
John Dennis who being duly sworn deposeth & saith, that he has been acquainted with Cornelius McCollum between fifty five
sixty years. I lived about fifteen miles
from said aMcCollumin Gloster County
in the State of New Jersey and about the com
ment of the Revolution
ward became
Page 17

acquainted with him. I have seen said
McCullen in the neck compay at the Battation
muster at Adams in Gloster County New Jersey
in the war of the Revolution. It was
generally reputed among the troops that met
at the there muster that said
McCullom had been out on different
tour of duty in the war. I verily believe
he went out & served as he has
stated in his declaration and
further deponent saith not
John Dennis
sworn to & subscribed
before me this 22d day
April 1833
. Robinson JP
 I certify that I am well acquainted with
the above named John Dennis and that
he is a man of veracity
Robinson
.
The State of Ohio
Clermont County ss I Jonathan D Morris Clerk of the
Court of Common pleas in & for said
County do hereby certify that John W.
Robinson Esq whose name is attached
to the foregoing affidavit of Cornelius
McCollum & John Dennis was at the
time of taking and subscribing the same one of the acting Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid
duly commissioned and sworn and that the
signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court at
Batavia this 22nd day of April AD J D Morris Clerk
Page 18

State of Ohio Clermont County Court of Common Pleas of
the Term of November 1832
on the ninth day of November 1832 personally appeared
in open Court Cornelius McCollom an applicant for
the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
And the said Court after the investigation of the matter
and after putting the interrogators prescibed by
the war Department do hereby declare their opinion
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the said
Court further certify that it appear to them that the
Hon. Alexander Blair who has signed the preceding
Certificate is a credible person resident in Batavia
Township, Clermont County Ohio and that I am
Proven who has also signed the same is a credible
person resident in Williamsburgh Township in
said County of Clermont and that their statement
entitled to credit. And the said Court further certify that
it appear to them that Robert Leeds who has sworn and
subscibed to the accompanying affidavit in reference to his
knowledge of the service of the said Cornelia McCollum to
a person of veracity and that his statement is entitled to credit
Jonathan Dadover Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Clerk
our County do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the
original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of Cornelius Collin for a pension and
I further certify that the Alexander Blair who has sworn
and subscribed to the accompanying affidavit in the same
Alexander Blair named above is a credible person
In testimony whereof I hereunto set
my hand and affix the seal of said
Court this 12th day of November 1832
J.D. Morris Clerk
Clermont Com pleas
Page 19

State of Ohio[illegible] county court of common pleas November [illegible] 1832
Primarily appeared in the court before the said court of common pleas now sitting Alexander Blain who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his said oath make the following declaration That he is acquainted with Cornelius McCollum to present applicant for the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832 That he became acquainted with him in [illegible] county in the State of New Jersey in the year 1785 that he has often [illegible] with saith McCollum captain Richard Higher and has heard said [illegible] he believed I will McCollum was a man without dread or fear  has [illegible] said McCollum war as deponent thinks [illegible] under him in the war of the revolution  He was generally reputed and believed
Page 20

State of Ohio Clermont County Court of Com. Pleas
the Term of November 1832
personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the above named court Robert Leeds who being Sworn on
his oath saith. that he is well acquainted with
Cornelius McCollum her applicant for the
benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 and had been
acquainted with him upwards of sixty years past. Deponent and said McCollum lived about four iles apart in Foster County state of New Jersey during the war of the revolution.
 Deponent and said McCollum
both belonged part of the time of the said war to the same
regiment command by
Col Cowen and
to the same courting commanded by Captain High
in which company said McCollum was [illegible]
Deponent saw said McCollum at Mount Holly
in the time of the engagement there and saw him at
Trenton one of his memory serves him right
and after at Princeton after the battle was
Matty much over near the college Deponent
refer to his application for the benefit of the act
for such minute detail as he can remember
said McCollum is a man of Good Character
for veracity and further Deponent saith
not
 
Robert Leeds
 
Robert Leeds
[illegible]

I certify that from the testimony of credible
Witnesses it appears to me that the above named
Robert Deed is a credible person
Robinson JP