Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 20,138, Robert Griffin, New Jersey
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Service |                                                    Number
New Jersey|      Griffin, Robert|               R.20.138
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We the subscribers, being inhabitants in the county of Richland in the state of Ohio, do hereby certify that we believe the said Robert Griffin the applicant for a pension who has sworn to + subscribed the annexed declaration + interrogations to be a Revolutionary soldier, and that he has in every respect served as he states, that he is respected + believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, that no doubts have ever existed, on the subject of his services in the war of the Revolution that he sustains a good moral character, for truth and veracity, and that his statements have been uniform on the subject of his Revolutionary services and that we consider him justly entitled to a pension this 21st day of October 1833
(signatures)
John Griffin 
 John Faulk
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I do hereby certify that the Persons whose names are submitted to the foregoing certificate are Credible Persons this 21st day of October 1833.
Wills Kellogg
Justice of Peace
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Declaration
In order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.
State of Ohio, Richland County 
On this 29th day of July 1834 personally appeared Robert Griffin, a resident of the County of Richland, in the state of Ohio, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that he makes the following declaration, in order to obtain the Benefit of the Provision made by the act of Congress, passed 7th June 1832, that he entered the service of the United States, and served under the following named officers for the Times and Periods herein after mentioned. 
That this applicant entered the service of the United States in the fall of the year 1776, as a drafted militia man, in Morris County in the state of New Jersey, and served as much as two months and a half - that this applicant recollects that he went out in October [on the 1st of the] month, and was out serving that month and the month following and about half of the next month, that this was in 1776, under Capt. Thomas Dickerson, of Morris County, New Jersey, and served in a regiment commanded by Col. Stark or Start, and under General Wine, that he marched to Elizabeth Town, and then to Morristown, and back to Elizabeth Town, the whole army being under the command of General Washington, at the end of this tour of duty, in the spring of the year 1777. The applicant entered service again as a Drafted Militia man and served two months at this tour of duty -
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that he entered service 1st of June 1777 and served that month and the month following, rendering two months' service under Capt. Dickerson, and under Col. Stark in the Militia of Morris County, in New Jersey, that this tour was served in and about Elizabeth Town in the state of New Jersey-
And at the end of this tour of duty, this applicant served a tour of two months as a substitute for one William Reed, who had been drafted in the Militia of Morris County in New Jersey - that this applicant served this tour of duty as such substitute in months of August and September of 1777 - under Capt. Daley of Morris Co., New Jersey, and served in Regt. of Militia under the command of Col. Seeley, and General Wines during this tour of duty, applicant was marched together with a considerable body of the Jersey Militia into the State of New York and went about 80 miles up the North River, under the said officers - and from thence returned to Elizabeth Town, where they were discharged at expiration of this tour of duty on 1st of October in year 1777. 
And applicant was drafted and served in fall of 1777, and served another tour of two months, under a Capt. Shelar in Morris County in a Regiment of Militia under Col. Luce, and the troops commanded by General Wines.
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that this tour was served in October and November of 1777. That this Tour of Duty was served in and about Elizabeth Town, that at the end of this tour he was verbally discharged by Capt. Shelar, at Elizabeth Town, on 1st December 1777. That applicant was at home until Spring of 1778. Some time the 1st June 1778. When he was again Drafted to serve and joined another tour of one month and a half, during the month of June and a part of month of July - of 1778, under Capt. Shelar, and under Col. Luce, under command of Genl Wine, in the drafted Militia of New Jersey. That this Tour of Duty was served in and about Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, where this applicant was verbally - discharged the 15th of July 1778.

This applicant further says that he was drafted first August 1778, and served for three months in a Company of Militia of Morris County New Jersey, under Capt. Dickenson in Regt of Col Beeley - and under Genl Morris, that these three months this applicant served and was stationed at and about Green Brook, in New Jersey. - Under Capt. Dickenson, and Genl. Morris, that this applicant was once more dismissed at the end of this Tour of Duty and went home.
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that the applicant served this tour of duty during the months of August, Sept, and Oct of 1778. Then again remained at home till the spring of 1779 and in the month of July 1779, applicant was again out and served as a volunteer for two months during July and August of 1779 under Capt Shelar in Regt. of Col Seeley - Under Genl Wines - that this tour was served at Elizabeth Town and in the neighborhood of that place, 
and this applicant further says that he was again in the service as a volunteer for three months, entered the service in Morris County under Capt. Shelar in the summer of 1780, and served during the whole of the months of July, August & September of 1780, in Regt under command of Col Seeley- & Genl Wines that during this tour the applicant was stationed for a part of the time at Elizabeth Town and at Morristown and was from Morristown marched back to Elizabeth Town, and there verbally discharged on 1st or 2nd of October, 1780.
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and this applicant further says that he served as a Drafted militia man for two months under Capt Dickerson and Col Seeley- and Genl Wines, in 1781, or 1782, that he was stationed at Springfield and about that place during the said time, and this applicant further says he served one month, as a Drafted Militia man under Captain whose name is not recollected, but under Col Luce and Genl Wines, being stationed and served said month at Hackensack in 1782 or 1783, which applicant does not recollect that this applicant recollects that he was in the service at the time he received the news that Lord Cornwallis had surrendered his army to Genl Washington at Yorktown, that he was then in the service and served on month under Capt Dickerson & Col Luce that he was then stationed & served at Amboy - in New Jersey-
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at the time of said surrender, where mentioned,
that the above period of duty were faithfully saved by me as above stated as near as I am able to specify. The dates and Periods of my services as above set forth, that I was for the years 1776, 1777, 1778, and 1779 and 1781 and 1782.
Alternately in the way and-alternately out of the way-at such and so way various intervals that I cannot-uncertain the Periods or exact length of my services-farther-than I have above specified that each and all of the above periods were saved by me as a Private soldier in the Militia of Morris County in the state of New Jersey--and that during said time I was not engaged in any civil pursuit but wholly devoted to the army and the service and defense of my country as above set forth
And that no living witness can be had or produced to prove him.
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Above mentioned services on any part thereof,

Interrogations

1st. Where and What year were you born?
Ans. I was born in the County of Morris, the State of New Jersey-in the year 1760 and I am now 73 years of age and very weak.

2. Have you any record of your age? If so, where is it?
Ans. I have an old Family Bible Record and from that I verify my age and have above stated.

3. Where were you living when you entered the service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?

Ans. At the time I entered the service whilst in the County of Morris, in the State of New Jersey-and since the Revolutionary Was I have serviced in the County of Morris in the State of New Jersey and in the County of Richland in the State of Ohio, and I now live in the County of Richland in the State of Ohio, and I have lived in Washington Co, Pa, and in Jefferson Co, Ohio.
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4th. How was you called into the service were you drafted? did you volunteer or were you a substitute? if a substitute for whom?
Ans. I served two tours of duty in the Militia as a volunteer, and one year as a substitute in the Militia, and at each of the other demands of duty stated in my declaration. I was drafted and served in the Drafted Militia having at each demand entered the service in Morris County, New Jersey, as stated in my declaration.

5th State the names of some of the regular officers who served with you, and who were in service with you

Capt Thos Dickerson, Col Stark, or Start, Genl Wine, and Genl Washington, Col Luce, Col Seeley, and Capt Shelar, under whom I served and they were in the service with me at the time I served. 

6th. Did you ever receive a commission & if so, by whom was it signed & what has become of it?
Ans. I never received any commission whatever during my services.
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7th  Did you ever receive a written discharge from the service & if so by whom was it signed & what has become of it?

An^er  I do not recollect that I ever received any written Discharge from any of my officers__ I do not think I ever received any written discharge from them.

8th  State the names of Persons in your neighborhood who can testify to your character for] Truth & veracity and their Belief of your Revolutionary Services.

Anr:  Doctor Joel Luther, the Mayor of Ashland in Richland Co office, David Bryte, John L. Reznor Mercht' Luther M. Pratt Esqr  Wells Kellogg Esqr  Honle Daniel Swinney__ and Revd William Mathews.

x his mark
Robert Griffin


Sworn & subscribed this 29th day of July -1834
Daniel Swinney
Associate Judge
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State of Ohio Richland County ⎬
I Robert
Griffin the within named
applicant for a Pension do hereby
relinquish every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and I declare that my name is not
on the Pension Roll of the agency
of any State
Sworn to and subscribed
his
this 29th day of July 1834
Robert Griffin
Daniel Finney
Mark
Associate Judge -
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Robert
1832
R
Griffen
Ohio
0
of
Ropen
Griffin
act 7th June 1832 Ohio
served 2 years, aged 73
Address
John Faulk Esqr
Jerome ville,
Jessie Ville P.O.
Wayne Co. Ohio.
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[handwriting on entire document crossed out]
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Daniel J. Suney a Clergyman residing
in the County of Richard and State of Ohio
and David Brye riding in the
County of Richland and State of this do
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Robert Griffin the applicant for a
Pension who has sworn to and subscribed
the above declaration; that we believe him
to be seventy three years of age; that
he is reputed and beloved in the
neighborhood where he resides to have
been a soldier of the Revolution, and
that he has served as he states, and that
we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 21 day of
David Bryte
October
1883.
Daniel J. Sunny
Wells Kellogg
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State of Offio
Richland County Ss
I the said Daniel J. Swinney one of the
associate Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County of Richland
in the State of Ohio, do hereby declare
my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and I further
certify, that it appears to me that Daniel
J. Swinney who has signed the preceding
certificate is a Clergyman resident in the
County of Richland and state of Ohio and
that David Bryte who has also signed
the same as a citizen resident in the County
of Richland in the State of Ohio and that
he is a credible person and that the
statement of Both are entitled
to full faith and credit, and I further
certify that the said applicant is unable to attend an investigation in a Court of Record, by reason of old age & Extreme Bodily infirmity
In testimony whereof I have
set my hand & seal this 29th day
of July
1834
Daniel Swinney
Associate Judge
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State of Ohio Richland County
J. Robert Griffin the within named
applicant for a Pension, being duly sworn
depose & state that I am 73 years
of age and upwards, and that I
a very weak & infirm by reason of old
age & sickness and by reason of such
Infirmity I am quite unable to bear
the fatigue of the travel and attendance
Before the Judge for the purpose of this-
Investigation, without the greatest incon
venience to me. I further state that
By reason of my advanced age and
consequent loss of memory. I cannot
swear Positively as to the precise length
of my Revolutionary services
But according to the Best of my
Recollection, I served not less
than the periods mentioned below
and in the following grades for
one year and nine months
I served as a Private soldier
in the Militia of Morris County in the
State of New Jersey and for such service
I claim a Pension.
Sworn to and subscribed

this 29th day of July 1834
Daniel J. Skinner
Associate Judge

Robert X Griffin
 His Mark
---
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In
State of Ohio
Richland County
J. Jared Irwin Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas
in and for the County of
Richland in the State of Ohio
do hereby certify that Wells Kellogg
Esquire, who has taken + subscribed the foregoing
Deposition, was at the date thereof an acting
P
Justice of the Peace, within and for the
County of Richland in the State of Ollie
and that Daniel J. Ginney who has
Taken & subscribed the foregoing Depontion
and proceedings, was at the date
time of the taking thereof one of the
associate Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas, in and for the County
of Richland in the State of Ohioand that all their official
acts are entitled to credit
Testimony whereof I have subscribed
my name and affixed the seal of
the land of Common Pleas of Richland
County
in the State of Ohio, at Mansfield
this 29th day of July
1834
Jared Irwin Clerk
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No. 20,138
REJECTED
Robert Griffin
Rev. War.
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Robert Griffin
1832 Ohio
Served from Morris G NJ 1776
1777 &c
nothing found
Honbl J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Jerome Niles [illegible]
August 5th 1831
Honl J L. Edward
Sir I herewith 
enclose to you the Papers of Robert
[illegible] veterans of 
any war, he  is extremely infirm and worn 
Down with sickness, poverty & Disease he is
highly meritorious man Exceedingly Honest
and sustains an unimpeachable character
truth, there is no doubt of his services in
Troops of New Jerry where he lived During
Period of the Revolution he resided, in
that part of the State of New Jersey - which was
constantly alarmed and the Citizens at
Intervals constantly called upon to render
services, 
what makes the case peculiarly pressing
on the Principle of Humanity is that he
one Daughter that is Insane, and Two
other Little Daughters Both of which are
Blind, and the "old Veteran" is in a
situation that he is destitute of any means
to support them or himself comfortably
[illegible] reasons that I have to
Say, that it would be an act of Justice
and Humanity to consider the old Gentleman
case as one entitled to the favorable consideration
of the department, It is hoped that his
papers will be found satisfactory
I am Sir,
your obdt
Humble servant
John Faulk