Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,321, for Samuel Sutphen, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776) SERVICE NUMBER
New Jersey Sutphen, Samuel R10.321
CONTENTS
Page 2

State of New Jersey
Somerset County SS:

Personally appeared before me William B. Gaston one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the county aforesaid, Samuel Sutphen the within named applicant for the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 who being sworn according to law upon his oath saith, that he entered the service of the United States as a substitute for Casper Bergen in the spring of the year 1776 and served first in the Company of Captain Coon Rod Ten Eyck went immediately to Communipaw, stood on guard and continued there one month, the Company was then dismissed and he returned home, that in the month of July (he thinks) 1776 he entered the Company of Capt. John Ten Eyck, went directly to Communipaw, was there on duty one month, the Company being dismissed he returned home. Dickinson was General, & Middock Col. That he next entered the company of Capt. Philip Van Arsdalen in that latter part of Summer of the same year the Company marched to Flatbush on Long Island, and in two hours after their arrival the engagement commenced between the Brittish and Hessians on the one side and the Americans on the other side, the Americans were obliged to retreat and being pursued by the enemy suffered considerable loss. Lord Stirling Genl. Sullivan & several other officers were taken prisoners. the battle continued about six hours. Deponant fought in this battle, and as the company was dismissed immediately after the retreat, he returned home. that Richard Middock was Col at this engagement. That he was next called out in the latter part of summer or the beginning of fall same year by Capt. Van Arsdale to march to the Highlands, in this place he stood on guard
Page 3

and continued there to perform duty two months. The company marched from the Highlands to a place called "New Blazing Star" he stood upon Guard and continued there two months -- In January 1777 he entered the Company of Capt. Cornelius Lane under Col Frelinghuysen the company went from Readington on the same day to meet Col Frelinghuysen at Millstone, from Millstone they marched to Griggstown and thence to Princeton where they arrived in time to assist in the battle which had just commenced, a party of the British were driven into the college and were attacked with cannon which were fired into it. Part of the british surrendered and the rest fled. The Americans then retreated to Pluckamin where he was dismissed & returned home. In the Spring he entered the company of Capt. Westcott under Col Seely and marched to the Millstone river under Genl. Dickinson, they crossed the River and attacked a large foraging party of the British, took nine prisoners forty waggons & about one hundred horses. Deponant took one of these prisoners and received them for a Gun from Genl. Dickinson. Continued out this time two days. That he next entered the Company of Capt. Van Arsdalen in the Spring or beginning of the Summer of 1778 marched to Monmouth. Middock & Frelinghuysen were Coln's, that he was not engaged in the Monmouth battle was there but a short time returned home. He next entered the Company of Capt. Younglove, thinks it was in the first of August 1778 it was called the Company of Minute Men. Robert Robertson was Lieutenant but believes they had no Col, he went with this company to Head quarters at West Point, marched thence to Utica in pursuit of the Indians made an attack upon the Indians & killed them, they kept garrison until winter and then returned to Head quarters, he was placed on piquet guard and one night he was approached by a number of hessians while standing on guard, he shot at them and killed one. At this time, the main guard coming up attacked the Hessians, killed 16 and took 46 prisoners.
Page 4

Deponant was wounded at this time in his leg. he was out at this tour nine months during the whole of which time he was in actual service and not engaged in any civil pursuit. Deponant can not state his services with more exactness in consequence of old age and the consequent loss of memory. he has served at many different times which he can not at this distant day recollect. He is however confident that he has been engaged in actual service more than two years. he was always ready and willing to perform his tour of duty when called upon, and further that deponant has sought in vain for living witnesses of his services in the Revolutionary war.

Samuel Sutphen X his mark

Sworn and subscribed this 23d. day of September 1833 before me

[signed] Wm B. Gaston

State of New Jersey
Somerset County ss

I John M. Mann Clerk of the Superior Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Somerset do hereby certify that William B. Gaston before whom the above affidavit was made and whose proper signature is thereto subscribed was at the time of the date thereof and now is a Judge of said Court duly commissioned and sworn to. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty fourth day of September eighteen hundred and thirty three.

J. M. Mann
Page 5

Deponent makes the following answers to the interrogatories proposed

Ans 1st That he was born in the township of Bridgewater in the county of Somerset & State of New Jersey on the first day of January 1747 -

Ans. 2nd That his age is recorded in the Family Bible of Christian Lagrange -

Ans 3rd That he was living in Readington Hunterdon County when called into the service, that since the Revolutionary War until the last Twelve years he has lived in the township of Bridgewater in the county of Somerset & the last Twelve years he has lived in the township of Bernards in the county of Somerset -

Ans 4th That he entered the service as a substitute for Casper Bergen

Ans 5th That some of the regular officers that were with the Troops when he served were Colonels Meddagh, Schamp, Vroom, Frelinghuysen, A Ten Eyck, Generals Dickinson & Maxwell -- cannot recollect any Militia Regiments except those under the command of the above officers and that his services were many, & his duties arduous

Ans 6th That he has never received a discharge from the service

Ans 7th That the Honorable Isaac Southard, Nicholas W Jobs Esquire, & Peter D Vroom Esq'r late Governor of New Jersey are acquainted with him & can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution -

He hereby again [underlined] relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, & he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any state -

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Sept 23rd 1833 before me

[signed] Wm B. Gaston

Samuel Sutphen his X mark
Page 6

Saml. Sutphen
N Jersey
Pleas Direct [?] to John
[two lines crossed out]
Hon Theo Frelinghuysen
USS
L. Condict, Morristown
N.J.
Page 7

State of New Jersey
County of Somerset } ss

On this fifteenth day of August 1832, personally appeared before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Somerset, now sitting, Samuel Sutphen a colored man and a resident of the Township of Bernards in the County of Somerset and State of New Jersey, aged Eighty Five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 -

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, That he entered the service while a slave of Casper Bergen as his substitute, and continued therein more than two years, on the promise of receiving his freedom. That he enlisted in the Company at Millstone under the command of Captain Coon Rod Ten Eyck, that he continued in said company one month went with said company to Communipaw; That after one month entered the company of Captain Jacob Ten Eyck, went with the company to Elizabeth Town, staid there one month and returned, After one month he entered Captain John Ten Eycks company, went to Elizabeth Town and staid one month, saw the British soldiers That he afterwards served under Captain Philip Van Arsdalen one month And next under Captain Jacob Jennings one month, That post [illegible] to the foregoing services he entered the Company
Page 8

of Captain Phillip van Arsdalen, remembers General Sterling was the superior Officer and that Frederick Frelinghuysen and Richard Meddagh were Colonels, That at the time of his entering the company it was warm weather. That he went with the company from Hunterdon to Elisabeth Town and thence to Communipaw, staid out one month, Shortly after, he entered the company of Captain Westcott under Colonel Seeley, remembers Lieutenant Davis was an officer in said company, That he led said company to Van Nestes Mills, That the British were on the opposite side of the Millstone river, the company could not cross the bridge, several pieces of cannon being stationed thereon, by the British, That the company crossed the river about a mile below the bridge, approached the enemy, fired upon them killing one horse, pursued after but could not overtake them, Then the company went down towards Brunswick, saw a small detached part of the British lying in ambush near the road, fired upon them and drove them away, seizing upon and taking five cannon, which they left behind in their flight. That about a hundred of the British army stationed near by, took Doctor Lawrance Van Derveer prisoner, which he saw, that the Company then retreated and returned
Page 9

to Van Nestes Mills, Deponent, took one of the enemy, prisoner, for which General Dickinson presented him with a Gun which he still possesses After this he entered the company of Captain Cornelius Lane under Colonel Frederick Frelinghuysen, That it was at the time of cutting grass and near harvest, That the company went from Readington to meet Col Frelinghuysen at Millstone, From Millstone they marched to Griggstown and thence to Princeton where they arrived at nine in the morning, That the battle commenced between nine and ten in the morning of their arrival and continued until Three in the afternoon, That he fought in said battle, That at three in the afternoon of the same day orders came from General Washington that the army should retreat. That the company, in which he served, left Princeton at three in the afternoon, and encamped at night on the mountain near [?] Rocky hill, and thence returned to Readington. That after the battle of Princeton he was drafted in the company under the command of Captain Isaiah Younglove, in which company Robert Robinson was Lieutenant, went with the company to Head Quarters at West Point marched thence to Utica in pursuit of the Indians, taking with them two friendly Indians as guides, their names were Shawnee
Page 10

John and Indian Ben, Marched thence to Buffaloe, made an attack upon the Indians and killed three, it was late in the Fall, They kept garrison until winter, then returned to Head Quarters, was placed on piquet guard That a number of Hessians approached him while standing on guard, he shot at and killed one, saw him fall, at this time the main guard coming up attacked the Hessians, killing 16 and taking forty six prisoners, the number killed inclusive of the one was seventeen, Deponent was wounded at this time in the leg, which disabled him from performing any duty Two and a half months, That he then returned with the company to Hunterdon, That he served in said company nine months, Deponent commenced performing the duties of a soldier in the beginning of the revolution, and continued in readiness to serve, during the whole of said time, That at the commencement of the Revolution he lived at Readington in Hunterdon County, was a slave of Casper Bergen and is now free, That he has no documentary evidence of his service, and that all who knew of his services in the War, are now deceased. That after the revolution he was sold to a second master of whom he purchased his freedom He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Samuel Sutphen his X mark

Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid

Wm B. Gaston
Page 11

John Kirkpatrick one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Somerset and a resident in the Township of Bernards in the County aforesaid being first duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith, that he is well acquainted with Samuel Sutphen, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that he believes him to be Eighty Five years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that he concurs in that opinion, That said Samuel Sutphen is a Professor of Religion in the Church at Basking Ridge, is highly respected by the members of said church, and by all who know him, That Deponent believes him deserving of a pension, and that his declaration is in all things true to the best of his knowledge & belief.

John Kirkpatrick

Sworn and subscribed the 25th day of August 1832

Wm. B. Gaston

We John C. Van Dervoort a clergyman residing in the township of Bernards & county aforesaid and Samuel Hall residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Sutphen who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty five 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.

John C. Van Dervoort
Saml. Hall

Sworn and subscribed the 29th day of August 1832 before me

John Bren [or Bress?] Judge of the Common pleas
Page 12

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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states, that in consequence of his entering the several companies, as stated in his declaration, in the County of Hunterdon, and soon after the Revolution removing to Somerset County, he knows of no evidence to be produced from the former place, he being forgotten, and that all in the latter county, who were acquainted with him, and his services, in the War, have, ere this, ceased to exist. And the Court further declares that they consider the said applicant highly meritorious of a pension, that his declaration is as clear and satisfactory, as any, to which they have subscribed. And from the want of more testimony of his service, think themselves in duty bound
Page 13

to recommend particular attention to his case and to desire that his arduous duties in the Revolution, ably and nobly performed, as they believe, may receive the recompense, they so richly deserve, And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that John Kirkpatrick Esq'r who has signed the preceding certificate is one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in, and for the County of Somerset and a resident in the Township of Bernards in the County aforesaid, and that his statement is entitled to credit.

Wm. B. Gaston
{illegible] Van Derveer

State of New Jersey
Somerset County ss }

I, John M Mann Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Sutphin for a pension

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two

J. M. Mann
Page 14

Samuel Sutphen 4904.
Page 15

State of New Jersey
Somerset County ss:

Personally appeared before me William B. Gaston one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county Samuel Sutphen the within named petitioner for the benefit of the pension act passed June 7th 1832 who being sworn according to law deposeth and saith that by reason of extreme age and bodily infirmity, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot (State) swear precisely as to the precise time of his services and the length of each tour of duty, but verily believes he served more than two years as a soldier of the Revolution, that he took his age from the family bible of Christian Lagrange in whose family he was born, deponant refers to the Hon'l Peter D. Vroom late Gov'r. of New Jersey, Hon. Isaac Southard William I Hedges Postmaster at Somerville & Nicholas C Jobs Esq'r at Liberty Corner -- who can testify as to the Character of deponant for truth & veracity 
and for said service I claim a pension

Sworn & Subscribed this 11th day of May 1833

Samuel Sutphen his X mark

Wm. B. Gaston

I, William B. Gaston Judge of the pleas as aforesaid do hereby declare, that the Rev'd John C Van Dervoort & Samuel Hall are persons of truth and veracity, and that their statement is entitled to full credit and belief.

Wm. B. Gaston
Page 16

State of New Jersey
Somerset County ss }

I John M Mann Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Somerset do hereby certify that William B Gaston before whom the within affidavit was made and whose proper signature is thereunto subscribed was at at [sic] the time thereof a Judge of said Court and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his official acts. And I do further certify that the papers hereto annexed are the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the Application of Samuel Sutphen for a pension: In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Bridgewater this thirteenth day of May Eighteen hundred and thirty three.

J. M. Mann
Page 17

4904
Samuel Stuphen [sic: Sutphen]
reject
Papers with Mr Edwards
5 March '34
Jas Taylor
Lewis Condict Morristown
NJ
Page 18

WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office April 29t 1833

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

A Statement, showing the Service of

Period when the service was rendered.| Duration of the claimant's service Years Months Days | Rank of the claimant. | Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. | Age at present; and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported.

| | 1 | - | Private | Capt C. Ten Eyck | |
| | | 1 | - | " | " J[illegible: Jacob?] Ten Eyck | |
| | | 1 | - | " | " John Ten Eyck | |
| | | 1 | - | " | " P. Van Arsdalen | |
| | | 1 | - | " | " J. Jennings | |
| | | 1 | | " | " [Wescott, Col Seeley | |
1776 | | | | | " | " Lane, Col Frelinghuysen | |
| | | 7 | - | " | " Younglove | |
Page 19

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every brand of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

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

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

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

State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.

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

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

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

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

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary solider, and served as he states.

I __ of the Court of __ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of __ for a pension.

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

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

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

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

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

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

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

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

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

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

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

[Last 2 paragraphs, from "Every applicant", marked with parentheses in margins]
Page 20

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

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

1. Where and what year were you born?

2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?

5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.

6. {To a Soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by who was it given and what has become of it?
{To an officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -- one of who should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary solider, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

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

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

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

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will trans-nit such evidenced as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
---
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity ; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.

[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.

[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.

[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.

[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:

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

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according tot he grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expression are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &e without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each tern 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.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.

[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.

[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.

[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

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

Proof of Service.

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

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

[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.

[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.

[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and seat to the War Department, with the declaration.

[The following sections marked with parentheses in margins: first paragraph; note d; first & last paragraphs of note e; Mode of authenticating papers; notes l, m.]
Page 21

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C. , [blank], 19 [blank]

in reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Samuel Sutphen or Sutphin a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's [lined out]) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

R. 10321

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Spring 1776

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
and served at various times during the war

RANK.
Pvt

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN.| COLONEL.
Coonrad Ten Eyck
Philip Van Arsdalen
Jacob Ten Eyck
John Ten Eyck
Jacob Jennings, Westcott
Isaiah Younglove
Cornelius Lane & Matthias Lane

COLONEL.
Taylor, Middah
Schamp, Seeley, &
Frederick Frelinghuysen
Richard Middah

STATE.
NJ

Battles engaged in, Long Island, Princeton, Sullivans Ex [expedition] in 1779; in skirmish with Hessians where wounded in right leg
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Readington, Hunterdon Co NJ
Date of application for pension, Aug. 15, 1832.
Residence at date of application, Bernards Township Somerset Co NJ
Age at date of application, b in Bridgewater Tnsp Somerset Co NJ Jan 1. 1747
Remarks: Soldier was a colored man and at the beginning of the war belonged to Guisebert Bogart who sold him to Casper Bergen or Berghen or Boyher for whom he served as a substitute. +
In 1834 refer to his aged wife, name not stated.
Claim was rejected on the ground of insufficient proof of 6 mos service as required by the Act of June 7, 1832 under which he applied

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

6-2856

+ After the war soldier bought his freedom from his mistress the widow of Peter Sutphen for [pounds] 92.10
Page 22

New Jersey
Revol
Rejected
Samuel Sutphen
In Let to
10321
Hon L. Cond [obscured, presumably Condict]
October 30 1833
---
In let. Hon. Mr. Schenk
June 4. 1834
---
Letter to L. Condict 18 July 1834
Letter to Hon Th. Frelinghuysen
Feb. 27, 1835. Let to Hon
L Condict Feb 19, 1836
Act 7 June 1832
Page 23

2.
Supplemental Declaration of
Samuel Sutphin, of
Somerset Co. N. Jersey
(original papers on file in office)

Hon. T. Frelinghuysen
Return to L. Condict, Morristown N. J. [lined out]

[left side, written upside down]
10321
Page 24

State of New Jersey
Somerset County } ss:

Be it known, that before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in said County, personally appeared Samuel Sutphin, a free man of color, for many years well known to me, & to all the neighbors around him, as sustaining a fair & unblemished character for truth, sobriety & good morals, & having been duly sworn, on his oath saith as follows, viz: -- I am the same Sam'l Sutphin, who heretofore made a declaration of my militia services in the war of the revolution, to obtain a pension under the act of Congress of June 7th 1832, before the Court of Com. pleas of Somerset Co. which declaration having been rejected, is now on file in the Pension office. The reasons of the rejection, as I understand them, from a letter of Oct. 30th, 33. signed by Commissioner Edwards, & addressed to Lewis Condict - are - "that being a slave originally, I was not bound to serve in the Militia, & the circumstances of each tour of actual service not having been stated, as was required, the claim is rejected." -- My story was a long one, & whilst so many other cases were urged & pressed on the attention of the Court, I could hereby expect so minute & circumstantial a detail would be committed to writing, as was required. The writer of my story, was much hurried, & I presume he did not state in writing, any thing more than a general [underlined] outline of my services. Knowing however that I served faithfully [underlined] many months -- encountered many hardships & dangers, I will ask of the Secretary of War & Commissioner of Pensions, a patient hearing, & I will endeavour, as far as old age will permit, to give an honest & circumstantial account, as well of the motives & inducements to engage in the service, as of the services themselves.

And 1st as to the inducements & motives. -- In the beginning of the war, I was a slave to Guisebert Bogart of Somerset Co. N. Jersey, living on the Raritan river. Casper Bergher a neighbour, of Readington in Hunterdon Co. but living within some two or 3 miles, proposed to buy me from my master Bogart, & give me my freedom at the end of the war, if I would take his place in the militia service, & perform Militia duty in his stead. To obtain my freedom, I agreed to the offer, & Master Bogart sold me to Master Bergher for [Pounds] 92..10..0. hard money, which I believe was paid. Master Bergher had served one month in the Militia, & said he was tired of the service. I believed the white men's word -- hoping to be free when the fight was over. -- I took no paper to shew the bargain, but trusted to my master. --

And now, I will try to tell my services [underlined], to the best of my knowledge. -- I went to live with Master Bergher in the spring, when it was muddy & cold. I do not know the year, only as the folks called it 76, when they talked about it. We sewed [sowed?] our flax just after I moved to Master Berghers, & then he was called on to go out with the Militia. He went out himself this time, & left me at home, to plow the corn ground & get ready for planting. Directly after I had planted 4 acres, another call was made for the Militia. Master Bergher belonged as I understood, to Capt. Tice Lane's comp'y or Matthias [underlined] Lane's, as his name was called in English - (we being all Dutch) - the company was classed as I was told. & I
Page 25

was put in my Master's place. Captain Lane agreed to take me in  Master's stead, as a soldier, & I was willing, that I might be a freeman [underlined] when the war was over. The whole company did not always go, in a [?] body together - sometimes all, sometimes half, sometimes a quarter. When part only [underlined] went, a part only [underlined] of the officers [underlined] went with them. In my first tour, I think I went out under Capt. Lane himself. I think Colonel Taylor was Col. of the Regiment at home, to which Capt. Lane belonged. - We marched from the Branch of Raritan, where Master lived, through Bound brook, Scotch plains, Newark & so on to Bergen & Communipaw. It was in warm weather. A great many Militia were there & along the shore of North river. We were in sight of N. York. I remember Col. Ab'm Ten Eyck was there, Col. Schamp, Col. Hunt, Major Linn. We helped build a small breast work. The ships of the enemy were expected. -- We mounted guard at night every night -- staid out one month, were dismissed by word of mouth, & went home.

We had not been home long (say a few weeks) before we were again called out to the same place, & the same duty of mounting guard & throwing up breast works. It was in hay & harvest season when we left home, under command of Capt. Jacob Ten Eyck, as it now appears to my memory. I remember a ship called the Asia, was laying in N. York harbor, & whilst we were on this tour, the British fleet arrived. A large body of Militia was collected here, Col. Schamp, & Col. Frelinghuysen I believe were both on the ground & other officers not remembered. I best remember our Dutch [underlined] officers, because I could talk but little English, & knew our Dutch officers. After staying out one month here, my impression is, that we went home, after being discharged -- but if we reached home, our tarry there was very short, for all the Militia were soon called out to meet the enemy, who it was said, had landed on Long Island. Capt. Lane took command of our company, & we were hastened to Long Island as soon as practicable. Our company was in the heat of the Long Island battle. Lord Stirling had command of the Jersey troops, & I think he was made a prisoner. I believe it was Col. Frelinghuysen who commanded our Regiment. Our company was broken up & dispersed in the battle, & we lost our officers, or our officers lost the men. -- Two of our company were taken prisoners in this fight, viz: Peter Low & John Van Campen. Some months after, they were exchanged & got home. -- Jacob Johnson, a man with one eye, -- Wm. Van Syckel & myself (3 of us) all of Capt. Lanes company, got together, & secreted ourselves as well as we could from the notice of the enemy, until we had a chance to make our way down to the narrows opposite Staten Island. I found a colored man with a skiff, who took us across to Staten Island. The black man piloted us through bye ways across Staten Island, & we crossed the sound over to Eliz'th town point, thence through the town, & by
Page 26

by the Wheat-sheaf tavern, Short hills, Quibble town & Bound brook & home. In the fall of the same year, after the nights had become frosty, we were again ordered out under Capt. Philip Van Arsdale & were stationed for a month, guarding the lines in the neighbourhood of Bergen & along the bay shores. -- Capt. Van Arsdale lived at Pluckemin, & I believe he commanded me on this tour.

My next tour was in cold winter weather, under Capt. Van Arsdale & Col. Schamp. It was about the Christmas holidays. We were marched from Raritan, up the Millstone river, & escorted Gen'l then Col. Frelinghuysen, by Griggstown to Princeton. We heard the firing of guns before we reached Princeton, & were marched directly into the battle. Soon after this battle, I think Gen'l Washington went into Winter quarters near Pluckemin. The morning after this battle, Cornelius Lane, one of our company, was accidentally shot through the hip by one Todd. Lane was lying against a sapling, & the ball passed in near the navel, & came out near his back. Thomas Oliver & I, carried Lane home on a litter made with poles & a bed, between two horses. I was absent from home on this tour, according to the best of my memory, 10 days. I had been with my Master but a very few days, before we were summoned in haste to take a body of Tories & refugees of 500, to 700 men, led on by one Christopher Vought, or Stofle Voke, as the Dutch called him. They were said to be from Lebanon on Hunterdon Co. & were making their way toward N. Brunswick, then head quarters of the enemy. They were discovered by Doctor Jennings in the night. Capt. Lane & Capt. Jacob Ten Eyck, & their whole companies & all the neighbours were immediately called. We fell in with them at the 2 bridges, where the 2 branches of the Raritan come together. We had a fight with them here. Wm. Van Syckel of our company was shot in the heel - they came to a fording place near to Cornelius Van Derveers mill, where they crossed, & made their retreat. Most of them were mounted men. Capt. Ten Eyck took one prisoner, & kept his horse. We pursued them, but they made their escape toward New Brunswick, knowing the country well. - This was in cold weather, & we mounted guard almost every night all winter along the Raritan, to protect the people against the Tories & Refugees, who were very troublesome in this quarter. I was stationed with Lieutenant Davis &c party of Militia at the two Bridges performing this guard duty for a month, & toward the latter part of winter or perhaps in March, when an Express rider, on a black horse, was sent from Col Frelinghuysen bringing news that the enemy was out in a large force from N. Brunswick, & coming out toward Van Ess' Mills on the Millstone river. I piloted Lieut. Davis with his company & as many others as joined us, to a fording place across the South Branch well known to me, & we hurried our march to the Mills. The enemy had plundered the mill at Van Ess' of flour & grain, had loaded about 10 wagons of 4 horses, & started them. They had not yet got out of the Lane leading from the mill to the big road. We fell in with the teams first, before we discovered the enemy. Lieut. Davis ordered us to fire, & we did. We shot some of the horses in the front team, which stopped the whole. The drivers left the teams & fled, & the guard escorting the teams also escaped. We took the teams & waggons, which were sent off under an escort to Morris town. -- A short time after, a company of Hessians opened a fire upon us from behind a hedge with some 3 or 4 field pieces, & retreated. Doctor Van Derveer who had rode very near them before they were discovered, was taken prisoner by them & carried off to N. Brunswick. A large body of Militia was out, & there was a sharp fight with the main bodies of the two armies. I understood Gen'l Dickinson commanded, & that Col. Frelinghuysen was with him. Lieuten't Davis who commanded our guard station was said to be from Cumberland below Philadelphia. -- His Capt. whose name was Westcott, was also said to be from Cumberland. He Westcott has been left very sick at my old master's, Guisbert Bogart's house, where he died, & was taken to Cumberland. -- On this excursion we were engaged not more than 2 or 3 days, before our company returned to its former station near the two bridges, mounting guard every night, which duty we performed faithfully, till the season of plowing came. From the time of the battle at Princeton, I was constantly on duty, either mounting guard along the Raritan, or engaged upon the excursions which I have endeavoured to describe, until early in April. I performed at least from three to four months of duty in this inclement season, hoping the time of my freedom was not far off. --
Page 27

About the season for early Corn planting, as near as I can remember, our company was called on to furnish men to go to the North against the Indians. Three men were taken from our company, & as I understood, 3 from each company. -- Hendrick Johnson -- James Ray, a free Mulatto man & myself, were taken from Captain Lane's company, & 3 from Captain Ten Eyck's company. Captain Isaiah Younglove, & Lieutenant Robert Robertson, were along the Raritan & the branch, enlisting or raising men for this service, which was for a term of 9 months. -- My master Bergher, ordered me to go, & my name, as I suppose & believe, was entered by Capt. Younglove for this service & period. Colonel David Seely, who was said to be from Cumberland, commanded our Regiment, & our Company under Capt. Younglove, joined Col. Seely & the Regiment at Cornelius Slack's tavern at Succasunny [Succassuna] plains in Morris County. When we joined our Regiment at Slack's, the farmers were just finishing their corn planting. -- From Succasunny plains, we were marched through Sussex, & Goshen in Orange Co. to West point. Here I recollect there was a huge chain of Iron stretched across the North river, anchored into the rocks, to prevent vessels passing up & down. We marched through N. Windsor, Newburg, Esopus & Utica, at or near which place then was a fort, called fort Stanwyx [Stanwix] or fort Schuyler -- perhaps I am wrong in the name. We remained here a few days. The Indians had just left the place, having massacred some of the inhabitants. The bodies of three children were found here, that had been mangled by them. We marched through a place called Cherry-valley, which the Indians had also visited & destroyed, as well as fort Montgomery. I think the name of our General was Sullivan, & he joined the expedition & took the command somewhere upon the North river, I believe at Westpoint. The Indians had destroyed most of the new settlements & villages through which we passed, only a few days before. We found them deserted & burnt. -- We pursued them through the wilderness Country to the Lake Country, the Indians retreating as we advanced. We had some 4 or 5 small field pieces with us. When we arrived near the Lake, it was about husking-corn time in the fall, & we did not begin our march homeward, till a week after the New year began. We returned by the same route, or nearly the same. We halted at West point. One cold night, when the snow was knee deep, as I was standing sentry, a party of Hessians or Highlanders, who had crossed the river on the Ice, came upon us by surprise. I hailed the first I saw, & he giving no answer, I fired by moon light & saw him fall. I loaded my gun, & as they fired & rushed upon me, I fired again, & retreated to the main guard, who were coming to my relief. They immediately fired & killed & wounded 16 of the enemy. Our light horse had rallied for our relief, & coming in their rear, they soon surrendered & we took 70 prisoners. They were draped in short wide plaid trowsers & wore broad swords. I rec'd a bullet upon the button of the gaiter of my right leg, & both bullet & button were driven into the leg, just above the outer ancle  bone. The wound was dressed by Doctor Parrott, the surgeon of our regiment, who extracted both ball & button from the leg, with the knife, the next morning. The fight was in the fore part of the night. In the same affray, I rec'd a wound just above the heel, as high as the ancle, which appeared to be a cut, almost dividing the large cord behind the ancle, in the same leg. Both these wounds & scars, are yet plainly to be seen & felt, & a lameness has remained from them to this day. I was confined 2 weeks & 5 days by this wound at West-point, Doct'r Parrott attending & dressing the wounds daily. -- Captain Younglove was wounded in the fleshy & back part of the thigh, the same night, by a ball. The Regim't remained here about 3 weeks, as I believe, when we took up our homeward march, & I hobbled along with them as well as I was able. -- We reached home late in the winter, & were discharged but a little before the spring season began, having served out the full time of our engagement. -- (In all [illegible] 16 months [illegible])
Page 28

It was said by some, that this last engagement, or service for 9 months, would excuse me or my Master from Militia calls for some time to come. For this, or some other cause, I performed no other service in the war. -- After the war ended, I spoke to my master for my freedom. -- I found not long after, that I was sold to Peter Ten Eyck, a slave for life, for £110. Col: Frelinghuysen & some others, endeavoured to obtain my freedom, by talking to my old master Bergher, & Master Ten Eyck. But master Ten Eyck sold me a slave again, to Domine Duryea, for £92..10..00. I lived with him 2 1/2 years & he sold me to Peter Sutphin, for the same sum. I lived with him & his son 2 years as a slave, & after his death, with my mistress for one year. She then agreed to let me have my freedom, provided I would pay her £92.10. I paid her down, in cash £30, which I had laid up in small sums, by selling furs and skins of rabbits, raccoons & muskrats, for years, & the residue I paid her by the proceeds of my labor, & have been since, a free man. Until within a short time, I have been able to feed & clothe myself & my aged wife from our labor, -- but now, in my 87th, year, I find my working days are ended. If I can receive the pittance, which I believe I have faithfully & honestly earned by my militia services in the war, fighting for the white man's freedom, it would gladden my old heart & my wife's. -- I have told the story of my service in the war, according to the best of my remembrance & belief. I may be wrong in dates, & perhaps sometimes in the names of places & officers -- but before Him who is to be my Judge I can declare confidently, that my services have been done, to the full extent of my story. -- I believe I told the same story substantially, or at least so far as they were willing to hear it, to those who took my Declaration in Court. I believe they omitted all the particulars -- asked me but few questions, & hurried over it as soon as possible. -- I do not know of any persons now living, who served with me, or I would ask their testimony. -- There are many persons who are my neighbours, & who have known me well for many years. If they should be willing to say any thing favorable of me as a man of truth [underlined], I will send their statement with this Deposition.

In all the tours of duty which I have stated, my services were constant, & always under the orders of my immediate officers, & during those tours of duty, I was not engaged in any civil pursuit. I pray that the former rejection of my claim may not prejudice it's consideration now, as I was as ready & willing then, as now, to give all the particulars & circumstances which my memory retained.

Sworn & subscribed before me at Bernards town, Somerset County, this 20th day of May, AD. 1834.

Samuel Sutphen X his Mark

N. C. Jobs

N. C. Jobs Esq'r is well known to me to be a Justice of peace in Sommerset County duly commissioned, & the signature of his name to Sam'l Sutphen's deposition is genuine. Lewis Condict, late a Rep've from N. Jersey.

June 2d. 1834.
Page 29

I hereby certify to the Secy. of War & Commissioner of pensions, that at the request of Samuel Sutphin, the colored man within named who claims a pension, I examined his right leg & foot, alleged by him to have been wounded in an engagement with the enemy in the night; upon the Hudson river. -- The following is the result of my examination. -- viz: A hard knotty scar, is seen & felt, in the large tendon, called by anatomists, "tendo Achillis", which is formed by the muscles making the calf of the leg, & is inserted into the heel bone. This scar or knot, is about an inch & a half above the heel, & it would seem, as though the tendon had been once divided, or nearly divided, by some rough or harsh instrument. It must have caused a tedious & painful lameness, under the best practicable treatment; & is, as I verily believe, the cause of a palpable & visible lameness which yet afflicts Sutphin at this day. -- On the outside of the same leg, about 3 inches above the ancle, is another scar, somewhat depressed, the size of a half dollar, I should think that the small bone of the leg (the fibula) must have been shattered, as its covering membrane (periosteum) has been destroyed -- the tendon & integuments, being now all firmly fast to the bone -- & the motions of the ancle joint are greatly impaired, when contrasted with the other limb.

Morristown, N. Jersey, May 2d. 1834.

Lewis Condict [underlined], M. D. & late a Representative from the State of N. Jersey
Page 30

[left side]
1916 Apr 28. History to Mr. Chester V. Jones. M.B.H
1928 June 15 Brig. Gen'l. Gilkyson - advised name ap. as Casper Berger etc. AWJ.

[right side]
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 5, 1878. [lined out]
10,321
P. O. Sam'l Sutphen
Service: ___
REJECTED [ink stamp]
Enlisted: ___, 18 .
Discharged: ___, 18 .
Application filed: ___, 18 .
Alleges: ___
Re-enlisted: ___
Attorney: ___
P. O. ___
[check]
___ Recognized. [check] Contract.
___ Cert. of Dis. Search for ___, 18 .
Page 31

Hon L. Condict
Feb 19. 1836
O.C.
N.J. case

Recd vol 43 page 67
Page 32

War Dept
Pension Off
Feby '36

Sir

Agreeably to your request I have the honor to enclose herewith authenticated copies of the papers in the case of Samuel Sutfin [sic: Sutphen]. ["numbered 12 3 of which" lined out] Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of them.

Lewis Condict Esq'r
Morristown
N. Jersey
Page 33

Hon Th. Frelinghuysen
Feb. 27. 1835
G.C

[illegible] page 258
Page 34

War Department
Pension Office
February 27, 1835

Sir

I have the honor to state that the papers of Samuel Sutphin have again been carefully examined. His supplemental affidavit does not explain away the objections heretofore raised in the case: If the application should be renewed the applicant being a slave during the period of his revolutionary services must be supported by proof: The 9 months tour [illegible] expedition against the Indians is very doubtfull. If while thus engaged he belonged to a regiment of state troops, by giving the names of the officers some evidence of it may be found on the records of the state of New Jersey: if the service was continental, by giving the names of the regimental officers proof may be found in the Department
Page 35

[ink bleed through from opposite side of page (image 36)]

War Dep
P. C.
July 18th 1834

It being ["a fact perfectly well" lined out] clearly established that a considerable portion of the transportation done [illegible lined out] during the Revolutionary war was performed [illegible lined out] under the direction of officers who contracted with the Quartermasters Department and engaged their teamsters under civil contracts, the [question lined out] point to be settled in claims similar to that of Jonathan Morgan is whether the claimant was actually mustered into the public service, or employed under a civil contract. The circumstances stated in the explanatory declaration appears to [illegible] that it must have been the latter. The transportation was done for the French army. [illegible] ["There could have been no" lined out] American teamsters ^[insert] would not have been enlisted for that service but if employed it must have been under contract. [illegible] His actual service in the militia does not appear to have been six months. He alleges that he was liable to be called out during that period - ["but did not actually serve" lined out] not that he actually served. The rejection must be confirmed. The papers remain on file.

All the papers ["in support of" lined out] relative to the claim of Samuel Sutphen have been carefully examined. Without [illegible, lined out] detailing the discrepancies between the several declarations it is sufficient to say [illegible] that [illegible] the peculiar circumstances
Page 36

of his [illegible] stated [illegible] requires ["detailed proof" lined out] evidence to support the claim. The only [inserted:] direct proof ["of service" lined out] is the deposition of Abraham Voorhees who states he saw him twice under arms -- once at Monmouth & once at Princeton. Claiming to have ["accompanied" lined out] served under Gen'l Sullivan in his expedition into the Indian Country for the term of nine months ["which ... militia but continental service, he must give his regimental officers" lined out] he must give the regimental officers under whom he served in order that this service if Continental may be traced by the rolls. If militia service which is quite improbable for so long a period, it must be explained and proved. The papers remains on file.

The claim of Joseph [?] Lyon has been admitted. The certificate will soon be forwarded.

[vertical in right margin] 18 July 1834 O.C.

Lewis Conduit Esq. Morristown N.J.
Page 37

War Dep PC Octo 30 33

Sir

The papers in support of the claim of Samuel Sutphen which were returned for a specification of actual service and the production of the best evidence have been again examined. His new declaration does not specify six months service, though it states in general terms that he served more than two years. It appears that the claimant was originally a slave & was not of course bound to serve in the militia in which he alleges all his services were performed. In such a case the circumstance of each term of actual service cannot be dispensed with as was required. Not having been done the claim is rejected. The papers are placed on file.

James Clark alleges in his original declaration that from the time he was of sufficient [?] age in 1778 he did duty one month out of every three until the end of the war. In his additional declaration he states that the militia were divided into three classes, each doing duty in rotation. In point of
Page 38

fact it appears by the Laws of New Jersey that from 1777 each company was divided into eight classes. Though more than one class might have been called into actual service the claim of Mr Clark under the circumstances will require further explanation & proof. The papers are placed on file.

Hon Lewis Condict Morristown CR [?]

[written upward]
L. Condict NJ
October 30 33
O.C.
Rec'd Vol. 24. 1. 93.
Page 39

Sam'l Sutfin

[Postmark] MORRISTOWN N.J. FEB 3

Written vertically] Feb 8 N.J.

[Stamp] FREE

Jas. L. Edwards Esq'r
Comm'r of Pensions
Washington.
Page 40

Morris-town, N.J. Febry 3d. 1836

Dear Sir,

The case of Samuel Sutphin (or Sutfin) of Somerset Co. N.J. a colored man, who served on Sullivan's expedition, has been suspended, & perhaps rejected in your office, for want of necessary proof. -- The Legislature of N.J. now in session, have lately pensioned one or two, whose cases in my opinion were less meritorious in point of service, than Sutphin's. -- I am requested & advised by some of his neighbours who know him well, to ask the favor of you, to return to me his papers, with the view of submitting them to our legislature. One of his neighbors, Mr. Jobs, a worthy & respected man, a member of the Legislature & of high standing, has written to me, for this purpose. #

If consistent with your duties to return them, you will confer a particular favor on me, & on Sutphin, whose age & poverty render him an object of compassion. Should you desire their return after Legislative action, I can obtain the consent of the Legislature, & will be responsible to you for them. Please write me with as little delay as possible, as the L. may adjourn soon.

Yours with esteem & respect
L Condict

Jas. L. Edwards Esq'r
Comm'r Pensions

# P. S. If you desire it, I will send you Mr. Jobs' letter on the subject.
Page 41

Morristown, 20th Feb'y. 1835.

Dear Sir,

The course recommended by the President in his opening message induced me to believe that it was useless under that hostile influence, to attempt any thing further for the relief of the revolutionary men, whose cases were undecided. I thought it also probable, that under Executive recommendation, some further legislation would be had. Hitherto, I had observed no action by Congress, except on some individual cases, & I have within a few days heard of one case having passed the Commissioner's ordeal, which has induced me to ask the favor of you before leaving, to make one more effort, in favor of a few, whose cases are well known to me, as possessing the strongest intrinsic merit, from long & faithful services. -- The papers of Isaac Tompkins are herewith returned, with the additional evidence of John P. Baldwin, & of James Hedden both of Newark. -- Your own certificate of their good standing as men of truth [underlined] &c: will have much weight with Mr. Ela, who has heretofor considered it, & who will probably decide upon each N. Jersey case. All [underlined] the evidence which can be had from living [underlined] witnesses, is now with the papers. & a fair & full [underlined] compliance with Mr. Ela's requirements. so far as practicable, has been had. I hope, from your knowledge of the character of Mess'rs Hedden & Baldwin, you will be able to certify in their behalf as witnesses for Tompkins. -- Baldwin is a more obscure & a less known man than Hedden, but highly conscientious & credible, in the belief of all who spoke of him to me. --

The amended papers of Enos Farrand, were returned to the office some 4 or 6 months past, with all the explanations called for. -- Jacob Sisco's case has been returned here, & further testimony called for. It has been sought by him earnestly [underlined], where his services were rendered, but not a single living witness can he find. Please look at his 2d. affidavit on this point. His veracity is as free from reproach as any man's who is known to me. The office could not tempt him knowingly to swerve from the truth, & he is exceedingly poor, aged & decrepid.

Daniel Skillinger's, & David Horton's papers were sent last fall, & are new [underlined] cases. They are desirous to know the result. -- The last one, with which I will trouble you, is that of a free colored man in Somerset,# who did much duty in that County, & often under your fathers orders, of whom he often speaks in his amended Declaration. I wish you could find time at the office to look over his artless history, which carries on its face, it's own evidence of truth. Without your aid, his unfortunate color, will stand between him & his Country's justice. I entreat you to read his simple story [underlined]. --

[written vertically in left margin]
# Sam'l Sutphin.
Page 42

I find I must retract a word, viz: that the colored man Sutphin was the last [underlined] case. I had missed the name of Tunis Felter, a case of much hardship, from extreme poverty, & of much real service. There was at first no proof that could be found & the case was suspended: proof was afterward found, & has been sent to the office, & the case is much better sustained, than some which has been admitted -- & indeed, from the very instructions of the Departm't, it is evident, that from the lapse of years, & dispersion of individuals, it was not believed by the Departm't that proof could be had in all cases. -- In Sutphin's case, I believe one ground of objection was, that his name was not found on the rolls in the expedition ag't [against] the Indians. This may be the key, viz: -- he was a slave till after the war, & his 2nd name always changed, as he changed Masters. It is only since the war that he lived with Mr. Sutphin & has been called Sam'l. Sutphin. When he went on the Ind'n expedition under Sullivan, in Capt. Younglove's comp'y I think his masters name was Berger or Bergher. (his new declaration tells) & may stand on the rolls, Sam a col'd [colored] man -- or Sam Berger. He was entered in the stead of his master, with his own consent, on condition of being free [underlined], after risking throughout the whole war, his life, for his masters. -- This peril he undertook & performed faithfully -- but the white [underlined] man proved faithless [underlined], & sold him to another person for £192.10.0 [illegible] money, & Sam at last redeemed himself by his own hard earnings & p'd [paid] again, the price of his freedom. -- Do not permit our Country to visit upon poor Sam's head a 2'd. time, the affect of a broken promise, refusing in his old age, the little stipend promised to faithful military service. -- He is now, & has been for years, a communicant, in good standing in the Baskinridge Church -- a sober, industrious -- meek, humble & devout Christian. whose unassuming walk & consistent deportm't would put to the blush, many a lofty look.

I have some other things on another subject, to say -- but the mail closes in 5 minutes & I must defer them till the morrow. All well with love to Mrs. F.

Yours truly -- L. Condict

Hon. F. Frelinghuysen
Page 43

Testimony in support of Samuel Sutphen's claim for a Pension. Somerset County. N. Jersey. to be annexed to the original & Supplemental Declarations in the office.
Page 44

Nicholas C. Jobs

I do hereby certify that I have known Samuel Sutphen the applicant for a pension for upwards of twenty years past all which time I believe he has resided in the township of Bernard in Somerset County I have had considerable dealings with him and he has laboured for me I have found him honest and industrious bears and has since my acquaintance with him a good character in every point of view I have often heard him tell parts of his story which coincides with the facts stated in his application and have seen the scars of the wounds he says that he has received One circumstance I believe is not contained in his statement which he has often related to me that is he has often showed me a musket which he said he took from a prisoner and which he says the officer presented to him I am the more induced to believe his statement on account of his relating the same circumstance possibly long before the late laws under which he claims were passed or he had any expectation of applying for a pension He now makes a shift to live but can work but very little and is consequently very poor

N. C. Jobs
May 26, 1834 }

Somerset County ss.
I the subscriber one of the justices of the peace in and for said county do certify that I have some personal acquaintance with Abraham Voorhees who deposeth in the case of Samuel Sutphen for a pension I have often seen him examined as a witness in justice courts and never heard any objection against his credibility as a witness and from general report his oath is entitled to full credit but I have not the personal [underlined] and intimate [underlined] acquaintance sufficient from my own [underlined] knowledge to recommend him but as he at present stands should give full credit to him as a witness  -- I took the deposition of said Voorhees at his house he being very infirm in body I endeavoured to observe closely and could observe nothing but the most scrupulous candour in his statement

Nicholas C. Jobs
July 2, 1834
Page 45

New Jersey
Somerset County, Ss. Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the justices of the peace in and for said county Abraham Voorhees who is now and has been as near as he can recollect a revolutionary pensioner of the United States near fourteen years on his oath deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with Samuel Sutphin the coloured man who applies for a pension before the war that he saw him at Monmouth an the day of Monmouth battle at a bridge under arms and in December following the last part of that month deponent saw said Sutphen the day after the battle of Princeton; Sutphen was there under Arms. These are all the times that this deponent saw him out in the service but has known him well ever since that he has always found him to be a man of truth and of good repute for veracity honesty and sobriety

Abraham Voorhees X his mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me the 26th day of May A.D. 1834.
Page 46

Rev.&1812 Wars Section. AWJ
COPIED BY ADY
June 15, 1928.

Brigadier General } Put all on 1 line
Frederick Gilkyson,
Office of the Adjutant General,
Trenton, New Jersey.

Sir:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 10231, it appears that Samuel Sutphin or Sutphen was a colored man and at the beginning of the Revolution belonged to Guisebert Bogart, who sold him to Casper or Cosper (the name does not appear as Cooper) Bergen, Bergun, Berghen or Boyher, for whom he served as a substitute in the War of the Revolution, with the New Jersey Troops.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Page 47

Rev.-1 C.B.H.
THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY
SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON IRVING LINCOLN ADAMS
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT JOHN LAWRENCE BOGGS
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT SAMUEL CRAIG COWART
SECRETARY JOHN RANDEL WEEKS
TREASURER ARTHUR METCALF MORSE
REGISTRAR GEORGE H. RICHARDS

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
AUGUSTUS S. CRANE
HERBERT ROYAL CRANE
FREDERIC DEGARMAR HAHN
SAMUEL CHUDLEIGH HICKS
NEHEMIAH PERRY HOWELL
GEORGE VAIL MUCHMORE
WILLIAM JAMES OSBORN
DAVID LAWRENCE PIERSON
JOHN BREWER WIGHT
RICHARD TIMBROOK WILSON

HEADQUARTERS:
756 BROAD STREET (ENTRANCE 1 CLINTON ST.) NEWARK, N.J.
TELEPHONE 8085-M MARKET
New York, N.Y., April 20th., 1916. 299 Broadway.

Mr. G. M. Saltzgaber,
Commissioner of Pensions, Dept. Interior,
Washington, D. C.

Sulphen R 10321

Dear Sir:-

Will you kindly advise me if you have any record in your Department of application for pension for one Samuel Sutphin, who is supposed to have served in the Revolutionary War under Captain Matthias Lum, a military company commanded by Colonel Taylor. According to his testimony taken at Morristown in 1833 or 1834 he also served in Capt. Lane's Co.

This Samuel Sutphin was a slave and at the time of the Revolutionary War was owned by a man by the name of Boyher who lived in Somerset County and this slave of his served in his stead. I have been working up some data along the line of these quaint characters in the Revolutionary War and if it is perfectly consistent if you will examine the records of your Department and tell us whether or not such an application was made for pension as indicated in the testimony which we have it will be greatly appreciated.

Yours very truly,
Chester Jones
Page 48

IN REPLY REFER TO NO
STATE OF NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL L TRENTON JUNE 11, 1928.

Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Sir: We have in our files a transcript of the rejected claim for pension of one Samuel Sutphen (No. 10321), in hwich it is stated that in the "spring, 1776, enlisted for one month under Captain Conrad Ten Eyck as a substitute for his master, Cooper Bergun."
Persons interested in possible service by a "Casper Berger" claim that this reference was intended to be that name, instead of Cooper Bergun."
In view of the question raised, it is requested that this office be advised whether the writing on the original affidavit is indisputably "Cooper Bergun," as copied for our transcript, or whether the name, as written, could be read as "Casper Berger."
Very truly yours, Frederick Gilkyson, Brigadier General, The Adjutant General.