Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12189, John Bell, Continental New York
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(3-1776)

SERVICE                                                NUMBER
Continental            Bell, John               S. 12189
New York

Carded
Contents
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No. 514- New York
John Bell
Orange Co. in the State of New York
who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Dallas ? of the ? commanded by Col. Spencer in the New Jersey * line for One year eleven months and twenty one days and a Corporal in the same company one year and nine days *N. York Continental Records corrected Aug. 17, 05. 
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 84 Dollars 12 Cents per year to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Sept, 1832 and sent to the Hon. Saml J. Wilkin, Goshen, N.Y. 
Arrears to 4th pf Sept. 1832
Semi-anl, allowance ending 4 Mar. 33. 
126.18
  42.06
$168.24
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by R. Ela Clerk,
Book D Vol. 5 Page 69
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To the Honorable Lewis [Illigible]
Secretary for the War Department
of the United States of America
Sir:
The undersigned a soldier during the Revolutionary War and an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed of the term 1832; having recently heard from the Hon. Samuel J. Wilkin our representative in Congress from this county who had requested my papers at Washington to be laid before the War department in order to obtain said pension for me that they contain objections, sufficient in your opinion (if not explained away) to withold my certificate for a pension.  Sir, I regret exceedingly that it is so, and have forwarded the affidavits of John McQuaid, Robert Shaw and myself which I trust will do away the seeming difficulties and I have also requested a friend of mine, to draw up the following Naration & remarks, which, I most respectfully ask leave to lay before you. Sir, I was born in the North part of Ireland and descended from poor but reputable parents having received a verry imperfect education (not being apt to learn). I emigrated to this Country in early manhood and landed in the City of New York, with barely one English shilling in my pockets over and above paying my expenses hither.
Not long after my arrival here, the commencement of that arduous struggle which under providence resulted in the independence of the United States took place
I entered a Soldier of the Revolution from principle & an inherent love of Civil & Religious liberty & helped to fight the battles of my adopted country during a seven years contest, with humble though honest devotion to her causes and here, I beg leave to state that services That,
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That at or about the commencement of the War, I enlisted into a Company of Rangers, commanded by Capt De Witt now deceased, for one year, & whether said Company was disbanded or otherwise disposed of, before said one year expired, I do not now recollect- That subsequently, I enlisted into a Company commanded by Capt. John Nicoll, of which John Wilkin was one of the Lieut. and the same who enlisted me, (both of those officers are now dead, I served six months, & was stationed at Fort Independence near Peekskill in this State; which service is proved by the affidavit of the Hon. James W. Wilkin, now among my papers at Washington & who was with me in that service- That, subsequently to that service, I was enlisted by Lieut. William Bull into the Continental Army in April 1777 for three years or during the War as I then thought & have ever since sincerely believed soon after this event, I marched from the house of Moses Bull whose affidavit is also among my papers at Washington , in company with upwards of twenty more newly enlisted soldiers to join the American army at Morristown in the State of New Jersey- every five of whom were supplied by the said Moses Bull with a loaf of bread and a fried or boiled pork as provision for the journey, until we reached the said Army-- On our arrival at Morristown we were attached to a company under Capt. Dallas in the fifth Jersey Regiment commanded by Col. Oliver Spencer - That, the said Capt Dallas was either killed or mortally wounded a short time before the battle of Brandywine & was succeeded by Capt Edsall; how said Capt. Edsall was afterwards disposed of I do not now remember; however the said Lieut. William Bull, succeeded him and became my Capt. & continued such until the end of the War. That at the time of all these enlistments, I resided in the town of Wallkill in this County-- That, I fought in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown & Monmouth & went in the expedition under Gen. Sullivan against the Western Indian  That
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That after my return from this expedition, I continued with the Continental Army in service to the end of the War; and was then honourably discharged by Gen. Washington- That, during the whole time, after enlistment by Lieut. William Bull, I served in the capacity of a Corporal. That, as near as I now recollect, in the year 1789, while I and my wife were absent on business , my dwelling house, together with all its contents were consumed by fire, by that severe calamity, I lost all my papers, including the said certificates of of discharge from Gen. Washington & also a Bible in which was a correct record of my birth & age, notwithstanding , I am certain that, I am seventy eight years old & upwards from other circumstances, that cannot mislead me-- That my Capt. the said William Bull died several years ago; and all the other officers & soldiers, that knew me & served with me to the end of the War, (by whom, I could prove my services}, are either dead or removed beyond my knowledge of their residence-- That, I was wounded in my right leg at the battle of Germantown and would have been killed or taken prisoner by the enemy, had it not been for the kindness & intrepidity of Adjutant William Barber who grasped me by one hand & succeeded in mounting me on his own horse behind the saddle; then putting Spurs to the noble animal he galloped away, carrying both out of the reach of the British army- That I was on the pension Roll under the act of 1818 for a short/service of time, and as far as my recollection serves me now, either received a whole or a half year pension under that act. That, I was subsequently denied the benefits of that act, being unwilling to make oath, that, I was unable to support myself, which, I understood was the conditions required of all those who in future were to receive its benefits, in consequence
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of an amendment to the law, or a new construction having been applied thereto-- When the war was ended, & the implements of death, were to be converted into the implements of husbandry & the war worn soldier was to be transformed into a peaceful citizen-- I returned home to the same house; which, I had left years before; then with a knapsack, a loaf of bread & a peice of bailed pork-- now with a country redeemed from tyrany & a soldiers honour but, without clothing, without money, nothing in my pockets but my certificate of discharge & a government note for my wages, which she was utterly unable to pay at that time-- By reason of her inability to pay, and my own poverty pressing hard upon me, I was obliged to sell her paper, for what, I could get in the market, which was precisely five pounds New York Currency or, Twelve dollars & fifty cents; this amount, with the pension for a short time as above stated is every cent, that, I have ever received for seven years service, of uncommon hardship, imminent danger & unequalled privation-- Well may it be said of the American Army that they lost all, except their Country, their swords, and their honour-- After resting a short time at the house of Moses Bull & delivering my certificate of discharge &  government note to his wife for safe keeping, them, I proceeded to the house of William Shaw who resided in the upper part of the same town & who came from the same part of Ireland, that, I did; & went to work for him on his farm-- After remaining in his & others employ for 2 to 3 years I married, then purchased about 48 acres of new & uncultivated land, adjoining the farm of the said William Shaw, erected me a small Loghouse thereon, brought my wife into it, & began to clear away the forest & improve the land-- this house the same that was burnt with the whole of its contents-- this service resident threw me again pennyless upon the world and
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and had it not been for the immediate aid & liberality of my neighbours & acquaintances, I should have sunk under the misfortune. By this marriage which, I never had any reason to regret, I became the father of a numerous family of children, this circumstance alone obviously called for increased toil & circumstance alone economy, in order to support & educate them; which, we both cheerfully endured but in the year 1810 it pleased God to take this wife to himself, into a better & happier world, I hoped sincerely believe, together with the fruit of her womb, being three male children at that birth, who all perished with the mother & were interred in the same grave-- some years after this event, I married again to the woman with whom, I now live, in frugal & verry limited circumstances-- I wish, Sir you could or that, I could make you fully sensible of my [illegible] means of living. Methinks you would say it is sorry condition for an aged soldier, who helped to lay the foundation of this prosperous Government Aye Sir, helped to lay the corner stone; at the same risque of life & limb that the three mighty men of Israel obtained water for David out of the camp of his enemy- this acheivement was at the peril of our lives-- It was accepted in barter for our blood- 
Then can it be possible, when all around us, bears the impress of peace & plenty, that, we shall, in old age & decrepitude, still remain in penury & want - I trust not- It is true Sir, that, I now have nearly 100 acres of rough land, which is involved in a debt of nearly one thousand dollars; but, I am old & unable to labour; therefore in order to keep this Farm in some sort of repair & pay the annual interest on the debt for which it is pledged; I am obliged to have it rented out, & rent for myself & wife (who also old}, a small house & Garden - All that, I desire from my own Farm is about $70 a year-- this is the sum total of
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of our yearly support - then Sir, estimate for yourself how, we must live, being unable to keep a horse for our use, or even a boy to do our errands or cut our firewood. 
Sir, Perhaps you will now ask; why, I did not make Oath, that I was unable to support myself & obtain the benefits of the pension act of 1818-- Sir, I will tell you why- No Revolutionary soldier, who is sincerely honest, can hold this Government responsible for a single dollar unless he believes, it is for services rendered and not yet paid for; any more than one individual, can hold another, where no value has been received-- the doctrine of a debt of gratitude, is entirely exploded by me full compensation for that demand is derived from the blessings of freedom and independence under our happy form of Government
Then, Sir, If it is a debt due from the Government to the soldiers for value long ago received, and standing before God & country, I now fearlessly declare it is, should any soldier who has braved the dangers & periled his life in the most hazardous of all wars, that of revolted Colonies against the mother country, be obliged to swear to his poverty in order to collect a just & legal debt-- I have said a just & legal debt-- I will state Sir, how, I think it became so-- The inability of the Government to pay her soldiers, at the time, that their services were terminated , was the prominent cause of all their subsequent misfortunes - For what could the poor and ragged soldier do, but sell her paper, which was given to him in payment for his service, for what it would bring in the market, which was from 1/6 to 2/6 on the pound at the time given. Now, Sir this inability in the Government to pay her contracts to the soldier, at the time it could be dispensed with, by him, was the real cause of his losing almost all he had earned in fighting her battles, and from thenceforward, it became a debt due from the Nation to the soldiers which they have never yet received-- they done her work & done it well, and were
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were told, that they should have their wages when it was done-- and I hope sir, that, I have rendered a satisfactory reason to you & every other honourable man, why I did not comply with terms so degrading as those required from the soldier, in order to remain a recipient under the act of 1818- when, I heard of the pension act of 1828, I believed that no reasonable difficulty lay in the way to deprive me from receiving the benefits of that act-- but, in this I was mistaken-- for I was informed that the Muster Rolls at the War Office say, I was enlisted 22nd April 1777 for three years and that, I was discharged 22nd April 1780- and I stated in my affidavits that, I enlisted for three years or during the War- so, I thought and sincerely believed was the fact & so it remains strongly impressed on my mind & nothing, but the contradiction to my statement found on the Muster Rolls at the Office, could shake my belief as to that fact-- one thing, I do know & nothing but a loss of reason or death can ever destroy that fact in my mind, (and it is the material thing,) that, I served from the commencement to the end of the War & was honourably discharged by Gen. Washington as herein before stated- I cannot be mistaken as to that fact, for, I remember the joyful scenes that took place at his head quarters near New Burgh in this County on that occasion with vivid recollection ; and the verry house in which he was when I received my discharge-- and nothing but the loss of my discharge & the death & removal, (beyond my knowledge), of all those who continued with me until the war was ended prevents me from showing the facts herein stated beyond contradiction or dispute-- and how can, I or any other soldier, situated as I am, show you except by our own statements, after such a lapse of time. believe me sir, when I tell you that, I have travelled hundreds of miles and endure fatigue & [illegible] beyond my strength & means to obtain this verry evidence in order to [illegible]
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Strengthen my case & fortify my declarations and lastly, I am still doomed to meet with more disappointment and delay, in consequence of my papers at the War department containing seeming incongruities-- Sir, far be it from me to censure you for your caution; no such thing is intended by me for I know you are a responsible officer under this Government, (and God grant that the day may be far distant when any officer can become irresponsible, yet, from your own equitable construction, that where the name of a soldier in the regular troops is found upon the Rolls, no other testimony is or should be required, and as my name is found, I presume no delay would have occurred had it not been for the incongruity alluded to, and as, I want nothing but strict & impartial justice in my case. I will here notice the objections-- The first, my affidavit at one time is signed with my mark, and at another time or times in my hand writing; it is true & I am the man that done both; and although, I can write my name in a clumsy manner yet, I have sometimes made my mark-- knowing my bad penmanship, when any written document from me is to be laid before Gentlemen of education, I invariably apologize for my had education & plead to be excused; in this case, I believe, I was told my mark would do; and I made it accordingly, as you see it-- At other times, not withstanding my apologies, my friends have urged me to write my name, as well as I could, and let it go good or bad, and I have done so, you have that also before you. And I have on numerous occasions through life, (for, I have always had to get my writing done by my friends), asked my friends when writing any letter or other communication in writing for me, that did not legally require my own signature, to write my name to them & they have done so-- this is a true statement of facts & I presume altogether satisfactory to you on this point & will remove the first objection
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objection-- Second, That, I have stated in my testimony that, I was a Corporal in the army, and that Samuel Sly has stated in my his affidavit in my case, that, he knew me in the service as a private, & left me in the service a private when he went away; I knew said Samuel Sly, in the army, he belonged for a while to the same company that I did-- how it happens that we disagree on that point, I cannot tell, unless he had forgotten the fact; or did not notice the omission when his affidavit was drawn up for him-- Notwithstanding, I confidently reassert that, I acted in the capacity & done the duties of a Corporal as herein before stated and although, I have ever felt my own disqualification for any office & certainly could not be verry strenuous to have been called Corporal Bell-- Yet, I state & swear to the fact as it is in truth & touching a matter, that I have a good right not to be mistaken in-- & I confidently believe my declaration will be accepted by you Sir and the second objection thereby removed-- Third, you find the name of John Bell on the Muster Rolls at Washington enlisted 22nd April 1777 for three years and discharged 22nd April 1780 - I am undoubtedly that same John Bell, for I knew none by that name in the Regiment but myself; but my testimony on that subject is found at variance with the Muster Rolls, which, I sincerely regret, as I supposed, that, I was enlisted for three years or during the war & so it has ever been impressed on my mind & remember well that my Capt. the said William Bull told me that, I would not get the bounty land unless, I served or enlisted for during the war & do not see how, I could be mistaken about the matter & as I have herein stated before, nothing but the record of the War office could shake my belief on that subject and whether the Muster Rolls at the Department are correct or not, I suppose they must be your guide in all cases, unless direct proof to the contrary is shown-- Then Sir, three years service
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service is found there that you must be certain that I did perform, therefore it appears to me, that no reasonable objection can remain with you sufficient to withold my pension certificate under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1830, as I understand that act two years service entitles the soldier to its benefits-- I have written my name to this communication with my own hand that you may compare it with that which is now before you. You will please Sir, to write to my friend the Hon. Samuel J. Wilkin as soon as convenient on this subject, he is requested by me to attend to the business-- Sir, I shall in the mean time, await your answer not without solicitude, for on it in some measure (you must have seen) , hinges the future weal, or woe, in this world of an old man who must soon cease to trouble you & the Government, in whose defence, he had the honour to fight & shed his blood-- Sir I was an humble; yet [illegible] part of that gallant Army whose fame can never die; until this nation, [illegible] to be just-- Sir I have now done & I most sincerely ask your pardon for so great a trespass on your time & patience, in matters relating to me-
I am Sir with sentiment
Of Respect
Your
Obedient Servant
John Bell
Calhoun, Orange County, 
State New York Your
 September 1st 1832
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November 9, 1928 
Mrs. George H. Taylor 
Box 73, 
Boylston Center, Massachusetts

Madam;
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 12189, it appears that John Bell was born, date not stated, in the northern part of Ireland and came to this country in early manhood and settled in New York City.
While residing in Wallkill, Orange County, New York, he enlisted in the beginning of the war and served in a company of rangers under Captain De Witt, and in 1776 he served six months in Captain Nicoll's Company, Colonel Pawling's New York Regiment. 
He enlisted in April 1777, and served as corporal in Captains Dallas', Edsall's and William Bull's Companies, Colonels Oliver Spencer's and Malcolm's Continental Regiment , he was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, where wounded in the right leg, Monmouth, and in General Sullivan 's Expedition against the Indians and served until the close of the war.
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He was allowed pension on his application executed June 3, 1819, at which time he was living in Orange County, New York, aged sixty-eight years. 
In 1832 he was living in Calhoun, Orange County, New York. 
His first wife, her name not stated, died in 1810. They had a large family of children, no names given. He married the second time, date of marriage and her name are not given, she was living in 1832. 
There are no further data as to family. 
Respectfully, 
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section AWF/eel
12.189
Rev War
Invalid
File No. 12, 189
John Bell
Priv Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: Vol. A, Page 29
[Arrangement of 1870]
1928 No 9 Hist let Mrs Geo. H. Taylor

July 17
S.C. Koons
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13102
New York 
John Bell of in the state of who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Spencer of the New Jersey line, for the term of three years Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 3d of June 1819 

Certificate of Pension issued the 24th of June 1819 and sent to Nathan H. White Esquire, Goshen, New York
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819 
Semi-anl, all'ce ending 
2 Mo 28/30 4/31 24,49 $24,49 – 

{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
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Declaration of John Bell a revolutionary soldier
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State of New York 
Orange County ss 
John Bell being duly sworn doth depose and say that about three years after the close of the revolutionary war his house was consumed by fire and with it his discharge obtained at the termination of the War and further this deponent saith sworn before me this 19th day of  June 1838
John Bell
Jno B Booth
Justice Peace
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John Bell
Jan 23, 1832
Re to Comm on Rev Pensions

John Bell

Mr. Wilkin
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I hereby certify that the following annexed pages numbered from one to twelve inclusive are true copies 
Given under my hand and the seal of the Treasury this twelfth day of January in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two 
Louis McLane 
Secretary of the Treasury 
1820
(Signed) Asa Dunning
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(copy1) 
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the act entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution,” approved on the 15th of May, 1828, I, John Bell of the town of Calhoun in the County of Orange in the State of New York do hereby declare, that I enlisted in the Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued in its service until its termination; at which period I was a Corporal in Captain William Bull's Company, in the fifth Regiment, of the New Jersey Line. And, I also declare, that I afterwards received certificates for the reward of eighty dollars; to which I was entitled, under a resolve of Congress, passed the 15th of May, 1778. And I further declare, that I was not, on the fifteenth day of May, 1828, on the Pension List of the United States. 
Witness my hand, this day of in the year (Signed ) John Bell Note. 
Note: The most convenient Branch Bank of the U.S. is at The most convenient Post Office is at 
State of New York 
Orange County ss. 
Before me, John B. Booth a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Orange, in the State of duly empowered to administer oaths personally appeared, this day, John McQuoid -- and Henry Pierson of the said County,  who did severally make oath that John Bell by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to have been a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated. 
Witness my hand, this nineteenth day of June in the year 1828 Sworn before me this 19th June 1828 (signed Jno B. Booth Justice Peace
John McQuoid 
(Signed) Henry Pierson 
State of New York 
Orange County 
I,  Asa Dunning Orange Clerk of the Court of the County of in the State of New York do hereby certify, that John B. Booth before whom the within foregoing affidavits were sworn, was at the time, a Justice of the Peace and duly empowered to administer oaths. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, this 8th - day of July in the year 1828. 
(Signed ) Asa Dunning
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(2) 
State of New York 
Orange County ss. I John Bell being duly Sworn doth depose and say that about three years after the close of the revolutionary war my house was consumed by fire and with it my discharge obtained at the termination of the war
And further this Deponent saith not. Sworn before me (Signed ) John Bell this 19th day of June 1828 
(Signed ) Jno B. Booth 
Justice Peace 
Orange County ss. Personally appeared before me George Gardner of said County who being duly sworn did depose and say that he is acquainted with John Bell of the town of Wallkill, Orange County that the said Bell did from the year seventy seven in the revolutionary war till the year eighty belong to Col Oliver Spencers Regiment and this deponent believes to Capt. William Bull’s company in said Regiment and that the said Bell served in the said Company as a private during the said time 
Sworn before me 1818 Dec
 (Signed) George Gardner before me Thomas McKissock
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(3 ) 
This I certify that the house of the said John Bell was consumed by fire in the year 1788 York 
(Signed ) George E Mapes
State of New
 Orange County ss: We the undersigned do certify that John Bell the within Petitioner is to us personally known, that he is a man of credibility and served as known to us by reputation in the army during the revolutionary War.-- we do further certify that the house of the said John Bell was consumed by fire about the time stated in his petition to the Honourable the Legislature of this State and we do further certify it is our belief that the discharge of the said John Bell was consumed at that time. We do further certify that Captain William Bull under whom the said John Bell alleged that he enlisted, is dead. Dated Feb. 28th 1818 (Signed) 
George E Mapes 
Wm E Shaw 
Samuel Mapes Jun 
Samuel Mapes
 William Shaw Jun 
Nathaniel Mapes 
John McQuoid 
Salmon Wheat Mayor 
Joel Hoyt 
Alxr M. Shaw 
Saml McC. Shaw 
John Greenleaf 
Annos Conkling 
Peleg Petton
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(4 ) 
Selah Mapes 
John A. Ranning 
Erastus Mapes 
Wm M. Conkling 
Enos Mapes 
John V Mapes 
Ebenezer Rumsey 
Sullivan County ss. 
Personally appeared before me Samuel B. Baily one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County of Sullivan Thomas Wilson and being by me duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he is perfectly acquainted with John Bell of the town of Walkill County of Orange and has known him since the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, that he knows that John Bell aforesaid served in company under and of Captain William Bull in the regiment of the continental army commanded by Col. Oliver Spencer, that this deponent belonged to the regiment commanded by Col Malcom which regiment was afterwards attached and consolidated with said Spencers regiment and this deponant further saith that he was acquainted with the principle soldiers composing Capt. Bulls company and that they were recruited chiefly
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(5 ) in the State of New York, and was with Malcom's regiment considered New York Troops although Col Spencers Regt was termed a New Jersey regiment, and this deponent further saith that the said John Bell Served in said Regiment from 1776 to the year 1780. (when this deponent left said regiment), as a good & faithful soldier, and this deponent further saith, that he has drew his Military bounty land (in consequence of the services aforesaid) in the State of New York and this deponent further saith that when he left said Col. Spencers regiment the said John Bell was then in service and has understood and verily believes that he remained in said Regiment until the fall of the year 1782 
Subscribed & sworn (Signed) Thos. Wilson this 21st day of January 1820 before me Samuel B. Bailey Justice of the Peace 

State of New York Orange County ss. I Moses Bull being duly Sworn doth depose and say that John Bell of the said County of Orange, enlisted in the continental army, at the commencement of the Revolutionary war with Great Britain
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(6) that he enlisted in a company commanded by Captain William Bull, a brother of this Deponent; and this deponent further saith that the said John Bell Served in the said army until the close of the said war when he returned with his discharge at the same time that Captain Bull returned - and further this Deponent saith not. 
Sworn before me this (Signed ) Moses Bull 6 day of May 1829 and I do certify that the said Moses Bull is a highly respectable man and a credible witness 
(Signed) Morrison Taylor
Justice of the Peace
 State of New York 
Orange County ss. I Asa Dunning Clerk of the County of Orange and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Orange do certify that Morrison Taylor before  whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn was at the time a Justice of the peace and duly empowered to administer oaths – 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 13th day of May in the year 1829 
(Signed) Asa Dunning
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(7) 2 E State of New York 
Orange County ss. Samuel Sly of the Town of New Windsor in the County of Orange aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was a Sergeant in Captain William Bulls company in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Oliver Spencer in the war of the revolution - That he this deponent joined said company in the spring of the year Seventeen hundred and seventy nine at which time this deponent became acquainted with John Bell a private in said company - that this deponent continued in said company as Sergeant until the twelfth day of April seventeen hundred and eighty upon which day this deponent left the service of the United States and left the said John Bell in said service as a private, and in the company of Captain Bull aforesaid- and this deponent further saith that after the close of the war he heard and then believed, and still does believe the said John Bell Served as a private until the close of the war of the revolution aforesaid 
Sworn to before me (Signed) Saml Sly this 20th day of May 1829 (
Signed) Charles Borland Commissioner
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(8 ) Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of the County of Orange in the State of New York do hereby certify that Charles Berland [illegible] before whom the within affidavit was sworn was at the time a commissioner in and for the said County and duly empowered to administer oaths 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 16th day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine 
(Signed ) Asa Dunning 
State of New York 
Orange County 
John Bell of the town of Calhoun in the County of Orange aforesaid, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that he was a soldier in the American army in the war of the Revolution - That this deponent first enlisted Captain Nicolls Company for three months at the time the British army landed on Long Island, and having served that time out, he immediately, enlisted during the war, in Captain Dallas company commanded by Colonel Oliver Spencer he was enlisted by William Bull Second Lieutenant in said Captain Dallas Company at that
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(9 ) time, and a brother to Moses Bull whose affidavit has been recently forwarded to Washington . That this deponent joined General Washington's army at Morristown in the State of New Jersey- that said Captain Dallas was wounded a little time before the battle --- of Brandywine of which wounds he died said Captain Dallas was succeeded by Captain Edsall under whom this deponent continued to serve until he was succeeded by second Lieutenant William Bull as Captain of said company, under whom this deponent continued to serve until the end of the war - and was honourably discharged by certificate from General Washington at the time he disbanded his army at New Burgh in said Orange County; which certificate of discharge to this deponent was burnt with all the rest of his papers and household effects, by the accidental burning of his dwelling house about the year 1791 while this deponent and wife were absent on business-- this deponent fought in the following battles under General Washington (to wit,) in the battle of Brandywine in the battle of Germantown when he received a wound from a musket ball in his right leg, in consequence of which, he narrowly escaped being made a prisoner
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(9 ) time, and a brother to Moses Bull whose affidavit has been recently forwarded to Washington . That this deponent joined General Washington's army at Morristown in the State of New Jersey- that said Captain Dallas was wounded a little time before the battle --- of Brandywine of which wounds he died said Captain Dallas was succeeded by Captain Edsall under whom this deponent continued to serve until he was succeeded by second Lieutenant William Bull as Captain of said company, under whom this deponent continued to serve until the end of the war - and was honourably discharged by certificate from General Washington at the time he disbanded his army at New Burgh in said Orange County; which certificate of discharge to this deponent was burnt with all the rest of his papers and household effects, by the accidental burning of his dwelling house about the year 1791 while this deponent and wife were absent on business-- this deponent fought in the following battles under General Washington (to wit,) in the battle of Brandywine in the battle of Germantown when he received a wound from a musket ball in his right leg, in consequence of which, he narrowly escaped being made a prisoner 

Sworn the 16th June 1829 before me
(Signed) Stephen Jackson and Judge of the court of common pleas for Orange County
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(11 ) 
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of the County of Orange in the State of New York do hereby certify that Stephen Jackson Esq. before whom the within affidavit was sworn was at the time a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County and duly empowered to administer Oaths & In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 16th day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine 
(Signed ) Asa Dunning
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(12)
(Copy) 
Revolutionary Claims. 
Under the act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved 15th May, 1828. 
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 
23 May 1829. 
Sir:
Your claim under the above mentioned act has been examined. The act provides for no other non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, than those who enlisted in the continental line for the war, and served until its termination. It appears by the muster rolls that you enlisted 22d April 1777 for 3 years and were discharged 22d April 1780.  Your claim has therefore not been admitted 
I am, sir, very respectfully, 
Your obedient servant 
(Signed ) Asbury Dickins 
Acting Secretary Mr. John Bell case of Samuel J. Wilkins Esq Goshen Orange Co. N. Y.
Page 33

John Bell 
Duplicate 
Jan. 23, 1832 
Ref to Comm on Rev. Pensions 
No evidence of poverty 
Mar 15th 1832
Alter Co C --- Mar. 15th 1832 
Com [illegible]
Certified [illegible]
To be placed with original papers admin[?} 514
Mr Wilkin
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22d Congress 
1st Session 
Congress of the United States 
In the House of Representatives 
January 23, 1832 
On motion of Mr. Wilkin 
Resolved, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be instructed to inquire into the propriety of granting to John Bell, of the County of Orange and State of New York, a soldier of the Revolution, the benefit of the act of May, 1828, or inserting his name on the pension roll under the act of 1818; and that the papers on file in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, or copies of the same, be referred to the said Committee 
Attest, MS Clarke 
Clerk
Page 35

Orange County Personally appeared before me, George Gardiner of said County who being duly sworn did depose and say that he is acquainted with John Bell of the town of Wall Kill Orange County that the said Bell did from this year seventy seven in the revolutionary war till the year eighty belong to Col. Oliver Spencers Regiment and the deponant believes to Capt William Bulls company his said regiment and that the said Bell served in said war as a private during the said time
George Gardner
 Sworn before me, 1818th Dec. 
before me Thomas McKissock
Justice Peace
Page 36

Rcd 20 June 1829. 
State of New York Orange County
 Samuel Sly of the Town of New Windsor in the County of Orange aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was a Sergeant in Captain William Bull’s company in the  Regiment commanded by Colonel Oliver Spencer in the war of the revolution. that he this deponent joined said company in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine at which time this deponent became acquainted with John Bell a private in said Company that this deponent continued in said company as Sergeant until the twelfth day of April seventeen hundred and Eighty upon which day this deponent left the service of the United States and left the said John Bell in said service of a private, and in the company of Captain Bull aforesaid. And this deponent for thus saith that after the close of the war he heard, and then believed and still does believe that said John Bell served as a private until the close of the war of the revolution aforesaid 
Saml Sly 
Sworn to before me this 20th day of May 1829 
Charles Boland Jr 
Commissioner
Page 37

I Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of the County of Orange in the State of New York do hereby Certify That Charles Borland [illegible] before whom the within affidavit was sworn was at the time a commissioner in and for the said County - and duly empowered to administer Oaths – 
In Testimony thereof I here unto with my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 10th day of June in the year one Thousand eight hundred and twenty nine 
Asa Dunning
Page 38

State of New York 
Orange County 
Robert Shaw of Minisinte, formely of Wallkill, in said County, (a son of William Shaw deceased,) aged Fifty one years & upwards, being duly sworn, doth upon his oath depose and say, that he is intimately acquainted with John Bell of Calhoun in said County, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - That he has known said John Bell for forty years & upwards or in other words from the earliest days of  the said Robert Shaw's boyhood-- That he has invariably borne the name of an honest, unpresuming, laborious man, and in point of veracity & honour, he knows none his superior. That he believes he was the first one that saw his dwelling house on fire, being then a School boy at school near said dwelling house- That he gave the alarm to the Teacher & scholars, who immediately [illegible] to the house, but too late to save anything therefrom. That the said John Bell & his wife were absent, as he understood on buisness-- That he always has understood from the said John Bell, that he had a certificate of discharge from Gen Washington for his services during the war, & that it was burnt up with all his other papers & also his Bible, which contained the record of his birth & has often heard the said John Bell regret in a particular manner the loss of both-- That he has on all occasions, when speaking of the Revolutionary War, heard him say that he served seven long years therein, and it is the common report of the neighbourhood where the said John Bell resides, that he served through the war - That the said John Bell is unqualified from a want of Education for doing public or private buisness without the aid & assistance of his friends. That he has often written for said John Bell at his request and said John Bell has
Page 39

has requested him to write his name for him to letters & he has done so. That the said John Bell has for many years past, laboured under the infirmity of deafness, which makes it difficult to converse with him, unless in a loud tone of utterance. That said John Bell's Farm has been rented out for some years past and he is obliged to rent for himself a small house & Garden - That his circumstances are not prosperous & that he lives on very scanty means
Robert Shaw 
Given the 28th day of August 1832 before me 
Asa Dunning Clerk 
of a Com Pleas
Page 40

State of New York 
Orange County 
John Bell of the town of Calhoun, County & State aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he made an application for a pension under the act of 1818. That the affidavit was taken by Nathan H. White Esqr a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said County deponent has been informed that said affidavit is signed by a mark deponent further saith that although he can write his name, he has frequently requested others to write his name & he has made his mark deponent supposes when he swore before said White that he had requested him to write his name- Deponent further saith that he served to the end of the war, and verily believed that he enlisted for during the war- he recollects that cap: William Bull told him he must serve to the end of the war to get his land If deponent had not been informed that it appears from the records in the war office at he enlisted for three years, he would still think & believe that he had enlisted for the whole war but now suppose that he must have been mistaken, but deponent is not mistaken that he did continue in the service to the end of the war & was discharged at Newburgh Deponent further saith that he did act as a corporal as is stated in his papers now in the war office-- that deponent knew Saml Sly who made an affidavit heretofore sent to Washington on behalf of deponent. That there was
Page 41

no person of the name of John Bell in the company to which deponent belonged except deponent and that the person refered to by said Sly was deponent and deponent [illegible] that said Sly had forgotten the fact that Deponent was a corporal Deponent further saith that he never knew or heard of any other person of the name of John Bell who [illegible] in the revolutionary army- deponent further saith that he has been quite [illegible] for number of years and that it is very difficult for him to do business deponent last the record of his age when his house was burnt but believes himself to be seventy eight years of age and further deponent saith non 
Sworn the 28th day of August 2 
1832 before me 
 Asa Dunning 
Clerk of Comm Pleas
John Bell
Page 42

In the matter of the application 
of John Bell for a Pension under
the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. 
State of New York 
Orange County 
John McQuoid of the town of Walkill County & State aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he has been well acquainted with the said John Bell for thirty eight years last hast having resided during all that time in his neighborhood that it has always been understood and believed in the neighbourhood that said Bell was in the service of the United States during the whole of the revolutionary War deponent has never heard anyone express a doubt on that subject-- Deponent has thou saith that said Bell has always maintained a good character for integrity and truth Deponent further saith that it was always understood & believed that said Bill served under Cap. William Bell, now deceased, of the said County of Orange for a consideable length of time, deponent further saith that he believes said Bell to be man eighty years of age and further saith more 
Sworn the 28th day of 
August 1832 before me 
Asa Dunning Clerk 
Of Comm Pleas

John McQuoid
Page 43

State of New York 
Orange County 
Erastus Mapes of the town of Calhoun, County & State aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that since about the close of the Revolutionary war he has been well acquainted with John Bell an applicant for a Pension having resided in his neighborhood for many years that at the close of the war he recollects that the said John Bell came into the neighbourhood where deponent then was and entered into the service of William Shaw, Esquire in whose employ the deponent then was [illegible] that time about sixteen years of age. Deponent then understood that said Bell had come from the army a very short time before that Deponent further saith that he was informed by William Bull, now deceased, and a captain during the Revolutionary war, residing in the said County of Orange, that the said John Bell was under his command for a considerable length of time, and he also understood from said Bull that said Bell had second during the whole or nearly the whole of the Revolutionary war- and deponent further saith that it is generally understood and believed in the neighbourhood where said, Bell resides that he the said Bell did serve as a soldier to the end of the war. Deponent knows that said Bells house [illegible] burnt a few years after the war and that it was said and generally believed that his discharge was then  then burnt that the said John Bell has been for
Page 44

some years quite deaf, that although he can write his name, he is not a man capable of transacting business safely and generally applies to some friend to assist him, & further deponent saith he believes the said Bell to be upwards of Seventy eight years of age - & further deponent saith 
Sworn before me this 
28th day of August 1832. 
Asa Dunning Clerk
Of Comm Pleas
Erastus Mapes
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Recd 17 May 1832. 
I Moses Bull of the town of Wallkill in the County of Orange & State of New York. being duly sworn doth depose & say that he is acquainted with John Bell of the town, County & State aforesaid, (and formerly of the town of Calhoun in said County & State), one of the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War That the said John Bell was enlisted by his brother William Bull, then a Lieutenant & afterwards a Capt. in said War - for the term of three years or during the War - that he marched with his said brother & joined the American Army at Morristown in the State of New Jersey, being attached to the Fifth Jersey Regiment commanded by Col. Oliver Spencer- 
That the said John Bell served with his said brother & returned home with him at the end of the said War - and to the best of his knowledge & belief the said John Bell was honourably discharged at end of said War - and to the best of his knowledge & belief that the said John Bell was honourably discharged at the end of the end of said War and that he believes that he saw said discharge at the return of said John Bell But subsequent to the end of said War the said John Bell had the misfortune to have his dwelling house burnt, while he & his wife were absent, by which accident, the whole of the contents including his papers of every description were burnt and destroyed, and he verily believes, that said certificate of discharge was then & there burnt and forever destroyed-- That he has been acquainted with the said John Bell, during a long & arduous life. And as respects, honour, honesty & patriotism, he has no superior to his knowledge of belief- 
Sworn & subscribed this 7th day 
Of January 1832 before me
Alexander Bell Just of the Peace

Moses Bull
Page 46

State of New York
Orange County 
James W Wilkin of Goshen in said County being duly sworn doth depose & say that he is well acquainted with John Bell named in the within affidavit, that he was well acquainted with him previous to the year 1776; that he lived in his neighborhood that in the said last mentioned year this deponent served in the six month [illegible] is of the Militia of the State of New York with the said John Bell in the company of Capt. Nicolls in Col. Pauldings regiment. And Deponent further says that afterwards the said John Bell enlisted in the standing army in the company of Capt. William Bull named in the within affidavit, and that he served in said Company during the even as deponent verily believes that this Deponent frequently saw the said John Bell during the war in his uniform when at his friends on a visit in the neighbourhood of deponent and it was the general understanding & belief of persons in the said neighbourhood at that time & was and now is the belief of this deponent that the said John Bell was then serving in the army aforesaid and did serve to the end of the war with the reputation of a good soldier
James W Wilkins 
Sworn & subscribed this 
7th day of Jany 1832 before me
Alexander Bell Justice of the Peace State of New York I Asa Dunning Clerk of the said County Do Certify for said County that all under Alexander Bell Esq before whom this preceding affidavit of Moses Bull & James W Wilkin hereunto to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the parties of he are in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits is genuine- 
Witness my hand and seal of office 
this 7th day of January 1832 
Asa Dunning
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(Copy)  I Moses Bull of the town of Walkill in the County of Orange and State of New York being duly sworn, doth depose and say that he is acquainted with John Bell of the town County and State aforesaid, (and formerly of the town of Calhoun in said County & State), one of the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War. That the said John Bell was enlisted by his brother William Bull, then a Lieutenant and afterwards a Capt in said War - for the term of three years or during the War - that he marched with his said brother and joined the American Army at Morristown in the State of New Jersey being attached to the Fifth Jersey Regiment commanded by Col. Oliver Spencer – 
That the said John Bell Served with his said brother and returned home with him at the end of the said War - and to the best of his knowledge and belief the said John Bell was honorably discharged at end of said War - and that he believes that he saw said discharge, at the return of said John Bell. But subsequent to the end of said War the said John Bell had the misfortune to have his dwelling house burned, while he and his wife were absent, by which accident the whole of the contents including his papers of every description were burnt destroyed, and he verily believes, that said certificate of discharged [illegible] and forever destroyed.  That he has been acquainted with the said John Bell, during a long and arduous life and
Page 48

2
and as respects, honor, honesty, and patriotism, he has no superior to his knowledge and belief- 
Moses Bell
Sworn & Subscribed this 7th day of January - 1832 before me 
Alexander Bell Justice of the Peace – 
State of New York 
Orange County 
James W. Wilkin of Goshen in said County being duly Sworn doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with John Bell named in the within affidavit, that he was well acquainted with him previous to the year 1776; that he lived in his neighbourhood -- that in the said last mentioned year this deponent served in the six month levies of the Militia of the State of New York with the said John Bell in the Company of Capt. Nicoll's in Col. Pauldings regiment and deponent further says that afterwards the said John Bell enlisted in the standing army of the United States in the Company of Capt. William Bull named in the within affidavit, and that he served in said Company during the war as deponent verily believes that this Deponent frequently saw the said John Bell during the war in his uniform, when at his friends on a visit in the neighbourhood of deponent and it was the general understanding & belief of persons in the said neighborhood at that time and then was and now is the belief of this deponent that the said John Bell
Page 49

3 
Bell was then serving in the army aforesaid and did serve to the end of the war with the reputation of a good soldier- 
Jas W. Wilkin

Sworn and subscribed this 7th day of January1832 before me 
Alexander Bell Justice of the Peace-
State of New York 
Orange County 
I Asa Demming Clerk of the said County do Certify that Alexander Bell Esqr before whom the proceeding affidavits of Moses Bull and James W. Wilkin purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits is genuine 
Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 7th day of January 1832
Asa Demming
X
Page 50

I hereby certify the foregoing pages, numbered from one to three inclusive, are true copies Given under my hand and the seal of the Treasury this Twenty sixth day of January in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty two. 
Louis Mc Lane 
Secretary of the Treasury 




John Bell
Page 51

In the matter of John Bell
Page 52

Rec 29 May 1829 
State of New York 
Orange County Moses Bull being duly sworn doth depose and say that John Bell of the said County of Orange, enlisted in the continental army, at the commencement of the Revolutionary war with Great Britain-- that he enlisted in a company commanded by Captain William Bull, a brother of this deponent; and this deponent further saith that the said John Bell served in the said army until the close of the said war when he returned with his discharge at the same time that Captain Bull returned and further this deponent saith not 
Moses Bull

Sworn before me this Moses Bull 6 day of May 1829 
and I do certify that the said Moses Bull is a highly respected—
Morrison Taylor Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Orange County
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the County of Orange & clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said county of Orange do certify that Morrison Taylor before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn was at the of time a Justice of the peace and duly empowered to administer Oaths – 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 13th day of May in the year 1829 
Asa Dunning
Page 53

Goshen, Sep. 13 1832 
J. L. Edwards Esqr 
Dr Sir 
I enclose you some affidavits in the case of John Bell, also a letter to the Secretary of war, prepared by a friend of Bell, which I was requested to forward
The difficulties in Bells case are 1st That he represents himself as to have been a corporal. Whereas Mr Sly, states him to have been a private 
Sly made his affidavit on behalf of the John Bell who makes this application and it might not have occurred to him at the time that he had been a corporal under that fact may have entirely escaped his recollection. There being no other person of the name of John Bell in the company, it is evident that Slys affidavit refers to the person who, under that name, make this application, & he proves his service I would furthermore remark that many persons considerate private and so speak of them who have not commission 
2. The name of John Bell is on one occasion written and on another a mark is affixed to his affidavit I herewith enclose you some affidavits, which I think will satisfy you that both were done by the same John Bell who now applies. He is quite an illiterate ignorant or unable to write his name but some time unwilling so to do request others to do it-- he swears that when the affidavit was taken by white, he supposes he asked him to write his name- 
3d He states that he enlisted for during the war- Whereas it appears from the records in your office that he enlisted for only 3 years although he undoubtedly was mistaken in [illegible] his term of enlistment, he then by a number
Page 54

of affidavits, beside his own that he did serve to the end of the war and presume from the lapse of time & the [illegible] memory he has been moved to believe that he not only served, but enlisted to the end of the war. I think you will be satisfied from the representation made him by very respectable men, that he is an honest man and worthy of credit - His officers, wishing to retain him, may at the end of the three years, have made him believe that he new enlisted for a longer time, he was a foreigner & very ignorant and no doubt easily be imposed upon – 
I would thank you to inform me when you have come to any determination on this application 
I am very[illegible]
 Yours 
Saml Wilkin 
N. B. 
I requested some papers relating to pensions to be transmitted from the House to the pension office 
Sir- 
Wynaus Harris 
Abraham June
Withelmus Hedger 
Richard Clark 
If you have received them I would thank you to communicate to me the what conclusion you may have come to 
S.M
Page 55

Sullivan County 
personally appeared before me Samuel B. Baily one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County Sulivan Thomas Wilson and being by me duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he is perfectly acquainted with John Bell of the town of Walkill & County of Orange and has known him since the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, that he know that John Bell aforesaid served in company under the command of Captain William Bull in the regiment of the continental army commanded by Col. Oliver Spencer, that this deponant belonged to the regiment commanded by Col. Malcom which regiment was afterwards attached and consolidated with said Spencers Regiment and this deponant further saith that he was acquainted with the principle soldiers company  said Capt. Bulls company and that they were recruited chiefly in the State of New York, and was with Malcoms Regiment considered New York troops although Col. Spencers Regt was termed a New Jersey regt- And this deponant further saith that the said John Bell Served in said Regiment from 1776 to the year 1780 (when this deponant left said regiment) as a good and faithful soldier and
Page 56

And this deponent further saith, that he has drew his military bounty land (in consequence of the service aforesaid) in the State of New York - And this deponant further saith that when he left said Col Spencers regiment the said John Bell was then in Service and has understood and verily believe that he remained in said Regiment until the fall of the year 1782- 

Tho Wilson
Subscribed and sworn this  21st day of January 1820 
before me 
L. B. Bailey Justis of the Peace  

Thomas Wilson
Affadavit
Page 57

For the purpose of obtaining the benefit of "an act for the relief of certain surviving officers and Soldiers of the army of the Revolution”, approved on the 15th day of May in the year, 1828. I, John Bell of the town of Calhoun in the County of Orange and State of New York, Do hereby declare that I enlisted in the continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued in its service until its termination; at which period I was a Corporal in Captain William Bull's company in the fifth Regiment of the New Jersey line. And I also declare that I afterward received a certificate for the reward of Eighty Dollars, to which I was entitled, under a resolve of Congress, passed the 15th of May 1778. 
And I further declare that I was not, on the fifteenth day of March, 1828, on the Pension list of the United States
John Bell 

State of New York Orange County ss. 
Before me, John B Booth a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Orange, duly empowered to administer oaths, personally appeared, this day, John McQuoid and Henry Pierson of the said County, who did severally make oath that John Bell, by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to have been a soldier in the army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated- 
Witness my hand, this nineteenth day of June in the year 1828- 
Sworn before me this 19th June 1828
John McQuoid
Henry Pierson
Jno B Booth Justice Peace
Page 58

State of New York 
Orange County 
I, Asa Dunning, Clerk of the Court at the County of Orange in the State of New York, do hereby certify, that John B. Booth before whom the within affidavits were sworn, was, at the time, a Justice of the Peace and duly empowered to administer oaths- 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, this 8th day of July in the year 1828 
Asa Dunning
Page 59

certificate to the
Petition of John Bell
Page 60

this I certify that the House of the said John Bells was consumed by fire in the year - 1788 George E Mayes 
State of New York 
Orange County 
We the undersigned do certify that John Bell the within Petitioner is to us personally known that he is a man of credibility and served as known to us by reputation in the army during the revolutionary war. we do further certify that the house of the said John Bell was consumed by fire about the time stated in his petition to the Honourable the Legislature of this State and we do further certify it is our belief that the discharge of the said John Bell was consumed at that time. We do further certify that Captain William Bull under whom the said John Bell alledged that he enlisted, is dead. Dated Feb. 28th 1818- 
George E Mapes 
Samuel Mapes Senior 
Samuel Mapes
Nathaniel Mapes
Salmen Wheat
Saml McShaw
John Greenleaf
Wm Shaw
Willlaim Shaw Junior
John McQuoid
Joel Hoyt
Alexr M Shaw
Ananias Conkling
Peleg Petton
Wm. W. Conkling
Enos Mapes
Ebenezer Ramsey
Selah Mapes  
John V. Mapes
John A. Ranning
Erastus Mapes
Page 61

Rcd 20 June 1829 
State of New York, 
Orange County 
John Bell of the town of Calhoun in the County of Orange aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that he was a Soldier in the American Army, in the War of the Revolution - That this deponent first enlisted in Captain Nicoll's Company for three months at the time the Brittish army landed on Long Island, and having served that time out he immediately enlisted during the war, in Captain Dallas Company commanded by Colonel Oliver Spencer, he was enlisted by William Bull second Lieutenant in said Captain Dallas Company at that time, and a brother to Moses Bull whose affidavit has been recently forwarded to Washington- That this deponent joined General Washingtons Army at Morristown in the State of New Jersey that said Captain Dallas was wounded a little time before the battle of Brandywine of which wounds he died. said Captain Dallas
Page 62

Dallas was succeeded by Captain Edsall under whom this deponent continued to serve, until he was succeeded by the said second Lieutenant William Bull as captain of said Company, under whom this deponent continued to serve until the end of the War, and was honourably discharged by certificate from General Washington at the time he disbanded his army at New Burgh in Orange County, which certificate of discharge to this deponent was burnt with all the rest of his papers and household effects, by the accidental burning of his dwelling house about the year 1791 while this deponent and wife were absent on business -- this deponent fought in the following battles under General Washington (to wit), in the battle at Brandywine - in the battle of Germantown where he received a wound from a musket ball in his right leg, in consequence of which, he narrowly escaped being made a prisoner by the enemy in the battle of Monmouth and on that eventful day this deponent, in common with his associate in arms suffered incredible hardship from
Page 63

from heat, thirst and fatigue-- this deponent was then ordered with said Captain William Bulls company into General Sullivan's expedition against the Western Indians, and having  performed that service, he afterwards rejoined General Washington's army at New Burgh, still in the said Captain William Bull's Company and there received his certificate of discharge from General Washington, at the end of the War as aforesaid - this deponent belonged to the Jersey line during the whole time after joining General Washington's Army at Morristown as aforesaid and that the said Captain William Bull died some years ago, by whom if living; this deponent could have proved all the facts herein represented- 
John Bell
Sworn the 16th June 1829 before me 
Stephen Jackson a Judge of 
the Court of Common Pleas for Orange County
Page 64

I Asa Dunning Clerk the Court of the County of Orange in the State, New York do hereby certify that Stephen Jackson here whom the within affidavit was Sworn was at the time a Judge of the Court of Common pleas in and for the said county and duly empowered to  administer Oaths – 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 16th day of June in the year one Thousand eight hundred & Twenty nine – 
Asa Dunning 

John Bell corporal Dallas [illegible] 
enlisted 22d April 1771 [illegible] 23 ah 1780
Page 65

John Bell private
Colonel A Spencers  Reg
New Jersey line
1777 3 years & 6 mos
June 3d 1819
Page 66

State of New York 
Orange County 
On this 3 June 1819 before me Nathan H. White, first Judge of the County of Orange, personally appears John Bell aged sixty eight resident in the said County of Orange who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by a late act of congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war” that he then said John Bell enlisted in the or about the year 1777 in Orange County in the Company of Capt William Bull, Col Oliver Spencer's Reg. believed to be the 4th Jersey Regt that he continued in the said Regt 3 years and 6 months when he joined Col. Malcoms Regt and served thru 6 months when he was discharged on the Mohawk River by Col Malcom - that he was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown [illegible] moth- that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support, and has no other evidence now in his [illegible]
John Bell 
His X mark
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid 
Nathan H. White 
I Nathan H. White Judge as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Bell did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration & that he is in reduced circumstances, and I now transmit the [illegible] and the testimony had & taken before me to the secretary for the department of war pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act Dated 3 June 1819 
Nathan H. White
Page 67

State of New York Orange County 
I David M. Westcottl Clerk of the said County of Orange do hereby certify that Nathan H. White Esq. is first Judge of the said County that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and very believe that his name written to the within in affidavit and certificate is the proper signature of the said Judge-- In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said County of Orange the third day of June 1819. 
Marcott, Clerk 

John Bell Private
Colonel Spencers Reg
New Jersey Line
1777 3 Years & 6 months
June 3d 1819
Page 68

Chief of War and Pension Dept. 
Wishing to join the Daughters of the Revolution will you kindly send me the War Record of my great, great grand father John Bell, who enlisted from Orange Co. N.Y in the Revolutionary War 
The history of Orange Co. says, "He enlisted as a common soldier under General Washington, fought under him the battles of Monmouth, Brandywine, Germantown etc, 
Served 6 years 2 months till its close. afterward was with Gen. Sullivan in the French and Indian War where he was wounded in the leg and for some years drew a small pension 
Will you kindly verify this statement
Page 69

if it be true, that I may join the
aforesaid order
Kate Souci Taylor
Address -
Mrs. George H. Taylor
Boylston Center
Massachusetts
3473
Page 70

Washington, D.C 
Jan. 6. 1903 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington, D.C 
Dear Sir: for purposes of family history and not or pecuniary gain will you kindly furnish me with the Revolutionary War record as you have is in your office of John Bell. He served in Capt. Morris’ Company ("Western Batalion") of New Jersey State Troops and Militia also in Continental Army from State 
He settled in Orange Co. N.Y. after the war and I find him drawing a pension from June 3, 1818 to May 20. 1820 when dropped, and again under another act from March 4, 1831 to his death Feb 23 1834. This from a document relating to pensions of Revolutionary soldiers is by the Secretary War for the Senate and published as such in 1834. by Duff Green, 
In another Govt’ Document issued
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Pension D Jan 14 1903 U.S
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Pension D Jan 8 1903 Office  U.S.
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at request of H. of R. by John C Calhoun, Secy of War, to Hon. H. Clay, Clerk H. of R. find about the same record as above 
If it is possible I would like to have dates of enlistment, etc. 
Very truly 
S.C. Koons 
 of the Library of Congress.
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U.S.
Sec War & Navy
Jan 9 1903
Files

Pension
D
Jan 8 1903
U.S>
Office

Pension
D
Jan 14 1903
U.S.
Office