Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7395, for Gershom Martin, New Jersey
Page 1

(8-1776) 

SERVICE 
New Jersey

Martin, Gershom 
Sarah 

NUMBER 
W. 7395 

CONTENTS
Page 2

New Jersey - 2311 

Sarah Martin,
widow of Gershom Martin 
who died on the 27th June 1819 
of Middlesex in the State of N Jersey 
who was a Pri in the company commanded 
by Captain Potter of the Reg. commanded 
by Col. Crow in the N Jersey 
line for 12 months 

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey 
at the rate of 40 Dollars ~ cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of Sept. 
’38 and sent to and C. G. M Chesney
Hightstown, N. Jersey. 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. - $260.00 
Semi-annual allowance ending $20.00
$280.00 

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3}

Recorded by R. [illegible] Clerk. 
Book A - Vol. 2 - Page 129
Page 3

3086 
Sarah Martin 
widow of Gershom 
Charles G. M. Chesney 
Hightstown
N.J. 
N. Jersey 
3rd section 4 July ’36
Service continued at 
12 mos 
[illegible] 
[illegible] 
40$ 
C G M Chesney 
Hightstown 
N.J.
Page 4

State of New Jersey 
Middlesex County} ss 

Be it known that on the 12th day of May AD 1838 Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said bounty, Personally appeared William. F. Manning a person of credability and truth a Resident of Woodbridge, aged twenty years past who being duly sworn ascending to law on his oath saith. That he was well acquainted with Gershom Martin and Sarah his wife and that they traded with this Depont want more or less from the year seventeen hundred and ninety untill his death and his widow has since. She still remains his widow. This deponent remembers they had three children, two sons and a daughter who were nearly as old as this dept. They have at this time grand children who were married a number of years apart + the said Sarah is still living, this deponent has no doubt they were legally and properly married. 
Sworn and subscribed this 12th day of May 1838 before me [illegible] [signature] J.P
} Wm F Manning [signature]
Page 5

Declaration of Sarah Martin 
In order to obtain the benefit of the 3rd section of the act of Congress of the “4th July 1836” 
State of New Jersey 
Middlesex County} ss

On this thirteenth [crossed out] fourteenth day of June [crossed out] March eighteen hundred and thirty seven [crossed out] eight personally appears before this subscriber a Justice of the Peace [crossed out] one of the Judges of the inferior court of Common pleas in and for the county aforesaid Sarah Martin a Resident of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, aged eighty two [crossed out] three years past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provission made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836” that she is the widow of Gershom Martin who was a private in the state troops and malitia of New Jersey in the service of the United States. During the Revolutionary War this deponent being married four years before the war commenced [ink smear] the said Gershom Martin was called out in the spring of 1776 also in the summer, fall, and winter of “76” as many as five or six months in said year of monthly tours. The first tour was under Capt Potter in April as the two brothers were out together (Gershom & Nathl) can remember some of the months, particularly June and December this deponent then had two children, was under the command of Capt Potter. Captains seeking Freeman & was stationed at different places. At Amboy, Woodbridge, Bergen Point, Staten Islands, Powles Hook marching from place, never being stationed very long at any one place. Col Crow Commander
Page 6

Generally in the year 1777 the said Gershom was out as a draft and volunteer as much as 8 months this year the British had possession of New Brunswick at this time within six miles of our residence and almost every day the enemy sent out their scouts in our neighborhood and my said husband preferred the camp as being the only place of safety, he was not home to my certain knowledge three months during the whole year, the enemy frequently came to my (her) house and often threatened to kill me. at one time they made me cook eggs and ham for them and because the child cried they swore they would kill my youngest child and make me bake it for them, and one of the drunken officers actually did strike at the child with his sword and gave me a severe cut across the arm. My (her) house was sacked as many as thirty times during the wars before it was burnt, being on the road from New Brunswick to Amboy my (her) said husband was under the command of Capt Matthias Freeman Asher Randolph, Ross & Seeling, Maj Potter, Col Crow Genl Dickinson and Heard during this year and was part of the time stationed at Woodbridge, Elizabethtown Newark, Amboy, and about New Brunswick in the year 1778. The said Gershom was out as much as six or seven months this year was continually along shore matching the enemy under the same officers. They often changed and was stationed generally in the same places mentioned before, in the spring of 1779, early he was out the months before he enlisted for 6 months under Capt. Robert Ross sometime in the month of June. He was discharged sometime in the month of December the headquarters was at Elizabethtown, in the year 1780, the said Gershom was out five or six months
Page 7

in the malitias in monthly tours under captains Freeman, Lupardus, Ross & marched to Elizabethtown & was in the battle on the 6th June at Springfield. Was also at New Brunswick, Amboy, Woodbridge & Col Nelson and Scudder commanding in the year 1781. Was again out many tours, five or six generally one month each, along shore. Lupardus, Ross and Freeman were capts in the different tours. The Col Nelson Schudder & Former Genls Dickinson and Heard commanding the said Gershom, was out in the year 1782, the neighborhood being infested with Tories and Refugees in this year the tours were not of so long duration being two and three weeks was out nearly one half the time every other month. The said Gershom was out during the said war of the Revolution as much as three years in the service of the United States, and this deponent further declared that the enemy burnt their house and other buildings, destroyed all their property, and drove away their cattle. She also declares that she made her said husband three new blankets all of which were hers entirely out in the camp. This deponent cannot specify each monthly tour of duty and each captain that commanded in each separate tour throughout the said war, but is positive he served three years and more during said war. She further declared that she was married to the said Gershom Martin on the twenty second Feby in the year seventeen hundred and seventy two. That her husband this aforesaid Gershom Martin died on the twenty seventh June, eighteen hundred and nineteen and her remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof sheets annexed. 

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me

[illegible signature] J.P. 
Joseph M. Chesney } Judge

} Sarah Martin [signature]
Page 8

I hereby certify that Sarah Martin is personally known to me as a person of credibility and truth and that on account of bodily infirmity and her great age, is unable to appear in Open Court, and the said Sarah had further satisfied be that there is no record of the Church of the Revd [illegible] still in existence, the said minister being deceased many years. 

[illegible signature ] J.P. 
Joseph M. Chesney } Judge [signature]
Page 9

State of New Jersey 
Middlesex County 
} [illegible]

Be it known that on the 30th June AD 1837 Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county personally appeared Jackson Ross a pensioner of the United States & a person of credibility and truth who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he was well acquainted with Gershom Martin during the Revolutionary War and this deponent remembered having served a number of tours of malitia duty with the said Martin in said war, also saw him in the ranks many times when this deponent was in the companies, saw him under Capt Matthias Freeman, Capt Asher Randolph, Capt Robert Ross, & Maj Reuben Potter, Col Crow and other officers in the years 1776, 77, 78, 79, and 1780, saw him in the ranks at Amboy, Woodbridge, Blazing Stars Elizabethtown, New Brunswick, Newark, Staten Island and many other places. Believed the said Gershom served the years and more in the service of the United States during said [ink smudge] knows the said Gershom had been deceased more than fifteen years, and that Sarah is his widow and has not again been married since his decease, remembers perfectly well the said Gershom and Sarah were married before the Revolutionary War and had children before the war commenced. 

Sworn and subscribed the day and year before mentioned before me 
[illegible] 
} Jackson Ross [signature]
Page 10

State of New Jersey 
Middlesex County 
} [illegible]

Be it known that on the 30th June 1837, Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Joseph Sofield a pensioner of the United States, a person of credibility and truth, who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith, That he was well acquainted with Gershom Martin during the Revolutionary War, served in the ranks of the malitia with the said Gershom many tours of duty in different places and years, in the years 1776, 77, 78, 79, 80 & 81, served under Capt Matthew Freeman, Capt Asher Randolph, Capt ross, Capt Lupardus and Seeling saw him in the ranks at different times in Amboy, Woodbridge, [illegible], Blazing Star, Elizabethtown, Springfield, [illegible] and many other places. In 1779, the said Gershom Martin was under Capt Robt Ross in the 6 months service he was a faithful soldier and must have served as much as three years during said war, residing in this deponents neighbourhood he well remembers attending the said Gershom’s funeral sometime in the month of June 1819, and also knows the said Gershom & Sarah were married before the Revolutionary War, and that the said Sarah has remained a widow ever since his disease,
Sworn and subscribed the day and year above mentioned before me 
[illegible] 
} Joseph [illegible, crossed out] Sofield [signature]
mark
Page 11

Be it known that on the thirtieth day of June, A.D. 1837, Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Moses Colyer a person of credibility and truth who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that some time in the months of February 1772, this deponent attended the marriage of Gershom and Sarah Martin, by the Rev’d Mr Still of the Baptist Church of Piscataway said marriage was published from the Pulpit by the Rev’d Mr Still a number of weeks before it took place this deponent first knew it from his mother who was a member of said church, this deponent well remembers dancing with the rest of the Company all night after the said marriage took place, said deponent very well knows there is no record of said church and the Rev’d Still has been deceased a great many years. The said Sarah has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband which took place many years ago. This deponent was a scout under Col Crow and Capt Combs in the War of the Revolution and very well remembers seeing the said Gershom in the ranks during the war. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above mentioned, before me 
[illegible] 
} Moses Colyer [signature]
Page 12

State of New Jersey [illegible]

[seal in top left] 

I James D Westcott Secretary of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Henry Sillcocks before whom the annexed affidavits of Sarah Martin, Jackson Ross, Joseph Sofield and Moses Colyer were severally taken and who has attested the same, was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Middlesex in said state, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, and that full faith and credit on and ought to be given to his official [illegible]. 

Given under my hand and seal of office at the city of Trenton, this second day of December A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven (1837). 

James D. Westcott [signature]
Page 13

Receipts for one years interest paid on certificates given by the commissioners in the several counties for militia services 

No of vouch 
162

No of certif 
307 

Date 
8 June 1784 

Signed by 
Thomson Stelle

Payable to 
Gershom Martin 

Amt 
L S D 
0, 15, 10 

[illegible]
L S D
0, 0, 10 

Receipts for one years interest paid on notes signed by the commissioners of the several counties for militia services

No of vouch 
93 

No of certif
430 

Date
1st May 1784
Signed by Joseph Gaston 

Payable to 
Gershom Martin 

Amount 
L, S, D
3, 6, 0 

[illegible]
L, S, D
0, 3, 11

Receipts for cash paid to the third years interest on notes signed by the commissioners in the several counties for militia services

No of vouch
35

No of certif 
307

Date 
8 June 1784 

Signed by 
Thomson Stelle 

Payable to 
Gershom Martin 

Amt
L, S, D
0, 15, 0 

[illegible]
L, S, D
0, 0, 10 

Receipts for cash paid the fourth years interest on Militia Notes

No of vouch 
63

No of certif 
307 

Date 
10th June 1784 

Signed by 
Thomson Stelle 

Payable to 
Gershom Martin 

Amt 
L, S, D
0, 15, 0 

[illegible]
L, S, D
0, 0, 10 

Receipts for the 2nd years interest paid or certificates given by the commissioners in the several counties for Militia Services 

No of vouch 
128 

No of certif 
307 

Date 
8th June 1784 

Signed by 
Thomson Stelle 

Payable to 
Gershom Martin 

Amt
L, S, D
0, 15, 0 

[illegible] 
L, S, D
0, 0, 10 

State of New Jersey 
I James D Westcott Secretary of State of the state of New Jersey do hereby certify that the above are these extracts from five books of accounts now remaining in my office the first of which is headed “Receipts from years interest paid on certificates given by the commissioners in the several counties for Militia Services”
Page 14

[seal in top left]

And endorsed on the cover “Militia Notes 1st Year”; the second headed “Receipts for one years interest paid on notes signed by the commissioners of the several counties for Militia Services” and endorsed on the cover “Militia Notes 1st year No 2”; the third headed, “Receipts for cash paid the third years interest on notes signed by the commissioners in the several counties for Militia Services” and endorsed on the cover “Militia 3rd year No 1”; the fourth headed “Receipts for cash paid the fourth years interest on Militia Notes,” and endorsed on the cover “Militia 4th years No 2”’ and the fifth headed “Receipts for the 2nd years interest paid on certificates given by the commissioners in the several counties for Militia Services” and endorsed on the cover “Militia Notes 2nd year No 2”: In testimony whereof I have [illegible] set my hand and affixed my seal of office at the city of Trenton this twenty fifth day of October A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty seven (1837). 

James D. Westcott [signature]
Page 15

[seal in top left corner] 

State of New Jersey Middlesex County Clerks Office ss
I Nicholas Booraem clerk of the inferior court of common of common pleas in and for the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that Joseph M. Chesney Esquire before whom the within declaration of Sarah Martin was made was at the time of making said declaration a judge of said court duly commissioned and sworn [illegible] his [ink bleed] signature certifies the taking of said declaration is genuine and I [illegible] certify that Henry Sillcocks before whom the [illegible] hereto annexed of William J. Manning Jackson Ross Joseph Sofield & Moses Colyer when taken was at the time of the taking said affidavits a Justice of the peace in and for said county duly commissioned and sworn and that the signature of the said Justice certifies the taking of the said affidavits is genuine.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this 18th day of August A.D. 1838 N. Booraem clerk
Page 16

Mis Martin 
76. 5 or 6 mo. of June & December Capt. Potter, Seeling, Freeman 
77. 8 mo draft — Freeman Randolph Ross & some officers 
78, 6 or 7 ” 
79. X 6 mo enlisted Capt Ross Ross 
80. 5 or 6 mo drafted Freeman [illegible] Ross [illegible] 
81. 5 or 6 mo ”  [illegible markings]
82. Every other month out 2 or 3 weeks tours - half the year 

X one witness
Specification - 
Taken before Justice -
Page 17

Revy WIDOW, &c. 

File No. 7395 
Sarah Martin 
Wid. of 
Gershom Martin
Pvt. [Private] N.J. line 
Act: July 4 1736, sec, [illegible]
Index: —Vol. Mo, Page 4
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

War Dep 
Pen. Off
Aug 38 

Sir 

In reply to your enquiry respecting the condition of the claim of Mrs. Sarah Martin widow of Gershom Martin [illegible] I have to inform you that it has been again examined with the benefit of the additional evidence provided by her atto C. G. M. Chesney esq and admitted for at 40 $ per annum as the estimated amount of his service is but 12 mo. This answer has been delayed for [crossed out] untill the return of the papers which were in the hands of the atto for amendment of the date of the receipt of your letter, might enable me to make it more definite & satisfactory. 

[illegible signature] 
Hon. J. Parker 
Perth Amboy 
N. Jersey
Page 19

FREE 
[illegible] 
James L. Edwards Esq 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC 

[written sideways]
[illegible] Aug 4 
NJ

[New Jersey seal on left side] 

[written upside down] 
24 Feb 1838 to CGM Chesney 

3086
Page 20

Perth Amboy N.J. Aug 7 1838 

D Sir 

Sarah Martin of this neighborhood widow of Gershom Martin has applied to the Department for a pension consideration of her husbands services in the Revolutionary War. The application I understand was made thru the agency of D. Charles M Chesney. She is anxious to know the pension upon her claim and to oblige her I [illegible] you with this which I hope you will [illegible] & believe me with such Respect. 

Yr. obd ser [your obedient servant]
James Parker 

James L. Edwards Esq 
Comm. of Pensions