Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,468, for Adam Pearce, New Jersey
Page 1

(8-1776)

[Three columns, two with headings - Service and Number]

Service
New Jersey

Pearce, Adam 
or Pierce

Number 
S.34.468
Page 2

First page of two pages

Date of death not [illegible] [illegible]

Notification sent to [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] 29 July 1820
[signature illegible]

Second page of two pages

4568
New Jersey Roll
Adam Pearce – Capt Cummings 
Private
4
New Jersey line ’78 – 9 months
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey 
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 30 of March 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 25 of Nov. 1818
And sent to the Hon Mr. Bates
Man – House of Represenatives US -  

Arrears to 4th of Sept. – 1818  41.57
Semi-anl. All’ee ending 4 May 1819  48.00
5 mo. 2/31 to 4/30    $89.57

{Revolutionary claim, Ast 18th March, 1818}

Continued on the roll under the [illegible] of this [illegible]
1820
Page 3

Adam, Pierce
4568
New Jersey
March 1810
Page 4

Adam, Pierce
4568
New Jersey
March 1810

Schedule.

State of New Jersey

Cumberland County, Inferior Court of Common Please, of the Term of
June 1820
	On this twenty second day of June, 1820, pers-
sonally appeared in open court being a court of record for the said county, 
Adam Pierce labourer
aged sixty-four years, resident of Fairfield
in said county, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his
oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows:  that
he enlisted in the Spring of 1778 for nine months in Captain J.N. Cummings Company of the second
New Jersey Rigement [sic] commanded by Colonil [sic] Israel
Shreeve and served till he was honorably discharged
at the Expiration of the terms for which he was enlisted
that he was in the Battles of Crosswicks and Monmouth
that his Declaration to obtain a pension he believes
now dated March 30th 1818 and his Certificate November 
24th 1818 Numbered 4568 – 

And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United Sates 
on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen,
that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my 
property or of any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an 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,” passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and
that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities,
contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is con-
tained in the schedule annexed, and by me subscribed.
Page 5

A Schedule of the property of Adam Pierce taken June 22nd
1820 by order of the Court by us - 
Ephraim Westcott
John Trenchard

2 Chests 		 	1.50
Lot of Dishes			2.00
Dressers	  	   .12 [illegible]
2 bags			  	    .50
3 chairs 		                   .25
Drawing knife Saw & chisel   3[illegible]
Sweeping brush and brooms ~	    .25
Stillyards			    .25
2 hatchets                                            .40
3 iron potts		   1.00
Tea kettle & spider		   1.00
1 Dutch oven			   1.00
3 poles				      . 3[illegible]
3 tretes[?]			   1.00
[illegible]			    1.00
Shovel & tongs			      .50
3 trammels			    1.25
3 flat irons			      .75
Lot of sundries			      .75
1 axe			                   1.50
Table				       .124
1 [illegible]			     8.00
3 Barrels			       .3[illegible]
1 lot				      1.00
Lot of wool			       7.00
Saddle &c		       3.00
17 Sheep			      15.00
2 cows & calves			      25.00
3 pigs				        6.00
2 [illegible]				        5.00
			                   $84.27
Page 6

And I do further swear that my family consists of myself
age as above specified unable to work being very infirm 
having totally lost the use of my right arm by the [illegible]
as my wife Dorcas aged 55 years – very infirm and my
son Mathias aged 17 years being the only person me
both have to look to for support or maintenance

subscribed & sworn in        	Adam X his mark Pearce
open Court June 22nd 1820 

James Blaike (signature)

In the opinion of the Court the total amount in the value of 
the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Eighty four 
Dollars and Twenty Seven cents – 

James Baike (signature]

Cumberland County, ss.

	I, Ebenezer Seeley, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of
said county, do hereby certify, that the said court is a court of record, being
so constituted by the law, having a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount 
and possessing the power of fine and imprisonment; and I do further certify, 
that the foregoing oath and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from 
the record of the said court; and that it is the opinion of the said court that the 
total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is
eighty-four dollars 
and twenty seven cents.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my 
hand, and affixed the seal of the said court on the Twenty fourth
day of June, 1820

Ebenezer Seeley [illegible]: [signature]
Page 7

Adam Pearce
Pension Application
2nd New Jersey Regt
30, March – 1818. –

Admitted on Rolls
Of New Jersey

See the Law of 
N.J. Transmitted
By W. Westcott
Page 8

State of New Jersey
Cumberland County ss.

	On this thirteenth day of March 1818, before
me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the County did state aforesaid, personally
appears Adam Pearce, aged sixty three years, resident in 
said County, 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 the 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 the said Adam Pearce
was enrolled in the company commanded by Capt John
Noble Cummings of the 2nd New Jersey Regt commanded 
by Col Israel Shreeve in the month of May 1778, to serve 
for the term of nine months, that he continued to serve in 
the continental service in said corps, until the espiration [sic]
of the times for which he was enlisted, when he was
honorably discharged, which discharge is lost – that he
was present & engaged at the bottle of Monmouth, and
that he is in reduced circumstances – and stands in need 
of the assistance of his country for support
	Sworn to and declared before me
the day and year aforesaid.

				James D. Westcott
State of New Jersey
Cumberland County ss.

	I James D. Westcott one of the Judges
Of the Court of Common Pleas of the County and
Page 9

state aforesaid, do certify that it appears to my
satisfaction that the said Adam Pearce did 
serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the 
preceding declaration against the common
enemy, and on the continental establishment, and
also that his circumstances in life are so reduced 
as to need the assistance of his country for support,
and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony
taken and had before me to the Secretary for the
Department of war, pursuant to the directions of
The aforementioned act of Congress.

Given under my [illegible] this ninth day 
of June eighteen hundred and eighteen

James D. Westcott

I James Linn Secretary of the State of
New Jersey do certify that in the record of
the charges made by the State of New Jersey,
against the United States for the County subsistence,
[illegible] was paid to the recruits raised for the
Jersey Brigade, by virtue of a law [illegible] by the
Page 10

James D. Westcott

I James Linn Secretary of the State of
New Jersey do certify that in the record of
the charges made by the State of New Jersey,
against the United States for the County subsistence,
[illegible] was paid to the recruits raised for the
Jersey Brigade, by virtue of a law [illegible] by the
Legislature of said state April the third, 
One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy eight,
for the purpose of raising recruits for said Brigade
for the term of nine months, and to who
paid, the names of Adam Pearce, John 
Husted, and Zenos Lodor, are contained
in the said record, as persons to whom 
the same was paid – 

Given under my hand and
office seal the nineteenth 
day of May in the year of our
Lord One Thousand eight
Hundred and eighteen
James Linn [signature]

[There appears to be a seal of some kind next to Secretary Linn’s attestation]
Page 11

I Ebenezer Seeley Clerk of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas of the County of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that
James Westcott Esquire who has attested the
Declaration on oath of Adam Pearce ^hereunto [illegible]^ and who has certified to the same is a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in said County, and that due faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official Proceedings as such

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office the ninth day of June 1818

Ebenr Seely [illegible]
Page 12

May 25, 1933

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/EEL
Adam Pearce        -S.34468
Benjamin Pearce   -S.32438

Mr. S. Franklin Pierce
Room 1241
The Roosevelt
New York, New York

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of several pensioners of the Revolutionary War with surname Pierce (variously spelled).

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary [W]ar data and the limited clerical force available for furnishing such information, it has not been possible to make a series of investigations and reports for one person, pertaining to soldiers of that war. 

The records of Adam and Benjamin are given below as found in their respective claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.

Adam Pearce
S.34468

The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Adam Pearce are not shown in the papers on file in his claim for pension.

He enlisted, place not stated, in May, 1778[?], served nine months in Captain John Noble Cumming's Company, Colonel Israel Shreve's 2" New Jersey Regiment, and was in the battles of Crosswicks and Monmouth.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 30, 1818, at which time he was aged sixty-three years and resided in Cumberland County, New Jersey.
Page 13

In1820, he was residing in Fairfield, Cumberland County, New Jersey, and stated that his family then residing with him consisted of his wife, Dorcas, aged fifty-five years, and his son, Mathias, aged seventeen years. There are no further family data.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Adam Pearce (S.34468), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing all of the following data:

Adam Pearce, Certificate No. 4568, issued November 25, 1818, rate $8 per month, commenced March 30, 1818, Act of Marc 18, 1818, New Jersey Agency.
..............................................

Benjamin Pearce
S. 32438

Benjamin Pearce was born September 28, 1757, in Somerset County, New Jersey.  His father was living during the Revolution; the names of his parents are not shown in the papers in his pension claim.

While residing in Sussex County, New Jersey, he enlisted November 20, 1776, served one month in Captain Headly's Company, Colonel Ford's New Jersey Regiment and was in the battle at Springfield: he enlisted January 10, 1777, served one month in Captain Hopkins' Company, Colonel Martin's New Jersey Regiment and was in an engagement "at Spanktown on Rahway River" where they captured thirty Hessians: he enlisted in September, 1777, served one month in Captain Jacob Stull's Company, Colonel Aaron Hankinson's New Jersey Regiment and was in the battle of Germantown: about the middle of November, 1777, he entered the wagon service and served two months transporting provisions from Newtown to Pulaski's Legion: he enlisted in May, 1776, and served one month at Elisabethtown under General Wines: he stated that he also served at various times on short tours of from three to ten days each as a private in New Jersey Troops and was out in scouting parties against the Indians and the Tories; on one occasion assisted in capturing at least twenty Tories and on another occasion spent ten days guarding the court house of Sussex County, where some Tories were held as prisoners.  All of his service was as a volunteer.
Page 14

Adam Pearce

Payable semi-annually...the first payment on this certificate will be made on the 4th of March next, by the President of the Trenton Banking Company, Trenton, New Jersey.
34468
Recorded
Page 15

[printed document with fill ins]

WAR DEPARTMENT

Revolutionary Claim
I CERTIFY That, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818,-
Adam Pearco [sic] late a private in the
Army of the Revolution
is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll if the New Jersey - Agency, at the rate of   Eight  dollars
_____Cents per month, to commence on the Thirtieth day  of March -
one thousand eight hundred and eighteen -

GIVEN at the War Office of the United
States, this twenty fourth day of
November one thousand eight hundred
and eighteen.

J C Calhoun
Sect^y of War
Page 16

March 11 1819 paid to March 4 1819
Sept 9 1819 paid to Sept 4 1819
Apr 25 Paid to Mar 4 1820
Oct 5 1820 Paid to Sept 4 1820
Mar 19 1821 Paid to Mar 4 1821
Sept 10 1821 paid to Sept 4 1821
Apl 4 1822 Paid to Mar 4 1822
Sept 9 1822 Paid to Sept 4 1822
Mar 18 1823 Paid to Mar 4 1823
Sept 10 1823 Paid to Sept 4 1823
Apr 1 1824 P to Mar 4 1824
Sept 8 1824 P to Sept 4 1824
Mar 9 1825 P to Mar 4 1825
Sept 7 1825 P to Sept 4 1825
Mar 8 1826 P to Mar 4 1826
Sept 9 1826 Pd to Sept 4 1826
Mar 9 1827 P to Mar 4 1827
Sept 12 P to Sept 4 1827
Mar 7 1828 p to Mar 4 1828
Page 17

[First of two pages]
September 10 1828 pd to September 4 1828
March 7 1829 pd to March 4 1829
September 8 1829 pd to September 4 1829
March 18 1830 pd to March 4 1830
September 8 1830 pd to September 4 1830
March 17 1831 pd to March 4 1831
October 6 1831 pd to September 4 1831
March 10 1832 pd to March 4 1832
September 8 1832 pd to September 4 1832
March 8 1833 pd to March 4 1833
September 12 1833 pd to September 4 1833
March 14 1834 pd to March 14 1834

[First page, vertical writing]
September 11 1834 pd to September 4 1834
March 13 1834 paid to March 4 1835
September 10 1835 paid to September 4 1835
March 10 1836 paid to March 4 1836
September 20 paid to September 4 1836
Paid to 4 March 1837
Paid to 4 September 1837
Paid to 4 March 1838
Paid to 4 September 1838
Paid to March 1839.

[Second of two pages]
March 11 1819 paid to March 4 1819
September 9 1819 paid to September 4 1819
April 25 1820 Paid to March 4 1820
October 8 1820 Paid to September 4 1820
March 9 1821 Paid to March 4 1821
September 11 1821 Paid to September 4 1821
April 4 1822 Paid to March 4 1822
September 9 1822 Paid to September 4 1822
March 18 1823 Paid to March 4 1823
September 10 1823 paid to September 4 1823
April 1 1824 Paid to March 4 1824
September 8 1824 paid to September 4 1824
March 9 1825 paid to March 4 1825
September 7 1825 Paid to September 4 1825
March 8 1826 paid to March 4 1826
September 9 1826 paid to September 4 1826
March 9 1827 paid to March 4 1827
September 22 1827 paid to September 4 1827
March 7 1828 paid to March 4 1828
Page 18

[top of page, vertical writing]
September 10 1828 paid to September 4 1828
March 7 1829 paid to March 4 1829
September 8 1929 paid to September 4 1829
March 18 1830 paid to March 4 1830
September 8 1830 paid to September 4 1830
March 17 1831 paid to March 4 1831
October 6 1831 paid to September 4 1831
March 10 1832 paid to March 4 1832
September 8 1832 paid to September 4 1832
March 8 1833 paid to March 4 1833
September 12 1833 paid to September 4 1833
March 14 1834 paid to March 14 1834

[Bottom of page]
September 11 1834 paid to September 4 1834
March 13 1835 paid to March 4 1835
September 10 1835 paid to September 4 1835
March 16 1836 Paid to March 4 1836
September 20 paid to September 4 1836
Paid to 4 March 1837
Paid to 4 September 1837
Paid to 4 March 1838
Paid to September 1838
Paid to March 1839
Page 19

34468 

[Notes right side of fold]
1913 August 28 History to
Chaplain T. G. Steward   [initials]

1983 May 1925 History to S. Franklin Peirce,  [initials]

Revy INVALID.
File No.  S. 4,468
Adam Pearce
Pr's  Rev 100

Act:  18th March 1800
Index: Vol.  D , Page 320

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 20

[top left corner handwritten]
B 1

Wilberforce, Ohio  Aug. 15, 1913.

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

This letter inquires if there are any records in your office of Adam Pierce, Anthony Pierce and
Richard Pierce, as Revolutionary pensioners.
It is claimed that thye [sic] served from New Jersey, enlisting probably from Fairfield, Cumberland county.  If there should be found any records of any of the above named, will you please have copies forwarded to me.

Very respectfully,
T. G. Steward [signature]
Chaplin U. S. Army, Retired.
Page 21

Cable Address "Therosvelt" New York
The Roosevelt
Edward Clinton Fogg, Vice President and Managing Director 
New York City New York
April 15th. 1933
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir: 
I am desirous of becoming a member of the Society Sons of the American Revolution, and it has been suggested that your office may be able to assist me. Will you please advise if you can find the name of Adam Pierce or Pearce, or Jeremiah Pierce or Pearce, of either Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey, or Fayette County, Penna, as I understand the latter had a land grant there about 1785 and was on the taxlist. Will you also please advise if you have any record of dependents, and their addresses on the following: Thomas Pierce or Pearce, Invalid No. 40267
John Pierce or Pearce, Invalid No. 20521
Adam Pierce or Pearce, Invalid No. 34468 [Checkmark next to it]
Benjamin Pierce or Pearce, Invalid No. 32438
Michael Pierce or Pearce, Invalid No. 3674
John Pierce or Pearce and Samuel Pierce or Pearce Priv Capt Carhart Co. 1st Regt Monmouth Co N.J. Militia, Capt John walton Co Lt Dragoons
Anything you are able to find for me will be greatly appreciated. 
Very Truly yours, 
S. Franklin Pierce [signature]
S. Franklin Pierce, 
Room 1241
Page 22

After the Revolution, Benjamin Pearce moved to Hector, New York; then to Tioga, Pennsylvania; returned to Hector and about 1819, moved
to Fayette County, Indiana.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 13, 1833, while residing in Orange Township, Fayette County, Indiana.

It is not stated that solider was ever married.

In 1833, soldier's sister, Elizabeth Miller, was residing in Shelby County, Indiana.; her age is not shown: in same year, his brother, Jonathan,
was a resident of Yates County, New York, but was then visiting in Shelby County, Indiana; Jonathan was born May 31, 1763 and during the Revolution lived with his father in Sussex County, New Jersey.  There are not further family data.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Benjamin Pearce (S. 32438), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing all of the following data:

Benjamin Pearce, Certificate No. 22079, issued October 1, 1833,  rate $20 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, act of June 7, 1832,
Indiana Agency.

Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 23

In reply to your request of__________, received________ for a statement of the military history of Adam Pearce, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( (struckthrough) or his widow's) application for pension on file in thei Bureau.
S. 34,468
[Form]
Columns:
1. DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
2. LENGTH OF SERVICE.
3. RANK.
4. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED: CAPTAIN. COLONEL
5. STATE
May 1778, p mos., , John Noble Cummings, Israel Shreve, 2 N.J.

Battles engaged in, Crosswicks& Monmouth.
Residence of soldier at enlistment,__________.
Date of application for pension, Mch. 30, 1818. His claim was allowed.
Residenc at date of application, Cumberland Co, N.J.
Age at date of application, 63yrs.
Remarks: