Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,914, for Joab Mershon, New Jersey

Page 1

SERVICE
New Jersey
* Mershon, Joab
NUMBER
S. 13, 914
Carded
CONTENTS

Page 2

899
New York
Joab Mershon
of Cayuga in the State of New York
who was a Private in the Comp'y commanded by Captain Mershon of the Regt commanded by Col. Smith in the New * York line for 2 Years ~
* N. J. Line
Records corrected June 27 1868
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 8- Dollars ~ Cents per Ann. 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Octr.
1832 ~ and sent to A Gould
Arrears to 4th of Septr. 1832 $120~
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '33 40
$160
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Clerk,
Book D Vol. 5 Page 115

Page 3

Rev War
13914
INVALID.
-----
File No. 13, 914
Joab Mershon
Priv. Rev. War
---
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:- Vol. 1, Page 254
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 4

2279
Joab Mershon
Sennett, Cayuga Co.
New York
-------
Not specific 
credibility of witnesses
not certified

Page 5

2270
BRIEF in the case of Joab Mershon,
of Sennett, Cayuga Co., in the State of New York
(Act 7 June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or Judge? Judge
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does.
3. How old is he? 72 years.
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period. 1n 1776 abt 1 Sept. "Nov. & Dec." about 1 Jany. 1777. about 1 Nov. 1777. June 1778. about 1 Jany. 1779. about 1 Jany. 1980. "at the time Springfield was bound" "Short Tours
Duration of Service. Years, Months, 1 - 1 5 1 4 2 (blank time) Days. 2 21 - 
Rank. As a Private " " " " " Express Private "
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen. Col. Smith, Capt Hey. Mershon
5. In what battles was he engaged? Taking the Hessians at Trenton; Monmouth. --Do --Do --Do --Do Capt. Jonathan Aeres Coy of Waggon
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., N.J.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witness.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Perfect.
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Fawcett
Examining Clerk

Page 6

Joab Mershon
2279

Page 7

State of New York
Cayuga County } ss Cornelius Polhemus of Sennett in said County being duly sworn says that he is well acquainted with Joab Mershon of Sennett aforesaid and was well acquainted with him during the time of the Revolutionary War - that they both resided in the town of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon in the State of New Jersey - that said Mershon was frequently in the service of the United States in the company of militia commanded by Henry Mershon during said time - that he saw him at Smith's farms. And knows that said company was in service at the battle of Monmouth - and saw him also at the battle of Princeton - and saw him frequently in said service at other times but at what particular times he is unable to state - he further says that from his knowledge of the services performed by the militia at that time & in that place, and from his knowledge of the services of said Mershon he thinks said Mershon must have served in the whole a term of not less than two years and a half a nearly that - 
Sworn & subscribed the 13th day of August AD 1832 before me 
J. L. Richardson
First Judge of Cayuga
Cornelius Polhemus

Page 8

State of New York
Cayuga County, } ss. On this 13th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Cayuga and state of New York, Joab Mershon a resident of Sennett in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832: - That he entered the service under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: - that about the first of September AD 1776 at the town of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon in the State of New Jersey he entered the service of the United States in a company of militia commanded by Captain Henry Mershon (his father) that he marched with said company to Smiths farms, where he was stationed one month and about two days when said company was relieved and returned home that he was in Col Smith's Regiment. he further declares that in the month of November AD 1776 his fathers family was driven from home by the enemy and fled to the County of Bucks in the State of Pennsylvania. That during the months of November and December he was in service in said company a term of three weeks that he part of the time acted as guide to Gen Stevens on the Scotch road leading from Slacks Ferry to Trenton - that he was a Trenton at the time of the taking of the Hessians. He further declares that about the first of January in the year 1777 he again entered said service in the same company & same regiment and marched and joined the army of Gen Washington, and marched to Princeton where the battle of Princeton took place, that he continued in said service about one month as he believes - He further declares that about the first of November AD 1777 he again entered said service in said company & Regiment and marched with said company to Slacks Ferry where he was stationed with & out of said company [illegible] as a guard with Roberts

Page 9

about the first of April AD 1778, that during said term the British troops lay in Philadelphia. He further declares that in the month of June 1778 he again entered said service in the same company and marched from Trenton to Crosswicks Creek & joined the army of Gen Maxfield from thence said army marched to Allen Town thence to Monmouth Court House where the Battle of Monmouth took place in which battle he was engaged from Monmouth he returned to home to Hopewell aforesaid with said company [illegible] by the way of Princeton having been in service a term of one month or more - He further declares that about the first of January 1779 he again entered the service of the United States in the company of Waggoners commanded by Capt Jonathan Acre, that he continued in said service until the month of May following, he first went with a load of continental stores from Lambton to Kings Bridge, the second time from the same place to Harve de Grace. the third time from Lambton to Morrison, the fourth & fifth time from the same place to Pittstown. He further declares that about the month of January AD 1780 he again entered said service and was appointed express rider by Day [illegible] of Trenton & John Wrote of Ringwood in Hunterdon County aforesaid. that he first was egaged in carrying a passage to Gen Washington at Morriston, that he served as such express rider

Page 10

a term of two months - he further declares that he was again called into service at the time Springfield was burned, and was in said service about ten days. That he was frequently in service in short terms during the war in cases of alarm. at the times than above set forth, that he is unable to state the number of times, or the precise length of each time but thinks that during the war he was in actual service not less than two years and a half that he was almost constantly in service during the time that the British lay in New Jersey. 
That he was no documentary evidence of said service, that he had no proof of said service except the affidavit of Cornelius Polhemus and is not able to procure any
He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state or territory
Sworn & subscribed the day & years aforesaid }
Joab Mershom
J L Richardson
First Judge of Cayuga

Page 11

We, John Grover a Justice of the Peace residing in Auburn in Cayuga County and Henry Polhemus residing in the same town --- hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joab Mershon who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration; that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Solider of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
J. L. Richardson
first Judge of Auburn
John Grover
Henry Polhemus
And the said Judge do hereby declare his opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And he further certifies, that it appears to them, hat John Grover who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Justice resident in Auburn and Henry Polhemus who has also signed the same, is a resident in Auburn ---- and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. He further certifies that there is no clergyman residing in Sennett aforesaid with whom he is acquainted, that the town of Auburn joins the town of Sennett and that the said Mershon is unable to attend Court by reason of bodily infirmity.
J L Richardson Judge [illegible]
I, Michael S Myers Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Cayuga and State of New-York, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Judge in the matter of the application of Joab Mershon for a pension.
I further certify that Joseph L Richardson before whom the foregoing affidavit certificate & declarations were made and by whom the foregoing certificate was made, was on the day of the date thereof and still is the first judge of said Court duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are to be given to his acts in that capacity - that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said judge and believe his signature to the said affidavit declarations and certificates to be genuine. In writings whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name the thirteenth day of August AD 1832