Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6644, Jacob Casterline, New Jersey

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New Jersey

Casterline, Jacob
Eunice

Number W. 6644

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563
New Jersey
Jacob Casterline of Morristown in the state of N. J. who was a Les in the Com commanded by Captain Bates of the Reg commanded by Col. Winds in the N. Jersey militia 6 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey at the rate of 60 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence of the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of January 1833 and sent Hon. L. Condit, House of Reps.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1832 $90.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  $30.00
                                                     $120.00

                             {Revolutionary Claim}
                             {Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by E D Bulloch 
Book D  Vol. 4  Page 145

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Jacob Casterline 
no. 3109

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Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress, passed June 7, 1832
Morris Com. Phar, July & August special term, 1832

State of New Jersey
County of Morris

On this first day of August personally appeared, in open court, before the judges of the court of Common Please now sitting Jacob Casterline a resident of Morristown in the County of Morris and state of New Jersey, aged eighty eight 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 7, 1832.  
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated:

That he entered the militia service in a company raised at Morristown in the year 1775 and does not remember the names of his  captain.  The company marched to Newark and then to New York.  Colonel Winds commanded the Regiment.  This was in the Spring of 1775 as he thinks, before the Declaration of Independence and before the British landed at New York.  He was out at this time for two months, as he thinks under Capt. Daniel Guard.
 
He performed another tour of militia duty when he with his company went through Pompton to New Windsor New York where he was employed in guarding the lives in that vicinity, at this time he was out for two months. 

He did another tour in New Jersey under Capt. Chandler for one month and another months duty in Monmouth County New Jersey under Capt. John Deboo while the British Army was there and was personally engaged in the battle  of Monmouth.  He was engaged in a skirmish at Connecticut farms when seventy five Hessians were taken prisoners and their commanding officer also.  It was on a Sunday morning and the prisoners were sent on the same day to Morristown.

He was at the battle of Springfield, he thinks Capt. Bates commanded the company at this time.  He was in a skirmish at Saddle River and in several others which he cannot state minutely from memory.  There was one at the Powder Mill at P River where a bale passed through his knapsack and one through his hat and another at Hackensack while out with a reconnoitering party under Capt. Atwater detached by General Winds to intercept a boat apparently loaded with stones for the enemy.

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His memory has become feeble by age and he is unable to state with minuteness either dates or the names of his officers in each of the several tours; that at different times he served under Captains Daniel Brown, David Bates, Munson, Timothy Tuttle, and a number of others whose names are not remembered.  He served with Colonels S[?], Drake Martin, Munson, Ford, Benoni Hathaway and others who are forgotten.  General Winds has command of the whole troops, General Heard was at Springfield.  These are the only General officers remembered. 
He was drafted at the beginning of the war and after this he served as a volunteer, having served upon every occasion from the commencement to the close of the war.  He was out on duty almost constantly, occasionally at home for a few days.  In all he was engaged in active duty more than two years never remaining at home when there was any occasion for his services in the field.  He also served as a substitute for others on several occasions, once for Joseph Johnson, the others he does not remember.  
This [?] was born in Morristown, Morris County N. J. on the 25th day of December 1746 as appears from the record of his family bible.  He lived in Morristown when called into the service and has always resided there except for two years, one spent in Essex and one in Sussex counties.
For testimony in reference to my character for veracity I refer to Dr. Lewis Condict and Stephen Vail, a judge of the court of Common Pleas, who have both known me for many years past.

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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state, [crossed out] is only on that of the Agency of the State of New Jersey.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Jacob Casterline
William Brittin

We Stephen Vail and Lewis Condict residing in the County of Morris thereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Casterline who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.  

Stephen Vail
William Brittin
Lewis Condict

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Stephen Vail and Lewis Condict who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in the Township of Morris in the County aforesaid and that they are credible persons, and that they statement is entitled to credit.  

William Brittin

I David Day Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jacob Casterline for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this first day of August in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. 
David Day

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No. 3109
New Jersey
Jacob Casterline

Susp. 24 Dec. '32
Obj. 14th

Honble. L. Condict
Ho. of Rep's

Admd
6 months 
$20

P - 175

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Brief in the case of Jacob Casterline of Morristown Morris County in the State of New Jersey. (Act 7th June, 1832)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  eighty eight years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period |  Duration of Service |  Rank | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

In 1775 (Spring, uncertain) |  2 months (he thinks) | As a Drafted volunteer & substitute | Gens Winds, Hewet [?], Lindley, Drake Martin, Munson, Ford, Wm Hathaway, Cpts Timothy Tuttle, Munson, David Batts, John Dober, Chandler, Atwater, Daniel Brown

Uncertain |  2 months

Uncertain | 2 months
                | Says he served more than 2 years

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Battles of Monmouth and Springfield, skirmishes at Connecticut farms, at Saddle River and other places

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Morristown Morris County NJ

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New Jersey 917

Eunice Casterline widow of Jacob Casterline
NJ
who died on the 16 April 1834
of Morris Co. in the state of N. Jersey
who was a Private in the       commanded
by Captain      of the Regt commanded
by Col. Winds in the Revolution
for 1 year

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey
at the rate of 40 dollars -- cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24th day of May 1831 and sent to Hon. L Condict, Morristown N.J.

Arrears to the 4th of March '37     240.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept    20.00
                                                          260.00
                                         {Revolutionary C[?]}
                                                 Act July 4, 1836
                                             Section the 3

Recorded by D. Brown            Clerk
Book A. Vol. 1 Page 145

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Declaration, to obtain the benefit of the 3rd Section of the Act
Of Congress of the 4th July AD 1836

State of New Jersey, Essex County:

On this 28th day of December 1836, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for the County of Essex aforesaid, Eunice Casterline, aged 74 ½ years, now residing in Springfield Essex Co. N. Jersey & who from bodily infirmity cannot attend the Court, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836.

Viz: - I am the widow of Jacob Casterline dec’d late of the township & County of Morris in New Jersey, who was a Corporal or private (uncertain which), in the militia of New Jersey, in the war of the revolution. The companies & regiments to which he belonged, & the officers under whom he served, are not known with any certainty to me, at present. My husband the said Jacob Casterline, applied for & rec’d from the United States, a pension for his revolutionary services under the law of the U.S. of 1832 of sixty dollars pr year, (if my memory be correct) which was regularly paid by the N. Jersey pension agent, up the time of his death. He died at Morristown, April 16th 1834, & I have remained a widow from that period, as will appear by proof hereafter. His pension papers are probably on the files of the Pension Office, & to them I respectfully refer the Commissioner of Pensions. According to a Family Bible record which is in my possession, my husband Jacob Casterline, was born December 25th 1746, & I was born 4th May 1762. And according to the same record, we were married on the 6th May 1782, by the Revd Timothy Johnes, Minister of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Morristown. Two brothers of my husband, & one of my own sisters were present at the marriage, but there is not one person living, who was a witness of the ceremony, as I believe. Soon after our marriage, my husband was ordered out to Springfield, on a tour of Militia duty. James Young & Ephraim Young, our neighbours, were also ordered on the same duty, & went with my husband. Both of them are now dead. They were gone as I believe, a month. It was the first militia duty he was called to perform after our marriage, & recollect it well, as I had to take my husband’s place in the cornfield & assist in planting it in his absence. He returned home a little before wheat harvest, was at home through harvest season, & soon after in August as I believe, he was again ordered out on militia duty, somewhere near Elizabeth town, as I believe, for a heard him on his return, speak of Elizabethtown, & the duties he there performed, standing guard & returned home in September, after a month’s absence. His Captain I believe, was either David Bates, or Jonas Ward, & I believe he performed duty under both. I do not recollect his going out on Militia duty afterwards. We then lived in Hanover Morris Co. 

Sworn & subscribed before me, at Chatham,
Essex Co N. Jersey, the date above mentioned.

Eunice Casterline

Israel Day Justice of the Peace

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2.
I hereby certify to the Commissioner of pensions that I have seen and examined a Family Bible, owned by Mrs. Eunice Casterline, the written applicant for a widows pension under the Act of Congress of July 4th 1836, that the following birth and marriage of Jacob Casterline & Eunice Casterline his wife are truly copied therefrom.  
Jacob Casterline was born December 25th 1746
Eunice Squire whom I married, was born May 4th 1782
Jacob Casterline and Eunice Squire were married May 6th 1782
Jacob Casterline departed their life April 16th 1834 in their 89th year of his age

Truly copied, having been compared and examined by me, at the widow of Francis Casterline her son, with whom said Widow Casterline now lives.  
Witness my hand at Chatham, Essex Co. N. Jersey Dec 28th 1836

Israel Day Justice of the Peace

I hereby further certify to the Commission of Pensions that I am a near neighbor to Francis Casterline, the son of Mrs Eunice Casterline, the written applicant for a pension, with whom I am well acquainted and believe her to be a woman of fair character and one who is fully entitled to belief.  I am confidant that she is still the widow of Jacob Casterline decd. Witness my hand at Chatham in Essex County the date above mentioned.

Israel Day Justice of the Peace

Statue of New Jersey Essex County : I Elias Van Arsdale said Clerk of the Inferior Courts of Common Pleas of said County, do certify that Israel Day Esq before whom the foregoing Declaration of Eunice Casterline & the deposition of Lewis Condict on the next page were taken & subscribed is now & was at the date of said declaration & deposition a Justice of Peace in said County, duly commissioned & sworn & that the signature "Israel Day" Justice of the Peace" subscribed to the [?] of said depositions & who to a certificate of the county of a copy or extract from the family word contained in a family Bible of Mrs Eunice Casterline, relative to the birth of Jacob & Eunice Casterline, the time of their marriage & of his death - & who to another certificate of the contained widowhood & fair character of said Eunice Casterline is genuine.  - Witness my hand & seal of office this 11 January AD 1837

Elias Arsdale Clerk

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3.

State of New Jersey Essex county
I, Lewis Condict of Morriston N. Jersey herby certify and declare to the Secretary of War and Commission of Pensions that I have been personally well acquainted with Jacob Casterline and with his family ever since they ear 1788 when I was a boy and [?] my classical and heroical stories he the said Casterline, being then a tenant and neighbour of my preceptor with whom I lived.  His now widow, Eunice Caseterline, the present applicant for a pension and said Jacob Casterline then lived together and huband and wife and were by all their neighbors and friends so conscious and reputed.  They raised a large family of children, both sons and daughters.  I have been the family physician of Jacob Casterline from 1794 to the time of his death and have lived near to his widow till this time.  I am confident she has remained a widow from his death to the present period.  She has always maintained a good reputation and is in all aspects fully entitle to belief.  Jacob Casterline died April 16th 1834.  
Lewis Condict
Sworn and subscribed at Chatham Essex Co  
this 28 day of December 1836 before me
Israel Day Justice of the Peace

I Lewis Mills, stated clerk of the [?] of the first Presbyterian Church in Morristown N. Jersey do hereby certify that in the ancient words of this church, kept as I verily believe by the Rev. Timothy Johnes D. D. Pastor of this church in time of the Revolutionary War, there is a lit or catalogue of names perporting to be the names of persons [?] from the 9th March 1743 to the 10of May 1794.  That [?] may other [?] is the following entry, which I copy herefrom, in the words of the original entry.  Beg: "1782,  May 6th Jacob Casterline & Eunice Squire"
I further certify that at present, there is no settled pastor in this church and find the pulpit has been vacant, the [?] of the Church have been directed by the [?] to be kept by me their stated Clerk.  At the top of the first page of the above Register of Marriages , I observe the following entry. Viz: " N. B - There that belong to this town are not rejoiced"
Writings my hand at Morristown N. J this 7th January 1837
Sworn before me the day above mentioned at Morristown 
Silas Condict

Lewis Mills [?]
Clerk of [?]

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Before this subscriber, a justice of peace in and for Morris County N. Jersey personally appear Robert Young, an aged man, of good repute for truth, and being by me duly sworn swearing to law, on his oath saith as follows viz:  I was in the Revolutionary war, a militia soldier of N. Jersey and belonged to Captain Samuel P. George's company when at home, and performed such tours of duty under him, and many under various other officers.  viz: Capt. George, Day, Cozad, Cook and Dod.  I was well acquainted with Jacob Casterline as a militia man in the time of the war, and until his death.  In May and in June I was on a tour in Essex County when the enemy came out in force as far as Connecticut towns, which after a fight, they burnt, with the church in the village.  In a few weeks though, they came out with a stronger force, and made their way to Springfield when there was a sharp fight and in which they burnt the village church also.  This was in the summer of 1780.  Jacob Casterline was in both those skirmishes.  And in the fall season of the same year I also saw Casterline on a tour of militia duty, stationed at Elizabethtown.  We were both under command of Colonel Seely and Capt Winds. Our company officers I do not distinctly remember.  In the next season 1781 I saw Jacob Casterline again on militia duty near Newark under Col. Seely.  
Sworn and subscribed before me at Morristown, January 18th 1837.
Before me, 
Elijah Ward                      Robert Young

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Revy  Widow, &c.
File No. 6644
Eunice Casterline
Wid. of
Jacob Casterline
Pvt. Rev. War
Act July 4 1736, Sec 3
Index: - vol. A, Page 114

[Arrangement of 1870]

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4563
New Jersey
Jacob Casterline
of the state of New Jersey
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Tuttle of the Reg. commanded by Col. Lindley in the N. Jersey line for Private   $20

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 20 dollars -- cents per annum to commence on the 12th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23d day of January 1833 and sent to Hon. L Condict use Reps.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  $30
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 mar 1833  10
                                              $40

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk
Book D Vol 4 page 145

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1832
N. Jersey Morris Co.
Eunice Casterline
widow of Jacob Casterline 

N. J.
4 July 36
3 Sec

Return to Lewis Condict
Morristown N. Jersey

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State of New Jersey, Morris County
Before the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in said county personally appears Deacon John Ball of Hanover in said county, well known to me as a man of truth & unblemished character, who having been by me thus duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare as follows. viz:  I knew personally Jacob Casterline, in the Revolutionary War & often saw him performing militia duty in different places.  He lived in Hanover, the same township in which I lived. - I was an Ensign, & altho my memory is impaired by age, being [?] in my year, I think Casterline performed militia duty sometimes under my command.  - I recollect him near [?] town, when the army were in N. Brunswick & at the battle of Springfield, when that village & church were burnt.  After this, & near the close of the war, I again saw Casterline on militia duty in the time of sowing wheat - August or September.  This was after Cornwallis was taken, four months & according to the best of my remembrance & belief was in the summer & fall of the year 1782.

Affirmed & subscribed before me at Hanover Morris County this 5th day of April 1837.
Thomas VanWinkle Justice of the Peace

John Ball

I Joseph Dalrimple, Clerk of Morris County N. Jersey do hereby certify that Silas Condict, Elijah Ward, Isssac Quimby & Thomas Van Winkle before whom the several annexed depositions of Lewis Mills, Robert George, Jeremiah Howell & John Ball were taken & subscribed, and each & all of them Justices of the peace in said County duly commissioned & authorized & that the signatures of their [?] names to those depositions are all of them genuine.  
In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name & affix the seal of my office at Morristown this 17th day of May 1837
Joseph Dalrimple Clerk

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Free 
[?]

The Honble
Lewis Condict
Morris Town
New Jersey

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State of N. Jersey Morris County
Before the subscriber, a justice of peace in the forsaid County, personally appeared Jeremiah Howell, an aged man, well known to me many years, as a man of truth and fully entitled to belief, who having been by me duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare as follows. viz:  I was well acquainted with Jacob Casterline of the Morris County militia in time of the revolutionary war.  I often saw him engaged in military duty as a militia police, and sometimes we performed service in the same company.  At the battle of Monmouth, I believe we were together under Captain Debow.  I recalled calling the roll of the Co. there and found him answering to the name of Casterline and as he was always called Catterline I supposed he had answered to a name not his own; still he told me that was the way in which his name was written.  I often saw him on militia duty afterward.  He was at Connecticut Farms and Springfield skirmishes when the villages and churches were burn in the summer of 1780.  The next summer after Cornwallis was taken, I saw Jacob Casterline again when a tour of militia duty at Springfield.  This was soon after, or in the season of corn planting in the year 1782. And in August or September of the same year (1782) I again saw Jacob Casterline performing militia duty at Elizabethtown.  This was near the close of the war.  I believe guards of militia men were kept along the lines in the neighborhood of Staten Island until the following winter.   Sworn and fabricated before me at Hanover this 5th day of April 1837
Jeremiah Howell
Isaac Quimby

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New Jersey
Morris County 
Be it remembered that on this nineteenth day of July AD eighteen hundred ninety two before the inferior court of common pleas in and for the said county of Morris personally appeared Abraham Fairchild of Hanover in the County of Morris who having duly sworn according to law when his oath saith that he is acquainted with Jacob Casterline of the township of Morris in said county and was acquainted with him during the revolutionary war.  He was then old enough to service in the militia knows that he was at Elizabethtown in this state in the service of the militia in the year AD 1776 - he is reputed to have served in the militia during the revolution and deponent believes that he did so serve and further deponent saith not
Sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year above written 
Abraham Fairchild
William Brittin
The above deponent Abraham Fairchild Esq. is well know to me personally to be a man of integrity and health.
Lewis Condict one of the Reps from N. Jersey
July 17th 1833

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New Jersey
Morris County
Be it remembered that on this thirteenth day of July A.D. eighteen hundred and ninety two before the inferior court of common pleas in and for the county of Morris personally appeared Capt. William Tuttle of the township of Morris in said county who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith  that he is acquainted with Jacob Casterline of the said township and has been acquainted with him since the year 1775.  The commencement of the revolutionary war - at that time he was old enough to be called into the service of the militia that he believes him to be a man of severity and the deponent believes him to have served in the militia during said war.  deponent served in the continental service during that war.  knows that general calls on the militia were made during the war.  But deponents engagements in the regular army as an officer prevented his having any personal knowledge as to the service of the said Casterline and further deponent saith not 
Sworn and subscribed in the court the day and year above written 
William Brittin
William Tuttle

I am personally well acquainted with Wm Tuttle the above deponent and know him to be a man of truth and honor.  Lewis Condict - one of the  Reps. from N. Jersey
Jany 17th 1833

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New Jersey 
Morris County
Be it remembered that on the thirteenth day of July A.D. eighteen hundred and ninety two before the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Morris personally appeared Robert Youngs of the township of Randolph in said county who having duly sworn according to law whom his oath saith that he is acquainted with Jacob Casterline of the township of Morris in said county was acquainted with him during the revolutionary war believes he is nearly ninety years of age. deponent knows that the said Jacob Casterline served in the militia serving the war of the revolution, deponent was out with him one month at Springfield and another month at Elizabethtown in the county of Essex in this state. deponent was not in the same company with him but believes that he served at all times when called on during the war, and which deponent would think would amount to more than two full years.  Further deponent saith not.  
Sworn and subscribed in [?] the day and year above written
William Brittin

Robert Young
Robert Young, the above deponent is well know to me as a man of truth and entitled to belief.  
Lewis Condict, one of the Representatives from N. Jersey 
Jany 17th 1833

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New Jersey
Morris County
Be it remembered that on the thirteenth day of July AD eighteen hundred and thirty two before Andrew Pearce one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county of Morris personally appeared Williams Ball of Morris of the township of Hanover in said county. Who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he is acquainted with Jacob Casterline of the township of Morris and county aforesaid that he was out in the revolutionary war with him in the service of the militia at Newark in the County of Essex in the year 1777 and to the best of his knowledge and belief under Captain Isaac Ward - deponent further saith that said Casterline to the best of his knowledge and belief was old enough to do duty for himself and that he did military duty when called upon dressing the service of the revolutionary war and further saith not. 
Sworn and subscribed before me the 30th day of July AD 1832
Andrew Pearce

Williams Ball
William ball, the above deponent is personally known to me to be a man of truth and good standing in society.
Lewis Condict, a Representative from N. Jersey
Jany 17th 1833

State of New Jersey
Morris County 
I David Day Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Morris aforesaid do hereby certify that Andrew Pearce Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken was [end of page]

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[continued from previous page]

at the time of taking the same and still is one of the Justices of the Peace of said county duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit is due to his official acts as such Justice and at that the same Andrew Pearce annexed to the said affidavit is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this first day of August in the year of our lord eighteen hundred and thirty two.
David Day

Williams Balls
Affidavit

Page 25

Deferred to the Pension officer.  The Secretary will see Mrs. Edwards on the subject tomorrow at 11 oclock.

J.R.P.

The Secretary of War

Present

Page 26

The Honorable J. R. Poinsett Secretary of War
Dear Sir,

Jacob Casterline of Morris Co. N. Jersey was an applicant for a pension, under the Act of Congress of June 7th, 1832.
He alleged more service than he could prove , his comrades having died or removed to distant parts and the sum awarded him at the Pension office was $20 per annum. He was much disatisfied with it and urged me to appeal to the Secretary of War.  Knowing Casterline well for a long period of years as a man of strict integrity and entitled to full belief, I did not hesitate to explain to the Secretary (Governor Cass) that altho' he could not prove by living everything all the services stated in his Declaration, I was myself satisfied that he had faithfully served the U. S. for a much longer period than was proven and that in my opinion fall which court be placed on his declaration.  
The Secretary directed not a full pension but a pension of $60 per  annum.  His widow Eunice Casterline, now claims, under the Act of July 4th '36 a continuation of the pension granted her husband.  W. Edwards, finding no record in the office of the mayor from $20 to $60 except the fact that a new certificate was issued and the first one was surrendered does not [?] himself anything to allow the widow more than $20 per annum.  My impression is that the widow under the law is entitled to the same sum which was allowed her husband and I respectfully solicit in behalf of the widow your decision.  She is aged and very poor and has  not a child able to give her a home.  
I regret that no record is found of the decision by the Secy. - but it is entirely within my recollection that he did so direct and I am confirming with W. Edwards this morning.  I remember that I recd a letter signed by Secy Cass accompanying Casterline's new certificate and some 3 or 4 others, among which were Nathl Wilson's, Peter Fairchild's, and probably Israel Canfield, all of which I think were decided by the Secretary at the same time.  This letter I recd at Morristown (my residence) but it is not very probably that I have preserved it.  Jury, may it not have been copied in this office?

Page 27

With [?]
& friend
Lewis Condict

Washington, May 23, 1837

PS - If not inconsistent with propriety, I shall be gratified to have Mr. Edwards explanation before and[?] or work or to look at the claim is the act of July 36 which punishes the rule for graduating the window's pension.

Page 28

Eunice Casterline
widow Jacob Casterline
[?]  one year

Act 4 July '36
3d Sect
$40 per ann

Tend cut: [?]
L. Condict
Morristown 
N. Jersey

Page 29

Jacob Casterline $20
Jany 23, 33

Payments to be made
at Trenton New Jersey
by the [?] Trenton BK & Co
Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of [?]

Recorded by VinalLuce [?]
Clerk in Book D Vol. 4
Page 145

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War Department.
Revolutionary Claim
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June 1832, Jacob Casterline of the state of New Jersey who was a private in the Army of the Revolution

is entitled to receive twenty dollars per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States this 23rd day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.

Lew Cass
Secretary of War

Examined and 
Countersigned

JL Edwards

Page 31

Jacob Casterline
of 
N. Jersey

12 mos to be allowed as Sergt. $60

make certificate same No & alter roll

There appears to have been an error in making Casterline a Sergt. Let the widow receive the [illegible] as if. 

Sent Hon. L Condict the [?] and had received the [?] of Morristown.
12 mos service
MJ  JRP

Page 32

I do hereby certify to the Secretary of War, that I have been personally well acquainted with Jacob Casterline of N. Jersey to whom a certificate of pension this is answered, ever since the year 1790 - that he has always sustained a fair character for truth and honesty.  For many years past his memory has failed him greatly, from age and infirmity.  I was present at the taking of his Declaration, and heard him frequently spoke of his inability to particular in the occasions and times when he was performing his monthly tour of militia service - that he counts not the half of them but recollects a few of them and in four instances the names of his officers.  He spoke with entire confidence of being in active service at least two years and from my knowledge of the man and acquaintance with his history, I feel well satisfied and do fully believe that he served two years in the militia service of the U. States in the war of the revolution.  

February 28th, 1833
Lewis Condict, a Rep. from New Jersey

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In the case of Jacob Casterline all that I can say is to state the course of the [?] in my charge at the [?] when the last certificate was arguably filed.  The claim from the state of New Jersey were sent to me and were acted on by me in the first instance - the certificate of being made out in my room by M Bullock under my direction.
Where appeals were taken which were not unsound, the papers if the [crossed out] allowance was increased were returned to me with the direction written of the laws of man and of the Commissioner of Pensions of the case were admitted before I had charge of these claims or seem to

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have been the present case - the papers where increase was ordered were sent to my room where the rolls to were left that the direction might be carried into effect.  Here is the endorsement of a clerk who at the time acted as the organ of the township directions being stationed in his room to [?] correspondence to.  The paper came to my table with this endorsement and were never [?] by me.  I only directed the clerk who filed the certificate to make one out and cause the roll to correspond with what I supposed was

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was the order of the Commissioner endorsed in the brand of Mr Palmer on the papers.  Whether a mistake a misapprehension was made by that gentlemen as to the duration of the orders, the papers will then [?] probably there.  I probably never examined them, as it seems I never at any time examined or decided after then.

R Ela
24 May 1837

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Sept 13 1843

Mrs Casterline
N. J. 

No. 917 N. J
Wll 36
Eunice Casterline

[sideways]
James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Markington

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Morristown N. J.  Sept. 11th 1843

Dear Sir,
I am about to ask a favor of you, which I do with rynt [?] because I know very well how unremitting and [?] your time is [?] to your official duties. Yet it is a favor which none by family can confer and which to me is very [?], in as much as it will satisfactorily explain and verify some facts connected with a particular care, which to some of the friends of the party seem mysterious if not doubtful.  My object is to obtain an official statement, (provided you deem it proper to indulge me in soliciting it) of all the leading facts in the case, for the sake of my justifying myself against some importation serving out of it.  
I will state the case as I believe it to be, relying on your documents to connect the [?] of my memory.
Jacob Casterline of Morris Co. N. J. was an applicant for a pension under the Act of June 7th 1832, and was placed on the N. J. Roll at first, and made some apparent inflation, intimating a count of attention on my part, to his claim.  His care, with some 3 or 4 others of this Co. were recommended by [?] and Casterline [?] to $60 per an & his certif.  stated him to have been "a sergeant." This was dated 23rd January '33 and was prior to his death in April 1834.  Under the law of July 36, his widow Eunice Casterline appears for its benefits.  In reply to her question of the [?] as to the sum she would receive.  I told her if she was allowed anything, it could be the same as allowed to her husband.  Instead of this, the allowance according to my memory was the same which at first at been granted to the husband - viz: somewhere between 20 and 30 dollars pr. an. - The widow was grievously disappointed and [?] dispensed with me, as well as with the commissioner.  In may 1840, I solicited a revision of the testimony in which you indulged me and the result was that you could not enlarge it.  You remarked that the decision of the dues was highly liberal that so far as

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as it was predicated on Casterline having been a Sergeant must have been a misapprehension - in as much as he states in his declaration  he was a Private.  
I solicited a waiver by the Secy (Mr Poinsett) to which you verily granted and we went together before him with the papers.  Mr. Poinsett was soon convinced that the allowance as a Sergeant was a mistake.  I think I then prepared to correct that mistake and allow the widow the sum which Secy. decision wants [?] the husband as a private.  This proposition seemed to find from with the severity and the sum of $40 pr. an. was allowed here and a certificate was granted for the sum, dated May 27th 1840.  Her poverty was pressing and urgent and knowing she could ultimately receive aid I had, at her current solicitation [?] small rooms for her relief so that when her first payment was made there [?] between 50 and 60 dollars due her, which was paid and she gave her receipt in full to that time.  She had become very aged and forgetful, as well as discontented.  Not recollecting distinctly why she has recd but $40 and her husband $60 - she [?] me now as having [?] him and retained a large sum which is jointly due to her, and [?] me with a [?].  To some of her friends it no doubt seems strange that her husband's pension should have been enlarged from a small sum to $60 and that he owns[?] than  her husbands.  It's complication to them seems mysterious and to some of them suspicious.   Now a full statement of all these  circumstances from the husband's application to Mr. Poinsett's decision in the form of  a certificate bearing the seal of the War Office, with the signature of the commissioner will be entirely satisfactory to all those of her friends who have listened to  her story.  It will show thru the origin of her disappointment and dissatisfaction.  
I am [?] to ask of you, rush a [?] which I would not do if there were any other mode which would be equally satisfactory.  It will be one act of disinhearted friendship and liberality which, altho I cannot record, I cannot readily forget.  I will only add - the form will be greatly enhanced to me by a little duty as maybe [?] practicable in allowing it.  
Very [?] & respectfully your [?] & friend
Lewis Condict

J L Edwards Esq