Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L 111-450, Francis Barber, New Jersey

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(8-1776)
SERVICE 
New Jersey
Barber, Francis
Number B.L. 111-450
CONTENTS (blank)

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New Jersey, Borough of Elizabeth
Colonel Aaron Ogden of the Borough of Elizabeth comes before me Elias Dayton Mayor of the said Borough and being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that he was well acquainted with Colonel Francis Barber former of the the New Jersey line, that the said Colonel Francis Banner at his decease left three children only - namely George Clinton Barber, Mary Barber and Francis Ogden Barber - that the said Francis Ogden Barber died in New York in the Summer of the year 1799 without issue and unmarried and that the only surviving children of the said Col: Francis Barber are George Clinton Barber Attorney at Law of Mary Chetwood now wife of William Chetwood Counsellor at Law at Elizabeth Town New Jersey, where both the said children are now living.

Aaron Ogden (signature)

Sworn before me this 16th day of September AD 1803 Elias Dayton

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Front of envelope

Claim for Lt Col Barber
Mil land No. 111

The honorable Henry Dearborn
Secretary at War & War Office
(two words illegible: possibly signed by) Col Ogden

written vertically: Col Barber (illegible) was entitled

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To the honorable Henry Dearborn Secretary
at War
The claim of George Clinton Barber, and William Chetwood and Mary, his wife,
late Mary Barber of Elizabeth Town in the State of New Jersey, which George and Mary are the only surviving children and the sole heirs and legal representatives of Francis Barber deceased, late a Lieutenant Colonel Commendant [Commandant] in the late New Jersey Line in the service of the United States, for lands for his Military services during the late revolutionary war.
Respectfully Sheweth [Showeth].
That the said Francis Barber was in the service of the United States in the New Jersey line from the year 1775 till about the beginning of May in the year 1783, during which time he was twice wounded in action, and finally, was killed while on actual duty, as officer of the day, by the fell of a tree, which was cut down by a soldier of the American Army, at the cantonment near New Windsor, a short time before the army was disbanded, and after the articles of peace had been signed on behalf of the United States and the King of Great-Britain; and after the cessation of hostilities between the two armies of those  representative nations had actually taken place.

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The above claimants further knew that at the time of the death of their father as aforesaid, there were infants and minors and have so continued till within two years left (illegible) and on that amount, they are advised and believe that their claim is not within the operation of any Statute of Limitation, and that they are both legally and equitably entitled to have the claim allowed, for just quantity of land, as was due to the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel Commandant for military services during the (illegible) revolutionary war, according to Law, no part of which has been hitherto viewed by these claimants or any person in their behalf, or by any other person whether as far as these  claimants know and verily believe.

George Clinton Barber
William Chetwood & Mary Chetwood late Mary Barber

Signed by Aaron Ogden, at the request and on behalf of the above claimants

Washington (illegible) 20th 1803

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Eliz town Sept 1803
C Chetwood
In relation to land deed heir of the late Col Barber
(illegible) No 111

Eth Town
Sep 16
The Honorable Henry Dearborn
Secretary to War
Washington City

The enclosed evidence may be considered as sufficient and the warrant (illegible) pay be granted

Rec 17 Sept 1803

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Elizth town New Jersey Sep 16th

Sir
I have received the letter you was so obliging as to write to us, and now transmit to you the deposition of Col Aaron Ogden before this Mayor of our Borough for the purpose of proving that the persons (licensing?) the land lately granted for this military service of Col Francis Barber deceased are his legal representatives.

As you did not point out any particular needs of proof in the instructions you were so good as to provide, I am in hopes the enclosed deposition will (illegible) cleared (illegible) competent of the facts it is intended to make out.  Be pleased to accept Sir this (illegible) ledgerment of those interested in this claim for the attention you have had the good use to pay to it, and allow this to tender you the (appearances?) of my respect.

Wm Chetwood

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Elizth Town, N.J.
Dec 26
Paid 17-
Mr. Horace M Edwards
to the care of this (two words illegible) General
Washington City

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Elizth Town December 26th 1803

Sir
There is a land warrant in this office for the war department belonging to us which the Secretary informs us will be delivered to any person authorized to receive as receipt for it - We will thank you to call at this office and transmit this business and we are hereby authorizing to empower you to receive for us the warrant before mentioned, and for us and in our names to give any receipt on their signature for the same - When you have received this warrant you will be good enough to transmit it to one of us by the mail if no private opportunity shall shortly offer by which you may think it can be conveyed with safety - A letter to this Secretary at War informing him of your authority to

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receive & accept for this warrant will be found in the same mail with this - We presume on your producing this letter at the war office you will find no difficulty in receiving this warrant.  We are with sentiments of friendship and regard

Your Obt [Obedient] Servants  
Wm Chetwood [signed]
Mary Chetwood [signed]
George Clinton Barber [signed]

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Document has 3 separate receipts

M233 BUREAU OF PENSIONS Finance Division
AUG 28 1922 19____
Chief of Rev War Section
Sir: I have this day received from K.B. Hastings (crossed out: draft) M.O. No. 38,068 for $2 25/100 requesting (crossed out: post-office addresses) copy as per letter herewith
Copies mailed & Land did not (of?) CW Dept 1822
Very Respectfully, O.J. RANDALL Chief of Division (illegible signature)
***********************
(MF42) Date Sept 15, 1922
Name Wm Barber No. W18641 
Rev
Photographic copies wanted to 6 pieces, consisting of 9 pages Remarks: (none) Exr. AB Wilson Chief Rev War Sect, Law Clerk
Serial No. 7048
***********************
(MF42) Date Sept 15, 1922
Name Francis Barber No. BL. 111-450
Rev
Photographic copies wanted to 4 pieces, consisting of 6 pages Remarks: (none) Exr. AB Wilson Chief Rev War Sect, Law Clerk
Serial No. 7053

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IN REPLY REFER TO Rev. War Section 1865
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON Aug, 17, 1922
(handwritten note: Money Order for $2-25 CS)

Mrs. Russel Hastings 
925 Park Ave 
New York City 
(handwritten note: Enclosed is money order for $2.25 for which please send the 15 pages of photostat described in your letter. K.B. Hastings)

Madam: In response to your letter which was this day referred to the Commissioner of Pensions for a reply, you are advised that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Joseph Barber and John Davidson, described by you.
Photostat copies of the original papers in the Revolutionary War claims of Francis Barber, B.L. Warrant 111-450, and William Barber, W File 18641, will be furnished you under the provisions of the Act of Aug. 24 1912, at the rate of fifteen cents a page, with twenty five cents extra in each claim, if certification is desired.  The number of pages is six in Francis Barber and nine in William Barber.  The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.  Very Respectfully, Washington Gardner, Commissioner

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STAMP MARKING: REVOLUTIONARY WAR SECTION AUG 17 1922

925 PARK AVENUE NEW YORK
(handwritten note: Referred to Commissioner of Pensions for reply Aug 17 1922)

My dear Miss Wilson
The Jameses are finished and the more I worked on them, the more sure I grew that the trio whom you and I find so interesting were in no way to be accounted for by the James Ancestry.  So I have set out to prove myself by the same genealogical method that their Barber blood predominated.  A few short weeks of work on the

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Barbers have been crowded with romance.  One of the family writes me that they have always been "witty, amiable, humorous, clever, sometimes very eccentric," which precisely describes the descendants of William James and Catharine Barber.  I was in Washington by chance the very week of the D.A.R. invitation, and wanted so much to go to see you, but before knowing what your life, above all others, must be that week!  Will you have a little photostating done for me, now, I wonder

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from your records? I want a negative only of the statement submitted of the war service of Col Francis Barber, also of the war service of Col William Barber his brother. (I made a sufficiently careful copy of the other material in the envelopes for the present.) Also if their young brother Joseph Barber (note in another handwriting: none for this) of Montgomery or Hampton (illegible) Rauye Co. N.Y. (1763-1830) made application or their brother-in-law John Davidson (one time of Orange Co but perhaps later of Kentucky)

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will you please have negatives made of their war records in addition?  John Davidson's wife was Margaret Barber who died 20 Feb 1792.  They were married somewhere in New York 18 May 1771.  In 1790 there were nine persons in their household.  As I supposed are (illegible) government (illegible) my check before it begins to photostat, may I bother you to let me know how much to send?  Henry James Sr. in the "Literary Remains" autobiography complains of having been bored by his

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grandfather's (John Barber) tales of military history.  Judging from what I have so far means that those tales should have been charming beyond words if properly told! Alexander Hamilton had great respect for his young school-master Francis Barber, apparently, and it was he doubtless who poured the praises into Washington's ear which resulted in Barber's swift advancement.  He (L.B.) was on his way (crossed out: to his) house to take beautiful Nancy Ogden Barber to tea with Mrs Washington at New-

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burgh. (11 Feb 1783) when a falling tree killed him.  A letter from Benjamin Walker to son Steuben giving a semi-official version of the story, which I have just heard of must supplant the loose tales in print.  A descendant has a sketch made on the field by John Trumbull, it is said, and a miniature which I am to see next week.  There is a eulogy by Ebenezer Elmer (to be seen in reprint) which draws a delightful picture of him, and I begin to think that one of the very talented figures of that day, who gave great promise of useful-

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ness to the country, was lost in Francis Barber. Washington has decided already to take him into his official family, Walker wrote.  I should apologize for boring you, but somehow I can't believe anything about the Jameses bores you! My visits to your official quarters have been so charming and thank you for them.
Sincerely yours, Katharine Hastings (Mrs. Russel Hastings) 27 June 1922

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Aug. 17, 1922
Mrs. Russel Hastings, 925 Park Ave. New York City
Madam: In response to your letter which was this day referred to the Commissioner of Pensions for a reply, you are advised that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Joseph Barber and John Davidson, described by you.  Photostat copies of the original papers in the Revolutionary War claims of Francis Barber, B.L. Warrant 111-450 and William Barber, W. File 18641, will be furnished you under the provisions of the Act of Aug 24, 1912, at the rate of fifteen cents a page, with twenty-five cents extra in each claim, if certification is desired.  The number of pages is six in Francis Barber and nine in William Barber.  The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.  Very respectfully, Washington Gardner, Commissioner (handwritten note: copy all)