Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11454, Isaac Whitehead, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New Jersey
Whithead, Isaac
R 1 1 4 5 4
CONTENTS

Ebene Whithead application for Pension

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Berkshire ss -
On this second day of November A.D., 1853, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate now sitting at Great Barrington in the County of State of said, Isaac Whitehead, a resident of said Great Barrington, aged ninety five 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 th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated -
2 mos. In August 1775, at the age of 17, I entered the service at Sunny Plains, N. J. in the garrison, under command of Capt Thomas Dickerson - I went as a substitute for one Thomas Garrison, who lived at Sunny Plains, whose apprentice I then was - I think there were 56 men stationed at the garrison - I remained there about two months, and afterwards made my home at Garrison's, near at hand, and ready for service whenever called for - The service was along the lines in New Jersey, and we were called on, every few days, either to watch the Tories or the British - The British were at New York, & making depredations everywhere in the vicinity - I continued for two years in such service, in Garrison's name. Sometime in 1776, we had a brush with the British at Short Hills (so called) - We were ambushed, & the British were in the road - Several on both sides were killed or wounded -
After leaving the company of Capt Dickerson, I still continued in the service, but in my own name - I lived at my mother's in Rockaway N.J. and served from time to time as occasion required - I never

enlisted, but was a volunteer —
In August 1777. — I think about the 5 th of August, a party of 50 or 60 of us started from New Jersey for Bennington Vt — We were there at the battle on the 16 th — We joined Genl Stark & Col Warner there — I fought with the musketry in Col Warner's regiment — From Bennington, after the battle, I proceeded to Saratoga & then traded my musket for a rifle — I was among Morgan's riflemen at the battle of Saratoga — I stayed there till Burgoyne was taken — I was next at Fort Montgomery, when I went in company with several volunteers — There was a battle there on the 18 th October — The fort was in command of Col Livingston — Genl Putnam was said to be on the other side of the river (Hudson), but could not cross, as a British guard ship came up to prevent.
The fort was poorly manned — I can't tell the number — Clinton, it was said was the British command — The fight commenced about noon, & at about dark, the British took the fort — I was among the musketry — When the fort was taken, the order was, for each man to take care of himself — I escaped & went to West Point, where I stayed two days, and then went home —
I was present at the battle of Monmouth in 1778 — I came there from my home in Rockaway which was not far — I fell in with volunteers of whom there were thousands flocking to the aid of the army — I fought under Genl Wayne, and when the battle was over, went home again — As I was a volunteer, the whole time, and not enlisted, I came & went as occasion required — On this last trip, I was in service about a week —
In 1779, I started from New Jersey, with other
about 2 mo?
1 week

volunteers, and we joined Genl Sullivan at Tioga Point New York — Then we had a battle with the Indians — We went from Tioga Point to Newtown, where we had another battle — Sullivan had with him about 3000 men, as I recollect — We drove the Indians up the Chemung River from Tioga Point to Newtown, & from there, we went to the Tioga River — destroying as we went everything that belonged to the Indians — I went with a detachment of the army to Painted Post — There the Indians beat us, as we had but about 300 men — 50 or 60 of our number were killed at that time — We retreated, met the army at about three miles distance & then followed the Indians again — They undertook to go up the Con- hococton Creek, but we stopped them & went on in full force towards Seneca Lake — We came to what was called Shattuck Swamp, through which, for a long distance we had to cut a road for our baggage — I was constantly off on patrols watching the Indians We went to Seneca Lake & followed it up — I forgot the places where we stopped — We got to Seneca River & it was so late in the season, that the order was to return, & I went home — I was gone on this tour from May to Nov r 1779 — This is correct as I can re- collect it —
5 m.s.
After the war, I resided in New Jersey, until 1791 — Then I removed to New Milford, Conn, where I lived for six years or thereabouts — Afterward I lived in Lee Mass for two years or more — — in Arlington Vt for some fourteen years — in Jackson Pa for some years — can't say just how long — — in Salisbury Conn, for about twenty years — in Hillsdale New York for some twelve years,

and in the month of April last, I removed to Great Barrington Mass, where I now reside —
I never received a discharge from the service, as I never enlisted as a soldier — I never received a commission — I have no documentary evi- dence — I was born at Rockaway N.J. April 8 th 1758, and am 95 years old — I have no record of my age — There were many skirmishes & engagements during the war, at which I was present & did service, but I cannot distinctly recall the circumstances — I have stated the facts as nearly & correctly as I can, with my age & loss of memory — I have not resided in Great Barrington long enough to be well known to any of the inhabitants — In Hillsdale N.Y. a place ten miles distant from Great Barrington Mass, I was known to Hon John F. Collins, Henry Augustus Collins, Rev Sam- uel Pomeroy & many others — I know of no person whose testimony I can procure, who can testify to my services —
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present; and de- clare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State —
Witness
Abraham B. Sherman
Isaac his X Whitaker Mark
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid Deputy
Daniel N. Deane. Judge of Probate

We Samuel Pomeroy a clergyman, residing in Hillsdale in the State of New York, and Henry Augustus Collin residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Isaac Whitehead who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be ninety five years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where until recently he has resided, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion —
Sam l Pomeroy Henry A. Collin
Commonwealth of Massachusetts — Berkshire ss — Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid, by the above named Samuel Pomeroy & Henry A. Collin — Before me
Daniel N. Dacey Judge of Probate —
And the S d Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogations prescribed by the Mandepartment, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states — And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Samuel Pomeroy who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the town of Hillsdale and State of New York, and that Henry A. Collin is a credible person — & that his statement is entitled to credit —
Daniel N. Dacey Judge of Probate.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire County ss. I Henry W. Taft Register of Probate within and for said County of Berkshire, do certify, that Daniel N. Drury Esq. before whom the foregoing proceedings were had, was at the time of the execution of the same, the Judge of the Probate Court within and for the County of Berkshire duly commissioned and qualified, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and the seal of said Probate Court, this second day of November in the year eighteen hundred and fifty three
Henry W. Taft Register of Probate

Since the foregoing declaration by said Isaac White- head was made, subscribed & sworn to, it has occurred to him that he has misstated as to the time when he was present at Fort Montgomery — Hee now recollects that he left Bennington for Saratoga, as before stated, & from Saratoga proceeded to Fort Montgomery, where he was present at the battle, on or about the 8 th October 1777 — and from there to West Point, and thence back to Saratoga, from which place, after the taking of Bennington, he returned to his home in New Jersey — So that all the services heretofore related, was actually performed by him — but in re- gard to the dates, he desires to make this cor- rection
Witness — B. B. Sumner
Isaac his X Whitehead mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts —
Berkshire ss. Nov 18 th 1853 Then personally appeared the above named Isaac Whitehead & made oath to the foregoing, by him signed — Before me —
Amos B. Sumner, Esq. Clerk
Berkshire ss. I Charles Sedgwick Kellogg of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Berkshire do certify that Samuel B. Sumner Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Isaac Whitehead was sworn, the following Power of Attorney was acknowledged is & was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace within & for said County duly commissioned & qualified that full faith & credit are sought to be given to his acts & statements in that capacity & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 22 nd day of November 1853. Charles Sedgwick Kellogg

I know all men by these presents that I, Isaac Whithead of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire & State of Massachusetts, do hereby constitute & appoint En- crease Sumner of said Great Barrington, my true & lawful Attorney, & agent, for me & in my name to prosecute my claim to a Revolutionary Pension, with power of Sub- stitution, & to do all things necessary & lawful in the premises in my behalf — Witness my hand & seal, this twenty first day of November A.D. 1883 —
Sealed & delivered in
presence of John H. Sumner
Isaac Whithead mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts —
Berkshire ss — Be it known that on the twenty first day of November, 1883, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Isaac Whithead, above named and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be his act & deed, — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, the day & year above mentioned —
Albert B. Sumner
Justice of the Peace
Isaac Whithead Application for Pension

I know all men by these presents that I, Isaac Whitehead of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire & State of Massachusetts, do hereby constitute & appoint In- crease Sumner of said Great Barrington, my true & lawful Attorney, & agent, for me & in my name to prosecute my claim to a Revolutionary Pension, with power of Sub- stitution, & to do all things necessary & lawful in the premises in my behalf — Witness my hand & seal, this twenty first day of November A.D. 1883 —
Sealed & delivered in presence of
Samuel D. Merrill
Isaac Whitehead
Commonwealth of Massachusetts —
Berkshire — Be it known that on the twenty first day of November, 1883, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Isaac Whitehead, above named and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be his act & deed, — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, the day & year above mentioned —
Albert B. Sumner
Justice of the Peace
Isaac Whitehead Application for Pension

I, James A. Whitehead of Great Bangor, Mass., being duly sworn, say — I am twenty three years old — I am the grandson of Isaac Whitehead who is now making ap- plication for a pension — I have lived in the family with my grandfather, said Isaac, since I was five years old, and my grandfather now lives with me —
Said Isaac is in his ninety sixth year, and has always been reputed to be a soldier of the Revolution — I have often heard him tell his sto- ries, concerning his engagements & services during the War, — I clearly recollect his saying that he was present & in service at Saratoga, in New Jersey, and in the expedition under Genl Sullivan — I have often heard him relate incidents of the Revolution, in which he was a participant —
I never had any doubt that he was in the ser- vice as a soldier, for a considerable length of time — I have also heard his wife, not now living, and also my father who is now de- ceased, often refer to his services —
My grandfather is a man of remarkably quiet disposition & precisely such a man as would delay his application for a pension — Ever since I can remember, he has been talking about making such application, but has constantly neglected to take the proper steps — On one occasion, some years ago, he commenced
James A. Whitehead

measure for presenting his claim, but from some cause or other, the matter was dropped, and has since been neglected until this time -
Dated Bristol Barington, this 14 th Jany AD 1854 -
J. A. White J. A. Whitehead
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire ss - Personally appeared the above named James D. Whitehead & made oath to the foregoing affidavit by him signed (and I truly certify that said James D. Whitehead is a man of truth & veracity)
Before me
Sam. B. Sumner
Justice of the Peace

11,4254
P. O. Isaac Whitehead
Service: _____ REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

N o 38,662
Isaac Whitehead.
Maps.
Letter to,
J. Sumner 8 th Dec r 1853.
Do P. G. Goodrich Feby 4/34
J. Sumner May 13/34
11/15/4
Act y 7 th June 1832.

No 38.688 Isaac Whitehead
Mafs
I. summe, era 8. 1853
Hon J. G. Goodrich Feb 4/54
9 summe May 13/54
act June 7/1832

Dear Sir
I send you the enclosed as requested, with my certif- icate of good or bad will see
Respectfully yours
W. L. S. S.
J. F. Godwin
Hon. S. P. Waldo Caret of Pines
Hon. Reps.
Washington
July 20/52

Great Danington Mass. May 9, 1884 — Dear Comr of Pensions — Sir —
We have recd no intelligence lately from your department, relative to the matter of Isaac Whitehead, whose application for a pension was some time ago presented — The old gentleman is very anxious to know something about his prospects of success — I have endeavoured to obtain from such sources as have been suggested, some facts confirmatory of his statements, — Many of the old records however seem to have been destroyed or lost, and he has outlined all his contemporaries — but his story is believed to be true by all who know him, and it is hoped, in view of the credibility of his statements, and his receptivity, that his case will be favorably considered —
Very Resp'y E. J. Sumner for Saml B Sumner

STATE OF NEW-JERSEY,
Department of State,
Trenton, Dec 26 1853
J. Sumner Esq Sir
Your letter of 21 st was duly received. — We have no rolls of Militia Service during the revolution, in this office, nor have they been preserved in any office. — They were sent to Washington, without being copied, and consumed by the destruction of the Capitol in 1814.
Capt Dickerson was an efficient officer, in service, at intervals, during the war. — His company was engaged at Minisink, at Hackensack, at Elizabethtown, & other places —
At the close of the war, by law, payments were made to revolutionary soldiers, by this State, "for depreciation of pay": — We have those accounts. — If he received pay, he probably will recollect it — This would prove that he had performed service, although not how long. — If you can get these facts more precise; it may be worth while to make further search. — The fees for search &c. in this office, will be three dollars .

Respectfully
Thos S. Nelson

Great Danington, Jan 5, 1854 -
Dear S. P. Waldo Comr of Pensions -
Co Sir -
I should have answered your favor before this in regard to Isaac Whitehead's case, but absence & time occupied in efforts to pro- cure my facts, have hitherto prevented -
I have not written to the Secretary of Mass ts , nor the Comptroller of N.Y., because inasmuch as he was a volunteer in the service in New Jersey, I apprehend no account will be found of him in the archives of either of the former States - I have written to the Secretary of N.Y., & enclose his letter - Whitehead says he remembers no payment being made him, except by Capt Dickinson - That part of the letter which shows the services of Capt D., is some- what confirmatory of Whitehead -
That he has permitted his claim to sleep 20 years is apparently singular, and I early questioned him about it - He says he put his case many years ago into the hands of a person, who engaged to prosecute his claim, but either from unskillfulness or some other cause, failed to do so - Whitehead represents that his situation in life was such as to press him with wants, and he is certainly a man of quick, easy temperament -

and appears just like a man who wants slumber over his rights — I believe him however a truly honest man, and do not myself doubt that his story is substantially true — My personal acquaint- ance with him is limited, never having known him until his application came in your hands —
He is a remarkable man for one of his great years — He makes his statements with great caution & apparent sincerity, & his reputation so far as I can learn, is good — For the few months past, he seems some- what declining, & will undoubtedly soon pass away — His constitution has been most firm & enduring & he was unquestionably an excellent soldier —
I am Sir Very Respectfully —
J. Sumner

To Hon L. P. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions - The undersigned citizens of Great Barrington Massachusetts, respectfully ask leave to present to you consideration our views in regard to the application of Isaac Whitehead for a pension -
Mr Whitehead has resided amongst us since the first of April last - From his age, character, and apparently correct statements, we are fully inclined to the belief that he served in the war of the Revolution, as he has represented to the Department at Washington - We regard him as a truly honest man, who from his quiet temperament has unfortunately neglected proper effort for obtaining his pension at the proper time, so that those who knew of his services are not now living - Having full confidence in the justice of his case, we implore a favorable consideration in his behalf - Great Barrington, 12 January, 1854 -
Isaac Whitehead Chas. Taylor Geo. Pynchon E. J. Russell Henry B. Gibson Norah Tuckner A. B. Loof E. P. Pynchon J. C. Hart 8 more of the same
Chas. Ashworth Charles Thompson A. C. Russell M. A. Bristol G. C. Ray Augustus Hitchcock Phineas Chapin Wm. Burghardt Thompson Harley J. W. Pynchon Mark Rooterton
House of Reps. Washington Jan 7 20/54 I am well acquainted with several of the gentlemen who have signed the foregoing petition, & know them to be men in whose statements entire reliance may be

the place -
J. B. Goodwin
To Hon. L. P. Waldo -
Can't be

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Whitehead, James GRADE Private LINE New Jersey
WARRANT NUMBER 8861 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED September 4, 1789 to David Whitehead, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.