Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 11212, William Watters, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Watters, William
R 11212
CONTENTS
Pa. res.

Pittsburgh Nov 29 1852
Dear Sir
There has been Application made by one of the heirs of Wm Walter , of Huntingdon County, Pa, for a Pension, Would you be kind enough to let me know if it will be granted, so that all that are entitled to share of it will get their share! There are but three of his children living at this time, My mother was the fourth that lived after Grandfathers death so that I would be entitled to her share if it is granted. I would not have troubled you, but the person that is making application for it, is not very responsible, And his conduct towards his parents were very unnatural indeed, Please answer this
and oblige
L. C. Cameron

Power of Attorney of John Walters son of William Walters
Isaac N Coffin Washington D.C. Attorney.

POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF Pennsylvania } ss : COUNTY OF Huntingdon }
Be it known that before me, a Justice
of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared * John Matterns — a resident of Hell Township — in the county of Huntingdon in the State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, states that he is † a son — of William Matterns in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania who was a revolutionary ‡ soldier and that — he believes the United States are still indebted, under existing laws, for the pension that was due under the application heretofore made, and that he is directly interested as a claimant in the pension for which application was heretofore made as aforesaid, and constitutes and appoints ISAAC N. COFFIN, of Wash- ington, D. C., my true and lawful attorney, with irrevocable power to examine into, investigate, and establish the claim for said pension, and do all acts necessary thereto.
In witness whereof, John Matterns — has on this twelfth day of November 1852, hereunto signed his name, and affixed his seal.
Witness: Wm. W. Wilson
John Matterns 
Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me, on this sixteenth day of November 1852. David Jeffries
J. P.
STATE OF Pennsylvania } to wit : COUNTY OF Huntingdon }
I, Theo. H. Cremer  clerk of the  Prothonotary of the court , of the county and State aforesaid, do hereby certify, That David Jeffries Esq before whom the foregoing power of attorney was acknowledged and affidavit made, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court this nineteenth day of November 1852. Theo. H. Cremer
Theo. H. Cremer Proth.
* Here, if the soldier or officer is living, insert his name; if he is dead, and the widow is living, insert her name; if both dead, insert one of the living children's names; if the children are all dead, and either of them survived the former unsuccessful applicant, insert the name of the administrator of that former applicant.
† Here, if the soldier or officer is living, insert his name again; if the widow is living, insert the words, "widow of," and the name of her husband; if both dead, insert the words, "son or daughter of," and name of the former unsuccessful applicant.
‡ Here insert the word "soldier," or "officer," whichever he was.
NOTE.—When a female is the person who executes this paper, please put the letter s before the word he in every place where it occurs.

State of Pennsylvania Huntingdon County 3/8.
On this tenth - day of January A.D. 1838. Personally appeared before the Honorable Thomas Burr Lieut. Col. President & the Honorable Joseph Adams Esq. Associate Judge No. of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Huntingdon in open court, said court being a Court of Record, William Walters a resident of Free Township in the County of Hunt- ingdon aforesaid aged ninety two years past who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oaths make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. - That he was enlisted as a private in the army of the United States in New Germantown near to which he resided Huntingdon County, in the State of New Jersey on the 17th day of June 1776. by Colonel John Taylor & remained at German Town some time learning our exercise - the enlistment was for five months - we joined our Captain at Trenton Town in State of Jersey aforesaid, where name was Frazier - we then marched to Powder Hook across the Hudson River or North River into the City of New York, then we joined the Regiment Commanded by Colonel John Johnson & Lieut. Col. John Philips, in the Brigade Commanded by General Lord Stirling - we marched from thence to Mill Brook in Kings County - we then marched to Cobble Hill Fort - where the British attacked the fort - we gave them three rounds & they retreated - orders then came to us to be at the river side by seven o'clock in the evening, we went there & got into Batteries & went into New York where we remained some days, when we left the City & marched to Fort Washington - from thence we went to North Castle heights where we expected to catch some Tories who were said to have assembled there - from thence we marched to the White Plains where we expected to

5 Hate some Tories who were said to be assembled there - & where we were employed in digging & throwing up trenches for the protection of the troops - from the White Plains the army retreated, & we went to the Liberty Poles - from thence we marched to Kings Ferry on the Hudson, crossed it, & went to Fort Lee, where we laid some days, & then marched down to Hackensack - from thence we marched to Tottowa - from thence we marched to New Ark in the Jerseys - from thence marched to Elizabeth Town - from thence to Woodbridge - from thence to Brunswick, from thence to the Mills Run, there our time having expired, went in the month of December 1776. we returned home, and being of the flying camp, we got, nor could get no discharge - That he again entered the service as a militia man under Captain Thompson some time the next summer or Spring of 1777 for the term of one month & served that month at Elizabeth Town in New Jersey in guarding the shores of the Raritan to prevent the landing of the British when we were relieved by Colonel Seely's Regiment, who with other officers were taken prisoners by the British - we went home from that place our time having expired - The next time I entered the service in the militia as a private for one month & served at Bound- brook guarding the shores for one month when we were relieved - I don't recollect the name of the Captain under whom I served at this time nor do I recollect the month or year - The next time I entered the service as a private militia man under Captain Ebenezer Berry for one month & served at Paramus in the Jerseys to keep the Tories down - I served for the whole or part of said month - at this place we joined Captain

15 days Fall of the Rangers where we had a skirmish with the British - & who after some shots being exchanged retreated - The next time I entered the service as a Militia private was at Allen Town in Jersey under Captain Berry and served fifteen days during which the Battle of Monmouth happened & after which we went home - That he has no documentary evidence  office & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure (except the What Testimony, Concludes Hutchinson has given & which is hereto annexed or attached) who can testify to his service - 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 - his Sworn Subscribed the } William X Watters day & year aforesaid } Mark Robert Campbell Proad
Interrogatories exhibited by the Court to Applicant -
 1 where & in what year were you born - Ans. on Long Island Queens County State of New York in the year 1745 -  2 Have you any record of your age; & if so where is it - Ans. I had a record of my age in a Bible - the leaf on which it was written was torn out lost  3 Where were you living when called into service Where have you lived since the revolutionary war & where do you now live - Ans. when called into service I was living within about a mile of New Germantown in the State of New Jersey - I lived since the Rev- olution in Pathkill Valley Franklin County 

Penna., afterwards in Bedford County, Penna. & am now residing in Huntingdon County, Penna.
4 How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whom
Ans. The first time I was called into service was by enlistment & afterwards was drafted or volunteered -
5 State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such Continental & militia Regiments as you can recollect, & the general circumstances of your service -
Ans. The names of some of the Regular officers were Colonel John Johnson, Lieut Colonel Philips - Genl Lord Stirling - I don't recollect of any militia Regiments being joined with us - the general circumstances of my service are as is herein before detailed -
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given & what has become of it -
Ans. I never did receive a discharge -
7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, & who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution -
Ans - George Groshong, Thomas Morrow Esq. William Orr Esq., John McNamee Jacob Hegie John Blair Esq. James Hudson William Peebles & James Harper Esq.
In witness whereof the undersigned has hereunto set his hand the day & year aforesaid Robert Campbell Bots William A Watters mark

We John Blair and James Harper residents of Huntingdon County Pennsylvania, in the neighborhood of applicant
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Watters who has subscribed & sworn to the within declaration - That we believe him to be ninety two years of age; That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary War and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Robert Campbell
James Harper
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the within named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he states and served as he states - And the said Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Blair Esq. & Jas. Harper who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of Huntingdon County in the neighborhood of William Watters
and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to Credit - And the Court are of opinion that it would be too much brotute expense for the applicant to produce in Court this nearest Clergymen -
W. B. Ralston } 3 Judges Jos. Adams } 3

I Robert Campbell Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Huntingdon in the State of Pennsylvania that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Watters for a Pension — In
Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this tenth day of January
A.D. 1838 —
Robert Campbell Prot.

Pittsburgh Dec r 1 st 1822
Dear Sir
I directed you a few lines yesterday respecting the pension of Mr. William Watts deceased of Huntingdon county Pa The application was made from Huntingdon Owing to a fire that broke out near my house at the time of writing I believe I neglected to sign my name to the letter So I hope you will pardon me for the neglect
Yours &c L. O. Cameron
Please Answer

S. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
In your note of the 25 th which I had the honor to receive last evening, you say relative to the service of William Walter, "the service in the Flying Artillery of which proof is required was in 1776 and under one enlistment." Is there not in the war department, an enrolment of the names of men enlisted, or is it to be found among the Archives of the State?
Very respectfully Your obedt. Servt.
William H. Potter
26 th May 1838

House of Representatives 24 th Jany 1878
John S. Edwards Esq. Sir
I have had the honor to receive your note of the 23 rd Inst. rela- ting to the application of William Wathes, I have an impression from memory that the deposition of a person is attached to the application, proving that he then and saw William Wathes in the service. Death has so thinned the ranks of men who served in the Revolutionary War, that it is exceedingly difficult to prove by oral testimony, service performed.
I have with Mr. McManus's relation to the papers with chapters in 34 and I shall inform you of the result of the inquiry.
Very respectfully Your obedient Servt
William W. Potter

Burnt Cabins, Fulton Co. Pa. Decr 28 1853
Sir
One of the heirs of William Watters a Soldier of the Revolution some time ago received information from Washington that there was considerable back pay or arrearages due to the said Revolutionary Soldier (William Watters). Would you please let me know if anything has been drawn by any of his heirs - he never drew any Pension and died in Huntingdon Co. in this state.
Very Respectfully Jonth. Kelly
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

State of Pennsylvania } Indiana County ss }
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Indiana, in the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid, Cornelius Hutchinson, a credible Witness aged eighty one years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with, William Walter of Huntingdon County, in the State of Pennsylvania, aforesaid, and the first time he saw the aforesaid William Walter, was near to a place called Springfield, in the State of New Jersey, as near as I can recollect in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty nine or eighty, at a time the British & the Americans, had, as it seems, I then saw him as a soldier, in the militia, as a private, & further deponent doth not recollect
Cornelius Hutchinson
Sworn and subscribed before me the 20 th day of November A.D. 1837 James Elliott
State of Pennsylvania } Indiana County ss } Thomas Laughlin Prothonotary, of the Court of Common Pleas of Indiana county, do certify that James Elliott Esq. before whom the above affidavit was made is and was at the time the same was made an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Indiana this 21 st day of November A.D. 1837
T. Laughlin. Prot.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
11212
P. O.
William Walters
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

29 1/46 William Watters Pennsylvania
Suspended for letter 237 Janus 1838 No - Mr W. Potter do. 25 Janus 1838 do. 27 Janus 1838 do. 10 th Febnus 1838 S.O. Cameron May 6. 1853 I Kelly, Sunday 10/54
112 12 1832