Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 22011, Samuel Wilson, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Wilson, Samuel
R. 22011
CONTENTS

State of Pennsylvania: County of Greene S.S.
On this the Thirteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine, personally appeared before the Sub-Scriber a Judge of the Court of common Pleas in and for the County of Greene, and State of Pennsylvania, Samuel Wilson a resident of Dunkard township in the County of Greene and State of Pennsylvania, aged eighty seven 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: but has no documentary evidence, nor does he know of any person who can testify to his service
That he was born in Huntingdon County New Jersey, on the 12 th day of September in the year 1761. Has no record or documentary evidence of his birth, but is satisfied from his memory that this is the date of his birth. He resided in that county, until he entered the service of the United States as a militiaman, in the fall of 1776, and served three alternate months, as a private, in a company commanded by Captain Redding, who was he thinks, a cousin of the Colonel of the Regiment. During the time he served as militiaman he marched to Brunswick to protect that place if possible from the English, who had just taken New York. The English were in a village just across the river, opposite Brunswick. General Sullivan had command of the division to which he belonged.
In the month of May or June 1777 he believes in June as the grain was beginning to ripen, he again entered the service of the United States, as a volunteer private for the term of nine months, in a company of Cavalry, under the command of Captain Christian Rockafellow, and first Lieutenant Peter Coolbaugh. The company was raised

in Flemington New Jersey the company was attached to a Regiment under the command of Colonel Thomas Redding . Soon after he entered the service as a volunteer, he marched towards Brunswick - he thinks the last of June. The English were then in or about Brunswick, and had fallen back on Amboy. His company was despatched in pursuit of them. The march was countermanded, and he then went to Trenton and passed through it to Flemington. He encamped a while at a place called " Crooked Billet ", where he was marched into Pennsylvania, and soon after this was in the Battle of Brandywine - he thinks in the division commanded by General Sullivan. Having been slightly wounded in the right leg by a spent ball, he was taken to the house of his uncle Christopher Cook, immediately after the Battle. As soon as his wound was healed, he returned to the Army, and staid with his company until his term of service expired which was in the Spring of 1778. They wintered in or near Trenton, New Jersey.
After he left the service of the United States, he resided in New Jersey, until he moved to Fayette County Pennsylvania; this was forty eight years ago. He lived in Fayette County Pennsylvania, until the last Spring (1849) when he removed to Greene County Pennsylvania where he now resides. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present - and declares that he receives no pension except forty dollars from the State of Pennsylvania. Sworn and Subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid.
Mark Gordon Samuel his Wilson Mark

State of Pennsylvania: Greene County S.S.
We Hezekiah C. Boyers, residing in the township of Ferry, and County of Greene, State of Pennsylvania, and John M c Cluer, residing in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Wilson, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be eighty seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
H. C. Boyers
John M c Cluer
Jesse Headlee J.P.
State of Pennsylvania, Greene County S.S.:
I Mark Gordon, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County and State of Pennsylvania, do hereby declare my opinion, after an 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; that from great age and bodily infirmity the said applicant cannot appear in open court; and I do further certify that it appears to me that Hezekiah C. Boyers who has signed the preceding certificate is a chatty man, residing in Ferry township Greene County Pa. and that John M c Cluer is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the twentieth — day of July A.D. 1849.
Mark Gordon

State of Pennsylvania: Greene County S.S.
I Henry L. Pennock, Prothonotary and Clerk of the several Courts of Greene County aforesaid, do certify that Mark Gordon, who makes the foregoing certificate, and before whom the foregoing Declaration was made, is, and was at the time such certificate and declaration was made, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Greene aforesaid, duly commissioned and acting as such, and that the signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas the 20th. day of July. A.D. 1849
H. L. Pennock Prothny
State of Pennsylvania Greene County In
I Henry L. Pennock, Prothonotary and Clerk of the several Courts of Greene County aforesaid do certify that Jesse Headlee before whom the foregoing Certificate of H. L. Doyen and John M'Clure was taken, is, and was at the time an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County, duly commissioned as such and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas the 20th. day July A.D. 1849
H. L. Pennock Prothny

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Samuel Wilson a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. R. F. 22,011.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Fall, 1776 3 mos. Pri. Redding ✓ N.J.   May or June, 1777 Served at various times until Spring, 1778. Christian Rockefeller Chas. Redding  
Battles engaged in, Brandywine, where he received a slight wound of the leg.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Huntingdon Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension, July 13, 1849.
Residence at date of application, Dunkard Township, Greene Co., Pa.  (having moved from Fayette Co., Pa.)
Age at date of application, B. Sept. 12, 1761, in Huntingdon Co., N.J.
Remarks: There is no data relative to family.
The claim was rejected on acct. of lack of proof of six mos. service, as required by the Act of June 7, 1832, under which he applied.
The above is the only Samuel Wilson or Willson, of N.J. Troops, found on the Rev. War records of this Bu. Respectfully,
Commissioner.

(3-223.)
M
Rev
No. 22.011
, Ex'r, REJECTED
OLD WAR INVALID.
Samuel Wilson of Pen P. O. Pen. Col Redding Pen Eng
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: Over for indorsements
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

(No. 142 1/2)
31 Cong. 3 1 Sess. 3
Documents of Penn in relation to the claim of Penn the claim of Samuel Wilson, a Revolutionary soldier, to a pension.
1850 April 23. Referred to the Com. on Pensions.
1851 Jan'y 9, adverse report
Capt Redding Rock fellow Capt Colo Redding
S
Mr. Sturgis

Eugene P. Smith April 19 th 1857
Sir I have the honor to enclose to you the papers in the case of Samuel Upson as desired in the letter of Mr. W. B. Chapman of the 18 th inst. I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Yours M c D. Smith J. L. Colvany
Hon. Daniel Sturgeon U.S. Secy of the Navy

Mount Morris Pa April 10 th 1834
Dear Sir
On the 13 th day of July last Mr. Black of Waynesburg (formerly Senator Peabody) and myself made out the declaration of an old revolutionary soldier named Sam Wilson for a pension from the Genl. Government. Wilson is now a citizen of this County, but formerly and until within a few years has resided in Fayette. He has received a pension from the state of Pennsylvania for some 18 or 20 years as a revolutionary soldier, which until the present year, has been paid by the Treasurer of Fayette County. The Commissioners of Bedford has decided that the evidence is not sufficient to justify him in granting Wilson a pension and requires proof of facts that at this present day cannot be established. Now, that Wilson has performed services during the war of the revolution, no intelligent person who has ever conversed with him has yet questioned. Senator Black Judge Gorham, and others who were present and heard the old man's sworn statement and his narration

of incidents during the period of his service had not a doubt that he possessed a meritorious claim on the Government. The old soldier is now eighty nine years of age and is very illiterate, having never learned to read or write.
The stipend of $40 he receives from the state is insufficient for his support, and measures are about to be taken to place him in charge of the overseers of the poor in Dunbar township in this County.
Now if he has a valid claim upon the Government for a pension it should not be defeated by the stringent rules of construction adopted by the Commissioner of Pensions, and I have concluded to withdraw the papers containing his application from the Pension Office, and appeal to the justice and generosity of Congress in the old man's favour. I have accordingly written to Mr. Edwards to place the papers in your hands for you to make such disposition of them as you may think best. If you are satisfied, after examining the

Papers that the facts set forth in them are not sufficient to warrant their presentation and reference to the Committee of Pensions in the Senate you can return them to the Pension Office. But I have no doubt you will agree with me that they make out a strong case - in fact a stronger than several within my personal knowledge in which the Commissioner of Pensions has awarded Pensions. Mr. Black will address you soon on the subject.
I am Very Respectfully Your ob. Servant.
J. W. Engner
Hon: Genl. Sturgeon U.S. Senate

Pensions Office
April 30. 1850.
Sir,
In reference to the claim of Samuel Wilson for pensions, in right of his services as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, I have the honor to state that the evidence required and which is set forth in the enclosed copy of my letter of the 1 st October 1849, to Chas. A. Black Dog has not yet been furnished to this office.
I respectfully submit that without such proof, this Department could not allow the claim, but that it rests with the Committee to decide, whether upon the testimony presented, a special act shall pass providing for the same.
The papers are herewith returned.
I have the honor to be very respectfully Your obt. Svt.
J. L. Edwards
Wm. G. Jones
Chairman of the Committee on Pensions,
U. S. Senate.

Pensions Office Oct. 1 st 1849.
Sir,
The declaration of Samuel Wilson, under Act 7 th June 1832, has been examined and filed.
He alleges to have served three alternate tours of one month each, as a Militia man of New Jersey, from the fall of 1776, and in 1779 to have volunteered for nine months in a Company of Cavalry under Capt. Rockefeller.
The records in the Office of the Secretary of State of New Jersey at Trenton, may afford some evidence of the al- leged service. The certificate of that Office should be exhibited, showing what evidence said records afford.
The claim for this alleged service in the Cavalry can not be allowed, unless records proof showing that Capt. Rockefeller, commanded a Company of Cavalry, before 1779.
If no records evidence of claimant's service be found, it should be proved by witnesses from personal knowledge.
The claimant should state under oath, his reasons for not making an earlier application for a pension.
In the case of the widow of William Black, who served in the late war with Great Britain, no land or pension is due.
I am respectfully
Your Obed. Servt.
Signed J. L. Edwards
Charles A. Black Esq.
Waynesburg,
Greene Co.
Pa.

Waynesburg Greene Co Pa July 20 1849
Sir,
Enclosed you will please find the application of Samuel Wilson a Revolutionary soldier, for a Pension, with the necessary certificates &c. - and I beg leave to bespeak the earliest consideration of the application, that the business of your Department will permit. I believe the application is in proper form, and I trust will be favorably considered, and at as early a period as possible
Yours very respectfully Charles A. Black Hon J. Edwards Comr of Pension
P.S. The Department will of course perceive that if he is entitled to anything, he is entitled to twelve months pension - three months as an alternate Militiaman and nine months as a Volunteer

One 2c. stamp & env. recd. Rev.-1 C. B. He.
Paul De Soto Mo June 12 th 1916 Stampd. env. recd Dept of Interior Bureau of Pensions Revolution War Section
Dear Sir
Will you kindly give me what data the records of your Dept show, regarding Samuel Willson of N.J. who served under Capt Roberflew in the War of the Revolution, he was a pensioner I am desirous of establishing my eligibility for the D.A.R. Your early reply will greatly assist me in having my name placed on the charter list of a chapter now organizing in Jefferson Co Mo, this list must be

in by July 15 th . Any expenses connected with the above information I will gladly submit for -
Respectfully,
Mrs. Ward Cunningham

Rev War Section ✓
Left January 9-1918
Commissioner of Bureau of Pensions - Dept. of the Interior Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
Will you please send at your very earliest convenience the record of Samuel Wilson who during the Rev War fought under Captain Rockefeller. Am not sure whether he was of the Pennsylvania or New Jersey regiment, but he drew a pension at Uniontown, Pennsylvania near which he died. He received pension about the year 1840 probably before - would like complete record of dates services - Thanking you in advance. I
am very Resp'y
Mrs M. Ella Farris
Registrar Louisiana Purchase Chapter - D.A.R.
De Soto
Missouri
Box 122 -