Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,058, William Walton, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Walton William
S. 23,058
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

N o 11.725
Pennsylvania
William Walton
of Luzerne Co. in the State of Penn a who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Minars of the Regt. commanded by Col. Seward in the N. Jersey Militia time for 6 months & 3 days Private $ 20.33
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 20 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of June 1833 and sent to M. Pettit owner Wilkesbarre Pa.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 40.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 st Sept. 1833 10.16
$50.82
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk. Book E. Vol. 5 Page 64
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 th April 1838 from 4 March 1839 to 4 March 1840. Agt notified 16. April 1841
Rev S. P. Longstreet Feby 27. 1857
Date of death not on A.B. JAL

Wilkes-Barre Feby 5. 1857
Dear Sir
William Walton late of Plymouth Township Luzerne County, State of Penn a was a Revolutionary Soldier, and as such drew a pension for several years before his death. He has been dead between ten & fifteen years. Will you please send me a copy of his Application for said pension by return Mail & very much Oblige
Yours &c
S. P. Songhurst
J. Minal Esq
Commission of Pensions

On this eighteenth day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and fiftythree personally appeared in open court before the Hon. David Scott President, and Frederick J. Noll and Charles J. Schoenfelder his associates, William Walton a resident of Plymouth in the County of Sussex and State of Pennsylvania aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law, took on his oath made the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
That he was born in the Township of Roxbury, Morris County State of New Jersey on the 25 March in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty three of which he has now no record
That the deponent thinks it was about the first of June, 1776, he was arrested at Roxbury aforesaid for five months in Captain Matthias Wenens Company of State Troops - in Colonel John Seward's Regiment - and that Thos. Hopper was a lieutenant in said Company that he marched to Elizabeth Town Point where he had a skirmish with the British troop and drove them on Long Island - thence he marched to Newark - and thence to Amboy where

when his last Company had a considerable Muskick and defeated the British after the loss of several men - In a month or so after he marched to Springfield in said State during the bearing of the Town by the British - where his Regiment had a sever battle, where this deponent received a bayonet wound - that after the period of six months and three days as this deponent believes he was discharged, which discharge he has in a Coll - that the deponent's father was afterwards killed in the battle of Bunker Hill - that he never held any office in the Army - that there is not now to the knowledge of this deponent any man living who was in the Army with him - that he lived at Roxbury about seven years after the time of his entering the Army - when he removed to Northampton County in Pennsylvania and subsequently removed to Plymouth his present place of residence where he has been for the last 17 years -
That there is no Clergyman in Plymouth but as to his Church for truth and veracity he would refer to Jonathan Bulkeley, James Sibley Jr. and Kendrick B. Wright - and he hereby renounces every claim whatever to a

to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. —
Sworn and subscribed to his William H. Walton in open court, this 18th day of August, 1833
H. Pettibone Prok.
Jonathan Bulkeley aged 52 years and upwards and residing in Tuckers-Barn, the Township of immediately adjoining Plymouth being duly sworn deponeth and says that he has known William Walton the above applicant for a pension for fifteen years and and believes him to be a person of undaunted character for truth and veracity and that he has full confidence in the above declaration — and that he has been generally deemed and reported among his friends and neighbours to have been a soldier of the Revolution. Jonathan Bulkeley Sworn and subscribed in open court, Aug 18, 1833 H. Pettibone Prok.
Dendrick B. Myrth of the township of a citizen of Plymouth being duly sworn says that he has known William Walton the above

applicant for a pension for seventeen years and that he is a person of good report as regards his morality and that he has full confidence in the above declaration, and that he has been generally deemed and reputed among his friends and neighbors to have been a leader of the revolution — Sworn and subscribed in open court this day 18. 1833
J. B. Wright
H. Pettibone Prot.
James Nesbitt is a citizen of Hymouth aged 62 years and upwards and my duty now says that he has known William Weston the above applicant for sixteen years and more and that he has full confidence in his declaration, and that he has generally been deemed a leader of the revolution — Sworn and subscribed in open court this day 18. 1833
James Nesbitt Jr.
H. Pettibone Prot.
Twelve County St.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented 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 William Weston there is no clergyman in Hymouth — and that Jonathan Bulkeley, James Nesbitt Jr and Benjamin K. Wright
who have signed the above proceedings, are credible persons and that the statement is entitled to credit.
I Henry Pettibone Notary Public 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 William Weston for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the 18 th of May 1833 H. Pettibone Prot.

No 25156
William Walton Luzerne County Pennsylvania
admitted
6 mo. 3 days Private $20:33
Henry Pettibone Proth Luzerne County Penn a Wilkesbarre
E

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of William Watton Luzerne County Pennsylvania
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Draft 1 st June 1776 - 6 3 private Capt Winns, Colonel Seward 70 years Roxbury Morris County New Jersey Traditionary evidence certified Credible - no Clergyman's commitment to Applicant's paper correct  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers ; the time he left the service ; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service ; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) , who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A. B., who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

May 13, 1935.
Mrs. Edward W. Lewis 111 North Main Street Pennington, New Jersey.
BA-J/ILL William Walton S. 23058
Dear Madam:
The data given herein regarding William Walton are found in the papers on file in his claim for pension, S. 23058, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
William Walton was born March 25, 1763 in Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey; his father, whose name is not shown, was killed in the battle of Germantown; the name of his mother is not shown.
While a resident of Roxbury Township, New Jersey, he enlisted about June 1, 1776, served as private in Captain Winans' company, Colonel John Seward's New Jersey regiment, was in a skirmish at Elizabethtown, was at Springfield when it was burned, at which time he received a bayonet wound, and was discharged at the expiration of service of six months and three days.
He continued to reside in Roxbury, New Jersey, about seven years after his service in the war, then moved to Northampton County, Pennsylvania, thence to Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 18, 1833, at which time he resided in Plymouth, Pennsylvania; he had resided there then about seventeen years.
In 1857, it was stated that the soldier had died in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, between ten and fifteen years previously.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of the above noted
*Omitted the given name "Matthias" as the only Capt. of Mil. N.J. Vols. was Benjamin Warans.

pensioner, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:
William Walton Certificate 11725 Issued June 10, 1833 Rate $20.33 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831. Act of June 7, 1832. Pennsylvania Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Revolution
23058
INVALID.
File No. 23058
William Walton
Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 495
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

Oct. 19-1901. G. M. Walton. Plymouth Pa.
1912 Jan. 25. Hon. Jos. F. Johnston only briefly c. 1935. May 13. Dist. to Mrs. Edward N. Lewis - S.F.L.

S. P. Longstreet
July 27/57

Pension Office,
Feby 27. 1857.
Sir:
I cannot comply with your request for a copy of the pension papers of William Walton, late of Pa. unless you exhibit authority from parties interested in obtaining such copy, and show that it is absolutely necessary for the ends of justice.
S. P. Longstreet, Esq., Wilksbarre, Pa.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
March 17 th , 1841.
Sir :
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Walton — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of the 4 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1839, to the 4 th March 1840.
Respectfully yours,
William B. Parrish
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

J.R.W.
Old War and Navy Division.
3-523.
11725-32
Mr
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., Oct 8, 1901
Sir
In reply to your communication of a recent date, you are informed that this Bureau is unable to furnish a history of the service of any soldier of the Revolutionary war or of the war of 1812 unless he or his widow was a pensioner or an applicant for pension or bounty land; and that under the rules such a history is furnished only to the soldier's descendants, and to them only when it is desired for historical or genealogical purposes.
The large number of inquiries made on this subject, and the length of time required to make a proper search of the records in each case, will not permit of information being given to any applicant concerning more than two soldiers.
In order that the soldier concerning whom you desire information may be identified, you are requested to furnish as much as possible of the data called for below.
Very respectfully,
Mr. G. M. Walton Plymouth Pa
H. Clay Egan Commissioner.
Full name of soldier, William Walton
Where did he enter service? _____ (Town, county, and State.)
Under what officers did he serve? _____
Place of residence after service, Scranton near Scranton (Town, county, and State.)
Approximate date of death, About 1841 in Plymouth Pa
Given name of widow, About 1841 in Plymouth Pa
Did either the soldier or his widow receive a pension? I think he did
Additional information, _____
Signature, G. M. Walton (Mrs. or Miss to be prefixed if a lady signs.)
Post-office address, including street and number, town, county, and State, } Plymouth Luzerne Co Pa 650 W. Shawnee ave

May 13, 1935.
BA-J/III
Mrs. Edward W. Lewis 111 North Main Street Pennington, New Jersey.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Walton, W. 6424 and William Walton, S. 23058.
These records are furnished you herewith.
Very truly yours,
A..D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
John Walton - W. 6424 - M.L.B. -

111 No. Main St., Pennington, N. J.
Apr. 17, 1935.
Veteran's Administration, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
I am interested in getting information on the family of ✓ John Walton of Monmouth County, New Jersey. He died January 25th 1812 and I believe his widow received a pension. The file reference in Wid. 6424. I would appreciate any information you can give me in regard to this.
Also, would like to have the available information on ✓ William Walton and family. His father was killed in the battle of Germantown. William Walton was born March 25, 1763 and was a resident of Morris County. He probably received a pension as the file reference is Invalid 23058.
Thanking you in advance, I am
Yours very truly,
Alice Blackwell Lewis.
Address--Mrs. Edward W. Lewis, 111 No. Main St., Pennington, N. J.