Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,564, for Garret Matthews, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Matthews, Garret
S. 17.564
CONTENTS
carded

Ohio Pittsburg No 19. 638.
Garrel Matthews
Guernsey Co in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Allen of the Reg't commanded by Col Thompson in the Militia of New Jersey for 1 year and 3 Months from 1776
scribed on the Roll of Ohio (Pittsburg) at the rate of 50 Dollars — Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of August 1833. and sent to B. S.
Carroll St Clairsville Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 100.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th Sep. " 25.00
$ 125.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by T. S. Evans Clerk,
Book E Vol. 8 Page 119.

The State of Ohio
Guernsey county } ss =
On this 17 th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of common pleas of said county now sitting Garrett Matthews a resident of Madison Township Guernsey county Ohio aged as he states eighty two years the 7 day of September - 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 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
In the year 1778 in September he entered the service of the C. S. at Amboy in N.J. - one half of the militia of Sussex county, N.J. were called out for one month, they staid at Amboy whole time of 1 month. The capt. of his company was one Philip Sudder - he thinks was his name - Gen. Maxwell was over them - he thinks he was a regular army - got north written discharge - Westbrook was Adjutant of his Regiment - was in no battle this time - at the end of month was relieved by the other half of the militia of said county -
Went home in October and staid one month, in November went back and staid another month in same way as in September one half of the Sussex county militia being called out - during this month moved from Amboy across the Raritan River to South Amboy - under Capt. Peter Barnet Shaffer - Lieut. John Armstrong was of his company - Col. of Regiment was Aaron Hawkins - the regular soldiers during this month lay at Amboy - during this month they went to a place called Hightstown and got about 100 head of fat cattle from the quakers, which were said to have been fattened for the enemy, and took them, as he understood to Philadelphia.
In December of the same year when the other half of militia came into the service he staid as a substitute for one David Suer - they lay this time at Palmbrook Town in N. Jersey - the British lay at Brunswick - during this time there was a little skirmish while our men went after hay, some killed. William Nick was Capt. - one Plack Lieut. - Sayer Col. - all of militia no regulars - staid one month -
In the February following - in 1779 was one month out as a substitute for one Isaac Risheberger - lay at Palmbrook part of the time, marched also out through the country often - were near Harnstown once - thinks enemy lay at Brunswick - Officers recollected Capt. Daniel Vann - Col. Thompson he thinks -
In the fall of 1779 the militia of Sussex coy. N.J. were called out en masse to join in the battle of Germantown - he lived about 90 miles from the place where the battle of Germantown was fought - in going there they marched through from Sussex court house, where they rendezvoused, to Trenton - crossed the Delaware river, below Trenton into Pa. - left Philadelphia on the left - the British were in possession of Philadelphia - we went on to Germantown - were in the battle which was fought on Sunday - began before sunrise - after battle began it became and was very dark either from fog or the smoke from burning powder - Gen. Horner commanded militia - Gen. Washington was there - he did not see him in the field - his Capt. was Aramias Allen

Saint - Samuel Giles - Ensign Samuel Carr - Col - Hankapson - from the time he left home until he returned was four weeks -
Early in the Spring of 1778 we came to Puffey county for Col. Hankapson to send 9 men from each company - he was drafted as one of the 9 from his company - They rendezvoused at Puffey court house for 9 months - he marched from Thence - Hornestown - Amboy to Elizabethton - lay some time at the last mentioned town - went thence to West Point to watch the movements of the enemy - in no battle during this time - his Capt - Kirkendall - Benoni Adkins Lieut. Col Eph. Rain Marti - only one Regiment - called 9 months men - no regulars with them during the time - had very hard time in cold weather - and easy times in warm weather - was discharged at West Point - and got home in February 1779 almost naked and froze - these 9 months the men as he understood, were called out to favor the militia, that they, the remainder of them might stay at home and work - they were drafted - this time he got a written discharge which he had lost or else it got burnt, when his sons house, in which were at the time many of his papers, was burnt in the year 1808 - at Fayette county Pa -
In October 1779 he was out one month with from 70 to 80 or 100 men about the head waters of the Delaware after the Indians, officers were Major Westbrook, Major Dunn Capt. Reuben Manning - they saw no Indians were scouting most of the time were at a place called Manack - most of the time scouting -
He states in answer to questions addressed to him by the court that
He was born at at Hardwick in Puffey county New Jersey in the year 1750 - 7 December where he lived until the year 1784 or 1785 when he moved to Bedford county Pa - that part of it which has since been struck off to Somerset county - from there in the year 1810 or 1811 he moved to where he now lives in Madison Township Guernsey county Ohio where he has lived ever since - He had a record of his age which was burnt up when his son William's house was burnt at which time he thinks most probably his discharge from the nine months service was burnt - he always served as a private soldier - He is known to Alexander Alexander, David Malone, Lewis Phiply and John R. Neal in his present neighborhood, who can state as to his character for truth and veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution -
I sworn to & subscribed before me this 17 th day of September 1832
Garret Haskins

We Christopher Burnsworth, Alexander Alexander, David Malone residing in Madison township Guernsey county ohio & and Shipley in township of Sandusky same county & John R. Neil residing in the township of Washington ————— Guernsey county ohio here- by certify that we are well acquainted with Garrett Matthews who has sub- scribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 81 years of age that he is reputed and believed in this neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion — I sworn to & subscribed before me this 17 th day of September 1832. ————— A. Alexander David Malone
I William Matthews of Madison township Guernsey county, ohio aged 53 years do hereby certify that Garrett Matthews who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration is my father that I have lived in the same neighborhood with him except about  all my days  in the  in the that he has always been reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the revolution and in the different neighborhoods where he has resided since my recollection and I have never heard the fact disputed I have often during his life heard him state in substance what is contained in the above declaration and I recollect that the record of his age was burned up as he states together with many other of his papers — at the time my house was burnt as by him stated — I sworn to & subscribed before me this 17 th day of September 1832. ————— W. Matthews
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investiga- tion of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he states and served as he states — And the court further certify, that it appears to them that William Matthews Alexander Alexander & David Malone ————— who have signed the preceding certificates are residents of said county of Guernsey ————— ————— and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit —
J. H. Hallock } Judge of the J. G. Brown } Court of Sessions J. M. P. Kinney } of Guernsey J. M. Thompson } County 11

55 years of age I Christopher Burnsworth hereby certify that for about 36 years I have lived not more than about 2 miles from James Matthew the person who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, and knew him in the county and State of Pa. - and in the place where he now lives. He is now my acquaintance with him and from his earliest recollection heard him tell of his services in the revolution and was sure his statements as far as they went, corresponded with his the said Garnet's above statement, I never heard any person express a doubt of his having been a soldier of the revolutionary war - there were several of his old New Jersey neighbors living near him in Pa.
Christopher Burnsworth
I Moses Parchet Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Guernsey in the State of Ohio, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Garnet Matthews for a pension.
Given Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this seventeenth day of September Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred
Moses Parchet Clerk
and thirty-two.
Garnet Matthews Declaration for Pension
2020

20208
Garret Matthews Ohio
Return 7/11/1848
adm 1 year & 3 months
$40 10 $50
B. J. Cowen St. Clairsville Belmont Co. Ohio

BRIEF in the case of  Garret Mathews  County of Guernsey in the State of Ohio  (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 82  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1776 — 1 As a Private Genl Horner   Sule " — 1 " Capt. Duddler Genl Mansfield   " 1777 — 1 " Capt. Stroffor, Col. Rankin   disbanded 1778 — 1 " Capt. Nee   " 1779 — 9 " Capt. Van — Col. Thompson   1 " Capt. Allen   " Capt. Birdendall Col. Martin   " Capt. Manning  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Sermanstown  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Sussex Co. N.J.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? no clergyman 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. Forrest Examining Clerk.

17.564 INVALID.
File No. 17.564 Garret Matthews Br Rev Mr
Act: June 7" 82 Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 241
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

H. - Clarksville June 17. 1830.
Sir,
Enclosed are the returned declaration of G. Matthews with his supplementary declaration which it is supposed will be sufficient. Though the evidence of the clergymen does not go to the point of repudiation as to service - The evidence as to that fact is very strong. I had supposed in his original declaration I had as you will see drawn the affidavit for Smith in the usual way - And in interlining in the hurry before the court - omitted to state that he Smith does not live in his immediate neighborhood - which he informed was the fact - These declarations so far as I am concerned I must state are generally drawn up during the hurry of a term - And but little leisure to give them the perspicuity and neatness which for the convenience of your department we ought to give them - You will take this as an apology for the irregularity with which the papers are drawn up - We would many of us decline the service were it not that it is for a class of men to whom each & all of us owe a debt we can never discharge -
Yours Respectfully
Benj. D. Cowen
Hon. Lewis Cass.
Objections to declaration were
1 No disbursement of Pension No. VII 2 No evidence of clergymen X/- 3 No reason why not furnished X// 4 Not state why evidence of living witnesses not obtained X///

Cambridge O June 15 th
pair 10-
B. S. Cowen Esq. St. Clairsville Ohio

The State of Ohio Guernsey County } p -
Personally appeared in open Court before the court of Common Pleas of said County - Garret Matthews who being duly sworn, deposes & saith, that he is the same identical Garret Matthews who made his declaration before the aforesaid Court at the September term thereof in the year 1832 to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That while in the service of the United States as in his said declaration specified he served as a private soldier - That there is no person living in the said County of Guernsey nor elsewhere whose testimony he could have procured at the said September term of said Court or whose testimony he could now procure, that he has any knowledge of, who could testify that he the said Garret was in the service of the United States as a soldier of the revolution from his personal knowledge -
That the Rev. William N. Smith a clergyman of Monroe Township in said County is and for several years last past has been acquainted with with this applicant, and is in court & can testify as to his character for veracity and his belief of the services of the said Garret as a soldier of the revolution - That he served as a private soldier of the revolution, as stated in his said declaration for the term of fifteen months as near as he can recollect that he was not up
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
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid
Garrett Matthews mark
John Moore Clerk

I William H. Smith a Clergyman residing in the Township of Monroe in the County of Guernsey Ohio hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Garret Matthews who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration or deposition; that I believe him to be 82 years of age; that he is a soldier I believe in the neighborhood where he resides to have the opinion that he was a soldier of the revolution. in a soldier of the revolution , and that I concur in the opinion that I have known him for about 15 or 19 years but am not intimately acquainted with the report as to his having been a soldier, that he is of good moral character and of good reputation for truth & veracity. I subscribe to the foregoing the day of year aforesaid Wm. H. Smith attested Moses Parchet Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare that it appears to them that William H. Smith who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the Township of Monroe - in Guernsey County Ohio and that his statement is entitled to credit.
I Moses Parchet Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Guernsey County Ohio, do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings of the said Court, held at the June term A.D. 1833, thereof, in the matter of the application of Garret Matthews for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the tenth day of June Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three Moses Parchet Clerk