Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2767, for Cornelius Mc Collum, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
McCallum, bornelius
S 2767
CONTENTS
banded

Death out on A.B.
Ohio. 13.300.
Cornelius W. Collins of Batavia, in the State of Ohio who was an Ensign in the 1st Regt. commanded by Captain Paine, of the Regt. commanded by Col. Somers, in the New Jersey line for two years.
$240
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio. at the rate of 240 Dollars 00. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of June 1833. and sent to J.D. Morris, Batavia, Lib. Ohio.
Arrears to the 4th of March 33. 480.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 33. 120.00
$600.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M c H. Palmer Clerk. Book 8. Vol. 3. Page Sixteen,

18605
13.300.
Cornelius McCallum Ohio
Return to Her
Adm for 2 years as Ensign
report to Mr. Edwards.
J. D. Morris clk Batavia. Clermont Co

BRIEF in the case of Cornelius McCollum . County of Clermont in the State of Ohio (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 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?  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 serf Gen. Washington, Dickinson   Vol 6 Ensign Capt. Prince Col Somers   1 " Capt. Wetterly Col Somers   Capt. Estill Col Willman    guarding the coast as a minute man for two or three years
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Trenton, Princeton,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newmanstown Co. N. H. Goshen County  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional & living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? not properly attached 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. Forrest Examining Clerk.

State of Ohio  State of Ohio Clermont County ss.
On the ninth day of November in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Geo. P. Lawrence Pres. Judge and John Quincy Brant Whitaker and Robert Haines Esq. Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Clermont County this now sitting Cornelius McCollum a resident of Late Township in said County of Clermont aged right  right three 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 March 7 th 1832.
Cornelius Mc Collum 18805
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
He was born in Upper Freehold Monmouth County in the State of New Jersey on the 4 th day of January 1749. and moved from there to Gloucester County in said State where he was about Seventeen years old and entered the first company and first regiment raised in that County in the Revolutionary war. Captain Geo Paine commanded the company and Col. Loyal Somers commanded the regiment. He went on our tour of service to our mouth under the command of Captain Paine with this company. The company went from said County of Gloucester to Annapolis and joined the Virginia troops there. This was in the first of the war when the British left in New York They entered the service as about thirty about the last of September. Staid at Annapolis and kept on guard there. Captain Paine volunteered his company to go over to Staten Island to watch the motions of the British. They went over and staid about four or five hours when

a Company of British & Hessian at that time to have consisted of three hundred men saw them and hurried them to their boats. The Americans from the other side of the Sound fired on the British with their cannon and Captain Paine's Company of about one hundred men of whom deponent was one got safely over. The Company was discharged at Annapolis and deponent went to his home in Gloucester County.
He believes the next time that deponent went out on was a call for all the militia to go out. The British were overrunning the Province. Deponent volunteered for six months. The Company to which deponent belonged under the command of Captain David Wetzel went the regiment to which it belonged under the command and accompanied by Col. Richard Lovers. Richard Hight was Lieutenant of the Company. Richard Westcott was Major and Elijah Clark was Lieutenant Colonel.
Deponent was sergeant of this Company. They went to Mount Holly in the morning and the British drove them off before night. The regiment then went to a place called Moorestown and staid there about a week waiting for further orders. Then marched to Bordentown and lay there until the 1 st or 2 nd of Dec r . and then marched to Trenton and joined Genl Washington's army in the morning of the day after having marched all night from Bordentown and took part in the engagement with the British. The Americans had fourteen field pieces on that occasion. Six of these were howitzers that Genl Washington had taken from the Hessians. The British fired three times to force the bridge on that day and tried to crop the bridge below the river. Captain Wetzel's Company, deponent with them were stationed to cover the artillery which was firing along the road. The action lasted from about

The time the sun was an high until about half an hour or three quarters before sun set when they ceased firing on both sides and went to quarters. The Americans marched off that night and went to Princeton and had a battle there that day. The American army under Washington got to Princeton about sun rise. The Prussian line was ahead of the Prussian line and the British drove them back. Genl Washington took the command of the new Prussian line and drove the British. They retreated to the college and redoubt and did not make their escape and gave up. The action lasted about two hours. Genl Mercer was killed on this occasion and a Captain of the artillery whose name deponent does not remember was also killed. The Americans took about three hundred and fifty beside the wounded and sent them where they had the Hessians in Pennsylvania as depon- ent very likely believes. The American army then went to Morris town stopped at Somerset the first night they left Princeton. Next night they stopped at Pluckemin and the next night arrived at Morris town where Genl Washington went into winter quarters. The volunteer company under Captain Wetherby were attached to Major Mils battalions and Genl Dickersons Brigade. The field officer who had commanded them before had returned home with the militia under their command rather before as deponent thinks the battle of Princeton their month's tour being out about that time as deponent believes. Deponent went down with a detachment under the command of Genl Dickerson to Raritan river to guard the country from the foraging of the British. They had been there about a week or ten days and a party of the British who were out foraging came out to a place called Mill Stone Creek. There was as deponent believes two thousand of the British and about four hundred and fifty Americans under the command of Genl Dickerson. The Ameri- cans were divided into three companies. Our company was sent up to the head of the mill pond the other down below the mill

and the other Company attacked the British in front. Deponent was in the front in Captain Wetherby Company, his Company and Captain Cheseman and a rifle Company formed the front. The Company that went up the mill road could not cross it as the ice was not hard enough and came down and joined the Company in front. Which had also with it a double forty-five pounder - commanded by the Captain of the old floating battery on the Delaware. The British had three six pound pieces. I think they were about three hundred. The Com- pany below took forty five hundredweight wagons. The Ameri- cans drove the British. The Americans lost two men on this occasion one man of Captain Chesman's Company and one of the rifle men - The next day Gen Washington sent down Gen Heard with a reinforcement of two thousand enlisted troops. The British came two or three days after the battle of Mill Street to Somerset with four thousand men and four field and Gen Heard who had taken the command started to meet them, but after they had started the light horse came up and informed them that the British were coming out to by Middlesex with three thousand men and upon the receipt of this information the detachment under Gen Heard turned back and went to the bridge at Round Brook, and there met the British. They lay on one side of the Raritan with their field pieces and the Americans on the other. The parties fired at each other. The wind blew hard with sleet and drove the smoke of the cannon into their faces. It was reported that the Americans had killed and wounded thirteen of the British - one officer and twelve privates. None of the Americans were killed or wounded in this skirmish. The six months time for which Captain Wetherby Company had volunteered was now out and Deponent with the Company went home. Deponent was re-enlisted in this expedition and continued so until the end of the war.
The next time after this last service Deponent went out on a months tour under the command of Captain Joseph West, went to Hattensford about seven miles from

Philadelphia - to keep guard - to prevent the British from plundering the country. I don't know the year but it was in the same time the British were in Philadelphia. It was in the winter towards the latter part of it. Col. Hillman commanded the regiment. Samuel Ellis was Major. John Adams was Lieutenant. Deponent was ensign. Dugby was 2 d Lieutenant. and Oliver Sharpe was 1 st Sergeant Marched from Little Egg Harbour in Gloucester County to Haddon field. Staid there one month and returned home.
When the British went away from Philadelphia to New York the refugees became very troublesome and some of his regiment exempted from going out on troops duty and they were employed in guarding the coast. The regiment guarded it about twenty miles from Little Egg Harbour River to Great Egg Harbour River and the two rivers. A company of enlisted troops under the Command of Captain Davis and stationed upon a place called Chestnut Neck. Captain Davis brother - thinks his name was John Davis was Lieutenant of the Company. Deponent was a minute man and continued so for two or three years. The refugees upon one occasion came into a place called Atscean Inlet and came ashore to plunder - they were reported and Deponent believes they were two hundred and fifty strong. They plundered our house & set it on fire. The minute men raised a considerable force and were assisted by a guard from Chestnut Neck. They drove the Tories. got information that they had killed and wounded thirteen. The refugees had taken a barrel of brandy away from the salt works and left it in a meadow. They came up after it and a party of about thirty of the minute men among whom the de- ponent concealed themselves in a dry ditch and fired on them and killed twelve of them.

never had a written discharge. Lived in said county of Fayette after he was until about twenty nine years since when he moved to the farm in Tate township in Clermont County on which he has ever since resided and now resides. Has no documentary evidence.
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 in open Court Nov 9 th 1832
Cornelius McCallum
J. D. Morris M c K.
Mr Alexander Blair residing in the township of Batavia County of Clermont and State of Ohio and James Perrine residing in Williamsburg in said county of Clermont hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Cornelius McCallum who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to in open Court Nov 10 th 1832
Alex Blair James Perrine
J. D. Morris Clerk

Rev War
2767
INVALID.
File No. 2767
Cornelius M c Callum
Ensign Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 243
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Cornelius McCollum which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No V. * Has he mentioned 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? witnesses XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? Yes If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? The Court have not Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 2, 4.
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 _____ years _____ 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 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 shewn 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
More proof is required as to the declarant being an Ensign — The Witness says he has known him 50 years — it is written a few days of 50 years since the war closed.

Clermont County Pa.
Before me the undersigned a justice of the Peace in and for the above named County personally came Cornelius McCallum who being duly sworn deposed and said that by reason of old age and the enfeeblement of memory he cannot state with positiveness as to the precise length of his service or the precise periods of the war when such service was rendered but according to the best of his recollection he served for the time in the grade and for the at the period designated mentioned.
The first tour of duty mentioned in my declaration I served as 1st Sergeant for our month. This service was rendered in (I think) but can not be certain) in the year 1776.
The next tour of duty mentioned herein I served six months. This service was performed in the summer of the year (I think) about the battle of Brandywine. I think it was in 1777.
This service was performed (I think) in the latter end of the year 1777 and the beginning of the year 1778. I am certain that it was in about the time of the battles of Trenton & Princeton.
The next tour of duty mentioned herein was not less than one month in the year when the British lay in Philadelphia but I can not remember the date. I served as an ensign in this tour and also in all the others except the first.
The actual service performed as by me as a minute man mentioned in my declaration, was not less than two years while I served as an ensign. This service was performed commenced soon

after the British left Philadelphia in March the year 1778. and I continued to serve from that time, till the end of the war. Surrender of Cornwallis, served occasionally some times we were called out every two or three days, some times we were out called into active service for a week or two. but all the time we had to be on our guard ready and for duty Service I claim a pension. I have a record of my age in my family bible which from my father's family bible. The Rev Thomas Morris, Alexander Blair, John Dennis and Robert Duncans know me in my present neighborhood and can testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my service as a soldier of the Revolution I did not know that the testimony of a clergyman was necessary, I could not have the testimony of one at this time without some inconvenience in room to send subscribed Cornelius McCollum before me this 22 nd day of March April 1833.
J. P. Robinson — J. D.
State of Ohio Clermont County ss.
Before me the undersigned one of the judges of the District Court for the above named court John Dennis who being duly sworn deposes & saith, that he has been acquainted with Cor- nelius M c Collum between fifty five & sixty years past. I lived about fifteen miles from Lucas & Collum in Gloucester County in the state of New Jersey and about the commence- ment of the Revolutionary war I became

acquainted with him. I have seen David M c Cullum in the Creek Company at the Battalion Muster at Adams in Gloucester County New Jersey in the war of the Revolution. It was generally reported among the troops that met at the these musters that David M c Cullum had been out on different tours of duty in the war. I verily believe he was out & served as he has stated in his declaration and written document with Mr. Dennis to subscribe before me this 22 d day of April 1833.
John Dennis
I certify that I am well acquainted with the above named John Dennis and that he is a man of veracity.
J. H. Robinson
The State of Ohio Clermont County ss I Jonathan D Morris Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County do hereby certify that John H. Robinson Esq whose name is attached to the foregoing affidavit of Cornelius M c Callom & John Dennis was at the time of taking and subscribing the same one of the acting Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn and that the signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Batavia this 22 d day of April A D 1833.  J. D. Morris Clerk

State of Ohio Clermont County, Court of Common Pleas of the Term of November 1832
On the ninth day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court Cornelius M c Collum an applicant for the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 And the said Court after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolution- ary soldier and served as he states. And the said Court further certify that it appears to them that the Hon. Alexander Blair who has signed the preceding certificate is a credible person residing in Batavia Township, Clermont County Ohio and that James Pierce who has also signed the same is a credible person residing in Williamsburgh Township in said County of Clermont and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the said Court further certify that it appears to them that Robert Leeds who has sworn and subscribed to the accompanying affidavit in reference to his knowledge of the service of the said Cornelius M c Collum is a person of veracity and that his statement is entitled to credit.
I Jonathan D. Morris Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Cler- mont County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Cornelius M c Collum for a pension. and I further certify that the Hon. Alexander Blair who has sworn and subscribed to the accompanying affidavit is the same Alexander Blair named above as a credible person
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court this 12 th day of November 1832.
J. D. Morris Clerk Clermont Court House

State of this Clermont County Court of Common Pleas November Term 1832.
I personally appeared in this Court before the said Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Alexander Blair who being first duly sworn according to law - doth on his oath the oaths make the following deposition That he is acquainted with Cornelius McCollum the present applicant for the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th . 1832 That he became acquainted with him in Clinton County in the State of New Jersey in the year 1785 - That he has often conversed with said McCollum, Captain Richard Hughes and has heard said Hughes say that he believed said McCollum was a man without dread or fear - has heard said Hughes say that said McCollum was as deponent thinks an elderly man  man under him in the war of the Revolution
It was generally reported and believed in said County of Clinton that said McCollum was a soldier of the Revolution. Deponent has known said McCollum ever since the year 1785 - His reputation for veracity as far as deponent has ever heard has been invariably good - deponent hereby believes that said McCollum is a man of veracity. And further deponent saith not.
Alex r Blair
Sworn to in open Court Nov 10 th 1832
J. H. Morris Clerk

State of this Clermont County Court of Common Pleas of the Term of November 1832. Before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for the above named County and the State of Ohio  first being first duly sworn Robert Leeds who being first duly sworn on his oath saith - That he is well acquainted with Cornelius McCollum the applicant for the benefit of the act of Congress passed Janu y 7 th 1832 and has been acquainted with him for thirty upwards of sixty years past. Deponent and said McCollum lived about four miles apart in Goshen County State of New Jersey during the war of the Revolution. Deponent and said McCollum both belonged part of the time of the said war to the same Regiment come under the Col. Lower and to the same Company commanded by Captain Hughes in which Company said McCollum was ensign Deponent saw said McCollum at Mount Holly in the time of the engagement there and saw him at Trenton in the time of his memory serves him right and after at Princeton after the battle was pretty much over; near the college. Deponent refers to his application for the benefit of the act for such minute details as he can remember said McCollum is a man of good character for veracity. and further Deponent saith not
Robert Leeds
Sworn to in upon Court Nov 18 & 1832 J D Morris Clerk
Robert Leeds Sworn and subscribed before me this 22 nd of Oct 1832 J. W. Robinson J.P.
I certify that from the testimony of credible witnesses it appears to me that the above named Robert Leeds is a credible person.
J. W. Robinson J.P.