Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7508, for William Shoemaker, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Shoemaker, William
S. 7508
carded
CONTENTS

Ohio 25.810
William Shoemaker of Mansfield in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain of the commanded by Col Shrews in the Pennsylvania for Artillery — New Jersey $ 80.00 and June 20. 08
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of Jan'y 1832 and sent to Mrs. Mary Shoemaker
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 200.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th Oct '34 40.00
$ 240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. V. Prager Clerk, Book 4 Vol. 8 Page 25

William Shoemaker Fairfield Co Ohio
New Jersey Road
Shoemaker
Adm 2 years $80
From J. Chaney To Rep For A. W. Irwin Lancaster Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
15 th June 1833.
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. These 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 Shoemaker Fairfield Co Ohio
   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.     1776 3 7 in all Private Col Shreves. 90 years. Traditionary, & living Witnesses  
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) _____ 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 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.
The notes from [a] to [i] 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

State of Ohio } Fairfield County } Set
On this seventh day of March AD 1883, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County Now sitting, William Koemaker a resident of said County of Fairfield aged about ninety 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 1882 -
That he was born while emigrating from Germany to the now United States some time in the year AD 1743 as he believes and understands from a record of the same once in his family but now lost. That he was raised in Sussex County in the State of New Jersey where his father settled. That while residing here he enlisted and entered into the service of the United States as a private to serve for the period of three years -
That he entered the service in the company under the command of Captain Bassett but in about a month thereafter and during the period of his service it was commanded by Captain Fehlow a Prussian and Lieutenant Konrad born -
He does not recollect distinctly the time at which he so enlisted - only from the circumstances that it was early in the spring of the year AD 1776 -
That the company in which he served was attached to the Second Jersey Regiment and commanded by Col. Morris and the whole

Under the command of Genl Wm Howefield. That he first marched to a place then called the White Marsh near Philadelphia from thence he marched to Brandywine and fought in the battle that then took place in the fall of AD 1777 - From thence he marched back with the Army to or near Germantown and fought in the battle that then took place - That he marched or crossed the river with Washington and fought in the battle which took place at Red Bank in the State of New Jersey etc.
That having served out his term to wit - the period of three years - he agreed to serve during the continuance of the war with Great Britain -
That having so continued and fought with the main body of the Army in most of the engagements that took place - he was taken prisoner by the British at the battle of Springfield and kept in custody by them during the period of eighteen months -
That when he was liberated the war had terminated and peace was restored That the Army was disbanded - he never received a discharge but returned to his residence and home after having served near seven years in the service of the United States - That due to is attached the certificate of the Gov. testifying to the truth of the service of the petitioner during the revolution -
That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State or of the General or any State -
Seen & subscribed the day & year above. In open court William T. ... e. Stur ... Dule ... mark

The Jacob Benway residing in the Township of Madison and County of Fairfield and Jacob Myers of the Township of Hocking and same County - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Koemake Who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; That we believe him to be ninety years of age, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, we have been a holding of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid In our court
John H. Boyle Clerk
Jacob Myers Jacob Benway
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 Jacob Myers Who has signed the necessary certificate is a clergyman resident in County of Union and that Jacob Benway who also signed the names is a resident of Madison Township and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit -
I Hugh Boyle 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 Shoemaker for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 7 th day of March AD 1833 -
Hugh Boyle Clk
Paul Carpenter (Doctor of Medicine) being called upon to examine the wounds upon the body of the above named William Shoemaker, and which he represents was received during his services in the Revolution war, on every day upon a close inspection of the same, I found a large and severe wound upon his leg, which I am satisfied was received by a musket ball, together with other marks, evidently indicating military service
Sworn and Subscribed This 11 th Day of March 1833 Col. Hugh Boyle Clk
Paul Carpenter
I Hugh Boyle do hereby certify that the above named Paul Carpenter is a practicing Physician, and that his professional opinions are entitled to confidence and belief
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year above
Hugh Boyle Clk

Reuben
7508
INVALID.
File No. 7508
William Shoemaker
Prin. Br. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 15 , Page 339
[Arrangement of 1870.]

The State of Ohio Seneca County ss }
We, the subscribers hereby make solemn oath that we were generally
acquainted with John-Price within named for several years previous to the time of his decease which happened on or about the tenth day of June last past - that we know him to be a man of truth - and one whose depositions are entitled to full faith and unqualified belief -
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 17 th day of December A.D. 1833 - }
W m McEwen Joseph Horner
Parole Plene Justice of the peace Seal
The State of Ohio Seneca County ss }
I, Joseph Howard, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said Seneca County, do
certify that Parole Plene, whose name is subscribed to the above affidavit and before whom the same purports to have been taken and sworn to, was, at the time of taking said affidavit, and now is, one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified - and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such - And I do further certify that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Parole Plene and that I verily believe the signature of the said Parole Plene to said affidavit affixed to be genuine - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Tiffin, in said County, this sixteenth day of December A.D. 1833 Joseph Howard the Clerk By Luther L. Hall Deputy

Deposition of John ... I met at Eden ... in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty ... at the house of Peter ... the said John ... the regulations of war ... he was living on a farm ... in the State of New York ... that about the ... he was a captain ... enlisted a company of men ... in the ... where he ... said ... and that ... William ... as a neighbor ... he was well acquainted at the time ... under the said captain ... and was ... this ... John ...
Given to me subscribed before me Thomas ... a justice of the peace in and for the county of Seneca the day and year first above written Thomas H. Miller Justice of the Peace
The State of New York Seneca county ss. Joseph Reinard, Clerk of the court of common pleas, in and for said Seneca county, do hereby certify, that Thomas H. Miller, before whom the above statement of matter appears to have been sworn to, and whose name is subscribed by him subscribed as such, was at the time of subscribing the same, and now is, an acting justice of the peace of said county, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith to our credit are due to all his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof, the clerk aforesaid, hereunto set his hand and affixed the seal of said court at Seneca in said county, this 12 th day of February A.D. 1853. Joseph Reinard, Clerk.