Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 863, for William Martin, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Martin, William Margaret
W 863
CONTENTS

4995
New Jersey
Margaret Martin widow of William Martin who died on the 6 th August 1824 of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Randolph of the Regt commanded by Col Jacques in the New Jersey line for 3 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Trenton at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of July 1831 and sent to Hon J. Cooper
Arrears to the 4th of Senate U.S. Semi-annual allowance ending
Revolutionary Class Act July 4, 1836, Section the D. P. Weightman Clerk Recorded by Book Q. Vol. 2 Page 16

State of New Jersey Middlesex County
Ashe Martin of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he is the eldest son of William and Margaret Martin, that his Mother, Margaret Martin, and widow of William Martin deceased, is an applicant for a pension. That he was born according to his mother's statement on the 9 th day of November 1782 and that he is now in the 68 th year of his age. That he had a sister older than himself named Esther who was according to his mother's statement, born on the day of February 1781 — and who, if now living, would be in the 70 th year of her age.
Sworn and subscribed this 25 th day of Oct, 1850 before me.
Ashe Martin
Ebenezer D. Haman Deputy of the Pleas in the Co. of Middlesex aforesaid

State of New Jersey Middlesex County } ss
Merrick Martin of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid being duly sworn, according to law, on his oath, saith, that he is acquainted with Margaret Martin widow of William Martin deceased, that he has heard the foregoing affidavit made by her, read. That William Martin aforesaid was a brother of Deponents. That he, Deponent was not present at the marriage of William Martin and Margaret Brown, but that he as verily believes they were legally married, as if he had been an eye witness on the occasion. That William Martin aforesaid, in the year 1780, brought the said Margaret home to Deponents father's house, where she was acknowledged, by Deponents father and mother as their daughter in law. That the said William Martin, continued in the service, after his marriage until the close of the war of the Revolution as stated in Deponents affidavit accompanying the Declaration of the said Margaret Martin, now on file in the Office of the Commissioner of Pensions. Sworn and Subscribed
this 19 th day of September 1850 before me
Merrick his X Martin mark
Ebenezer Freeman
Judge of the court of common pleas in this County }

THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST,
Translated out of the
ORIGINAL GREEK:
AND
With the former TRANSLATIONS
Diligently Compared and Revised,
By His MAJESTY's Special Command.
Appointed to be read in CHURCHES.
O X F O R D,
Printed by T. WRIGHT and GILL, Printers to the UNIVERSITY:
Sold by S. CROWDER, in Paternoster Row, London; and W. JACKSON, in Oxford. 1776.
CUM PRIVILEGIO.

 1 William Martin was Born the 23. day of December 1757  2 Margaret Martin was Born the 23. day August 1758.  3 William Martin was Married to Margaret Proctor the 20 day March 1780  4 Alice Martin was Born February the 13. 1781  5 John Martin was Born November the 9 1782  6 James Martin was Born October the 2. 1784.  7 Ann Martin was Born August the 20. 1786  8 John Martin was Born January the 8. 1788  9 William Martin was Born December the 10. 1790  10 George Martin was Born June 9 th 1794  11 Margaret Martin was Born August 11 th 1796  Frances Harrison Martin was Born November 15 th 1798  Lydia B. Martin was Born Decr. 18 th 1803 
Margaret Martin 18

No 7.647. Declaration of Margaret Martin Widow of William
Act. July 4. 1836.
See papers of Margaret Martin, act 7 June 32 N D Conn for evidence discovery

Declaration
State of New Jersey Middlesex County } ss
On this 8 th day of July one thousand eight hundred and fifty. Personally appear- ed before me Edgar Freeman, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County aforesaid, Margaret Martin, widow of William Martin deceased of the township of Woodbridge, in the County and State aforesaid, aged ninety one years, who being duly sworn according to law, Doth on her oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, passed July fourth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty six. That she is the widow of William Martin deceased. That he William Martin, entered the service in the time of the war of the Revolution as a volunteer in Capt. Asher J. Randolph's company of Militia, which said company was called out for actual service, some time during the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, the said William Martin being then twenty years of age. That the said William Martin continued to serve under the said Capt. Asher J. Randolph whenever the said company was called upon to do military duty, until the close of the Revolutionary war, with the exception of the time that he remained a prisoner as herein after stated. That her husband the said William Martin, prior to their marriage served under Capt. Asher J. Randolph in the battle of Monmouth, which took place on the 28 th day of June 1778. That in November 1780 William Martin then her hus- band, was taken prisoner by a Band of Refugees, carried to Staten Island, and from thence to New York, where he was imprisoned for nearly two months. That he was then exchanged returned to Woodbridge, and entered the service under Capt. Asher J. Randolph. That in the preceding month of June 1780, he

the said William Martin was with Capt Asahel F. Randolph's company, in a skirmish near Elizabeth town, in which Capt Nathaniel F. Randolph fell mortally wounded, and was carried from the field by his husband and others. That in the spring of the year 1782, her husband was a second time taken prisoner by the Refugees, and carried to Staten Island, where he was detained a prisoner for about one month. That after he was exchanged, he returned to Woodbridge, and re-entered the service under Capt Asahel F. Randolph, and continued to serve under his command, as she has before stated, until the close of the war of the Revolution. That Nathaniel F. Randolph was General of the Militia, and Moses Seagus was Colonel. That her husband and herself, during when he was on duty, resided in the family of her husband's father Deacon William Martin, whose dwelling house, was situated in Woodbridge Neck, near Staten Island Sound, and continued to reside there, in the family, as aforesaid, until the death of Deacon Martin, when the property came into her husband's possession, and they continued to reside there from that time until her husband's death. That during the winters of 1779, 80, 81, 82, & 83, the British troops and Loyalists often crossed the sound from Staten Island to Woodbridge for the purpose of plunder. That on one of those occasions her husband lost a valuable horse, with all his cattle and sheep, and that the Militia were frequently called into active service, during the winter months of the years above mentioned. She further declares, that she was married to the said William Martin by Henry Freeman Lupton of the year on the 28th day of March 1780, Capt Asahel F. Randolph and his wife being witnesses. That her husband died on the 6th day of August 1824, aged sixty seven years. That she has remained a widow since that period, as will more fully appear by refer to the proof her to annexed, and that she has no documentary evidence of her said husband's inheritance.
Sworn and subscribed this 8th day
of July 1850 before me Eugene Lee and the heirs of the late of county of ...

State of New Jersey Middlesex County } ss
Merick Martin of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith, that he is acquainted with Margaret Martin the Declarant mentioned in the foregoing Declaration, that he has heard her declaration read, and is satisfied, that the statements therein made, are true. That he is in the Eighty fourth year of his age. That William Martin, the deceased husband of the said Margaret Martin, was his, deponent's, elder brother, and was present with deponent, in the month of June 1780, in a skirmish with a party of British troops near Elizabethtown, in which Capt Nathaniel F. Randolph, was mortally wounded. That the said William Martin, with the assistance of others, carried the said Capt Randolph from the field. That the said William Martin served under Capt Asher F. Randolph. That after the death of Capt Nathaniel F. Randolph, the company that he had commanded was united to the company under Capt Asher F. Randolph, and was under his command from that time until the close of the war of the Revolution. That the said William Martin served three months in the year 1777, four months in 1778, five months in 1779, four months 1780, four months in 1781, nine months in 1782, and three months in 1783, besides other services rendered during the winter months of the years above named. That William Martin aforesaid was twice taken prisoner, as stated by Declarant in her Declaration aforesaid. That he, deponent was not present at the marriage of the said William Martin and Margaret Brown. But that he as truly believes they were legally married, as if he had been an eye witness on the occasion, more particularly, as she was acknowledged by his father and mother as their daughter in law. That the said William Martin departed this life on the sixth day of August 1828, aged sixty seven years, at his residence

as stated by Declarant in her Declaration aforesaid — and that the said Margaret Martin, the Declarant aforesaid, has not married since the death of her husband, the said William Martin but, still continues the widow of the said William Martin
Sworn to and subscribed this 8 th day of July 1850 before me
Margaret his X Martin mark
Yugar of  Sturman Judge of the Pleas in and for the Co of Foursac

State of New Jersey, Middlesex County } ss }
Phillip Brown of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being duly sworn according to law, on his oath, saith, That he is right two years of age. That he has heard the Declaration of Margaret Martin, widow of William Martin, read, and verily believes the statements therein made to be true. • Margaret Martin, the widow aforesaid, is a distant relation of mine, with whom I have been intimately acquainted, since my earliest recollection. I was also acquainted with William Martin, the deceased husband of the said Margaret Martin, from my childhood until the day of his death which took place in the year 1824 at his residence near Staten Island Sound, where he and his family had resided since my earliest acquaintance with him. That William Martin aforesaid, and Margaret Brown, now Margaret Martin, sprung from two of the most respectable families in the township of Woodbridge, and have resided in my neighborhood, until the death of the said William Martin. That he was not present at the marriage of the said William Martin and Margaret Brown, but that he has not the least doubt of their being legally married. That according to tradition and the statement of Margaret Martin aforesaid, William Martin and Margaret Brown, were married by Henry Freeman Esqr., in the year 1780, and that Asahel F. Randolph and his wife were witnesses. That the said Henry Freeman Esqr. has been dead about sixty years, and both Asahel F. Randolph and his wife, thirty years, and that Margaret Martin the widow aforesaid has not married, since the death of her said husband William Martin, but continues the widow of the said William Martin. Sworn and subscribed this 3 rd day of July 1850, before me Ezra G. Lee Philip Brown — Jew. Judge of the Pleas

State of New Jersey } ss Middlesex County }
Benjamin Moore of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith, That he is Eighty two years of age. That he is acquainted with Margaret Martin, widow of William Martin deceased. That he has heard the Declaration of Margaret Martin in order to obtain a pension read, and that he does not doubt the truth of the statements therein made. That he is acquainted, with Asker, John, Sarah, Margaret, Fanny and Lydia Martin, the living children of William and Margaret Martin, and that they were all over sixteen years of age at the time of their father, William Martin's death.
That he attended the same School with them when they were children. That he lived in the same neighborhood with the said William Martin's family for many years prior to his death (our farms joining) which took place in the year 1824, at his residence near Staten Island Sound. That the said Margaret Martin has not married since the death of her husband, the said William Martin.
Sworn to, and subscribed this 8 th day of July 1850 } Benjamin Moore The words, "of age," interlined.
Ebenezer Freeman one of the Judges of the court of common pleas in & for said County.

State of New Jersey } ss Middlesex County }
William B. Barton of the township of Woodbridge, in the county & state aforesaid, being duly sworn, according to law, on his oath, saith, That he is Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge aforesaid. That he was well acquainted with William Martin & preached his funeral sermon. That he believes him to have been a man of the strictest integrity.
That Margaret Martin his widow has been an exemplary member of the Pres d Church of Woodbridge since July - 1818 - & is now more than ninety years of age - That any statements made by her may be implicitly relied upon. And that in regard to the reality of her marriage to William Martin there cannot be the least reasonable doubt. Wm B. Barton
Sworn and subscribed this 8 th day of July 1857 { before me
Ebenezer F. Smith One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Union

State of New Jersey } ss Middlesex County }
Asher Martin of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith, That he is the eldest son of William and Margaret Martin that he had a sister, older than himself. That he is in the sixty eighth year of his age. That he has heard the affidavit of Benjamin Moore read, and is satisfied that his statement therein made respecting the said Moore attending the same school with myself, brother and sister is true.
Sworn to and subscribed { this 8 th day of July 1830 { before me, }
Asher Martin
Ebenezer H. Haman one of the Justices of the court of common pleas in & for said County

I, Edgar Freeman, of the township of Woodbridge, in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the said County of Middlesex. Do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the persons, who have made under oath, the foregoing affidavits in support of the Declaration of Margaret Martin widow of William Martin, for the purpose of obtaining a partition. They are all persons whose statements are entitled to credit. I also further certify, that Margaret Martin the foregoing Declarant, is so aged and infirm, that she is not able to attend court. Woodbridge 8th July 1850.
Edgar Freeman
State of New Jersey County of Middlesex I, Nicholas Woodruff Clerk of the County of Middlesex aforesaid do hereby certify that Edgar Freeman Esquire before him the foregoing declaration of Margaret Martin and the affidavits of Maria Martin, Philip Brown, Benjamin Moore, William B. Beekman and Asher Martin were made and taken me at the time of the making said declaration and taking said affidavits as Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County duly commissioned and sworn and that his signature to the said declaration & affidavits are genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this ninth day of July AD 1850. N. Woodruff Clerk

Rev. Mass
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 863
Margaret Martin Widow Wm Martin Priv. Rev. War.
Act: July 4, 1836.
Index:—Vol. m , Page 1
[Arrangement of 1870.]

N 70 E Margaret Kirtland N J
Set Hon. James Cooper Sept 13/50 to same 9 Oct 1850
act 4 July 1836

James Cooper
James L. Edwards Esq.
Cons. Pensions
Washington.
Margaret Warren
A. S. Dec 36
McKinney

Cont No 4995 Margaret Martin, mir. of Wm N. J. Act 4 - July - 1836 Da. 2 yrs Pri. $80 for ann. from 4 - Mar 1831 -
sent now to Rev J. Cooper U. S. Senate.

Margaret Martin Pa
Capt. Triplett

State of New Jersey } ss Middlesex County }
Edgar Freeman Esq one of the Judges of the court of common pleas, in and for the county and State aforesaid, being duly sworn according to law. Doth depose and say, that he is acquainted with Minick Martin, Asahel Martin, Phillips Brown and Benjamin Moore, witnesses who testified in the case of Margaret Martin, an Applicant for a pension; and that all and each of them, are worthy, upright persons, whose integrity and veracity are inapproachable and undoubted, and that he has no hesitation in saying, that their testimony in the above case, was reliable and true.
Sworn and subscribed this twenty third day of January A.D. Eighteen hundred and fifty One in the township of Woodbridge and county of Middlesex before me James M c Kelvey Justice of the peace
Edgar Freeman

State of New Jersey Ludlow Township I Nicholas Moore Clerk of the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that Samuel Kellogg Esq before whom the within affidavit of Ezra Freeman Esq was taken and at the time of the taking thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Middlesex duly Commissioned & sworn & that his signature to the several thereof is genuine In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 23 rd day of January A D 1851
N B Moore Clerk

I do hereby certify that I am personally & well acquainted with Edgar Freeman Esq the maker of the foregoing affidavit. That he is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Middlesex in the state of New Jersey, that he is a man of high character for truth & veracity & that full faith & credit should be given to his statements.
Alma Lane Dyke Rep 4 th Cong Dist N J

Senate Chamber
Sep 23. 1850.
James L. Edwards Esq
Comm. Pensions.
I herewith send you additional proof in the case of Mrs Martin's applicant for a pension. By examining it you will find that it establishes the fact conclusively that the marriage took place whilst the husband was in service; and that he continued in service afterwards until the close of the war.
By an old record you will find that the marriage was solemnized on the 20 th March 1780; and that the first child was

born Feb 13. 1781. The records of the marriage if it ever existed was lost, and the children it will be seen were not baptized until they grew up and professed religion themselves.
The proof is very conclusive; and I hope you will at once decide the case. When decided send the Certificate to me
With great respect &c.
James Cooper

State of New Jersey Middlesex County
Hanson Newton of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid Being duly sworn, according to law, on his oath Saith, That he is acquainted with Margaret Martin widow of William Martin deceased That he has examined the Record contained in the family Bible of William Martin deceased and now in the possession of Margaret Martin, That by the request of the said Margaret Martin the said Deponent has taken the leaf, containing the said Record, from the said family Bible, and attached the same, to the foregoing Affidavit of the said Margaret Martin That said Record, contains entries No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11. and two others, as specified in her Affidavit aforesaid, That in the said Deponent, has made diligent inquiry of the Clerk of the County of Middlesex for the Docket of Henry Freeman Esqr the Justice of the Peace who married William Martin and Margaret Brown, But, that after the most diligent search at the said Clerk's office, no Docket, or any other papers, that had belonged to the said Henry Freeman Esqr could be found, That in the said Deponent has applied to the Respondents of the said Henry Freeman Esqr, who say that they have no knowledge of the existence of any papers of the kind mentioned above, The Deponent therefore saith, that he only believes, that if such Docket or other papers were ever in existence, they are, at this time, mislaid or lost, As the said Deponent further saith, that he has called upon the Rev William B. Barton Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in the township of Woodbridge, and with him, examined the Records of said Church

But did not find, in the Records of infant baptism the names of any of the children, of William and Margaret Martin. This deponent has been informed, and will believe that William and Margaret Martin were members of the Congregation of the First Presbyterian Church aforesaid from their youth.
They were Searchers hereunto Sworn to and subscribed { thirty day of September 1850 {
Harson Horton
before me, I, Howard Search, entitled foreman to this deponent.
Ebenezer Haines
Judge of the plea { in & for said County {

Senate Chamber
July 28. 1850.
James L. Edwards Esq. Coun t of Pensions,
Sir:
Herewith you will find the application of Margaret Martin, the widow of William Martin, a soldier of the Revolution, for a pension. I think you will find the case fully made out , entitling the applicant to the highest amount of pension authorized by the law. Mrs Martin is very aged, and has need of the bounty intended for such as her by the Government. Permit me to ask you to examine the case at your earliest convenience, and to express to you my thanks for your promptitude in the late case, which I submitted to you.
With great respect I am your friend & off JLJ James Cooper

The following is a Brief of the testimony offered in to use of Margaret Martin's application for a pension,
1 st Margaret Martin states in the supplement to her Declaration, and in the Declaration itself, that she was married to William Martin, on the 28 th day of March 1780, by Henry Freeman, a Justice of the Peace. That she had no certificate of their marriage, and that it was not customary at that day, for either clergyman or Justice of the Peace, to give certificates of marriage. That in November 1787, her husband was taken prisoner, by a Band of Refugees and carried to Staten Island &c. 2 nd Samuel Martin states, that he had heard the Declaration of Margaret Martin read, and believed it true. That he was not present at the marriage of William Martin and Margaret Brown, but that he as truly believes they were legally married, as if he had been an eye witness on that occasion. That William Martin immediately after his marriage brought his wife, the said Margaret, home to his father's house, where she was acknowledged by the parents of William Martin as their daughter-in-law. That William Martin was an older brother of his. That William Martin was twice taken prisoner as stated by Margaret Martin in her Declaration, and that William Martin's period of service in four successive years, after his said marriage, as will appear, by reference to his affidavit, accompanying the Declaration of Margaret Martin, which &c. 3 rd  Benjamin The testimony of Phillip Brown corroborates the testimony of Samuel Martin, in every important particular, see his Affidavit. 4 th Benjamin Moore's testimony goes to show, that he, after hearing the Declaration of Margaret Martin read, had no doubts, that the marriage of William Martin and Margaret Brown actually took place as stated by her. That he had lived in the same neighborhood with William Martin's family from his childhood. That he was acquainted with all their children, and had attended the same school with them. 5 th Hanson Stanton states that he had called upon Rev. William B. Barron, Pastor of the first Presbyterian church in the township of Woodbridge, and with him examined the Records of said church. But could find no Record either of the marriage of William
B 1780. 1781. 1782. 1783

Martin and Margaret Brown, or of the Baptism of any of their infant children. That he had also examined the Records in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Middlesex for the purpose of obtaining the Deed of Henry Freeman Esq. but, that after the most diligent search, no Deed, or any other papers belonging to the said Henry Freeman Esq. could be found. That he verily believes, that if such Deed or papers were ever in existence, they are now mislaid or lost.
That the Record taken from the family Bible was entirely as corroborative testimony. The testimony of Alanson Newton therein appears, conclusively, all that was required by the commission of Yensions in his former letter, viz: that there was no record ordered, in this matter.

State of New Jersey Middlesex County } ss
Margaret Martin, widow of William Martin deceased, of the township of Woodbridge in the County and State aforesaid, Being duly sworn according to law, on her oath saith That none of her children were baptised in their infancy, and not afterwards, until after they had made a profession of Religion themselves. That the Family Record hereto annexed, was copied from a small Bible belonging to her husband, William Martin, which had become very much worn, and which has not been in existence for many years past. That the first entries marked Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9, were copied from the Record in the said small Bible to the Record of the Church by a Teacher of their acquaintance, by the request of her husband William Martin, and that No. 10 & 11, was copied by another Teacher, at her husband's request. That she does not remember by whom the two other entries were made. That William Martin and herself were married on the 28th day of March 1780, by Henry Freeman, a Justice of the Peace. That she has no certificate of such marriage, and that it was not customary at that day, in Woodbridge, for either Clergymen or Justices of the Peace to give certificates of marriage. She further saith, that, after her marriage her husband continued to serve under Capt. Asahel Randolph until the close of the war of the Revolution as stated by her in her Declaration, now on file in the Office of the Commissioner of Pensions.
Margaret Martin
Sworn and subscribed this 19th day of September 1880 before me
Eugene H. Freeman Judge of the court of common pleas New Jersey for the County