Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2334, for William Hutchings, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Hutchings, William
S 2334
CONTENTS
Carded.

13037
Ohio
William Hutchings
of Butler in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Clarke of the Reg't commanded by Col. Marten in the Military Service for one year & 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of Sixty Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of May 1833 and sent to Mrs. Woods Hamilton Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $120.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sep. 33 30.00 $150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. B. Whiting Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 8 Page 10

The State of Ohio } Butler Common Pleas Butler County } July Term 1832
On this first day of August eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Honorable the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Butler County Ohio now sitting William Hartshorn aged seventy five 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 7th 1832. —
That he entered the service of the United States in seventeen hundred and seventy five as a volunteer in the County of Morris State of New Jersey in the Company commanded by Sylvanus and Seely as Captain, John Roberts being Lieutenant which said Company belonged to the Regt commanded by Col. Ephraim Martin. Col. Gaskill being Lieut. Col., Col. Lewis Dudson Major and Mr. Miller Adjutant, who had  the  previously  been a British Deserter. Deponent volunteered for five months, under said Captain but continued in the service for six months during which time he was marched to White Plains and was there engaged in the battle — from thence he was marched to Fort Washington where he crossed the North or Hudson River, from thence was marched through New Jersey into Pennsylvania and afterwards returned to Trenton in New Jersey where the American Army on the 26th of December of the same year under command of Genl Washington captured nine hundred Hessians deponent being then being in the Army — after which the Army marched

to Princetown where the British were again attacked by the American forces - Shortly after which said last mentioned battle deponent was discharged after having served six months, - of which dis- missal and discharge he never received any certificate - Deponent further states that after- wards he attached himself to the volunteer Artillery company commanded firstly by Capt Aaron Root & next by Capt Elihu S. Dittell and last by James Morris - in which company he served until the close of the Revolutionary War, and a part of which time he was not in actual service but liable to be called upon at all times as the State of the Country & main Army seemed to demand - that he resided in Morris County in the State aforesaid when he joined said company and was discharged from said company at the same place - Deponent was at Springfield when said town was burnt and was then under Capt. Dittell and while under him was in a battle at the Swamp where the American forces were commanded by Genl. Maxwell, - In this engagement the piece belonging to said company of Capt Dittell was taken by a company of British Dragoons who were compelled to surrender said piece after about fifteen minutes opposition - Deponent was in some other skirmishes while belonging to said Artillery company and while under Captain Gely he was also in the Battle on Long Island where the American

1 We Squire Pittell & Michael Pearce residing in Butler County Ohio hereby certify that we have have been well acquainted with William Hutchings who has subscribed hereto the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years old that he is reputed and believed in his neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. The said Squire Pittell further certifies that he is the son of the Captain Pittell under whom said Hutchings alleged he served in said Volunteer Artillery company - that he had a part of the original rolls of said Company in his possession which he has lost and believes that the name of said Hutchings was on said Roll as a private of said company Given to subscribed the day & year aforesaid Squire Pittell Michael Pearce John Reily clerk
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 Squire Pittell and Michael Pearce who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the said county of Butler, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit. I John Reily clerk of the court of common pleas of the county of Butler aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Hutchings for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at Hamilton this fourth day of August One thousand eight hundred and thirty two. John Reily

We Esquire Pittell & Michael Pearce residing in Butler County Ohio hereby certify that we have been well acquainted with William Hutchings who has subscribed hereto to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years old that he is respected and believed in his neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. The said Esquire Pittell further certifies that he is the son of the Captain Pittell under whom said Hutchings alleges he served in said Volunteer Artillery company - that he had a copy of the original rolls of said Company in his possession which he has lost and believes that the name of said Hutchings was on said Roll as a private of said company Given to Subscribed The day & year aforesaid Esquire Pittell Michael Pearce John Reily clerk
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 Esquire Pittell and Michael Pearce who have signed the foregoing certificate are residents in the said county of Butler, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit. I John Reily clerk of the court of common pleas of the county of Butler aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Hutchings for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at Hamilton this fourth day of August One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
John Reily

3 forces were compelled to retreat Deponent has no documentary evidence to prove his service nor does he know of any person in this County by whom he can prove the same - Deponent made application in 1829 to obtain a Pension and received the an- swered letter assigning the reasons of the Department for withholding of the same - he refers in this declaration to the proof made by his brother of his actual service, all of which his deposition is now on file in the Pension Office of the United States. Deponent was born in Essex County New Jersey on seventeen hundred fifty six of which he has a record of State notations and resided in said State until about seventeen hundred ninety five when he removed to Pennsylvania where he resided for upwards of six years then removed to Ohio and has resided in Butler County for fifteen years -
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 - In witness whereof he has hereunto subscribed & William H. Harkings the day and year aforesaid John Reitz Clerk mark

The State of Ohio Butler County
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Butler, William Hutchinson the above declarant who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he cannot with certainty state how long he was in actual service as a member of the Artillery Company commanded first by Capt Aaron Clark and then by Captain Settell, (and after his service of six months as a volunteer) but believes that he was in in actual service in said Artillery Company for more than one year — Deponent remained a member of said Company during the war and was repeatedly in the service of his Country and was at all times compelled to be in readiness to march when required — And further this deponent saith not — Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th day of December 1832 William Thurston J.P. his Wm. Hutchinson mark
James Grimes (a clergyman residing in Butler County Ohio) do hereby certify that I have been for some time acquainted with William Hutchinson who had sworn to and subscribed the above declaration & affidavit attached thereto — that I believe him to be twenty five years old — that he is respected and beloved in his neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution — that I am ever in that opinion and that I believe his statement to be entitled to credit — Sworn to & subscribed before me this 5th of December 1832 — James M'Carton J.P. James Grimes

The State of Ohio Butler County ss.
I John Reily Clerk of the court of common pleas of the county aforesaid, certify that William Hunter Esquire before whom the within stated deposition of William Hutchings was taken, and that James Heaton Esquire before whom the within stated deposition of James Grimes was taken, were at the taking thereof each and every of them Justices duly qualified to keep the peace in the county of Butler, and that the signatures thereunto severally annexed are their genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Official seal at Hamilton the sixth day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo.
John Reily
23.59
William Hutchings a Notary Public
William Hutchings a Notary Public
James Grimes Notary Public
5

Sworn to Subscribed } William [blank] the day & year aforesaid } mark John Reitz Clerk
War Department. Pension Office - August 4, 1827.
6
Sir,
The papers which you sent to this De- partment in support of your claim have been examined. Neither the regiment nor either of the companies in which you served belonged to the continental army. As the revolutionary pension laws provide for none who did not serve on the continental establishment, your claim is of course rejected. The papers will remain on our files.
I am, respectfully, Your Obedt. Servt. James L. Edwards
23-59
Mr William Hutchings. Middletown Butler County. Ohio.
The State of the Butler County, ss. John Riley Esq. of the county of Common Pleas of the county aforesaid, certify that William Hunter Esq. before whom the within stated deposition of James Simmes and that James Heston Esq. before whom the within stated deposition of James Simmes was taken, were at the taking thereof each and every of them Justices duly qualified in the County of Butler, ss.

Rev War
2334.
INVALID.
File No. 2334
William Hutchinson
Print Rev War
Act: June 7  P. 32
Index:—Vol. 14 , Page 33
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

Wm. Hutchings
Supplemental affidavit of the applicant made
6 months Mile 1 year Art.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Cutchings 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 ? Yes 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 ? Yes for 6 months, Grand State Battery 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 from any other seal ? 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 Clergyman
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?
He refers for proof to papers on file in the pension office. He refers for evidence to the records of the War Dept.
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
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?
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
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 _____ 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 the 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.
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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.