Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 393, for John Kelly, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Kelly, John Bowers, Olive
W.393.
Former widow
CONTENTS

5340
New Jersey
Clive Bowers (dec'd) for 4 years widow of John Kelly who died on the of in the State of who was a private in the commanded by Captain Con of the commanded by in the Revolution line for 60 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pensioners at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 11 th day of March, 1831. and end Jan y 3 1841
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of August 1833 and sent to
Arrears to the 4th of March Semi-annual allowance ending Dec No 2872 New York
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the }
Recorded by Clerk, Book Vol. Page 129

State of Connecticut { Fairfield County } ss.
Certificate of the Town Clerk of Fairfield Conn. 5 June 1888.
I hereby certify that I have examined, the Records of Births and Marriages, of the Town of Fairfield, (of which I am the Keeper) to find the record of the marriage of John Kelly to Olive Piersons, but have not been able to find such record, between the years, Seventeen Hundred & Seventy seven, (1777,) and Seventeen Hundred & Eighty three, (1783, — I also certify that the Records of Births, and Marriages, were very infrequent, from the years, Seventeen hundred and fifty six, (1756) to seventeen hundred and ninety (1790).
The following Records also appear on said Townbook, viz —
Nath l Piersons & Hannah Beers, daughter of Lt James Beers, were mar- -ried, October fourteenth (14 th ), Seventeen hundred and forty six (1746,) &
Eunice Piersons, daughter of Nath l and Hannah Piersons, born Feby, twenty seventh, (27 th ) Seventeen hundred forty seven, (1747).
John Piersons, son of Nath l & Han- -nah Piersons, born Sept 4 th seventh, Seventeen hundred and forty eight (1748).
Olive Piersons daughter, of Nath l and Hannah Piersons, born October fourth, (4 th ) seventeen hundred and fifty six, (1756.)

I, Samuel A. Nichols, Register and Town Clerk, of the town of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, being sworn do hereby testify and say that the foregoing is a true copy of records in my keeping, with the exception that, the figures, which are plain and legible in the records, are written out in words before signing.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 5 th day of June 1855.
Samuel A. Nichols Town Clerk & Register
Isaac Sherman instead of the peace
STATE OF CONNECTICUT, COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD, COUNTY COURT CLERK'S OFFICE,
ss.
I, Amos S. Treat
Clerk
of the County Court, within and for Fairfield County, and keeper of the Seal thereof, and of the Commission of Justices of the Peace for said County, hereby certify—THAT
Isaac Sherman ESQUIRE,
was on the 5 th day of June 1855 and now is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, having full power and authority by the laws of this State, to take the acknowledgment of Deeds and other instruments, and to certify the same; also to administer Oaths, to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; that full faith and credit may, and ought to be given to his official acts and attestations; that I am acquainted with his hand-writing, and know that the signature to the instru- ment hereto annexed, purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature; and that said instrument is executed, acknowledged, and duly authenticated according to the laws of this State.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, and affix the Seal of said Court, at Bridgeport, in said County and State, on this 5 th day of June A. D. 1855.
Amos S. Treat Clerk.

Certificate of Rev G. Ludlow
24 May 1887

I certify that Olive Pierson widow of John Kelly was added to the communion of this church June 2 nd 1838 on a satisfactory profession of her faith & that her son Nathaniel P. Kelly resided in this congregation & died here some years since
New Shannock May 24. 1855-
Gabriel Ludlow Pastor of the R.D.B. of New Shannock Somerset County New Jersey
Reference may be had to Prof. Joseph Henry of the Smithsonian Institute as to the above signature -

State of New Jersey Middlesex County
34 S. Theophilus M. Hol- combe Surrogate, and also Clerk of the Orphans Court of the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey the same being a court of record having probate jurisdiction do hereby certify that on the Eleventh day of April A.D. 1855. Satisfactory proof was made before the said Court, that Ellen Holmgate and Sarah Hoaglands, are the only surviving heirs of their Brother, late of the adjacent County of Somerset deceased, widow of Ephraim Brown de- ceased and formerly widow of John Kelly of Springfield in Connecticut. And do further cer- tify that the affidavits hereto annexed are the original affidavits taken before the Court and also that the said Ellen said on the 11th day of April A.D. 1855. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Eleventh day of April in the Year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and fifty five
Theo. M. Holcombe

State of New Jersey Middlesex County
On this eleventh day of April A.D. 1885, personally appeared before me the undersigned authority, Eliza A. Applegate a resident of New Brunswick in said County, by me right here given and being first duly sworn according to law, doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the 8 th section of the act "to enlarge the period July 5 th 1885 together with the supplemental paper March 1885."
That the testator with her late husband, in the war here- -veng David or David Bowers, formerly widow of John Kelly who according to the statement made by her late mother in her lifetime, was a soldier of the Revolution and served as follows - That the said John Kelly, who was a resident of the said place, was enlisted as a private in the Regiment of Col. Beekman in the year 1776 or 1777 for the term of something more than two years, and served his time out, & was discharged. She does not remember the name of the Capt or the N o of the Regiment, that her mother stated to to this declarant that her said husband enlisted into.
That early in the year 1780 the said John Kelly enlisted in the Regiment of Col. Beekman of the Col. and for one year and at the expiration of his said enlistment he again enlisted into the said Regiment for one year during the War and that previous to the expiration of the war, he was an invalid in consequence of lameness which he incurred while he was in the said service discharged therefrom. That the said John Kelly died in the year 1785 while absent from his family - on a visit to his mother in Virginia according to the statement made by her late mother. That the said David Kelly whose mother was then David Bowers again intermarried with the father of declarant whose name was Ephraim Bowers who died about the year 1793 & before declarant was one year old leaving the said David a widow, who did not intermarry.

after the death of her second husband, not receiving her widow until her death, which took place on the 3rd day of Jan- uary 1841. She further states that she was ignorant of the rights of her mother under the foregoing named laws, and that she did not know until very recently that the benefit of the widow was to be regarded as a vested interest and as such belongs to her children and legal representatives.
And she says also that the amount of the jointure which was left her late mother at the date of her death may be allowed and paid to her while sur- viving children. The information which was on the first page of the document made before execution.
Subscribed & sworn to this day in the presence of me } Ellen Applegate 11 April 1855. Before me
Thos M'Cluskie Delegates & also Clerk of the Orphans Court of the County of Middlesex

6
Lorena
Shelly was born
May 11 1980
Shelly was born
October 20 1983
1983
Shelly was born
May 13 1985
1985
Shelly was born
May 1 1987
1987
Shelly was born
September 19 1989
1989
Shelly was born
October 27 1993
1993
Shelly was born
September 14 1994
1994
James Bauers

The within record was copied by me from the family Bible of My late mother Olive Bowers which Bible was much damaged and that the written was made more than twenty years ago and without reference to a pension or any other law.
Sworn I subscribed before me this 11 th day of October A.D. 1908 Thos M. Holland Deputy
Elmer Coffinlegate

I, Lucas H. Hoagland, a resident of New Brunswick in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey do hereby certify that I am forty six years of age and a com- -panion and grandson of Peter Brown, formerly owner of John Kelly and was well acquainted with several of his children, viz: John and Nathaniel H. Kelly, all of whom are dead, and I attended the funeral of the two first named and have been to Nathaniel H. Kelly's former residence since his death & seen his residence. James Brown the young- est son of the deceased, also deceased, as it was said by the sister of the said James since. I know that Peter Hoagland and John Hoagland are the only surviving children of Peter Brown - and I do further say that I have no interest in the estate of Peter Brown or in his estate and that the said Peter died on the 3 day of January 1848 -
Subscribed & sworn to before me this 11 th day of April 1855 -
Lucas H. Hoagland
That McHelenke Surrogate also Clerk of the Orphans Court of the County of Middlesex

State of New Jersey Middlesex County
Sworn to before me this 11th day of April 1855
I am Jane Houghton a resident of New Brunswick in said County, being sworn with that I am fifty seven years of age, a daughter of Oliver Brown whose maiden name was Mary Purser, and as she stated to the deponent in her lifetime, was a native of Fairfield in Connecticut when in the year 1779 she was married to John Kelly who was a soldier of the Revolution at the time she was married. She had three children by the said John Kelly at the time of his death which took place in the year 1785 viz, Hannah who was born Oct 28 th 1783 - Sarah, born May 30 th 1780 - and Nathaniel who was born May 15 th 1785. That the said Oliver Kelly was married in the year 1788 to the mother of the deponent whose name was Ephraim Brown & had by the said Brown deponent, James who was born Sept 10 th 1789 - and Ellen Applegate born Oct 17 th 1793 - and that all of the said children are dead with the exception of Ellen Applegate who are all said the sole surviving children of the said Oliver Brown who
Deponent this 11th day of April 1855 - in the County of Somerset sworn and subscribed to this 11th day of April 1855 -
Jane Houghton James H. ...
Thos. H. Holcombe Surrogate also Clerk of the Orphans Court of the County of Middlesex

8/30
Olive Bowers bec d former widow of Mr Kelly New Jersey
W. H. Hitecock May 14 1855 Same June 11 1855 Same July 12 1855 Same Aug 8 1855 same Aug 16 1855
July 4/1835

Bridgetown May 24. 1855
Mr. Harkness Esq
Your letter of the 17 th May is before me. In answer I must say there is no family of the name of Pierson within the limits of this town - The name of Kelly is a common one here but they have all become residents within a short time - My Mother is the oldest female born within the limits of this town now living, being near 80 years old - She has no recollection of either of the names spoken of your letter in her youngest days -
Bridgetown is comparatively a young town having until the year 1821 formed a part of the town of Stratford - Stratford, Fairfield & Trumbull are the adjoining towns of Bridgetown all of them are old towns - Their Records going back as far as 1640 & 50 it is possible you might get the desired information by application to the Town Clerk of some of them - though their Marriage Records are quite imperfect -
Yours Respectfully &c
E. A. Parrott
Answer of Town clerk of Bridgetown Conn, for a search of the records for the marriage of John Kelly and Olive Pearson.

Annals May 19 th / 85 J. R. Mitchell Esq.
Yours of the 17 th enquiring as to the marriage of John Miller Jr. is rec d . In reply I must state that there is no such marriage recorded on our Records. Nor is there any person of the name of Pierson living in or near Norwalk to my knowledge.
Yours
Edward P. for Rev. Ward

Olive Powers, deceased formerly widow of John Kelley - N. Jersey Middlesex Co • Atv July 4 th , 1836
Admitted
2) Mrs Private -
Nichola's Invalid Reqt Coun't Cont d Since at $80 per annum from March 4 th 1831 to Jany 2 d 1841, when she died.
Certificate payable to John K. Weed, her Adm r for the benefit of Jane Hoagland & Ellen Applegate, her only surviving children.
Atty J. R. Hitchcock, New York City P.O. Box No 2872 -

STATE OF NEW-JERSEY, } ss. MIDDLESEX COUNTY, }
I, THEOPHILUS M. HOLCOMBE, Surrogate of the County of Middlesex, do certify that on the
Thirteenth day of August 1855 administration of the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of Olive Brewster (formerly widow of John Kelly) late of the
County of Somerset who died intestate, was granted by me, to
John H Wood of the City and State
of New York who is duly authorized
to administer the same agreeably to law. WITNESS my Hand and Seal of office, on the
Thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five
Theop. M. Holcombe
I do further certify that I have taken a bond from the said John H Wood with sufficient security for the sum of sixteen Hundred Dollars . Witness my Hand & Seal as above  Theop. M. Holcombe  Surrogate

Oliver Bowen decd Widow of John Kellogg N.Y.
July 4 1836

State of Connecticut Comptroller's Office Hartford May 10 th 1835
I certify that on application for evidence of the service of John Kelley in the war of the Revolution I have examined the documents remaining in this Office and find the name of John Kelley on a Pay Roll under the following heading, "Settlement with the 2 d Connecticut Regt Rebelon Butler Esq. Colonel before January 1 st 1780 " where the said Kelley is credited with service as a private from July 1 st 1777 to Jan'y. 1 st 1780  2 years 6 months. In another settlement with Col. Butler Regt. for the year "1780" I also find the name of John Kelley when he is credited with service as a private, from Jan'y 1 st 1780 to Jan 1 st 1781  1 year. I also find the name of John Kelley on the Roll of Samuel B Webb Esq. Colonel, for the year "1781" when the said John Kelley is credited with service as a private, from Jan'y. 1 st 1781 to April 8 th 1781  3 months 5 days.
Hey. Merrill Comptroller by Wm. Robinson Clerk.

State of Connecticut Comptroller's Office Hartford May 26 th 1855
I certify, that on application for further evidence in relation to the service of John Kelly, in the war of the Revolution, I have examined the documents, in this office, and find in addition to what is certified in the Comptroller's certificate under date of May 10 th 1855, the name of John Kelly on a Pay Roll under date of the heading "Settlement with the Regiment of Invalids for the year 1781," where the said John Kelly is credited with service as a private, from April 6 th 1781, to Dec. 31 st 1781 - 8 months 25 days.
There is no evidence of service in the Connecticut Line of the Army or of the Regiment of Invalids found in this office later than Dec. 31 st 1781.
Alex. Merrill Compt. by Geo. Robinson Clerk

Recy WIDOW, &c.
File No. _____
393
Olive Bowers died formerly.
Widow.
John Kelly.
Priv. Riv. War.
Act: _____
July 4, 1836.
Index:—Vol. _____
A
Page _____
71
[Arrangement of 1870.]

John Kelly D.D. 1785- John Brown D.D. 1753 Oliver Brown D.D. D.D. Jan 1841
Ellen L. Phelps Anne Houghton Jacob H. Houghton  Anne Houghton 

Stratford, May, 26 th 1855.
J. R. Hitchcock, Esq.
Dear Sir,
Yours of this date is recd. And agreeably to your request, I have examined our Town Records, and do not find the name of John Kelly, upon them.
Yours Respectfully Claudius B. Coultas.

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss
Personally appeared before me Charles Cole one of the Justices of the Peace of the Aforesaid County of Somerset. Nicholas Williamson who being duly sworn according to law does Testify and say that he is in the Ninetyth year of his age a resident of Hightstown Township in said County & State, where he has resided from very early infancy; he was well acquainted with Oliver Kelly, formerly widow of John Kelly, a Soldier in the Revolutionary war; the said Oliver came to the Village of Heshanac in the year 1779 or 1780, where she kept a cake and Beer Shop, in the absence of her Husband who was in the Army in the year 1781 and 1782, and he does now believe that the said John Kelly was in Philadelphia during the latter part of the year 1781 & 1782 the word the in the eleventh line was inserted before inscription
Sworn and subscribed before me 8th day of Williamson
on this 20th day of July 1855
Charles Justice Peace
I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with the Above named Nicholas Williamson for Twenty Eight years past, and can safely say that he is a person truth & veracity
Charles Cole Justice Peace

State of New Jersey Somerset County, S.S., I Henry D. Johnson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Somerset aforesaid do hereby certify, that Charles Cole whose genuine signature appears within is and was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned and sworn in and for the County aforesaid of Somerset in the State of New Jersey and that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit and that the aforesaid court is a court of record having general juris- diction and a clerk and Common Seal In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the aforesaid Court at Bridgewater this twenty fifth day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five
Henry D. Johnson Clerk

State of New Jersey Hudson County ss.
Be it remembered, that on this 23 rd day of August, A.D. 1835 personally appeared before me, one of the magistrates Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey Chancery Court of the State of New Jersey for the county of Hudson , William Phillips, who, being duly sworn, on his oath says, he is now in his seventy sixth year of his age, that he was born, in the Township of Hopewell, in the county of Hunterdon, State aforesaid, where he lived till the year 1796, when he moved into the county of Somerset in said State. That he now resides in said last mentioned county. He further says, he was well acquainted with Oliver Kelly, said to have been, the former widow of John Kelly, who lived in the village of Roshaven, in said last mentioned county. That he was also well acquainted with the late children of the said Oliver Kelly, the eldest of whom, Lavinia, was about the age of his deponent, & was married to a M c Low, about the time, or within a year of deponent's marriage, which took place in 1799. The said Oliver Kelly was esteemed a respectable woman in the neighborhood where she lived. & said -
Sworn & subscribed before me the day of year above written James J. Nevins Master in Chancery N Jersey
William Phillips
The second & third lines above were sworn before the same was sworn to James J. Nevins Ms 6 -

I certify that I am & have been well acquainted with William Phillips, the forgoing respondent, that he is a man of high reputation & his character for truth & veracity is entirely unquestion- able.
James S. Reavis
Seattle W.

New York Aug 25. 1885.
Sir,
Your favor of 18th inst came duly to hand, containing unexpected objections to the admission of the claim in behalf of Olive Bower, dec'd widow of Wm Kelley.
I immediately forwarded your letter to the claimant, and it was yesterday ret'd to me with another affidavit of Nicholas, Williamson, and additional ones from Abraham Lowe, Lucas, H. H. Langland and William Phillips, which I herewith enclose.
I regret the doubts that have overshadowed this claim, which to my mind from many circumstances, connected with it, has appeared singularly clear and just. I trust that you will now feel justified in forwarding a certificate. No bounty lettr, & etc has been sent in relation to Justice Rmuyon with these papers, it having been sent before.
Judge Stevens says his signature is Rmuyon in Wash & advised not sending to the Chancellor of Exch Denny, to obtain his certificate, that he is

a Master in Chancery Hoping soon to receive a Certificate
I remain
Very Respectfully
Your ob't serv't
Jas R. Hitchcock
Box 2892.
Atty for the heirs of Mrs Kelly dec'd former husband of Oliver Burns.
Hon J. Elliott Com't of Pension Washington D.C.

New York, June 25. 1855.
Sir,
Your favor of 11 th inst, was duly received.
I forwarded your letter to Mrs. Ellen Applegate, who declared for the benefit of the Act of 1836, for the pension due her late mother Oline Bowens, formerly widow of John Kelly, and have this day recd from her, a joint affidavit of herself and sister Jane Hoagland, in answer to the averment, that previous to their original affidavit in this case, they were cognizant of the existence, of record evidence of the service of said John Kelly.
This I trust will be satisfactory to you, that they did not have such previous knowledge.
In answer to your last objection viz, "Neither the date nor the fact of the marriage has been satisfactorily shown. Cohabitation at least, must be proved, and that before his service as a soldier closed," I forward you, the affidavit of Mrs. Frances Low, which I think fully answers your last objection.
Hon L. P. Waldo Washington D.C.
Very respectfully &c J. R. Hitchcock Box 2872. P.O.

New York, June 25. 1855.
Sir,
Your favor of 11 th inst., was duly received.
I forwarded your letter to Mrs. Ellen Applegate, who declared for the benefit of the Act of 1836, for the pension due her late mother Olive Bowers, formerly widow of John Kelly, and have this day recd from her, a joint affidavit of herself and sister Jane Hoagland, in answer to the averment, that previous to their original affidavit in this case, they were cognizant of the existence, of record evidence of the service of said John Kelly.
This I think will be satisfactory to you, that they did not have such previous knowledge.
In answer to your last objection viz, "Neither the date nor the fact of the marriage has been satisfactorily shown. Cohabitation at least must be proved, and that before his services as a soldier closed," I forward you, the affidavit of Mrs. Frances Low, which I think fully answers your last objection.
Hon L. P. Waldo Washington D.C.
Very respectfully &c J. R. Hitchcock Box 2872. P.O.

That it need adm= ... Bowers 8:30 Jny 1841 ... M'Pherson's ... ... M'Pherson's

New York 14 Aug 1855.
Sir,
Enclosed please find letter of Administration on the Estate of Oliver Bowen (formerly widow of John Kelly) in favor of John K. Weed, in compliance with your request contained in your letter of 8 th inst.
Very Respectfully Your obedt. Servt.
J. R. Hitchcock atty. for the heirs of Oliver Bowen Deed
Box 2872 P.O.
Hon. J. Minot Secy of Revenue Washington D.C.

New York July 27. 1885.
Sir,
Your favor of 12th inst, was duly received, covering your objections, to admitting the claim, made in behalf of the heirs of John Kelly.
I forwarded the same to the applicants, and have received affidavits in answer, which I enclose herein, and trust, that they will have the effect, of removing any doubts hitherto existing as to the justice of the claim.
Very respectfully
Your obedient
J. R. Hitchcock
Box 2872 P.O.
Hon L P Waldo
Court of Pensions,
Washington D.C.
Docs enclosed
Affidavit of Ella Applegate
Do " Jane Stripland
Do " Nicholas Williamson.

Certificate of the Comptroller of Conn-
May 26. 1888

Comptroller's Office Hartford May 26 th 1865
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 22 nd ult. has been received and in answer thereto I send you a certificate of all the additional evidence which I have found relating to the service of John Kelly. This certificate brings his service up to the latest period of service which is shown by our documents and leaves him still in service as an Invalid. I am very sorry that our documents do not show service until the close of the war. You will please send me one dollar for the additional certificate and oblige,
Yours respectfully Geo. Robinson For Compt.

Answers an application for a record of the marriage of Robert Kelly &
Miss Pearson from the Town Clerk of Trumbull Conn.

Mr. Hitchcock.
Dear Sir, I have examined the Records and find no such marriage as you mention
There has been two families lived in this town by that name but they are dead, one was Abel Pierson, the other Sheldon Pierson, there is a son of Sheldon Pierson living in this town by the name of William R. Pierson, about 32 years old
Respectfully yours, Elam Sterling
Trumbull May 24. 1855
Town Clerk

Service of John Kelly in Col Butler's regt and the Regt of Invalids from July 2 nd 77 to Apr 6 th 1781 at least Rolls & Certificate as Private

Brief in the case of Olive Bowers, dec d , widow of John Kelly Middlesex County and State of New Jersey act July 4, 1836.
Claim, ("original," or "for increase." )
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Service - from July 1 st 1777 to Apr. 6, 1781. Private of Inf y Proved by rolls in this office, &c
Marriage, as early as 1780 proved by family record & parole.
Death of Kelly, 1793  there . proved by parole
Widowhood - proved by parole
and Identity. Proved by parole and clearly confirmed by
(If for increase.) record evidence.
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Administration July certified
Jany 3 rd 1841.
Death of widow, & surviving children proved by parole
Jane Hoagland & Ellen Applegate, surviving children
J. G. Woodge
Examining Clerk.
Name and residence of Agent J. R. Hitchcock New York City P.O. Box 2872.

I Frances Love or President of the Towns of Scituate, Middlesex County, Mass. Being duly sworn, Saith, she was acquainted with John Kelly and his wife Olive, Who lived together as Husband and wife, in the Town of Kingston, Somerset County in said State, as Early as the year one Seventeen hundred Hundred or Eighty, and when the said John Kelly joined the Army in the Revolution. That the said Olive, stated to Her, that she was a native of Connecticut, Town of Fairfield, and the said John Kelly Belong to the Connecticut line. She had three Children by the said John, to wit, Lovina Hanna and Nathaniel S Kelly, all Born in Kingston Somerset County in the State of Mass, And the said Olive After the Death of her first Husband, again was Married to one Bowers, and after the said Bowers Death, she Lived in the Family of her Father and kept his house, and in that way became Intimate with the said Olive. I Shall if I live till the Twenty third November next, be ninety Three years Old.
Frances her Love
Note the intestate and oration was made before Signum

State of New Jersey Middle Sep. 1855
Personly Spearel
Before me Francis Low, and made Oath to the foregoing, or within, statements, and I certify, that I have lived in the Neighborhood where she has lived, and believe she is a person of Truth and Veracity.
William M. Drah Justice of the Peace
State of New Jersey County of Middlesex ss I Michael an Poor and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of said do hereby certify that William M. Drah whose Commission as Justice of the Peace has been filed of record at the time of signing the foregoing statement of the peace in & for the County of said do was at the time of signing the same qualified according to law and entitled to full faith and credit; and that said County Court is a Court of record having General Jurisdiction Given under my hand this 14th day of April in New Brunswick this twenty second day of June AD 1855 Michael an Clerk

Nicholas Williamson, a native of "Six Mile Run," in the County of Middlesex State of New Jersey, when an infant, my father removed to the Township of Hillsborough in the County of Somerset and State aforesaid — Where I have resided ever since that time. — I was Ninety two years of age on the Eighth day of October last past, and am for a man of my great age, enjoying comparative good health — I was well acquainted with Olive Kelly — who was the former Widow of John Kelly, about the year Seventeen hundred & Eighty Six, or Eighty Seven — And they were reputed to have come to Somerset County N.J., from Fairfield, Connecticut, and her first husband John Kelly, was reputed and believed by his neighbors in this Township — to have been a Soldier of the Connecticut line in the War of the Revolution and I do verily believe that he was such Soldier. — I understood and believe that the said Olive Some one or two years after the death of her first husband, — was Married to a Man by the name of Bowers, who died some ten or twelve years after their said Marriage — and that the said Olive after the death of her second husband — again assumed the name of Kelly — and was so called at the date of her death. Nathaniel P. Kelly late of this Township deceased was the son of the said Olive Kelly
Nicholas Williamson
Yrs Samuel Cook

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss.
Be it remembered that on this Twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five - Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid Nicholas Williamson to me well known for the last Twenty five years. - who being by me duly sworn according to law - on his oath saith that the contents of the within Statement are true to the best of his knowledge & belief - & I further certify that he is a man of truth and veracity.
Amiel Corle Judge of Pleas

New York, 7 June 1885.
Sir,
Your letter of 14 th ult o was duly recd, in answer to the application, of the surviving children of Olive Bowen, formerly widow of John Kelly, for the services of the latter in the war of the revolution.
In support of the identity of Olive Bowen as the widow of John Kelly, the affidavit of Ann Hoagland dated 21 st May 1885, is herewith enclosed, whose statements, of the birth and parentage of Olive Bowen, are verified by the cert s of Sam l A. Nichols, Town Clerk of Fairfield Conn. It is shown that Mrs. Bowen's father, name was Nath l Pierson, and that she had a son, named Nath l P. Kelly, doubtless named after her father, which is a corroborative incident of the averments made. Mrs. Hoagland's statement, that Mrs. Bowen informed her that in consequence, of her parents dislike of her contemplated marriage to John Kelly, she ran away and was married by a Squire or Justice, is no doubt true, as after diligent search of the Town records, of Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Trumbull and Stratford, no record of the marriage can be found. The letters of said Town clerks, are also enclosed herein.

The identity of Olive Bowen, as the Widow of John Kelly, is also sustained by the Affidavit of Nicholas Williamson dated 24 th May 1885.
It is also further corroborated by the Certificate of the Rev d . G. Ludlow, and the statements of Mr Williamson, are also corrob- -orated, by Mr Ludlow.
In addition the original statement of declarant that Mr Kelly belonged to an Invalid Reg t is proved by the additional Cert t of the Comptroller of Com s , that Mr Kelly is credited with service in the Reg t of Invalids from April 6 th to Dec 24 th 1781, and was still in the service at that last date, & that no records of the Com s , Line are in the Comptroller's after Office of later date than 31 st Dec 1781.
I trust that on an exam- -ination of these documents, you will be satisfied that the claim- -ants are entitled to the benefit of the Act of 4 th July 1836.
I am respectfully Your obedient
J. R. Hitchcock Attorney for the heirs of Olive Bowen
Hon. L. P. Waldo Com r of Pensions Washington D.C.
Box 2872 P.O.

Date of New Jersey County of Middlesex } On this twenty second day, of August, one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Susannah Hoagland, a sixty four years old resident of the City of New Brunswick, in the County and State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, upon her oath, deposed and said that he is the grandson of Olive Bowers, formerly widow of John Kelly, deceased, that the said Olive, his grandmother, often visited her house before her death, that on these occasions, the said Olive, used frequently to relate incidents which took place during the Revolutionary War, among which was the following, viz; that when her eldest daughter Lovina, Kelly, was between one and two years of age, she the said Olive, received a message from her husband, John Kelly, who was then in the Army in Philadelphia, that he the said John, wished her, the said Olive, to go and see him for he was sick; that she then went to Philadelphia to see her said husband, and that she took the said child Lovina with her and stayed with her husband, until he got better, and then returned to Neshanic, which is situated about fifty miles from Philadelphia. That her said husband the said John Kelly, came to Neshanic to visit her and his children two or three times before the close of his services, on July 1st 1816 that her said husband was in feeble health, from the time of his discharge from the Army, until his death. The said Olive Bowers was esteemed as a woman of good character, in the neighborhood where she lived, and died, and first he has no interest whatever to the Pension claimed

by the heirs of the said Olive Brown deceased for next of kin of John Kelly deceased.
Lucius H Hoagland
Sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day and year above written and I certify that I am well acquainted with the above named affiant and that he is a credible person and has always been in my opinion a respectable person by the neighborhood where he resides and I further certify that I have no interest in this claim
Robert H. Wimppee Justice of the Peace
22 d Aug 1880.
Affiant to
Lucius H Hoagland
Heirs of
John Kelly.

Nicholas Willemum Affidavit Aug 21. 1855
Abraham Louis Affidavit Aug 21. 1855
Henry M. Kelly

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss
Personally appeared before the subscriber, One of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County aforesaid.
Abraham Lowe who being by me duly sworn according to law, On his Oath Saith, that he is in the Sixty Eighth Year of his age th at he is a native, and resident of the Township of Hillsborough, in the County & State aforesaid that he lived a near neighbor to, and was well acquainted with Olive Powers, formerly widow of John Kelly, who was reported as soldier of the Revolution, and that they both came from the State of Connecticut. She was also, well acquainted with her Eldest daughter Lovina Kelly — who was married to Hendrick H. Lowe, an Uncle to this deponent. — Said Lovina, was nine Years older than this deponent. — She also remembers, that Olive Powers, (or Kelly) kept a cake & beer shop, at Sherbrook in the said Township of Hillsborough from his earliest recollections. — Said Olive had three children, by her first husband Kelly, — Lovina — Hannah & Nathan D. — all of whom are dead. — & afterwards, by her second husband, Powers, had three children; to wit Jane — Ellen & James — the last named died young — and Jane — Hoagland and Ellen Applegate are the Sole surviving children of the over

Re.
the said Olive Powers (alias Kelly)
The said Olive Powers, or Kelly, was a woman of good character in the neighbourhood where she lived & died. Her father kept house for a number of years. for the grandfather of this deponent after she became a second time a widow.
Sworn & Subscribed before me this Twenty first day of August 1855.
Abraham Low
J. Maud Cole Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. of the County of Somerset
I do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Abraham Low, the above named deponent — & that he is a man of truth and veracity — & I also certify that I was well acquainted with Katherine P. Kelly of the Township of Hillsborough aforesaid & that he was a man much respected in this vicinity. & also had some some knowledge of Mrs. Kelly the mother of Katherine P. Kelly & believe her to have been a woman of respectability & of good character &c.
J. Maud Cole Judge &c.

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss. Personally appeared, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the said County affirming as Nicholas Williamson, who being by me sworn according to Law, on his Oath Saith, — that in his Affidavit made in the month of May last 1855, he did not mean to say, that he did not know, Mrs. Kelly, & her husband before the year 1786 or 1787, — & he now reiterates, what he testified to in July last, — that he was well acquainted with Olive Bowers formerly widow of John Kelly, — a Soldier of the War of the Revolution, that the said Olive, came to the Village of Neshannock, in the year 1779 or 1780, where she kept a Cake & Beer Shop to be in the absence of her husband, — who was in the Army, in the years, 1781 & 1782 & he does again say, that he verily believes that the said Kelly, was in Philadelphia during the latter part of the year 1781 & 1782 & that he makes the foregoing statement from certain events of her life, that occurred when he was 17 or 18 years of age & he further says, that he is now ninety years of age next October
the word "thru", interlined prior to signing.
Nicholas Williamson
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 21 st day of August 1855
Samuel Cook Judge of Common Pleas.

I do hereby certify that I have known Nicholas Willickerson the within named deponent, about thirty years. I altho the infirmities of age are growing upon him - Still I am of the opinion - that the most implicit reliance can be placed upon his word
J. M. Coyle Judge etc etc
Hillsborough August 21. 1855.

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss.
I Henry L. Johnson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Somerset aforesaid do hereby Certify that Samuel Coyle whose genuine signa- ture appears to the jurat of the foregoing affidavits is and was at the time of signing the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Somerset in the State of New Jersey duly Commissioned and sworn and authorized by law to ad- minister oaths and that his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that the aforesaid Court is a court of record having general jurisdiction and a seal so sealed.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand & affixed my official seal this 29 th day of August A.D. 1855
Henry L. Johnson Clerk

State of New Jersey County of Hunter On this twenty second day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid, Ellen Applezale, aged sixty two years, and Jane Coagland, aged sixty eight years, residents of the City of New Brunswick in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, who being duly sworn according to law, do depose and say that they are the daughters of Olive Bower, formerly widow of John Kelly deceased, that until last day they never knew or heard, of the existence, of a record, of the services of John Kelly dec d , former husband of their said mother, in said Olive Bower, in the Revolutionary War, in the State of Connecticut, nor in any other State or place, that the statements contained, in the Declaration of said Ellen Applezale, as well as those contained in the affida- vit of Jane Coagland their affiants, were derived solely, upon information given them by Olive Bower their their late mother, that she the said Olive Bower their mother, told them the said affiants, that her maiden name was Olive Pearson, that she was born in Fairfield, in the State of Connecticut; that she always said that her father's name was Nathaniel Pearson of said Fairfield, that her first marriage to John Kelly was disapproved of by her parents and friends, so much so, that she ran away, and was married to the said John Kelly, by a justice of the Peace, that in the year either of 1777 or 1778 or about that period she followed her husband to the Army, and with him came to New Jersey and in or about the year 1779 or 1780, they settled in Raritan Somerset County, in the said State of New Jersey, where all her children were born, and where she resided until

Note the words "born on" erased before execution Peter P. Bowers per his own oath
her death, that she never visited, the place of her birth, from the time of her marriage, until the time of her death, that Jane Hoagland, one of the affiants, has a record in her family bible which was made more than twenty years ago, which is as follows "Nathaniel P. Hoagland was born, January 9th 1813" Nathaniel P. Hoagland died December 16th 1828 "That he was named Nathaniel Pearson, by his late mother, Olive Bowers, formerly the widow of the said John Kelly, whose name she adopted after the death of the said Olive Bowers' second husband, that the said Olive Bowers, mother of these affiants joined the church at Neshanic, of said died and was buried there, by the name of Olive Pearson Kelly, and that they are all the children of the said Olive Bowers who survive her.
Ellen Applegate Jane P. Bowers
I James H. Hoagland, a resident of the City of New Brunswick, County of Middlesex, and State of New Jersey, upon my oath doth, depose and say, that I am forty five years of age, that I am the son of Jane Hoagland one of the above named affiants, that the foregoing affidavit of the said Jane Hoagland, and Ellen Applegate, has been read in my hearing, that I believe the facts therein set forth are true, that more than thirty years ago I heard my grand mother the said Olive Bowers (or Kelly as she was called after the death of Bowers her second husband) often state the facts and circumstances therein described, substantially respecting the place of her birth, her marriage to John Kelly, her following him in the Army to New Jersey, their settlement at Neshanic, the birth of her children, as well by Kelly as Bowers, that I was acquainted with Lovina Hannah and Nathaniel P. Kelly, that all the children of the said Olive Bowers are now dead except Jane Hoagland &

That I, of Philadelphia, the above officials, they being the only surviving children of the said Peter Brown, and that I have no interest in their claim for pension or annuity Pension
Lemuel H. Hoagland
The foregoing affidavits were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written. And I certify that I know the officials to be credible persons having been acquainted with them all for from fifteen to twenty years past. And that I have no interest in the claim of Mr. Hoagland and Apple-gate, for annuity Pension due their late mother
Peter P. Hoagland Justice of the Peace
1. Nathaniel P. Hoagland was born January 9th 1815 2. Nathaniel P. Hoagland died December 16th 1828 I do certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a record in a large family bible in the possession of Peter Hoagland one of the above officials
Peter P. Hoagland Justice of the Peace
State of New Jersey
County of Mercer do I Nicholas Downey Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Peter P. Hoagland when Governor Legation at Philadelphia is authorized to act as the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Mercer and every act and deed done by him, that all his official acts are entered to full faith thereof, and that he is at present the Clerk of said Court of Common Pleas
Given under my hand this 10th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Nicholas Downey Clerk

Affidavit of of New Zealand. 24 May 1883.

State of New Jersey } Middlesex County } ss
Ann Hoagland being sworn says, that she is forty four years of age, a resident of New Brunswick in said County, where she has lived for twenty years last past, and is the wife of Lucas H. Hoagland of said Town & County. That soon after the birth of her eldest child, who will be eighteen years old on the 1 st day of June next, Mrs. Eliza Brown, who was as she then said, formerly the widow of John Kelly, and Grandmother of the husband of this deponent, and a resident of Somerset County N Jersey, came to her house and spent some two weeks with this deponent, and she will remember at that time, that the said Eliza gave her the history of her early life, which was as follows, to wit, That she was a native of Fairfield Ct, and the daughter of Nathaniel Pierson of said town; that she married a soldier by the name of John Kelly, during the progress of the Revolutionary War; That her Parents & the family were opposed to the marriage of herself to the said Kelly, and on that account, she ran away from home & was married to the said Kelly, by a "Quaker, or Justice of the Peace"; That she followed her husband to the Army, and into New Jersey, and often saw Genl Washington, and sometimes "died up his handkerchiefs, &c." That her said first husband, was a small man and thin, soon after the close of said war. That within about a year after the death of the said Kelly, she was married one Brown, with whom she lived several years, when he died, and that she remained still the widow of the said Brown. I understand that she had an elder brother named John Pierson, and two sisters named Hannah & Deborah, all born in Fairfield Ct. The said Eliza died on or about the 3 day of January 1841 - aged about 83, and my husband attended her funeral. She had then (as she stated then) children by her first husband to wit, Nathaniel P. Kelly, Lovina & Hannah, the first named

being the youngest of the three - all of whom are now dead, and Jane Hoagland & Ellen Hoagland are her only surviving children - and said Jane member in her claim for an award of pension from Am Hoagland
I swore and subscribed before me the 24th day of May 1855 And I do hereby certify that the affiant is a credible person having been acquainted with her for some eight to ten years and that I have no interest in the application which is for some official interest to her said
Robert H. H. H. Justice of the Peace
State of New Jersey
County of Middlesex ss. I Nicholas Woodrum Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that Peter P. Reary whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit is and was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey duly authorized to administer oaths for said purpose, and that all his official acts are in accordance to full force & effect, and that the foregoing County Court is a Court of record having General Jurisdiction, and that I have no interest in this claim
Given under my hand & seal of office at New Brunswick this 25th day of May AD 1855
N. Woodrum Clerk

Know all Men by these Presents, THAT
W th Ellen Applegate, of — New Brunswick, New Jersey
have made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint James R. Hitchcock of New York my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, place and stead, which said attorney shall in the United States Government, as the sole surviving children of Olive Burns, formerly widow of John Kelly, a soldier of the Revolution —
giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 11 th day of April — in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty five —
Sealed and delivered in the presence of John R. Hunt } Ellen Applegate Jane Young
State of New-York, County of { ss.
Be it known, That on the day of one thousand eight hundred and before of me, in and for the State of New-York, duly commissioned and sworn, dwelling personally came and acknowledged the above Letter of Attorney to be act and deed.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed my seal of office, the day and year last above written.