Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,302, for Peter J Stryker, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Pessi
Stryker Peter J.
R 10,302
CONTENTS

State of New Jersey Somerset County, ss.
On this twelfth day of April A. D. 1851, personally ap- peared before me Joseph A. Gaunt, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of said county, Peter J. Struyker a resident of said county, and stated aged 85 years, who being first duly sworn makes the following declaration in order to obtain a pension under act of June, 1832, viz. that he entered the service as a Wagoner at the time Genl Wayne with the division of the army under his command lay at Van Klief's Mills, in Somerset County, N.J. He entered the service subject to military discipline in November 1778, and was engaged in carrying provisions, &c. for the use of the army, and continued in service until the beginning of June 1779, when he was discharged from service, it being a short time before the storming of Stony Point. At the time this deponent entered the service the 1 st , 3 rd and 7 th regiments of the Pennsylvania line lay at the place aforesaid. He served under John Kitts who was a Wagon Master and at the time attached to the 7 th reg t . This deponent's duties were very arduous. He was obliged to be on parade at sunrise besides attending to the feeding, and care of a double team. He served between six and seven months under his engagement and although young, was fully competent to perform the duties devolving upon him. His pay was in Continental money which was much depreciated, and remember, having paid

$300 for a pair of silver shoe buckles at the time he was discharged. He some years ago made a declaration, and obtained testimony as to his service but whether his declaration was ever sent to the Department or not he does not know. He at another time procured some testimony which he never presented and which is herewith submitted.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity excepting the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state or if any, only on that of the agency of the State of New Jersey.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Charles B. Gastone, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Somerset, in the State of New Jersey.
And the said judge hereby declares his opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Peter I. Stryker was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and further that by reason of old age and consequent bodily infirmity he is unable to appear in open court to make his declaration.
Charles B. Gastone Judge as aforesaid.

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss } I Henry D. Johnson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Joseph A. Barn whose signature appears to the foregoing declaration is and was at the time of signing the same one of the Judges of the aforesaid Court duly commissioned and sworn and that all his official acts as such are en- titled to full faith and credit and I also certify that William B. Garton whose signature appears to the annexed affidavit was at that time one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn and his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit and that the aforesaid Court is a court of record having full jurisdiction
Given under my hand and the Seal of the County at the Clerk's office in Somerville this fourteenth day of April A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty one
Henry D. Johnson Clerk

Deposition of Ann Smyth

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 said County, John Stryker who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, did depose and say, I was born in the year of our Lord A.D. 1768, as recorded in my father's family Bible, although I was only a lad at the time of the Revolutionary War, still I distinctly re- collect many important and interesting incidents connected with our struggle at that time for our liberty. My father lived in Somerset County in the State of New Jersey during the whole of the War but a short distance from the Mills on the Millstone, then owned by Van Eest, now in the occupation of and owned by William T. Rodgers Esquire, — In the fall of 1778, I think in November, the Pennsylvania Troops of the line encamped and bivouacked their Huts near the before mentioned Mills. General Wayne had the command of the troops, I well remember of Peter J. Stryker being in service during the time of their encamp- ment, as one of the teamsters, under the order and command of John Kells waggon master, in said Peter was principally engaged in carting provisions, Wood & Stone for the said Troops during their stay, which I now think continued till the next May or June, at which time they left that encampment. — I recollect after the battle at Princeton of Washington's Army coming through, and of my father's house being full of Soldiers, — My impression is that said Peter J. Stryker went with said troops on to Morristown with his waggon with the baggage of the Army, — My present impression is that said Peter was (at the time of the aforesaid encampment) out in service with his team at least six months carting Stone &c. for the Revolutionary Army, and further he saith

Not. Sworn and Subscribed this 6 th day of February 1840 before me.
John S. Stryker
W. B. Gaston Judge of Somerset Pleas
I hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with John S. Stryker, whose name is subscribed to the above deposition, he has always sustained a fair reputation for truth and honesty. — At the time the deposition was taken before me, I was in Commission as Judge of Somerset Pleas — Dated Somerville April 11 th 1851
W. B. Gaston
John S. Stryker
New Jersey
June 7. 1852
38260
W. J. Wilson
Friend

Washington, May 12, 1857
Sir Enclosed herewith are the papers of Peter I. Stryker, claiming a pension under act of June 1832, New Jersey agency. I am respectfully Yr. Obt. Servt. W. L. Allison
J. S. Heath Esq. Commr. of Pensions.

W. S. Alston Esq
Aug 7, 1851
Sir: I have examined the application of Peter J. Smyth for the benefit of the Act of June 7, 1832. It is entirely unsupported by such proof as is required by our rules, and it is very clear that the alleged service was not military within the meaning of the Pension laws, for he was but 13 years old, according to his own showing, when he rendered it. His reasons for the delay in asserting his claim are also unsatisfactory, and it will not be admitted without the most conclusive proof.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1879.
REJECTED
1A 302
P. O.
Peter J. Snyker
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

State of New Jersey Somerset County, ss. }
Personally appeared before me William B. Gaston one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County, Mary Quick who being duly sworn according to law upon her oath saith, I am in my Seventy Sixth year of age, was born in the County of Somerset and State of New Jersey, my father lived in the township of Hillsborough, County aforesaid within about a mile of the Mills, then owned and occupied by Van Nest, (now known as Rodgers Mills). — In the year of 1778 and 1779, The Pennsylvania line under the command of General Wayne, lay near said Mills. My impression is that they were stationed there in the month of November in the year 1778 and remained there in encampment till the latter part of May or first of June of the next year, when I think they left that station. I am well acquainted with Peter J. Shyler, who was engaged driving team, and carting, provisions, wood and &c under the direction of John Kelle's waggon Master. Said Peter J. Shyler, was at this time about thirteen years of age — I recollect during the Revolution of my father's house being crowded by the soldiers, particularly the evening after the battle at Princeton a great number of the troops were at my father's, on their way to Morristown, and my impression now is that said Peter J. Shyler went on with them to Morristown — I further recollect distinctly, of hearing the cannon at the time of the Princeton battle. — and further deponent saith not. — Sworn and subscribed this twenty third day of January A.D. 1840 before me. —
141 ATTY Genl Clev
W. B. Gaston. Judge of Somerset Pleas

Deposition of Mary Quick

State of New Jersey Somerset County ss. - {
This is to certify that I have been well acquainted with Mrs. Mary Dink for about seventeen years past. She is a lady of undoubted truth and veracity, stands high in the community where she resides, and is a member in full communion and good standing with the Reformed Dutch Church of Raritan in said County. - And I further certify (that I am satisfied) the statement made by her in the within deposition is true and worthy of credit and belief. - Data Somerville January 23. rd 1840. -
W. B. Gaston Judge of Som. Pleas. -