Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,155, for William Pettit, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Pettit, William Hannah
P 8,155
CONTENTS
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V1246
Application of Hanna Pettit. New Jersey - for a Pension for the services of William Pettit

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the 3 d section of the act of Congress of the 4 th of July 1836 -
State of New Jersey } ss. County of Monmouth } ss.
On this third day of February A D 1837 personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said county Han- nah Pettit of the Township of Middletown of said county aged eighty years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the follow- ing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836. that she is the widow of William Pettit a native of New York who removed thence to New Jersey. Monmouth County aforesaid a little before the Revolutionary war. that said William Pettit served in Colonel Holms Regiment, in the beginning of the war under the command of Captain John Smock in whose district he then lived, that he then lived, that he served as a militia man in said company accor- ding to the regulations of said company at least as much as four years about which time Captain Smock was taken prisoner & the company was then commanded by Lieutenant Tobias Pithers who was also taken prisoner but how long after his captain this deponent cannot remember After that Captain Barnes Smock commanded said company some time cannot remember how long but thinks to the end of the war, thinks also that he was discharged at the end of the war by said Captain Smock, he served to the end of the war his regular tours of duty, but the particular dates of each tour this deponent cannot remem- ber, that she has no record of his services - that while on duty he pursued no civil occupation.

that his services were rendered at Sandy Hook, Sandy-nee, Tinton-Falls, Eatontown, Middletown & other places platt townships of Middletown & Shrewsbury and also in Freehold in the said County of Monmouth that he was out at the time of the battle of Germantown but has heard not in the battle though near that place that he sometimes hired substitutes but cannot remember the particular times. thinks as much as for six months, cannot be much more. that his service was rendered in the field, that he was very frequently called out to join scouting parties when his militia duty did not call him out, that he served in all at least, at the lowest estimate as much as three years, thinks as much as four years. This deponent cannot remember so as to distinctly state further particulars of his service on account of her extreme age & debility. She further declares that her maiden name was Hannah Morell that she was married to the said William Pettit by the Reverend Benjamin Dubois a Dutch Reformed Clergyman on the fourth day of July seventeen hundred & seventy three as she believes will appear of record from the register of marriages by him kept & which for greater certainty she refers. that her husband the aforesaid William Pettit died the twenty second day of March A D 1832. and that she has remained his widow single & unmarried ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Sworn & subscribed the day & year above written before me a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid Henry B. Chuman
Hannah } her Pettit mark
I the subscriber a justice of the peace of the county of Monmouth & state of New

Jersey do hereby certify, tho' the applicant Hannah Pettit is a respectable inhabitant of the Township of Middletown Monmouth County New Jersey, that her statements are entitled to full faith & credit, that she appears to be of the age she represents & that she is the widow of William Pettit who died sometime since, & that from bodily infirmity she is unable to go out so as to attend the county courts
Henry B. Brannan Justice of the Peace
State of New Jersey } County of Monmouth } ss
Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace of the county of Monmouth John Williamson a Revolutionary soldier & pensioner of the United States of the Township of Middletown of said County, being duly sworn according to law, deposes & saith that he was well acquainted with William Pettit whose widow is applying for a pension, that he knew said William Pettit of the said Township of Middletown in the time of the Revolutionary war, that he was out in the service with him, frequently in the early part of the war at the Navesink highlands under the command of Captain John Smock as he thinks, that said Pettit lived in said Smock's district which was in the sd. Township of Middletown, that this affiant cannot state his services after the winter of 1777 & 8 on account of his having joined the horse, that to the best of the knowledge & belief of this deponent the said Pettit performed regular militia duty as a good & faithful soldier & was always reputed to be a good & true soldier that said Pettit was reputed to be a married man while in the service, that this

deponant cannot state how long he was out in the service nor the times of such service but believes him to have served throughout the war under different commanders in Colonel Holmes regiment -
Sworn & subscribed this fourth day of February A.D. 1837 before me Ja. Baird
John Williamson
I the subscriber a justice of the Peace in & for said county of Monmouth do hereby certify that the foregoing deponant is a respectable inhabitant of Middletown township, Monmouth county N.J. and that his statements as contained in the foregoing affidavit are entitled to full faith & credit.
Ja. Baird Justice
State of New Jersey } County of Monmouth } ss.
James Patterson a Dutch Reformed clergyman & pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church of Freehold personally appeared before me one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth and being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith that he has in his possession the record of marriages of said Church kept by the Rev. Benjamin Dubois who was formerly pastor of the United Dutch churches of Freehold & Middletown & that in & among the record of marriages by him kept & as he believes in his original handwriting he finds an entry as follows. "July den 4 de 1773 Jo William Pettit met Hanna Morel getrouw" which is the usual mode of entering marriages in said record at that time.
Sworn & subscribed before me } this 6 th of February 1837 } John Hull Judge
Ja. Patterson

State of New Jersey } County of Monmouth } ss.
Aaron Sutphen aged about seventy six years, a Revolutionary soldier & pensioner of the United States a resident of said county being duly sworn according to law in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said county in open court deposeth & saith that he became acquainted with William Pettit of said county during the Revolutionary war in the winter of 1778 while in the militia service under captain Joseph Stilwell in Colonel Holms Regiment while performing a monthly tour partly in the months of January & partly in the months of February at Freehold in said county & part of the month at the residence of said captain in the township of Middletown in said county near North River that said deponent thinks that he has seen said Pettit while performing other tours of duty, but cannot remember the particular of time place or that he was always reputed to be a good & faithful soldier & believes him to have performed his regular tours of duty as a faithful militia man - that the present applicant Hanna Pettit is the widow of said William Pettit that she always as long as this deponent has known her has lived with & been reputed to have been his lawful & wedded wife & that she still remains his widow single & unmarried & that he believes that said Pettit died about five years since
Sworn & subscribed this 28 th of January AD 1837 before me one of the Judges of the Inferior court of common Pleas John Hull
Aaron Sutphen
I the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the county of Monmouth do hereby certify that Aaron Sutphen

is a respectable inhabitant of the county of Monmouth & that his statements as contained in the foregoing affidavit are entitled to full faith & credit -
John Nu C
State of New Jersey Monmouth County ss John L Bennet a Revolutionary soldier & pensioner of the United States, of said county being duly sworn according to law before the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said county in open court deposeth & saith that he became acquainted with William Pettit of said county in the time of the Revolutionary war whose widow Hannah Pettit is about applying for a pension, that he knew said W m Pettit to have performed militia duty in said war in Colonel Holmes regiment in Captain John Sonocks district for a considerable length of time, cannot tell how long, that he believes him to have been a good & faithful soldier throughout the war & was always reputed to have been a good soldier by his officers & comrades, that he has been informed & believes him to have been dead for some time leaving his widow the present applicant who has remained his widow single & unmarried ever since Sworn & subscribed this 28 th of January A D 1837 before me one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County William Lloyd John L Bennet
I the subscriber one of the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the county of Monmouth do hereby certify that John L Bennet is a respectable inhabitant of the county of Monmouth & that his statements as contained in the above deposition are entitled to full faith & credit -
William Lloyd

is a respectable inhabitant of the county of Monmouth & that his statements as contained in the foregoing affidavit are entitled to full faith & credit -
John Nu C
State of New Jersey Monmouth County /s John L Bennet a Revolutionary soldier & pensioner of the United States, of said county being duly sworn according to law before the Inferior court of common Pleas of said county in open court deposeth & saith that he became acquainted with William Pettit of said county in the time of the Revolutionary war whose widow Hannah Pettit is about applying for a pension, that he knew said W m Pettit to have performed militia duty in said war in Colonel Holmes regiment in Captain John Sonocks district for a considerable length of time, cannot tell how long, that he believes him to have been a good & faithful soldier throughout the war & was always reputed to have been a good soldier by his officers & comrades, that he has been informed & believes him to have been dead for some time leaving his widow the present applicant who has remained his widow single & unmarried ever since Sworn & subscribed this 28 th of January A D 1837 before me one of the Judges of the Inferior court of common pleas of said county William Lloyd John L Bennet
I the subscriber one of the judges of the Inferior court of common Pleas in & for the county of Monmouth do hereby certify that John L Bennet is a respectable inhabitant of the county of Monmouth & that his statements as contained in the above deposition is entitled to full faith & credit -
William Lloyd

Monmouth Co. State of New Jersey County ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County William Pettie who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he was born in the State of New York in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty and removed to this State in the year Seventeen hundred & Seventy three and remained in the said State until the commencement of the Revolutionary war and then entered into the service under Capt John Smock in the Infantry and was with him four years and upwards and after that was under Capt. Nathan Webb & then under Capt. Smock for two years or more & afterwards under Hendrick Smock at the Battle of Germantown on a scouting party but not in the Battle but at sundry times was in different skirmishes during said war and rendered other services
Sworn & subscribed this 8 th day of November A.D. 1832 before me
William Pettie
Monmouth Co. State of New Jersey County ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County Capt John Schenck who being duly sworn according to law did depose & say that he knew William Pettie the above petitioner and that he was a soldier in the Revolution and that he was always as far as he understood a faithful soldier.
Sworn & subscribed this 8 th day of November A.D. 1832 before me
John Schenck
John Schenck

Monmouth Co State of New Jersey County } }
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in & the said County, John Williamson who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he knew William Pettie the above petitioner was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War and served as such with the Continentals at sundry times in skirmishes against the Enemy.
Sworn & Subscribed this 9 th day of November 1831 before me John Williamson
Wendell Phillips Justice
Monmouth Co State of New Jersey County } }
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the
Peace in and for said County John L Bennett who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he knew William Pettie the above petitioner and that he was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War and that he rendered services at different times during the war in Cases of Alarm; and was always reputed to be a good Soldier; by his Officers
Sworn & Subscribed this 9 th day of November A.D. 1831 before me John L Bennett
Wendell Phillips Justice

I the subscriber one of the Judges of the said inferior Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that James Patterson is pastor of the Dutch Church of Freehold that on examining the record of said Church I find the entry aforesaid & that I am fully satisfied from the record & my acquaintance with the parties that the foregoing is the record of the marriage of the applicant Hannah Pettit to the said William Pettit deceased who was a soldier in the revolutionary war. John Hull
I Daniel H Ellis Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Henry B Chumac is and was at the taking of the foregoing declaration of Hannah Pettit a Justice of the peace of said county duly commissioned & sworn & the signatures "Henry B Chumac" are his proper hand writing - that James I Baird is & was at the time of taking the deposition of John Williamson a Justice of the peace of said county & that the signatures "Ja Baird" are his proper hand writing - that John Hull is a Judge of said Inferior Court of Common Pleas & that the foregoing signatures "John Hull" are genuine - that William Lloyd is also a Judge of the said Inferior Court & that the signatures "William Lloyd" foregoing are genuine. And that Samuel B Vanderhoof was at the time of taking the foregoing affidavits purporting to be taken before him a Justice of the peace of said county duly commissioned & sworn & that the foregoing signatures "S B Vanderhoof" are the sign manual of said Justice - & that the official acts of the before named officers should have full credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this tenth day of February 1837
D. H. Ellis

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
8100.
P. O. _____
Hannah Pettit
Service: wid. of William
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Cont
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

V Nannah Pettit New Jersey
Suspended let 4 April 1837 B. DuBois Smock
See letter in claim of John Hays - W. 7633
8153-

13 Feb B. Wilson Smock Frederick H. G. Case Hannah Pettit " Sarah N. Wilson Act 4 July 36
Leica
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

Hon J L Edwards
Enclosed you have two applications for pensions. The proof which supports them is of a general nature establishing however beyond the possibility of a doubt the fact that the husbands John Riverson & William Pettit of the applicants were good & faithful soldiers in the revolutionary war from its commencement to the close. Upon the question how many terms of duty or months of service have they respectively made there may exist a doubt if the estimates of the deponents are not credited. They had opportunities of knowing from their knowledge they speak - although after the lapse of half a century with their natures sinking under them their memories are not sufficiently clear to allow them to swear to the particular set times of duty.
I was aware of your rules of judging of applications when I endeavoured to get such specific statements of services from old soldiers who were eyewitnesses & who fought with them shoulder to shoulder in our battles of freedom but they fearing lest they might err would not venture to particularize. I believe the applications have enough proof if it was only particular as to time. Will not a sworn estimate be considered & regarded by you? It is thought that it ought to be Wm Pettit several years ago was about applying for a pension. Affidavits by him & others then made have been attached to the present application.
Will you let me know soon what is done with the case of Elizabeth Hays.
February 11 th 1837
Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey
I am respectfully
Your obt Svt B. DuBois Smock