Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40210, for William Nickels, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (N.J.)
Nickels, William or Nichols
S.40210
CONTENTS

Lot 11. S. Life 15 th June 1850
d. Apr 23. 1827
William Nichols - In - Pennsylvania - M ch 15 th 1818 - D th Apr 23 rd 1827
9797 R Pennsylvania.
William Nichols,
of Philadelp a in the state of Penns a who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Spencer , of the New-Jersey line, for the term of one year .
William Nichols Records corrected anno Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 15 , of May, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 of April '19 , and sent to David Caldwell, Clerk. dist t Court U.S. Philad a
Arrears to 4th of March, 1819. .. 77.42 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4. Sept. 48 " 9 mos. \frac{24}{31} } 1819. $:125.12
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
William Nichols Revolutionary War Pennsylvania

Wm Nichols first lot Shencers Rept 1777 Pres Sept 11-77
Adm.
(See D. Hough's letter for certificate.)
D. Calder Philad.

DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, ss.
I certify that William Nichols an applicant for a Pension under the late act of Congress is aged, infirm & in indigent circumstances. He lately held a post in the City Watch but in consequence of his infirmities he became unable to perform its duties and was discharged. He has no other resource than an application to his country for subsistence.
Jan. 8. 1819.
I believe the facts stated
Th. P. Peters.
Richard Peters.

DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, ss.
On this fifteenth day of May A. D. 1818, before me, Richard Peters, Judge of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Pennsylvania District, personally appeared W m Nichels of the City of Philada who being duly sworn deposes and declares, that during the War of the Revolution he served against the common enemy as a soldier in the army on the Continental Establishment—that on the day of A. D. 1776 at Clarkestown in the state of N. Jersey , he enlisted in Captain Johnston's Com-pany belonging to the 5 th Regiment of the New Jersey Line , commanded by Colonel Spencer . That he was in the Battles of Long Island, White Plains and Brandywine at which latter he was wounded and taken prisoner by the enemy, having been in actual service more than twelve months. That he received an honorable discharge from service in consequence of disability occasioned by his wounds, which discharge has been lost or destroyed. That he is now in the sixty seventh year of his age.
That by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his country for support, that he never has received, or been allowed any Pension by the laws of the United States—that he is a resident citizen of the United States, and that his present declaration is made in order to obtain the benefits of the late Act of Congress for the relief of the surviving Officers and Soldiers of the revolutionary army.
W m Nichels — " —
Sworn and Subscribed this 15 th day of May A. D. 1818, before me
Richard Peters

William Nichols
Phil
9797
M:
4/19
Levy

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Philadelphia: ss On the nineteenth day of September 1820 personally appeared in an open Court of Common Pleas of the county aforesaid, now in session William Mickels, of the city of Philadelphia, aged seventy one years, who having been duly sworn agreeably to law, doth, on his oath make the following declaration, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows - That he enlisted in the winter of 1776 in New Jersey, and was attached to Thompson's afterwards Leger's Company of the fifth Jersey Regiment, Col. Spencer: That he was at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, and other actions, whilst he belonged to the flying Camp; that whilst he was in the continental service, of Spencer's Regiment as aforesaid, he was at an action on Strawberry Hill in New Jersey, and at the battle of Brandywine, in which battle he was wounded and taken prisoner; that being unable to turn in the line owing to his wound, he was put in the laboratory to make up ammunition and from that situation was discharged: That he had various papers and vouchers, and that they are now lost; And I, the said William Mickels, do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18 th of March 1818, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale or any manner, disposed of any property, or any part thereof, with an intent thereby to diminish it as to being myself within the provisions of the act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18 th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained or specified in the schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed. For many years I was employed in the Powder magazine, but am now unable to do that duty. I have no trade, and am unable to labor otherwise; I have a wife and three children at home who by washing and mending help to support me, the said children being daughters; but this support is not only uncertain

but inadequate to a supply of common necessaries.
Sworn to in open Court
September 19. 1820 —
W. B. Morrey
Pro.
W m Nickels — " —
Schedule:-
A ten. plate stove - two beds - nine chairs - two tables - sum dry tubs and buckets - a few articles of crockery ware - a pair of And. Irons, and a few articles of cooking. be. trials of very little value.
W m Nickels — " —
Philadelphia County ss.
I, Joseph B. Morrey
Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia do certify that the foregoing Oaths and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the Records of the said Court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is fifty dollars —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court the nineteenth day of September A.D. 1820. —
W. B. Morrey Pro.

p.70
June 7, 1880
M. S. Fife
Wicklow Street
Dear Sir,
I enquire if there is a balance of pension due the heirs of William Nickols a veteran soldier of the 5 th Fusy Regt. — M. S. Fife
Letter to M. S. Fife, June 11 th 1880
Rept to Comr of Pensions for answer Dep Interior June 11 th 1880

Hon. Geo. W. Crawford
Dear Sir
A daughter of one of the Revolutionary soldiers is anxious to learn whether or not there is a balance of the pension, to which her father was entitled, from the U. States due to his heirs.
His name was John Nickels. He enlisted in New Jersey, and served in the Company commanded by Capt. Lyon, of the 5th Jersey Regiment. United States Infantry.
Will you have the kindness to cause inquiry to be made respecting the above, and have the desired information sent to me as soon as convenient?
I have the honor to be
very respectfully
Your obedt. Servt
W. S. Lipe
Phila a June 7. 1850
S. W. Cor. Sch. 7th & Market Sts

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of William Pickels a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S.I. 40,210
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Winter 1776-1777 12 mos. Johnson Humphreys Lynn Spencer N.J.          
Battles engaged in, Long Island, White Plains, Brandywine where wounded and taken prisoner
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Strawberry Hill, New Jersey
Date of application for pension, May 15, 1818. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Philadelphia, Penn.
Age at date of application, 71 years.
Remarks: in 1820 refers to his wife and 3 daughters - names not stated
He died Apr. 23 1827 (A.B.)
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev 40
January 7, 1910 —
H. S. Commission of Pensions,
In preparing my credentials for entrance into the Society of the Daughters of the Revolution, I would like some information of one, William Nickels , who served in the Revolutionary war.
He was born in Germany on January 25 th , 1750 - died (I think in Philadelphia) April 23 rd 1821.
The printed form tells me

to write to you for information The name is Nickels - but even back that far it was frequently miss-spelled "Nichols" - He may have been enrolled under that spelling.
Any information you can give me will be appreciated, & a prompt answer will assist my admission at an early date.
Cordially,
M. Pauline Stewart
Mrs W. Chandler Stewart 45- So. Virginia Ave.
Atlantic City, N. J.

40 210
Reo INVALID.
File No. 40 210
William Nichols Seiz. Rev. Inv.
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 365
[Arrangement of 1870.]
William Nichols.  Records corrected Aug. 11, 1913 a

Mar. 18-1902 P. E. Nichols Fairmont W. Va.
1915 Jan 11. History To Mrs. W. C. Stewart, M.B.H.
1915 Aug. 31. Mrs. Stewart ref. to Aud. for the Interior. P.

Rev. War Section.
August 31. 1915.
Mrs. W. Chandler Stewart, 45 So. Virginia Avenue, Atlantic City, N. J.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 21" instant, you are advised that the record of William Nickels, Sur. File No. 40,210, Rev. War, furnished you under date of January 11, 1915, contains the only reference to his family found in the papers filed in this Bureau, which is "I have a wife and three children at home - the said children being daughters."
For the date and place of his death, and name of person to whom the arrears of his pension were paid, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U. S. Treasury Department, citing all of the following data:
"William Nichols, Certificate No. 9,797, issued April 26, 1819, for $8. per month from May 15, 1818, under Act of March 18, 1818, at the Pennsylvania Agency."
Very respectfully,
E. P. Sieman Acting Commissioner.