Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5493, for Samuel Parsons, New Jersey

SERVICE
New Jersey
NUMBER _____
11 5493
Parsons Samuel Mary
CONTENTS

New Jersey 1. 755
Mary Parsons
Widow of Samuel Parsons de d.
died on the 25th December 1831
Essex Co. in the State of N.J.
who was a Sgt. of Art. in the Company commanded by Captain Meeker of the commanded in the N.J.
time for 2 years
scribed on the Roll of New Jersey the rate of 180 Dollars Cents, per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Sept 1838 and sent Hon. S. S. Southard Senate U.S.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837 $1.170.00 Pemi-annual allowance ending 4th Ma 38-90.00
$1.260.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3. }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, book A Vol. 24 Page 130
Letter to Pensioner
13. March 1838
to Hon. S. Condict 2. June 1840
to same 22, June 1840
to same 3. Dec. 1840
Letter to S. Condict
26th April 1841 and to the
Pension Agent.
let. 3rd August 1842
to I. F. Randolph.
See certificate of pension in Joseph Doty's papers.

State of New Jersey, Essex  Essex County, v z :
Declaration to obtain the benefit of the 3 d section of the act of Congress of the 4 th . of July, 1836.
On this 19 th . day of October, in the year of our Lord 1837, personally appeared before the subscriber, a judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas a justice of peace in & for Essex County aforesaid, Mary Parsons, a resident of New Providence township in Essex County aforesaid, aged 76, (in my 77 th year) personally well known to me for many years, & living in the same parish & neighbourhood with me. She is a woman of fair character for truth, & of unblemished reputation & fully entitled to belief. Her advanced age, & bodily weakness & infirmity is such as to render it  her unable to attend the Court at Newark, which is distant from her residence 12 or 15 miles. The said Mary Parsons having by me been duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by of the act of Congress, passed July 4 th . 1836. v z : — I am the widow of Samuel Parsons of New Providence, in Essex County, New Jersey, who was a Sergeant of Cavalry in Captain Munkin's company of the Essex County Militia, in the war of the revolution, & served as a Sergeant of Dragoons in said company throughout the war, as I always understood & believed, under the orders of Captain Munkin, & after him, under the command of his successor Captain Christopher Marsh. I cannot specify the particular Militia duties performed by my husband in the revolutionary war, farther than to say, that I believe he served in the aforesaid Troop of Cavalry as a volunteer for the period of five months in the year 1777, under Captain Munkin, as a sergeant, & that he afterward continued his Militia duties in the same capacity as sergeant in said Troop to the end of the war, amounting in the whole to more than two years of faithful & active duty in the Cavalry, furnishing his own Horse & all his equipments. Beside his company officers, he was frequently acting under orders of Governor Livingston, as one of his body guards, — sometimes under the orders of General Windes & of General Dickinson — acting sometimes with his fellow troops in a full company, & other times in small divisions, watching the movements of the enemy, carrying orders & dispatches from one station & post to another, & always acting in obedience to the orders of his superior officers. For further details of his services, I respectfully refer the Commissioners of Pensions to the testimony of a few of his comrades who yet survive. — I was married to Samuel Parsons at my father's house (Isaac Crane) on the 20 th day of April, A. 1779, by Rev. Jonathan Elmer, Minister of the Presbyterian Church in New Providence, then called Turkey, in Essex County. I do not know whether or not Mr. Elmer kept a record of our marriage. It is recorded in  but our marriage is not recorded in it! a family bible in my possession, with the ages of our children. My sister, Martha now Martha Borne, was present, & perhaps my sister Sarah Elmer also. Of this I am not certain. My husband, Samuel Parsons aforesaid, died, on the 25 th . December Sometime 1821, & I have remained his widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear,

by reference to the proof hereto annexed. His enlistment, & all his service in the war I believe was voluntary, & his service ended only with the war. When he entered the service he resided in New Providence (then Turkey) in Essex County, where he spent his life, & where he died, & where I have spent the whole of my life. — I have often heard him speak of carrying letters to & from General Washington. I believe he was in the battles of Short Hills, and Monmouth, Aquackanack, Coomtilie Springfield farms, & others. — I have no documentary evidence in support of my claim; & I do not know that he ever recd. any written discharge. Samuel Parsons my husband, was born on the 22 d . of February, 1758. I have often heard him tell of his service whilst the army quartered in Brunswick & Amboy. He, with John  before Smith, & one other man, Nat. Cram took 7 Hessian prisoners out of a house at  near Strawberry Hill near Amboy. They were carousing at a private house, & the woman, dressed in a red cloak, leading her child told Parsons who was not far off, that they were drinking cider at her house & had placed their guns behind the door. Parsons & his 2 men then tied their horses & took a bye path to the house unseen, rushed into the house, & took them all prisoners by surprise, secured their arms, & took them off prisoners. I was married 3 years & 4 months, before the birth of my first child Chloe, now dead. She was born August 29 th . 1782.
Sworn & subscribed before me at New Providence, October 19 th . 1837.
John Little Justice of the Peace, Mary Parsons
State of New Jersey Essex County ss.
I, Elias Van Andale Junr. Clerk of said County of Essex, hereby certify, that John Little Esq. before whom the several Depositions of Mary Parsons, Joseph Doty, James Doty, Nathan Elmer, & Sarah Elmer hereto annexed, were taken & subscribed, is a justice of the peace in & for said County, duly commissioned & authorized. I also certify that William Stites Esq. before whom the deposition of Matthias Dewman hereto annexed, was taken & subscribed, is also a justice of the peace in said County, duly commissioned & authorized. The signatures of the names of said John Little & William Stites, to said Depositions, are genuine.
Witness my signature & seal of my office at Newark, October 27 th . — 1837.
E. Van Andale Clerk

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Samuel Parsons , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. W. 5493
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1776 2 years at various times until the end of the war. sergeant of Dragoons Christopher Marsh Samuel Meeker Obadiah Meeker New Jersey.   part of the time as guard to Gov. Livingston and carried express to Genl. Washington  
Battles engaged in, Short Hills, Red Bank, Mon. Aquackanack, Coomans, Springfield  (afterwards New Providence)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Turkey, Essex Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension, by widow: Oct. 19, 1837  allowed -
Residence at date of application, New Providence Twp., Essex Co., N.J.
Age at date of application, 76 yrs -
Remarks: Sol. m. - Turkey, Essex Co., N.J. Apr. 20, 1779 Mary dau. of Isaac Crane
Sol. b. July 22 1758 son of Wm Parsons + died at New Prov. Dec. 25, 1821.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington.
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington.

Morris-town Nov. 17 th 1840.
Dear Sir,
In your letter of June 22 nd 1840 relation to the case of Joseph Doty, & another of the same date relating to the case of the widow of Saml. Parsons, you state, that the papers which, had sent from the office of Secy. of State, in support of Recompence Stanbury's claim, could not be used as evidence in any other case; & that "the claimant is required to produce a certificate of the same description" &c.
Herewith is enclosed a certificate of the same character as the one referred to. Its form varies a little, but the facts are precisely the same, being copied from the same originals as those in the case of Stanbury, who belonged to the Troop of Horse of Genl. 6 th as well as well as Saml. Parsons & Joseph Doty.
They are forwarded as testimony in both cases, viz: Parsons & Doty, not doubting they will be equally available as in the case of Stanbury.
In Aug t 1839, I left in your office a Certificate under the hand & seal of our State Secy. (Wrote & Treasurer Southard ) embracing a number of names, (perhaps 20) & among others the names of Obadiah Merker & Christopher Mark - Captain of the Essex Troop, which you observed might be used in whatever cases they might be applicable. I hope you will be good enough if necessary, to compare them with the new facts, as sustaining the service of that Troop, & that you will restore the widow of Saml. Parsons & Doty, who were suspended at the same time with Stanbury, when widow has rec d . his pension to the time of his death.
Very respectfully,
Your ob l . serv t .
Levi Conduit.
Col. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

May 22 - 1840
n. f.
James L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions Washington.

Morris-town N. J. May 28 th 40.
Dear Sir,
Your letter of 23 rd . respecting Joseph Doty's suspended pension was rec d . yesterday. — You state that "needed evidence of payments to "Capt. Munker & Capt. Marsh, as well as to the Claimant, may be found "in the office of the Secretary of State at Trenton".
I infer that you have overlooked a certificate from Jas. D. Westcott or of J. Southard Secy. Secy. of State, which I left in your office late in August last, containing the names of 20 or more persons, to whom certificates had been granted for Militia service — & among others, to Joseph Doty, & more than 20 in favor of Obadiah Munker, who was a Captain of the Essex Troop of Horse during part of the war. This Troop had 4 different Captains viz: John Blanchard, Christopher Marsh, Sam l . Munker, & Obadiah Munker. Blanchard was disaffected, & resigned early in the war, & most of the services of Doty, Stansbury, Elmer, Pierson & others, of that Troop were performed by under the 3 last named.
I believe that Ob: Munker was the last Captain of the Troop, & the evidence seems to an conclusion, of much service by him. How much by Samuel, I know not. There is one memorandum on the records at Trenton of £40, or £42 — to Christopher Marsh — but whether or not it is mentioned in the paper left by me in Aug t . last, I do not know.
I wish you w d . refer to it, & give to it in favor of Doty, all the weight it may deserve. — You say nothing of the cases of Stansbury & Pierson or Pierson, both belonging to the same Troop.
Please inform me the result as to their claims.
Very respectfully
Your ob t . serv t . &c.
Lewis Condict.
James L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions.

Mary Parsons est 4 July 1836 @ $180 per annum amount paid to Lewis Conditt her attorney - say $1800 - being from 4 March 1831 to 4 th March 1841 & p d to L Conditt from 4 th March 1841 to 4 Sep 1841 - $90. — JH

The accompanying Deposition of Nehemiah Osborn, is submitted to the Commission of Pensions, as additional testimony of the Revolutionary services of Recompense Stanbury, Joseph Doty & Samuel Parsons, all belonging to the Essex Militia Cavalry of N. Jersey, & whose pensions were all suspended by order of the Commission, by letters dated March 16 & 18 th 1838. In these letters, it is suggested that Capt. Samuel Munk's Troop of Cavalry did much less duty than is alleged by these claimants, & that the Records in Trenton might perhaps furnish proof &c. - It appears by abundant proof annexed to the original papers in these cases, that Capt. Samuel Munk resigned his commission, & the same Co. was commanded afterward by Capt. Obadiah Munk, under whom, as well as under Capt. Christopher Marsh, many of their Revolutionary duties were performed. The Certificates left by L. Gondit with Col. Edwards in August '39. signed by Secretary of State, J. S. Westcott & Treasr. Southard, show conclusively, that much service was performed by Capt. Obadiah Munk. To these Certificates, the attention of Mr. Edwards is respectfully requested for the restoration of these pensioners to the Roll.
L. Gondit.
Morris town, N. J. March 26 th 1840.
Applicable to the cases of Joseph Doty Recompense Stanbury Samuel Parsons (widow) Essex Co. N. Jersey

June 1840
File
James I. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions War Department Washington

June 9. 1840
File
James I. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions War Department Washington

Morris town, June 6 th 1840.
Sir,
Your letters of the 1 st & 2 nd inst. relating to the cases of Joseph Doty, & the widow of Samuel Parsons, are both at hand. And as Doty & Parsons both belonged to the Essex troop of Horse, I reply to both letters at once.
Recompence Stansbury also belonged to the same troop, & joined it at a later period than either Doty or Parsons, having been engaged previously in an Infantry B o . under Capt. Swan, whilst the others were doing duty as Dragoons.
In your letter to Samuel B. Miller Esq. dated Nov. 8 th '39, it is stated, "the Certificate of the Secretary of State, J. D. Westcott Esq. in relation to evidence of the revolutionary services of Recompence Stansbury, has been "deemed sufficient to justify a continuance of his pension at the rate of $104.16 "p. an: up to the day of his death" &c. —
Permit me to ask your attention to that Certificate, of the Secretary, above referred to by you. — The paper therein marked No. 1, shews the proceedings of a meeting of some of the members belonging to the Essex troop, held at Eliz th town, on the 2 nd June 77, recommending Christopher Marsh, then Lieut o . to be Capt. in place of Capt. John Blanchard resigned, & Sam l . Mullen then Cornet, to be Lieut o . in place of Marsh promoted — enlisting under them & promising to服 under them. Among the 21 signers of that paper is found the name of Samuel Parsons. This I think should be satisfactory proof that Parsons had been a member under Blanchard & prior to June 2 nd 77. Doty declares he was at that meeting & concurred in all its proceedings. Stansbury's name is not subscribed to it. But there is in a subsequent paper, evidence of £7. & some odd shillings being due to him for furlough, as there is of a sum now  hard  owed  owed to Doty, in the papers left by him at your office in August last. — If the Certificate referred to above, on the 8 th Nov. last, was sufficient to restore Stansbury, it strikes me forcibly, that Parsons & Doty have equal claims — more especially with the certificates of the Treasury & Secy. & Nehemiah Osburn's deposition now on your files.
The service of Capt. Obadiah Meeker, was after the year 80, & the furlough for which certificates were given him, even to a large amount, as you must admit; & the evidence in all the 3 cases, speak of much active furlough under Capt. Obadiah Meeker, probably more than under Sam l . Meeker or Capt. Marsh. The precise time of Ob. Meeker's appointment to the command I do not recollect, but my impression is it was in 80, or 81.
With regard to the proofs of payments &c. in the Secy. of State's office, I do not believe that any more can be found there. I have sought there with

much diligence, aided by Mr. Westcott & his for Holbrook, & you have all that I can obtain, either from his office or the Treasury. And in Aug t . last, you informed me that the one certificate should be admitted & rec d . in evidence, for the benefit of all whose names were embraced in it. I therefore conclude, you do not now mean to be understood as asking for a separate certificate for each case.
If however you deem a separate copy, with  or a certificate from the Secy of State in each case to be necessary, I will obtain it, altho' it must be attended with consider- ble expense to them.
Very respectfully - your ob t . serv t
J. L. Edwards Esq r
Levi Condict.
June 9. 1840
My

Aug 3. 1842 N.Y.
To J. Randolph
J. H. Randolph
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions Washington D.C.

House of Reps Aug 3. 1842
J L Edwards Esq Sir
Will you be so good as to inform me the time amount of pension allowed to Mary Parsons widow of Samuel Parsons of Essex Co N.J. whether the same has been increased since when the same has been settled you how much has been paid -
Yours &
J. H. Randolph

1777 0. 3. 0 Supt Capt Marsh 1778 0. 3. 0 " " " 1779 0. 3. 0 1780 0. 3. 0 0. 12. 0

1907 July. 9. History to Charles H. Lovett. c 1907 July. 25 letter to above. c 1916 June 13. Hist. to Chester V. Jones
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 5493
Mary Parsons Wid. of Samuel Parsons Sergt. N.J. line
Act: July 4 th 36, sec. 2 d
Index:—Vol. Me , Page 110
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

Feb. 26, 1907.
Mr. Charles H. Lovett, 76 William St., New York, N. Y.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 13th instant and received in this Bureau on the 15th, relative to claim Widow's File #5493, Mary widow of Samuel Parsons, you are advised that the papers on file do not show that the soldier presented his horse to General Washington.
Owing to the lack of clerical force available for such a purpose, this Bureau is unable to furnish full copies of papers on file, but any person designated by you will be allowed to examine and copy the same.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

CHARLES H. LOVETT, ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW. BISHOP BUILDING. 76 WILLIAM ST. COR. LIBERTY ST. NEW YORK.
BY APPOINTMENT AT P.O. BLDG. MT. VERNON, N.Y.
TELEPHONES: 88 JOHN & 90 MT. VERNON
New York, Feb. 13, 1907.
O. W. & N. Division, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:-
Your esteemed favor of the 9th inst. headed "J. S. C. Widows File, No. 5493, Revolutionary War" with respect to Samuel Parsons of Turkey, afterwards New Providence, Essex County, N. J. is at hand for which please accept my thanks.
A story given to me from one of his descendants, now 86 years of age, and she had it from Samuel Parsons' widow, that on one occasion, Samuel Parsons while a member of the Light Horse Brigade was riding near Washington on a large white horse, which had been given to him by his father. Washington's horse was shot from under him and Mr. Parsons dismounted and gave Washington his horse which he rode during the remainder of the battle.
I am told that this story is recited in the testimony of James Dotey of New Providence, who testified in connection with Mrs. Parsons' application for a pension.
I would very much like to have a complete copy of the application for the pension with the accompanying evidence, if any, and if there is any charge for the same, I shall be very glad to remit.
Thanking you in advance for your courtesy in the matter, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
Charles H. Lovett

CHARLES H. LOVETT, ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW. BISHOP BUILDING. 76 WILLIAM ST., COR. LIBERTY ST. NEW YORK.
BY APPOINTMENT AT P.O. BLDG. MT. VERNON, N.Y.
TELEPHONES: 88 JOHN & 90 MT. VERNON
New York, Jan. 30, 1907.
Pension Office,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:-
My wife, Florence M. Lovett, is the daughter of Mary E. Mills who is the daughter of Mary C. Nobles, both of whom are living.
Mary C. Nobles was the daughter of Parker Parcells and Mary Miller Parcells his wife.
Mary Miller Parcells was the daughter of Samuel Parsons, who lived, died and is buried in New Providence, N. J.
Samuel Parsons served in the Revolutionary War, being a member of the light horse brigade. He served with Washington in or about Morristown, N. J. and it is said that on one occasion when Washington's horse was shot from under him, Mr. Parsons dismounted and gave Washington his horse which he rode during the remainder of the battle.
Mr. Parsons lost one hand while serving in the Revolutionary War and his hearing was largely impaired. I am told that he refused to apply for a pension but after his death, his wife, Mary Crane Parsons, applied for and obtained a pension with back pay.
Mary Crane Parsons was a daughter of Isaac Crane of New Providence, N. J.
Mary C. Nobles, Mary E. Mills and my wife, Florence M. Lovett are desirous of joining the Daughters of the American Revolution and my daughter contemplates joining the Junior Society.
If you are in a position to give me any information with reference to the services rendered by Samuel Parsons or Isaac Crane, or both, it will be very greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance for any information you may be able to give me, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
Charles H. Lovett

Rev Sec vac
THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON IRVING LINCOLN ADAMS FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT JOHN LAWRENCE BOGGS SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT SAMUEL CRAIG COWART SECRETARY JOHN RANDEL WEEKS TREASURER ARTHUR METCALF MORSE REGISTRAR GEORGE H. RICHARDS
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
AUGUSTUS S. CRANE HERBERT ROYAL CRANE FREDERIC DEGARMAR HAHN SAMUEL CHUDLEIGH HICKS NEHEMIAH PERRY HOWELL GEORGE VAIL MUCHMORE WILLIAM JAMES OSBORN DAVID LAWRENCE PIERSON JOHN BREWER WIGHT RICHARD TIMBROOK WILSON
HEADQUARTERS:
756 BROAD STREET (ENTRANCE 1 CLINTON ST.) NEWARK, N. J. TELEPHONE 3085-M MARKET
New York, N.Y., June 8th., 1916. 299 Broadway.
Mr. G. M. Saltzgaber, Commissioner of Pensions - Dept. Interior, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
One Samuel Parsons of New Providence, Essex County, New Jersey, is supposed to have served in the Revolutionary War with the Essex County Militia, in the same Regiment with James Doty, Joseph Doty and Nehemiah Osborn. ✓
Will you kindly advise me if you have any record of application being made for a pension by this Samuel Parsons, or by his widow, Mary Parsons, and if so will you give me the benefit of your records as far as it refers to his military service.
Yours very truly,
Cluster Jones

State of New Jersey, Morris County ss:
Before the subscriber, a justice of peace in said County, personally appeared Nehemiah Osborn, an aged citizen, residing in said County, & believed by me to be a man of truth & fair character, who being
duly sworn according to law, saith as follows viz: — I am now in the 78 th year of my age, was a Militia soldier in the war of the revolution, & then resided in Essex County, of said State, where my revolutionary services were principally performed.
I was personally well acquainted with Samuel Parsons, who was a Horseman in the Essex Troop of Cavalry during the whole period of the said war, which was commanded by Captains Christopher Mearns, Samuel Meeker & Obadiah Meeker, & probably longer by Capt. Obadiah Meeker than by either of the other two Captains. Samuel Parsons was a Sergeant in said company from an early period of the war, to its close. He was proud of his good horse — was thoroughly equipped — an active horseman, & a brave & determined man. I lived near him in my boyhood — we were well acquainted, & I also knew his wife, Mary Parsons, then Mary Crane; — we all lived in Turkey, now called New Providence, Essex County, N. Jersey.
I was also well acquainted personally well acquainted with Joseph Doty who lived in the same neighbourhood & also belonged to the same Troop of Horse. Recompense Stansbury, who lived on the other side of the hills East of New Providence, was also a member of the same Troop of Horse, & I have very often seen all 3 of these men, viz: Parsons, Stansbury & Doty, performing duty in the Essex Troop of Horse in the revolutionary war, in defence of our country. I knew several others of my neighbours belonging also to the same Troop, not now living, among whom were Samuel Crane, Nathaniel Crane, Michael Roff, John Wilcox, Thomas Osborn, Nathan Biddle, John Walker & Isaac Halsey.
Matthias Denman, now living at Springfield, also belonged to the same Troop. I very frequently met this Troop of Horse on Militia service along the enemy's lines, protecting the country & its inhabitants against the desolating ravages of the enemy, who were possessed of Staten Island & New York. On some occasions, & especially when the enemy were in force, & threatened some particular point or town, the Troop acted in a body together; & at other times I have seen smaller bodies of them, as 6 or more, & again perhaps 10 or more, under a Sergeant's command — or a Cornet's command, according to the number present. I well recollect Samuel Parsons as a Sergeant, sometimes having command of a guard composed of horsemen of this Troop. I recollect Sargt. Parsons & Recompense Stansbury & Joseph Doty near Amboy, on public Militia duty in summer season; — I have seen them all engaged on duty at Elizabeth town several times, with the Troop; & also at Woodbridge, at the Blazing Star ferry opposite Staten Island. I have seen them on Militia duty at Newark several times, & not less than 3 or 4 times in different months & years. I recollect seeing them at Strawberry hill, engaging a party of the enemy, who were taken or surprised, as they were moving har-

in Col. Conway's meadow, & made them prisoners, & took 30 or 40 Hessian & other fugitive tools. This I think was in July 77 or 78. — In Wood bridge the Militia had an engagement with a British regiment from Amboy, near to our Doctor Bland's, a distinguished Tory. Colonel Potter I think commanded our Militia, & Myles Canady was engaged in the fight, which was a sharp one. Sergeant Parsons, with Stansbury & Doty were engaged in it. This I believe was in 1778, in the spring season & warm weather — probably in May.
I remember Capt. Mucken Troop of Horse at the Springfield battle, in June 80 — & before it, at the battle of Connecticut Farms, in both of which, all the Militia of the Country were present. Parsons, with Stansbury & Doty were present & were actively engaged.
I often met them singly, acting as I believe, as videttes, watching the movements of the enemy, & conveying information from one detachment of our army to another.
I cannot undertake to tell how much service was performed by these Horsemen; but I believe I saw them engaged in performing duty as Dragoons, in every year of the war after 76, & I believe also that Samuel Parsons performed service in that troop in that year, viz: in 76: & from the best of my remembrance, it is my belief, that these 3 men performed active & faithful duty as horsemen, in every month of each year of the war after 76, except perhaps some winter months, when the severity of the weather shut up the enemy within their camp. — Joseph Doty is still living near me. & Mrs. Parsons, widow of Sergeant Samuel Parsons, has lived near me until a few months past, when she removed to Newark as I am informed, with one of her children. She still is the widow of Samuel Parsons.
Sworn & subscribed before me at Morristown New Jersey, this 8 th of October, 1839.
Silas L. Condict Esq.
Ex-Rhenia O'Brien
I, David B. Hadd, Clerk of Morris County certify, that
Silas L. Condict Esq. before whom the foregoing deposition was taken, is a magistrate & was at the time of the taking thereof, duly authorized & commissioned as a Justice of the peace for said County, & that the signature of his name thereto, Silas L. Condict, is genuine.
Witness my hand & seal of office at Morristown, this 26 th March 1840.
David B. Hadd Clerk

State of New Jersey, Essex County ss.
Before the subscriber, a Justice of Peace in said County, personally appeared
Sarah Elmer, aged 67 years in June 1837, who is well known to me to be a
woman of trust & of unblemished character, & having been duly sworn according
to law saith as follows, viz: — I am now in the 68 th year of my age. Mary Parsons, widow of Sam l . Parsons dec d . now an applicant for a pension, is my elder sister. We were daughters of Isaac Crane, who lived & died in this parish & township, in the house wherein my said sister Mary now lives, which is within a mile of my own residence. Samuel Parsons & my said sister Mary Crane, now Mary Parsons were married at my father's house, by the Rev d . Jonathan Elmer, Minister of the Presbyterian Church in this place, & father of my husband Nathan Elmer. I was present myself at their marriage, & remember it distinctly. It took place on the 20 th day of April, 1779. Samuel Parsons & his wife Mary lived together as husband & wife, within half a mile of me, till his death, which happened on the 2 nd December 1821, & Mary Parsons has remained a widow to the present time. They had no children until they had been married more than 3 years.
Sworn & subscribed before me, at New Providence
on the 19 th day of October, 1837.
John Little Justice of the Peace
Sarah Elmer

3137
New Jersey Morris County
Mary Parsons Widow of Sam d . Parsons. } Pension Application
admitted 2 yrs. Agent's Com. $180.
Return to Louis Condiet Morris town, N. Jersey.
Hon. G. L. Southard Senate U.S.

State of New Jersey, Morris County ss.
Be it known, that before me, the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County, personally appear Colonel Recompence Stansbury of Essex County, an aged & most respectable man, for truth & integrity who having by me been duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare as follows, viz: I am now in the year of my age, was a Soldier in the war of the revolution throughout the whole period of the war. Most of my services were in the Cavalry. I belonged to the Essex County Troop of Horse, commanded at first by Capt. Samuel Meeker, & afterwards by Obadiah Meeker, & by Captain Christopher Marsh.
I remember well, Samuel Parsons, as a member of that Troop. He belonged to it (I cannot tell how long) from several years , & performed faithful & active duties therein to the end of the war. The Cavalry service was performed so much in small & detached parties & squads, & these parties were frequently separated from each other at such distances, as not to have very frequent intercourse with other individuals of the same troop, except when the whole Militia force was concentrated for action. Our duties were to reconnoitre & watch the movements of the enemy at their different stations - to carry orders, dispatches & tidings from one post to another. The Cavalry service was more constant & continuous than the Infantry, which was sometimes relieved by fresh recruits. — I cannot recollect the time when Parsons joined the Troop, but I know he did Horseman's duty for several years, & was an active & faithful Soldier from the time he joined us, till the war ended. Our duties were performed all along the enemy's lines, from the Hudson to the Delaware river, & our stations for our small divisions of the Troop came often changed according to the position of the enemy & other circumstances. We were at Hackensack, Aquackanonk, Second river, Connecticut farm, Westfield, Springfield, Elizabeth town, Scotch plain, Scituate town, Brunswick, Roundbrook Millstone & Pluckemin & many other places. Parsons I verily believe was, with others & with me, at all these places, & at many of them at many different times, performing Horseman's duty in that Troop under his officers. I am confident he has been with me on duty, at all the above named places, - but it is not in my power to say how often, nor to state how long at any one place, nor to ascertain the month or the year in which any particular service was performed. We had many fights & skirmishes with the enemy, - at Springfield - Connecticut farm - Brunswick town - Roundbrook - near Amboy & other places, in which our Horse participated, & in which I verily believe Parsons shared & did his duty, altho' my memory is too indistinct to specify & particularize any individual, or point out any one occasion, beyond another. I sworn & subscribed before me, at Morris town, January 25 th 1837.
Ebenezer Ward J. P.
Recompence Stansbury

Morris County New Jersey
I, Joseph Dalrimple Esq. Clerk of Morris County, hereby certify that Elijah Ward Esq. before whom the within deposition of Reuben Stansbury was taken on the 26 th Jan y 1837, was, at the time of taking thereof, a justice of peace, duly commissioned & authorized, & that the signature of his name thereto, "Elijah Ward", is genuine. Witness my signature & seal of office at Morristown, October 21 st 1837.
Jos Dalrimple Clk by N Dalrimple

State of New Jersey Dept County of Essex The deponent of Middlesex - as Deponent of Springfield of full age taken the eighth day of February 1837 before the undersigned one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Essex - The said Matthias DeMunnick hereunto duly sworn answered to wit on his oath saith, That but the commencement of the revolutionary war in the fall of 1775 or spring of 1776 a Company of Cavalry was organized by Captain Blanchard & for a time com- manded by him, that it was, after- wards commanded successively by Cap- tains Samuel Meeker, Black Meeker and Christopher Marsh, and that the said Company either as a whole or a part was continually in service - That Deponent was a Member of said Company and knew & was well acquain- ted with Samuel Parsons of New Providence now deceased who was a Member of the same Company, that he was a Son of William Parsons of New Providence, who also was a Member of said Company at or near the time of its organization but who soon after withdrew and his Son the said Samuel Parsons entered the Company and continued in it a very active Member and good Soldier until the close of the war - That the said Samuel was then young when he first entered the Company - That the said Company Volunteered for five months and served from January 1777 to June the same year under the immediate command of General Mawell who then was

Stated at Westfield in this county and that said James Darrow was a member of said Company at that time March.
Matthew D. Darrow
Sworn to before me
on the 8th day of
July 1837 by the Rev
Matthew Darrow
to the best of his knowledge
and belief.
William Hites

Certificate of Rev. T. Cochran respecting Marriage of Samuel & Mary Parsons.
on the 19th October 1834 before me

State of New Jersey, Essex  Middlesex County, ss:
Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for Essex County aforesaid personally appeared Joseph Doty of said County, an aged citizen, well known to me personally many years as a man of truth & fair character, who being duly sworn according to law, said as follows, viz:
I am in the 86 th year of my age, was a soldier of Militia in the revolutionary war & was well acquainted personally with Samuel Parsons. We were boys together, & lived within a mile or two of each other. In the first year of the war (76,) I belonged to Capt. Wood's Infantry Company & performed part of my revolutionary service in his company. I then joined the Essex County troop of Militia Cavalry, which was a regularly organized troop & commanded part of the time first, by Captain Marsh, then by Captain Samuel Meeker, afterwards by Capt. Obadiah Meeker, & by Captain Christopher Meeker . Samuel Parsons belonged to that troop when I joined it, & was a sergeant in it, & performed the duties of a sergeant of Cavalry, throughout the war. He belonged to the same troop when the war first began, & I frequently saw him performing horseman's duty therein, when I was performing Infantry service under Capt. Wood. I was in the 7 th battle of Springfield in Dec. 76, & recollect Samuel Parsons then on horseman's duty in the same Troop. — I often saw him in the winter of 77 in the neighborhood of N. Brunswick & Amboy, when I was in the 3 months service. He was on duty on that station & in that neighborhood from early in January, till some time in April, when the enemy marched from Amboy & Brunswick & was engaged with the troop in several skirmishes that winter; at Ash Swamp, Woodbridge, Short Hills & Bound Brook. Our Cavalry duties in this troop were almost constant & continuous, being at home but a very few days at a time, for supply of clothing, by permission of our officers, & returning immediately to active duties. We had no relief by other horse, there being no other troop in Essex County to relieve us. We were generally divided into small parties of 5 or 8, or 10, having sometimes a sergeant, & sometimes a cornet or lieutenant to command us. We were stationed often with bodies of Infantry, & stretched along the frontier & the enemy's lines, to watch their movements & carry tidings & despatches to other stations. Sometimes we were divided as before stated, & were ordered to guard Courts of Justice & the Committee of Safety, & warn them of movements of the enemy. Some of us acted often as body guard to Gov. Livingston; & in all of these duties, Samuel Parsons was often associated with me, & was our sergeant. In the year of the Monmouth battle, (78) I acted as part of body guard for Governor Livingston, & was with him at Morris town & elsewhere, viz: at Amboy, New Brunswick, Middletown & Black Point, where the French fleet then lay. We escorted & guarded Paton Dennis & one Van Landt, confidential agents of Gov. Livingston to the Commandant of the fleet. Saml. Parsons was with us on this guard to Gov. Livingston, & returned with us & with the Gov. back to Morris town, after his interview with the Commanding officer of the fleet. This service was in the summer season. From Morris town, we were ordered to join the troop at Elizabeth town, another guard being designated for the Governor, & we had our headquarters at Staten Island. We had several skirmishes with the enemy about this fall 78, viz: at Bellersville on the Raritan river — at Aquackanack, & near Hackensack. The whole troop were together, with Sergeant Parsons also — Genl. Wines commanding the whole.

It is impossible to estimate with any accuracy, the precise amount of Cavalry duties performed by our troop or by any one member of it. It was not strictly a constant nor continuous service, for sometimes in the dead of winter, when both armies were in winter quarters, we were permitted to be at home with our families for a week or two. Yet often, even in the dead of winter, we were ordered out, to carry dispatches & orders from post to post; & in the spring & summer & fall seasons, we were very often permitted to visit our homes, except for a day, or a night, for a change of clothes. I believe there was not a month, in any year of the war, after I joined the Cavalry in '77, in which Parsons & I were not engaged in the active performance of Horseman's duty. — I was with Parsons on an excursion into the Enemy's lines on Staten Island, reconnoitring, in the fall of the year, & I think, & in the year '78. We had to swim our horses across a creek. Parsons continued in this Troop of Horse with me until the war ended, & was a Sergeant throughout. He was an active man & good soldier, & always mounted a fine active horse. We found our own horses & equipments.
I only believe Saml. Parsons performed not less than 3 years of faithful active service in the Cavalry from beginning to the end of the war. He was married about the year '79, to Mary Crane, daughter of Isaac Crane in New Providence, then called Turkey, in Essex County, by whom he had a family of children. Samuel Parsons died about the year 1821. His widow, Mary Parsons is yet living in New Providence, & is his widow still, having never married since his death. Saml. Parsons & his wife lived together as husband & wife till his death, nor was their marriage  even questioned or doubted by any of their neighbors. whether I sworn & subscribed at New Providence
on this 19 th October, 1837 before me Joseph L. Galt John Little Justice of the Peace

This is to certify that (I have examined the records of the Presbyterian Church in New Providence, in the County of Essex and state of New Jersey, and of which I am at present, Pastor, for the purpose of finding the marriage of Mary Parsons widow of Samuel Parsons - who states that she was married in the year by the Rev. a Son. a Elmer then Pastor of this church. and whose (I have every reason to believe) book of record, of Marriages &c I have examined. but owing, (as stated in said book of records) to the unsettled state of the times, the marriages were not recorded from the thirtieth of May 1776 until 4 th of April 1779 - which book has no record of her marriage - New Providence Thomas Cochran
Octo 31 1837
I hereby certify that Rev. Thos. Cochran, above named, is the stated Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in New Providence Essex County
Morris town N. J. Dec. 27 th 1837.
Simon Condict, a form. Representation in Corp. of the

State of New Jersey Essex County ss.
Before the subscriber, a justice of peace in & for the County of Essex aforesaid, personally appeared James Doty of said County, an aged & respected citizen well known to me personally for many years, as a man of truth & fair character, who having been by me duly sworn according to law, saith as follows, viz:
I am now in the 81 st year of my age, was a soldier of Militia in the war of the revolution & was well acquainted with Samuel Parsons before, as well as throughout the war, & until his death. We were boys together in the same neighborhood & township. I belonged to Captain Scudder's company of foot, & Samuel Parsons was a horseman, belonging to the Cavalry company of the Essex County Militia, which in the war was commanded by Captain Meeker, & part of the time by Captain Christopher Marsh, in which troop it was then believed he was a Sergeant & performed the duties of a Sergeant of Cavalry. I have often seen Samuel Parsons engaged in performing Cavalry duties in that troop or company of Militia at many places upon & near the enemy's lines, altho' at this late period I can specify but a few of the many places & times when & where I have seen him so engaged. I have seen him engaged in Militia duties often at Elizabeth town, at Rahway, at Tumbly's point, at Woodbridge, at Amboy, at N. Brunswick, at Springfield, at Connecticut farms, & at Staten Island. That troop, in which Parsons was a Sergeant, was employed in active duties throughout the war - sometimes acting together when the enemy was concentrated, but more frequently divided into small parties of 4 or 6, & sometimes 8 or 10 & attached to different portions of Militia Infantry stationed along the enemy's lines, to watch their movements, & carry tidings & orders from one station to another. Their duties were believed to be more permanent & more constant than that of Infantry companies, they being less frequently relieved & discharged, there being no other company of horse in the County to take their places. - I was once on an excursion upon Staten Island, which was enemy's quarters throughout the war, & Saml. Parsons was with us. We went out in the night, expecting to take some prisoners - had encounter with the enemy's guard twice & routed them. It was in the fall season, before Saratoga, & I believe in the fall before the Monmouth battle. Parsons had taken a black boy captain & was bringing him off. The enemy reinforced & pursued closely. He had to swim a creek & was obliged to drop his boy. - I recollect Parsons was on duty with his whole company at the battle & burning of Connecticut farms village in the spring of 1780, & again in June & July at the battle & burning of Springfield in the same year. - He was also with us at the battles of Short hills & ash swamp, & in the winter of 1777 he & the troop to which he belonged were on duty all winter from early in January to soon in April, in the neighborhood of New Brunswick, when the enemy quarters in Brunswick & in Amboy. He was with the troop at Aquackanack under Genl. Ward, in an engagement with the enemy at the bridge, & again in another skirmish with them near Hackensack. My own Militia tours of duty in common cases were of a month's duration except in the winter when the enemy quarters in Amboy & Brunswick when we were out in constant service. When I saw Parsons on duty in Eliz th town & other places above mentioned, when I was performing tours of a month myself, I usually found Parsons there, & left him there, frequently being sent off upon excursions of duty & again returning. Parsons married Mary Crane, daughter of Isaac Crane of this neighborhood before the war ended, & lived together as husband & wife until his death which was 12 years or longer since, perhaps, & she remains his widow to this time. Sworn & subscribed before me New Providence Oct. 19 th 1837.
John Little Justice of the Peace James D Doty

State of New Jersey Essex County ss:
Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in & for said County of Essex, personally appeared Nathan Elmer of said County, to me well known as a man of truth & fair character, who being duly sworn according to law, on his oath saith as follows, viz. — I was a soldier in the revolutionary war & performed Militia duties in the Militia of Essex County, — the first portion of my service was in the Infantry, & the latter part, in the Cavalry of Essex County commanded by Capt. Meeker. I was a near neighbour of Saml. Parsons all my life time, till Parsons death, in 1821, or about that time. Parsons was older than myself by some 4 or 5 years. My first Militia service was in Capt. Saml. S. Wood's company of Infantry, & Saml. Parsons had then been a Sergeant in Meeker's Cavalry some years. He had the house in the early part of the war, not later than '77, & in the first part of the year, or perhaps in the latter part of '76. — I often saw him as a horseman, performing Militia duties under his officer, before I joined the troop myself, which was in the year 1780, or 81. I recollect Thos. Osborn, John Wilcox, Nathan Bedell, John Walker, John T. Trow, Benj. Bedell, Isaac Staley, Nathl. Crane, Jos. Staley, Saml. Staley, as well as Saml. Parsons, who were my neighbours & acquaintances, all belonged to this troop when I joined it, not one of whom is now living except myself.
Our duties in this Cavalry service, were performed differently from those of the Infantry. They were relieved occasionally, doing duty by days alternately, except when the danger was great, by the enemy being strong & invading the County, when all turned out. The Cavalry Company was divided in small parties of 6 or 8 or 10, under command of a subaltern officer, & attached to portions of Infantry along the frontier lines, to watch the enemy, & carry tidings & orders from place to place. — Sometimes I was with Parsons, & at times we were separated. I was with  and him going to Morris town, when had quarters were there & I was often with him at Elizabeth town, Springfield, Scotch plains, Connecticut farms, Chatham, Bound brook; how long at each place, or at any one place, I cannot say. I was with him at Connecticut farms both in '80, & at Springfield afterwards, in the same year. We were together at Vail town & Basking ridge & Pluckemin, when the Pennsylvania troops threatened a revolt. He (Parsons) as well as the other troops, were stationed at home, more than a day or a night, for clothes, always with permission of our officer, & acting in obedience to their orders. Sometimes in winter, when the enemy were in quarters, we were at home perhaps a week or so — but often in winter, sent off with orders, or despatches to some distant post. We were more frequently under command of Genl. Winder, & Genl. Dickinson, than of other officers. — Our service was so nearly constant, it is difficult to say how much duty was done in any one year; but I only believe, that Samuel Parsons was actively engaged in Cavalry duties under his officer, from the time I joined the troop to the end of the year 1782, more than one half of the time, always performing the duty of a Sergeant, finding his own horse & equipments. — I have been personally well acquainted with Mary Parsons,

widow of Samuel Parsons, now applying for a pension, ever since their marriage which took place in the time of the war. She then lived a near neighbour to me, & still lives within a mile of me. Her husband died about the year 1821, in the winter season, & she has remained a widow ever since his death. Altho' I cannot tell the precise time of their marriage, I believe I was not present at their marriage, ceremony which was performed by my father, the Rev. Jon a . Elmer in the year 1779, in the spring of the year. I saw them at Church together on the following Sabbath, as a wedding party. — I recollect in the year when Genl. Washington's head quarters were at Morristown, in 1780. I saw Saml. Parsons mounted as a Dragoon Sergeant, in his Regimentals, having in charge a Prisoner or Deserter, disarmed & on horseback, whom he was conducting to Morristown. This was a year or more after Parsons marriage.
Sworn & subscribed before me this 19 th day of October, 1837.
Nathaniel Hovey
John Little Justice of the Peace
The precise amount of Militia duties performed by any Dragoon in the Militia Cavalry of N. Jersey in time of the Rev. war, cannot be ascertained by any one who was engaged in it, as must be evident by the testimony of all the witnesses. — Matthias Denman testifies that Muhlens troop volunteered as a troop for 5 months service in 77, & that Parsons performed that service, viz: from Jan y to June, under Genl. Maxwell, stationed at Westfield. This service, in addition to that testified by all the other witnesses, must be satisfactory, that not less than 2 years service must have been performed by Parsons during the war. Joseph Dotz, Reconcance Starbuck, (perhaps John Cram & Matthias Denman) rec d . pensions for Cavalry service in the same troop. Joseph Britton, & some others rec d . pensions for the same kind of service in Arnold's Horse of Morris Militia, to which cases, the commission of Pensions is respectfully referred. They all found their own Horses & arms, & rec d . higher emoluments & pay. Parsons as a Sergeant of Dragoons, will be entitled to a higher pay.

Service of Samuel Parsons, a Sergeant in Captain Meekins Troop of Horse, in the Revolutionary war.
The New Jersey Militia Cavalry performed their service in a manner so different from the Infantry, that the mode of computing the latter by monthly terms , will not apply to the former. Cavalry service was neither quite contin- uous - nor was it monthly . No one who looks at the testimony of Stansbury, Doty, & Elmer, can hesitate in saying, that the Troop was in service actively, (sometimes as an entire Corps, & at other times in divided squads) not less than 6 months in each year of the war. - Joseph Doty says expressly, that Parsons was engaged in active Cavalry duty as a Sergeant, not less than 3 years. Matts. Denman says the whole troop volunteered at one time for 5 months, & that Parsons was with them. - Doty & Stansbury, & John Green of this troop have all been pensioned for two full years service. Parsons belonged to it from beginning, or very nearly from beginning, to the end of the war, & must have performed more than two years service, as Sergeant of Dragoons.