Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 909, William Blair, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Blair, William Jane
R. 909
CONTENTS

No 411 Jane Beain mo of William Pr
act 29 July 1848
William Beain Muscum, 2nd Reynold's (sic) July 1 1778 for war

State of Pennsylvania County of Greene ss. On this 28 th day of July 1849, personally appeared before me Mark Gordon, a Judge in and for said county, Jane Blair, a resident of the township of "Wayne" in the county of Greene, State of Pennsylvania aged seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed on the 2 d of February 1848.
This declarant states that she is the lawful widow of William Blair deceased a soldier in the war of the revolution, and who died on the twenty eighth (28 th ) day of December in the year eighteen hundred & twenty nine, (1829).
This declarant further states from inform- ation and belief, that the aforesaid William Blair served as a drummer in the war of the revolution, in the New Jersey Line up- wards of two years, that he enlisted on the 1 st of February 1778 in the 2 d New Jersey Regiment, & was attached to Captain Hardin's Company, & continued the  from the time of said enlistment in said service without any intermission, until after the 1 st of August 1780. and further states that she believes some description of the service of the said William Blair in the revolution may be found, in an affidavit made by the said Blair in the year 1829, at which time he was called on to give testimony to the service of William Dew late a pensioner of the United States from the aforesaid County

of Greene, that said affidavit is supposed to be on file in the Pension Office at Washington with the declaration of said Pew, transmitted about the 1 st of January 1830. She further believes that the said William Blair transmitted some papers to the War Department at Washington in support of his claim to a pension about the time of his decease.
This declarant further states that her maid -en name was Jane Mason that she was married to the said William Blair by a Baptist Minister named John Cook, that said marriage took place in the county of Bedford State of Pennsylvania in the Month of March in the year seventeen hundred and ninety seven (1797), at the house of John Mason, that several persons were present at the ceremony of her marriage among whom is Elizabeth Pates now a resident of Washington County in said State. This declarant further states that the annexed record is the original record of the ages of her children had by the said William Blair, & is in the hand writing of her aforesaid husband & was made by him many years since & is now in her  hand  and  has  been - and has been preserved by herself & husband as their only proper & correct record since the time it was made. This declarant further states that she lived in lawful wedlock with the said William Blair, from the time of their marriage, to the period of his death, and that since his decease she has not again intermarried but remains his widow.
This declarant further states that she

had one child born as the fruits of her aforesaid Marriage with William Blair before 1800, whose name was Rebecca, & that she had several other children born after that time.
And further declarant saith not Sworn to & subscribed before me this
28 th day of July 1849.
Mark Gendler, Judge
Jane her Blair Mark
State of Pennsylvania County of Greene, ss. I hereby certify that the above named Jane Blair is unable by reason of old age and bodily infirmity to appear in Open Court and make her declaration; and further certify that satisfactory evidence was adduced before me that William Blair the husband of the above named Jane a soldier in the revolution died on the twenty eighth (28 th ) day of December in the year eighteen hundred & twenty nine, (1829). And that the said Jane still remains his widow.
Mark Gendler, Judge

State of Pennsylvania County of Greene ss.
I Henry L. Pennock Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do hereby certify that Mark Gordon Esquire is a Judge duly qualified & commissioned to act as such in the County aforesaid, and was at the date of the aforesaid declar- -ation duly commissioned - and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and annexed the seal of said Court and County this 3 rd day of July - 1849.
H. L. Pennock Prothonotary

State of Pennsylvania County of Greene ss
Personally appeared before me Jo s Drake a Justice of the Peace in & for said County Elizabeth Oakes resident of Washi- ngton County in said state, aged 66 years, and after being duly sworn according to law, saith that she was personally acquainted with William Blair deceased late of the said County of Greene a soldier of the revolution and his widow Jane Blair, whose maiden name was Jane Mason & who is now living in the Township of Wayne in the said County of Greene - that she knew the said William Blair & Jane Blair one or two years prior to their marriage and has been acquainted with them both & has lived not far from them from the time of their marriage up to the time of the death of the said William Blair . This deponent further states that she was present at the wedding of the said William & Jane Blair and witnessed the solemnization of their marriage, that they were married by a Baptist Minister named John Cook in the County of Bedford in said State of Pennsylvania in the month of March in the year seventeen hundred & ninety seven (1797) (as this declarant believes) at the house of John Mason the father of the said Jane. This declarant deponent further states that the first child of the said William & Jane Blair was born prior to 1800 that its name was Rebecca Blair, that the second & third child of the said William & Jane Blair were born prior to this deponents own mar- riage with Isaac Oakes that the names of said

Children were Mary & William Blair -
This deponent further states that her own marriage with the said Isaac Cakes occurred on the eleventh (11 th ) day of March in the year eighteen hundred & four (1804) - that she had a record of her marriage for many years after it occurred but that it is now lost; that she is positive of the fact that her own birth occurred on the 23 rd Feb 1783, from the fact being told to her when a child by her parents - that she is also quite positive that her own marriage took place the month after she became twenty one years old - & that the (3) three children of William & Jane Blair afore-said viz Rebecca, Mary, & William Blair were born prior to her own marriage .
This deponent further states that she thinks she cannot well be mistaken in any of the facts above stated although she has now no record to aid her memory -
And further saith not -
Sworn & subscribed this 29 th day of March 1849 -
Before me -
J. Drake J.P.
Elizabeth Cakes
I do hereby certify that I have known the above witness Elizabeth Cakes by character & reputation for several years & that I believe her to be a most intelligent & credible witness & that she bears a good reputation among those who are acquainted with her -
J. Drake

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Greene County S.S.
I Henry L. Pennock Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Greene, do certify, that Joseph Drake before whom, the affidavit hereto attached, appears have been made was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County; duly commissioned and qualified, to all whose acts as such full faith and credit are due: And that the signatures thereto purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court at Waynesburg the Third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine H. L. Pennock Prothonotary

75 FAMILY
BIRTHS.
William Blair Sun was born April the A.D. 1754
John Blair was born October the first A.D. 1773
Rebecca Blair was born April the 4 A.D. 1799
Mary Blair was born June the 9 A.D. 1800
William Blair was born January the 31 A.D. 1822
Martha Rogers was born December the 1827 1828

Further evidence as to date of mar. + identity of soldier -

In reply to your request of _____, received for a statement of the military history of William Blair 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.
Rej-909
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Feb. 1, 1778 Drum - Hendrey Handy / N.J.   to Aug. 1, 1780  
Office note: The affidavit said to have been made in 1829 in the claim of William Penn (widow) is not found among the papers in said claim. Aug. 11, 1849. May 1, 1907 S.S.
Battles engaged in, /
Residence of soldier at enlistment, /
Date of application for pension, July 28, 1849 -
Residence at date of application, Washington Co., Pa.
Age at date of application, born Oct. 1, 1773.
Remarks: Col born Sept. 4, 1754 died Dec. 28, 1829. He married in mid 1797. Jane Mason dau. of John Mason - Their ch. were: ch. Rebecca b. Sept. 4, 1797 Mary b. June 9, 1800. Thos. July 31, 1802. Claim was not allowed as proof of soldier's identity and marriage were never furnished.
Very respectfully,

N 411
Jane Blair
Pu
Lit. to Morris Owen Esq.
August 11-47.
Jane Blair
909
act 29 July 1848

Manning Park, W. Va. April 5-1907
U.S. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:- Will you kindly look over your records for one of Pensions granted Jane Mason Blair, a widow of William Blair, Revolutionary Soldier.
We do not know that the said soldier drew a pension, but do know the wife did.

Thanking you in advance for any information you may have - I am, Sincerely yours, Hattie Stewart Phillips.

1907 May 2. Hish to Gertie Stewart Phillips c
Ex'r.
INVALID.
1907
Jane Blair
P.O. Mid. 9th
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

Pittsburgh Penn a August 14 th /49
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you the application of Jane Blair for a pension; requesting to be placed on the Pension roll under the act of February 2 d 1842. Which embraces her declaration, & family record, & the affidavit of Mrs Elizabeth Dake, to her marriage with William Blair deceased. also a certificate of Mr Blair's service.
(Very) Respectfully Yours Morris Owen
Hon J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

Return of the noncommissioned Officers & Privates of the Second Jersey Regiment in Service in January 1781 with the Sums due to each on account of the depreciation of their pay agreeably to an Act of the Legislature passed Jan y 6. 1781.
Cap t . Hendrys Comp y !
   Names Rank Time in Service Pay p m m c Am t of Deprec n State Notes Cash rec d of Com y Bal ce due     William Blair Drummer Feb. 1. 1778 to Aug. 1. 1780 2. 13. 0 74. 5. 0 4. 0. 0 1. 17. 6 68. 7. 6  
State of New Jersey
I Charles G. McChesney Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby Certify that the foregoing is a true extract from Book W of Auditor's Accounts page 12. as taken from and compared with the original record in my office.
In Testimony whereof I have here to set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Trenton this thirtieth day of July one thousand eight hundred forty nine
Charles G. McChesney, Sec y of State