Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6602, John Best, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Best, John
S. 6602
carded
CONTENTS

Pennsylvania 26.390
John Best
He was a Private in the State of Pa who was a Private in the Company commanded Captain Dunn of the Key Stone Battery commanded by Major in the 1st Pa. Battery for Philadelphia
5' 10" Wt 135 lbs
Inscribed on the Roll of John Best at the rate of 21 Dollars 53 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of June and 1831 to John Best
Arrears to the 4th of March  65.00 Pension allowance ending July 1st 1832  11.83 3/4
$76.83 3/4 { Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. D. Sprague Clerk, Book 5 Vol. 5 Page 5
Pensions & Pension Agents June 13, 1837.

31.149 Declaration of John Best Pennsylvania
for 1777 per 6 1/4 $ 21.66 \frac{2}{3}
76
Hon. J. B. Anthony

State of Pennsylvania } Union county - }
On this 19th. day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the court of Common Pleas, in and for said county, at New Berlin, now sitting, John Best a resident of White Deer Township, in the county of Union aforesaid, and state of Pennsylvania, aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his solemn oath, make the the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
That he lived in Lebanon Township, in the county of Hunterdon, state of New Jersey, when he was called into the service the first, as well as every subsequent time. That he was draughted in the year 1777, he thinks in the fall of that year. His captain's name was William Gerhart & Col. John Taylor. That he marched from Lebanon aforesaid, to the Raritan River, in the state aforesaid; That he was draughted for one month; That after the month had expired, he rec d . a written discharge, but what has become of it, he can't now say.
That several months after he returned home from the aforesaid tour, he thinks next fall, he was draughted again for two months, and marched in Capt. Thos. Jones' Comp. & Col. Taylor's Regt. That he marched from the same place, to a place called Boundbrook, in the same state; otherwise called Millstone, where he was in an engagement with the British, whom they beat. That after the two months had expired, he got a written discharge, which is also lost. That after he was discharged he returned home.
That a couple months after his return from the last of the aforesaid tours, he thinks in the spring, of 1779, he was again draughted for two months; That he marched from the same place, under Capt. Godfrey Reinhardt & Col. John McMillan's Regt. to Trenton, in the same state, where they remained until his term of two months had expired, when he rec d . a written discharge, & returned home; but what has become of his discharge he can't say.
That after he was at home about a month or two, he volunteered under Capt. David Fraser, & Col. Franklin Hughes. That he marched from the same place as before, to Millstone again; That he volunteered but for one month, which he served out at Millstone aforesaid, and again rec d .

a written discharge but what has become of it he can't now say.
Two or three months after his return from the last mentioned tour he again volunteered, under Capt. Stark , and Col. Stark , for two months. That he marched from the same place to the Raritan River; that the British Army then lay in Brims River; that after staying out a little better than half a month they were discharged & he returned home. The reason they were discharged before the time for which they volunteered had expired, was because they were no longer wanted. He rec d . a written discharge this time too, but, like the others, it is lost.
That the whole period of his service was six months and a half, besides being sometimes called out by a half dozen or so of a company, & staying a week or so & then returning again; but of this service he can give no accurate account.
That from the lapse of time & change of residence, he knows of no person living, who could testify as to his services. There may be, & doubtless are, persons yet living in New Jersey, who know something about his services, but who they are, & where to address them, he does not know.
That he was unable to procure a clergyman to appear at court. That the only one who knows him, is an old & infirm man, besides he lives about 20 miles off.
1. I was born in a place called Reistfield  Sturminster , in the state of New Jersey in the year 1759. the 13 th June. 2. I have my age recorded in a Psalm Book, formerly belonging to my father, which I now have in my house. 3. I lived, at the time I was called into service, at Lebanon Township  as aforesaid, and for some time after the war, when I removed to Northumberland county, Penna, where I lived some years, & now lives in White Deer Township, Union county where I have lived six years. 4. This I have answered in today given at declaration. 5. This I have also answered as near as I can recollect. 6. I rec d . a written discharge every time I was out, but what has become of them I don't know. 7. John Bernage , Andrew Seibert , James Adams and indeed many others can testify as to my character for veracity, and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn & subscribed this day 2 years aforesaid
Joseph Stilwell Post
John Brest

We James Adams of White Deer Township, Union county, & Isaac Shunker of Mifflin in said county hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Best - who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid James Adams I Shunker Joseph Silverd Proc
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrog- ations prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that James Adams who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of White Deer Township, Union county, & that Isaac Shunker who has also signed the same is a resident of Mifflin Union co. and an credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Ellis Lewis Pres t Judge
Hugh Wilson
Col t Light
Pennsylvania Union county
I Joseph Silverd, Prothonotary of the court of Com- mon Pleas, in and for the county of Union aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Best for a Pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office, this 28th day of May, A.D. 1834
Joseph Silverd Prothy

A. S. Edwards Esq.
Com d of Peninsular
Washington City.
Hon. J. B. Anthony

Washington City
December 1831
H. P. Canfield Esq. To Sir. I enclose you the application of John Best for a Pension
Yours truly R. D. Webb

June 13
W. L. Mrs. Best Paid
L. Edward Eger
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
29 3/4
6

White Deer Township May 29th 1837
J. L. Edwards Esq. Sir
Enclosed is my vouch for for Pension due me, the pay agent in Phila. says that I first must have your order before he can pay - that he can only pay when less than 12 months are due. Which fact I did not know & consequently have been at considerable expense & trouble. I hope now it is night as I am most in need of the letter I am to get Yours Respectfully John Best
P.S. Please direct to me Lewistown Union County - Pa

Rev War
6602
INVALID
File No. 6602
John Best
Priv Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 84 , Page 27
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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