Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,756, Jeremiah Brittan, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Brittan, Jeremiah Britten,
W. 15,756
U.S.A.
Elizabeth
CONTENTS

11.481
New Jersey Elizabeth Whittier, decd, widow of Jeremiah who died on the of _____ in the State of New Jersey who was a { Private } the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Revolution line for 10 mos Private 12 " Matross
Inscribed on the Roll of Newton at the rate of $3 Dollars 45 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836 & Lucy 3 rd Nov. 1840
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of April 1863 and sent to J. H. C. Triplett
Arrears to the 4th of _____ Present Semi-annual allowance ending
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 7, 1838. }
Recorded by _____ Clerk, Book _____ Vol. _____ Page 141

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836.
State of New Jersey for On this Fourteenth day of December
in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty Eight personally appeared before me Elias Merriam a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the Borough of Elizabeth in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey. Elizabeth Brittan a resident of Elizabeth Town in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy eight years, who I certify is not, from her bodily infirmity able to appear in open Court, who being duly sworn according to law and on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by an act of Congress passed July 4th 1836; That she is the widow of Jeremiah Brittan who was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution, and served in the First New Jersey Regiment commanded by Colonel Matthias Algeo but was not known the rank the said Jeremiah Brittan held in the said service, nor the precise length of time of his said service.
She further declares that she was married to the said Jeremiah Brittan on the twenty fifth day of December Seventeen Hundred and twenty nine by the Reverend James Caldwell a regularly ordained Minister of the Gospel who at the time of the said marriage was Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth Town aforesaid, then the only presbyterian Church at Elizabeth Town aforesaid, and now the First Presbyterian Church in said Town; that she does not know that there is any person living who was present at her said marriage, that she does not know that there is any record of her said marriage either private or public, that her husband the aforesaid Jeremiah Brittan was massacred by the Indians in Sinclair's defeat on the fourth day of November Seventeen hundred and ninety one, while he was a soldier in the service of the

United States, that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Given to and subscribed on the day & year first above written.
Elizabeth Brittan
The word "does" interlined in the foregoing declaration.
before the said her and sworn to.
Elias Winans
State of New Jersey Borough of Elizabeth 3/6
I Joseph D. Price Clerk of the Borough of Elizabeth in the State of New Jersey, and Clerk of the above Court of Common Pleas in and for the said Borough do hereby certify that Elias Winans before whom the foregoing declaration of Elizabeth Brittan was made and who has subscribed the same, at the time the said declaration was subscribed by him was and still is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said Borough of Elizabeth duly commissioned and sworn, residing therein, and as Judge as aforesaid is duly authorized to take affidavits; and I further certify that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge, and that the signature " Elias Winans " to the foregoing declaration subscribed is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court at the Borough aforesaid this Nineteenth day of December in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and thirty eight
Joseph D. Price Clerk

State of New Jersey
On this 9 th day of April A.D. 1853, before the Subscriber a Master in the Court of Chancery of Said State. Personally appeared Stephen P. Brittan a resident of Elizabeth Town in Said State to me personally known, in the seventieth year of his age, who being duly affirmed according to law on his affirmation saith, That he is the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Brittan, and was born according to various Bible records (recorded many years ago) on the "25 th August 1783." That he had a sister named Mary, who was older than he was and according to the record was born 7 th Nov r 1780 She intermarried with Capt. Wm. H. Smith & died on the 27 th May 1832, without children or child, leaving this affiant the only child that survived his mother the said Elizabeth Brittan deceased. That he has no record of his mother's marriage, nor is there any extant at this day to his knowledge, that the Church records of the Rev. James Caldwell which he has always understood contained the date of their marriage was destroyed by the enemy in the Rev. War. That he has often heard his mother speak of his father's services in the war of the Revolution and that his mother made application for a pension for the said services of her husband many years ago. That his father the said Jeremiah Brittan was killed in battle at St. Clair's defeat in 1791, as he has always understood and believes That his mother the said Elizabeth Brittan

died at this affiants house on the third day of November A.D. Eighteen hundred and forty. aged Eighty years lacking 9 days, that she remained to the time of her death, the widow of the said Jeremiah Brittan.
Subscribed and affirmed the day and year above written before me Charles G. McChesney Not. P. P.
S. P. Brittan H

"My Father & Mother"
No. 1.
" My father was born Jeremiah Brittan November 1 st 1758, and died on the field of battle "
No. 2.
My sister born 7 Nov. 1780 (and) & died May 27, 1832.
No. 3.
My mother Elizabeth Potter was born November 12 th 1760.
No. 4.
Stephen Potter Brittan was born August 25 th 1783.
State of New Jersey on the 9 th day of April A.D. 1853. Personally appeared before the Subscriber a Master in the Court of Chancery of said State Eleanor H. Brittan a resident of Elizabeth Town in said State to me personally known who being duly sworn according to law on her oath saith, that the foregoing are true and correct copies from the old family Bible as taken from and compared therewith, that they are in the handwriting of Daniel Smith, except No. 2, which is in the handwriting of my husband, Stephen

D. Brittan twenty years ago and — Nos 1, 3 and 4 by Daniel Smith upwards of forty years ago. All of which she believes to be correct.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written before me
Charles G. McChesney
Eleanor H. Brittan
No. 6, 6.

The grave marked no 3 contains the remains of Elizabeth Brittan, the widow of Jeremiah Brittan and mother of S. P. Brittan who died November 3 d 1840, aged 80 years, lacking 9 days. At the head of this grave there is a monument erected to her memory, and also to the memory of her husband, a Father of S. P. Brittan, who was massacred by the Indians, in the noted "defeat of St. Clair", in the year 1791. - aged 33 years.
The grave marked no 2 contains the remains of Mary the wife of Capt William H Smith, and sister of Stephen P Brittan, who died May 27 1832. Aged 51 years 6 mos, 20 days.
State of New Jersey ss
On the 9 th day of April A.D. 1853, personally appeared before the Subscri- ber a master in the Court of Chancery of said State Eleanor H. Brittan of Elizabeth Town, who being duly sworn according to law saith, that the foregoing are true Copies from the family Tablet, as taken from and compared there- -with. Subscribed and sworn before me the day and year above written.
Eleanor H. Brittan
Charles G. McChesney M. C. C.

Rev
N.J.
WIDOW, &c.
cur
File No. 15756
Elizabeth Britton
Widow of
Jeremiah Britton
Dr's New War.
Act July 7th 38
Index: Vol. A , Page 88
[Arrangement of 1000]
✓

V New Jersey  Elizabeth Elizabeth Britton Let. to S.P. Britton 9 Feb. '39 Hon. W. Halsted January 21 st 1842 to F. A. Leekins July 18. 42 Act. July 4. 1836.
Elizabeth Britton wife of Jeremiah N.S. Let. to S.P. Britton 9 Feb. '39 " " W. Halsted 21 Jan'y 42 " " F. A. Leekins 18 July 42 rejected under 36 Exter " 7 July 38 (Rejected " 4 July 1836)

Elizabeth Britten
New Jersey
suspend act
1838. —
To 6 Sept

To A. C. Hassler Esq. Washington D.C.

Not identical with Elizabeth Britton, pensioned as for- mer widow William Pence, W. 398
J.W.R.
MAR 9 - 1911

inab lab West Noluee
J. B. ...
Commissioner of Prisons Washington D.C.
h

Elizabeth Town N.J. 6 February 1839
Dear Sir,
I wrote you on the 14 th Ult o . in behalf of my Mother, saying that I had forwarded to your department, on the 28 th of December last, the papers (as we supposed) necessary to obtain her pension -
My good Mother is now daily interrogating me on this subject, and is anxious to know if she is likely ever to get any thing from government in the shape of a pension - If the time has come, when her claim can be looked into and the matter settled, it would greatly relieve her mind and much oblige
your obed t and very hum ble serv t
J. L. Edwards Esq te
S. P. Burt

Elizabeth Britten wid: of Jeremiah N. Sersey
Qam? 7 July 1838
10. Mo. 4 days pvi: $33.45 12 " Mths 50.00  $83.45
for Balance from 4 March 1836 To 3 rd Nov: 1840 when she died.
pay to: Stephen P. Britten only surviving child,
Cert: To J. H. C. Triplett Present

Brief in the case of Elizabeth Britten wid: of Jeremiah County and State of New Jersey act of 7 July 1838
Claim, ("original," or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Service established by tradition & supported by rolls. Death & marriage of parties & survivorship of children proved by court record & copy of family record.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
J. F. C. Triplett Present
Name and residence of Agent
J. H. Hanson jr Examining Clerk.

I hereby certify, as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth town N. L. that according to the records of this Church, the Rev James Caldwell was its pastor from 1761 to 1781, when he was shot. And I also hereby certify that all records of marriages performed by him, and by his successors up to 1797 are now lost. I also express it as my conviction that Mrs Elizabeth Brittan is as unquestionably the lawful widow of Jeremiah Brittan as if the record of the marriage were now before me.
Nicholas Murray Pastor of the 1 st Pres. Church
Elizabeth town Dec. 17. 1838.

State of New Jersey County of Essex
ss. On this twenty sixth day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty Eight before me Stephen P. Brittan one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Essex personally appeared James Wilcock of the township of Union in the said county of Essex a man recently fifty years who I certify is a man of veracity and that his statements are entitled to credit, who being duly sworn according to law on his oath says that he is acquainted with the Elizabeth Brittan widow of Jeremiah Brittan deceased of Elizabeth Town in the county aforesaid, that he recollects to have heard during the Revolutionary War of the marriage of the said Jeremiah and Elizabeth, that he was acquainted with the said Elizabeth and Jeremiah during the Revolutionary War that the said Jeremiah was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served in the First New Jersey Regiment under the command of Colonel Matthias Ogden in which Regiment this deponent also served.
Subscribed and sworn the day and year first above written
James Wilcock
 S. P. Brittan
State of New Jersey County of Essex
ss. I Elias Van Arsdale Jun. Clerk of the County of Essex & of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify That Elias Winans before whom the annexed affidavits of Jacob Lee, John Cooper Woodruff, Mary Williams & John Crane were severally made & taken, at the time of taking the same was & still is a Justice of the peace in & for said County, duly commissioned & sworn & that the signatures "Elias Winans" affixed to the jurats of said affidavits are genuine - I further certify That Stephen P. Brittan before whom the above affidavit of James Wilcock was made & taken, at the time of taking the same was & still is one of the Judges of said Court duly commissioned & sworn: and that the signature "S. P. Brittan" affixed to the jurat of said affidavit is genuine - In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal my office at Newark in said County the Nineteenth day of December A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty eight - 1838 -
Elias Van Arsdale

Power of attorney case of Jeremiah Brittan New Jersey
Filed 26 th Dec 1842
By - Sep 2. 9-12 J. E. Russell Present

POWER OF ATTORNEY
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.*
STATE OF New Jersey } ss Be it known that before me COUNTY OF Essex } Justice of the peace of said County personally appeared Apollos M. Elmer - a Justice of the peace of said County personally appeared affirmed Stephen P. Britton aged 69 years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that he is the Sole heir of Jeremiah Britton who was a Revolutionary soldier in the State of and that he died on the day of 1891 and that his mother, named Elizabeth died on the 3rd day of November 1840 and that they were married on the day of in the year 17 and that they were residents of Elizabeth Town in the State of New Jersey, and that they resided there years, and that she resides in Elizabeth Town, N.J. and that furthermore she BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints, and fully empowers and authorizes, irrevocably and with powers of substitution, F. E. HASSLER, of Washington city, D. C., as his true and lawful Attorney for him and in his name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U. S. Government and State officers his rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land, that may be due him as Sole heir of his said father & mother who died leaving the same undrawn, as in right of law may be entitled.
In witness whereof, he has on this twentieth day September 1852, hereunto signed his name, and affixed his seal.
S. P. Britton SEAL.
Witness: William F. Day, Witness: George L. D. Vredenburg.
Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me; and I further certify, that he has always by the community been known as the Son of Jeremiah Britton deceased Dated on this twentieth day of September 1852.
Apollos M. Elmer J. P.
State of New Jersey } to wit: COUNTY OF Essex }
I hereby certify, That Apollos M. Elmer, Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgment were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Essex County Court this twentieth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.
J. R. Weeks, Clerk.
* If a Widow applies, state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband." State under what act pensioned, or when pension commenced, if a pensioner—and amount of pension.

Elizabeth Town 28 Dec. 1838.
Dear Sir,
We have at last procured the papers and vouchers, as I would fain hope, necessary to enable my mother to obtain her pension from Government. As to the definite time of my father's service, we shall have to depend for that, on the records in your department, although the Reverend James Wilcock, believes, as he told me, that my father served with him for the term of three years, yet he did not like to swear to any definite time of service. The reason of my taking his deposition was, that of his being out of this township and it was thought to be perfectly in order -
There is no deception in or about this matter, it is as fair, and as honest a claim as has ever been presented. The simple truth is, that my father served during almost all through the Revolution, either in the Regular or in the militia service, and finally lost his life in the defence of his country, as will appear by referring to these papers. This as well as his marriage to my mother, is fully believed by all of the most respectable inhabitants of this place. My mother has remained a widow for nearly 50 years, and has lived in this vicinity the whole of the time. For my name and character, I gave you a reference in my first letter, and I can give other references if you require, to persons now in your city, who will if necessary, call at your office and assist

me in procuring the pension for my mother Very Respectfully your obed't serv't
S. P. Britton **
J. L. Edwards Esq.
_____

State of New Jersey County of Essex 3 55
Be it Remembered that on this four
fourteenth day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty Eight before me Elias Winans one of the justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Essex personally appeared Jacob Lee of Elizabeth Town in the said County of Essex, who I certify is a man of veracity and that his statements are entitled to credit, who being duly sworn according to law in his oath says that during and for a period subsequent to the Revolutionary War he was acquainted with Jeremiah Brittan of Elizabeth Town aforesaid, that the said Jeremiah Brittan and this deponent enlisted in the service of the United States in the year 1791 under Major General Arthur Sinclair and served the United States in an expedition against the Indians in the year 1791 in which expedition the said Jeremiah Brittan was massacred by the Indians at Sinclair's defeat, and this deponent further says that Mrs. Elizabeth Brittan widow of the said Jeremiah Brittan deceased is still living and resides at Elizabeth Town aforesaid.
Subscribed and sworn the day and year first above written, before me Elias Winans
Jacob Lee —
State of New Jersey County of Essex 3 56
Be it Remembered that on this Four
teenth day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty Eight before me Elias Winans one of the justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Essex personally appeared John Cooper Woodruff, Mary Williams and John Crane all of Elizabeth Town in the county of Essex aforesaid, each of whom I certify is a person of veracity and their statements entitled to credit, who being severally sworn upon their respective oaths say that they were acquainted with Jeremiah Brittan during and sub-

sequent to the Revolutionary War, that the said Jeremiah Brittan was in the service of the United States, during the Revolutionary War, and is reported to have been massacred by the Indians at Piqua's defeat, that they are acquainted with Mrs. Elizabeth Brittan who is the widow of the said Jeremiah Brittan deceased, and have been acquainted with her more than fifty years, that at the time of the marriage of the said Jeremiah Brittan to the said Elizabeth they resided at Elizabeth Town aforesaid and were near neighbours to her at the time of her said marriage which took place in the year seventeen hundred and sixty nine that the said Elizabeth still continues the widow of the said Jeremiah Brittan deceased, and resides at Elizabeth Town aforesaid
J. B. Woodruff
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first above written before me Elias Wiman
Mary Williams John Crane
1805

N o 1
Col. Spelinghuyson Somerset County
En: May 21 78 Dis Mar 25 79 10 mo 4 days
   Name What Co Joined What Regiment When joined     5 Jeremiah Brittain (10 mo 4 days) Hanson Capt: Pratt 1 st Reg t May 21. 1778  
N o 2
Pay Roll of Capt: Daniel Nils Artillery Company of New Jersey for One year from March 1 st 1776 to March 1 st 1777
   Name When enlisted Time in Service When discharged     Jeremiah Brittain Mateys March 14 1776 mo 11. 17 d March 1. 1777  
State of New Jersey
I Thomas S. Nelson Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing marked N o 1 and N o 2 are true extracts from papers headed as therein set forth, as taken from and compared with the originals

on file in my Office.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Boston this twelfth day of April Eighteen hundred and fifty three
Thos. S. Allison. Sec'y of State.

✓ Declaration of Elizabeth Britton 4245
Ent d 21 May 1778 Disch d 25 March 1779

Pop. Tropicana

State of New-Jersey.
I, THOMAS S. ALLISON, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify, that
Charles G. McChesney Esquire, before whom the within affidavits were taken,
was, at the time of the doing thereof, a Master in Chancery duly authorized by law to administer oaths in and for the county of  State of New Jersey in said state, duly commissioned and sworn; that full faith and credit are to be given to his official attestations, and that the signatures thereto are in the proper handwriting of the said
Charles G. McChesney Esq.
In testimony whereof , I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal of office, at Trenton, in said state, this twelfth day of April A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three
Thos. S. Allison
Secretary of State.

No 11,835
7 th July 1838

State of New Jersey
I Thomas S. Allison Register of the Prerogative Court of the State of New Jersey, holden at Trenton, do hereby certify that Satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court, that Elizabeth Brittan was a resident of Essex County in said State, and died in Elizabethtown in said County on the third day of November, in the year eighteen hundred and forty, (1840), leaving only one child her surviving viz Stephen T. Brittan and that she was the widow of Jeremiah Brittan who was reputed a Soldier in the Revolutionary war.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of said Court this twelfth day of April A.D. 1858.
Tho. S. Allison Register