Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5,902, John Brown, New Jersey

SERVICE
New Jersey
Brown, John Mary
NUMBER
W. 5902
CONTENTS
A. Mar 3, 1754
enl. in Monmouth Co. N.J. & res. there in 1832
d. Dec. 16, 1834

11.092 New Jersey
John Brown -
of Monmouth Co in the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Smock of the unmounted light artillery in the New Jersey for Militia
12 Mo Sgt - 60.00 12 " Private - 40.00 $ 100.00
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 100. Dollars and Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of March 1833 - sent to H. D. Polhemus, Probate
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833. 50.00 V $ 250.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by John P. Sprague Clerk Book E. Vol. - 4 - Page 143

Letter to Hon. Jos. F. Randolph 29. Sept. 1837
New Jersey 264 Mary Brown of New Brunswick the State of N.J. who was a Private in the comm. by Captain R of the comm. by in the line for widow of John Brown died late a private & sergeant in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 100 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. to 16 Decr. 1834 to be deducted
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of 1836 and sent A.M. Hearts horn Freehold N.J.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836 $550.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March 57.00 600.00
Revolutionary Claim Act July 4 1836 Recorded by A. Addison Clerk Book A. Vol. 1 Page 144

I Daniel H. Ellis, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Brown for a Pension, And that William Lloyd Esq before whom the aforesaid affidavits were taken was at the date thereof duly enrolled in my office as a Jus- tice of the Peace and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in said County of Monmouth, duly commis- sioned and sworn into office, And that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such - And further that I am ac- quainted with the hand writing of the said William Lloyd and verily believe his name subscribed to said affi- davits to be his own proper hand writing or signature In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal of office this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
D. H. Ellis Clk

State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } 80
On this thirty first day of July A.D. 1832, Personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth now sitting, John Brown a resident of the Township of Middle Town in the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, aged Seventy Eight years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
That he entered the militia service in Middle Town in Monmouth County, some time in the summer of 1777 the time he cannot precisely recollect, but the circumstance he will remember that he was employed in the Spring of '77 on Lake George by one Lancaster Burling as a ship carpenter, that after the capture of Ticonderoga by Burgoyne and the British army advancing - he was discharged from his work, and went home to Middle Town his native place - That a few days after he got home and he enrolled himself in Captain John Snook's company of Militia, and from that time till the end of the War, he served almost all the time as a militia man under different officers, upon monthly tours of duty, and under enlistments three different times - That his first enlistment was for six months in Capt Anderson's Company of Militia, he enlisted at Monmouth Court House, he was there on sail for fort Capt Anderson paid the debt for him and took him out - That during the time he

was under Capt Anderson and while station at Colts Neck which was then Head Quarters, he was sent with five other persons by Col Holmes to carry some communication to Capt Long street at Manasquan River, — That after doing their business they went down to the Union Salt Works on said River, where he met Capt Huddy who informed him that he was going into Shrewsbury Inlet & River, and he wished him for a Pilot, as he was well acquainted with that River — which he consented to do, the other men returned home, While he was at Salt Works waiting for Capt Hud- dy and his men with their Whale Boats He was surprised by the Refugees and made a prisoner, — That he was taken to Sandy Hook and from there sent a prisoner to New York, was a prisoner nine months in the Sugar House in New York, was ex- changed and got home to Middletown the day before the Battle of Monmouth was fought in June 1778 — It was after this, that he en- listed under Captain Bonner for three months, That he served under him in Middletown upon the Bay Shore for three months — That he served un- der Captain John Schenck, one month, That he was out upon monthly tours of duty with the Mi- litia of the County on his own account and a ship's outfit almost all the time up to 1781 That in the latter part of 1780 or early in 1781, he en- listed for one year, under Captain Moses Shep- herd of Middletown who was authorized by the Gov't of New Jersey to enlist a company for the defense of the Shore, That he was a Sergeant in this company & served his term of enlistment out, That he was discharged at the end of the term, and again entered upon the performance of his

monthly tours of duty and continued them until the end of the war, That he is well ap- re he served more than two years in the Militia of the County of Monmouth, That he was wounded in the neck by a Sabre cut from a British Dragoon at the time the British landed at the Bay Shore in Middletown he thinks in the year That he has no recollections of serving with any of the continental troops That he knows no continental officers except Captain John Brown That he sometimes serv- ed under him upon scouts - That all the officers under whom he served except Capt. Edwards are dead. That Col Hendrick Genl Forman Col Wallen Col Holmg- ren field officers under whom he served -
That his name appears upon the Muster Roll of Capt Moses Shephard's Company of Militia which he has accidentally seen this day for the first time - That he was born on the 3rd day of March 1754 that there was once a record of his age which 
that was burnt during the war when his father's house was burnt by the British Refugees That since the Revolutionary war he has always lived in the County of Monmouth and now lives there That he has no docu- mentary evidence of his services in his Proves- ion - That he hereby relinquishes every claim 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
I have hereunto John Brown mark
William Lloyd

State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } b
Personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth, Aaron Sutfin who being duly sworn according to Law as herewith saith that he has known John Brown in the Revolutionary war that he has seen him out in the militia, that deponent was at the Battle of Concord and with said Brown on the Bay shore, that he always was a Brave soldier and a fighting fellow, that judging from what deponent saw of him in the Revolution any war and from the character he only believes John Brown sustained he only believes that the said John Brown served more than two years in the militia of Monmouth County and that he is honestly entitled to be placed upon the pension Roll under the act of
June 7 th 1832
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid William Lloyd
Aaron Sutfin

State of New Jersey } Monmouth County, } ss
Personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth John Patterson by residing in said County, who being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith That he is 66 years of age - That he has known John Brown ever since deponent was a boy  since he was a boy . That he has fre- quently seen the said John Brown out with the Militia of Monmouth County, in the performance of his monthly tours of duty and as upon alarms and general calls, during the revolutionary war - That deponent never served with the said John Brown in the same company of Militia he was not of age  he was not of age . That he will not pre- cisely say how long the said John Brown served in the Militia - But judging from the different times that deponent saw him out, and from the character the said John Brown sustained as a good citizen and a good soldier, he verily believes that he served more than two years in the Mi- litia; and that he is justly and honorably entitled to be placed upon the Pension Roll under the act of June 7 1832 - That the declaration of the said John Brown has been read to this deponent and he believes the matters and things set forth therein are true
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid William Lloyd
John Patterson

We Ellison Court of Shrewsbury of the and Mr Tallman of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Brown who has subscribed and sworn to the said declaration! That we believe him to be 78 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 } Ellison Court day and year above and } William Tallman William Lloyd
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Rev- olution and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the s d John Brown is now and has been for two years past a Pensioner and charge- able to the County of Monmouth for his support and living at the County Poor house - And they further certify that Ellison Court & Mr Tallman who have signed the above certifi- cate are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit
William Lloyd } John W. Davidson } Judges John Hull }
I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the records of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth as far by certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of the

Said John Brown for a Pardon In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 31 st day of July A D 1832.
J. H. Ellis Clk

No. 268
Admitted
Private 12 mo
Sergeant 12 "
24
J. M. Hutsborn Esq.
Finchville
N. Y.

Declaration of Mary Brown in order to obtain the benefit of the Act 3 d Section of the Act of Congress of the 4 th of July 1836 -
State of New Jersey Monmouth County } ss:
On this twenty second day of September Eighteen hundred and thirty six, personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, Mary Brown a resident of the Township of Shrewsbury, in the County and State aforesaid aged Eighty two years, who can not from bodily infirmity attend the Court, and who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836, That she is the widow of John Brown, who was a pensioner of the United States, and who was a Sergeant in the Revolutionary War as will appear by the evidence on file in the office of the Secretary of War. She further declares that she was married to the said John Brown in the fall of year Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine - for she recollects perfectly well that she had twins born the same fall the British evacuated New York, and then she had been married about three years, for she had one child a daughter who is now living before she had the twins, that she had a family record of her marriage in a bible which was burnt up with their house, which was set on fire by the British in the time of the war of the Revolution, that she has no record of her marriage at this time, and has had none since the one above mentioned was burnt, that she was married by Jacob Davis a Baptist Minister, that she has a sister still living who was present at her marriage named Anna Brown, that the said John Brown died in the month

of December 1834, (the day she cannot recollect) and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will appear by the evidence hereto annexed. I now subscribe this 22 o day of September 1836. before me judge } Mary for Brown as aforesaid — mark Joseph Barclay
State of New Jersey } ss Monmouth County } ss Lewis Brown being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith, that he is a son of John and Mary Brown above named, that the said John Brown died on the sixteenth day of December Eighteen hundred and thirty four, and that the said Mary Brown has remained his widow ever since that period. I now and subscribe before me judge as aforesaid Sept. 22 o . 1836. by Lewis Brown who is a respectable and credible person and whose affidavit is entitled to credit } Lewis X Brown mark Joseph Barclay
State of New Jersey } ss Monmouth County } ss: Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County Anna Brown a resident of the Township of Middletown in said County aged seventy five years, who being duly sworn saith that she is the sister of Mary Brown the above applicant. And saw the said Mary Brown married to John Brown named above, during the Revolutionary War, but she cannot tell exactly the time, yet she knows that it was two or three years before the close of the said war, for she knows that they had children in the time of the war after they were married, and she knows also that

they the said John and Mary Brown had their house burnt by the enemy in the time of the Revolution, after they were married, and while they were living together as man and wife, and she believes that they lost all their goods and household furniture. the house which was burnt, and in which they lived belonged to one Peter Conover. Sworn to and subscribed before me Judge as aforesaid this 22 d . Sept. 1826. by the said Anna Brown who is a credible person whose affidavit is entitled to credit -
James Hopping
his Anna X Brown mark
State of New Jersey Monmouth County } ss:
I Daniel H Ellis clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas do hereby in and for said County do hereby certify that Joseph Barclay and James Hopping Esquires before whom the foregoing proceedings were taken and sworn to, are respectively Judges of the said Court duly Commissioned and sworn into office as such, and that their several signatures above are genuine - And further that there is no public record of marriages in the clerk's office of said County prior to the year 1795: at which time the first marriage record commenced under the direction of a law passed a short time previous,
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty second day of September Eighteen hundred and thirty six -
D. H. Ellis

N o . 5133
John Brown
Sup d Nov 29. 1832.
4. 5. 14. 16.
Adm c
  60.  12 mos  Sergeant    40.  12 "  Private    100    
To H. D. Polhemus
Truhola
A. J.
e
Am.

BRIEF in the case of  John Brown  of Monmouth Co. in the State of N. Jersey  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Common Pleas  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1777 Summer Served every other month to the close of the war As a Gen. Capt. Smock, Militia others  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middletown, N. Jersey  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses, no evidence of credibility, & traditional evidence.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Papers in proper form attached 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
D. Brown
Examining Clerk.

To what time was John Brown last paid? New Jersey act 32.
We Dec 16 Dec. 1834 paid to that period at the rate of $100 per annum JH
act of July 4. 1834 New Jersey Mary Brown Widow of John Brown - Suspended - See Let to J. C. Hartshorne Col 19 th 1836

Key WIDOW, &c.
File No. 59020
Mary Brown Wid. of John Brown Sergt. Rev. War
Act: July 4/96
Index:—Vol. A , Page 83
[Arrangement of 1870.] ✓

State of New Jersey Monmouth County } ss:
Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace of said County, John Patterson who being duly sworn according to law deponeth and saith that he was well acquainted with John Brown who was a pensioner of the United States, and also with Mary Brown his widow who has applied for a pension - that he knew them in the Revolutionary War, when they lived together as man and wife, that they were then believed and reputed in the neighborhood to have been legally married, and have been so reputed ever since that time. that he knows that the said John & Mary Brown were living together as man & wife previous to the year 1781. and that it was reputed and believed in the neighborhood that they were married previous to that time, and he this Deponent verily believes the fact to be so, though he was not present at the Marriage - And this Deponent further saith that the said John Brown at the time he made his application for a pension, was a pauper in the poor house of the County of Monmouth, and that his widow the said Mary Brown has lived with her son Lewis Brown in the Township of Shrewsbury for several years where she still resides, as he has been informed and verily believes - And this Deponent further states that he was acquainted with Jacob Davis who was a Seventh day Baptist preacher in the County of Monmouth in the Revolutionary war.
Sworn to & subscribed before me Justice as aforesaid this 25th day of October A.D. 1836 The words "for several years" & Deponent" interlined before signing
John Patterson
William Lloyd - And I the Justice do hereby certify that John Patterson is a credible person, and that his affidavit

State of New Jersey } ss: I Daniel H. Ellis, clerk of the Monmouth County } Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County do hereby certify that William Lloyd before whom the annexed affidavit was sworn to & subscribed, is a justice of the peace in and for said County of Monmouth duly Commissioned and sworn into office as such, and that his signatures thereto are genuine -
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 25th day of October A.D. 1835
D. H. Ellis clerk

See Halls (Munster)
2 yds long
182
St. Haulshorne Freehold N.G.

Freehold Oct 26th 1836
Sir
I herewith transmit some additional evidence in support of the claim of Mary Brown.
You state that the proof of the marriage is not satisfactory - In the 1 st place you have the certificate of the clerk that there is no public record of marriages of that period - then you have the affidavit of the claimant that she has no family or other record of it - The best evidence having failed you must receive the next best, which is the affidavit of her sister who was present at the ceremony, who cannot from old age recollect the exact time, yet she knows it was 2 or 3 years before the close of the war, which must make it as early as the year 1781, in which she is corroborated by the affidavit of Judge Patterson, now sent If you will refer to the papers of John Brown, I think you will find that he served 1 year under enlistment in Capt. Moses Shepherd's Company, being the year 1781, even to the end of that year -
The explanation about the residence of the widow I think is clear - John Brown at the time he made his declaration had no residence in any particular Township, tho' he was a resident of Middletown before he became a pauper, yet his widow has for several years lived in Shrewsbury upon the charity of her son, who is a poor man -
I cannot understand why David Baird cannot be allowed full pay for 2 years service. He has made the same and even better proof than Samuel Vaughan, Jesse Mount & Ephraim Leaman who belonged to and served in the same company - He did the same kind of service with them, and in the same way the proof is made. You must be satisfied from the nature

of the service of the militia of this County during the Revolution, as proved by the declarations of more than a hundred old soldiers, that it is impossible for the applicants to be more specific in stating the beginning and ending of each tour of service. And as none of the applicants for services in the militia have been any more specific than David Baird it appears hard that he should not have the same favors extended to him upon similar proof as have been extended to others.
It is true that the certificate for 12 months service as a private was granted as a compromise yet that ought not to preclude him from giving further evidence for a greater allowance, and I think you must be satisfied that this is not doing him justice, because the very first of his service was 5 months as a sergeant , as proved by Aaron Chamberlain, and immediately after that he was promoted to ensign - It is true also that he made a mistake when he made his declaration & then thought that he was a Captain, but that is very satisfactorily explained by his supplemental declaration & the affidavits and documents attached to the same; that should not operate against him - I did not submit those pay rolls for the purpose of proving any service, but for the purpose of showing Mr. Baird's grade as an officer, and from these papers any one must be satisfied that he never served as a private , but always as an officer , and that therefore he ought to be allowed a pension as an officer, if allowed any at all - The traditional evidence in Mr. Baird Case is full and complete and I should think ought of itself be sufficient to entitle him to a pension, knowing as you must know at the pension office, that the militia of Monmouth County were required by the laws & regulations of the state for their own safety, to keep up a continual guard along the whole frontier, and to relieve each other monthly - And it is

evident that if a man did not do his duty, he would be fined for it, and his character would become known at once . I therefore think traditional evidence very important in this case -
I sent you some time since additional evidence in the case of Elizabeth Buck, but I have received no answer, will you be good enough to communicate the decision on her case?
Yours Most Respectfully &c G. M. Hartshorne
James L. Edwards Esq Comt. of Pensions
I have recd. your letter relative to Mrs Buck's case G. M. Hartshorne

John Brown's Supplemental Affidavit No.

Supplemental Affidavit
State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } ss
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in & for the County & State aforesaid, John Brown an applicant for a Pension, being the same person named in Papers marked No 5133. Who being duly sworn deposes & saith, That by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service - But according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades - That in the year 1777 I served in the Militia of New Jersey four months as a Private - That in the month of October or November (I cannot say which) of the year 1777, while in the Militia service under Captain Anderson, I was captured, and taken a Prisoner to the City of New York and was confined nine months in the Sugar House . That I was exchanged & got home on the day before the battle of Monmouth (June 28 th 1778.) That afterwards in the year 1778 I served as a Private three months. That in the year 1779 I served as a Private six months - That in the year 1780 I served as a Private nine months - That in the month of December 1780 or January 1781, I do not remember which, I enlisted for one year under Captain Moses Shepherd, who was authorized by the Governor of New Jersey to raise a company for the defence of the shores. That I served under him in 1781 one year as a Sergeant. That in the year 1782 I served as a Private six months - And for such service I claim a Pension - That I served under three different enlistments in the Militia during the war, under the Militia laws of New Jersey - That at this late period of my life being in the 79 th year of my age - I am unable to state more precisely than I have done my services in the Revolutionary war
Sworn & subscribed before me this } his third day of March A.D. 1833 } John X Brown mark Joseph Barclay Justice of the Peace

I William Lloyd a Justice of the Peace and one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth in in the State of New Jersey Do hereby certify that the affidavits of Aaron Sutfin and Selim Pattison by relation to the services of John Brown in the Revolutionary War, and annexed to the declaration of the said John Brown and forming a part of the original proceedings of the court in the matter of the application of the said John Brown, which proceedings are marked No 5133 were sworn to subscribed before me by the said Aaron Sutfin and Selim Pattison, who are well known to me and are persons of credibility
Given under my hands this fourth day of Jan'y Eighteen hundred and thirty three
William Lloyd
I Daniel M Ellis clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey, Do hereby certify that Joseph Barclay by before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken was at the date thereof duly enrolled in my office as a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Monmouth duly Commissioned and sworn into office And that full faith and credit are due and ought to be shown to all his official acts as such, And further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Joseph Barclay and verily believe his name subscribed thereto to be his own proper hand writing and signature - And that I am also acquainted with the hand writing of William Lloyd by and believe his name subscribed to the above certificate to be his own proper hand writing and signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of Office at Rahway this fourth day of January In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
D. M. Ellis Clk.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Brown, John GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 6848 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Apr. 5, 1792 TO — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Brown, John GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 6850 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 5, 1792 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Brown, John GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 6868 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Feb. 7, 1792
to Heil Beck, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.