Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5298, John A Brewer, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Brewer, John A.
S 5298.
Carded
CONTENTS

New Jersey 31,146
John A. Brewer of Morris Co. in the State of N. Jersey who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Fleming of the Reg't. commanded by Col. Hendrickson in the N. Jersey mil. line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey at the rate of 20 Dollars 60 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th day of June 1837 and sent to J. M. Hartshorn Freehold, N.J.
  Arrears to the 4th of March 37.  120.00    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4. Sept. "  10.00     $130.00  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk. Book E. 2 Vol. 3 Page 116
No date of death

Declaration of John A. Brewer, In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
State of New Jersey Monmouth County p:
1834 73 16 On this eighteenth day of June — A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty four. Personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County and State aforesaid the John A. Brewer a resident of Freehold in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn deposeth and saith according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered in the Militia of New Jersey in Monmouth County, in Captain Jacob Flemings Company of Col: Hendricksons Regiment in the April of the year 1777 (cant recollect the exact time) And served in said Company every other month alternately, in tours of one month each for two years, that is to say until the April of the year 1779 at least; that he cannot at this distance of time pretend to state the particular time when each tour of duty commenced and ended, but he is certain that each tour of service as above named was at least one month in length, And that he served, in actual service, at least twelve such tours, during the above period, from the April of 1777 to the April of 1779 making in the whole one years actual service: That a part of the above service was performed under Capt. James Green who was, a part of the time, Capt of said Company: That David Forman was then Genl: That their head quarters were at Tipton Falls in said County, and their duties were to guard and defend the inhabitants of the shores and frontiers of said County from parties of the British Forces who were continually landing on our shores from New York, Long & Staten Islands

And committing their depredations in every quarter: That he was warned out by the Sergeant of his district, at the time he first entered, and he answered the call of his country although he was not then quite sixteen years of age, being persuaded by his friends, and having at that time a strong desire to become a soldier: That they always assembled at Head Quarters at the commencement of each tour and marched from thence to one of the guard posts along the shore, and during the tour they might march to half a dozen, for they were continually changing, as the exigency of the times required and as their officers commanded: That their principal guard posts along the shore as aforesaid were Sandy Hook, Highlands, Black Point, Long Branch, Deal; where were kept up a continual guard every night, each man being sentry every third night and sometimes every other night: That he served a number of tours of short periods upon alarms, when it was not his regular tour of duty, (all the militia being then called out) but he cannot recollect the particulars of such service; it being very irregular, whenever a party of the enemy landed for the purpose of foraging &c. For such service he makes no claim, but claims a pension for one year's service as above stated: that he resided in Howell Township then Shrewsbury, in the County and State aforesaid when he entered the service: that he was not actually engaged in any Battles, but he was one who guarded the baggage at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778: that his marches were altogether confined to his native county from Head Quarters to their guard posts above named and when not on sentry, he was generally out on scouts as they were called, patrolling the roads and shores between head quarters and the above named places, and marching to and fro. according to the command of the officers, watching the motions of the enemy.

In answering the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department He says 1. That he was born in the Township of Shrewsbury (now Howell) County State aforesaid on the 7th day of May A.D. 1761. 2. That his age was recorded in his father's family bible which was lost during the war  now in the possession of some of his friends : 3 That he has resided in Howell & Freehold aforesaid since the Revolution & now resides in Freehold: 4. That he volunteered in the service after having been warned out by the Sergeant. 5. That there were no regular officers when he served, & no continental & militia regiments, except those of Monmouth County, and that the general circumstances of his service are mentioned above: 6. That he received no discharge in writing & has no documentary evidence of service, but he knows of Peter Patterson
and only who can testify to his service: 7. That he is known in his present neighborhood to
who can testify to his veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution: That he served with an embodied corps called into service by the authority of the laws of New Jersey: that he served in field & not in garrison, and that for the time during which the said service was performed he was not employed in any civil pursuit. And That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on pension roll of the agency of any state
I own to have subscribed before me the day & year above written William Lloyd
John B. Bowers

We in the Township of [blank] and County of [blank] State of [blank] residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John A. Brewer who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be seventy two years of age: that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to be a man of good character for truth and veracity, and to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to & subscribed in open Court
State of New Jersey. Monmouth County ss: Peter Patterson being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a surviving soldier of the Revolution aged seventy six years: that he is well acquainted with John A. Brewer who has signed and sworn to the foregoing declaration: that he knows that the said John A. Brewer belonged to & served in Capt. Flemings and afterwards Capt. Greens Company of Col. Hendrickson's Regiment from the Spring of the year 1777 to the Spring of the year 1779, when he was and as often as the militia of said county were called out in actual service, which was at least every other month during the above named period: that he cannot now state the precise time and place when and where the said John A. Brewer served as above stated, although this deponent served in Captain Greens Company, and was in actual service with the said John A. Brewer time after time at Trenton Falls their head quarters at their several guard posts along the shore, yet from his own knowledge of the services of the said John A. Brewer and from

the character which he sustained of being a good soldier and soldier he knows that the said John A. Brewer must have served at least one year in actual service during the above named period and is justly entitled to a pension, for he never knew the said Brewer to fail in the performance of his duty or to be fined, for but always acted as became a good soldier: That their duties were to guard and defend the shores and frontiers by keeping a continual guard along the same at different points, and by continually scouting or marching backwards and forwards to the several guard posts and to head quarters as their officers required
I sworn to and subscribed this 18th day of June A.D. 1834 being first read to him - William Lloyd
his Peter Patterson mark

And I the said William Lloyd Judge as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and that he is unable from bodily infirmity to appear in open court. And I do further certify that it ap- pears to me that Peter Patterson who has signed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit is a surviving soldier of the Revolution Resident in said County that he is a credible person and that his affidavit is entitled to credit
William Lloyd

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
Cot. 23, 1923.
Miss Bertha C. Spencer, Fisk University Nashville, Tenn.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the pension claim, S. 40028 , that John Brewer enlisted in New Jersey, in March 1776, served as a private in Captains Anthony Sharp and Flanigan's Companies, Colonel Elias Dayton's Third Regiment of the New Jersey Line; was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth, and was discharged February 12, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 29, 1818, while living in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, aged sixty-eight years. In 1820 he was living in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania with a son-in-law. He died December 12, 1822. There is no further data on file as to family.
From the papers in the pension claim, S. 5298 , it appears that John A. Brewer was born May 7, 1762, in Shrewsbury Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
see her letter re John Brewer S. 40028
in Quar

While living in said Shrewsbury Township, he enlisted in April 1777 and served as a private in Captains Jacob Fleming and James Green's Companies, Colonel Hendrickson's Regiment of Monmouth County, New Jersey Militia, every other month until discharged in April 1779.
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 8, 1834, while living in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, aged seventy-three years.
There is no data on file as to family.
Respectfully,
A handwritten signature in cursive, reading "Washington D. Lawrence". The signature is written in dark ink and is positioned to the right of the word "Respectfully,".
Commissioner.

1923 Oct 23. Recd. to D. B. Spence Fisk University, Nashville Tenn. (See her letter to John Brewer 8/10/28) au
Re-man
5298 INVALID.
File No. 5298
John A. Brewer Post Civil War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. M , Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

Hoback N.B. June 21
24 June I M. Hartshorn asap. Mrs. Sarah Van Mater & Mrs. A. Poerter Cannes
James J. Edwards Esq. Com te of Penkridge near Stafford Washington City etc.
Freehold N. Jersey
Send cut: to J. M. Hart home. En
John A. Brewer $20 per ann.

Freehold June 20 th 1857
Sir
I received your letter of the 13 th inst. relative to the claim of John A. Breun, And in answer thereto I have to say that upon examination no evidence in relation to his services can be found in the Office of the Treasurer as suggested in your letter - And the reason is that the margin of Thomas Henderson contains only balanced due the militia; and it appears by the receipts of Capt. Carhart & Capt. Walling (copies of which I lately sent to the Department) that the militia were paid up to the month of May 1780 - And John A. Breun not having served any after that period as appears by his papers, there could have been no balance due him -
He has stated his services proved them in the same manner, as many others I could name who have received their pensions. He states the time of entering the service & the time of leaving it, and states the manner of the service being every other month, & it would be impossible as he says, to state which month he was in the service & which month he was at home - He has stated that part of the service was under Fleming & part under Green and states the time as near as he can recollect when one captain superceded the other - He has proved his service by 2 Survivors, besides traditional evidence which is strong -
If the facts of this case do not satisfy you that he ought to be allowed for the time he claimed 1 year, I think you cannot hesitate to allow him for six months, in the same way that you allowed Phebe Lewis widow of John Lewis who served in the same company, and whose service was proved in the same manner -
Mr. Breun is a poor man, has been to considerable trouble and expense (on one occasion lost his papers) and has obtained all the evidence, I believe it is possible for

him to get. And I presume would be willing to accept an allowance for 6 months rather than to do nothing -
In the case of Sarah Van Meter widow of Benjamin Van Meter, I herewith transmit some additional evidence, which proves that there was a balance due him of $27.46, which goes very far to corroborate the evidence submitted.
Respectfully Yours &c J. M. Denton
J. S. Edwards Esq. Court of Pensions -

73      1834 57      1777  16      57
1834 1777  67-73 67
FREE
James L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pension War Department Washington City, D.C.
See letter Oct. 3. 1834
1758 1834  76

Freehold Sept 29 th 1834 New Jersey —
Sir.
At the request of William Cottrell I enclose write to you for information upon the subject of obtaining a pension for him upon a "Surgeon's certificate for pension", signed by Philip Baarwell apt. Surgeon and also by Lt. D. L. Thompson Commanding Company [A] 5 th Regiment of Inf ty dated 20 th of June 1833 — He received two such certificates, with directions to send one to the Surgeon Genl. & the other to the Adjutant Genl. but not knowing the residence of these officers, he respectfully applies to you for information. through me In the mean time I shall retain the papers, await- ing your instructions how to proceed. You will confer a favor by your immediate attention to the above — Please to inform me also what steps are necessary to effect a transfer of a pensioner's name from the Pension list of New York to that of New Jersey —
Be kind enough to give some information respecting the claims of John H. Bower for a pension, whose papers I forwarded to the Department some two or three months since
Respectfully Yours &c
J. M. Hartshorne,
J. L. Ednas Esq. Com of Pensions

Freehold N.J. June 12th 1893 papers n g 32
for
15 June J. M. Hartshorne asks for a Boer loan
papers n g 32
J. J. Edwards Esq. Can't of Portland, Main Department. Washington City D.C.

Freehold June 10th 1857
Sir
A short time since I sent to your office some additional papers in the case of John A. Brewer an applicant for a pension, without transmitting any letter therewith, which, as I am now informed, is necessary in every case -
Mr. Brewer claims only for 1 year's service which he has proved by two Survivors - besides this the traditional evidence in his case is very strong, 3 or 4 different persons testifying to it -
Mr. Brewer, as will appear by his supplemental declaration, was unfortunate in losing some of his papers, and was prevented by ill-health from attending to his case sooner than he did - His case is similar to the case of Mrs. Phebe Lewis, to whom you granted a certificate for $20 annually, only he has stronger proof to support it, and as he only claims for 1 year's service I think you can have no hesitation in granting him half pay -
Most Respectfully
Yours &c
G. M. Matthews. -
L. L. Edward Esq. Comr. of Pensions

Frederick N 35 Apr 20th
1760 Apr 22
Nt.
April 36 3 rd sec.
Mr Allison
[Signature]
See also
J. J. Edwards Esq. Barr on of Pensions near Parliament Washington City

Freehold April 19th 1837
Sir
I herewith enclose the paper of Sarah Vanwater an applicant for a pension, and request your earliest attention thereto.
Yours Respectfully &c J. M. Matthews
J. B. Edwards Esq Comm ee of Pensions

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County Ss: Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, John A. Brewer who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that 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 in the grade of a private: For two years I served as a private every other month alternately from April 1777 to April 1779, making at least one years actual service at least in a company of militia of said County commanded part of the time by Capt. Jacob Fleming and part of the time by Capt. James Green - that I performed the above service in guarding and defending the shores and frontiers of said County, at the Highlands Black Point, Long Branch & Deal on said shores - that our headquarters were at Tinton Falls in Shrewsbury Township under the command of Col. Kendrickson - that I cannot tell at this distance of time the beginning and ending of each monthly term of service, yet I know that all my terms above mentioned were at least one month in length, and at least twelve in number during the period aforesaid, and for such service I claim a pension - that the reason of the delay in making this Amending declaration has been ill-health - not being able to attend to it - that I signed a declaration similar to this, and had it sent to the Department last winter, which I believe is lost - supposed to have been burnt in the Post Office.
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 22 nd day of May A.D. 1837 Justice as aforesaid
Walter H. Hainwright Clerk
John A. Brewer

State of New Jersey Monmouth County S.S. Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace of the said County Gaspar Cooper who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a surviving Soldier of the Revolution that  he was then aged Eightythree years - that he was then and is now, well acquainted with John A. Brewer, and knows that the said John A. Brewer served in the Militia of said County in a Company Commanded by Capt. Jacob Fleming at least every other month alternately from the Spring of the year 1777. to the Spring of the year 1779, making at least one years actual service during the period aforesaid - that he thinks Capt. James Green had Command of the said Company during the latter part of the time - that Hendrickson was Col: & Forman Genl - that he cannot recollect the particular time of Beginning and ending of each monthly tour, yet he knows that the said John A. Brewer served at least twelve tours of one month each during the period aforesaid, for this De- ponent lived in the same neighborhood and served in the same Company with the said John A. Brewer during the tours aforesaid - that the said service was performed by the said John A. Brewer in guarding and defending the shores and frontiers of the said County, at Deal, Long Branch, Black Point Highlands, their Head quarters being at Tinton Falls in the Township of Shrewsbury - that the particular duties of the said Company (as well as the other Militia) were to defend the inhabitants of the County (particularly of the frontiers), from the depredations of the British and Tories, who were continually landing on the shores during the period aforesaid, in small parties, robbing and mur- dering the inhabitants. So that a constant guard was kept on said frontier by the Militia, relieving each other monthly - This deponent further states that the said John A. Brewer served in an embodied Corps called into service by the Laws of New Jersey, that he served in field and in garrison and for the time during which the service was per-

formed he was not employed in any civil pursuit. and further this deponent saith not -
Sworn to & subscribed before me Justice as aforesaid this 22 nd day of May A.D. 1837 by the said Gasper Cooper who is a credible person and whose statement is entitled to credit Habib H. Hainsright Justice
His Gasper X Cooper mark.
State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } ss. Personally appeared before me the undersigned Peter Smith & John Hall one of the gists of the deeds in all wherein being duly sworn depose & say that they are well acquainted with John H. Brewer who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing de- claration, residing in the same neighborhood with him; that they believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that they concur in that opinion -
Sworn to & subscribed before me Justice as aforesaid this 25 th day of May A.D. 1837, by the said Peter Smith & John Hall - who are credible persons & whose statement is entitled to credit Christopher Justice
Peter Smith John Hall
Let any two persons in the neighborhood sign this affidavit if they will - It is only as to his reputation - J.M.H.

State of New Jersey } ss Personally appeared before me a Monmouth County Justice of the peace of said County, Samuel Johnston who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with John A. Brewer in the Revolutionary War, and he is well satisfied in his own mind that the said John A. Brewer served in the militia of the County of Monmouth during said War, but deponent cannot state any particular times or places of his said service, for he belonged to a different Company served under a different Captain, yet from this deponent's knowledge of the character which the said John A. Brewer sustained during that War, of being a good Whig and Soldier, he has no doubt but that the said John A. Brewer served at least one year actual service in the militia of said County, during the Revolutionary War, that he has been acquainted with the said John A. Brewer since that period, and that he has always been reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a good & faithful soldier of the Revo- lution - I now subscribed } Josiah H. Hovey
before me Justice as aforesaid by the said Samuel Johnston who is a credible person whose Statement is entitled to credit May 20 th 1837 - Thos. C. Brockmorton }
State of New Jersey } ss I Daniel H. Ellis clerk of the Monmouth County Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby Certify that Halsted H. Wainwright Andrew Sempson and Thomas C. Brockmorton before whom the fore- going were had, are severally Justices of the peace of the peace in and for said County duly Commissioned

and I was in office as such, and that their several signatures to the foregoing proceedings are genuine In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand Seal of office this first day of June A.D. 1837 — J. H. Ellis G.H.B.

We John D. Barkalow a clergyman residing in Freehold, County of Monmouth New Jersey, and Daniel Erickson residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John H. Brewer who has signed and sworn to the annexed declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to be a man of good character for truth and ver- acity, and to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed before me } John D. Barkalow Justices of the Peace in & for the County } Daniel Erickson of Monmouth, New Jersey, this 15th day of July A.D. 1834. Samuel Hall Just.
And I the said Justice do hereby certify that John D. Barkalow who has signed the foregoing affi- davit is a clergyman resident as he states and Daniel Erickson who has also signed the same is a resident as he states, and is a credible person, & that his affidavit is entitled to credit. Samuel Hall Just.

34098
John A. Brewed
I Daniel H Ellis clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Monmouth, in the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that William Lloyd before whom the foregoing proceedings were taken and subscribed is now and was at the dates thereof a Judge of the said Court duly commissioned and sworn into office, and further that Samuel Hall before whom the foregoing certificate was sworn to & subscribed, and who has signed his name to the jurat thereof and to the certificate following, is a Justice of the Peace and for said County duly commissioned and sworn into office, and that full faith and credit are due and ought to their official acts as such - and that their respective signatures signed to the foregoing are genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12th day of July A.D. - 1834. D.H. Ellis Clk