Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 855, Thomas Brewer, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Brewer Thomas
S. 855.
Carded
CONTENTS

17379 New Jersey
Thomas Brewer
of Brunswick in the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Chambers, of the Reg t commanded by Col Neilson in the New Jersey line for 10 months,
Died 21 Jany '33 widow Elizabeth Brewer
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Aug t 1833 and det d J. H. Randolph Present
Arrears to the 4th of Dec r 33 to commencing 21 Jany 33 $ 62. 68
$ 62. 68
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Mr Brownell Clerk Book E Vol. 3. Page 102

State of New Jersey Middlesex county ss: 3
On this twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Judges of the Inferior court of common Pleas in & for the county of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey in open court the same being a court of record therein and now sitting Thomas Brewer a resident of the city of New Brunswick in the county & State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to Law and being examined and interrogated by the s d court according to the instructions from the war department doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7. 1832. viz -
That he was born sometime in the year 1750 and is now 82 years of age or thereabouts. He has no record of his age in his own possession but has been informed by the Rev. James J. Cannon former pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at six-mile-run in Somerset county N. Jersey that the records of that church shew that he was baptized in that year. He has never seen the record himself & it would be of no avail if he had as he can neither read nor write. He has always estimated his age from that information & without doubt its correctness. Was born in the Township of Franklin in Somerset county aforesaid. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war & when

he first entered the service of the United States he lived in the Township of North Brunswick in Middlesex county N.J. & had lived there for a number of years but don't know how long - Since then was he has resided in the counties of Monmouth Middlesex & Somerset in N. Jersey but for the greater part of the time in Middlesex where he now lives - He entered the service of the United States as a volunteer & private at Cranbury in the county of Middlesex in a company commanded by Captain David Chambers & in the regiment commanded by Col. John Neilson. This was in the Spring of 1777 and when the British lay at New Brunswick & then served three successive months at at and about Cranbury & the Shrewsbury along the shore of the Raritan or Amboy Bay - During this period was in several skirmishes with the British - Immediately after the expiration of said three months, he went out again as a volunteer under Captain John Van Nenburg & in the regiment commanded by Col. John Neilson to Paulus Hook opposite New York & served  served at three two months & then came back as far as Elizabeth Town & the Blazing Star on the shore of Staten Island some , & there served two months, during which had an engagement with the British at Elizabeth Town, was in the hottest of the battle - The last two months above mentioned he served as a substitute being hired by one John Hatfield but whether he served in the place of Hatfield or another he cannot say knows that he was

hired by him. At those places too he served in different officers to wit captain Fre- eman & colonel John Deykineck - Col- Neilson's Regiment having gone home - Immediately after his service at Elizabeth town as aforesaid he went to The Chequamegon again & served there under captain John Dey & Col. Chambers one month as a sub- stitute for one John Gulick. He then join- ed a company commanded by captain John Pyatt & served as a substitute for one Abraham Gulick for two months at Shrewsbury in the county of Mon- mouth - was with Capt Pyatt & under colonel Genny when the British stores were taken in Shrewsbury town - From this time he continued to serve to the end of the war, always as a substitute for some one or other but cannot now tell whom - As soon as one town was out he was applied to to serve in the place of an other & did serve - He served three years in the whole & under several other officers than those above named whose names he cannot recollect except Capt. Joachim Gulick under whom he served for a considerable time - Was at the battle of Springfield under Capt Freeman & Col. Deykineck - Lay at Crooked Creek in Burlington county at the time the bat- tle of Princeton took place - At the battle of White Plains he lay under the moun- tain & acted as a guard for the baggage - When the battle of Monmouth took place he was on Staten Island under Capt Van Rensselaer - The country there

which he marched was the counties of Burlington, Somerset, Monmouths Mid- dleness, Essex & Bergen & Staten Island - He has no written evidence discharge from the service nor any written or document any evidence of his services, but is known to Lewis Johnson, Abraham Burnet Thomas Gable, & several others who are still living & John Hovey & David Hovey (if their attendance at court can be procured) can testify to his service & is also not well known to them  him  any  the  discharge  discharge discharge of which services in his neighborhood who  can testify to his character for verac- ity & his his  their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolutionary war - and he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the army of any State
Placed & subscribed in open court the 24th day of April 1818 Simon Mowday
his Thomas B. Brewer mark
We John Hovey & David Hovey of the county of Middlesex & State of New Jersey do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Brewer the above named appli- cant & knew him during the war of the revolution, that he served as a soldier and

ing that war but how long we are unable to say. We believe from our knowledge of him some recollection of the events of that day that he served nearly the whole of the war of the revolution in his own behalf or as a substitute. He was soldiering nearly all the time - we believe him to be of the age represented by himself & that he is a man of veracity & that his statement is entitled to credit -
Second subscribed in open court this day 24 th of August Simon Mundy
His Dennis + Slower mark -
John His Slower mark
And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and served as he states -
Dated Sept. 17. 1832.
Simon Mundy B. Post Robert McHenry
I Francis L. Van Ness clerk of the Superior court of common Pleas in & for the county of Middlesex aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Burns for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this 19 th day of September eighteen hundred and thirty two
H. L. Van Ness Clerk

I Simon Mundy, one of the Justs. of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex, and who has signed the proceedings in the case of Thomas Brewster within named, and before whom the affidavit of Daniel Flower and John Stone herein named, was taken, do hereby certify that said Daniel & John Stone are credible persons, & that their statements are entitled to credit.
Simon Mundy
Thomas Brewster's Application for opinion
8708
certificate to be sent to James & Andrew R. H. Brewster A Query
James & Andrew A. Mundy A.S.

State of New Jersey } Be it known, that on this twenty Middlesex County } ninth day of July one thousand eight hundred & thirty three, before me, the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared Elizabeth Brewer , of said County, who being duly sworn, doth on her oath say, that she is the widow and legal representative of Thomas Brewer , dec. the applicant for a Pension named in paper marked 8708, that said Thomas Brewer died on the 21 st or 22 nd day of January 1833 , leav- ing her in a destitute situation - that she is in the 76 th year of her age , and knows of said Brewer's being frequently out in service in the Revolution, and believes he served as he has stated, and she hereby makes application for the Pension which would have been allowed to her husband the said Thomas Brewer, had he lived.
from subscribed before me
The day & year aforesaid
H. Ford
Justice of the peace
Elizabeth for Brewer mark
State of New Jersey } Middlesex County } Before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the peace in & for the County aforesaid, personally appeared William Seton , who being duly sworn, doth on his oath say, that he is acquainted with Elizabeth Brewer , the above named respondent - that she is the widow of Thomas Brewer as known set forth - that said Thomas Brewer, to his deponent's knowledge died on the 21 st or 22 nd day of January last, 1833 .
from subscribed this 29 th day of July 1833, before me
H. Ford
Justice of the peace
William Seton

I hereby certify that William Letts, the fore- going deponent, is a credible person, and that his statement is entitled to implicit belief
R. Ford Justice of Peace
I Nicholas Booraeu, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original & supplemental proceedings in the case of Thomas Brewa an applicant for a Pension, and of his widow Elizabeth Brewa, that Simon Mundy before whom the affidavit of Daniel Sloop & John Sloop was taken was then a Judge of said Court, & that his signature thereto is genuine; and that the Rev. P. Runyon & Jonas Ford before whom the supple- mental proceedings were had, are Justices of the Peace, duly commissioned, and that their sig- natures thereto affixed are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this twenty ninth day of July one thousand eight hun- dred thirty three.
N. Booraeu Clerk

no 8708
Thos Bruen N.J. dec?
Return & if —
adm d
James F. Randolph James F. Randolph N. Brn. New Jersey

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
3 d June 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Thomas Brewer of Middlesex Co. New Jersey.
   Vol. Sub Pub Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Vol. 1777 3 Private Capt. David Chambers Colo John Nicholson 30 d about Boonton - the Cheesquack - the shores of Amboy Bay - To Trenton - York - Elizabethtown - to the Chasse-guètes Township of North Brunswick in the county of Middlesex - State of New Jersey - Aged 83 Living witness   Vol. 1777 2 Capt. John Van Horn Colo John Nicholson   Sub " 2 Capt. Delmonico Colo John Dugan   Pub " 1 Capt. John Day Colo Chambers   Pub " 2 10 Capt. John Pyall Colo Gurney   From this time to the end of the war he continued to serve, always as a substitute for someone or other. He served Three Years in the whole. Capt. Joachim Gulick  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?  { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and 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:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____; For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

New York
INVALID
File No.
855
am
Thomas Brewer
Mrs. N. J. Lins
Act
June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol.
a , Page 41
[Arrangement of 1870.]

8708 Thomas Brewer
died 27 th Jan y . 1833
Elizabeth Brewer widow.
adm d 10mo. pri
$33.33.
to be comp d from 4 mar '32 to 21. Jan y '33
James Randolph at Brewster

Affidavit in the case of Thomas Brewer, an applicant for a Pension under the Law of June 1822. Middlesex County
New Jersey ss. Be it known that on this tenth day of July, eighteen hundred thirty three, before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in a said County, duly commissioned & sworn. personally appeared Abraham Bennett, a Sergeant in the Revolutionary War, & now receiving a full Pension as such, who being duly sworn, on his oath deposeth & saith, that he was well acquainted with Thomas Brewer, the applicant for a Pension named in the paper marked numbered 8708, believes him to have been a man of veracity & admits that his statement in relation to his services, (which has just been read to him) is entitled to full credit. Knows that the said Thomas Brewer was in the service one month at least, commencing in June in 1780 at Chesquakes in the County of Middlesex New Jersey under Capt. of  the  that the deponent, was there at the time, the said Brewer serving under him. Deponent is enabled to give upon the year & the time of the year, from a search warrant for contraband goods now in his possession, with the execution of which he was entrusted as Guard. Deponent has no other personal knowledge of said Brewer's services, but remembers to have heard of him frequently as a service both before and after the period named above, and has no doubt that he served as he has stated in his declaration. Deponent is aforesaid of eighty years old.
Sworn to before me this day 10th  of July 1833 Abraham Bennett Senr Peter D. Rumsyow Justice of the Peace Thereby certify that Abraham Bennett sen. named in the foregoing affidavit is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit. Peter D. Rumsyow Justice of the Peace

State of New Jersey Middlesex County 3d. Before me on this twenty fourth day of July 1833, one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Lewis Johnston, a surviving soldier of the Revolution, who being duly sworn with his oath before me, that he was once acquainted with Thomas Brewer, now deceased the applicant for a pension now named in pension papers marked 8708, in his life time - Knew him to be in service in the war of the Revolution, saw him in said service one time at least in 1779 and one time in 1778, at both times at Pompton, Mor- ristown, & that neighborhood. Don't know how long those times lasted, but they could not have been less than a month, as that a month was the shortest regular time then performed. Said Brewer, he believes was frequently out, but he has no personal knowledge of any other ser- vice than that spoken of above. Thinks his statement from that entitled to credit. From that signed before me This 24 th of July AD 1833 3 Lewis Johnston J. Ford
History of the pension I hereby certify that Lewis Johnston, the above named deponent, is a credible person, and that his statement is entitled to implicit belief.
J. Ford