Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 896, James M Chesney, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Ghesney James H. McGhesney
S 896
buried
CONTENTS

9872 New Jersey
James M c Chesney
of S. Amboy in the State of N Jersey who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Dey of the Reg t commanded by Col Dykin on the Militia line for 21 months
James M c Chesney
§ 27. 1. Records corrected Jan y 5/66. S
Inscribed on the Roll of N Jersey at the rate of 70 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of June 1833 and del d to M c Chesney of Highlands Town N J Present
Swears to the 4th of Mar 33 — $140 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 35
$175
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. F. Hanson Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 3 l Page 121.

Job Wetherby
State of New Jersey } Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Middlesex County ss. } Act of Congress passed June the 7. 1832.
On this Thirtieth day of July 1832 personally appeared in open Court at a special Term of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, held at the City of New Brunswick now sitting being a Court of Record, James Wetherby a resident of the Township of South Amboy in the said County of Middlesex and State aforesaid, aged Seventy two years on the 5. day of November last, who being 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 the 7. 1832. That he entered the service of the United States in the Summer of 1776 as a private in Captain John Dey's company under the command of Colonel John Dycinick and marched to Perth Amboy, and after laying there sometime was marched to Blazing-Sar, and lay there some weeks does not now Rememba, about the time the British took possession of Long-Island and New York, after the expiration of that tour, I was ordered out again under the same Officers I think, and marched to Bogan-Spient, and Paulis-Hook opposite New York, and while there the British fired from their armed vessels a considerable length of time upon the Jersey Militia, but dont Rememba that any were killed, after those tours, he moved into Monmouth County in the spring of 1777, and served in the Militia of that County in the same capacity in Captain David Gordon's company under the command of Colonel Asher Holmes and lay part of the time at Cotts-neck, and part at Tenter falls in the Township of Shrewsbury in said County, after that service expired, was called out again under the same Officers to Shrewsbury-Town, and Coton Town near the sea shore on the lines of the British, and where the Tories or Refugees in the British service was continually making excursions and committing depredations, as is well known, in 1778 was ordered out again in the said company of Captain David Gordon then under the command of Major Elisha Walton and marched to a place called Deal on the sea shore in said County of Monmouth and was there a considerable time guarding the Inhabitants from the depredations and plundering parties of the British, and their Tory friends who were more and more cruel than the British themselves, was also at the Battle of Monmouth in the same year, but was not engaged in the Battle, any otherwise than attending on the wounded

in the year of 1779 this deponent was ordered out into the Company commanded by Nathaniel Polhemus under Colonel Elisha Lawrence and marched to Toms River, Hawks and Egg Harbour, and was a considerable time at each of these places guarding the shores of Monmouth County and was also out in the same year under the aforesaid Captain John Dey, and Colonel John Nielson to a place called Connecticut Farms, not far from Elizabeth Town The length of time he was there he does not now recollect and in the year 1780 he was called out on a tour under the aforesaid Captain David Gordon, and Major Elisha Walton, and marched to Shoal Harbour, and was in an engagement with a party composed of British troops, and the Tories, in which one of the British troops a Scotchman was killed, when the said party retreated, the foregoing statement contains the most material facts that this deponent can at this remote distance of time recollect But he hereby declares that from the time he entered the service until the conclusion of the Revolutionary war he was out at every call made upon him in the counties of Middlesex and Monmouth and the said counties bordering on the shores the calls on the Militia were very numerous and frequent, and that he verily believes he was out in the service as a Militia-man during the continuance of the said war at different times for a longer term of time than two years, and this deponent further declares that he has no documentary evidence relating to his services, and he doth hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he also declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State and this deponent further declares that as far as he knows all the Officers under whom he served are now dead excepting the before mentioned Colonel John Nielson
sworn, and subscribed in open Court this 31 day of July 1832
Robert McHenry
Jas M. Chesney
2 J. [unintelligible]

= County of Middlesex
We Symmes C. Henry Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in the village of Frankbury, and Richard Reid of the said County of Middlesex do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James McHenry who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and believe him to be seventy two years of age, and that he is reputed, and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion
sworn and subscribed in open court the 31. day of July 1832
Symmes C. Henry Richard Reid
Robert McHenry
Interrogatories put by the Court to the foregoing applicant
 1. Where, and in what year was you Born Answer in the Township of South Amboy in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey on the 5. day of November 1759  2. Have you any Record of your age, and where is it Answer, I have been informed that it was entered by my father in a book called the life of Luther which after his death in the year 1775 was sold at the residue of his Estate, and I do not now know where it is.  3. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since, the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live Answer in the Township of South Amboy, in the County of Middlesex and part of the time in the Counties of Monmouth, and Somerset in said State, and part of the time on Long Island in the State of New York, and now live in South Amboy, and Middlesex County, as aforesaid  4. How were you called into the service Answer, on all occasions I served as a volunteer  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 service Answer I never was out under any regular Officers of the standing army, and I do not recollect the names of any Continental or Militia Regiments, any more than the Colonels, and Captains I have named, in my declaration, and as to the general circumstances of my service I do not recollect any more than I have above related in my said declaration 

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service Answer, no other than a verbal one, when the tour was ended for which I was called out, as was always the case as far as I know respecting the militia.
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and the belief of your services of the Revolution Answer, John Rue, Col. James Abraham, Cornelius Suydam, John P. Miller, Matthew R. Davison, John Honebrake, and Peter Dey Esquire
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 31. day of July 1832
James M. Chesney
Robert McHenry
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the above interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, and this Court further certifies that it appears to them that the said Symmes C. Henry who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said village of Cranbury in the County of Middlesex, and that Richard Reid who has also signed his name to the same is a resident in the said County, and is a creditable person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 31. day of July 1832 and the whole affidavit to the foregoing proceedings was taken before the following judges
Robert McHenry A. Root Thos. Vance
No 41105
I H. Vanarsdalen Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of James McHenry for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 31. day of July 1832
H. Vanarsdalen Clerk

Supplementary Declaration
State of N. Jersey } Be it known that on the seventeenth day of Middlesex County ss. } May A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Thirty Three before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared James McSherry an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June the 7. 1832. who being duly sworn according to Law did depose and say that in addition to his original declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the said pension Law, and to explain more fully the length of time he was engaged in each term of service he was  engaged, and called out to serve in the Militia of the Counties of Middlesex, and Monmouth, and under his Oath doth state as follows to the best of this deponents memory and belief viz.
That he served on the tours as mentioned in his original declaration, and in the order therein stated, and under those Officers in the summer of 1776. he served on the tour to Amboy and the Blazing Star one month as a private — — — — — 1 mo. weeks 1 " 00  same year afterwards was ordered out into service again under the same Officers he thinks to Bergen-point Paulin- Hook opposite New York, was out on this tour — — — — — 1 " 00  in the spring of 1777 he moved into Monmouth County and was ordered out in the Militia of that County in the same capacity in Captain David Gordons company, under the command of Colonel Asher Holmes, and was marched to Bolts-neck, and was stationed there six months being relieved half the time making that tour — — — — — 3 " 00  in the same year and under the same Officers was ordered out near Tinton falls, and served on that tour — — — — — 1 " 3  and in the year 1778 was ordered out under the same Officers to Shrewsbury Town, being relieved part of the time this tour lasted — — — — — 2 " 2  same year was ordered out under the same Officers to Eaton Town out on this tour — — — — — 1 " 2  was ordered out again into Captain John Waltons company and under his Brother Elisha Walton Major, and marched to Deal, Runnen, Black, and Jumping points, out on this tour at these several places — — — — — 2 " 00  in the same year and under the same Officers and marched into the rear of the British army just previous to Battle of Monmouth and at the said Battle was engaged in taking care of the wounded this tour lasted 1 " 00

mo. weeks 13" 3
Brought over
in the 1779 was ordered out in Captain Nathaniel Polhemus's company under the command of Colonel Elisha Lawrence and marched to Tom's River, Menahansing, and Egg Harbour was continued in each of those places separately and was there engaged in protecting the inhabitants on that extensive sea-shore from the depredations of the enemy this tour lasted
3" 00
and in the same year he believes, he volunteered in Captain John Dey's company under Colonel John Nixon and marched to a place called Connecticut Farms near Elizabeth-town was out on this tour -
1" 2
in the year 1780 was called out again into service under the said Captain David Gordon under Major Elisha Walton to Shoal-harbour was out on this tour -
2" 2
and this deponent further declares that living near the lines of the enemy he was called out on various alarms for the space of more than three years, and on which would frequently last two, three, and four days at a time and then when the Militia would collect pretty strong the enemy would be off, and that the enemy consisting generally of plundering parties of the Tories who had joined the British, kept parts of the Militia on the alert on very numerous occasions, and this deponent is very sure that he was called out on those alarms for a period altogether of more than
1" 2
sworn to, and subscribed the day and year above said
Total months 21" 1
Robert Wehenny Justice of the peace
Ja. M. Chesney
Adm. S. N. Morris
James McElhinney South Antrim, M.P. Capt John Dey Col. E. Lawrence

State of N. Jersey } Be it known that on the 7 th day of June A.D. 1833 Middlesex County ss } before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the
peace in and for said County personally appeared Robert W. Cheney who being duly sworn according to Law did on his Oath depose and say that James W. Cheney an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June the 7. 1832 is his Brother, and that their father John W. Cheney departed this life in the year 1775 leaving nine children of whom he this deponent was the eldest, and that when the Militia of New Jersey was called out into service of the United States in the summer of 1776, under Captain John Dey and Colonel John Dycinch, and this deponent further saith that owing to the circumstances that the family was left on account of the death of their father, he this deponent had to take charge of the farm and grist-mill, of which he the said deceased said possessed, and to enable him to manage the same he the said Captain accepted him the said James W. Cheney as a substitute in the place of him this deponent, for the two first tours that he the said applicant hath stated in his original declaration, at Perth Amboy, Blazing-Star, the first and at Bergen-point, and Paulus-hook in his second tour, and that this deponent verily believes that those two tours lasted for two months as the said applicant has fixed the length at in his supplementary declaration, after those tours he the said applicant moved into Monmouth County, and from that time this deponent hath no personal knowledge of his actual services, But from the knowledge he hath of his said Brothers moral character he verily believes his representations relating to his services during the Revolutionary war are entitled to full credit and belief, and if it be of any use this deponent would further state that he the said applicant is in very needy circumstances, and that he hath been a cripple many years, and now is also the greater part of his time travelling on crutches. Sworn to, and subscribed before me, the day and year abovenamed
John B. Mount } Justice of the peace
Robert W. Cheney
I do hereby certify that the history above named is known to me to be a person of good credit and that his testimony is entitled to full and unqualified credit.
John B. Mount } Justice of the peace

HAROLD HERRICK, President. GEO. W. DEWEY, Secretary.
GEO. C. HOWE, Vice President. H. F. G. WEY, Asst. Secretary.
gsw
Niagara Fire Insurance Company
46-48 Cedar Street.
New York, Dec. 26, 1902.
To the Commission of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:-
May I trouble you to look at the Record back in the Revolutionary times and see if you can find whether James A. McChesney, James A. Chesney or Robert Dunbar of Niskayuna, Albany County, or Albany, New York (which was then, I believe, known as Fort Orange) are on the list of pensioners. I understand that Robert Dunbar was killed in either the Battle of Saratoga or Stillwater, and that James McChesney, or James Chesney, was one of the "Minute Men" at Fort Orange, and contributed money for the support of the War. I am trying to ascertain whether either of these men or any of their descendants ever drew pensions. I am seeking this information in order to obtain membership in the "Sons of American Revolution." I am a descendant of these people, but there is a little break in the record which I am endeavoring to straighten out to complete my membership.
Thanking you in advance for your trouble, and awaiting an early reply, I beg to remain,
Yours respectfully,
Geo. C. Howe

896
3-068. (Old No. 3-649.)
6-20
Bureau of Pensions.
James McChesney
July 31. 1832 -
South Amboy N.J. - 72
Summer 76 - So Amboy
Capt Josw. Day
N.J.
Col. D. G. Kincaid - 1 m
Capt. do
Col. do
1 m
Apr 77 Cpt David Gordon
Col. Robert Holmes
3 m
Br
do
1 m
78
do
May Walton 2 m
79 Cpt. Archd. Paterson
Col. Elisha Lawrence
3 m
79
Capt. Day
Col. Josw. Nichols
2 m
do
Capt. Gordon
May Walton 2 m
Born Nov. 5, 1759
So Amboy
No Debt

Jan 3-1903 Geo. C. Howe NY, City
9873 Cert. No. INVALID.
Rev Wm
File No.
896
James M. * Chesney Paw. N.Y. City
Act June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol. a , Page 442
[Arrangement of 1870.]
James M. * Chesney Record corrected Jan 5/86. B

State of N. Jersey } Be it known that on the seventeenth day of May Middlesex County p. A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Thirty Three
Before me the subscriber one of the justices of the peace in and for said County personally appeared James Reid who being duly sworn according to Law did depone and say that he was and is well acquainted with James McChesney an applicant for a pension under the Law of Congress passed June the 7. 1832, that he this deponent was acquainted with him the said James McChesney at the commencement of the Revolutionary War, and saw him in the Militia in the service of the United States in the State of New Jersey, in the counties of Middlesex and Monmouth as a private in the companies commanded by captains John Dey, David Gordon, John Walton, and Colonels Holmes and Dylins, and at the several following named places viz. Perth Amboy, Blazing Star, Elizabeth Town, in the County of Middlesex, and in the County of Monmouth, at Long Branch, Shrewsbury, Trenton-falls, Middletown, Shoal-Harbour Monmouth Court-house and several other places not recollected and from his acquaintance with the said applicant this deponent has good reason to believe that he was in the service of his country in the Militia from the year 1776. to the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, and further saith not.
sworn to and subscribed before me the subscriber the day and year above written, and I also certify that the witness who hath subscribed the above affidavit is a creditable person
James J. Reed his mark
Saml O. Dabrown
Justice of the peace
State of New Jersey } I Nicholas Boorman Clerk of the Court of Middlesex County p. Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that Samuel Dabrown Robert McClellan & John Bellmont before whom the foregoing & annexed depositions were made were at the time Justices of the peace in & for said County duly commissioned & sworn and that the signatures said Dabrown Robert McClellan & John Bellmont are their proper signatures
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office This 19th day of June A.D. 1833
N Boorman Clerk

State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } ss
Personally appeared before the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Gaius Mychoff of said Coun- ty aged Seventy five years who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he is acquainted with James McChesney, and that he has known him since the year 1778. That he became acquainted with him for the first time, after he (the deponent) returned from his imprisonment among the British in the month of August 1778. That deponent knows of his own know- ledge that the said James McChesney served as a Private Soldier in the Militia of New Jersey during the war of the Revolution, frequently, and at differ- ent times. That deponent saw him upon duty often times in that capacity, and frequently served with him upon tours of duty during the war in the Militia of Monmouth County at Shoal Harbor near Turtown Falls and Mount Pleasant and at the Scotch greeting house under Captain David Gordon Captain Forman and others whose names that he also served under John Walton Captain of Shrewsbury Troop deponent cannot recollect. As the latter was Col. That deponent will not pretend to say how long the said James McChesney served in the Militia neither can he particularly specify the time or times when he was out - but will recollect of seeing the said James frequently upon duty in the monthly tours of duty with the Monmouth Militia - That the services of which deponent speaks were rendered some time the year 1778 to the close of the war - That Depo- nent believes the said James served in the Militia at least twelve months after he became acquainted with him, and that the said James was always considered a good and faithful Soldier and al

ways done his duty, and further deponent saith not
Sworn & Subscribed before } Garret W. of me this fifth day of June } AD 1833 }
William Lloyd Justice
I William Lloyd Justice do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Garret Wilkoff the above deponent and know him to be a man of good character; & is well worthy of belief upon oath or otherwise. Witness my hand the 5 th day of June 1833. William Lloyd Justice
I the undersigned 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 I am acquainted with the hand writing of Garret Wilkoff the above deponent and may believe it to be the hand writing of said Garret Wilkoff and further that William Lloyd Esq who has signed the other certificate is a Justice of the Peace and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Monmouth County and that full faith and credit are due and owing to all his official acts
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Freehold this fifth day of June A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty three.
W. H. Ellis Clerk

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Chesney, Thomas GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9146 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED November 3, 1791 to John McChesney, Adm re .
*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.