Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2704, Nicholas Davis, New Jersey Penn

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New Jersey Penn
Davis, Nicholas Catharine
R. 2704
CONTENTS

Luzerne County, } State of Pennsylvania } fs.
On the twelfth day of December Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty six personally appeared before me David Scott, one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Luzerne aforesaid, Nicholas Davis, a resident of the Township Newport, in said county, aged eighty years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress passed the seventh day of June 1832. — That he was born at Chestnut-hill in Philadelphia County on the twenty third day of March Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and fifty six, where he resided with his father until he was about fourteen years of age, when he moved to Mount Bethel in Northampton County, Pennsylvania; where he was residing with his father, about the last of May 1779 when he enlisted as a private for the term of one year into the Company of foot soldiers or infantry commanded by Captain Samuel Cole which belonged to the Jersey line, but he does not recollect the the number of the Regiment, nor the Colonels name — the Majors name was Jacob Westbrook. The name of his first Lieutenant was Adam Kirkendol. The Army was commanded by General Sullivan and was then marching through Mount Bethel to Wyoming. The Applicant mounted immediately with the Army, was employed with other soldiers in cutting a road through the woods to Wyoming, and afterwards, in dragging the boats with stores &c up the Susquehanna River. He was in the indian Battle at New Town under General Sullivan & Marched on with him into the indian Country as far as the Genesee River, during which march he burned & destroyed a number of Indian Villages. He returned with Gen. Sullivan through the Wyoming valley

to Easton about the Middle of October of that year, & from there marched to Morristown in New Jersey where the Army went into winter quarters. The Army remained there until the first day of June 1780, principally employed in guarding or watching the British which, as he understood, lay not far off on the Spa Shore. There were no battles or skirmishes during the time. On the first day of June aforesaid his term of service expired, and he received his discharge from Captain Pool, and returned home. This discharge he kept for a long time but it has since got lost, & now he does not know.
On the 15 th April 1781 he again volunteered as a private into the Militia Company commanded by Captain Jacob Schoenfelder, for a term of three months. He joined the Company at Redcherty Creek, back of the Blue Mountain in Northampton County, he thinks. The Company belonged to Col: Daniel Strouds Regiment of Militia which was employed in guarding that part of the Country from the Indians, & was most of the time stationed at the fort at Bill Smiths on the Delaware River. He remained in that Company until the 15 th of July 1781 when he received a discharge from Captain Dale, and the second day after he volunteered into Capt John Longs Company of Militia, for the term of six months and marched with him to Sim: Westfalls fort, at the head of the Delaware, where his company with that of Captain Fordmans remained during his term of service. On the 17 th day of January 1782 He received his discharge from Captain Long in writing. Neither of these discharges can be found by him now. There is, he believes a record of his age in the Church books at Chestnut Hill where he was christened, and which he has seen. He knows of no living witness of his services, that he knows of. He is too feeble in health to attend Court for the

purpose of making this declaration, and therefore does it before a Judge. There is no Clergyman residing in his Township or Neighborhood with whom he is at all acquainted but he refers the Secretary of War to Col: Lee of Newport, David Thompson, post Master at Nanticoke, and the Honorable Andrew Beaumont, a representative in Congress from Susque County, as persons who are acquainted with him and can testify as to his character for truth and veracity. and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. He further states that he continued to reside at Mount Bethel until about thirty years ago when he removed from there to Newport where he now resides.
He hereby relinquishes all claims to every pension whatever (except the present) and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any State
Sworn & Subscribed before me
this 12 th day of December 1836
David Scott
his Nicholas Davis mark
Susque County State of Pennsylvania
We John Jacobs and Adam Bellis residing in the Township of Newport, County aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the above named Applicant, Nicholas Davis, who has subscribed and sworn to the above and foregoing declaration. That we believe him to be eighty years of age, nearly, as he states, that he is reputed and believed to be in the Neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & Subscribed before me
this 12 th day of December 1836
David Scott
John Jacobs
Adam Bellis
And I, the said David Scott, Judge aforesaid, do hereby

declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the within named Applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states; I further certify that it appears to me that John Jacob and Adam Beller who have signed and sworn to the within Certificate are residents of the Township of Newport, in the County of Luzerne Aforesaid, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit; and further, that the within named Applicant is too feeble and infirm to attend Court, for the purpose of making his declaration, and therefore it is taken at this time; and that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in this matter of the said Nicholas Davis' Application for a pension, as had before me this 12 th day of December Anno Domini 1836.
David Scott
33.9/73 Nicholas Davis Pennsylvania
State of Pennsylvania Luzerne County To
I John Smith Notary Public of the court of Common pleas in and for said County do certify that David Scott Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken was at the time of taking such affidavits and of making the above certificate President Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and further that from my acquaintance with the hand writing of the said David Scott I believe his signature to be genuine In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said court at Wilkes-Barre this fourteenth day of December A.D. 1836
John Smith Notary Public

No 1. 313
Catharine Davis Widow of Nicholas Penny
Act 29 July 1848

State of Pennsylvania Luzerne County
Personally appeared on this first 1 st day of November A D one thousand eight hundred and fifty three Before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Luzerne, and in open Court, Anna Catharine Davis a resident of the township of Newport, in the said County of Luzerne aged Seventy nine years, and who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by the Act of Congress passed the twenty ninth day of July A D 1848, that she is the widow of Nicholas Davis, who was a Private in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain: That her said husband, the said Nicholas Davis as she has been informed and verily believes enlisted at the Sussex Court House in the State of New Jersey, in the New Jersey State Troops in Captain Coles Company; That she cannot state the length of time for which he enlisted, but that he served in the Revolutionary Army for the term of five years and nine months, and was honorably discharged, which discharge in writing she has often seen, but which is now lost, and which she does not recollect to have seen within the last thirty years; That her husband informed her that he lost the same while at work as a laborer in clearing out the Lehigh River, which was thirty or more years since; That her said husband had a Sabre wound on his head of about Three inches in length; That he also had a wound in the third finger of his right hand which made it crooked and deformed - both of which wounds he represented to this deponent he received in Battle but that she cannot now recollect what battle her husband was engaged in, nor what officer he served under except Captain Coles and General Sullivan; That she recollects an account given by her husband of the expedition of General Sullivan from the Delaware to and up the Susquehanna River; that he gave her an account of cutting the Road through the pine Swamp between the two Rivers, the Susquehanna and the Delaware: and the march of

The army in Boats up the Susquehanna; and the destruction of the property of the Indians; That she has heard him speak of John Snow, who was in the service with him; Also Jacob Meach and Cornelius Bogach, and she thinks, but will not be positive in his company; She will recollect of his giving her an account of the destruction of the Indian's Villages, fruit-trees, corn, and grain. She knows of no living witness to prove the service of her husband - She cannot state the time he enlisted, nor the time he was discharged; She further declares that she was married to the said Nicholas Davis in the month of October A.D 1793 in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania by a Clergyman by the name of Founderslook who has been many years deceased; That she knows of no person living who was present at her said Marriage; that she had a certificate of said marriage has been lost for many years and that there is no Record of the same; That she was not married to her said husband prior to his leaving the service but that the marriage took place as above stated and previous to the second of January A.D 1800, and that she had by her said husband Thirteen Children; viz, John, Peter, Margaret, Catherine, Betsy, Rachel, Henry, Polly, Nicholas, Adam, Mary Ann Susan and Mary Ann; That all the sons are dead but Adam, and that all the daughters are deceased but Margaret, Rachel, Susan and Mary Ann; That her husband the aforesaid Nicholas Davis died on the nineteenth day of May A.D 1834; She further swears that she is now a widow; that she has not married since the death of her husband aforesaid and that she has never before made any application for a pension. That she has no record evidence of her husband's death.
Sworn and subscribed before me in open Court, Thirteenth day of November A.D 1853.
Wm N Cornynham
Pres: Judge C. P. Kenney
Catherine Davis mark

State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne
By Anson Curtis, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Luzerne do hereby certify that Rev. John A. Cunningham before whom the foregoing declaration was made is, and was at the time whereof the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County duly Commissioned and sworn; and that as such full force and credit is to be given his official acts; and I further certify that the signature of John A. Cunningham to said the foregoing declaration is genuine.
In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of December A D 1853.
A Curtis Prot

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
Ques
27119
P. O. Catharine, widow of Nicholas Davis
Service: _____
• REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

M-33.973 Nicholas Davis Pennsylvania
Suspended
Let 3 Feb. 1837 J. Smith (Prooths).
Oct 14 1832

No 1,313.
Catharine Davis widow of Nicholas.
Penn.
Letter to.
Chas. Pike 16 th Dec r 1853.
Chas. Pike 17 th Jany. 1854.
Hon H.B. Wright Feb y 13 1854
same Apr l 3. 1855 Chas. Pike, Nov. 11/58.
Hon H.B. Wright
H.B.R.
2704 act July 29. 1828

State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne
Personally appeared on this tenth day of November AD 1853, before the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Luzerne, and in open Court John Fetterman, a resident of the township of Newport, in said County, aged about fifty three years, and who after being first duly sworn according to Law deponeth and saith -
That he became acquainted with Nicholas Davis late a resident of said Newport about thirty years ago, and was acquainted with him about twelve years before he died - I lived close to him and was very well acquainted with him.
I have heard him speak many times about his being in the Revolutionary War - He told me he was in the service of the Army, five years and nine months - that he enlisted in the State of New Jersey - I have heard him speak of being engaged on Long Island - I have also heard him say he was along with Genl. Sullivan who passed with his Army, from the Delaware to the Susquehanna River and then up the later - He spoke frequently of the difficulties they had in cutting the Roads through the Pine Swamp between the two rivers -
The said Nicholas Davis had a Sabre wound on the right side of his head - He also had a wound on on the one of the fingers of his right hand - both of which said wounds he the said Nicholas Davis represented to this deponent he received in battle.
The said Nicholas Davis represented to this deponent that he remained in the

Army until his time was up - that he the said deponent is unable to state the time he, the said Davis, enlisted nor the time he was discharged - The said deponent says he thinks, but of that he is not certain, that said Nicholas Davis, enlisted for the period of five years and nine months.
The said deponent would further state that said Nicholas Davis, died in the said township of Newpul, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania about eighteen years ago out of the precise time he is not certain that he left a widow Catharine Davis, who has ever since his death, and does now reside in said Newpul township.
The said Nicholas Davis, previous to removing to this County (Luzerne) resided in Northampton County, in this State, where he was married, as this deponent verily believes to said Catharine Davis, who is now making application for a Pension, as the widow of the said Nicholas Davis. The said deponent would state, that it was always considered in the said neighborhood where he resided, that he had been in the service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War.
Sworn and subscribed before me this seventh day of November A.D. 1853
William Hancock Officiate Judge
John his X Fetterman mark

State of Pennsylvania County of Luzerne
I Anson Curtis Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Luzerne do hereby certify that Hon. William Hancock who took the foregoing affidavit of John Stetterman is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County duly commissioned and sworn, and that as such full force and credit should be given his official acts — And I do further certify that the signature of said William Hancock to the foregoing Affidavit is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Wilkes-Barre this eighth day of December AD 1853.
A Curtis Proth

Dealy
(pa)
Revolutionary Claims
FREE
Hon: Lewis Cass Secretary of War Washington D. Columbia

Wilkes Barre Jan'y. 12. 54.
Dr Sir-
About the 1 st of Dec. last I forwarded to your office the application of Mrs. Calhaine Davis, widow of Nicholas Davis deceased, for a Pension under the act of 29 July 1848.
The description which the old lady gives of her husband's service, and which I think is set out in her affidavit, is that he was under a Capt. Cole - and also under Gen. Sullivan - but whether Capt. Cole belonged to Gen. Sullivan she does not know.
In an answer from your office of the 16: Dec. you state the receipt of the declaration, and "that Nicholas's name is not found upon the Rolls of Capt. Clark's Company under Genl. Sullivan ."
Whether the mistake in the name has been mine in making out the declaration I cannot say - but from memoranda I have I find the Capt's name was Cole , not Clark: & also that it is as doubtful whether Capt. Cole was a subordinate officer in Sullivan's division.
To the Hon. The Commr. of Pensions
Your ob t Serv t
Charles Pike

Pension of Eliz. Davis

Pension Office December 16 th 1853.
Sir:
The application of Catharine Davis, widow of Nicholas, of Pennsylvania, has been received and filed under Act 29 th July, 1848.
Nicholas's name is not found upon the rolls of Capt. Clark's company, under General Sullivan. It is impossible to ascertain what his other services were, as the names of his commanding officers have not been given. The Comptroller of Connecticut may have in his Office some evidence of Nicholas's services, for which you might apply. The date of Nicholas's and Catharine's marriage has not been proved.
I am, respectfully, Your ob. Sgt, L. M. Melas Commissioner
Charles Pike, Esqr. Wilkesbarre, Penn.

Wilkes Barre, Penn a Decr. 8. 1853.
Dr Sir:
Herewith you please find enclosed the application of Mrs. Elizabeth Davis for a Pension. You can address me at this place as her agent.
Yours Respectfully
Charles Fike
The Hon The Commissioner of Pensions

Wilkes-Barre March 28, 1855
Dr Sir
I founded the pension paper of an old widow resident in this county, by the name of Davis some two years since. Since You write me that the name of her husband could not be found on the Rolls. Since my return and in conversation with members of the family - I find they have been in the habit of writing their name Divore , corrupted now into Davis. It is possible the name may be found of Divore on the Rolls. Mr Coleman myself spent some time in the search for Davis. Will you have the goodness to direct a re-examination. The old woman is most miserably poor and destitute of the wants of life. It will be in deed a charity to help her if we can -
Hon. L. P. Waldo. Comm. of Pensions
Yours very obedt Servt Abdick B. Wright

Willis Baré Penna
Nov. 4, 1858.
Sir:
Sometime in the summer or fall of 1853 I forwarded to your office the application of widow of Nicholas Davis Catharine Davis for a Pension: and in due time received in answer the enclosed letter. I am informed that Nicholas in his lifetime made application for a Pension himself - which was rejected.
If it be proper, and in accordance with the rules of your department, I would ask that you return the papers in the case to me - the papers in either case would answer my purpose. The latter were forwarded by H. B. Wright or myself.
Yours Very Respectfully
Charles Pike.
To The Hon.
The Commissioner of Pensions.