Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 991, John Dickinson, Penn. (N.J)

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn. (189)
Dickinson, John
5.991
CONTENTS
Carded

New Jersey 9025
John Dickinson,
of Cape May in the State of N. J. who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Rice of the Regt. commanded by Col. Harsland in the N. J. Militia line for
12 months
PA x Oct. 17/44 Record corrected
Inscribed on the Roll of N. J. at the rate of 40. Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of June 1833. and sent to Hon. W. H. Taylor Cold Spring, N. J.
  Arrears to the 4th of March 1831.  80.00    Remnant allowance ending Sept r " -  20.00    Died Sept 16, 1834  $100.00  
{ Revolutionary Claim } { Act June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by J. G. Francis Clerk, Book C. Vol. 3 rd Page 10 th

George May
Declaration of H. W. Dickinson
11/1/57.
R

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 18th of June, 1832
State of New Jersey County of Cape May On this seventh day of August 1832, personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Cape May, at the Court House in & for the County of Cape May, in open Court John Dickin son a resident of Middle Township in the County of Cape May & State of New Jersey aged 73 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 18th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, & served as therein stated -
Received a commission of Surgeon's Mate to the Pennsylvania fleet from the Navy Board - I think that it was in the spring of 1777; Immediately after receiving this commission was ordered to take care of the sick & wounded of two United States vessels then lying in Delaware bay, a brig & schooner, to guard the vessels trading from the ports on the river & bay to Phil a - the brig was commanded by Captain John Rice the schooner by Captain Ayres these vessels were under the command of Commodore Maserwood & were part of the Pennsylvania fleet when the British fleet came in the bay we were driven up the river to Fort Mifflin where all the fleet were collected - There being a considerable number of sick & wounded in the port & fleet Commodore Maserwood requested me to find a suitable house on the leading shore & to fit it up as an hospital for the sick & wounded & to take charge thereof; which I did this hospital was in the vicinity of Red Bank -
I was afterward engaged in an hospital at Trenton established for the same purpose as the above mentioned one, & I got my regular discharge at that Place - I think that I was at least a year Surgeon's Mate to the fleet - but have no documentary evidence of the time of my commission & discharge my commission and discharge being both lost -

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the pensions & claims that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Sworn & subscribed the day & year afore said Jos. Goff
John Dickinson
Wathaniel Holmes of Cape May residing in the County of Cape May and Shangoon Hewitt residing in the County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Col. Dickinson who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 73 years of age; that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Colonel of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year afore said Jos. Goff
Wath. Holmes
Shangoon Hewitt
And the said 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 applicants was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Wathaniel Holmes who has signed the preceding certificate, is a blaggard resident in the Middle Township & that Shangoon Hewitt who has also signed the same is a resident in the Upper Township of Cape May & that they are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit — By the Court
Jos. Goff

1 I Jonathan Hand Clerk of the court of common Pleas for the county of Cape May, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Dickinson for a pardon.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this seventh day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two - Jonathan Hand

No. 25195
John Dickinson County of Cape May New Jersey
Admiral Sargood's date 12 months
Return the Vessel
Honble Thos. H. Hughes N. Jersey

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
163
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 subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show 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, showing the Service of John Dickinson  born July 6 Cape May N. Jersey
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officer under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Apr 9 1777 1 - - Surgeon State Brig Schooner. Capt Rice & Ayres Com. Haslewood 73 years N. Jersey Traditional evidence certified Credible. No clergyman acquainted with affiant's papers, correct No names of vessels mentioned  
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 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), who has 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 days 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 the 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 place, 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.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
MSB/HAM one
September 11, 1929.
Mr. Edward Post, Custodian Cape May Courthouse, R.F.D., New Jersey.
Dear Sir:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 991, it appears that John Dickinson was born October 11, 1758, place not stated.
He was commissioned, in the spring of 1777, Surgeon's Mate, and immediately ordered to take care of the sick and wounded on two United States vessels commanded respectively by Captain John Rice and Captain Ayres, a part of the fleet under Commodore Haslewood, at whose direction he selected a house on the "Jersey Shore", near Red Bank, and fitted it up as a hospital, served there and in a hospital at Trenton for at least one year.
He removed from Salem County to Cape May County in June 1786.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 7, 1832, at which time he resided in Middle Township.

Cape May County, New Jersey.
He died September 16, 1854.
There are no data concerning his family.
It does not appear that the above named soldier served in the War of 1812.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

Objections
Lee 10. 11. 12. 13.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
V. * Has he mentioned 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?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? No! It cannot be recognized as a Seal here.
The number of copies from the District, should be applied to, to certify the record.

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No!
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No! He has not stated that he cannot procure a living witness.
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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.
† QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.

Cape May Jd: On this fifth day of February 1833, personally ap- peared before the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, for the County aforesaid, in open court, John Dickinson the applicant mentioned in the declaration annexed, who be- ing duly sworn according to law, deponeth and saith, that he was seventy four years of age the eleventh day of October last, that he removed from Salem County to Cape May forty six years ago last June & that he has continued to reside in the County of Cape May ever since, that he does not know of any living witness, by whom he can prove his service, that according to the best of his Depo- nent's knowledge, they are all dead that he served as Sur- geons mate for one year, for which service he claims a pension The reason I have not obtained the evidence of a Clergyman as to his belief respecting my age and the general belief in the neighborhood relative to my Revolutionary service is, that there is no Clergyman residing in the neighborhood except a Baptist Clergyman, who has been here for a few months, from the State of Pennsylvania, and who knows nothing of the subject. The Clergymen are generally clerical preachers who sojourn for a short time & who are incompetent to give evidence on a question of re- putation, they being strangers & totally unacquainted with the business — sworn in open Court Presse Townsend
John Dickinson
I Jonathan Hand Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Cape May do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the Court and the supplementary affidavit of the Applicant, in the matter of the application of Doctor John Dickinson for a pension — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6 th day of February A D 1833 — Jonathan Hand - Clerk

I Thomas H. Hughes a Member of Congress from the State of New Jersey & a Resident of the County of Cape May do hereby certify that I am acquainted with Jonathan Hand who has subscribed the within Certificate & with his hand writing, that he is clerk of the said County & that the same is his signature & that the clerk of said County has no seal of any particular device or inscription
Thos H. Hughes
25195

HON. LEWIS T. STEVENS, President Cape May City, N. J.
REV. PAUL S. HOWE, Ph. D., Secretary Cape May City, N. J.
DR. JULIUS WAY, Treasurer Cape May Court House, N. J.
EDWARD M. POST, Custodian Cape May Court House, N. J.
The Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society
8-28-29
U.S. Pension Bureau Washington DC
Gentlemen:- Dr C E Godfrey Director of Public Record Office Trenton N J advises us that you could likely supply further data relative to John Dickerson who served as Surgeon Mate to the credit of Pennywania . His case is known as Invalid No 989. The descendants in Cape May Co where he lived have a sword given to him by George Washington for bravery. Could you advise all available data regarding him. Where he was born, who was his parents, and any record of his military service.
He was born 10-11-1758
Marr'd Oct 1781 at Penns Neck Salem Co N J
Had 9 children
Served in Cape May Co in war of 1812
Awaiting your advice and thanking you for courtesy we remain
Very truly yours
Edward Post Custodian
RFD
Cape May Court House
N J

POST'S PHARMACY
EDWARD POST, PH. G.
REGISTERED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY
SWAINSTON, N. J. 6 - 24 - 29
U.S. Pension Department Washington DC
Gentlemen: -
We find as pensioners under act of June 7 th 1832 John Dickinson private in New Jersey Militia placed on roll June 3 rd 1833 Age 75- Could you tell me where he was born Who was his father and mother. In what company and regiment he served What service he performed His Tombstone has Dr. John Dickinson did he serve as a Doctor in the Revolution. or did he have any rank.
Thanking you very kindly for the information we remain
Very truly yours
Edward Post
RFD
Cape May Court House
N.J.
P.S. He was in Cape May Co in war of 1812
If it is not mentioned may it is not stated where he served in the War of 1812

May - 19 - 1902 S. M. Cutter Louisville Ky 1929 - Sept 11, Met to Edward Post, M.E.E.
Rev War.
INVALID.
File No. 891 John Dickinson Dis. N.Y. Mil.
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 96
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Pa. Records corrected Oct. 17, 1904.