Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2134, Thomas Collyer, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
bollyer, Thomas
S 2134
CONTENTS
boarded

3723 Ohio
Thomas Collyer - of Butte - in the State of Ohio who was a Lieut - in the Compy - commanded by Captain Rinker of the Regt commanded by Frelinghuysen in the N. Jersey line for 2 1/2 years from 1775 -
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 320 - Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Dec r 32 and sent to John Woods, F Hamilton, O
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 480. Semi-ann. allowance ending Mar: 33 160 - $640 -
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk Book L Vol. 10 - Page 31
Aug. 24 - 1834 a B

The State of Ohio Butler County ss
On this 30 th day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of common pleas for Butler County Ohio now sitting Thomas Collier as president of Butler County op er and 88 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 9 th June 1832.
That in the year 1775 he was a lieut in the N Jersey Militia in Somerset County of Jersey, that he has lost his commission & does not know of any document proof of his rank or services; that he may during the whole of the revolutionary war occasionally called out with his Reg t & that he served frequently under Col. Frelinghuysen & Genl. M c Kee & always in the New Jersey Militia that he was in an engagement at Raritan in New Jersey at which he was a lieut & that Genl. M c Kee was his officer, that he served frequently under Capt. M c Coy. That from his extreme old age most of the particulars as to time & place of his service have passed away from his memory, & he relies on the proof of others to make known his claim to a pension, that he is certain he served at least two years during the revolution in the capacity of first lieutenant, he was in a battle at Woodbridge N Jersey & was commanded by Capt. Israel Riker, this engagement was known by the name of the Battle of the Short Hills, he was also in the battle at Springfield in N Jersey where he was commanded by Capt. Garvan M c Coy. He was with a detachment of N Jersey Militia who drove a party of Hessians from Raritan to Elizabeth Town where thirty of the enemy were captured, he was also at

The battle of Monmouth & in command a unit Hartford, was Brigadier Genl of Militia then in command. He hereby relinquishes all claims to any pension or annuity except the present & & avers that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. John Reily Clerk Thomas Collier
I Francis Monfort a clergyman residing in the county of Butler and state of Ohio do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Thomas Collier who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I have full confidence in the truth of the above declaration - Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid John Reily Clerk Francis Monfort
We John Ayres and Jonathan Whitacre residents of the county of Butler in the state of Ohio do hereby cer- tify that we served with Thomas Collier under the com- mand of Major Richard M'Donald, we were in a battle with him at Piscataway he was then a lieutenant in his company commanded by Captain McCoy and the said John Ayres further certifies that he was with the said Thomas Collier in a battle at Bridgetown under the command of Colonel Wines also in a battle near Elizabethtown where the Ameri- cans made an attack on the Hessians both these battles were fought in December seventeen hundred and seven- ty six. The said John Ayres further certifies that he served in the same company with the said Thomas Collier

at the battle of Monmouth on the twenty eighth of June seventeen hundred and seventy eight, the said Thom- as Collier was at that time a Lieutenant. The said John Ayers and Jonathan Whitaker further certify that we have known the said Thomas Collier ever since the revolution that he sustaining a good character for truth and vera- city and that he is reputed and believed in his neigh- borhood to have been a soldier of the revolution sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid } John Ayers — Jonathan Whitaker John Reily, Clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opin- ion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and that he served as he states, and the said court further certifies that it appears to them that Francis Monfort who has signed one of the above certificates is a clergyman resident of the county of Butler and that John Ayers and Jonathan Whitaker who have signed the other certificates are residents of Butler county are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
I John Reily clerk of the court of common pleas of the county of Butler aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Collier for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office at Hamilton this fourth day of August. One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
John Reily

The State of Ohio Butler County ss-
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, Thomas Collyer a resident of said county who has subscribed & sworn to the within declaration, and said Thomas Collyer being duly sworn deposes 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 Six
2378
Thomas Collyer Constitutional Officer
Mr. Collier, petition
months I served as a lieutenant in the company of Captain Rickey in the Regiment of Col. Melinghuyser in the New Jersey Militia. For twenty four months I served as a lieutenant in the company of Captain McCoy in the Regiment of Col. Melinghuyser
I served as a lieutenant different hours under other officers whose names I do not now recollect. I was engaged in actual service as a Lieutenant for more than two years during the war of the Revolution and for such service I claim a Pension.
Thomas Collyer
Sworn to and subscribed this 22 nd day of November 1808 before me
Joseph Worth, J. P.
Also at the same time came personally before me Samuel Bayless

the President of said County of Rutland who being duly sworn deposes and saith that he has been personally acquaint- ed with Thomas Collyer who has sworn to subscribe the within de- claration & the foregoing affidavit for more than fifty years and said Thomas Collyer has always been believed in the neighborhood in which he has resided both in the State of New Jersey & in this State to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that he was an officer in said war and different concerns in that Span- ish. deponent was acquainted with said Collyer many years in the state of New Jersey and it was always believed in the neighborhood in which he then resided that said Collyer did serve as an officer in the Revolutionary war and that he had been actively engaged in the service of the Colonies during the war in the Militia of New Jersey and from the knowledge deponent has of circumstances & his acquaintance with said Col- lyer he fully believes that he did serve for more than two years as a Lieutenant in the Militia of New Jersey during the Revolution

deponent has no actual knowledge of his veracity. Said Collyer has always been considered & believed to be a man of truth & veracity & his statement is en- titled to full credit.
Sworn & subscribed before me by said Samuel Bayless who is a reputable citizen and entitled to credit & belief, this 22 nd day of November A.D. 1832 Joseph Worth, J. P.
Samuel Bayless
(The State of Ohio Butler County ss.
I John Reily clerk of the Court of common pleas of the county afore- said certify that Joseph Worth Esquire before whom the depositions herein before stated of Thomas Collyer and Samuel Bayless were taken, was at the taking thereof a Justice duly assigned to keep the peace in the said county of Butler, and that the signature, ed is his genuine signature.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Official seal at Hamilton the twenty fourth day of November. One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
John Reily
Thomas Collyer Allotmentary Soldier From 1775 - 1783 24 years $320

BRIEF in the case of  Thomas Collier  of Butler County  in the State of  Ohio  (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 88 Years,  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.      In 1775  1776  1778 -  3  3  3   "  Is certain he served  at least two years"   As a  Soldier   Gen. Mines & Hara  Col. Archibald  Capt. Israel Binkel  Major Richard B. Danford  New Jersey Militia   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? "Bunney" Short Hills, Springfield Monmouth List -  Cabanay, "Wiegstown" Elizabethtown  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Somerset County New Jersey  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Two living witnesses who served with him  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
C. Little  Examining Clerk.
320 160 480

Thomas Collins
Ohio
No 2378.
4.5.
P 21
See let. Nov 7. 1832
John Woods
Hamilton
Ohio

February 27, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thomas Collyer S. 2134 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. U. T. Griffith 2318 S. Adams Street Marion, Indiana
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Thomas Collyer, who was first lieutenant in the New Jersey troops, and pensioned while residing in Butler County, Ohio.
The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 2134, based upon the service of Thomas Collyer during the War of the Revolution.
The date and place of birth of this soldier are not given, nor are the names of his parents shown.
Thomas Collyer (as he signed) enlisted in 1775, and was called out frequently, served as first lieutenant in the Somerset County, New Jersey militia in Captains Ganon McCoy's and Israel Rickey's companies in Colonel Frelinghuysen's regiment. He was in the battles of Piscataway, Short Hills, Monmouth, Springfield, and Elizabethtown. He served until the close of the war amounting in all to more than two years.
He was allowed pension on his application executed, July 30, 1832, at which time he was living in Butler County, Ohio, and was aged eighty-eight years.
He died August 24, 1834. There are no data in this claim relative to his family.
In order to obtain the name and address of the person

to whom his last payment of pension was sent, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., citing the following data:
Thomas Collyer Certificate # 3723 Issued December 29, 1832 Rate $320.00 per annum To commence March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Ohio Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

J. Collins from 1775 plantation - cont. 2 1/2 years #320.
The applicant has given as full a statement as he can of the time of his service - He is very old & frail & his memory much impaired - The ad- ditional testimony of Saml. Bayley is forwarded who has known Mr. Collins since the Revolution
J. Wood

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Thomas Collier which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes 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? No 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes 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? Yes

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? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? two living witnesses
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? yes
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? yes in part
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
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.”
Handwritten bracket and mark

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 authenticated 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 end 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.

January 29, 1932
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Edna T. Bice 450 E. Madison Street Franklin, Indiana.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to Thomas Colyer, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 2134, based upon the military service of Thomas Collyer during the Revolutionary War.
He enlisted in 1775 and served at various times as first lieutenant in the Somerset County, New Jersey Militia in Captains McCoy's and Israel Rickey's companies in Colonel Frelinghuysen's regiment. He was in the battles of Piscataway, Short Hills, Monmouth, Springfield, and Elizabethtown. He served until the close of the war, amounting in all to more than two years.
He was allowed pension on his application executed, July 30, 1832, then a resident of Butler County, Ohio, and was aged eighty-eight years. He died August 24, 1834.
There are no date as to family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

May 14, 1930.
Mrs. Carrie Payne La Grange Kentucky.
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 2134, it appears that Thomas Collyer enlisted in 1775 and served at various times as 1st lieutenant in the Somerset County, New Jersey Militia in Captains McCoy's and Israel Rickey's Companies in Colonel Frelinghuysen's Regiment. He was in the battles of Piscataway, Short Hills, Monmouth, Springfield and Elizabethtown and served until the close of the war, amounting in all to more than two years.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 30, 1832, at which time he was living in Butler County, Ohio and was aged eighty-eight years.
There are no data as to family.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

Mareon, Ind., Feb. 10, 1935.
Veterans' Administration, Revolutionary & 1812 War Section, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
I am writing you for the military record and family data of my great-grandfather a Revolutionary soldier, namely, Thomas Colyer who was pensioned under the act of Congress, June 7, 1832 for service as a Lieut. in the New Jersey Continental troops and

placed on the pension roll, Dec. 29, 1832, a resident of Butler Co. Ohio, aged 90 yrs.
According to information I have from my grandfather he was born in Amboy, Monmouth Co., New Jersey, 1741, enlisted in the first company raised on the Delaware, and was in the army till the close of the War.
I desire all the information that you can possibly give me in regard to this Revolutionary soldier, for am trying to prepare my papers for D. A. R. membership.
Thanking you in advance for your trouble in the matter, I am,
Yours truly, Mrs. W. J. Griffith 2318 P. Adams St. Marion, Ind.

GEO A. BELL, CHAIRMAN OF BOARD THOMAS G. WILSON, PRESIDENT ELSWORTH HARVEY, VICE PRESIDENT M. H. TAYLOR, VICE PRESIDENT
ULIE T. GRIFFITH, CASHIER C. E. BAKER, ASST. CASHIER W. E. SHROCK, ASST. TRUST OFFICER A. W. DAVIS, AUDITOR
MARION NATIONAL BANK OF MARION CAPITAL AND SURPLUS $500,000.00
MARION, INDIANA
February 7th, 1935
Veterans Administration Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
At the present time my wife is seeking membership in the D.A.R. and in order to complete her application papers, it is necessary that she have more detailed information regarding her great-grandfather, one Thomas Colyer or Thomas Collyer, who is supposed to have enlisted from Amboy, Monmouth County, New Jersey and been a first Lieutenant in one of the first companies raised on the Delaware to fight for the national independence.
It will be very much appreciated if you will check your records in this matter and ascertain if Mr. Collyer was not a pensioner and if so, kindly furnish me any information that you may have regarding his family, his wife and children, their names and date of birth if possible, and also the date of his discharge.
Mr. Collyer died about 1838 and was buried near Hamilton, in Butler County, Ohio.
I will appreciate any information which you may be able to furnish me that might be of assistance to my wife in completing her papers for membership into the D.A.R.
Yours very truly,
Ulie T. Griffith
UTG:IH
Concerning the wife

OLDHAM BANK & TRUST CO.
LA GRANGE, KY.
March 3rd, 1930.
Secretary of the Interior, Department of Pensions, Washington, D. C. Dear Sirs:- Recd
I am very anxious to have confirmed information concerning one Thomas Collyer , born in Amboy, Monmouth, County. N. J. in the year 1741.
Mr. Collyer was a volunteer in the first Company raised on Delaware during the Revolutionary War, with the rank of Lieutenant The Company was commanded by Capt. Bailess. Mr Collyer was with Washington at Valley Forge and was under his direct command.
Mr. Collyer was a pensioner at the time of his death, but we have no date of his death at hand.
We will appreciate any information your record may show in regard to this party and oblige.
Very truly,,
Mrs Carrie Payne La Grange Ky

MRS. EDNA THOMPSON BICE 450 EAST MADISON STREET FRANKLIN, IND.
105
Dec 12 - 1931.
Commissioner of Pensions. Department of the Interior Washington. D. C.
Dear Sir.
Will you please send copy of pension given Thomas Colyer , rank Lieutenant. Butler County Ohio. "New Jersey Continental." Placed on Pension roll Dec 29 1832. "Found in Vol 3. Page 107 Ohio Section. of Revolutionary Pension list of Ohio. Under act of Congress. June 7. 1832. And obliged Mrs Edna T. Bice Franklin, Ind.

1930- May 15- Hiss to Mrs. Carrie Payne a/w 1932- Jan. 29- Hiss to Mrs. Edna J. Price a/w.
Rev War
2134. INVALID.
File No. 2134
Thomas Collyer
Lieut. A. J. Price
Act: June 7, 1932
Index:—Vol. A , Page 72
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓