Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1,019, Amos Hixon, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Hixon, Amos
S. 1,019
CONTENTS
Carded

New Jersey 9513.
Amos Hixson of Morenc in the State of New Jersey who was a Pte & Sergt in the Comp y commanded by Captain Bond of the Reg t commanded by Col o Morton in the New Jersey line for 1 year & 9 mos.
6 mos. pay, 30.00 13. D s B ts 43 33 73 33
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 73 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of May 1880. and sent to John M c Sherrard - Belvidere. N. Jersey.
Arrears to the 4th of March. 1833, 46.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept r 33, 36.66 81 83 32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M c R. Palmer, Clerk. Book E Vol. B Page 115

9771 10 #5 13
Amos Hixon Warren County N. Jersey
Return in p.m.
Look at New Jersey Rule
On role - 1 year
1 Month - 6 months
Sergeants. —
Wilson. says Gen. B. out as Private. & 8 mos. Sergt. in addition.
A. B. Salomon 23 May. 83
John M. Sherrin Belvidere Warren City, N.J.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
21 st May — 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the 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 shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Amos Hinson Warren County
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     June 1776 5 pr. Capt Bond Col. Hber W. Plains N. J. 78 Greenwich   1776 3 " Capt Melick Col Ford N. York N. Jersey   1776 1 1 Sergt Capt Bond Col. Mor tin Short Hills Pa. Traditionary   1781 2 pr Capt John son Col Ford Brandy wine E. Witness   2 Germantown  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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

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

9971 Application of Amos Hason of Warren N. Jersey for a Pension.
I allowd send certificate to John de Sherman - Belvidere - Warren N. J.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th A.D. 1832
State of New Jersey } County of Warren } f.
On the twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court at a regular stated term of the Court of Common Pleas held at Belvidere in the County of Warren in the State of New Jersey aforesaid personally appeared Amos Hixon a resident of the Township of Greenwich in the County of Warren aforesaid aged seventy eight years who being duly sworn according to law, on his oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th A.D. 1832
That he entered into the service of the United States in the Month of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, that he then resided in the Township of Greenwich where he has resided ever since that he entered the service as an enlisted private in the Company of New Jersey State troops commanded by William Bond. Lieutenant Silas Barkworth and Ensign Samuel Schooley all of the County of Sussex (now Sussex and Warren) in the Bergoff Regiment commanded by Colonel Herd. That he marched with said Company to Morristown in New Jersey where they received their bounty and drew their arms - thence to New York, thence crossed over to Long Island to a place called Flat Bush where the enemy were landing - And the Applicant and engaged with his company in a severe Battle with the enemy. The Americans were commanded by General Washington - Generals Sterling, Maxwell & Sullivan - commanded Generals Sterling and Sullivan were taken prisoners, the Battle terminated in favor of the enemy, it was supposed that two thousand of the Americans were killed and taken, and the remainder of the enemy. - They retreated to Fort Green

from thence they crossed over to New York. from thence they marched near to Kingsbridge where they had an engagement with the enemy and beat them back. thence they marched to the White Plains where they engaged the enemy in a severe battle which lasted from eight o'clock in the morning till night. — thence they marched to Kings Ferry and crossed over and marched down opposite to Fort Washington at which time the enemy were attacking fort Washington, and took it before we could render any assistance. — thence they marched to Amboy and returned home having served in that tour six months , being induced to serve one month longer than the term of enlistment in consequence of the solicitation of Gen Washington to the Troops stating that if the Troops did not continue in service one month longer that it might prove fatal to the liberties of the Country, that he expected troops from Virginia at that expiration of that time —
The applicant states that some time in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy six day and month not recollected, he volunteered in the Company of New Jersey militia commanded by Andrew McLean Captain — Ben t McMillan Lieutenant and marched to Battle Hill where they united with the militia under Colonel Ford. they had a skirmish with the enemy at Mill Stone. he served in this tour three months —
Some time in the spring of seventeen hundred and seventy six he enlisted in the Company of regular troops commanded by Captain William Bond — and Lieutenants Silas Bachman and John Harker for one year. said Company was attached to the fourth Regiment commanded by Colonel Ephraim Martin. In the beginning of April he marched to the County of Essex where they united with the army under the Command of General Washington — Generals Sterling Maserell and Sullivan — he then marched to a place called

Turkey or Short hills where he was engaged in the Battle of Short Hills, from thence he marched to Pennsylvania, crossing the river at New Hope, marched to Philadelphia and crossed the Schuylkill. Thence to Brandywine Bridge, met the enemy and had a skirmish at the Whitehorse at thence marched to the Yellow Springs, thence to Brandywine Creek where a severe battle with the enemy which place has continued from sunrise till dark night, the Americans lost two thousand men and the battle terminated in favor of the enemy — he marched to Germantown where he was engaged in a battle with the enemy, which terminated in favor of the enemy from thence he marched to Valley Forge where he remained with his Company when his time of enlistment expired, but continued a month longer in the service in consequence of the resignation of the captain. Deponent received a lawful discharge from the service from General Macmull which is now lost. He was in the service with this Company thirteen months — the greater proportion of which time he held the office of Orderly Sergeant In the beginning of August A D 1781, day not remembered he volunteered as a private in the Company of Militia under the command of Captain Johnson attached to the Regiments commanded by Colonel Ford. marched to Battle Hill, and was engaged in a skirmish with a small skirmish of the enemy at Mill Stone — where the Americans took one team of horses — he was engaged in the service in this town two months — Applicant finally quit the service in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one day and

months not recollected, having been altogether in the service two years - That when he entered and quit the service he resided in the Township of Greenwich County of Sussex aforesaid where he has resided until the present time. - That he was
Born in said Township of Greenwich on the tenth of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, that his birth is recorded in the family Bible now in his possession and that he knows of no other record of the same
That he has no documentary evidence of the aforesaid statements - That his revolutionary service can be proved in part by the papers of Henry Barber Nichols of the Township of Greenwich aforesaid - that he knows of no other living witnesses by whose testimony his service in the revolutionary war can be proved -
Applicant states that the officiating Clergymen of his Church reside at Easton in Pennsylvania and that his affidavit could not be obtained in open court at the present time without much expense and inconvenience.
Applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Given and Subscribed this day one year aforesaid
Wm Kennedy
2-11-13 31-88 M

We Charles Carter and Isaac Shipman residing in the County of Warren, State of New Jersey hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Amos Hixon who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution And that we concur in that opinion
Charles Carter
Isaac Shipman
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid
Wm Kennedy
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations 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 Charles Carter and Isaac Shipman who have signed the preceding certificate are credible citizens of the County of Warren aforesaid and that the statement is entitled to credit —
Wm Kennedy
Wm McElburgh
Wm P. Robeson

County of Warren
On this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Warren aforesaid pro se. Jesse Barker a resident of the Township of Greenwich in said County of Warren aged seventy five years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath state that he is well acquainted with Amos Hixson of said Township of Greenwich who is an applicant for a pension under the act entitled "an Act for the relief of supplementary to an act for the relief of the surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution" &c - passed June 7 th AD 1832 - that he has known him for sixty years, that the said Hixson has resided in the Township of Greenwich County of Warren aforesaid (formerly Sussex) during that time, that some time in June AD 1776 the said Hixson enlisted as a private in the Company of New Jersey State troops commanded by Captain William Bond attached to the regiment commanded by Col. Ephraim Martin - that said Department enlisted at the same time in said Company, that the said Hixson marched with said Company to Morristown, where said Company was reviewed, thence to New York, - stayed at New York about six weeks - thence to Long Island - thence to Flat Bush, where the said Department and said Hixson with said Company were engaged with the British forces in a severe battle in which the Americans were defeated - thence they marched to New York, thence to Fort Washington - thence to the White Plains, where they had an engagement with the British forces - thence they marched to Kings ferry up the North river where they crossed - thence down the river near Fort Lee opposite Fort Washington - from thence the said Department returned home - Department states that he was in the service five months in Company with said Hixson, that said Hixson remained in service some time longer after said Department returned home - and further saith not.
Jesse Barker
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
Wm Kennedy

State of New Jersey }
County of Warren }
On this twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Warren aforesaid now sitting, Henry Melick a resident of the Township of Greenwich in said County aged seventy three years who being duly sworn on his oath saith that he is well acquainted with Amos Henson of said Township an applicant for a pension under the Act entitled an act supplementary to an Act for the relief of the surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution passed June 7 th A.D. 1832 and hath known him for the space of sixty years, that said Henson enlisted in the Company of State troops (in A.D. 1776 about the beginning of June) commanded by Captain William Bond, that he was in the service at that time about six months having staid longer than his term of enlistment, — afterwards said Henson enlisted in a company of regular troops commanded by said Bond and was in the regular service for one year under said enlistment and further the Deponent knows not —
Henry Melick
Sworn and Subscribed this Day and year aforesaid
W. H. Henson

State of here forsooth Warren County ss. I, Minias B. Kennedy Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the appli- -cation of Amos Hixon for a pension - And I do further certify that William Kennedy before whom the within affidavits of Jesse Barker and Henry Melick appear to have been taken, was at the time thereof one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County, duly commissioned and sworn into office as such and to whom official acts full faith and is due, and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge and am satisfied, that the signature "W. Kennedy" affixed to said affidavits are genuine
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Between this 10th day of September A.D. 1832
[Handwritten signature: M. B. Kennedy] Clerk

New York
INVALID.
File No. 1019
Amos A. Dyer Dept. N. J. Lines
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol. a , Page 171
[Arrangement of 1870.]