Essex-Union County NJ Archives Military Records.....Joseph LYON Revwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Abby Scott dawn40@myway.com February 25, 2010, 12:25 pm Revolutionary War Pension File National Archives Revolutionary War Pension NARA M804 JOSEPH LYON Orange, Essex Co., NJ Pension Number: S. 1054 (37 pages long ) Page 1 [Cover Page blank except for name and pension case number] Page 2 Certificate of Pension Joseph Lyon, a private in the Company of Captain Gillam of the New Jersey State Troops and in the Militia of that State 1 year 8 mo. Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 66 Dollars and 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of July 1834 and sent Lewis Condict, Morristown [NJ]. Arrears to the 4th of March 1834: $200.00. Semi-ann. allowance ending [illeg.] life : $33.33. Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832. Recorded by N Ela [Elan?], Clerk. Book E, Vol. 3, Page. 127. Page 3 No. 15433 Joseph Lyon, Essex County, New Jersey Returned on [Illeg., possibly "Interviews"] [Illeg.] set forth [Illeg.] knowledge of service of claimant in detail stating each term of service--particularly its length as the requisitions has not been complied with. [All names written below except last one have a line drawn through them] Jonas T. Squire, Esq., South Orange, Essex Co. Hon. L. Condict Jno. J. Plume, Newark, New Jersey [illeg. word--person, pension?] Lewis Condict, Morristown, New Jersey Page 4 Letter from the War Department Pension office to Joseph Lyon dated 15 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 tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. These notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These 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 Joseph Lyon, Essex County, new Jersey. [There follows a listing of time served and the name and rank of the field officers under whom he served.] I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions." Page 5 & 6 A printed copy of the Regulations under the act of June 7, 1832. Page 7 Cover sheet Declaration of Joseph Lyon 15733 1 year 8 mos. Private. $66.66. Return to L. Condict, Morristown, N.J. Page 8 State of New Jersey. Essex County ss [sworn statement] Personally appearing before me John J. Oliver one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Essex, Joseph Lyon who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequence loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but asserting to the best recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades--for one month I served as a Volunteer (Private) under Captain Isaac Reeves in the year 1779. For one month I served as a Private Draftee, under Captain John Ogden. For one month and fifteen days I served as a Volunteer under Captain John Edwards in the year 1780. For four months and twenty-six days I served as a private under the following officers in 1780 to wit, one month under Capt. Elijah Squire, one month under Captain Joralemon, one month under Capt. Nichols, one month under Captain Reeves and twenty-six days under Captain Thomas Williams as appears by the Muster Roll of said Captain for one year I served as a private in Captain Isaac Gillam's Company as an Enlisted Soldier commencing December 1780, and for such Services I claim a pension. This deponent further Saith that he feels certain that he served over two years during the Revolutionary War as a Private Soldier, that the Witnesses to a portion of his service are dead and he cannot be certain to any more facts than above stated and further saith not. [signed] Joseph Lyon. Sworn and Subscribed before me this 27th day of May 1833. John J. Plume, Justice of the Peace. State of New Jersey, Essex Co.,ss I Elias Van Arsdale Junior Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said county of Essex so hereby certify that Samuel B. Miller Esq. whose name is subscribed to the affidavits and before whom the same were made [illegible] was at the time of [illegible] the said affidavits. Signing the Certificate thereunder written a Judge of said Court residing in said county duly commissioned and sworn that the said signatures "Samll. B. Miller" are genuine. I further certify that John J. Plume Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Joseph Lyon was taken, was at the time of taking the same one of the Justices of the Peace for said County residing therein duly commissioned & sworn and that the signature thereto [illegible] "John J. Plume" is the proper handwriting of said Justice. In Witness whereof, I have hereto set my Page 9 hand. The Seal of said Court at Newark, the Twenty ninth day of May. Eighteen hundred and thirty-three. [signed] Elias Van Arsdale, Clerk. To the 1st Interrogatory, this declarant answered that he was Born in Springfield in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey on the third day of December 1762. To the 2nd Interrogatory, this declarant answers he has no copy of the Record of his age, the old Family Bible which contained the original record of his age is lost or mislaid as he thinks. To the 3rd Interrogatory, this declarant answers when he first entered the Service during the Revolutionary War he lived in Springfield in the County of Essex at the close of the War he removed to Orange County in the State of new York and continued there until about the year 1807 when he settled back to Orange in this Essex County where he has lived ever since. That he now lives in the Township of Orange in the County of Essex. To the 4th Interrogatory this declarant answers when he first entered the service which was in 1779 he volunteered under Captain Isaac Reeves. To the 5th Interrogatory this declarant answers that he served under different officers as Stated in his declaration hereto annexed and sworn to by him and to which he refers. To the 6th Interrogatory this declarant answers that he never received a written discharge nor Commission. To the 7the Interrogatory this declarant answers that the answers thereto are fully shown by his declaration and certificates annexed and sworn to. Page 10 State of New Jersey, Essex County ss On this Eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Essex aforesaid now Sitting. Joseph Lyon a resident of the Township of Orange in the County of Essex, Aged Seventy years, who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress passed the 7th day of June A.D. 1832. That he was born on the third day of December Seventeen hundred and Sixty two at Springfield in the County of Essex aforesaid--the Family Bible which contained the original record of his age is lost and he has no copy of it. When he first entered the Service of the United States during the Revolutionary War he resided in the Township of Springfield in the County of Essex, at the Close of the War he removed to Orange County in the State of New York and continued there until about the year Eighteen hundred and Seven, when he removed back to Orange in the County of Essex in this State where he has continued to reside ever Since--he served at different time since the Revolutionary War, as a Volunteer and once Enlisted for one year in the State Service. He volunteered in Captain Isaac Reeves Company in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine and Served under him one month also under Captain John Ogden one month, in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty again Volunteered and served under Captain John Edwards between one and two months also served the same year under Captain Elijah Squire. Captain Thomas Williams, Captain Henry Jeroleman, Captain Robert Nichols and Captain Isaac Reeves, but cannot state now the exact times I served under each of them or the months. on the Eighteenth day of December of said year 1780. Enlisted under Captain Robert Neal for one year and joined Captain Isaac Gillam's Company, John Burnet was Lieutenant and John Speer Ensign and the late Bishop John Cross was orderly Sergeant, continued in Said Company until the end of my Enlistment. Was with the Company at Dobbs Ferry under Colonel Seeley. he also Served on alarms Page 11 at many different times not before enumerated, cannot recollect the Officers. was part of the time under Colon Philip Van Courtland and Col. Ely.--does not recollect distinctly any Continental or Malitia [sic] Regiments either by name or number. Never received a written discharge from Service. is personally acquainted with and refers to the following persons for statements as to Character and traditionary evidence of Service in the Revolution namely Rev. Asa Hillyer, Rev. Joseph Gildersleeve, Jonathan F. Squire, Jeptha Baldwin, David Hedden, Thomas Harrison, Linus Baldwin and Henry Osborn. Does not know anyone living who served with him except Linus Baldwin, Thomas Harrison and Henry Osborn, they can all testify to his service in the War. He 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 or Territory in the United States. Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] Joseph Lyon [signed] Sam B. Miller, Judge We, Joseph Gildersleeve a clergyman residing in the township of Orange and Thomas Harrison of the Township aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Lyon who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him from our knowledge to be seventy years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. [signed] Joseph Gildersleeve Thomas Harrison Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] Saml. B. Miller, Judge Page 12 We Thomas Harrison, Linus Baldwin and Henry Osborn of the County of Essex do hereby certify that we are personally acquainted with Joseph Lyon who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that from our personal knowledge having served with him do know that he served as a soldier in the War of the Revolution, that we served with him one year. [signed] Thomas Harrison Linus Baldwin Henry Osborn Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] Saml. B. Miller, Judge. 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 Joseph Gildersleeve who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the township of Orange and that Thomas Harrison who has also signed the same is a resident of the Township of Orange aforesaid and is a Creditable person and the Court further certifies that Linus Baldwin and Henry Osborn who has signed the annexed certificate are residents of the County of Essex and are credible persons and that their statements is [sic] entitled to credit. [signed] Saml. B. Miller, Judge. Essex County: I Elias Van Arsdale, Jr. Clerk of said court of commons pleases so hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Joseph Lyon for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this twenty second day of October A.D. 1832. [signed] E Van Arsdale, jr. Clerk Page 13 A copy of a typed answer from the department of pensions to an inquiry from Mr. Harry B. Clark, of Norton, KS regarding Joseph Lyon, dated 13 Dec 1898. Page 14 A handwritten letter from the War department pension office dated 15 Mar 1834 to Theodore Frilinghuysen, U.S. Senate [one of the senators from NJ at the time]. Sir, The name of Joseph Lyon not appearing upon the roles of the New Jersey line of the regular army in which he alleges he served. He must prove this service by two witnesses with the particulars required by the regulations. The papers herewith returned. The certificate of Mary Crane, widow of Obadiah Crane will be transmitted in a few days. The papers of Recompence Strawbury and Daniel Van Savin referred to in your letter have been heretofore attended to. I have the honor to be [illegible] J.L. Edwards Page 15 State of New Jersey, Morris County ss [sworn statement] Before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in and for the said County, personally appears Thomas Harrison of Hanover in said County, well known to me personally as a man of truth, & fully entitled to belief. Having been duly sworn, saith as follows, viz: I am a resident of Morris County now & formerly was a resident of Essex County in the same State. I was a Soldier in the war of the revolution & performed military duty both by enlistment & in the Militia Service. On the 1st January, 1780, I enlisted in Captain Isaac Gillam's company of infantry for the term of twelve months. I enlisted at Orange, in Essex County, together with Linus Baldwin, Henry Osborn. I was then well acquainted with Joseph Lyon of Essex County who enlisted in the same service& company but not on the same day with me, & for the same period, viz: twelve months. Col. Seeley & Col. Ely commanded the Regiment & we joined it at Hackensack, in Bergen County. We were stationed, part of our time in Orange County, New York State, now called Rockland, & part of the time at Dobbs' Ferry on the Hudson river & at different points in Essex & Bergen counties in New Jersey & along the Pissaic [sic] river. I was intimately acquainted with Joseph Lyon thus, & have known him ever since. I saw him probably more or less every day, during our year service. Capt. Neale at first was appointed to the command of the company as was said but resigned before it was filled up & Capt. Gillam was elected in his place. John Burnet was lieutenant & John Spear, Ensign. The officers disputed & quarreled--Gillam was arrested & tried by a court martial & broke, & Lieutenant Barnet or Spear commanded the company. Lyon served out his twelve months & we were discharged together, verbally, before the old court house in Newark, 1st Jany. 1782. We had a skirmish with the enemy & tories at Dobbs' Ferry, & several skirmishes with the tories & refugees in & near Newark, & along the Pissaic river, during the year's service. Lyon was always [illegible] a good [?]ots in, ready & willing in the performance of his duty & obedient to his officers. Beside his enlisted service as a [illeg.] man, he performed other Militia duties previously under different officers whom I do not now recollect. I frequently saw him out in Militia tours but my memory will not serve now so as to state the time or place or the occasion. [signed] Thomas Harrison Sworn & Subscribed before me this 27th June, 1834. P.J. Byron signing & Taking the oath. Harrison feels very confident that his own enlistment was on New Year's day, 1781 & his discharge from service, as well as Lyon's discharge was also on New year's day, or 1st January 1782 & that Lyon was already enlisted when Harrison joined the company. [signed] Ebenezer F. Smith, Justice of the peace. I hereby certify to the Commission of pensions, & to the Secretary of war that Ebenezer F. Smith, Esq. before whom the above deposition of Thomas Harrison was taken, is now one of the Justices of the peace & one of the Justices of the Common Pleas Court of Morris County, & that the signature of his name hereto is genuine. The said Ebenezer F. Smith was for several years also a member of the New Jersey legislature, representing Morris County in the House Assembly. [signed] Lewis Condict, late a member of the House of Reps. from N. Jersey. Morristown, NJ June 27th, 1834. N.B. This deposition was not taken in Essex Co., where Osborn & Baldwin reside, but in Morris Co., where Harrison resides & therefore not attached to the others by the seal of the Clerk of Essex County. Page 16 In the Brief which accompanies the papers at the bottom of page 3d, there is a note in red in, as follows, viz: "there is no evidence in the Department. showing that there was any enlistment for one year, in the Militia service of New Jersey." -- The Commission of pensions is respectfully referred to Wilsons N. Jersey Laws, published at Trenton in 1784. Chapter 236, page 157. He will there find on the top of the page, this title, viz: --" An act to raise, by voluntary enlistment, eight hundred & twenty men, for the defense of the frontiers of this State", passed Decr. 26th 1780.--with this note viz: "the men raised in consequence of this act, continued in service until January 1st 1782". This will be found to be precisely the service allowed to by Lyon & by each of his three witnesses, viz: Harrison, Baldwin & Osborn. July 7th '34. The old pay rolls of Capt. Thos. Williams, in broken & detached fragments, have been sent to the Pension Office occasionally to support claims for services alleged to have been performed under him as Captain. Some of these old rolls are still in the office - were sent by me in support of some amended Declarations which I can not now specify. From such of these old papers as have passed through my hands, I took at the time, an abstract of some names such as I knew to be then undecided. On his roll, for services in Colonel Van Cortland's Regmt. for June 1780, among others are the names of David Munn, Aaron Harrison & Jos. Lyon. This fragment from which I made this extract, is now among the files of the pension office, as I believe, having not been returned to me. Lyon seemed to think however, that it was Novr. when he served under Capt. Williams. If he served but on tour under Williams, he certainly mistakes the month. The roll however, will prove the service. David Munn & Aaron Harrison's claims I believe were admitted, & I think the roll alluded to may be with their papers. L.C.[Lewis Condict] Page 17 A 1916 letter from A G. Whitehorne requesting confirmation of Joseph Lyon's service in connection with joining the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Page 18 Address [back of envelope?] of Mrs. George M. Kerr of Detroit, MI, with a stamped [received?] date of 1913. Page 19 Address [back of envelope?] of Miss Margaret Clark of Washington, DC with a stamped [received?] date of 1913. Pages 20-21 A 1898 handwritten note from Harry B. Clark of Norton, Kansas, asking for his original inquiry letter requesting information on Joseph Lyon back since it had writing on the back of it which he wanted back. Page 22 A list of inquiries about Joseph Lyon written on the back of a form for Joseph Lyon entitled "Invalid". Inquiries from H.B. Clark, of Norton, KS (1898), C.C. Gardener (1905), Mrs. George M. Kerr and Miss Margaret Clark (1913), Mr. A.G. Whitehorne (1916) Page 23 The form letter response to pension inquiries for Joseph Lyon filled out with: Dates of Employment Length of Service Rank Captain/Colonel State 1779 2 mo. Private Capt Isaac Reeves/Capt J [??] Ogden/ Major Hayes N.J. 1780 6 mo 11 day Private John Edwards, Elijah Squire, Henry Jeroloman, Robert Nichols, Isaac Reeves, Thomas Williams Dec. 18, 1780 1 year Private Isaac Gillam/Col. Seeley & Ely Battles engaged in: None stated Residence of soldier at enlistment: Springfield twp., Essex Co., NJ Date of application for pension: Sept 18, 1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application: Orange twp. Essex Co., NJ Age at date of application: b. Dec. 3, 1762 at Springfield, Essex Co., NJ Remarks: When soldier entered the service his father had married twice, names of father's wives not stated. For last payment of pension and to whom paid, apply to Auditor for the Interior Dept., US. Treasury Dept, giving him the following data: "Joseph Lyon" ctf [?] 28936 issued July 22, 1834 under the act of June 27, 1832 at the New Jersey Agency". [at the bottom of the form letter is a handwritten note: "Reviewed". Page 24 State of new Jersey, County of Essex Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for Said County. Henry Osborn of said County with whom I am personally acquainted and is believed by me to be a man of fair character and good standing in Society and fully entitled to belief, and being by me duly sworn on his oath saith that he enlisted in the years [sic] service he believes in the town of New Ark [sic] under Capt. Isaac Gillam in Col. Seely Regmt. that Lieutenant John Burnet had the command of the company the most of the year. That before the close of the year he believed both Gillam & Burnet were broak [sic]or suspended from the service, that the command of the company devolved on Ensign John Spear, he believes this service was rendered in the year 1781 that he is positive it was near the close of the war as he thinks he never out in the [?] service after the expiration of the years [sic] enlistment, that he continued to serve out the year faithfully and received a verbal discharge, the place where he received his discharge he does not recollect. during the year out Regmt. was stationed at New Ark [sic], Dobbs Ferry and at Connecticut Farms and this deponent further saith that he is personally acquainted with Joseph Lyon and that he enlisted in a[?] years service with him that he continued in the service one whole year at the end of which he received a verbal discharge with the rest of the Regiment. and that he is the same Joseph Lyon who now applies for a pension, and the same Joseph Lyon who has subscribed the foregoing declaration and served in the years service with me. [signed] Henry Osborn. Subscribed & Sworn before me the 28th day of June 1834 [signed] Jonathan T. Squier, Justice of the Peace Page 25 State of New Jersey, County of Essex. I Elias Van Arsdale Junior Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Essex Do hereby certify that Jonathan T. Squier before whom the several respective affidavits of Linus Baldwin, Joseph Lyon & Henry Osborn, hereto annexed, were made & taken at the time of taking the same, was and [ill.] is a Justice of the Peace in & for said county duly commissioned and sworn: and that the name "Jonathan T. Squier" subscribed to the Jurats of said affidavits respectively, are genuine.--- In testimony thereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said Court, at Newark the Twenty Eighth day of June A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty four. [signed] E. Van Arsdale, jr. clerk. Page 26 State of New Jersey, County of Essex ss Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices in the aforesaid County, Linus Baldwin of said County believed by me to be a man of fair character a& good standing and fully entitled to belief and being by me sworn on his oath saith, that he enlisted in the year's service at Orange in said County under Capt. Isaac Gillam in the year 1780. That he was attached to a regiment commanded by the Col. Seely & Ealy, lieutenant John Burnet had the command of the Company the most of the time but before the close of the year both Gillam & Burnet were broak [sic] or suspended from command, That for the remainder of the year's service I was under the command of Insign [sic] John Speer. We were stationed during the year at New Ark, Bellville, Dobbs Ferry and Connecticut Farms. We were verbally discharged in the town of New Ark in the Month of December 1781. And this deponent further saith that he is personally acquainted with Joseph Lyon and that he enlisted in the year's service with him. That he continued in the service faithfully performing his duty one whole year at the end of which he received a verbal discharge with the rest of the Regiment. And that he is the same Joseph Lyon who now applies for a pension and the same Joseph Lyon who has subscribed the foregoing declaration & Served in the year's service with me. [signed] Linus Baldwin Sworn & Subscribed before me the 28th day of June 1834. Jonathan T. Squier Justice of the peace------- Page 27 State of New Jersey County of Essex ss I Elias Van Arsdale Junr. Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Essex, do hereby certify that John J. Plume before whom the annexed affidavits of Isaac Tichenor & Benjamin Gildersleve were madd, & taken at the time of taking the same was & still is a Justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned & Sworn. And that the Signatures "John J. Plume", subscribed to the Jurats of said affidavits are genuine. In testimony thereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court at Newark in said County the Tenth day of December A.D. Eighteen hundred thirty three (1833). [signed] E. Van Arsdale, Jr. Clerk Page 28 State of New Jersey Essex County ss Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Essex, Benjamin Gildersleve who being duly sworn saith that in the year 1781, he was out as a soldier, under Captain Isaac Gillam and Enlisted soldier for one year. That Joseph Lyon who has subscribed the annexed declaration was also an enlisted soldier for one year in the said Company in Co. Seely's Regiment. That I am certain it is the same person having known him since a little boy and have been in the habit of seeing him occasionally over time, and am certain he served out his term of Enlistment, that the latter part of the term the company as commanded by Lieutenant Burnet, Captain Gillam having been broke by a court martial but cannot state the exact time. That during the year the company was at New Ark, Second River, Hackensack, Dobbs Ferry, Connecticut Farms, and several other places. That the said Joseph Lyon always performed his duty like a good soldier. Thinks that he served one month with him under some other Captain, but cannot recollect his name or time, remembers his being out several different times under different officers during the Revolutionary War, but do not recollect their names or the months or years. Benjamin Gildersleve His Mark X Sworn & subscribed before me this 10 [16?] day of November 1833. [signed] John J. Plume, Justice of the Peace Page 29 State of New Jersey Essex County ss Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Essex, Isaac Tichenor, who being duly sworn disposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with Joseph Lyon who has subscribed the annexed declaration. That in the year seventeen hundred & eighty one this deponent was personally acquainted with the said Joseph Lyon. That he knows the said Lyon enlisted in Captain Isaac Gillam's company for one year. That during the months of July, August and September of 1781 this deponent was out as a soldier under one Captain Van Blarcom in Colonel Seely's Regiment, that during the time aforesaid the said Joseph Lyon was in said Regiment under Captain Gillam, as years [illeg.], that the Regiment a part of the time lay at Dobbs Ferry and part of the time at Connecticut Farms. Col. Ely was Lieutenant Colonel and William Crane was Major. That when this deponent's time was out, he left the said Joseph Lyon with his company then under the command of Lieutenant John Burnet, Captain Gillam having been broken by a court martial.--he is certain this is the same Joseph Lyon as he had been in habits of intimacy with him ever since,. Recollect of hearing of his being out in other companies during the Revolution but does not know of his own knowledge what companies or the years except as above stated. [signed] Isaac Tichenor Sworn & Subscribed before me on the 10th [16th?] day of November 1833. [signed] John J. Plume, Justice of the Peace I hereby certify that Isaac Tichenor & Benjamin Gildersleve, the deponent on this leaf, to the militia services of Joseph Lyon, are credible persons & fully entitled to belief. [signed] John J. Plume, Justice of the Peace Page 30 State of New Jersey, County of Essex Be it known, that before the subscriber, a Justice of peace in the aforesaid County, personally appears Joseph Lyon of said County , believed by me to be a man of fair character and good standing, and fully entitled to belief and being by me duly sworn, saith as follows, viz.: --- I am now in the 72d year of my age, I am the same Joseph Lyon, who on the 18th September 1832, before the Court of Common pleas of Essex County, made my Declaration of my military service in order to obtain the benefits of the law of the U. States of June 7th 1832--& a supplemental Declaration of my services before John J. Plume Esq. on the 27th May 1833--both of which have been returned from the Commission of Pensions for further specification & details of service as [illegible word] by the witnesses or by myself. These details I will now endeavour [sic] to give as fully as my memory will enable me. Some of my militia services were performed by me as a substitute for my father whose family & circumstances required his personal attention at home. Some other portions of my service or Militia duty, were performed as a substitute for my brother in law Samuel Taylor--Inclusion of the fact of my being a substitute to the writer of my Declaration who supposed it could make no difference & therefore does not state the fact. I had lost my mother. My father had married a second wife & my home was no more pleasant or engaging to me than the camp & being young and inconsiderate, I rather preferred a soldier's life, & always served as a Volunteer, except on one or two occasions. My first monthly tour of Militia duty was under Captain Reeves, in 1779, as a substitute for my father, in the spring season--part of it probably in April turning into the month of May. I remember helping some of my friends in Newark plant their corn. I was stationed in Newark at the house of Moses Roff in the broad street. We mounted guard every night & every other night, to protect & defend the people of the town against incursions & right visits of the enemy & more particularly against visits of the tories & refugees, who frequently came & piloted [??] [illegible word] plundering [illegible word] ravaging the Country, carrying off men of influence & shutting them up in the [illegible] house and prison ship in New York where many perished by cruel treatment. Most of my Militia services were performed at Newark and were of the same character as just mentioned viz.: guard duty. My 2d tour of a month was under Captain Ogden, as a substitute for my father also. It must have been in August or September as green corn was then in eating condition and early apples were good for use. We were stationed in this month at old Judge Ogden's in Newark, the father of our Captain. During this tour we had a skirmish with a party of Refugees at one of the ferries on the river, who came over from Bergen County & drove off from the meadows on Newark Neck [?] some cattle. We pursued them to their boat where we had a skirmish and took back some of the cattle which they had no time to get onboard their boats. My 3d tour in 79 was under Captain Edwards--viz.: one month as a substitute for Samuel Taylor, my brother in law & 15 days on my own account. We were again quartered at Captain Ogden's father's in Newark, mounting guard as before. Major Hays, an excellent officer & sometimes called by the soldiers "old bark knife" generally had the command & direction of all Militia soldiers stationed at Newark. This last time was in warm weather & it is possible I may have arranged it wrong & that in point of time it may have preceded the month before stated under Captain Ogden. My 4th tour of a month was under Captain Squire, the station in Newark in Ogden's house and duty the same as before. It was in may as I believe, or partly in April, and partly in May 1780. It was performed on my own account and not as a substitute. My 5th tour of a month, & my 2d in 1780, was in hot weather, probably July, about harvest, under Captain Jerolman on my own account. We were stationed at Second River performing guard duty & quartered at the house of Colonel Van Courtland. My 6th tour of a month and my 3d in 1780, was in September, under Captain Nicholls when apples began to be good. I was a substitute for Samuel Taylor this month & was stationed at one [?] Baldwin's, commonly called Black Oak Baldwin--performing guard duty as before. During this time the Refugees & tories again came over from Bergen & stole cattle from the meadows on Newark neck. We pursued them closely. They had partly [illeg.] some beef in the night, & in their hurry to get off, they cut off the hind quarters & carried them to their boats. We had a skirmish with them & recovered some of the cattle & beef. They had a little fort on the Bergan side, called "Negro Fort"--a refuge for runaway blacks & a shelter for tories, from which the whig inhabitants were greatly annoyed during the whole war. My 7th tour of a month, & my 4th in 1780, was in October under a Captain Reeves. We were stationed at Page 31 Newark, performing guard duty, & quartered at the house of Benjm. Coe Esq. I served this month as a substitute for my father. My 8th monthly tour, & my 5th in 1780, was in November & was performed on my own account under Capt. Thos. Williams-stationed at Newark under orders of Major Hays. I was out on this tour 26 days, as appeared by an old pay roll of Capt. Williams, preserved in the Court by his son Judge Williams & from which roll, a certified copy was made by Judge Williams, of my service for 26 days. I am not certain whether or not Judge Williams made a deposition of the correctness of this copy, but it was handed over to the gentleman who had charge of my papers & was by him as I suppose & believe, annexed to them, Y sent on to the pension office. It is not now with them, & I presume must be in the pension office, & I must refer to it for proof of this services as Judge Williams is now dead, & these old pay rolls of his father's have been called for by sundry claimants of pensions, & distributed & lost. Some of them I am [illeg.] are yet in the Pension office, as testimony for others, I know not who. In December 1780, on the 18th day as I believe, I enlisted at Newark, at Capt. Pierson's house under Capt. Robert Neal for the term of one year. Captain Neale resigned his commission before the company was filled up & Capt. Isaac Gillam, who had been more successful in recruiting for the Service was made Captain in his place. Our officers were John Burnet Lieutenant. John Speer, Ensign, & John Croes, lately the Bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Jersey, but now dead, was orderly sergeant. There was much wrangling among the company officers & especially between Lieutenant Burnet & Capt. Gillam. Capt. Gillam I think, never headed the Company at all. Burnet took the command. Gillam was accused of Cowardice--arrested finally--tried by a court martial at Chatham. Convicted by the Court of the charges and broke or cashiered. Our Regiment was commanded by Colonel Seely & Col. Ely & we joined it at Hackensack. I served out faithfully the term of my enlistment, & was discharged verbally, in front of the old Court house at Newark, on the 18th or 19th December, 1781. We had a fight with a large party of tories & refugees in Newark, who came over from Bergen in the night. During the affair, they set fire to the house of a Mr. Neale, on the corner of Mulberry street & burned it down. They brought with them a field piece, a 4 pounder, into town, & in firing it, with one of their shot, they cut off the lightening rod of Ben. Williams' dwelling house. We had also a field piece, & finally drove them to the old ferry & fought them there. This skirmish lasted nearly the whole day. Our Regiment during a part of the year was stationed in Orange Co., New York, (that part of Orange which is now Rockland Co.) at a Block house. We had a skirmish with the enemy at Dobbs' Ferry, on the Hudson. I performed other duties on alarms for short periods which I cannot now specify & I verily believe that all my monthly tours of militia duty have not been stated, but I prefer to omit many, rather than to state any of which I entertain the smallest doubt. So far I have stated the facts of my services. I know them to be true. There may be errors as to dates & years as well as perhaps in some instances in the names of our Captains. They are all stated according to the best of my knowledge & belief. In the various tours which I have stated, my services were constant & faithful, never absent from my duty, but acting always under the order of my commanding officers. Nor was I engaged or employed in any civil pursuit during any of the periods or tours which I have before stated. Sworn & subscribed before me, this 18th day of June 1834. P.S. Henry Osborn, one of my witnesses, is now dangerously sick at Newark. If his sickness should prove mortal, or disqualify him as a witness, it will prevent me from having his deposition taken. Thomas Harrison's & Linus Baldwin's, I hope to obtain. [signed] Joseph Lyon Subscribed & Sworn before me the 28th day of June 1834. [signed] Jonathan T Squier Justice of the peace Page 32 Application for a New Certificate (a form letter with the blanks filled in) State of New Jersey County of Essex On this 30th day of April, 1836, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Essex personally appeared Joseph Lyon, who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captains Reeves, Ogden, Williams, Barnet & others, in the Battalion or regiment commanded by Colonel or Major Hays, & also under Col. Seely & Ely in the service of the United States; that his name was place on the pension roll of the State of New Jersey. That he received a certificate of that fact under the signature and seal of the acting Secretary of War; which certificate on or about the 10th day of August 1934 at or near Morris town in New Jersey he delivered to Lewis Condict to receive his payments thereon from time to time as they should become payable, & also for safe keeping. There he was informed it was deposited in the pension pay office at Trenton, where it has been either lost or mislaid as he is informed, & cannot be found. [signed] Joseph Lyon Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day and year aforesaid. [signed] Jonathan T. Squier Justice of the peace. [Below this section there is a handwritten scrap of paper, apparently the paper strap that held the papers which says: Joseph Lyon, prv [?] N Jersey roll, [illeg.] [illeg.] at $66.66 per ann. [this strip of paper is covering over printed text regarding the requirements to complete the application form. Page 33 Is a duplicate of the above, but without the paper strap so you can see the full instructions related to the manner of the oath and authentication required. Page 34 Sstate of New Jersey County of Essex ss I Elias van Arsdale Junr. Clerk of the County of Essex & of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County Do hereby certify that Jonathan T. Squier within named & before whom the annexed affidavit of Joseph Lyon was made & taken, at the time of taking the same, was & still is one of the Justices of the peace of said County, residing therein, duly commissioned &sworn; and that the signature "Jonathan T. Squirer" subscribed to the Jurat of said affidavit is genuine. Whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name & affixed the seal of said Court at Newark the fourth day of May, AD Eighteen hundred and thirty six--1836. [signed] E Van Arsdale, Jr. Clerk. Page 35 The backside of Lewis Condict's letter (appearing on page 36) which has been folded in thirds and, presumably for filing purposes, says: Joseph Lyon N Jersey for [illeg] [illeg] H[Illeg] L. Condict, [Illeg.] Page 36 State of New Jersey, County of Morris ss On this 7th day of May, 1836, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the peace for the said County of Morris, personally appeared Lewis Condict of said County, personally well known to me as a man of veracity who on his oath declares as follows, viz: I am personally well acquainted with Joseph Lyon, whose affidavit of the copy of his Certificate of Pension is hereunto annexed, taken before Jonathan T. Squier a Justice of the peace for Essex county, on the 20th April, 1836. I know him, the said Joseph Lyon to be the same person described in the said affidavit. I aided the said Joseph Lyon to obtain his pension, by drawing a supplemental statement of his Revolutionary services, specifying as far as he the said Lyon was able, the times, places, occasions, & names of the officers connected with his services & forwarded the said statement or narration, with the testimony which was able to find, to the Commissioner of Pensions, sometime in the spring or summer of 1834, as I believe. In the month of July or August of that year, as I believe. I recd. from Mr. Edwards, the commissioner of Pensions, a Certificate in favor of Joseph Lyon granting him $66.66 cents per annum dated July 22d 1834, signed B. F. Butler, acting secy. of war. No. 28.936. -- I was requested by the said Joseph Lyon to prepare the papers necessary to enable him to receive the monies due to him & he entrusted to my care for safe keeping, his Certificate of Pension, which was by me deposited for safe keeping with the Clerk of the agent for paying pensions at Trenton N. Jersey where I had previously deposited others for the same purpose. On presenting Lyons' power of att [cut off, but presumably attorney] for his September payment 1835, the Certificate could not be found, & payment could not be made. In March 1836, another power of Attorney was given to my hands, executed by said Lyon & on being presented at the Pension Agency, payment was again said to be impracticable, because the certificate could not be provided. My firm belief is, that it has been lost or mislaid at the office of the Pension Agency aforesaid, & altho' repeated search has been made for it, it could not be found, nor can I now expect that it will ever be found. And in behalf of said Joseph Lyon, I respectfully request of the Secretary of War & Commissioner of Pensions that a new certificate may be issued for him. [signed] Lewis Condict. Sworn & Subscribed before me, the date above mentioned. [signed] Elijiah Ward, J.P. Page 37 State of New Jersey, Morris County ss I, Joseph Dalrimple, Clerk of the County of Morris, & of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County, do hereby certify that Elijah Ward Esqr. within here named, & before whom the within affidavit of Lewis Condict was made & taken, at the time of taking the same, was & is, one of the Justices of the peace of said County, residing therein, duly commissioned & sworn; & that the signature "Elijah Ward", subscribed to the jurat of said affidavit, is genuine. In witnessing whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, & affixed the seal of the said Court at Morris-town, this 7th day of May, eighteen hundred & thirty six (1836.) [signed] Joseph Dalrimple Clk Additional Comments: This is a transcription of the entire pension file, page by page. Where the text was illegible, each word is replaced by "[illeg.]". I tried to maintain the spelling and punctuation as I found it and have a few annotations which are set off by brackets []. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/njfiles/ File size: 44.7 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/essex/military/revwar/pensions/lyon-j.txt