Rev. Pension Claim of William Akers, Hunterdon Co, NJ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Donna Evans Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ Documents in the Pension file of William Akers Copied through the kindness of Alta J. Siegert New Jersey Akers, William S. 22078 Penn William Akers Wayne Co. in the State of Penn who was a Private in the company of Captain Jones of the Regt.of Col. Chambers in the N. Jersey troopsfor 1 year & 23 days cef. 18,849 Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 42 Dollars 56 cents per ann-to commence on the 4th day of March 1832 Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of Oct in33 and sent to N.B. Eldr--- Bethany Wayne Co. PA Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 106.41 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March 1834 21.28 $127.69 Revolutionary claim -- June 7, 183- Recorded by D. Bown Book E Vol. 5 p. --- State of Pennsylvania County of Wayne On this Twenty Eighth day of November A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before Moses Thomas and Isaac Dimmick Esquires Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting William Akers a resident of Sterling Township in the County of Wayne and State of Pennsylvania aged Ninety six years, he being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the followed named officers and served as herein stated ... He volunteered his service for one month in Hunterdon County, New Jersey about the 20th of August in the year 1776 under the command of Philip Philips Col Chambers and General Philemon Dickinson; Stationed on Rariton river near Woodbridge and served one month. at the expiration of the above month he was drafted in the militia and served one month in a company commanded by Captain David Jones Col Chambers and Nathaniel Hare. Stationed on the Rariton river At the expiration of that month, he was ordered by General Wm. Alexander to watch the movements of the British troops then about Pennytown, Hopewell Township, Hunterdon County New Jersey. He continued in the service under the same captain and Colonel until a few days after the Battle of Germantown which battle he was in - this battle took place in 1777 in the fall. Two days after the battle of Germantown he was discharged and went aback to his home in Hunterdon County where he remained until 1778 when he removed to Pennsylvania near Stroudsburg. About the fist of July 1778 he was ordered out by Col. Jacob Stroud and served one monthly under Captain John ---. He had no written discharge from Col. Stroud nor had he every a written discharge as he -- - The deponent removed into Wayne County in Sterling Township the last time about ten years since and resides there now. He has children both in Penn and New Jersey and has alternately resided with them. The deponent says there is no clergyman in his neighbourhood with whom he is acquainted. that there is no living witness as he knows whose testimony he can receive who can testify to his service nor has he any documentary evidence - The deponent was born September 7th 1736 in Hunterdon County New Jersey He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any State William Akers Sworn to and subscribed this 28th day of November 1832 in open court G.B. Wescott Richard Lancaster and Jeremiah Bennett We the subscribers residing in Sterling Township in the County of Wayne aforesaid, hereby certify that we are acquainted with William Akers who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be ninety six years of age, that his is --- and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Richard Lancaster Jeremiah Bennett Sworn and Subscribed in open court this 28th day of November 1832 GB Wescott 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 Revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that there is no clergyman residing in the meighbourhood of the applicant but both Richard Lancaster and Jeremiah Bennet who --- signed the foregoing certificate are residents of the said Township of Sterling and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit Moses Thomas Isaac Dimmick I George B. Wescott Prothonatary of the Court of Common Pleas of Wayne County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Akers for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty Eighty day of November One Thousand Eight hundred and Thirty two GB Wescott Prothonotary Pennsylvania Wayne County: Personally appeared before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Wayne William Akers, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the two periods mentioned below and in the following grades... That he entered the service of the United States as a private soldier in the militia a few days before the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 and was stationed with his company at the "Blazing Star" Ferry in New Jersey near Woodbridge, but whether he was enlisted, drafted or volunteered His is at this time from loss of memory unable to state, but he knows he was in the service from the fact that when he was so stationed at the Blazing Star his father brought him information of the death of his brother who was killed in the battle at Long Island. That about the middle of October following he volunteered in the service as a private for one month at Hunterdon County, Town of Amwell, New Jersey, being the place of his birth and residence; under the command of Captain Philip Philllips, Lieut. Andrew Johnson, Colonel Thomas Lowrey commanded the regiment then, but he was appointed or acted as a commissary - Col. Chamber he believes then took command. The Generals name was Dickerson. Was stationed near Woodbridge New Jersey and served out his one month there. He was then classed and drafted for one more month - his captain's name was David Jones and his brother Thomas Akers was Ensign. He believes that Col. Chambers and Col. Hare had the command. He was stationed at the same place on the Raritan River and there served out that month. That he thinks he is correct --- the time of his entering the service for these two months in the middle of October from the fact that the last month expired but the day before the British entered New Jersey and he must have been mistaken in his original declaration in which he stated he volunteered for one month in August preceding. That upon the expiration of his last month, he went home and stayed one night when in consequence of the invasion of the British, he and his whole company and all capable of bearing arms were ordered out into active service. His company was ordered to march to Trenton to ferry the troops over the River which they did he being with them. Captain John Phillips and Ensign Thomas Akers he recollects as his officers. They were ordered to watch the movements of the British Troops for two or three days near Trenton and then they joined the Regiment under Col. David Chambers. He remained with the troops in Hunterdon County until after the Hessians were taken at Trenton --- we marched to Princeton to secure some plunder. We were then ordered to march to the Raritan River and were stationed at Vaness Mills to guard that place. There we had a skirmish with the British and took a number of waggons and cattle. I obtained permission from General Herd who then had command to go home for three days. On my return at the end of three days I understood that charges had been preferred against Col. Chambers for --- and I was sent to Princeton & Morristown as a witness against him and was kept tow or three weeks; The colonel was broke; Our Major's name was William Chamberlin. After my return from the trial we were ordered to march to Elizabethtown Point; but before we reached there the order was countermanded and were marched into Pennsylvania. This was near the last of September 1777. We were ordered to a mill to drive off a British Guard, which we effected and we followed them to Germantown. The battle of Germantown commenced that day and we were engaged in it. I had two musket balls shot through my hat on my head. After the battle of Germantown we were ordered up the Tulphehocken Creek - Our officers were then Major Chamberlin, Captain John Phillips. Major Chamberlin AHD a son killed in that battle. The next day after the battle our troops were discharged from the main army. It took us two days to go home, and then we were all discharged from military duty. From the time of being ordered out in December 1776 after the expiration of the two months above, until three days after the battle of Germantown I continued in the service of the United States as a private soldier without any intermission making a period of nine months and twenty three days thereabouts - About the 20th of June 1778 I moved to Stroudsburg in Northampton County Pennsylvania - After the massacre by the Indians at Wyoming, I was drafted in t he Pennsylvania Militia under Colonel Jacob Stroud and Captain John Bush for one month - We built a fort near Stroudsburg and kept guard there until I had served my time out, when a Regiment of Rangers were sent on who took our place and we were discharged.During the two months in which I first served --- the nine months and twenty three days afterwards and the one month in the Pennsylvania Militia under Col. Stroud; making in all Twelve months and --- three days I was not employed in any civil pursuit and for such services I claim a pension. William Akers Sworn and subscribed this 4th day of September AD 1833 before me Thomas Span--- a Justice of the Peace in said County of Wayne and I do hereby certify that I believe him to be ninety seven years old, that he is --- and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that he is the same William Akers who made the declaration before the Court of Common Pleas of said County November 28th 1832 to which this is attached Thos Spangenberg Pennsylvania Wayne County: I George B. Wescott Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Wayne do certify that Thomas Spangenberg Esquire is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and Qualified and that the above signature purported to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my had and the seal of the said Court this Fourth day of September One thousand Eight hundred and Thirty three GeoBWescott Bethany Septbr. 5th 1833 J.L. Edwards Esq. Dear Sir I return to you the papers of Wm. Akers who is applying for a pension under the late act of Congress - his extreme old age and deafness makes it difficult of getting a statement of particulars more fully than I have done in his supplementary affidavit - I believe however he brings himself with in the regulations of your department Your attention is respectfully called to this application immediately as the man is very poor and unless the bounty of our Government is soon --- ---- -- -- --- --- his service in the common cause of his country Very Respectfully, Your obd. sevt. NB Eldred J.L. Edwrads E My --- Sir, I have recd another --- from Mr. Wm. Bartree, a relative to the heirs of Akers, which I enclose you. It would seem to go through the Court, --- thence, would be greater than the amt to be recd from Government. Would not the previous Papers sent you be sufficient Yours, DD Wagoner House of R Feb. 1 1837 1838 East Sterling Wayne Co. Pa Oct 10 Dear Sir I am Requsted to forward the certificate for your signature and to request you to forward power for the collection of said pention all the children of the Deceased has impowered Alice Akers his Daughter that supported him at --- / --- he was 99 years seven mo and some days --- are poor if the law will allow it to her she needs it Please to send it to me again I am very Respectfully Your Humble Servent J L Edwards Wm Bortree Pett