## **1. Identity and Basic Facts** **Name:** Matthias (Mathias) Lane **Pension File:** S.23297 **Residence at Application:** Farmersville, Cattaraugus County, New York **Birth:** 19 May 1759 (as stated in later summaries) **Age at Application:** 73–74 **Rank:** Private / Trooper **Unit Type:** Light Dragoons (mounted militia cavalry) **Service Jurisdiction:** New Jersey militia (Monmouth County), later pension administered through New York This is a _state militia_ service claim, not Continental Line service. That distinction is critical for understanding both the documentation issues and the scrutiny applied by the Pension Office. --- ## **2. Nature of His Military Service** Lane describes **intermittent militia service**, typical of New Jersey coastal defense units: - **Initial enlistment:** January 1777 (shortly after the British occupation of New York City) - **Service pattern:** “Every other month,” primarily spring–fall, returning home in winters - **Total credited service:** Aggregated to **two years**, meeting the threshold of the 1832 Pension Act - **Duties:** - Guarding the Monmouth County shoreline - Countering Tory raids from Staten Island and Long Island - Protecting livestock and property - **Headquarters / patrol areas:** - Freehold - Tinton Falls - Middletown - Shrewsbury - Long Branch - Manasquan - Highlands This pattern aligns closely with known New Jersey militia operations and is internally consistent across multiple affidavits. --- ## **3. Officers and Units** Lane consistently names officers corroborated by other witnesses: - **Captains:** - Conover - Randolph (Randle) - William Remsen - Jacob Covenhoven - **Colonels:** - Daniel Hendrickson - Asher Holmes - **General:** - David Forman These officers are historically documented New Jersey militia leaders, which significantly strengthens the claim. --- ## **4. Notable Events Mentioned** ### **A. Escort of Congress (Philadelphia Retreat)** Lane states that while under Captain Remsen, his unit: - Marched from Monmouth County to Philadelphia - Escorted Congress during its retreat - Returned via Trenton, Easton, Moravian Town, and Reading This episode is independently recalled by **Lewis Covenhoven**, who places Lane among the men sent on that mission. ### **B. Battle of Monmouth (1778)** Lane states: - He arrived at Monmouth Court House - His company had already moved - He temporarily joined **Colonel Morgan’s Riflemen** - His unit did not engage directly due to General Charles Lee’s actions This is a careful, restrained account—he does _not_ claim combat participation, which enhances credibility. --- ## **5. Evidentiary Challenges and Resolution** ### **Initial Problem** The Pension Office rejected the first submission due to: - Reliance on **“traditionary evidence”** - Lack of direct eyewitness affidavits - No documentary discharge papers (common for militia) ### **Resolution** Lane later produced **strong corroboration**: - **Lewis Covenhoven**, age 81, Sergeant in the same unit - **Joseph Van Cleaf**, age 73, Private in the same unit Both: - Served during the same period (1777–1782) - Personally knew Lane - Independently confirmed his service pattern - Testified under oath before a New Jersey justice These affidavits directly resolved the War Department’s objections. --- ## **6. Cognitive Decline and Its Significance** Multiple documents note Lane’s: - Blindness - Physical infirmity - Memory loss Importantly: - These limitations are openly acknowledged - His inability to recall precise dates is corroborated by witnesses - The Pension Office accepted these explanations This transparency actually _strengthened_ the claim; exaggeration or precision would have been suspicious. --- ## **7. Character and Reputation Testimony** Several local officials and neighbors attest that: - Lane was widely regarded as a Revolutionary soldier - He had an honest reputation - Witnesses included: - A Baptist deacon (Timothy Lane) - Town officials - Justices of the court Courts explicitly certify the credibility of these witnesses. --- ## **8. Pension Award** - **Act:** June 7, 1832 - **Approved:** January 18, 1834 - **Rate:** $100 per year - **Effective date:** March 4, 1831 - **Payable:** Semi-annually for life - **Authority:** Secretary of War Lewis Cass This confirms the federal government formally accepted his service as valid Revolutionary War duty. --- ## **9. Historical and Genealogical Value** This pension file is **exceptionally rich**: - Documents militia cavalry operations in coastal New Jersey - Preserves firsthand descriptions of Tory activity - Connects Lane to major events (Monmouth, Congress’s retreat) - Establishes postwar migration from New Jersey to New York - Identifies associates, neighbors, and community standing For genealogy, it firmly anchors Lane in: - Monmouth County, NJ during the Revolution - Cattaraugus County, NY in old age - A verified Revolutionary War veteran lineage --- ## **10. Bottom Line Assessment** **This is a solid, well-corroborated pension claim.** Despite initial bureaucratic resistance: - The service narrative is consistent - Independent witnesses confirm details - Officers and locations are historically accurate - The Pension Office ultimately approved it without reservation From both a historical and genealogical standpoint, Matthias Lane should be regarded as a **legitimate Revolutionary War veteran with documented militia service**. --- ## Actual Pension Application Text [PDF](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/a5gyn43i9zzage6uqc1l3/MatthiasLanePensionApplication.pdf?rlkey=wexs7iup4gdyrnr3szbxq0tai&st=dtshkvck&dl=0) ### Page 1 New Jersey Lane, Matthias S. 23297 ### Page 2 Selected Records ### Page 3 New York Matthias Lane of Cattaraugus in the State of New York who was a Pvt of Dragoon in the Company commanded by Captain Conover of the Regiment commanded by Col Holmes in the New Jersey line for East Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 100 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of January 1834 and GW Gillett Farmersville Duplicate issued 5 April 1834 GW Gillett, Farmersville NY ### Page 4 Matthias Lane Cattaraugus  County New York Admitted Private of Dragoon 2 years G.W. Gillet Farmersville NY ### Page 5 War Department Pension Office July 30, 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 rule and  the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed you will find marked in the marge with a brace (this: }).  You will when you return your papers to the 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 Matthias Lane Cattaraugus County, New York Rank of the claimant. Trooper Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he server.  Cap Conover, Col Holmes, Gen Forman Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.  74 years County of Monmouth New Jersey Proof by which the declaration is supported.  Traditionary evidence. None ?? certified credible.  Battle at Monmouth Some proof more direct in support of the above service is required. ### Page 8 State of New York Cattaraugus County Timothy Lane of Farmersville in said county being duly sworn deposits and says that he is a nephew of Matthias Lane.  Who has made the preceding declaration that he has been particularly acquainted with him for rising of thirty years and considerable part of the time lived in the neighborhood with him that he has always understood from him that he was in the service of the United States the most of the time for five years during the Revolutionary War.  And that he has frequently heard Joseph Mofford who is now dead, state that he was in the service with the said above named Matthias Lane - and this deponent further says that within six years past the said Matthias Lane has become very infirm and also blind in so much so that he has seldom if ever, more than on one or two occasions for four years to the knowledge of the deponent has been two miles from his house or from the house of his children where he lives.  And the deponent also verily believes that the said Matthias Lane has within a few years past in a great degree lost his retentive faculties. Timothy Lane Subscribed and sworn April 27th 1833 before George W. Gillet Commissioner of ?? We certify that we have been acquainted with Timothy Lane who has made the foregoing affidavit for six years past that he is a deacon of the Baptist churches in the place and we believe he is of unquestionable veracity and that the above affidavit is entitled to full credit Farmersville April 27th 1833 George W Gillet - Supervisor Levi Peck Past Master ### Page 9 State of New York County of Cattaraugus On this 8th day of March 1833 personally appeared in the open court before the judges of the court of Oyer and Terminer now sitting Matthias Lane a resident of Farmersville in the County of Cattaraugus and State of New York aged seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 The he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he entered the service as a volunteer in a company of light horse commanded by Captain Conover does not recall the year but that it was in the spring after the enemy took the possession of New York City that the company was raised to guard the shores that he resided in the town of Freehold County of Monmouth in the state of New Jersey - that he entered the service he thinks in the month of April or May was stationed at Colts Neck the first summer the nature of the service was to guard against the Tories who frequently came across the bay from Staten Island and Long Island and pilfered horsed cattle sheep and carried as this deponent supposed to the enemy - that he was in the service during the summer for five seasons he was at home during the winter seasons and in the service summers - Colonel Holmes and General Forman commanded - that he was under the command of Captain William Remsen a part of the time.  That while he was under the command of Captain Remsen he was ordered to Philadelphia that he marched through Allentown and Trenton on the Delaware River and crossed the river and marched to Bristol where he met Congress retreating from Philadelphia and the company to which he belonged were pressed to guard Congress on their retreat and they marched back to Trenton from there to East town up the Delaware River from there to Moraviantown from there to Reading on the Schuylkill river - There we were dismissed by Congress and we marched back to Monmouth to guard the shores - That in the month of May the next year the enemy came down towards Monmouth and we were called out together with the militia. ### Page 10 That he was at Monmouth at the time of the battle at the place he went to Monmouth Court house and his company had left and he fell in the Colonel Morgans Riflemen and was drawn up in line of battle near John Richmonds Mill.  That they remained there some time that on the account of Gen Lee's disobeying orders they were not in the battle - after the battle the enemy retreated to New York.  That he was in the service three summers after that guarding the shores as above stated that he was called out in the spring and remained through the summer and until about winter of each year.  That he verily believes he was in the service during the five seasons as much or more than two years.  That he never had any written discharge.  That he was acquainted with Col Morgan of the Riflemen and Captain Lee of the Cavalry.  That Col. Holmes regiment of militia was with them some of the time of his service.  That he has a record of his age in his family Bible - that he will be seventy four years of age if he should live to the 19th of May next. That since the Revolution he has lived in Charlestown, Montgomery County New York and Sullivan Madison Co and Parma Monroe Co and that he now resides in Farmersville Cattaraugus Co and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can provide who can testify to his service and that he has no documentary evidence. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on any pension roll of the agency of any state.  That there is no clergyman residing in the town of Farmersville to the deponents knowledge.  That Francis Baillet and Ezra B Strong are neighbors and can testify as to his character. Matthias Lane ### Page 11 We Francis E Baillet and Ezra B Strong residing in the town of Farmersville hereby certify that we are will acquainted with Matthias Lane who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four 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. Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid in open court before one Israel Day Judge of Cattaraugus Francis E Baillet E. B. Strong And the said court do kindly declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations presented 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 Francis E Baillet and Ezra B. Strong who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the town of Farmersville and credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. B Chamberlain Isaac Day I John W Staunton Clerk of the court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Matthias Lane for pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8th day of March 1833 John W Staunton clerk ### Page 13 From the papers in the claim, Sur. Fle No. 23,297, Rev. War, it appears that Matthias Lane was allowed pension on his application executed March 8, 1833, while a resident of Farmersville, Cattaraugus County, New York. He stated that he was born May 19, 1759, and resided at Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, when he entered the service in January 1777, and served at various times amounting in all to two years, as a Private under Captains Conover, Randolph, William Remsen and Jacob Covenhoven, and Colonels Daniel Hendrickson and Asher Holmes. Several children are referred to, but no names are stated.  There is no further data. Very respectfully JL Davenport Commissioner. ### Page 16 I certify that, in conformity with law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Matthias Lane of the state of New York who was a private of Dragoons in the Revolutionary Army is entitled to receive One Hundred dollars and 0 cents per annum during his natural life commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year Given at the War Office of the United States the 18th day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty three Lewis Cass Secretary of War James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions ### Page 22 Mathias Lane a revolutionary pensioner of this town wishes to know whether he is entitled to receive bounty land - he never having rec. any - He has received a circular letter from some professed pension agent who proposes to give him valuable information respecting the same if he will send him $5.  Pensioners are frequently imposed upon in the way - The old man is poor and I presume the government does not intend to make such bounties subject to the heavy charges of speculating agents.  On the account I venture to trespass upon your valuable time Respectfully yours E.S. Stewart ### Page 24 Farmersville Cattaraugus, New York March 26, 1834 Con J S Edwards Enclosed I return Matthias Lanes certificate to have the date of the year corrected.  It was dated the 18th of Jan last and your clerk wrote the word three instead of four will you erase the one and insert the other and return it as I made out the papers and sent them to New York and they returned the ??? to have me insert the word Four and erase the three in the power but I could not as it was then in the certificate Yours respectfully G. W. Gillet ### Page 25 Cattaraugus County Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace Matthias Lane who being duly sworn deposits and saith that by reason of old age  sickness and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear assertively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served as stated in his declaration accompanying this affidavit except that he was probably mistaken as to the length of each period which he suffered ?? as is stated by the affidavits of Lewis Covenhoven and Joseph Vancleaf of Monmouth County New Jersey with whom this deponent was well acquainted while in the service and served in the same company with them which was that I entered the service in January 1777 and served every other month till the fall or winter of 1782.  That this deponent cannot recollect the term of each engagement any further than is stated by his declaration and the affidavit above referred to.  That this deponent did not at the time he gave his declaration know that the persons who have made the affidavits to his service were living that he sent by his son to New Jersey who found these witnesses and procured their affidavits.  That there is no clergyman residing in this town with whom he is acquainted who can testify as to his character and this deponent further states that he was not engaged in any civil employment or pursuit as he recollects during his service.  That his services were rendered in the full and further this deponent saith not Matthias Lane Subscribed and sworn before me the 25th day of Nov 1833 G. W. Gillet ### Page 26 I John W Staunton clerk of the said county do certify that George W Gillet before whom the within amended declaration purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justice of the Peace in and for the said county and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said amended declaration to be his proper hand writing and signature.  Witness my hand and seal of office the 29th day of November 1833 John W Staunton ### Page 27 State of New Jersey Monmouth County SS. Louis  Covenhoven of the township of Freehold  County and states aforesaid and being duly  sworn agreeably to law deposits and  saith that he was eighty one years of  age on the first day of this past month  and that he volunteered in a company of  light Dragoons in the month of Janu- ary 1777 in the county of Monmouth  and served in said company every  other month from that time until  the stop of the war as a sergeant  in said company that said company  was commanded by Captain Randle  or Randolph when he first joined  it.  afterwards by Captain Ramsen  then by Captain Jacob Covenhoven  and after he was made prisoner  by Lieutenant Barnes J Smock who  acted as Commandant of said  company at the stop of this  war that their head quarters were  at Tinton Falls Middletown  and at Freehold during said period and  their duties were to guard the coast  and shores of Monmouth County  from the inroads of the British and  Tories Their marches were from their  head quarters to Middletown Point  the Highands Shrewsbury, Long  Branch Tinton Falls and then inter- ediate points and places guarding  the coast and shores that he was  well acquainted with Matthias Lane of said county during aforesaid period that he then said Lane to the ### Page 28 best of this deponent recollections joined said company then commanded by Captain Randolph in the month of January 1777 and served therein every other month from these times until the fall or winter of 1782 that the deponent saw him frequently in said service at their head quarters at Freehold Middletown and Tinton Falls and on their marches through the county at Middletown Point, Shrewsbury, Long Branch Manas- quan and the intermediate points and places, that as the tours of duty in Monmouth county New Jersey were monthly under the Laws and ordinances of New Jersey he cannot pretend to specify the particular times and places he saw said Matthias Lane in the service but he will recollect he joined the company about the time it was formed and and served therein until the stop of the war as a good soldier always he believes doing his duty and performing said monthly tour of duty, that he was always esteemed a good soldier in the troop and performed his duties well during this period their com- pany was at first under then command of Col Daniel Hendrickson and afterwards under Col Asher Holmes, David Forman was their general that he will recollect. one part of the company on one occasion was appointed and did march from ### Page 29 Freehold to Philadelphia to guard and escort Congress from Philadelphia deponent thinks this was before the Battle of Germantown but is not certain deponent was left at Mon- mouth with a part of the company and he thinks said Lane was one of the company which marched to Philadelphia for the purpose aforesaid. Lewis Covenhoven Sworn and subscribed before me the Justice of the Peace Monmouth county New Jersey this 10th day of September AD 1833 William Lloyd New Jersey Monmouth County: Joseph Vancleaf of Freehold Monmouth County New Jersey being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that he was seventy three years of age the sixth day of last February that he this deponent joined a volunteer company of Dragoons commanded then by Lieutenant  Barnes J Smock (Captain Jacob Covenhoven of said company being thus a prisoner) a short time after the Battle of Germantown being in the latter part of the month of October or first of November 1777 and that he joined in said company as a  private every other month from that time till the close of the war in the fall or winter of 1782, that their head quarters during said time was at Tinton Falls and at Middletown in said county of Monmouth and ### Page 30 their marches where from shores to the High Lands Shrewsbury, Long Branch and Manasquan their duties being  to guard the coast and shores from  the British and Tories that from the time this deponent joined said company Matthias Lane then of said county was a private in the same company and served therein as this deponent believes every other month under the then laws and ordinances of New Jersey that he frequently saw said Matthias Lane in the service of these head quarters at Tinton Falls Middletown Long Branch Shrewsbury, the Highlands and at Manasquan and the intermediate points and places guarding the coast and shores from the British and Tories, that he cannot particu- larly name the times when he saw said Lane but he well knows he was out in the service in the same troop of horses with this de- potent and that he always performed his duties well and served as this deponent believes his regular monthly tours of duty until the stop of the war, Asher Holmes was one Colonel and David Forman General that the said Matthias Lane was a member  of the company when this deponent joined it that the said Matthias Lane moved from the county of Monmouth about forty years ago to the State of New York as this deponent then understood ### Page 31 that he was a good solder while in the service.  Deponent always understood that before he joined the company it was first commanded by Captain Randle or Randolph as he was differently called and afterwards by Captain Remsen Joseph Van Cleaf Sworn and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace of the said County of Monmouth N.J. Sep 10th 1833 William Lloyd And I the said William Lloyd Justice as aforesaid before whom the foregoing affidavits of Lewis Covenhoven and Joseph Vancleaf were respectively subscribed and sworn to do hereby testify that it appears to me and that I know the fact that the said Lewis Covenhoven and Joseph Van Cleaf are respectably credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit. Dated Freehold Monmouth County New Jersey Sept 10th 1833 William Lloyd I Daniel H Ellis Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey.  do hereby certify that William Lloyd whose name is signed to the ? of the two foregoing affidavits and to the certificate of this said William Lloyd Justice of aforesaid ? was at the respective dates thereof and ? as a Justic of the Peace of the said County of Monmouth ### Page 32 duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit ought and should be attached to all his official acts as such and also that the named ? William Lloyd to each of  said ? and to said certificate of the ? hand writing and signature of the said William Lloyd ? as aforesaid The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handwriting affixed my seal of official Freehold this tenth day of September Anno Domini Eighteen Hundred and thirty three W.H. Ellis