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Document 2


John Stites - Audit Office compensation application 1


 Pg 612

To the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament to enquire into the losses and services of the American Loyalists

The memorial of Mr John Stites late of the City of New York, Merchant.

Sheweth...... That your memorialist at the commencement of the late unhappy disturbance in America was settled in New York, that he was with many other of the inhabitants of that City obliged to leave it in 1776 being compelled thereto by the supporters of the American Congress.
           
That he purchased a small farm near Elizabeth Town in New Jersey, to which he removed his family, and that upon the British troops taking possession of New Jersey in 1776 your memorialist immediately joined them.
           
That in 1777 our memorialist was attainted with the high treason by a law of the State of New Jersey, and his property, an inventory and appraisement of which is herewith presented, was confiscated and sold and applied to the use of the State.
           
Your memorialist therefore pray that his case may be taken into your consideration, in order that under your report he may be enabled to receive such aid and relief as his losses may be found to deserve.

(Signed) John Stites

By his attorney - William Taylor,  Castle Street, Oxford Markett N5 Feby 20 1784

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Pg 613 & 614

Elizabeth Town October 28th 1782

            An inventory of the real estate of Mr. John Stites, which has been confiscated and sold by a law of the State of New Jersey consisting of one farm situate about half a mile from Elizabeth Town in New Jersey. Valued by the subscribers (who live in the neighbourhood and are well acquainted with the premises) containing twenty seven acres and a half an acre with good improvements thereon at fourteen hundred pounds lawful money of New Jersey.

As witness our hands the day and year abovesaid,  (Signed) Jonathan I. Dayton, Edward Thomas. 

Sworn before me to the above valuation,  Isaac Woodruffe, Justice of the Peace in Elizabeth Town.

Inventory of Mr. John Stites Property

Principal

Interest

Total

 

 

 

     

May 9

1770

Hezekiah Thompson of County of Essex in Province of New Jersey, Joiner, Bond, Interest @ ú7 p'ct, 3 years interest paid.

35..5..00

25..18..00

61..3..00

Oct 13

1775

Nathaniel Norris, of same place, Carpenter, Bond at 7 p'cent Interest

50..00..00

28..00.00

78..00..00

Oct 14

1775

Benjamin Miller & George Mitchell, same place, Wheelwright & Chair Makers, Bond at ú7 p'cent Interest

50..00..00

28..00.00

78..00..00

Oct 4

1775

Isaac Woodruffe Junr. Merchant, same place, Bond 7 p'cent Interest

250..00..00

98..00..00

348..00..00

Sep 3

1776

William Seaman & Jonathan William, same place, Bond, 7 p'cent.

50..00..00

24..10.00

74..10..00

Sep 3

1776

Jonathan William & William Seaman, same place, Bond, 7 p'cent

100..00..00

49..00..00

149..00..00

25 Oct

1776

Andrew Miller, same place, Bond, 7 p'cent.

50..00..00

24..10.00

74..10..00

Dec 1

1777

John Baty, Huntingdon County, West Jersey, Bill, ú7 p'cent Interest.

850..00..00

341..5..00

1191..5..00

July 5

1777

Cornelius Miller, Bond & mortgage, Essex County, Coach Maker, 3&1/2 p'cent.

100..00..00

21..00..00

121..00..00

Feby 25

1778

Isaac Berrau, same place, Bond 7 p'cent., Clock Maker

110..00..00

38..10..00

148..10..00

Feby 3

1778

Elizabeth Crane, Note 137..14..4 paid ú60 due no interest mentioned in note.

77..14..4

00..00..00

77..14..4

Sep 20

1778

Mathias Halstead Esq. Note 3 & 1/2 p'ct Interest.

65..19..4

14..00..8

80..00..00

March 30

1778

John Polhemus, Huntingdon County, Jersey, Yeoman, Note 3&1/2 p'ct Interest

36..12..00

7..14..00

44..6..00

July 5

1778

John Harrison, Essex County, Yeoman, Note

4..2..6

00..00..00

4..2..6

Feby 25

1778

James Griggs, Middlesex, County, Yeoman, Note.

6..3..1

0..0..0

6..3..1

Apl 24

1778

Meaker Squires, Essex County, Yeoman, Note

 

 

9..11..3

Apl 1

1778

William Crone, Tomas Twigly of Co. Bill

733..00..00

 

733..00..00

 

 

 

 

Total

3288..15..2

 

 

Valuation of farm in New York Currency is

 

 

1516..13..4

 

 

 

 

Total

4805..8..6

 
City of New York, North America

John Stites personally appeared before me, And being duly sworn did depose and say that the above Inventory of debts due him amounting to three thousand two hundred and eighty eight pounds 15 p New York Currency, is just and true, and that the same has been confiscated by a Law of the State of New Jersey. And the deponent believes many of them have been actually paid into treasury of the said State. By reason of his having joined the British Army.

John Stites

Sworn before me this 31 Oct 1783,  Robt. N. Auchmuty, Not pub. (Notary Public)

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City of New York in North America.

            Be it remembered that on the thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three personally appeared before me Robert Nicholls Auchmuty Esq., Notary and ? Public by Royal Authority duly admitted sworn and residing in the said City of New York, the within named John Stites of the same City Merchant and was by me duly sworn to the truth of the annexed affidavit to which he has asigned his name, and subscribed my hand

Inot testor manu et Sigil : Tabets

(Signed) Robt N. Auchmuty, not pub.


London, February 23d 1786
Office of American Claims

The foregoing are true copies of the originals deposited in this Office.

John ??


Acknowledgements to the National Archives - Audit Office ref :- AO/13/83

Note - As is so often the case with the Stites name it has been incorrectly copied in the above document as Stiles. However it’s sister documents AO/12/14 & AO/13/111 correctly spell the name as Stites, and the latter includes a signature of John Stites with the correct spelling.

To correct the first documents errors, and to try and prevent perpetuating the incorrect transcribings, I have transcribed Stiles as Stites.


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