Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,080, for Jonathan Parkhurst, New Hampshire
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N. H
1822

Parkhurst, Jonathan
Packhurst,
NUMBER
S.14.080

CONTENTS
carded
Page 2

24.152
New York
Johnathan Parkhurst
Oswego Coin the State of New York
who was a private in the Comp. commanded
Captain Russell of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Chase in the N. Hamp
for 1 year 3 months and 2 day 

Jonathan Packhurst 
Records corrected July 17/06

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Nov. 1833-
and sent A. Skinner Union Square

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 33  $75
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4mar 15
$90

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Go C Stiles  Clerk
Book E Vol. 4 Page 113.
Page 3

State of New York
Oswego County SS. On this 3d day of Dec
1832 personally appeared before the under
Signed, one of the Judges of the Court of
Common Pleas in & for the County of Oswego
aforesaid Jonathan Parkhurst a resident
of the Town of Hastings in the said County
of Oswego aged 70 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
1832. That he
Congress passed in
entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers & served as herein
Stated, viz:
On or about the last of April
1777 at New Grantham Chichin Co. New Hampshire
I enlisted as a soldier for the term of three
months in the company of Capt. Russell
Christian name not recollected) in Col. Jonathan
Chase's Regiment of New Hampshire Militia
& on the 2d or 3d day of May I joined my
Reg at Cornich N.H. & immediately marched
through Vermont to Ticonderoga where were
remained until my term had expired when
I was discharged & returned home to New Hampshire
A short time after I returned home I think
about the last of Aug. I again enlisted at
New Grantham in the Company of Capt Whipple
Regt not recollected) of the N. Hampshire militia
and marched immediately to Bennington Vt. where
I arrived the day after the battle made a short
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they and marched to Stillwater where I remained until
after the battle when I was discharged and
returned house; and the day after my arrival
I again enlisted to go to Saratoga in the company of Capt. Webster of the New Hampshire Militia
Christian name not recollected) and marched directly 
to Saratoga & joined the army under Gen Gates
when I remained until after the surrender of
Gen Burgoyne
in Oct when I was again discharged & returned home-- having been in the service this term in all about 6 months
I remained at home through the winter and
in the Spring of 1778 I think in the month
of May or June I went as a substitute
for Stephen Cotton to Cavendish . & joined the
Company of Capt. Handy of the N.H. Militia
Here I remained about 3 months, and frequently
went on scouting parties against the Tories
& Indians who occasionally committed depredations in that vicinity--
In the Spring of 1780 at New Grantham
I think about the first of April, I again
enlisted for the time of months in the company of Capt Abel Stevens in Col. Nichols Regt
of New Hampshire Militia, and immediately mar
down Connecticut River
to Springfield whence we remained several weeks & thence marched to West Point N.Y. & joined the army under Gen. Arnold, who soon after turned traitor & went over to the enemy - he remained at
Page 5

West Point & in that vicinity until the
last of Dec. when I was discharged and
returned house-- I cannot recollect as I ever
had a written discharge and if I have I
know not what has become of it
I know of no person living by whom I can
prove my services-
I was born in the Town of Winchester Cheshire
Co. N Hampshire on the 13th day of April
1762 as appears by a record in an old family
Bible now in my possession which is the only
record I have of my age
Soon after the Revolutionary War I removed
from the Hampshire to Sharon in Vermont
where I lived about 5 years & then moved to
the Town of Schuyler now Herkimer Co.
& resided there about 4 years when I removed to
my present residence then in the Town of the
is now town of Hastings Oswego Co when I
have ever since resided
I am acquainted with most of the people
in this Town who can testify as to my character 
for truth & veracity & their belief of my services
as a soldier of the revolution, among whom
are the Revd. S.W. Leonard a Clergyman, Wm Ford Esq
& Rollin Blount whose certificates are here
unto annexed-
During the last war I held a Majors Commission
and was in actual service found worthy, and
had the command of a Battalion of Militia at
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the Battle of Oswego at the time that place
was taken by the British in 1814. I was once
possessed
of property but lost it all during the
last war amounting to about $4000 which
was employed in the lumber business, and to
on Lake Ontario in 1812, and am now old
most blind, infirm & poor, and totally unable to labor
I have never received a pension, and hereby 
relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or
annuity except the present and declare that
my name is not on the pension roll of the
any agency of any State
Sworn to & subscribed the
day & year aforesaid
before me
Avery Skinner
Judge of Owego Co. Courts
Johnathan his x mark Parkhurst
Page 7

the matter of
Jonathan Parkhurst 
an applicant 
for a Pension
21433
On Rolls
77. Russells Co. 1 mo 7 os
'80 Stevens
3 mo. 190os
Page 8

Mr. Samuel W. Leonard a clergyman
residing in the Town of Hastings, Oswego
County NY and William Ford & Rollin
Blount residing in the same place hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with
Jonathan Parkhurst who has subscribed & 
Sworn to the above declaration; that
we believe him to be 70 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 on
concur in that opinion 
Samuel W Leonard
William Ford
Rollin Blount

Sworn & subscribed this
5th day of December 1832
before me, Avery Skinner
Judge of Owego Co. Courts

I hereby certify that for several years
past I have been well acquainted with
Jonathan Parkhurst the above named applicant
& hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
that he was a revolutionary soldier & served as
he states. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the Revd. Samuel W. Leonard
has signed the preceding certificate, that he is a
clergyman in good standing resident in the
Town of Hastings aforesaid; and that I am also
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well acquainted with William Ford Esq & Rollin
Blount who have signed the same & who as
in the same place, the form of whom is
an acting magistrate, & the latter a man of
undoubted truth & veracity, and that their statement is entitled to full credit-
I further certify that the above named applicant, owing to ill health & bodily infirmity
wholly unable to attend court-
Avery Skinner
Judge of Oswego Co. Courts

I Erie Poor Clerk of the County
of Oswego do hereby certify that
Avery Skinner Esqr before whom
the foregoing Declaration purports to have been sworn
was at the date of the same one of the Judges of
the Court the Court of Common Pleas of said
County (which is a Court of Record) and that I
am well acquainted with his hand writing and
verily believe his name subscribed to the Jurat
of the said declare to be his proper hand writing and
Signature-- As witness my hand and seal of
office this 14th day of December A.D. 1832
Erie Poor Clerk
By D McPherson
Depy Clk
---
In the matter of Johnathan Parkhurst An applicant for a Pension
21433
on rolls
77 Russells Co 1 mo 7 ds
80 Stevens 3 mo 19 days
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State of New York
Oswego County
On this 5th day
of September 1833 personally appeared
before me the undersigned a Judge
of Oswego County Courts Jonathan
Parkhurst who being
duly sworn deposes 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
best of his recollection he served not less
than
the periods mentioned below and in
the following grades: For at least one
month and four days, in the year 1777 
served as a soldier in the Company of
Captain Russell, although it is my impress
ion I enlisted for the time of three months
in the same year I served in the company
of Capt. Whipple one month and fifteen
days - also same year in the company
of Capt. Webster one month & ten days
In the Summer of 1778 I served as a
substitute for Stephen Colton, in the Company of
Capt. Handy three months
In the
Spring of 1780 I enlisted, I think for the term
of 9 months in the Company of Capt. Stinson
a Regiment of New Hampshire Militia
of which Daniel Kimball was adjutant
the Colonels name I do not now recollect
we marched first to Springfield Mass and from
thence to West Point, when I was detached
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from the regiment in which I first enlisted
and joined the Regiment of Col. Nichols
in whose Regiment I remained under Capt.
Stous, as one of Gen. Arnolds life guard
for about 3 months, when I again joined
the Regiment I first enlisted in and remained until my time had expired whom
I returned home in Dec. part of the way by 
Shighing having been in the service this
[illegible] according to the best of my recollection eight months; and for such
services I claim a pension

Jonathan his x mark Parkhurst

subscribed & sworn the
day & year above written
before me Avery Skinner
Judge of Oswego Co. Courts

I, Erie Poor, Clerk of the County
of Oswego do hereby certify that
Avery Skinner Esq before whom
the above affidavit purports to have
him sworn was at the date of the same
One of the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas
That in & for said County which is a Court 
of record) and that I
am well acquainted
with the handwriting of the said Judge
and verily believe his name subscribed to 
the Jurat of the above affidavit to be his
proper
handwriting and signature-- As witness
my hand & seal of Office this 10th day

Sept. A.D. 1833, Erie Poor Clerk
By D McPherson
Dep Clk
Page 12

14080
INVALID.
---
No. 14,080
 Jonathan Parkhurst
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7"" 1832
Vol. 1, Page 289
Arrangement of 1870.}
Jonathan Parkhurst
Records corrected July
Page 13

JL Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Page 14

A Mirriam Plu
[illegible]
Sept 19

NY Sept 24

Free

JL Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

1.7
1.15
1.10
3-00
9.32
15
Page 15

Union Square
Sept 19. 1833

Sir
Enclosed I return you
the pension papers of Jonathan Parkhurst
with an additional declaration explanatory of his 9 months service. The
memory of the old gentleman is much
infirmed by old age
but it is positive he had in the year 1780 at least 8 months - I have
been well acquainted
with him for the last 10 years
and have no doubt of the revolutionary
service, although he may
not have come in relation to the length of
time of [illegible] engagement. There is
no person living as I can certain
by whom I can prove his services
This fact is stated in his original declaration I am he respectfully
your obedt pot
A. Skinner
Page 16

21433
Jonathan Parkhurst
Oswego County
New York

Adm 1 year & 3 months & 2 days

$50.00
$50.22/100

Avery Skinner
Union Square
New York
Page 17

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
183
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 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 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.

[Chart]
Period when the service was rendered.
Enlisted 1777
do
substitute
1778
Enlisted 1780

Duration of the
claimant's service.
Years
Months
1
6
3
3
Days
7

19

Rank of
the
claimant.
private

Names and Rank
of the Company
officers under
whom he served.
Capt Russell
Capt Whipple
Capt Hawdy
Capt Stevens

Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers.
Col Chase
Gen Gates
Col Nichols

Battles in which
the applicant was
engaged.
Stillwater
Saratoga

Country through
which he marched
Cornish
Ticonderoga
Bennington
Stillwater
Saratoga
West Point 

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period
70
Cheshire Co N.H.

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Tradition

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,
 
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, claimstance
, 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.
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first inof

On this
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, eity, or Disco ss
County of
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
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 enered 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.
---
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.
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.
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation 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 it 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
Page 19

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.
All applicants 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.
To a Soldier.
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giv-
Town Offce
en and what has become of it?
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 traditionary 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
ination of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
18
the 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.
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.
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.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
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 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
sent to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: --For---yeardays
, I served as a-
-- For --
months and --- days, I served as amonths
, andand
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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must fix 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 pubseal
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.
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 witof
the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
┃ applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to th