Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,711, David Griffing, New York
Page 1

Service
New York

Griffing, David

Number
S. 31.711
Page 2

Connecticut 22591

David Griffing
of Middlesex in the State of Connecticut
who was a Fifer in the Company commanded 
by Captain Griffing of the Regiment commanded
by Colonel Clinton in the New York
line for 9 months & 20 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 35 Dollars 67 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of October, 1833 and sent to S. Ingham
Saybrook, Connecticut

Arrears to the 4th of September, 1833.   89.18
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '34   17.84

$107.02

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Wm. R. Calmer, Clerk
Book E Vol three Page 16
Page 3

State of Connecticut
Middlesex County - Probate District of Saybrook in said county

on this tenth day of Sept 1832 personally appeared, in open court, before the court of Probate [illegible] at Saybrook in and for the district
of Saybrook in the county of Middlesex and State 
of Connecticut - the same being a court of record &
now sitting, David Griffin a resident of 
Killingworth in the County of Middlesex and the State of Connecticut, aged
Sixty nine years, who being first 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
That, he was born at S. Southhold on Long 
Island in the State of New York. That there is a record
on the Family Bible of his late parents of his age-
that he will be Seventy years of age if he lives, the
23rd day of Dec 1832

That he enlisted at said South hold, on 
the 28th day of February 1776 to serve one year in
the War of the Revolution- and he thinks in the
Continental Establishment, but is not certain- The
Company in which he served was commanded by 
David Griffin Capt/ Father of the applicant/-
Benjamin Merwin 1st & Nathaniel Norton 2nd Lieut.
& Jacob Conklin Ensign and David Conklin
Seth Merwin, Andrew Kent & Ezra Tuttle Sargents
The Regiment was commanded by Col. James Clinton. afterwards, Genl Clinton- That he 
immediately joined the company at S. South
hold- that said company went immediately 
he thinks to Shelter Island, which is in Long Island 
Sound and remained there he thinks until
September- to Guard the East end of Long Island
At the same time Capt Davis' company was on Montague  Point. & Capt. Ros's company on Oyster view point out for the same purpose- That said company left said Island, he thinks in Sept and
went up toward River head, about thirty miles,
Two other companies, then met them - An express then arrived, with information that
the Island was given up or taken
and that we must get off from it, as soon as we could -
That, said companies all return all immediately to the Eastern and, until they arrived, against
Saybrook in Connecticut, Three vessels then
Page 4

came off from there commissioned by Capt Charles
Williams of said Saybrook. Capt. Riggins of Lyme, and does not recollect the others, and took the said
three companies, and brought them all off to said Saybrook- then all marched to New Haven,
and encamped. were there Joined by Troops 
from Rhode Island and went on to Long Island
a part of them, a (illegible) company commanded
by the applicants father, each took a fort at
Brook. Haven, and brought back over 60 prisoners. The applicant did not go in this expedition-
nor any of the rest of the missions, for the applicant
was a fifer in said company. The applicant
says that he was wounded, and bled at the stomach
in consequence of which he received a furlough 
to go home in the month of December; he thinks
the latter part. There was snow on the ground and 
had been for some time. He was never called
upon again. The said company (illegible)
the February following as he understood &
supposes, at Fort Montgomery in the high lands.
The applicant says that he served faithfully as 
a fifer in said company from the time he
joined it as aforesaid, until he was allowed
to return home as aforesaid; being about Eleven 
months. Was in no battle and nothing important except as is herein attested, transpired.
He never had any written discharge.

The applicant says that he has resided in
said Killingworth ever since he left the army
as aforesaid. That he made application for
a pension in 1831 and received an answer
from J. L. Edwards Esq. which is herewith annexed.
He understood that the proof was not sufficient
He sent at that time the annexed Deposition of Rufus Pain. He now returns said deposition, and also the Deposition of 
his sister, Sarah Grinnol, and also the old
pay rool [sic] of his father & of said company
on which will be found the name of the
applicant.
Page 5

He says the said payroll is the genuine original. That it
was kept by his father during his life time and
since his death by the applicant. The officers of 
said company are all dead he believes, & he knows of 
no one now living except Rufus Pain who belonged to
it
The said David Griffin 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.  Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Ingham
Judge of Probate      David Griffing

We Luke Wood a clergyman, residing in the town of Killingworth
and Jared Elliott residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well
acquainted with Mr David Griffing who has subscribed and sworn to the above 
declaration; that we believe him to be 69 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.
Samuel Ingham      Luke Wood
Judge of Probate     Jared Elliott

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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that the Rev'd
Luke Wood who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the 
town of Killingworth and that Jared Elliott Esquire who 
has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Killingworth and is a credible
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Ingham
Judge of Probate

I, Richard P Williams Clerk of the Court of Probate for
the District of Saybrook state of Connecticut
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of David Griffing for a Pension.
  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of  - Office,
this tenth day of September 1832
Rich'd P Williams Clerk
Page 6

I Sarah Grinnell of Killingworth in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut testify- depose and say that
I am 71 years of age. That I am the Sister of David
 Griffin of said Killingworth who is now making application
for a pension. That I was living at my Fathers, in Southold
on Long Island when said David Griffin enlisted to
serve in the army-that I always understood and 
supposed that he enlisted for three months. That
he soon after went away in to the army, and was
absent I think as much as ten months. He served a part 
of the time on Shelter Island, where I went and saw him.
I always understood and supposed that he served the
remainder of the time on Long Island, until he was 
obliged, with the rest of the company to which he belonged
to cross the Sound to SayBrook, from which they marched to New Haven, where he remained with said company, until about the month of December,
when he came home. I was at that time a girl living
in my Fathers family. I always understood, and
now suppose that he served, as a fifer during 
the whole of said time. My Fathers family was
driven off from the Island by the British in September
and came to Guilford in this state, and there resided
until the April after when they removed to this town
where I have ever since resided. He enlisted in 1776.
My father was the captain of the company in which 
he served. My father was a pensioner under the act of
1818 and died, in July, nine years ago, I think.
and further I say not.
Sarah Grinell

Subscribed and sworn
before me in open court of
Probate in and for the District
of SayBrook this tenth day 
of September AD 1832 and
I certify that I am not
acquainted with the said
Sarah Grinell and that she 
is a credible witness
Sam'l Ingham
Judge of Probate
Page 7

State of Connecticut 
Middlesex County ss 
Probate District of SayBrook in said County, SS On this 31st day of July AD 1833 personally appeared in open
Court before the Court of Probate holden at Killingworth in & for
the Probate District of SayBrook, County of Middlesex and
State of Connecticut, the same being a Court of record & now setting
David Griffin of Killingworth in said District, who hath
made the annexed application for a pension & who being duly
sworn, deposeth and saith, that, he enlisted at South hold
on Long Island on the 28th of February 1776 to serve one year in
the war of the Revolution, as is stated in his said application
hereunto annexed. And he further saith that he enlisted as a
Fifer & that he joined the company in which he
served the same day. He further saith that he knows that
by permission, he returned home in the month of Dec, as
is stated in said application, but owing to old age & the
consequent loss of memory he is unable to state what day
in said month he will therefore call it the 20th day as he is sure it was [illegible] then.
The applicant therefore saith that by reason of old age
and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more
positively as to the precise length of his service, the names of
officers or other material circumstances, but according to
the best of his recollection & belief he served in the Revolutionary army, at least from the 28th of February 1776 to the
20th day of December of the same year. Making Nine Months & twenty days, for which he claims a pension. He saith
that he served constantly during the whole
of said Term as a fifer.
David Griffing
And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion after
the investigation of the matter, that the above named
applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he States.
Samuel Ingham
Judge of said Court of Probate
Page 8

19304
David Griffin
Ct
22
366 7/3
2
---
1.33
2.67
Fifer
33
2.67
___
3567

Adm 9. Months &
20 days as a fifer
$30.00
2.22
$32. 22
Correct
S. Ingham
Saybrooke
Conn
Corrected
Page 9

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.  

A Statement, shewing the Service of David Griffen C.t

Period when service was rendered 
Feb. 1776 [illegible]
Years
Months 11
Days
Rank of the claimant
Private
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Cp Griffin
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col Clinton
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
Country through which he marched: Long Island, NY
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period
70 
born Long Island, NY there entered. now lives Killingworth, Middlesex C.t
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Two surviving witnesses from Service
Certificate of Clergyman and Citizen documents

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions

Old case that is formerly applied for pension
Page 10

2
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, claiming the benefit of this 
law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance,  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.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory or District of County of
County of 
} ss.

On this           day of      personally appeared (a) before A.B. . a resident (b) of    
in the county of
and State, Territory or District of     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 [sic] made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)    , with     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 entered 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.
A. B.
[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.
I        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.
I,      Clerk of the Court of     do hereby certify 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, this      day of     & c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if 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 11

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 troups, 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 ou lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4.  How were you called into service; were you drafed, 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.
6.  To a Soldier:  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whome was it given and what has become of it?
      To an Officer:  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 ther 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 an 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 in 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 if 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 operform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the  signature annexed is his genuine 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.
                  ________________________________________

(a) 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.
(b)  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.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d)  The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
(e)  Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactoery 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 Pease, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth, 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 the best of his recollection,  he served not less that the periods mentioned below, and the the following grades:  ______ For____ year________ months, and ______________
days, I served as a ___________________, For __________ months and _____________ days, I served as a _________________________; and 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.
(f)  The law makes the relinquishment indespensable.
(g)  The opinion of the Court is always reqiuired.
(h)  The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i)   The Clerk must fix his seal, and if it has not device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the 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
(j)  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 witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
        The notes from (a) to (illegible) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k)  This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(l)   If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
(m)  The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department,  with the declaration....
Page 12

O.W. and N. Division 3-525.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
J.S.C. 
Sur. File 31,711
Rev. War.

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of David Griffin, signed & pens as Griffing - a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Dates of Enlistment of Appointment Southhold L.I.  Feby 28, 76
Length of Service. 9 mos 20 days
Rank. Fifer
Offices Under Whom Service was Rendered.  Captain [illegible] father Daniel Griffin*
Colonel. James Clinton 
State. NY
Battles engaged in, 
Residence of soldier at enlistment
Date of Application for pension, Sept. 10, 1832
Residence at date of applicable, Killingsworth, Conn.
Age at date of applicable, B. Southold, L.I. December 23, 1762
Remarks: *Daniel Griffin [illegible] file 37,036.

Very respectfully,

[blank] Commissioner.
Page 13

31711 Revy [Revolutionary] INVALID
File No. 31, 711
Davis Griffing
Fifer Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. 2, page 165
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1906 Sept. 10. History to letter
Mrs. H. C. Perr - Rec. [illegible]
Page 14

To the Hon. Mr. Edwards
Sir-To the annexed application of David Griffin the objections are-
II-Uncertainty as to [illegible] place, officers &c
This objection it is believed, is answered, by the
supplemental declaration of the applicant
accompanying these papers, in which he makes
his term of service, in all, Nine Months & 20 days
III The papers not sufficiently attached together & This objection is also, [illegible], as will be seen
Please send the certificate to me at Say Brook
Connecticut.

Your obedient Servant-
Samuel Ingham
Sept. 25th, 1833.
Page 15

State of Connecticut - Hartford County 

On the 18th day of June 1831 - before me Samuel a Justice of the New York for Hartford County and State personally offered Rufus Prime of Burlington in said county a witness of good character and entitled to credit and being duly sworn according to law does on oath declare and say that is well acquainted with David Griffing now of Killingworth in Middlesex County and state of Connecticut that in the month of 1776 the said Griffing was a  fifer in the company command-ed by Capt Daniel Griffing in Col. James Clintons Regiment that the said David served in said company on Long Island and Saybrook during said year that he the deponent was during said time a private in said company, and was discharged and left the same on the 14th day of March 1777. 
Rufus Paine

Sworn, declared and signed before me on the day and year first affirmed
Samuel Whitman Justice of peace

State of Connecticut Hartford County ss.
I hereby certify that Samuel Whitman whose name is subscribed [blank space] Certificate was on the 8" Day of June 1831 a [blank space] ce [Justice] of the Peace for sd [said] County duly Commissi [blank space] ature of sd [said] Whitman is genuine & full faith [blank space] to be given to his official acts - In testim [blank space] I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the County Courts for sd [said] County and subscribed my name at Hartford this 19h Day of October AD 1831 -
Walter Mitchell Assist. Clerk
Page 16

War Department
Pension Office
May 31. 1831.

Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 25th
instant, I have to inform you that David
Griffing in order to bring this case properly
before this Department must make a declaration according to law, and produce such
other evidence as the enclosed printed
sheet directs. No decision can be had until
the necessary proof shall have been presented here. If he cannot obtain such testimony respecting his service as the enclosed
printed rules require, let him exhibit such
as he can procure; and should it be found
satisfactory, a pension will be granted.
I am, respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
J.L. Edwards

Ely A. Elliott, Esqr
Killingworth
Connecticut
Page 17

I Richard Williams clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Say Brooke County of Middlesex & State of Connecticut, do hereby certify, that the within [illegible] foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of David Griffin for a pension [illegible] also of his [illegible] application under date of [illegible]
July 1833 = explanitory of the first_
[illegible] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 6th day of August AD 1833_
Richd [Richard] P Williams   clerk