Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22950, for Clark Rice, Vermont
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Vt.

Rice, Clark

NUMBER
S.22950

CONTENTS
Page 2

29673
New York
Clark Rice
Jackfon in the State of N York
who was a pri in the compy commanded
Captain Blakeley in the regt commanded
Col. Fletcher in the New York [New York crossed off] Vermont
for 7 mo.

Inscribed on the Roll on New York
the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension ifsued the 26 day of Jany
1835 and sent to
J P. Putnam Cambridge

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 34 81.65
Semi-ani. allowance ending 4 Mar 11.66
===========================
$93.31
=====
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Geo Wm Crump Clerk,
Book E.2 Yol. 4 Page 61.
Page 3

No 21890
Clark Rice
Washington Co
NY

claimants age not objective
by the commifsioner

[illegible]
Admitted
Private 7 months

Early attention is solicited to the reperusal of these papers

John P Putnam
Cambridge
Washington Co
NY
Page 4

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 necefsary 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 Clark Rice Washington Co. NY

Period when the service was rendered.
March 1781

Duration of the claimant's service
Years.
-
Months.
9
Days
-

Rank of the claimant.
Private

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Capt Blakely
Col Fletcher

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
65 years
Guildford
Windham Co
Vermt

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Witnefs before a Court stated but no credibility of the witnefs stated by the Court no traditional evidence given.

I am, repectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

+[statement illegible]
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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, mucicians 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} 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 provision 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 names 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. [Right pointing hand symbol] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, name, &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 the 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 opinions.
Sworn and subscribed the days 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 the 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 threw 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
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 your 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.
6. {To a Solider. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom 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 the 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 of 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, atttend 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 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 many 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 satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be hand. 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 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 than the periods mentioned below, and in 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 indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) the Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i) The Clerk must affix 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 public seal 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.
(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.
(Right pointing hand symbol) The notes from (a) to (i) 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.
John N Ashton
* The 'Mode of authenticating papers.' paragraph has a brace ( } ) on the right side of it.
** In the 'Proof of Service.' paragraph, the statement, 'The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility...' has a brace ( } ) on the right side of it.
*** Rule (k) has a brace ( } ) on the right side of it.
Page 7

In the matter of
Clark Rice
Declaration

21890

7 mo
Page 8

State of New York
Washington County fs}
On this third day of September 1832 
personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas at the courthouse in the town of Salem in said county now setting Clark Rice a resident of the town of Jackson in the County of Washington and State of New York aged sixty five 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 Congrefs pafsed June seventh 1832 -
That he was born in Winchester in the County of Hillsborough he thinks and State of New Hampshire the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty six -
That he has no record of his age and knows only by information derived from his parents & others -
That he lived when called into the military service in the war of the Revolution in the town of Guilford county of Windham (he thinks) and State of Vermont. That since the revolution he has lived in the said town of Jackson (formerly a part of the town of Cambridge) and lives there now -
That he was called into service by enlistment in the said town of Guilford (the engagement being made by his father he being a minor) in Captain Blakeleys company of State troops (he believes) and in Colonel Samual Fletchers regiment he believes in the month of March 1701 - That the said regiment was forthwith ordered to Castleton county of Rutland and State of Vermont. That he marched to that place and was stationed there till the end of nine months the term for which he originally enlisted and after he had served the said term of nine months he was verbally discharged - And that he never received any discharge in writing for said services - That there was only the aforesaid regiment stationed there at the time and no continental officer with them that he remembers -
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That he has no documentary evidence of his said service - That there is no clergyman in his neighborhood who can certify as requested by the act on account of the shortnefs of their residence in the town -
He 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 - 
Clark Rice
Subscribed & sworn the day and year aforesaid
J. S. Leigh Clk
And that this court do hereby declare thence 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 -
I Jefse S. Leigh Clerk of the said Court of Common Pleas for the said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Clark Rice for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of my office this twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two -
J. S. Leigh Clk
Page 10

State of New York
Washington County fs}
Moses Durkee of the Town of Whitehall (formally part of the Town on Cambridge) County of Washington and State of New York being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Clark Rice of the Town of Jackson County + State aforesaid and believes that the said Clark Rice is sixty five years of age -
That he knew the said Clark Rice when a soldier in the war of the Revolution. That the said Rice enlisted as the deponent believes in Guilford County of Windham and State of Vermont in March in the year 1781 into a company commanded by Captain --- Blakeley - That the said Clark Rice was enlisted for nine months - That he (the deponent) enlisted the same month into a company of State troops commanded by Captain Samuel Stark and in the same regiment with Captain Blakeley's company - That the said deponent was under the command of Colonel Samuel Fletcher of Jamaica Vermont - That the said regiment was immediately ordered to Castleton county of Rutland + State of Vermont - That they marched to that place and were stationed there the rest of the nine months - That this deponent was then in said service during the said term, knows that the said Clark Rice was there in said Blakeleys company saw him there frequently during the said term and has no doubt that the said Clark Rice actually served the said term of nine months in said Blakeleys company
Moses Durkee
Subscribed and sworn the 3d day of September 1832 in open court
J. S. Leigh Clk
Also sworn the 2 day of July 1833 before me John P Putnam a Justice of the peace
Page 11

I John P. Putnam a Justice of the peace for the town of White Creek County of Washington State of New York do hereby certify that I am acquainted with Moses Durkee who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit and that he is a credible person and his statement is intitled to credit
John P Putnam Justice of the peace
Page 12

In the matter of
Clark Rice

21890

Moses Durkee

[illegible 1st line]
these papers
for 
John P. Putnam
Page 13

We Samuel Rice residing in the town of Jackson county of Washington + State of New York and Clark Rice Junior of the town of White Creek County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Clark Rice who has subscribed and sworn to the above + annexed declaration - That we believe him to be sixty six 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
Samuel Rice
Clark Rice Jr
Sworn the 27th day of June 1833 before one John P Putnam Justice of the peace -
And I do also certify that Samuel Rice + Clark Rice Junior who have signed and sworn to the foregoing certificate are well known to me and are credible persons and there statement is intitled to credit -
Dated June 27th 1833 John P Putnam Justice of the peace


Washinton County
Surrogates office }fs I John Willard Surrogate of the said county do certify that I am well acquainted with John P. Putnam whose signature appears above, and that the said John P. Putnam is a justice of the peace of White Creek in the said county. And I also certify that it appears to my satisfaction that Moses Durkee who swore to the annexed affidavit is a man of truth + that his statement is entitled to credit. In witnefs whereof I have this 27 June 1833 signed my name, and affixed my seal of office to the [illegible] of the ribbon by which these papers are bound together.
John Willard
Page 14

Revolution

22950
INVALID.

File No. 22905
Clark Rice
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7 32
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 339
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

New York
Clark Rice

Admitted
Certificate withheld
Circulen endorsed to
J P Putnam Esqr
January 12th 183?
Page 16

Washington County fs - Moses Durkee being duly sworn says that he knew Clark Rice now of Jackson County of Washington + State of New York in the war of the Revolution and that he the said Clark Rice served nine months during said war in Col. Samuel Fletchers Regiment in Captain Blakeleys company + that during said nine months service said Rice was stationed at Castleton now County of Rutland + State of Vermont. That said Rice was at that time as large and able bodied as young men generally are at the age of eighteen years - That his family are generally very large stout athletic men and that the said Clark Rice is now a man weighting two hundred pounds or upward to the last of this deponents judgment - And further saith not
Moses Durkee
Subscribed and Sworn in open court this 3d day of September 1834
J. S. Leigh Clk
Washington County fs Clark Rice being duly sworn says that he is the same person of that name applying for a pension from the Town of Jackson County of Washington and State of New York and this deponent further saith that he enlisted in a company commanded by Captain Blakely in the town of Guilford now county of Windham + State of Vermont at the instance or by the consent of his Father when this deponent was not quite fifteen years of age according to the last information of this deponent - That shortly after said enlistment this deponent with the other members of said company were afsembled at a M. Hamptons tavern in Guilford aforesaid for the purpose of passing muster - That this deponent was then + there examined
Page 17

according to the then regulations of the army as he supposed though he does not rember that he was asked his age but that in size he was found to be above the then standard and he pafsed muster as it was then termed and with the rest of the company ordered forthwith to march for Castleton in the now county of Rutland Vermont provided with a nap sack blankets three days provision and musket power horn and other equipments necessary to be fully armed and equipped - That being provided with all these things he shouldered his mess kit nap sack +c and marched through the woods from Guilford to Bennington county of Bennington + State of Vermont a distance of forty miles in lefs than two days. There he rested only one night and marched thence to Castleton as distance of sixty miles principally through the woods in three days - That during said march this deponent carried said equipments and performed the march as well as any other man of the company - That the next-day or next-but once after he arrived at Castleton he was first on duty and during nine months there often performed his regular terms of camp duty scouting and any other which were required and that there was no distinction during said term made between this deponent and the other members of said company and in favour of this deponent on account of his age - And this deponent further saith that his common weight for thirty years or more past has been two hundred and forty - and that at the time of the enlistment and service above specified he this deponent was in size + strength full equal to that of the average sire + strength of lads from sixteen to eighteen years of age - That all the family of this deponent are very large that three of his brothers of whom this deponent was once happened to meet a few years since in the deponents neighborhood and were weighed one weighted two hundred + forty another (this deponent) two hundred and forty one and the third two hundred and eighty five making seven hundred and sixty six pounds And this deponent further saith that while he was at
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Castleton in service as aforesaid the ability of him the deponent to perform his full share of all kinds of duty required of said company was never questioned by any officer of the regiment to the knowledge or belief of this deponent
Clark Rice
Subscribed + Sworn the 3d day of September 1834 in open court
J. S. Leigh Clk
Page 19

State of New York
Washington County fs}
In Washington Common Pleas
September 3d 1834
On this third day of September 1834 personally appeared in open court Clark Rice and Moses Durkee and respectively subscribed + sworn to the foregoing affidavits by them respectively signed and the said court do hereby declares their opinion after investigating the matter and being duly certified relative thereto that the said Clark Rice and Moses Durkee are both resident in the town of Jackson in said county of Washington and that they are each of them credible persons and that there statement is intitled to credit -
I Jefse S. Leigh Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in + for the County of Washington and State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing affidavits were sworn to and the foregoing supplement of proceedings were had in said court in the matter of the application of Clark Rice for a pension and that I have this day fastened or connected these papers at the top with red tape and placed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said county [illegible]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said county this 3d day of September 1834. J. S. Leigh Clk