Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10655, George Townley, New Jersey Residence
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Townley, George
New Jersey Residence
Number R10655
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New Jersey
Revo.
Act 7 June 1832
George Townley
Suspended
10655
Letter to Hon. L. Condict
Nov. 30, 1833
Papers enclosed to Hon. L. Condict, Nov. 10, 1836
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10,655
George Townley
Rejected
N.J.
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Geo. Townley
Somerset, N.J.
Act of 7th June 1832
Amended

Suspended

Papers enclosed to Hon. L. Condict Nov. 10 1836 (as shown on jacket)
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of George Townley which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes.

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes.

V.  Has he mentioned 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?  Yes.

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, is conformity with the regulations?  Yes.

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to say other pension than the under the act of June 7, 1832?  Yes.

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes.

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes.

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  Yes.
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XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  No clergyman certificate -- witnesses

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  Yes.

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  Witness.

XIV.  If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?  If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  No.  Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  Yes.

XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  No.

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  No.

                       EXPLANATORY NOTE
QUERE V.   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, 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.
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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 they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the name of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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. 

QUERE. XIV.  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 claimants 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 b certified by the proper officer, under his deal of office.

QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written n the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper 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.

In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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Name
Townley, Henry

Grade
Private

Line
Maryland

Warrant number 
11757

Acreage 
100

Issued
August 19, 1791
to ---- not shown -----