Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9563, for John Sidman, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE   Penn.
Sidman, John
NUMBER  R.9563
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State of New York 
Rockland County }ss
On this twenty seventh day of November - in the year A.D. 1832. personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the court of Common Pleas now sitting. John Sidman, a resident of the town of Ramapo, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, aged Seventy two years the twenty fifth day of March 1832, 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 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 in the month of May, 1777 he entered the service at East town in the State of Pennsylvania as a servant to General Sullivan in the Indian campaign, and served in that capacity with out any intermission for two years and nine months and was with him in all his different movements during the aforesaid time, that he has no documentary evidence of his aforesaid services, and the only persons that he can offer to prove his service is David Gordon whose affidavit is hereunto annexed, that he has always resided in the now town of Ramapo aforesaid. 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. sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court
John Sidman 
David Pye Clerk 
State of New York 
Rockland County } ss 
On this twenty seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common pleas now sitting at the town of Clarkstown, in said County, David Gordon, a resident of the Town of Monroe in the County of Orange aged seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, on his oath doth depose and say, that he was well acquainted with John Sidman who has sworn to and Subscribed to the above declaration in the Revolutionary war, that he know that the said John Sidman was in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war that he was with General Sullivan in the Indian Compain as is stated in the above declaration that he knows him to have been in service for six months, at one time and as to any further time cannot say positively that in the six months mentioned this deponent was in the service with him. That he has known and is well acquainted with the said John Sidman ever since the Revolutionary War , as well as in said war, and that he the
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I, David Pye Clerk of the County of Rockland, hereby certify that said John Sidman has always maintained a good character and that his Oath is entitled to credit 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court. 
David Pye Clerk 
David Gordon his mark    
We Edward Suffern Esq and Henry H. Bush residents of the town of Ramapo being first duly sworn, do depose and say that they have been personally acquainted with John Sidman for thirty years that the said John Sidman has always born a good reputation and that his oath is entitled to credit. 
Edward Suffern
Henry H. Bush
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court 
David Pye Clerk 
I James Sherwood, a Clergiman residing in the town of Ramapo aforesaid, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Sidman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that I believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that I concur in that opinion
James Sherwood
Sworn to and subscribed day and year aforesaid open Court- 
David Pye Clerk 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of 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 they are personally acquainted with James Sherwood who has signed the preceeding certificate, know him to be a Clergyman residing in the town of Ramapo afore said - also with David Gordon, Edward Suffern Esqr (first Judge) and Henry H Bush who have also signed the preceeding certificates, and verily believe that they are credible persons and that their statements is entitled to credit. The said court also hereby Certify, that all the above preceding were in open Court     Per Curiam
Declaration of John Sidman
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David Pye Clerk
I David Pye, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County aforesaid Do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Sidman for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this twenty seventh day of November, 1832. 
David Pye
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Declaration of John Sidman
21393
Corn. J. Blauvelt
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State of New York 
Rockland County}   On this eighteenth day of July, 1833. personally appeared before me Daniel Johnson, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County. John Sidman, the person who has sworn and subscribed the annexed declaration, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following amendment to his declaration. That he was born in the now town of Ramapo, in said county the twenty fifth day of March 1761 as appears by the record thereof in the family Bible of his father now in his possession (he was one year wrong in the time set forth in his declaration) that he by the consent of his father did Volunteer his service, that he did not receive a written discharge when he left the service. That Major Barber was one of the Aids De Camps and his Brother Coln Barber was a Coln of one of the regiments and a Genl Daton and A Coln Ogden all were in company with Gen Sullivan, that he was attached to the army at the same time,  moved through Easton Wyomiey [Wyoming] and Tioga was assisting to cut a road through the woods and Swamp between Easton & Wyomiey 60 Miles and was in the engagement at Newtown.  That by reason of old age, and the loss of memory, he is now unable to state more particular by the different places he did march through, and that he is now unable to offer any other proof of his services as he does not know of any other person living that was with him during his term of service which he can only again swear were actually performed – 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me 
John Sidman 
Daniel Johnson Judge 
I certify that on the twenty seventh day of November last at the Court of Common pleas the Interrogatories prescribed by the war department was all put to the said John Sidman and by him satisfactorily answered of which Court I was one of the Judges 
Daniel Johnson Judge 
We the undersigned also Judges at the said Court, hereby certify that the Interrogatories prescribed by the war department, were all put and satisfactorily answered as above certified Edward Suffern 
Daniel Johnson 
Corn. J. Blauvelt
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I David Pye Clerk of the County of Rockland, hereby certify, That Daniel Johnson Esq. who has taken the deposition of John Sidman the applicant to his amended declaration, was on the day of the date thereof, one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Rockland, Commissioned and sworn, and duly authorised to take depositions and acknowledgments and he with Edward Suffern, Cornelius J Blauvelt, and Peter D Smith (now out of office) Esqr were the only Judges who held the Court of Common Pleas, on the twenty seventh day of November 1832 and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judges and verily believe that their respective signatures subscribed to the preceeding deposition and certificate, is genuine, and that the papers of John Sidman are in the same condition in which they passed the Court on the said 27th day of November 1832, and that the amended declaration is now annexed 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirty first day of July 1833 
David Pye
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No. 21.393
John Sidman
Rockland County
New York
9563
e.m.
Rejected
David Pye Agt.
Clarkstown P.O.
Rockland Co.
N Y
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Pension Office, 
May 28 1833 
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. These 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 John Sidman Rockland County New York 
Period when the service was rendered.   Ent’d 1777  Duration of the claimant's service  2 Years 9 Months   Rank of the claimant.   Servant    Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.    Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. General Sullivan    
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.    Country through which he marched.    Indian Campaign,  Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present    72 Years   Eastown Pennsylvania   Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Living Witness & Traditionary   
I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant 
J. L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions 
It cannot be readily admitted that the above allegations of service are insusceptible of further proof & claimants are required by the regulations to produce the best evidence in their power.
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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, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in stance, 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) 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 that of 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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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
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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.           
6. To a Soldier. { 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 Town officer 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. 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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 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 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---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as 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 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 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 wife nesses, 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 [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.          
Daniel D. Davidson Exam Clerk
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Revolutionary Claim heir of 
John Sidman
New York
Filed 10 March 1833
F. E. Hassler
Washington
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POWER OF ATTORNEY 
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or Heirs of  Revolutionary Pensioners, 
STATE OF New York 
COUNTY OF  Onondaga}  
Be it known that before me    Joseph Hoag   Justice of the Peace may appeared Elizabeth Vanover aged 55 years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that the heir of John Sidnam who was a Revolutionary Souldier in the State of New York and that he died on the fifteenth day of April 1837 and that her mother, named Mariah Sidnam in the Ninth day of August 1837 and that they were married on the First day of March in the year 1779 and that they were residents of Montgomery  in the State of New York and that they resided there Eighty three  years, and that she resides in Madison County NY and that furthermore she BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints, and fully empowers and authorizes, irrevocably and with powers of substitution, F. E. HASSLER, of Washington City, D. C., as her true and lawful Attorney for her and in his name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U.S. Government and State officers rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of pension or land, that may be her as daughter of John Sidman who died leaving the same undrawn, in right of law she may be entitled. 
In Witness Whereof, She has on the 25th day February 1853 hereunto signed her name, and affixed her seal 
Elizabeth Vanover her mark [seal]   
Witness: 
Witness:  
Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me; and I further certify, that Elizabeth Vanover   has always by the community been known as the Daughter John Sidman   
Dated on this 25 day of February 1853 
Joseph Hoag  J.P.
State of New York County of Onondaga   
I hereby Certify, that Joseph Hoag Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgment were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Courts of said County this 28th day of Feby one thousand eight hundred and fifty three
Barnard Slocum Clerk   
If a widow applies, state the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband." 
State under what act pensioned, or when pension commenced, if a pensioner - amount of pension
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Revo.
John Sidman
New York
Suspended Act 7 Jan '32
Letter 26 Oct 1833
D. Pye
Let to Hon J. Cass
Apl to 1840
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9,563
John Sidman
REJECTED
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 
Form VAM-51 
12-5-41 
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
NAME   Sidney Joseph   GRADE  Private   LINE  Maryland
WARRANT NUMBER  11726    ACREAGE.  100   ISSUED  November 29, 1790 to Jeremiah Mudd, admr 
The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.