Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23267, Ruel Hooker, Mass. Vt.
Page 1

SERVICE
Mass. [Massachusetts]
Vt. [Vermont]

Hooker, Ruel
or
Hooker, Reuel

NUMBER
S.23267
Page 2

Utica 24.449 [illegible]
Ruel Hooker
of Utica in the State of New York 
who was a private in  the company commanded by Captain Fletcher of the Regt commanded by Col. [Colonel] Jackson on the [illegible]  time for 18 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of Utica
at the rate of 60 dollars 00 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Dec.
1833 and sent to Hon. S. Beardsley H Repr

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 - $150.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 March 34 - $30.00
                                                         $180.00 
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 4 Page 3
Page 3

1924
Ruel Hooker

Not found on [Colonel] Jacksons Regt


Hon. S. Beardsley
Page 4

Brief in the case of Ruel Hooker 
of Utica in the State of New York
 (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Open Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?  Nearly 72 years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. 
Early in the summer.

Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days
 In 1777 drafted about 8 months

Rank.   
As a
Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen. [blank]
Capt. Sam Fletcher, Vermont 
States that, in the following summer, he enlisted in the Mass [superscript: tts] [Massachussets] in the Continental line in Col. [Colonel] Henry Jacksons Regt [Regiment] for one year, that after being in that Service for some time, he volunteered to take charge of,  drive the artillery horses of the French Army, and that he continued in that service under two enlistments of one year each.   
Officers, Major Duplesake, Capt. [Captain] Rovert [Rovart] states that, he was afterwards drafted for 9 months went to West Point, & [and] was placed in the Commissary Dept. [Department] under Commissaries Lord & [and] Stevens - was discharged on raising [receiving] intelligence of the surrender of Cornwallis in 1787.

5. In what battles was he engaged? None stated

6. Where did he reside when he entered the services? Putney - State of Vermont

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses,  by documentary proof,  by traditionary evidence, by  incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence alone

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
they are not properly attached

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Wm. [William] Gordon, Examining Clerk
Page 5

In the matter of the application of Ruel Hooker for a pension.

No. 1924.

3d [2nd?] declaration sent to L Beardsley Esq. Dec. 4th 1832

See letter 17 Nov. '32 [1832] to James Dean do. 22 Jany [January] & [and] July '33 [1833]
Page 6

State of New York
County of Oneida,

On the eleventh day of 'August 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable Nathan Williams, Vice Chancellor of the fifth circuit of the state of New York in the 
court of Chancery(?) now sitting, Ruel Hooker, a resident of the city of Utica in the county of Oneida & State of New York, aged nearly seventy-two years, who being 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. 

Early in the summer of 1777, shortly before the evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga, on the approach of General Burgoyne, he was drafted at Putney in the State of Vermont as a militia man, and marched for Ticonderoga under the command of Captain Samuel Fletcher, Eli Holbrook being his Lieutenant : that before reaching Ticonderoga, that
Page 7

Fort was evacuated by the American forces
and this declarant with the company
to which he belonged under the command 
of Captain Fletcher aforesaid
retreated before the British Army
commanded by General Burgoyne
to Stillwater: that he remained at
Stillwater until after the surrender
of General Burgoyne aforesaid to
General Gates of the American Army
that from Stillwater aforesaid be
marched as one of the guard of the
British Prisoners of War, under the
command of Lieut. Foot of the regular 
service to Rutland in the county 
of Worcester & State of Massachusetts
that the remained in Rutland doing
duty as one of the guard aforesaid
until the said prisoners of war were
permitted, as it was then said, by order
of Congress, to go at large on the parole
 honor: that he was then dismissed
from the service of the United States
as a militia man, it being as nearly as
this declarant can now recollect in the winter after
he was drafted as aforesaid, and as he thinks
Page 8

about eight months
about eight months after he was so drafted.
that in the following summer, and the
thinks in the month of July he enlisted
at Boston in the State of Massachusetts
in the regular Continental service into
the Regiment commanded by Col
Henry Jackson, for the time of one year
that some time after enlisting he marched
with the Regiment aforesaid to the Island of
Rhode Island in the State of Rhode
Island; that he remained on the said Isle
and doing duty as a private in Jackson's
Regiment aforesaid until the arrival of
Court Rochambeau with a French Army up
on the Island, when a request being
sent by Court Rochambeau to Col. Jackson 
as it was then said that he would furnish a number
of men to drive & take charge of the
Artillery horses belonging to the French
Army aforesaid this declarant among others
volunteered to go upon that service
and remained in it, under two successive
enlistments of our year each serving two
years: that the name of his Colonel while
serving in the French Army he does not
recollect his major's name was Duplice
his Captain's name Robert his orderly
Sergeant Dumond
Page 9

this declarant further says, that shortly 
after he entered the last above mentioned
service. General Washington, accompanied
by General La Fayette came upon the
Island aforesaid, and received the
French forces then stationed there:
that he then saw General Washington
for the first time, the he afterwards
saw him repeatedly: that shortly
after this review the French forces
aforesaid marched out of their 
encampment a distance of about two
miles as nearly as he can judge &
went [illegible] ***** the Reca* of a sham
fight: that while he was in the last 
mentioned service he well recollects
that the admiral or some other principal officer of the French Fleet
then lying in the harbor of Rhode
Island died on board his ship and
that his body was bro't (brought) ashore &
there buried with the honors of war.
This declarant further says that when
his last mentioned term of enlistment
in the service last aforesaid expired
which he thinks was in the Summer
Page 10

that while he was thus employed as last
aforesaid Lord Cornwallis with the British
forces under his command surrendered
to General Washington & others at Yorktown 
that immediately after the intelligence
of such surrender reached West
Point he assisted in removing the chain
which had been stretched across the
Hudson River at that place to prevent
the passing of the British Shipping up
the said River, and was immediately
thereafter dismissed from the service

this declarant further says, that when
he first entered the United States service
detailed above he was under seventeen 
years of age and almost wholly
within education: that he kept no
memoranda or notes of any sort,
during any of the periods of his service 
aforesaid and at this distant time
cannot recollect the particular day or
even month of his entering in any
of the periods of service above 
specified or of his discharge therefrom
that he never received any written 
discharge from his commanding officer
Page 11

fall of 1780, he repaired to Boston in
the State of Massachusetts and that
on the intelligence of General Arnold's
treason at West Point reaching that 
place he this declarant was again
drafted at Boston aforesaid to serve a Bond as a militia man in
the service of the United States for
the time of nine months and was
immediately ordered & marched
to West Point in the State of New York:
that in the service last aforesaid he was
not arranged into or attached to any
Regiment or Company but immediately on 
his arriving at West Point was placed
in the Commissary Department under
Commissaries Lord & Stevens &
was employed in conveying by boats
provisions & other military stores 
between West Point aforesaid & Stony
Point a few miles below and other
places in the vicinity: that while thus
employed in boating as aforesaid he 
very often saw Lord Sterling
who had the command of the American forces 
lying at Gallows Hill, a few miles below
West Point on the East side of the Hudson
Page 12

he has no record of his age and that
there is none to his knowledge in 
existence:- that he was living at Putney
in the State of Vermont when as he
has above stated, he was first called
into the service: that on finally
leaving the service he returned to his
father's in Putney in Vermont where
he was first drafted. that he remained in
that town until about 27 or 28
years since, when he removed to
Luzerne in Warren County in
the State of New York: from thence
he remained 18 or 20 years since
to Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County,
New York from thence he removed
to Lumberland in Sullivan County
New York, thence to New Hartford,
in Oneida County, New York: thence
for a few months to Oaksville in
Otsego County and thence about
five years since to Utica in Oneida
County, where he now resides
as aforesaid
this declarant further says that he
is known to the Rev'd Dolphus Skinner 
a clergyman in the city of Utica aforesaid
Page 13

but when the time
for which he was drafted
in enlisted as the cash
be expired he was uniformly dismissed
 by Parol that since his
last dismission from the service afore
said which took place
at West Point
shortly after the surrender of Lord
Cornwallis as above stated
he has ever lived in observity
and being poor and very little known
that he does not
know that a single individual of
his comrades in the war of the Revolution
or any other person who at the
present time of their
knew the facts or any of
thou regarding his serving in that
war which he has above stated is
now living that he has no documentary
 evidence of his service whatsoever.
and not only does he know of no person
whose testimony to such service he can account but he knows of no person
as he has above stated, who can
testify to the same: that as he has always
understood from his parents & other
he was born at Dunfield
in the State
Massachusetts, in the year 1760: that
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and also to James Dean, Levi Cozzins,  Kellogg Huntback, Lawrence Morgan. I moving thus, of the same city, who can testify as to his character for veracity, and this belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.

This declarant also hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Role of the Agency of any State.

Ruel Hooker

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
N. Williams, Vice Chancellor

We, Dolphus Skinner a  clerk (unknown word) residing in the city of Utica and Lawrence Morgan residing in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ruel Hooker, who has subscribed & sworn to
Page 15

the above declaration; that we believe
him to be about seventy two years of
age: that he is reputed & believed, in
the neighborhood where he resides to have
been a solder of the Revolution, and
that we concur in that opinion.
---
sworn & subscribed         Dolphus Skinner
the day & year aforesaid ⎬ Lawrence Morgan
N. Williams
[illegible]

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 certify that it appears
to them that Dolphus Skinner
who has signed the preceding certificate, 
is a Clergyman, resident in
Page 16

the city of Utica aforesaid, and that Lawrence Morgan, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same city, and is a credible person, and that this statement is entitled to credit.

N Williams
Vice Chancl.

I, James Watson Williams, Clerk of the Court of Chancery for the Fifth Circuit of the State of New York, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Ruel Hooker for a pension.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
J. Watson Williams:
Clerk in Chancery
5th Circuit.
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Revolution 23264
INVALID.
File No. 23267

Ruel Hooker
Pri Rev War
Vol.
June 7" 32
Index: Vol. 2, Page -190
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

New York
Revo:
Ruel Hooker
Adm
Rejected [crossed out]
Col.  A. Dean 8 July 33
Act of June '32
Page 19

In the matter of the claim
of Ruel Hooker to a penson
under the law of the
United States of June 7, 1832.
State of New York,
County of Oneida ⎬
Ruel Hooker above
named being duly sworn deposes & says
that he has received information from the
Pension Office of the War Department, that
his claim above mentioned, has been disallowed
on the ground of the discrepancies &
continuations between his first & second 
declarations and also because the rolls disprove
his alleged service in '78 in Jackson's
Mass Regiment, - this deponent further
says, that in consequence of a severe attack
of paralysis with which he was visited about
eight years since, and also of his advanced 
age; his memory has been thus 
been for several years past very weak;
and his recollection of times & scenes Seventy
Page 20

long since gone by & past, tho not entirely
obliterated is yet from the same causes
very indistinct & faint. - this deponent
further says, that he has no opportunity of
conversing with any of his comrades of the
Revolution and thus reviving & refreshing his
recollection of the events & transactions of that
period, nor does he know that any one of
them is now living nor has he conversed 
with any one of them for many years past:
that in making out his first declaration
aforesaid he had no reliance on any thing
except his own frail & shattered memory;
and that from conversations had by him
subsequently to the [illegible] out of that
declaration with some of his own children
particularly his eldest daughter aged
about forty six years in which conversations 
time his said children spoke of things
& of occurences of which they said he
had told them many years since when
his memory was vigorous &  his health was
Page 21

impaired he is well satisfied that that
declaration is somewhat [illegible] in some of
the particulars contained in it, and is also
defective in as much as it does not contain
some particulars which ought to have been
at forth in it. - This deponent further says
that the conversation aforesaid with his said children 
& particularly his said eldest daughter in
which they spoke of things & occurrences which
from the lapse of time & defect of memory he had
forgotten, revived his recollection of them &
brought them fresh to mind; and that in making 
out his second and corrected declaration
he relied not on what his said children told
him, but on his own recollection of the events
transactions thus brot back to his mind as 
aforesaid; and that he set forth nothing in the
said second declaration which he did not
at the time of making it & does not at this
time as he thinks clearly recollected.  this
deponent further says that he thinks the Christian
name of Col. Jackson mentioned in
Page 22

his aforesaid declaration was Henry, that he
enlisted in his regiment as stated in his several
declaration early in the year 1780, and can only 
account for his name not appearing in the
rolls of that regiment from the fact that he
was [illegible] enlisted with the regiment, but before
it was fully organized withdrew from
it by Col Jackson's consent to enter the
service of the French as stated in his said
declarations. -- this deponent further says
that for the reasons given in his said declarations
& not fully in the first, he cannot
offer and direct & conclusive proof in support 
of his said declarations or either of them
and further this deponent says not
Ruel Hooker
Subscribed & sworn
this 2d Decr 1877 before me
E. J. Barnum Com of Deeds  ⎬

State of New York
County of Oneida
I Fanny Ripley of the 
City of Utica in the said County, being due
Page 23

duly sworn deposes & says, that she is the
daughter of Ruel Hooker above named
that she is about forty six years of age,
that for most of the time during the last
three years he has lived in the same
family with the said Ruel: that she
has been informed & believes that the same
Ruel had a severe attack of paralysis
about eight years since; that his memory
during the last three years as she knows
from her own observation throughout that time
has been weak & defective and his recollection 
of part events indistinct & confused
this deponent further says that in her
childhood & youth he often heard her
said father speak that of his tours of
service in the Revolutionary war, and state
with minutest memory transactions of
that period in which he alleged that he
bore a part and that his memory appeared
and at that time to be strong and [illegible]
Page 24

-tive, and his recollection of the times &
events of the Revolution quick & vivid.
this deponent further says, that for several
years previously to the last three years
he did not personally know the State of
her father's memory & recollection
but that during the last three years, his memory
& his other faculties and seemed to be
in some measure benumbed, and he
conversed in the family but little on any
topic whatever
And further this deponent says not
Fanny Ripley

subscribed & Sworn this
2 Decr 1833 before me
E. S. Barnum Comr of Deeds

State of New York
County of Oneida
.
William Tallman of
Utica aforesaid being duly sworn deposes
and says, that he has been well acquaint
Page 25

with the above named Ruel Hooker
during the last three years, and that
he concurs with Fanny Ripley above
named in her foregoing statements
reputing the memory and recollection of the
said Ruel during that time
and further this deponent says not
William P. Tallman
Subscribed & sworn this
2nd Decr 1833, before an
E. S. Barnum Comr of Deeds

State of New York
County of Oneida
Rosana Tallman of
Utica aforesaid being duly sworn depose 
& says that she is the daughter of the
above named Ruel Hooker, and is about
thirty four years of age  --- that eight years
in the said Ruel suffered a severe
attack of paralysis, and that his memory
Page 26

has been since weak & his recollection 
confused. This deponent further says, that
in former years she has often heard her
said father speak of different tours of
service which he said he performed in the
Revolutionary war, and of various transactions 
& services of the same period in which
he alleged that he bore a part, and 
that when accounting these things his recollection 
appeared timely & clear and his memory 
sound & good. This deponent further
says, that since he suffered the attack of paralysis
as above stated his memory & also his other 
functions seem to have lost their activity
and he converses very little on any topic whatever 
this deponent further says that she has
lived in the same family or vicinity
with her said father for most of the time
during her whole life
and further this deponent says not
Roxana Tallman

Subscribed and sworn this
2 Decr 1833 before me
E. S. Barnum Com of Deeds
Page 27

Clerk's Office Oneida County
I George Brown, Clerk of the said
County, hereby certify, that Ezra S.
Barnum whose name is subscribed to
the Jurats of the foregoing affidavits
of Ruel Hooker, Fanny Ripley, William
and Roxana Tallman respectively, and ┃
before whom the said affidavits purport to have
been taken, is a Commissioner of Deeds, duly
authorized by law to administer oaths & take
affidavits: and that I am acquainted with the
handwriting of the said Ezra S. Barnum
and that his name subscribed to each of the said
Jurats is his own proper signature & handwriting.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed the seal
of the said County, this second day of December
1833.
Geo Brown Clark
Page 28

Ho. of Reps.
Feby 6 1833
Sir
you now have some of the papers
of Ruel Hooker - I and others herewith
J. L. Edwards
Page 29


account
18 Mon private
60 dollars
Mr. Beardsley
Page 30

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Ruel Hooker
further proof or explanation.
which require
1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
If the applicant does 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. No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? doubtful
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one 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
Page 31

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? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? Yes
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?
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?
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? Answer to each is embodied in the declaration.
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
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, 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.
Page 32

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 names of the
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objection
able. 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 be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating
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 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.
Page 33


1 May 76 Volunteered at Putney Vermont as militia man served at Rochester
Capt. Jewett & Lt. Hyde
1 May 77 drafted same place militia service9 mo.
Capt. Fletcher & Lieu Holbrook went to Rutland and Ticonderoga
 remained at Still water until surrender of Burgoyne and
guarded prisoners till winter of 1777.  soon after his term
of 9 mo. expired he was discharged
1 Aug. 78 was drafted in Little Cambridge near Boston for 9 mo.
in the militia service and ordered to West Point where he served
out his term of 9 mo. under Capt. Hines & Col Boyd. last Feb
or first March 79 enlisted under Col Jackson in the Regular
Continental service for 1 year & remained in said Regt until
shortly after the landing of the French Army under Rochambeau say
about the 10 July 80 & by consent of Col Jackson entered the French service
last July or 1 Aug. 87. drafted for a tour of duty & went to West
Point was placed in Commissary's dept & engaged in transporting
 by boats provisions
Page 34

State of New York
County of Oneida
On this fourth day of December 1832
personally appeared in open
Court before the Honorable Nathan Williams
Vice Chancellor of the fifth circuit 
of the State aforesaid at a Court of
Chancery now sitting at Utica in the
said County within & for the said Circuit,
Ruel Hooker a resident of the City of
Otis in the County & State aforesaid
aged seventy two years, who being 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 7th 1832
that he entered the service of the United
States under the following named
officers, and served as herein stated
In the spring of 1776, and as early
this deponent confidently believes as the
first of May
this deponent being the
not quite 16 years of age & living with
his father at Putney in the State of
volunteered at that place as
militia man for the time of six months
Vermont
Page 35

6 mo. for the defense
of the Northern frontier
of that state against the incursions of the
Tories and Indians from Canada, who
short time before had burned the town of
Rochester on that frontier, and that
he served out the said term of six months
as such militia man under Captain
Jewett & Lieut. Hyde, at Rochester afore
said, and at the end thereof was there
dismissed.
this deponent then returned to
his father's house at Putney aforesaid,
and in the spring of 1777, as early he
confidently believes as the first of May
was drafted for the term of nine months
at Putney aforesaid in the militia service
under Captain Samuel Fletcher & Lint
Eli Holbrook, and was immediately march
ed to the Picket Fort so called at Rutland
in the State of Vermont aforesaid, where he
remained some weeks & was then ordered to
Ticonderoga, but before he reached it
that Fort was evacuated by the Annum
forces on the approach of Genl Burgoyne
and this deponent with the continue to
which he belonged under Capt. Fletcher
aforesaid retreated before Genl Burgoyne's
army to Stillwater in the State of New York
 when this deponent & the Company to
Page 36

1778
which he belonged lay until after the surrender
 of Genl Burgoyne aforesaid to
Genl Gates of the American Army, when
this deponent as one of the Guard of the
British prisoners of War were ordered &
marched under the command of Leuit
Foot of the regular service to Rutland 
in the County of Worcester & State of
Massachusetts, and remained there
on such Guard duty until the said prisoners
of war, were permitted as it was then said by 
order of Congress, to go at large on the part of
honor. this was in the winter of 1777 &
1778, and shortly thereafter, this deponent
last above-mentioned term of service
having expired or being about to expire
he was dismissed at Rutland in as
Massachusetts aforesaid
this deponent then went & lived as a
hired man with one George Beathorn
a Tory. at Little Cambridge and Boston
and sometime in the home of
1778, the confidently believes about
the first of August, was again drafted
at Little Cambridge for the term of nine
months in the Militia service and was
shortly thereafter ordered to West Point,
when he served out his last above
mentioned term of nine months in a Regi
Page 37


ment or Battalion commanded by Col
Boyd in a company commanded by
Capt. Hines, and was dismissed the 
services in the spring of 1779, as he confidently
believes about the last of April or first of
May this deponent then returned to the
vicinity of Boston and hired himself out
to one Clark a farmer, in Roxbury.
Boston, for a year, but in the winter of
1780, before his year had expired, and as he
confidently believes about the last of February
a first of March he enlisted at Boston
in the Regular Continental service under
 Col. Jackson for the term of one
year; and sometime after so enlisting
he was ordered & marched with Col. Jackson's
Regiment to Rhode Island, and
remained attached to such Regiment 
until shortly after landing of the French Army
 upon Rhode Island under Court
Rochambeau, which was on or about the 10th
July 1780, and then with the consent
of Col. Jackson, he left his Regiment &
entered the French service under Court
Rochambeau aforesaid the decision
of his leaving Col. Jackson's Regiment
was as he then understood it a request
Rochambeau
that Col. Jackson
Page 38


would furnish a number of men to drive
and take care of the houses and in the
Artillery service of the French this
deponent with his Colonel's consent offered
himself for that service I was accepted.
this deponent cannot ascertain with
certainly, how long he remained in the
French service but well remembers that 
in the next summer of 1781, he
was again at work as a hired man with
the same Mr. Clark above mentioned in
Roxbury, where, about mowing time, and 
as this deponent confidently believes about 
the last of July or first of August, he
was again drafted for three months
 of duty in the militia service
ordered forthwith to West Point. On
reaching
West Point instead of being an
ranged into any Regiment or company for
ordinary Militia service he was at
one placed in the Commissary Department
 under Commissaries Lord & Stevens
 and was employed in transporting
provisions & other military stores by boats,
between West Point and other places in the 
vicinity. -- While this deponent was engaged
in the last-mentioned service Lord Cornwallis
 with the British forces under his
Page 39

command surrendered to Genl Washington
& others at Yorktown, and immediately on
the intelligence of that event reaching west
Point, this deponent assisted in removing
the chain which had been stretched
cross the Hudson River at that place
to put the British shipping from a
ascending the river, and was soon there
after & as this deponent believes about the
first of November dismissed the service.
this deponent as he has always under
stood from his parents & others, was born
at Deerfield in the State of Massachusetts
 in the year 1760: he has no
record of his age, and there is none to
his knowledge in existence on finally
leaving the United States service he
returned to his fathers in Putney in
the State of Vermont, and he resided
in that town until about 27 28
years since when he removed to
Luzerne in Warren County in the
State of New York; thence he removed
18 or 20 years since to Poughkeepsie, New York
, thence to Lumberland in Sullivan
 County New York, thence to New
Hartford in Ohio County, New York,
to Oakville in Otsego County
Page 40


and thence about five years since to Utica
 in Oneida County, where he
now resides as aforesaid.
this deponent has no documentary evidence
whatever of his service or any
part thereof he nor received any
written discharge from his commanding
officer, but when the terms of his
service severally expired, he was 
formally dismissed by hand, and he
knows of no person whose testimony he
can procure who can testify to his service
 or any part thereof
this deponent is known to the Revd.
Dolphus Skinner a Clergyman of the
city of Utica aforesaid and also to
James Dean Levi Cozzins, Kellogg
Hurlbert Lawrence Morgan, many
others of the same city, who can testify
as to his character for veracity and the
belief of his services as a soldier of the
Revolution.
this deponent about 12 years since 
had a stroke of the palsy & about
1 years since a second attack of the same
complaint which was very violent
& materially impaired his memory as well as
his bodily health, and since
that time his recollection of the events
Page 41

of his youth has been very confused &
indistinct and sometimes almost
wholly fails him.-- Since making
his former declaration upon this subject
in August last, he has reflected upon
it much & carfully, and has also
had an opportunity of conversing up
on it with his oldest daughter, Fay
Hooker, aged 46 years, who in
her childhood & youth & indeed all
most thru out her past life has
heard him repeatedly speak upon the
events of the Revolutionary War & particularly
in regard to his own services
in that war, and he is convinced
by such careful reflection & com
cusation with his daughter, that the
foregoing statement of his services
is correct, altho some things contained
in it were this the defect
of his memory wholly omitted, and 
others were somewhat differently
stated in his former declaration
He now recollects all the occurrences 
detailed above independently of what his
said daughter has told him although it
is true that his recollection as to some
Page 42


This deponent hereby relinquishes every 
claim whatever to a pension or an **** **** at
 the present, and declares that ******  ****** 
is not on the Pension Roll of
the Agency of any State
sworn to & subscribed this day and year 
Ruel Hooker

N. Williams, vice Chancellor

We, Dolphus Skinner, a Clergyman
residing in the City of Utica and 
Lawrence Morgan residing in the same
place, hereby certify, that we are well
acquainted with Ruel Hooker, who
has subscribed & sworn to the above
declaration: that we believe him to be
about seventy-two years of age; that
he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been
a soldier of the Revolution, and that we
concur in that opinion.
sworn & subscribed 
the day & year aforesaid
Dolphus Skinner
Lawrence Morgan
N Williams vice Chancellor
Page 43

And the said Court does hereby
declare its opinion after the investigation
of the matter, and after putting the in
terrogatories prescribed by the War De
partment, that the above named appli
cant was a Revolutionary Soldier and
served as he states. And the Court
further certifies, that it appears to the
Court that Dolphus Skinner who has
signed the preceding certificate, is a
Clergyman resident in the city of
Utica aforesaid and that Lawrence
Morgan, who has also signed the same
is a resident in the same City
and is a credible person and that
their statement is entitled to credit.
N. William
Vice Chancellor
Wagon Williams, Clerk of the Court of Chancery
of the State of New York, for the Fifth C
cut do herby certify, that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the application of Ruel
Hooker for a pension
testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourth day of December one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-two
J. Watson Williams
Clerk in Chancery
5th Circuit N.Y.