Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10,680, Stephen Flanders, Continental Mass. N.H.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER
Continental.|Flanders, Stephen|S. 10.680
Mass. 
N.H. carded
CONTENTS
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[verso]
Date of death not on AB

[recto]
20178
New York 20178
Stephen Flanders of St. Lawrence in the State of N. York who was a Sergeant in the Comp. commanded by Captain Martin of the Reg. commanded by Col. Nixon in the Conn't* line for 1 Yr. 11 mos 8ds
pri 8 mos 
Mass.
*Continental, Feb. 20/76 & N.H. 
Records corrected J.S. 
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 117 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Aug. 1823 and sent to J. L. Russell Canton. 
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '31 $234
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep. '31 58.50
$292.50
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Geo. C. Stiles Clerk, 
Book E. Vol. 3 Page 56
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 
State of New York
County of St. Lawrence ss: On this twenty first day of May 1833 personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of St. Lawrence aforesaid now sitting Stephen Flanders a resident of the Town of Lawrence in the County of St. Lawrence and State of New York, aged seventy 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 Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. 
He was born in Plaistow in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire on the 8th day of ['May' crossed out] November 1757. There is a record of his age on the Town Books in Plaistow 
In the last of April or first days of May 1775 the applicant inlisted for eight months in a company under Captain, McFarlin, in Col. Nixon's regiment, Lieut. Col. Nixon, Major Butterfield, Jacob Quimble (an uncle of the applicant) was the ensign of his company. This Lieutenant's name he cannot remember. He marched immediately from Plaistow, to Winter Hill near Boston where he served his full term of eight months and and was discharged on or or about the 1st day of January 1776 - He was engaged in the Battle of Bunker Hill, was on of the signet guard. His Captain was badly wounded in the action - and drew a pension afterwards as long as he lived. General Putnam commanded one Brigade. 
In the month of October 1776 (he cannot state the day of the month) he again inlisted at Plaistow as sergeant to serve for one year in the Continental Army Col. Enoch Poor's Regiment
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in Captain Benjamin Kimball's Company. Capt. Kimball was a neighbor and acquaintance of the applicant and offered the applicant a sergeant's birth if he would inlist in his company which the applicant did so and served in the same company and Regiment one year and upwards of two weeks after his year expired, and was discharged at Albany by a written discharge which discharge he carried home to his father's house and has never seen it since. 
His company officers under Capt. Kimball he does not distinctly remember, but believes that Lieut Reed was one of the Lieutenants, and the Ensign's name was Johnson. Immediately after his inlistment he  marched to Ticonderoga and joined his regiment. His Regiment was the first one that took possession of Mount Independence, Soon after we reached Mount Independence the Enemy came up Lake Champlain, and we drove them back. He was stationed at Mount Independence until Gen. Burgoyne's Army came up the Lake next summer and drove our Army from the Fort. He retreated thru' Hubbardton to Bennington, where one Regiment joined General Stark's, ['who' crossed out] and attacked the enemy and killed and wounded a great number of them and took prisoners enough to fill the meeting house at Bennington principally Hessians. At Bennington Gen. Stark's whom the applicant well knew, gave him the command of a body of 20 men, to march over the hill on the east of the battle ground and intercept the enemy - and one of my men ['Joseph Foster' crossed out] Job Faust was severely wounded in the service. After the action at Bennington his Regiment marched to Stillwater where Col. Evans' Regiment of Militia Joined his
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Regiment. There we built redoubts and lay 3 or 4 weeks, when the Enemy left their entrenchments and came down on us. We had an engagement with them which lasted three or four hours. We took three brassfield pieces from the enemy three times. and the last time we took the pieces, we drove the enemy into their entrenchments and took about 800 prisoners - The enemy retreated up to Saratoga. 
In this action the applicant fired himself 64 rounds at the enemy. His regiment marched thro' the woods up to Saratoga, and a few days afterwards Burgoyne's Army surrendered. 
His year had them expired. The applicant could not get his discharge until he marched to Albany about two weeks after his inlistment expired. 
About 12 yeas ago when he resided in Vermont he made an application for a pension for this service under the Law of 1818, but his application was rejected by the Secretary of War on the ground that he had too much property. 
In the first of the month of April  1778 he inlisted again as sergeant for eight months, in the New Hampshire Troops in a company under Capt Guile, Lieut Bradley, Ensign he cannot recollect in a Regiment under Col. Peabody. He marched with his Regiment -immediately to Providence and was stationed in the college about 2 months, where we marched to Bristol, from Bristol back to Providence - from Providence we marched over to the plain crossing Howland's ferry. where we were stationed about six weeks until we retreated from the plains. We had skirmishes for several days with the enemy before we retreat
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one Cobb in his company was killed. and Lieut. Darwin of his Regiment was killed by a shot thro' the head. After we retreat from the Island, (which was in the night) he marched to Greenwich and from there to South Kingston near the Lighthouse where the Regiment was stationed until he was discharged in the first of December 1778, having served his full term of eight months as sergeant. He did not receive any written discharge. He has no written or documentary evidence of his services, and is not able to procure any testimony to prove any of his services, for the reason that he knows no one living who (k)new his services - His memory is getting poor and he cannot remember the names of all his officers. He well recollects his different services and the main events.
He served as follows
1st 8 months in 1775 as private
2nd 12 months and two weeks as sergeant in the Continental Service being two weeks over his inlistment.
3d 8 months service in 1778 at Rhode Island
There is no clergyman residing in his vicinity. He is acquainted with Isaac Trussell Esquire, Azariah Peck, and Dwight N. Higgins Esquire Justice of the Peace his neighbors also can testify to his character and a belief of his services. He also knows Joseph Durfee (Dunfey) Esquire of Hopkinton (Town adjoining the residence of the applicant) a juror attending this court who can also testify in like manner - but the other witnesses reside thirty miles from the court house and he cannot conveniently procure their attendance at Court - 
From the closing the Revolutionary he resided at Plaistow aforesaid seven or eight years and then removed to Londonderry in the State
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of New Hampshire, where he resided about five years and them removed to the Town of Thetford in the State of Vermont where he resided until nine years since when he removed to the Town of Lawrence (then part of Hopkinton) in the County aforesaid where he has ever since resided and now resides. 
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
/s/Stephan Flanders
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
/s/A. C. Low Clk
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No. 25427.
Stephen Flanders St. Lawrence County New York
Admitted
Sergeant 1 year 11 mo & 8 day
Private - 8 da
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 
[blank] 183[blank]

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 show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A Statement, shewing the Service of Stephen Flanders St. Laurence County New York 
[column headings: Period when the service was rendered|Duration of the claimant's service.(Years.|Months.|Days.)|Rank of the claimant.|Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Gen'l Putnam|Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.|Proof by which the declaration is supported.|]
Enlisted May 1775|( - |8 (no rolls)| - )|private|Cap McFarlin, Col. Nixon|75 years|Traditionary - papers properly|
Enlisted Oct. 1776|(1 (no rolls)| - |14)|Serg't|Col. Poor, Cap. Kimball|Rockingham County|attached|
Enlisted Apl. 1778|( - |8|X)|Serg't|Cap Guile, Col Peabody|New Hampshire|[blank]
[blank]|([blank]|10|24)|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
[end of columns]
10 (mos) 24 (days) Battle of Bunker Hill, Stillwater
On rolls of Col. Peabody 
Serg't 10. mo & 24 days 
[margin note: 1.0.14 + 10.24 = 1.11.8 + 22 Private/2.00]
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, 
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 et 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 [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers : 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service ; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers ;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. ⇒This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank] 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] 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 [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &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 [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] 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 days and year aforesaid. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a RevoIutionary 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 [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank] of office, this [blank] day of [blank]&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
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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 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 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 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 is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he most 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 loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making au 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 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 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 place 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 or the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if he has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no 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 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 the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
⇒The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule [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.
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[typewritten letter]
March 24, 1934
xxxxxxxxxx own
BA-J/EEL
David Flanders - S.45760
Stephen Flanders - S.10680

Mrs. Edith Flanders Dunbar
Butler Hall
400 West 119th Street
New York, New York

Dear Madam: 
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to David and Stephen Flanders, both of New Hampshire, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
You are furnished herein the histories of David and Stephen Flanders, the data for which were obtained from the papers on his in their respective claim for pension, S.45760 and S.10680, based upon their military service in the Revolutionary War.
David Flanders
S.45760
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of David Flanders are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.
He enlisted, place not shown on the last day of April, 1775, served eight months in Captain Joshua Abbot's Company, Colonel John Stark's New Hampshire Regiment and was in the battle of Bunker Hill; he enlisted January 1, 1776 or in February, 1776, served as a private in Captain Edward Everett's Company, Colonel Timothy Bedel's New Hampshire Regiment, went on an expedition to Canada, was in the battle of Three Rivers and was discharged in December, 1776.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 23, 1819, while residing in Boscawen Hillsborough (that part which was later Merrimack) County, New Hampshire. In 1820, he gave his age as sixty-two years. He was referred to as Captain David Flanders; no explanation for the title was given.
In 1831, Tappan Sanborn, a resident of Boscawen, New Hampshire, stated that he married a daughter of David Flanders, and that his
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[typewritten letter continued]
wife had then been dead for more than one year. He did not give the name of his wife nor is the name of the wife of David Flanders shown. David Jones, aged six years in 1820, was a grandson of the soldier; the names of the parents of David Jones are not given and there are no further family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War soldier, David Flanders (S.45760), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following data:
David Flanders, Certificate No. 16329 issued January 18, 1820, rate $8 per month, commenced November 23, 1819, Act of March 18, 1818, New Hampshire Agency.
*****
Stephen Flanders
S. 10680
Stephen Flanders was born November 8, 1757, at Plaistow,  Rockingham County, New Hampshire, and his birth was recorded on the town records of that place. The names of his parents are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.
Stephen Flanders enlisted at Plaistow, New Hampshire, about my 1, 1775, served eight months as a private in Captain McFarland's Company, Colonel Nixon's Massachusetts Regiment and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, where his captain was severely wounded; he enlisted about October, 1776, served as sergeant in Captain Benjamin Kimball's Company, Colonel Enoch Poor's New Hampshire Regiment and was in the battles of Bennington, Stillwater and Saratoga; length of this service one year and two weeks; he enlisted in April, 1778, served eight months as sergeant in Captain Gile's (Guile) Company, Colonel Peabody's New Hampshire Regiment, marched to Rhode Island and was in several skirmishes on the island.
After the Revolution, he resided in Plaistow, New Hampshire, for seven or eight years; then moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire, and lived about five years; thence to Thetford, Vermont, where he resided until about the year 1824, when he moved to Hopkinton (that part which was later Lawrence) St. Lawrence County, New York.

-2-
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[typewritten letter continued]
Stephen Flanders was allowed pension on his application executed May 21, 1833, while residing in Lawrence, New York.
There are no data as to soldier's family,
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Stephen Flanders (S.10680), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following data:
Stephen Flanders, Certificate No. 20178, issued August 9, 1833, rate $117 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.

-3-
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[verso]
May 22 96 [illegible] placed to Mrs. V. N. Hostetler, Henderson Ky. LWB
1934 - May 24 - Hist to Mrs. Edith F. Dunbar
Letter in case of David Flanders S. 45760 JB

[recto]
10680
INVALID.
File No. 10,680
Stephen Flanders
Sergt. Rev. War
Act: June 7" 1832
Index: Vol. A, Page 127
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of New York
County of St. Lawrence
Town of Canton} The third day of ['February' crossed out] May 1833
We Isaac Trussell and Azariah Peck residing in the Town of Lawrence in the aforesaid County of St. Lawrence hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Flanders a soldier of the Revolution residing in the same Town of Lawrence, who as we are informed intends making his declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832; that we believe him to be seventy five 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. 
/s/Isaac Trussel
/s/Azariah Peck
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me 
/s/Dwight N. Higgins Justice of the Peace
State of New York
County of St Lawrence ss: I, ['George P. Thomas' crossed out] Dwight N. Higgins a justice of the Peace of the Town of Lawrence in the County of St. Lawrence do certify that the before named Isaac Trussell and Azariah Peck appeared personally before me on the third day of ['February' crossed out] May 1833 and made solemn oath in due form of Law that the foregoing certificate by them subscribed is true, and I certify that the said Isaac Trussell and Azariah Peck are residents of the said Town of Lawrence to me well known; that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to full credit
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and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Stephen Flanders and I concur in the same statement. 
/s/Dwight N. Higgins Justice of the Peace
I, Joseph Dunfey residing in the Town of Hopkinton one of the jurors attending the said Court hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Stephen Flanders who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I believe him to be seventy five 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 I do fully concur in that opinion. 
/s/Joseph Dunfey
Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year first aforesaid
/s/A. C. Low Clk
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 said Court further certifies that it appears to them that there is no clergyman residing in the vicinity of the said applicant and that it is very inconvenient for the applicant to procure the personal attendance of any witnesses to prove his character and the reputation of his services except Joseph Dunfey above named who is a juror attending said court and that Isaac Trussell and Azariah Peck who have subscribed and sworn to the foregoing certificate are residents in the said Town of Lawrence and are credible persons and also that the said Joseph Dunfey is a resident of the Town of Hopkinton in the aforesaid county and is a credible person and that their statements are intitled to full credit.
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In the matter of Stephen Flanders
Application for Pension. 
25427
J. L. Russell
Canton, St. Lawrence Co N.Y.
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I Alvin C. Low clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the aforesaid County of St. Lawrence do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Stephen Flanders for a pension. 
I do also certify that Dwight N. Higgins Esq who has signed the preceding certificate and before whom the preceding certificate signed by Isaac Trussell and Azariah Peck purports to have been subscribed and sworn to, was at the time of the taking and subscribing the said affidavit and certificate one of the justices of the peace in and for the aforesaid County of St Lawrence resident in the same Town of Lawrence, and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Dwight N. Higgins, and that his signature to the said certificate and affidavit I verily believe to be genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty second day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. 
/s/A. C. Low Clk.
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Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com'r of Pensions
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[handwritten letter]
Canton St. Lawrence Co. N.Y. 
May 2, 1833

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com'r of Pensions
Sir
Accompanying I send the application of Stephen Flanders for a pension. He claims for services 20 1/2 months as sergeant & 8 mos. as private. as follows
8 mos. service as private at Boston in 1775 - Capt McFarlin Co - Col. Nixon's Reg't 
12 mos 2 weeks service as sergeant. Continental Service in 1776 & 1777 Capt. Kimball's Co. Col. Poor's Regt. for this service the ap. made ap'n for pension under Law of 1818. which was rejected by reason of applicant's possessing too much property. 
8 months as sergeant in 1778 Col. Guile's Co. Col Peabody's Regiment
The ap. is unable to procure any living witness to prove any of this services - & is unable to procure the attendance at Court of any witness to prove his character & reputation of his services except a juror att'g court. The other witnesses residing 30 miles from Court, could not attend personally - & their certificate was taken before a justice of the peace, who also certifies that he concurs in the certificate of the witnesses.
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[handwritten letter continued]
The clerk certifies to the office of the Justice & to his signature, in his final certificate. 
Please communicate to me the decision of the Department.
Yours Respectfully,
Jno Leslie Russell
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[handwritten letter]
Henderson Ky. 
May 16, 1896

Pension Office - Washington - 
Can you tell me, or inform me who can tell me, if a man Stephen Flanders by name, or his widow ever drew a pension as a Revolutionary soldier or his widow? ['The Time' crossed out] His residence at the time the pension was drawn was the town of Lawrence, state of New York, If there was such a pensioner do the records of your office tell where he enlisted?
/s/Mrs. V. N. Hostetler
425 S. Green Str. Henderson Ky
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[typewritten letter]
O.W. & N. Div.
L.W.B.
I. 10680

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,

May 22nd, 1896.

Madam:
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Stephen Flanders, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on May 21st, 1883 at which time he was residing at Lawrence, N. Y., and 75 years of age, and his pension was allowed for one year, eleven months and eight days actual service as a sergeant in the ['Conn.' crossed out] troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. McFarlin and Col. Nixon. He enlisted at Plaistow, N. H.
Very respectfully,
[blank] Acting Commissioner.
Mrs. V. N. Hostetler,
Henderson, Ky.
425 So. Green St.,