Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16125, James Gambell, New York
Page 1

(3-1776) 

SERVICE 
New York 

Gambell, James 
or Gamble 

NUMBER 
S.16125 
Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

[left side]
Pittsbergh Ohio 19.772 
James Gambell
[of] Richland in the State of Ohio who was a Corporal in the Comp. command by Captain Bradshaw of the Regt. commanded by Col. Warner in the N York line for 16 mos 

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 58 Dollars 64 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Sep. 1833 and sent to J Purdy Mansfield 

Arrears to the 4th of Sep ‘33 $146.60 
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Ma ’34  29.32 
[total] $175.92 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act of June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Go. C. Stiles Clerk, 
Book E. Vol. 8. Page 112 

[right side]
Was placed on the Ohio Book by mistake
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the act of April 6th 1838 from 4th March to 1st June 1841 
Agt notified Aug 31st 1842
Page 3

25.798
Ellzey Hedges Clk


J. Gambell 
Declaration for Pension 
for 16 months

James Purdy 
agent 
Mansfield Richland Co Ohio
Page 4

State of Ohio
Richland County ss: On the 17th day of June 1833 personally appeared in open court of the Court of Common Pleas of said County James Gamble a resident of said County and State aged 74 years who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he was born in Dutchess county in the State of New York in the year 1759 and has no record of his age except in his father's bible – That entered into the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War at Sandy hill in Washington County in the State of New York as a corporal in he thinks, May 1778 - The company to which he belonged in the Militia of the State of New York were called together for a draft and he with others volunteered to make up the quarter requisition - He entered into the serve as a corporal in the New York Militia under Captain Thomas Bradshaw Lieutenant David Neal and Ensign Dunning - the Company were called Rangers and was under the command of Col. Warner of Vermont or attached to his Regiment. He was stationed at Kingsbury. The company ranged from Sandy hill to Half Way Brook - then to Bloody Pond thence North East to French Mountain thence to Fort Ann, then back to Kingsbury. He continued in the service until late in the month of December 1778 and served at least seven months. During this time he did not become acquainted with any of the Regular officers. As there were none to his knowledge in that neighborhood. Col. Warners Regiment were called Green Mountain
Page 5

Boys and he supposes they were militia Volunteers About the last of December 1778 he was dismissed and returned home but received no written discharge -
About the first of May 1779 he again entered into the service of the United States at Kingsbury in the Militia of the State of the New York as a corporal in said Militia - He volunteered as before and was under the same officers - The Company were called Rangers. He was stationed in Kingsbury at Stephen Castle's Barn - from Kingsbury they ranged to Blood Pond - thence to French Mountain, then to Fort Ann then to South Bay at the South end of Lake Champlain - thence to Skeensborough (now White Hall) when late in the fall they encamped or were stationed - During this time he saw some Regular Officers but does not recollect their names - the company to which he belonged acting generally as a detachment of rangers Toward the latter part of February 1780 he was discharged and received a written discharge from his Captain Thos Bradshaw which is now lost -He served this term at least nine months. At the time he entered into the service he was residing in the town of Kingsbury Washington County New York He knows of know particular transaction in relation to the war which occurred under his own observation - the next day after he was discharged the station at Skeensborough was taken by the enemy and destroyed and the Captain under whom he had served was taken prisoner together with many of his men - After the revolution he continued to reside in Washington - from thence he re [removed]
Page 6

[re]moved to Saratoga County then to Ontario County in the same State – From Ontario County he removed to Sharon in Rockland County Ohio in June 1824 where he now resides - He has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to prove his service Dennis Orton Esqr and Jay Smiley Esqr reside in my present neighborhood and can testify to my character for truth and varacity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any State 
[signed] James Gambell
Sworn to & subscribed before me in Open Court 17 June 1833 
[signed] Ellzey Hedges Clk
We the undersigned Dennis Orton and Jay Smiley residing in said Richland County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Gambell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 74 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, and further that he is a man of truth and varacity 
[signed] Dennis Orton   Jay Smiley 
Sworn to subscribed before me in Open Court this 17th day of June 1833 
[signed] Ellzey Hedges  Clk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the above applicant James Gambell was a
Page 7

Revolutionary soldier and served as he states And the Court do further certify that it appears to them that Dennis Orton Esq and Jay Smiley Esq who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents in the county of Richland personally known to the court, and are credible persons and their statements entitled to credit 
[signed] D. Higgins Presd. Judge 
Isaac Osburn 
Benj Jackson 
Wm Riddle 
I Ellzey Hedges Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Richland County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of James Gambell for a pension  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal seal of Office this 17th day of June 1833 – 
[signed] Ellzey Hedges
Page 8

No. 25798 
James Gamble Richland County Ohio 
Adm 1 year and 4. Months Corporal 

[calculations]

J. Purdy Mansfield Ohio 
Richland County
Page 9

WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Pension Office, 
183

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is 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 James Gamble Richland County Ohio

[BEGIN TABLE]
Period when the service was rendered  |  Duration of the service. Years. Months. Days.  |   Rank of the claimant.  |  Names and Rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  |  Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service.  |  Proof by which the declaration is supported.  |
Entered 1778  |  7 Months.  |  Corporal  |  Cap Bradshaw, colonel Warner  |  74 years County of Washington New York  |  Traditionary evidence, paper correct  |
Vol – May 1779  |  9 Months.  |  Corporal  |  Came officers  |    |    |
[END TABLE]

I am, respectfully 
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 10

2 
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. 
The following regulations have been adopted: 
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 
1. The Regular Troops. 
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 
4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians 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 } ss.
On this ___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before __ A.B. a resident (b) of ___ in the county of ___  and State, territory or District of ___  ages (c) ___ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ___  , with ___ and served in the ___ (e) regiment of the ___ line, under the following 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 enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which 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 ___
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. ____ A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I _____ of the Court of ____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ___for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ___ day of ___&c. 
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
 (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the ___ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ___ , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that 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 ___ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation 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
Page 11

3 
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 
1. Where and in what year were 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?}
6. {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 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. 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 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 in 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 claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his 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 age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For __ year ___ months , and ___ days I served as a ___. For ___ months and ___days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension." 
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.   Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority;  that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required. 
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 
Proof of Service. 
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant’s entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[ ] 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 in 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.
Page 12

P 
16125 
INVALID. 
File No. 16,125 
James Gamble 
Corp Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: --Vol. 1 Page 139 
{Arrangement of 1870.} 

Copy for Mr. Saltzgaber Aug. 22, 1913. ¢
Page 13

James Gambell was allowed pension of 58 dollars and 64 cents per annum from March 4, 1831. The date of his death is not shown, nor is there any further information concern him on file in the Bureau of Pensions. 
For the date of last payment of his pension, and name of the person to whom it was paid, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, giving him all of the following data: 
“James Gamble Certificate No. 19,772, 
issued September 17, 1833, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the Pittsburgh. 
Ohio Agency."
Page 14

State of Ohio 
Richland County. SS.  On the 17th day of June 1833 personally appeared in open court of the court of Common Pleas of said County James Gamble a resident of said County, and State aged 74 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 provisions of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832 
That he was born in Dutchess County in the State of New York in the year 1759 and has no record of his age except in his Father's Bible. That he entered into the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War at Sandy Hill in Washington County in the State of New York as a corporal in, he thinks, May 1778 - The company to which he belonged in the Militia of the State of New York were called together for a draft and he with others volunteered to make up the quota required - He entered into the service as a corporal in the New York Militia under Captain Thomas Bradshaw - Lieutenant David Vallance and Ensign Dunning - the company were called Rangers and was under the command of Col. Warner of Vermont or attached to his Regiment - He was stationed at Kingsbury. The company ranged from Sandy hill to Half way brook - thence to Bloody pond thence North East to French Mountain thence to Fort Ann, thence back to Kingsbury. He continued in the service until late in the month of December 1778 and served at least seven months - During this tour he did not become acquainted with any of the Regular Officers - as there were none to his knowledge in that neighborhood – Col- Warners Regiment were called Green Mountain Boys and he supposed they were Militia or Volunteers  About the last of December 1778 he was dismissed and returned home but received no written discharge.
Page 15

About the first of May 1779 he again entered into the service of the United States at Kingsbury in the Militia of the State of New York as a corporal in said Militia - He volunteered as before and was under the same Officers - the Company were called Rangers. He was stationed in Kingsbury at Stephen Castle's Barn - from Kingsbury they ranged to Bloody Pond - thence to French Mountain - thence to Fort Ann - thence to South Bay at the South End of Lake Champlain - thence to Skeensborough (now White hall) where late in the fall they encamped or were stationed - During this tour he saw some Regular Officers but does not recollect their names - the company to which he belonged acting generally as a detachment of rangers  Toward the latter part of February 1780 he was discharged and received a written discharge from his Captain Thomas Bradshaw which is now lost - He served this tour at least nine months - At the time he entered into the service he was residing in the Town of Kingsbury Washington County New York He knows of know particular transaction relative to the war which occurred under his own observation - the next day after he was discharged the station at Skeensborough was taken by the Enemy and destroyed and the Captain under whom he had served was taken prisoner together with many of his men - After the revolution he continued to reside in Washington - from thence he removed to Saratoga County thence to Ontario County in the same State - From Ontario County he removed to Sharon in Richland County Ohio in June 1824 where he now resides - He has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to prove his services Dennis Orton Esqr and Jay Smiley Esq - reside in my present neighborhood and can testify to my character for truth and veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on
Page 16

the pension roll of the Agency of any State 
James Gambell 
Sworn to a Subscribed before 
me in open Court 17 June 1833 
Ellzey Hedges Clk. 
We the undersigned Dennis Orton and Jay Smiley residing in said Richland County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Gambell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 74 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, and further that he is a man of truth and veracity 
Dennis Orton 
Jay Smiley 
Sworn to a subscribed before me 
in open Court this 17th day of 
June 1833 
Ellzey Hedges Clk. 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant James Gambell was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he States And the Court do further certify that it appears to them that Dennis Orton Esq and Jay Smiley Esq who have signed the preceeding certificate are are residents in the county of Richland personally known to the court. and are credible persons and their statements entitled to credit 
D. Higgins, Presd Judge 
Isaac Osbun 
Benj Jackson
Wm Riddle
Page 17

I Ellzey Hedges Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of Richland County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of James Gambell for a pension in Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 17th day of June A.D. 1833 –
Ellzey Hedges Clk.

SEAL 

James Purdy 
Agent
Mansfield, Richland Co. Ohio.
Page 18

Hon. J. L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City 

Pension papers

[postmark] MANSFIELD OHIO [date illegible]

June 29
O.
25.798
Page 19

Mansfield June 20th 1833 

J. L. Edwards Esq 
Inclosed I send you the Declaration of James Gambell to procure a pension 
Very Respectfully 
Yours &c 
[signed] J. Purdy