Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11737, Abner Wise, N.H.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N. H.
-
CONTENTS
W
, Abner
28
NUMBER
R 11737
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No 14897

Abner Wise N.Y

Deserted

Chauncey Tucker
Fredonia
Catteuygus Co
N.Y.
Agent
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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.

[Chart]
A statement, shewing the service of Abner Wise of Cattarattons Co New York

Period when the service was rendered.
Enlisted 1777

1780
Duration of the
claimant's service.
Years
3
1
Months
5
Days

Rank of
the
claimant.
Private
Second Sargent

Names and Rank
of the Company
officers under
whom he served
Lieut Benjn
Ellis & Esqr  
Joseph Fay
Lieut Moody
Dustin [illegible]
Maurs
Capt McScott
Ensign
Chantionette
Capt Gilman

Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers.
Colo Scommel
Joseph Cylly
Genl Washington
Gen'l Lee
Gen'l Lafayette
Col Swingston
Genl Sullivan

Battles in which
the applicant was
engaged.
Tmo mith
Burgoyne on Bemis Heights
Mont[illegible]

Country through
which he marched
To Charleston N. Hampshire
to Fort Miller
Fort Saratoga
Stillwater
Mohawk River
Saratoga
Gold Hill PA
Valley Forge
Montgomery NY
White Plains
Hort Ford CT
Danbury CT
West Point
New Jersey
Newtwon Con
West Point
Newbury
Soldiers Fortune
near Peeksville

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period
Westminister
on the now State of Vermont
Age 74

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.

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 of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in
stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
On this
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
Ste, Terrio of
County of
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the
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)
and
served in the
( e ) regiment of the
[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 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
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A.
[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.
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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
1.
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
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there
subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account
of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.
{To a Soldier
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
and what has become of it?
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.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity ; in which case the declarant will fall
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.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year----months, anddays
, 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 a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority
; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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.
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 to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 6

Abner Wise
3 years register service as private
17 mo reg. services as Sergeant

14897

N.B. all communications respecting the within application to the directive to
Chauncey Tucker
Fredonia
Chatauqua County
N. York

on rolls of Scammel's Regt
Deserted 6 July 81
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State of New York
Cattaraugus County
On this third day of October AD. 1832
personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas
of said County of Cattaraugus Abner Wise a
resident of the town of Conewango in the said
County of Cattaraugus, aged seventy four 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 7, 1832
That he enlisted in the army of the United States
in February in the year 1777, and
served in the third Regt of the Continental
line, under the following named officers-
That he does not certainly recollect the
name of the captain who commanded the Company
in which he enlisted but thinks his name was Gregory
Lieutenant Benjamin Ellis & Ensign Joseph
Fay - That he enlisted at the town of Westiminster
in the now State of Vermont his then place of
residence. That he with two or three others
went directly to Charleston, New hampshire the
place of residence when they were put under the care
of an officer & marched with others to Ticonderoga
when they joined the Regt. - That this enlistment
was for three years. That he remained with his Regt
at Ticonderoga till about the first of may, at which
time he exchanged places with a soldier by the name of
Edo Church of the first Regt and that the said
Edo church took his place in the third Regt and
he this deponent took said Church's place in the
first Regt. when his name was entered as enlisted
during the war - Col. Scammel Commanded
the third Regt. & Col. Joseph Cally Commanded
the first Regt. that he was placed in Capt. William
Scott's company of the first Regt. Doct. Moody
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Dustin 2nd Lieut [illegeible Ensign Contionette
That he remained with the company & Regt to which
he belonged until the American army evacuated the
place, that they then situated to Fort Miller when
they made a stand when they stayed about two
weeks & then marched to Portage & from them
to still water from there to Mohawk River
& then continued till Burgoyne Came near to stillwater
when they marched back to Still water when
they stayed till Burgoyne stunted back to Cortage
when they pursued him - That he was in two battles
with Burgoyne both of which took place on Bemmus
Heights, our about the 19th Sept & the other
the 7th Oct. These battles took place previous to the pursuit
of Burgoyne back to Saratoga above mentioned -
That he, with the company & Regt to which he
belonged were present at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered - that they recorded from
due to Albany & from there to Fishkill
when they continued a few weeks & from them
to Col Hill Pa. near Germantown & joined
General Washington army & from there to
Valley Forge when they put up for wit
quarters. I remained till the next spring.when
the British left Philadelphia for N York
they pursued them & overtook them & had an
engagement or battle at Monmouth N. Junry
That he was in the said battle at Monmouth
fought through the whole of it-- At this
time Genl Lee commanded the Division,
General La Fayette commanded the Brigade &
Col Livingston commanded the Regt to
which this deponent then belonged that he was
still in the same company that he left Ticonderoga
again. That they marched from Monmouth
to White Plains N.York & from there to Hartford
Connecticut, stayed a few weeks & marched to
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Danbury Ct. where they took up went over
when they remained till spring & went from there
to west point when he thinks they arrived in the
month of May 1779, that they left west point
in June he thinks and marched into New Jersey
and remained about the Jersey shore till in the
Fall when they marched to Newtown Connecticut
when they put up for winter quarters & remained
through the winter. That in the year 1780. (in
the month of February he thinks) he was appointed
second Seargent in the company to which he
belonged and that he served as Seargent
during the remainder of the time that he was
in the service which was as follows. That
they left New Town in the spring of 1780 and
marched to West Point & stayed a few weeks & there
marched up the River to New Bury & from
there they marched in pursuit of the Indians
under Genl Sullivan into the Genesee
County N. York- that he served through that
compaign & then returned to a place called
Soldier's Fortune near Peekskill where they
put up for winter quarters & that about February
1781 he received a Furlough & went home to Westminister VT, where he remained about thirteen months
when he returned to his company who were then at
Saratoga under command of Capt Gilman, Capt.
Scott having been raised to the rank of Major
That he still hold the office of Sergeant in his
said Company and served as Seargent after
his return about five months at Saratoga
when he received a pass in the words following-
Sergeant Abner Wise is permitted to go to the
State of New Hampshire on duty, there to remain
till called for, "
"Moody Dustin, Com.
That he has lost the said paper & does not recollect
the date precisely-- That Col. Dearborn was then in
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Command but had gone away & left Dustin in
command
That he was never called for
to go into the service after that
-
He would further state that at the time he
exchanged his place from the third regt to the
first Regt with the said Edo Church, to de
it by & with the consent of the commanding
officers of both Regts. He would him
briefly recapitulate the length of time which
2 months
served. That he served three years
a private soldier, after which he served
our year as seargeant when he left as a furlough & was absent about thirteen months that
he served as Sergeant five months after
his return & was on duty & homed to service
when he received his less in the last past of
the summer 1782.
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension
of any Agency in any State
Sworn to & subscribed
this day & year aforesaid
Dan Allen Senior Judge
Abner Wyse

And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion that the above named applicant
was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as
he states
Israel Day
Dan Allan
Judges of said Court
Andrew Reade

I John W. Staunton, Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas in & for the said County
of Cattaraugus, do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the
application of Abner Wise for a pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of
Office this third day of
October in the year of our
Lord one thousand Eight hundred
and thirty two
---
John W. Staunton Clk
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Mr Abner Wise, the applicant in this case,
respectfully submit, that he ought to be allowed
first, for his service as Sergeant in the same
proportion as that service hears to two years &
the balance, if any, is required to make up the two
years, be taken from his service as private & joined
with his services as Sergeant, in to be allowed for
the quantity of private required to make up two
years, in the same proportion as that service
years to two years-
C. Tucker, Agent
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1.737.
Amer Wise
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
REJECTED
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
---
Cert. of Dis. Searched for
18
18
18
Con
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Abner Wise
New York
Act 7th June 1832

Rejected see let.
her to C. Tucker
May 13 
1839
11137
Page 15

Hon A Hazeltine
19 June 1834
Page 16


War Dep
Pension of
June 1934
Sir
I have the honor to forward you
a pension Certificate for Amasa Joy
computed for 6 mo 13 dys  as a private which
include all the service set forth in
conformity to the regulations-
In reply to your enquire respect
Abner Wise I have to state that
his claim was rejected on 13 May 33
upon the ground that the records proved
that he deserted 6 July 87 and no sub
sequent service aperted which was
communicated on that day to his
atto. C. Tucker Esq
act 7 June
Hon A. Hazeltine