Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15502, for William Lang, New Hampshire
Page 1

 (3 - 1776)
[small star-shaped stamp]

SERVICE
N H.
N. H.  Sea Service

Lang, William

NUMBER
15502.

CONTENTS
Page 2

15.502
INVALID.
File No. 15.502

William Lang
Pri ^& Seaman Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 217

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 3

No. 18445
Vermont
William Lang

of Orleans Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a Private & Seaman in the company commanded
by Captain Rollins of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Drake in the N. Hampre. Troops
line for 1 year and N.Y. and N. H. Sea Service

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 40 Dollars - [Cents crossed out] per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 31. day of August
1833 and sent to Claimant
Irasburgh Vt.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  80.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep. 1833  20.00
$100.00
[equation: $80 + 20 = $100]

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D. Brown, Clerk,
Book E.  Vol. 3  Page 74
Page 4

19.110
William Lang
Orleans District
Vermt.

12 mo's
private
$40-

Claimant
Irasburgh
Vt
Page 5

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.

[Table entitled: ] A Statement, shewing the service of William Lang [column headings: (1) Period when the service was rendered., 
(2) Duration of claimant’s service. - Years., (2) Duration of claimant’s service. - Months., (2) Duration of claimant’s service. - Days., 
(3) Rank of the claimant., 
(4) Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served., 
(5) Names and Rank of the General and Field officers., 
(6) Battles in which the applicant was engaged., 
(7) Country through which he marched., 
(8) Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period., 
(9) Evidence by which the declaration is supported.] 

1. 1' Augt 1777 - 4 months - Private - Capt Rollins - Col. Drake - Stillwater [Saratoga] - From Portsmoth, Barrgton [Barrington] to Stillwater - 72 years, Potsmoth N Hamp. - Traditionay & Clergyman
2. May 1776 - [illegible], 2 months - " - Capt Salter - [blank] - [blank] - [blank] - [blank] - [blank]
3. Octobr 1780 - x - 6 months - [blank] - Capt Jestin - [blank] - [blank] - Acton to Potemoth - [blank] - [blank] 
4. Jany 1782 - # - 6 months - Sailor - Capt Simpson - [blank] - [blank] - at Sea - [blank] - [blank] 
5. Octob 1782 - [blank] - 3 months - [blank] - " - Capt Johnson - [blank] - [blank] - " - [blank] 
[end of table]

x Guarding a ship building
for the u states,
#Ship Alexander
Ship Pallas

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, mucicians [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 } ss.
On this  ___  day of  ___   personally appeared (a) before  ___   A. B. a resident (b) of  ___  in the count of   
 ___ and State, Territory or District of ___ aged (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 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) ___, 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 entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. [hand with right-pointing finger icon] 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 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 days 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 application of
 _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ____ day of _____ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
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3
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 inquiry 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 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 apartment to determine to what amount of pension he is entited. In a case where the applicant, by by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: --For____year____months, and____days, I served as a ____. For____months and____days, I served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension." 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 [in italics] "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. [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.
[in italics] 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.
[in italics] 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. ☞ Then the notes from [a] to [i] area all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only. [k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. [m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

[handwritten at the bottom of the page:]
He must produce proof, from the Executor of the state owning the vessels named in his
declaration, that they were [underlined] public - armed vessels, and
that he served in them & for what time.
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State of Vermont}
Orleans District SS}  On this sixth day of October AD 1832 at a Probate Court holden at Coventry in said District present the Honorable John Kimball Judge of Probate for the said District of Orleans personally appeared in county court William Lang a resident of Irasburgh in Said County of Orleans aged Seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following to declaration  in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he volunteered in the militia of the State of New Hampshire at Portsmouth in the County of  Rockingham the first of August 1777 under Capt Samuel Rollins of Stratham in said Rockingham County the Lieutenants name was [illegible] from said Stratham and the Ensigns name was Randall from Rye in said County of Rockingham, The colonels name was Drake from North hill in said County, he marched from Portsmouth to Exeter with other troops the fore part of said August from thence to Bennington Vermont where the troops halted six days, from Bennington he marched with the rest of the forces to Stillwater and there remained till the 19th day of September and on that day was engaged in the fight of the battle of Stillwater, after the battle he with the rest of the troops started for Saratoga and there stayed till the 17th day of October 1777 the day on which Burgoin [Burgoyne] surrendered to the Americans under General Gates, after the taking of Burgoin he went with the rest of his company  to Albany and there stayed six days from there he went to [illegible] & there he and his company remained as a guard & was there dismissed and returned to Portsmouth the last of November or the first of December following having served four months and having completed all that was required of him-- no discharge was required & he does not know of any written one having been given to any one of the New hampshire troops that served that
Page 9

Compain [campaign], the whole company were discharged together. He volunteered in the moth [month] of May 1776 under Captain Titus Salter and was engaged in building a fort on an Island called Adams Island near Portsmouth on Piscatagua River & there remained in the service something over two months, till the fort was completed & was then dismissed having performed his engagement. At said Portsmouth in the month of October 1780 he was engaged in building the 74 [gun ship] called the American [America] under Colonel Langton who was employed by the American Congress to [illegible] said vessel,  his business while said ship was building  was to stand on gaurd [guard] and do other duties of a soldier. His Captains name was Hopley Seaton and the Lieutenants name was James Mitchell  there was employers at the place where the ship was building he thinks about forty men & they have much fatigue duty to do besides the common services of Soldiers. He stayed in that employment till April 1781 making six months and was then honourably discharged by Col. Langdon which discharge he now can not find. In the month of January 1782 he entered into the naval service under Capt Thomas Simpson at Portsmouth & Shiped [shipped] in the vessel called the Alexander a twenty gun ship. The first Lieutenants name was Edward Roberts the [second's?]  name was Francis Mushaway.   he sailed from Portsmouth to the West Indies Islands & there cruised on that station about three months and returned in the month of April following.  Sailed again in the month of June following in the same ship with the same officers, went to the banks of Newfoundland from thence to the capes of Virginia & then returned to Portsmouth in the month of September following having again served three months the time listed for - In October 1782 he inlisted award the ship Pallas at Portsmouth She carried sixteen [carriage?] guns. She was commanded by James Johnson of Newberry Port in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts [.]   the Lieutenants name was Daniel Lang of S. Portsmouth and seconds name was Atkins from  Marblehead.  He sailed in
[end of page]
Page 10

said Ship from said Portsmouth in said October to Cape Clear, off the coast of Ireland while there in the month of November on a Wednesday the day of the month not recollected discovered a ship to the windward & gave her chase & came up with her about three o'clock P.M.  She hove away upon us & came long side hope her & found she was a letter of Marque from Liverpool bound to New York her name was the Hunter. The Captain invited us to strike but but our commander told him he would fight it out;  fought three & a half hours and the enemy struck.  The american ship cost in killed two & four wounded.  The british cost in killed & wounded about twenty, a prize master was put on board, & the prize was taken to Falmouth now Portland and the vessel he sailed in returned to Newbury Port the place she belonged in the month of January 1783 having again served three months the time agreed for and was then discharged.

It will be seen that said Lang has served in the whole twenty one months. He has no documentary evidence and now does not know of any person living who was in the service with him. He was born in Portsmouth New Hampshire Dec 13th 1759  where he supposes there is a record of the same;  lived there till 1784 & then moved to Lyman New hampshire from them to Bath Newhampshire in 1791 & resided at said Bath till the month January 1830 & then move to Irasburgh the place of his present residence.  All the services he performed was as a private soldier

He hereby relinquishes every claim 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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] William Lang
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We Ralden A. Watkins a Clergyman resident in Coventry aforesaid and Pastor of the Congregational Church and society in said Coventry, and Charles Storey of said Coventry and Representative elect of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Lang who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion, and we further state that the said Long is a man of honesty and integrity, whose statements are intitled to full credit and belief
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
[signed] Ratlden A. Watkins  Charles Storey

The said Lang lives in the bounds of Irasburgh but in the neighborhood of Coventry village where the said Watkins and Storey the witnesses reside. 

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 Ralden A. Watkins who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Coventry aforesaid and that Charles Storey who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Coventry, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit

I John H. Kimball Register of the probate court in the district of Orleans do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Lang for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 6th day of October AD 1832
[signed] John H. Kimball  Register 

The claimant is inclined to believe that the vessels in which he sailed were not public and  therefore till he shall produce proof from the Executive of the State owning the [Volmer?] he does not claim for that part of the service.

William Langs
declaration
19118