Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19108, for Gould Stiles, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn.

Stiles, Gould

NUMBER
S.19108

Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

Vermont 18.692
Gould Stiles
Rutland Co in the State of Vermont
to was a Pr. & Cpl. in the Compy commanded
Captain Parker of the Reg commanded
Col. Page in the Conn. Ma
line for 6 mo. Corporal
1 mo. Private

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 25 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Sep
1833 and sent to J. Warner
East Poultney.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33 $63.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. 31
12.66 
$75.99

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by E W Brown Clerk
Book E  Vol. 3, PGE 92

[Handwritten text to right]
1885 Sept 3. Mrs S. P. Guild
with history    Prior
Page 3

Gould Stiles
Declaration 
20579
Page 4

State of Vermont 
Rutland County S.S. On this thirteenth day of August AD. 1832personally appeared in open Court before
the Judge of the Probate Court of the District of (Gustave?)
in the County of Rutland and now sitting Gould  Stiles
a resident of Middletown in the County of Rutland & State of
Vermont, aged 82 years who being first duly sworn accor
ding to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed
June 7th 1832
under the following named officers, and served as herein stated
That he entered the service of the United States
that he enlisted as a Corporal on the 25th day of June 1776
in a Regiment raised by the State of Connecticut. The
Brigadier Generals name was Wadsworth Col Comfort Sage
Lieut. Col Russel Major Buel Adjutant Johnson Say for
Page. Capt of his company Johnathan Parker, 1st Lieut Schwood
Hinkley 2 Lunt Timothy Holt Ensign Joseph Rider Orderly
Sargent Samuel Dunton, 2d Sargt John Hunt Peter Whitney
4th Sedediah Amidon 1st Corporal Benjamin Sinkley 2d
Ashbel Chapman 3d Elisha Johnson 4th The applicant
The Regiment consisted of eight Companies. The Captains
named were as follows viz, Clark Parsons Dixon Birge
who was wounded & died of his wound. Churchill Eals
& Crosby who died on the retreat from New York-
That at the time he enlisted as above stated he resided
in the town of Willington in the County of Tolland &
State of Connecticut- That soon after he enlisted he
marched with his company through Middletown to Newhaven
Connecticut & from there joint by water to New York
at which place they landed on the 8th day of July 1776. where
they remained until the 14th or 15th of the same month when
he retreated with his regiment to White plains & after the
battle at that place he went to crumb Pond where he
was discharged on the 25th day of December, the time for which 
he enlisted having expired being six months. That afterwards
Page 5

in the month of May 1777 he was drafted to guard New London
in the regiment of Malitia Commanded by Col Chapman
his capts name was Henry Amidon & the Lieut Carlton
Ensign Johnson - that he remained in the service about
a month at New London when he was discharged with
one half the Regiment in the following manner. The word
Stay was written on ships of paper in number agreed to me
half the Regiment & the word so on an agreed number
& those drawn out of a hat; & the person who drew out
a slip having on it the word go was discharged & those
who drew the word stay remained, that he has no documenting
that
evidence & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can
procure who can testify to his service except the testimony
of Moses Amidon whose affidavit is hereunto affixed
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not
on the pension roll of the Agency of any State-
Sworn to & subscribed
The day & year aforesaid
Gold Stiles
the Shubael Lamb a Clergyman
residing in feels in said County & Joel Dayton
residing in Middletown aforesaid hereby certify that we are
well acquainted with Gould Stiles who has subscribed
& sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 82
years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood
6
where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution &
that we concur in that opinion
the
Sworn & Subscribed in
Shubael Lamb
day & year aforesaid
Del Dayton
Then personally appeared in open
Court Moses Amedon of Granville in the County of
Washington & State of New York being duly sworn
testifies & says that he has perfect recollection
Page 6

that Gould Stiles now living in Middletown County of Rutland
& State of Vermont enlisted as a Corporal in the revolutionary war
on the 25th day of June 1776 for six months in Parkers
company & served his time out. that he was discharged from
service on the 25th day of December of the same year
that in May 1777 the said Gould served as a soldier
in the revolutionary war one month under Capt Amidon the Father of this deponent
Signature of Moses Amidon

Sworn & Subscribed the
of Anson
day & year aforesaid

And said Court do hereby declare
their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war depart
that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that [illegible]
who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman
resident in Wells afsd & that Joel Dayton
who has also signed the same is a resident in Middleton
and is a creditable person & that their statement is
entitled to credit, and also that Moses Andon above
named is a credible person
I Selah H Merrill Clerk of the Court of Probate for
the district of Fairhaven hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the
matter of the application of Gould Stiles for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of office this 13th day of
August AD 1832
J. H. Merrill
Page 7

20,578
Gould stiles

Admt

6 mos Corporal
1 Mo Private

A. Warner Esq
East Poultney
Vt.

Claimant case of the Clerk
of the County 
Rutland
Vermont
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 5. 1833
|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. These 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, showing the service of Gould Stiles of Rutland
County,Vermont

Period when the service was rendered. 
[illegible] 1776
Sept 1777

Duration of the
claimant's service.
Years. - 0
Months
6
1
Days - 0

Rank of
claimant.
Corp
Pri:

Names and Rank
of the Company
officers under
whom he served.
Capts
Parker
Amidon

Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers.
Col Sage
Amidon Chapman

Battles in which
the applicant was
engaged.
None

Country through
which he marched.
from Connecticut
to N. York by 
water.

Place of abode
when he entered
the service, and age
at the present
Tolland
County
Connecticut 

Evidence by
which the declaration
is supported
Living Witness

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 9

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.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
On this
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territs
County of
day of
personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of
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)
with
and
served in the
(e) regiment of the
line, under the following named officers:
the hill and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he serv-
Here set forth the names and rank of the
particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
enlistment, he must specify
ed under more than one term of
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
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.
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 commisbut
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
Page 10

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.
Coller
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
Town Offcer 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 follow
the rule laid down for his guidance.
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, 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 a declaration is
mighty 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 pubthe
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
pers.
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
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 offi-
There are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
note applies to continental troops only.
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 11

June 8, 1934.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/ady
Gould Stiles
S. 19108

Mrs. P. A. Snowman, Jr.
21 Normal
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to Gould
Stiles and Eleazer Hammond, soldiers of the Revolutionary
War.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are
obtained from claims made to the United States for pension
and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers
in that war.

A careful search of the records fails to show such a
claim on file on account of the services of Eleazer Hammond,
all spellings of the surname searched.

The data contained herein are obtained from the papers
on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.19108,
based upon the service of Gould Stiles in that war.

While a resident of Willington, Tolland County, Connecticut
, Could Stiles enlisted June 25, 1776 and served six
months as a corporal in Captain Jonathan Parker's Company,
Colonel Comfort Sage's Connecticut Regiment. He enlisted in
May 1777 and served one month as a private in Captain Henry
Amidon's Company, Colonel Chapman's Connecticut Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed
August 13, 1832 while a resident of Middletown, Rutland County,
Vermont, aged eighty-two years.

There are no data as to family.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 12

The applicant respectfully requests the Commissioner to send his Pension Certificate if 
granted to this subscriber July 4 1833
Almon Warner
East Poultney Vermont
Page 13

Gould Stiles of April 1832 of Middletown, Rutland aged 82 years
Enlisted as Corpl in June 1776 with Capt Park, in Col Say Regt [illegible] going to N York City when they landed July 8. when remaining until the Army [illegible] when (?)

In May 1777 he was drafted to to to guard to New London into Capt Amidon Co in Colo. Chapman  regt & after one mo battling war had to which half of the regt "should stay" and which "should go" these words being written on ballots & those drawing "go" were (?) & Stiles was one
Page 14

P
19108
INVALID.
File No. 19108
Gould Stiles
Corpl Rev War
Act June 7" 32
Index: - Vil. 1, Page 363

[ARRANGEMENT OF 1870.]
Page 15

June 11, 1931.
Rev.&1812 Wars Section.
ADY

Mrs. Helen B. Nelson,
West Pawlet,
vERMONT.

Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers
in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.19108, that
Gould Stiles while a resident of Willington, Tolland
County, Connecticut enlisted June 25, 1776 and served
six months as a corporal in Captain Jonathan Parker's
Company, Colonel Comfort Sage's Connecticut Regiment.

He enlisted in May 1777 and served one month as a
private in Captain Henry Amidon's Company, Colonel
Chapman's Connecticut Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed
August 13, 1832 while a resident of Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont, aged eighty-two years. 

There are no data as to family
Very truly yours, 
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.

date of death no on A.B.
Page 16

West Pawlet, Vermont
May 6, 1931
To the Commissioner of Pension
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir, Please will you send me
the war record of Gould Stiles born 1750.
in Tolland, Tolland Co, Conn. He served
at various places during the war. In 1802
he moved to Vermont buying a farm
located in Poultney & Wills. He died
in 1840. His only son Gould Stiles Jr. was
born about 1781. I know of no other
dated at present. Thanking you for
whatever information you can give me
I am
Yours truly
(Mrs.) Helen B. Nelson
Page 17

hele  west  snowman
---
21 N. Normal
Ypsilanti Mich
May 26th 1934

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Dear Sir
I should like to know of a
Apension was issued for the
Revolutionary War to Gould
Stiles who enlisted at Wellington
Conn. in June 1776, Captain
Parkers Company Col. Sages
Regiment for service in New
York

We think he was later drafted and
saw service around New London
also have you any record of Eleazer
Hammond of Tolland Conny seeing
service around Lexington. We
are told he was in Lexington Alarm
Page 18

list.
Sincerely
Helen West Snowman
21 Normal
Ypsilanti Michigan
(Mrs. P.A. Snowman Jr.)
Page 19

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Name Stiles, Henry Grade  Sergeant  Line Massachusetts

WARRANT
NUMBER  5061  Acreage 100  Issued May 18, 1790
to Theodosius Fowler

* The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers ad privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.