Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15977, for Abraham Shipman, Vermont
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(3 - 1776) 
SERVICE                      NUMBER
Vt.       Shipman, Abraham.      S. 15977 

carded
CONTENTS
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Vermont 17.054
Abraham Shipman
of Washington in the State of Vermont who was a pri. in the - commanded by Captain -- of the Regt. commanded by Col. Fletcher in the Vermont line for 9 months.


Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 30 dollars blank cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834  Certificate of Pension issued the  15th day of July ' 33 and sent J.Y. Vail  Montpelier   Vt   arrears to the 4th of March '33-60
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4  Sept"        15
                                                                       ==
                                                                       $75
Revolutionary  Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by  Wm. Miller clerk
Book 3  Vol  3   Page  91
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3193 

Abm Shipman 

Admitted 
Private $30 

J.Y. Vail Esq 
Montpelier 
VT
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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office, 
22d April 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 
Period when the service was rendered.
Duration of the claimant's service. 
Years. Months Days 9 months  
Rank of the claimant. private 
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Col. S. Fletcher 
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 68 
Proof by which the declaration is supported
 Jeroham Sawin affidavit 

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

{illegible signature}
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adopted:
The 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 in 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 lasw as officers, non-commissioned offices, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where each applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Cleark is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832
State, Territory, or District of }
County of} ss.

On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county 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, pass 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 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 and county and State in which he resided when he entered the service: the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. -> This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to 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 for 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, an examination of the proper record, and the names of applicants, make 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, after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Solder, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. and 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 service 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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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected . All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 
1. Where and in what year were you born? 
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live? 4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. {To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given , and what has become of it? 
    { To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. 

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates. 

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure , taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
┃ 
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. 
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he 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 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 positvely as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the ones 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 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 evil 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 cuthenticating 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 con tains 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 nesses, 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[*] are 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.
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Declaration 
of 
Abraham Shipman 
No. 3173
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DECLARATION in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

STATE OF VERMONT COUNTY OF Washington SS. 
On this 7 day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable County Court, within and for the County of Washington now sitting. Abraham Shipman a resident of Northfield in the County of Washington and State of Vermont, aged 68 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832: -- 

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: 

That the first of March 1781 he enlisted for the term of nine months in the Vermont State Troops under Capt. Fish in Col. Samuel Fletcher's Regiment, that after having procured the necessary arrangements procured equipments the company the latter part of March assembled at Westminster & being mustered marched in a body across the Green Mountains to Manchester &  {illegible} short time proceeded to Castleton & joined the Regiment, the first of April we commenced our march. We were stationed with the Regiment at Fort Warren in said Castleton which was head quarters during his term of Service. Served out his full term of enlistment & was discharged about the first of December, did not get home until near the middle of the month remembers there was considerable snow on the ground as he had to wade through it in recrossing the mountain. 

Hi duty was to guard the frontiers & frequent detachments were sent out on scouting parties, the British & Indians having possession of Lake Champlain - 

He has no documentary Evidence of his service & knows of no person who certify to the same Except Jeroham Sawin whose affidavit he presents - 

He also exhibits a note taken by him while in service at Fort Warren which is attached to said affidavit
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and in answer to the Interrogatories propounded to him under the instructions of the Hon. Secretary at War. 

He states that he was born at Saybrook in the State of Connecticutt on the 20th April 1764 - Has a record thereof in his family Bible kept by him & present it is of record in said town of Saybrook. 

Was living at Westminster Vt. When he entered the service & resided there until 30 years ago when he moved to Northfield Vt. where he has resided ever since and now  recollects there was a general by the name of Enoch frequently at the Fort. Never had a written discharge, company was discharged {illegible}.  He States the names of Elisha Wilson & John Brown who are well acquainted with him and can testify to his character for record & their belief of his services as a soldier of revolution. 

He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension, or 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 
AU McVail Clerk 
We, Abraham Shipman, Elisha Wilcox residing in the town of Northfield County of Washington and John Brown of said Northfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Shipman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 68- 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. Elisha Willcox 
John Brown

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.  
Att. J.Y.Vail Clerk 

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 Elisha Wilcox; who has signed the preceding certificate, is a - - resident in the said town of Northfield and that John Brown who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said town of Northfield and be credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. 

Attest, Joshua Y Vail Clerk 
Joshua Y Vail Clerk of the County 
Court for the said County of Washington 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Abraham Shipman for a pension. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 9th day of August A.D. 1832 

Attest Joshua Y Vail Clerk
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P    15977 
INVALID. 

File No. 157977
Abraham Shipman 
Pri. Rev War  
Act:  June 7 1832 

Index: -- Vol. , Page 340 

(Arrangement of 1870.}
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I, Jeroham Sawin of Windsor in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, of the age of Seventy years, depose and say, - That at Westminster in the County of Windham and State of Vermont, about the first of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, Abraham Shipman and this deponent, both then residents of Westminster aforesaid, enlisted for a service of nine months, into the Company of Captain ___ Fish, of Townsend in the same County, and on, or very near, the first day of April after our enlistment, the recruits were assembled and the company formed, in the East Parish of said Westminster, from whence said Shipman and myself with the company marched westwardly through Rockingham, Londonderry and other towns across the Green Mountain, to Manchester on the west side of said Mountain-- thence marched North to Castleton in Vermont where we joined the Regiment, which was commanded by Colonel Samuel Fletcher at Fort Warren, then standing at Castleton aforesaid. The said Fort was the head quarters of the Regiment during the whole term of our service, and our duty was on guard and scouting parties; the British this season (of 1781) having possession of Lake Champlain, and our main object was to guard the east line of the lake. During the whole service, said Shipman and myself remained in the same company-- messed together, and near the last of November in the same year, and some days after the first fall of snow, and in cold weather, we were both discharged at the Fort aforesaid, and both came home to Westminster aforesaid together. At the same time, all our company was discharged; but no written discharges were given to any one. 

Said Abraham Shipman, whom I have not seen until now for as much as twenty years, is now before me, and is, as I have understood, and believe, a resident of Northfield in the State of Vermont - -                    his
                        Jeroham   X     Sawin
                                        mark
Witness-- Carlos Coolidge
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State of Vermont 
Windsor ss.  

Windsor July 12th 1832    Then personally appeared Jeroham Sawin, the deponent within named, and made oath that the matters contained in his affidavit within subscribed are just and true. 

Before me
Carlos Coolidge Justice of the Peace 

And I certify that said Jeroham Sawin is a credible witness 
Carlos Coolidge Justice of the Peace 

I,Rufus Root, of Windsor in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, of the age of Sixty nine years, depose and say- that Jeroham Sawin has resided in Windsor aforesaid for forty years, during which I have been personally acquainted with him, the said Sawin, and do further depose and say that said Jeroham Sawin is a credible respectable person, and his reputation as a man of veracity has never to my knowledge, been questioned.

Rufus Root 

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of July 1832 
Carlos Coolidge Justice of the Peace 

And I also certify that the above named affiant, Rufus Root, has been for twenty five years known to me, and that he is a credible person has sustained various respectable offices in his town, and his reputation for veracity has never, to my knowledge, been questioned. 

Attest Carlos Coolidge Justice of the Peace 

papers were used in citation of Abraham 
2.  Att. J.Y. Vail.   Clerk 

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS

Woodstock County Clerks Office July 12th 1832 I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court do hereby certify that Carlos Coolidge is one of the Justices of the Peace within for said County, and that the above are his signatures - 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said Court, and subscribe my name the day year above.- 
Benjamin Swan
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Fort Warren.   April 21th 1781 

I for John Reed Do promis to pay to Abraham Shipman on order the sum of twelve shillings {illegible} in two months from the date with interest till paid as witness MY here 
Cornelius Miller 
I certify hereto court in the case of {illegible} Shipman August 9, 183_