Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,312, for William Pond, Massachusetts
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(3-1776)
Service Mass. Pond, William Number R. 8312
Contents
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Statement of William Pond of Brantford County on his application for a pension under the act of June 1832

I was born in Brantford in Connecticut thirteenth September 1763. I am in my 70th year. There is no record of my birth existing that I know of. When I was about seven years old my father moved to Stockbridge in the county of Berkshire Massachusetts. In my 17th year I turned out as a volunteer for six months in Capt. Whittlesey's company. Ebenezer Cook Lieutenant. We were marched to West Point were inspected there and joined the winter army there. After our arrival there we were distributed about through the Massachusetts line to fill up vacancies. I was placed in a company the captain of which was sick and at home and I never saw him. His name was Smith. Our company was commanded by the lieutenant whose name was Marble. in Col Bigelow's regiment General Glover's brigade. Our ensign was named Sando a Frenchman and We were marched from Robinson farms opposite to West Point to Orange Town. There we made a stand. While there Arnold treachery took place. And Major Andre was captured. We marched from Orange Town to Tottenay - & thence to the English neighbourhood - & thence to Hackensack - from there to winter quarters at West Point. While we lay at Orange Town, Major Andre was brought there & tried. While I standing sentry at the (illegible) in which Smith the contractor was confined, I saw Major Andre marched out of his quarters to the Marquee of the General officers to be tried as I understood.  Major (illegible) was on the right of him, and another Major which name I forgot on his let. I was in no action. I served out my six months - & received a written
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certificate, from Lt Col Peters.
That I had done so, & was entitled to return home; but it was not in the same form as the discharges of the enlisted regular troops. That certificate was lst long ago. I continued to live in Berkshire till I was 21 years of age, & then moved to Shoreham Vermont. Lived there about 9 nine years & then returned to Stockbridge. Thence back again to Vermont. Thence to Schroon township Essex county New York. Thence to Greenfield Saratoga County; thence to Genesee county New York. and on the 2d November 1828 I arrived in Spring Township, Crawford County, where my son lived - where I have lived ever since & now reside. My brother Nathaniel Pond who resides also in Spring Township, is acquainted with my having served in the army - there were nine brothers of us in the revolutionary service at periods of the war - I was in the army at one time - my brother Phinehas was a regular soldier & enlisted for the whole war & served the whole war - He was in Glover's brigade the same I was in-

I have stated that I was in Col. Bigelow's regiment. It was so but he was at home, sick, as I understood - & & do not recollect that I ever saw him - Lieut Colonel Peters commanded the regiment during his absence.

I relinquish any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in ant state.

William Pond

Sworn & subscribed before court 6th October AD 1832

Edun A. Reynolds Prothy
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Crawford County ss:

Nathaniel Pond of Spring Township-, Crawford County being duly sworn saith that he was born on 14 January 1761 & was 71 years old last January. He was in the American army when Burgoyne was taken. but not in that part of the army which captured him. He was again drafted & went to Albany - & to Bemis's heights - but cannot say to a certainty that he served six months, & therefore dont apply himself for a pension. He lived at Stockbridge at his fathers - and remembers well the day that his brothers William, & another brother named Jared turned out in volunteers as is stated by William in his declaration aforesaid. William served out six months - & the deponent was at home when he returned. He heard William relate the occurrences he had met with in the army immediately after his return - & often since - as stated in his application - & a great many more. There were 13 brothers of us - nine were in the army - seven at one time. One, named Phinehas, served the whole war - one, named Abel, was a minute man in a company at Stockbridge when the battle of Lexington took place; and on hearing of it he & the company he was in, marched immediately to Boston - under Capt. Charles Dibble Lieutt. Simeon Smith.

Nathaniel Pond

Sworn in open court Octr. 6, 1832

Edun A. Reynolds Prothy
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Elisha Bowman & Hiram Woodward of Spring Township being duly sworn say that they have been acquainted with the said William Pond since his residence in this County - That he is a man of good character of truth & veracity & entitled to full credit - that the general reputation & tradition of the neighbourhood has been & is that he was a soldier of the revolution & they believe he was so 
Elisha Bowman 
Hiram Woodard 
Sworn in open Court November 15th 1832 Edward A. Reynolds Pthy 

And the said Court declare their opinion after examination and after putting the interrogatories required by the war department that William Pond the applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And they further certify that it appears to them that Elisha Bowman and Hiram Woodward who have testified as above are respectable citizens of this County of Crawford in whose testimony full reliance may be placed - 

Certified Henry Shippen Prost

State of Pennsylvania Crawford County

I Edward A Reynolds Prothy & clerk of the Several Courts of Crawford County do certify that the foregoing contains all the original proceedings of had in this Court in the case of the application of William Pond for a Pension 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the 27th day of June A.D. 1833 
Edward. A. Reynold Prothy
 & C of the Court  of Crawford County
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No. 26056
William Pond Crawford County Pennsylvania
Rejected
Served but 5 mos 18 days
See letter to [illegible] 13 Augst 1833
8312
J.B. Wallace Meadville Penna.
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War Department, Pension Office
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 noted, 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 compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A statement, shewing the Service of William Pond Crawford County Pennsylvania
Period when the service was rendered: Duration of the claimant's service
Years -
Months 6
Days -
Rank of the claimant: Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served: Cap Whittley, Cap Smith, Col Bigelow, Gb Glover
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service: 70 years County of Berkshire Massachusetts
Proof by which the declaration is supported: Traditionary evidence & one witness not certified credible paper correct
27 June 1780 Enl.
14 Dec 1780 Dischd.
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 Spied.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
Declaration, In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. State, Territory, or District of County of }ss.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.A. 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, 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 march This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)
He hereby relinquishes every claim(f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A.B.
{And then will follow the certificate of the Court}
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: (k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C.D. residing in )the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. {And then will follow the certificate of the Court.}
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a REvolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, is 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 commissions; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will [illegible] state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least be 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
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3 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected . All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 1. Where and in what year were you born? 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live? 4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it givsoldier , and what has become of it? Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what (To Oficer has become of it? 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. 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. last mention the period or periods of the war when he served. name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satis isfactory examina claim cannot be had. Every clamant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in the ation of the 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---yearmonths , anddays , I served as a- -- For - months anddays , I served as 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 indentite, 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 declarat ing my 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 The notes from (a) to are all of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 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.
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Meadville 
Pa 29 June Free
E. L. Edwards Esquire 
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C
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Meadville - June 27-- 1833
Sir
 Enclosed is the application of William Pond for a pension - which had been accidently looked by the clerk of the court-- & not forwarded as soon as it ought to have been. Be pleased to add any communication on the subject to the applicant himself, directed to Connecutville, Crawford County Penna
Yor Obt Svt
J. B. Wallace

E L Edwards Esq
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July 1854 prt. to J. H. Fowler, Spencer, Ind 

[crossed out]Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873. 

8312 - 
P.O
William Pond 
Service:
Enlisted: ,18
Discharged:  ,18
Application filed:  ,18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney: 
P.O
Recognized. Contract. Cert. of Dis. Searched for  ,18
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O. W. & N. Division.  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Bureau of Pensions, M.E.C.
Washington, D. C.,  July 3, 1893. 

Sir: In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of -- William Pond -- a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's ) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 
[table headings]DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. |. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE
[row 1] 1780 | 6 mos | Pvt |
Whittles Smith | Lt. Ebenezer Cook Bigelow | Mass
Battles engaged in, None.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Berkshire Co., Mass. 
Date of application for pension, October 6, 1832. 
Residence at date of application, Crawford Co., Pa. 
Age at date of application, Born in Brantford, Conn., Sept. 30, 1763. 
Remarks: Mr. L. H. Fowler, Over Exenange Bank, Spencer, Ind. Very respectfully, - --- Commissioner ---
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FOWLER & SPANGLER, LAWYERS, SPENCER INDIANA. Office Over Exchange Bank, Rooms 1, 2 and 3. 6 -- 28 - 95 INMAN H. FOWLER. THOMAS G. SPANGLER. 

Dear Jim 
I want to ask a little favor of you, and if it proves to be to big a favor you need not comply. You know that every thing in the way of war, or at least so out here, is Daughters of the Revolution and sons of the Revolution. My wife and daughter want to join the society. My wifes great grand father and my great grand father were both revolutionary soldiers. But before they can join, it is necessary that they make the necessary proof. Now I presume the war records in the war department will disclose the fact that these persons were in the army of the Revolution. My wifes great grand father's name was William Pond, and he enlisted either from Vermont or New York. He was born in Massachusetts or Vermont. His father moved from Mass. to Poultney Vermont and from there he moved to New York, and we do not know whether he enlisted from Vermont or New York. He died in Pennsylvania. 

My great grandfather's name was Jacob Kesler. I am not sure from what state he enlisted, but I think it was Virginia. I have heard him talk by the hour of the hardships of the revolutionary soldiers. But I was to young to remember from what state he enlisted. 

Now if the records of the Revolutionary soldiers are kept in such a manner that you could turn to their names and give me the number of the record and the page, I would be much obliged. But if it entails upon you any amount of labor, pay no attention to it. My great grangfather died a
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FOWLER & SPANGLER, LAWYERS, SPENCER INDIANA. Office Over Exchange Bank, Rooms 1, 2 and 3. INMAN H. FOWLER. THOMAS G. SPANGLER. 

in Tippecanoe Co ) Ind. and I think he drew a pension, but I am not positive about that 

Well how is politics in Washington? Have you any silverites there? What do you think of Kentucky making an anti silver platform and then nominating a silver candidate for Governor? It shows loyalty to a democratic administration, but that the heart of the Kentucky democracy is for free and unlimited coinage. That is the way I take it. I think we will carry Indiana the next election on the state ticket, but I think we will lose it in the National election, Indiana will never follow Cleveland's lead on silver, 

Remember me to the wife and babies and when convenient write me. Yours truly, I H. Fowler -