Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6706, for William Mc Farland, New York
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New York 
McFarland, William
R 6706
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[crossed out, act of July 14, 1832 and March 8, 1873]
REJECTED 
P.O. William McFarland.
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Revo.
Act 7 June 1832
Suspended
Wm. McFarland.
Sce.Letter to
David Eddy
Wayne co.
N.Y.
26. Oct. 1833.
6706
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13696
William McFarland 
Wayne County
New York
en
Nicholas Van [illegible]
Now being questioned 

David Eddy Esq
[crossed out, John S. Cry let, Clk.
Wayne County [crossed out word]
New York
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War Department 
Pension Office
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim under the Act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show 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.
A Statement showing the service of William McFarland, Wayne County, N.Y.
Period when service was rendered -
Enlist  1775
Duration of the claimant service- 1 yr. 2 months. 
Rank of the claimant-
Sargento
Names and rank of the comp officers under whom he served-
Capt. Graham
Name and rank of the general and field officers-
General Montgomery, Maj. General [illegible]
Battles in which the applicant was engaged-
Siege of St. John’s 
Country through which he marched-
N.Y.
Place of abode where he entered the service and age at present period.-
Aged 88, Stillwater, New York
Evidence by which this declaration is supported-
Traditionary evidence

. When service was rendered.-
1776
Duration of the claimant service- 
Five months
Rank of the claimant- Teamster
Names and rank of the company officers under whom he served- captain Graham
Names and rank of the general infield officers-
Battles in which the applicant was engaged- 
Quebec
Country through which he marched-
From Stillwater to Lake George, mainly in boats to Ticonderoga to Connecticut.

Period which the service was rendered-1777
Rank of the claimant- CARPENTER
Period of service was rendered- 1777 
Rank at time of service- CARPENTER
Names in rank of the company officers under whom he served -Captain Enos
Names in rank of general and field officers- Colonel Warner
Battles in which the applicant was engage- Bennington
Country through which he marched-crown point and [Illegible]

Period When service was rendered-1777
Names in rank of general infield officers- Colonel Morgan
Battles in which the applicant was engaged- 
Surrender of Burgoyne
Country through which he marched- north to St. John’s 

Period of service was rendered-
1780
Duration of Claimant service- 3 mos.
Rank at time of service-Private 
Names and rank of General infield officers-
Capt. White, Col. Brown
Battles in which applicant was engaged-
Battle near Stone Robbin
Country through which he marched-
From St. John’s to La Prarie, thence to Quebec and returned to Stillwater 

Term service not allowed, carpenter.
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 as 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 or commissary and to storekeepers and etc.. Teamsters, boatman, etc. Persons who travel on board of a private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as person who turned out as patrol, or we’re engaged in particular places at night, and we’re not recognizes being an actual military service.
Four general classes of cases I embraced in the law:
1. The regular troops.
2. The state troopers, Malicia and volunteers.
3. Person is employed in the naval service.
4. Indian spies.
As walls of the regular troops in the revolutionary war exist in this department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, noncommissioned, officers, musicians, or privates, will be in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a court of record of the county were such applicant resides. And every court have been given 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 7 June 1832.
State, territory, or district of county of SS:
On this——-day of—— personally appeared(a) before—-a resident—— in the—— and state, territory or district of—— aged—-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 past June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year—— with—-and served in the—-regiment of the—— line under the following named officers:
[Here said for 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 resides When he entered the service; the battles Fanny, in which he was engaged in the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied as to apply to the case of officers in person who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, etc..]
He here by 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 or if any only on that of agency in the state of
——.A.B.
Sworn to 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 that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
I —— 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 here unto set my hand  and seal of office this ——day of —- and etc.
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 Malicia, 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.
We,A. B. A clergy man 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 In subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow with a 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 proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the———— and that C. D. Who has also signed the same as a resident in the.———— and 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———& etc.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but neither of these can be obtained. The party will 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 a light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witnesses cannot be found, the applicant so state in his declaration, 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 state I will afford one of the principal means of cooperating, the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are polite, 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 propose the following,  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 live now?
4. How are you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom?
5. State the name of the sum of the regular officers who were with the troops were you served such as 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 became of it?
6. 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 the 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 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, to respectful persons, one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such an applicant who could testify, From your 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 clergy man, the court will certify, and they will also certify, to the character of the standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, and 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 a justice of a court of record, or 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 justice of the peace and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of any person died before taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in the case of death of 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 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 Hunter 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,  justice of the peace, etc. 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 service, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below , and is the following grades for——years——-months———and——-days, I served as a —— for——months—— and——days——, I served as a —-; and for each 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 of the petitioner and the length of service. The use of the phrase about here or four months is too indefinite and all such qualifying expressions or objectionable. Some person who apply for pensions entirely state that they served two years in the militia, etc., without specifying the tours, the name of the officers, and the other particulars respecting their services. 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 the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
(f) The law makes the relinquishment respect.
(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 many 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 has authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached. There are two 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 for in their affidavit, the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line in which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths mustardy to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under the seal of his office.
The notes from(a) to (I) RO equally applicable to the case of militia men, volunteers and state troops. The proof required by rate is a 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 answer to the interrogatories, must be written, and sent to the war department, with the declaration.
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Declaration
State of New York
Wayne county § SS: 
On this six day of July 1833 personally appeared before me, David Eddy, a judge in and for said county of Wayne, William McFarland,  aged 89 years a resident of the town of Arcadia and County aforesaid who being first duly sworn, according to law that on his oath, made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that he enlisted in the year 1775 the last of April or 1 of May under the command of Captain John Graham, Lieutenant Nicholas Van Rensselaer of which company this claimant was orderly subject. The enlistment was for six months he was marched from Stillwater, the place of his residence to the head of Lake George then embarked in boats, passed into Lake Champlain at Ticonderoga from there to Isle this place, he was placed under the command of major Peter Granesvort, this was the 2 nd regiment of Yorkers from there he was carried in a boat to the St. John’s and lower Canada and commenced the siege of what that place. Here he was placed under the command of Colonel Eastman of the Massachusetts. The little fort at this place was soon taken with the regiment of British soldiers. This claimant was then marched across the country to LaPrairie and the St. Lawrence opposite Montreal. He then crossed the river under the command of General Montgomery, who had joined the army at St. John’s. Montreal was taken in three days without firing a gun. He went from there to Quebec by land and camped in opens planes before the city [Cross out letter]. Sometime the last of December the next night after this claimant arrived at Quebec he was called out to storm the place. Was near General Montgomery when he fell and we were defeated and returned back to our camp. Stayed there until the eighth day of May then was ordered up the river for United States in votes. Almost without provisions, went up to Chamberlee
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River into like Champlain and returned it to Stillwater by the same route that we went and armed in Stillwater, sometime the last of June or first of July, and in this campaign, he had no other business, but to do his duty in the army, he was discharged at Stillwater accused, a written discharge signed by Captain John Graham, which discharge was burned in his room, which was accidentally consumed by fire.
In 1777, he went sometime in the month of March to Lake Champlain with some others to build boats about 1 July Burgoyne, came up the lake and drove us away returned to Stillwater entered the company commanded by Captain Enis Park. Marched to Bennington was in that battle which taken the great part of the[Illegible sentence] .
He Jared Ceal, sixth Warmus Regiment at Bennington and fought under his command, this claimant was marched to Stillwater, joined the main Army under the command of General Gates, the company of Cap Park, and of course this applicant was at this place, put under the command of Colonel Morgan, was at the taking of Burgoyne, he was discharged sometime the first of November, had no written discharge, served the campaign as a private cohort. Term of service recurring from the time Burgoyne drove him from his business on Lake Champlain on the first ofJuly from that time until the first November he was an actual siege which which was four months and that in July 1 or they were about 1780, he enlisted in the town of Adams, state in Massachusetts in a company commanded by Captain William White in a regiment commanded by Colonel Brown as a private for those months marched [illegible] county near Columbana from there to Albany from there to Stone Robby to guard the frontier against the Indians near this place, a bloody battle was fought in which the claimant took a part. The colonel of the regiment was kid toward Colonel Brown the whole party.[Illegible.] was taken or dispersed if this applicant does not mistaken happened on 19 October 1780 and the last day of his term of service. He was then discharged had a written discharge signed by Captain White. Burned up as above stated. He was born in the town of Leicaster  county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts in the year 1744  from thence he moved to Nine Pastures, New York from thence to Stillwater, same state, from thence to Adams, Massachusetts from thence to Winfield, Washington County, New York from thence to Crown point on Lake Champlain from thence to Homer, Cortland County, New York, from thence to Sodus,  Wayne County, same state.
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In which county he still resides.
And that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person who can testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services, and he kindly relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state.
Answers to the queries 
1st [Crossed out words] in Lehigh county of Worcester, Massachusetts.
2. No record of his age.
3. Stillwater, New York, all states in the body of the declaration.
4. Enlisted.
5th turn on of Montgomery, Colonel Cashman, Major Gansevoort, first company
Col. Warner General Stark, general Gates and E company
6th Answers in the body of the declaration
7th Jonathan Boyington, Stephen Vaughan, Issac Dunfrey, Reuben H. Foster
William McFarland X his mark

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me.
David Eddy
We Jonathan Boyington and Stephen Vaughan residing in the county of Wayne hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William McFarland who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 89 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.
Jonathan Boyington
Stephen Vaughan
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
David Eddy
Judge of the Wayne County courts
And I David Eddy one of the judges of Wayne County to hereby deliver my opinion of the investigation of the matter and after putting the investigation prescribedby the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he stated, and I do further certify that it appears to me that Jonathan Boyington and Stephen Vaughan, who has signed the proceeding certificate, our residence in the county of Wayne and our credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and I do further certify that this applicant is not acquainted with any clergyman in the county that can certify for him and that he is almost entirely helpless from old age so that he was unable to attend court. 
David Eddy
A judge of Wayne County courts
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State of New York
Wayne county SS:
I, Cullen Foster, acting clerk of the county of Wayne do hereby certify that David Eddy before whom the above declaration reports to have been taken, was on the day of the date hereof a judge of said County duly authorized to take the same and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his signature to be the same, to be his own proper handwriting.
In testimony whereof:
I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county this 6th day of July eighteen hundred and thirty three.
By Rob. Holley Deputy Clk. Wayne County

Sir. The above applicant has not even a trace of property in the world. He is helpless, from old age and disease and lives entirely by charity. He has an old almost helpless wife. This never was a case, perhaps a case in which the cause of humanity would be better served than immediately to aid this old soldier. I have to travel 15 miles to do his writing. Please send his certificate to me and if you give him on to Marion Post Office, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
With respect, yours,
David Eddy