Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4348, Samuel Griswold, Conn.
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SERVICE
Conn

Griswold, Samuel

NUMBER
R4348
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County}Ss. Norfolk Probate District on the 9th day of August 1832

Personally appeared in open court now in session Michael F. Mills Esquire Judge of the Court of Probate holding said court Samuel Griswold a resident of the town of Colebrook in Litchfield County aged seventy five years last January 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 in the year 1777 he entered the service of the United States under Capt Polk[?] then of South Canaan in the south part of the town of Canaan was employed three months in building barracks near Fisk Kill for the army.

That in the year 1778 about the month of August he was drafted into the company of Capt. Pettibone was marched to near White Plaines and Horseneck served about two months.

That in the year 1777 he was [illegible] as a drafted
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militia man under Capt Timothy Maps was out soon after St. Johns was Burnt, was marched up and down the river, was out one month, was also with Capt Maps in the northern army as far north as a place called Meeps Creek near Fort Miller, from there retreated to Stillwater. Served about six weeks.

And that he was born in Guilford in the state of Connecticut, lived there until he was fourteen years of age then removed to Canaan in said state where he resided at the time of doing the service mentioned. Have resided in Colebrook for forty three years. That he is well acquainted with the Rev. Rufus Babcock, clergyman & Lancelot Phelps Esquire who can testify as to his character.

That he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present. That his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Samuel Griswold

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me.
Michael F. Mills Judge of Probate
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We Rufus Babcock, Clergyman, and Lancelot Phelps Esquire both residing in the town of Colebrook hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Griswold who has subscribed and sworn to the above and within declaration. That we believe him to be seventy five 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. And that his character is fair for truth and veracity and his statement is entitled to credit.
Rufus Babcock
Lancelot Phelps

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me.
Michael F. Mills

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 Samuel Griswold applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states and the Court further certify that it appears to said court that Rufus Babcock who has signed the above certificate is a clergyman resident of the town of Colebrook and that Lancelot Phelps Esquire is also a resident of said town of Colebrook and that they are credible persons and their statement is entitled to credit.
Michael F. Mills Judge of Probate
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I Michael G Mills Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Said Court in the matter of the applications of Samuel Griswold for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 9th day of August A.D. 1832 Michael G Mills Clerk


13.860
Samuel Griswold
Declaration
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County}Ss. Norfolk Probate District on this 13 day of July AD 1833

Personally appeared in open court before me Michael F. Mills Esquire Judge of the Court of Probate for the district of Norfolk Samuel Griswold of Colebrook in said county 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 in addition to his former declaration made before this court on the 9 day of August 1832 that the first three months from mentioned in the year 1777 he was employed in building the barracks and if he ever knew who was the Col it is so long since that he has entirely forgot his name. Was out as a private in all his term he served.

That as to his term of service mentioned in 1778 under Capt. Pettibone he is confident it was all of three months, but cannot say as to the officer it is so long since.

That in the third time of service in the year 1777 under Capt Moses, Gen. Putnam had
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the command. That when he said about six week intends to be understood that he served six weeks and is more confident he served six weeks and he believes even more but is confident it was six weeks, and that the other term was one month.

And that he has no record of his age except what is put in his Bible that he has no documentary evidence neither does he know of any witnesses living who can testify as to his term of service.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Griswold

In open Court before me Michael F. Mills Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk
I Michael G. Mills Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk to hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Samuel Griswold for a pension.
in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 13th day of July AD 1833.
Michael G. Mills Clerk
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13860
Samuel Griswold
CT

Rejected
[crossed out "Suspended"]
3 months building barracks
not appear to be military service

M. F. Mills
Norfolk
Connt.
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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 you 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 Samuel Griswold CT
[column headings]
Period when the service was rendered |
Duration of the claimant's service |
Rank of the claimant |
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served |
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers |
Battles in which the applicant was engaged |
Country through which he marched |
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period |
Evidence by which the declaration is supported|

1777 | 3 months | Private | Cap Publ | ~ | ~ | engaged in building barracks | 75 born in Guilford CT and then there he entered the service. And lives in Litchfield County CT |

1778 drafted | about 1 months | Capt. Pettibone | ~ | ~ | marched to near White Plains, Horseneck |

1777 drafted | 1 month also out about 1 month 12 days | Captain Maps | ~ | ~ | Meeps Creek then to Stillwater |

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

Certificate of a Clergyman and a citizen.
One showing witnesses, not really given.
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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 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 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.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, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with ______ and served in the ________ (e) regiment of the ________ line,, under the following named officers:

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. 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 declarations, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the ___________ and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ______, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _________ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.

(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ______ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, __________ Clerk of the Court of ______ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of __________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _________&c.

 

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the applicant.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produces 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 service 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 declarations 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 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. 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 services 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 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 years, 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 services 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 emplo9yed in any civil pursuit.

(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.

(g) The opinion of the court is always required.

(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.

(i) The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signatures 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 certificates 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 witnesses, 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 (i) are all equally applicable to the exam of Militia men, Volunteers and state Troops. The proof required by rule in case (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 in the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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13860
Samuel Griswold
Connecticut

Rejected 3 Sept 1833
see letter M. F. Mills
not 6 months out 
4348

Act 7th June 1832
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crossed out (Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.

4348
P.O. Samuel Griswold

REJECTED