Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19085, for Gideon Shurtleff, Massachusetts
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Gideon Shurtliff
which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
yes
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes
V.
Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension
by
he is entitled? yes
VII. Has he made a relinqBR.
IEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Gideon Shurtliff
which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
is
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
is
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
V.
Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension
by
he is entitled?
VII. Has he made a relinq
June 7, 1832?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
s
of every claim to any other period than the one under the Act of
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
from any other seal?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
June 7, 1832?yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
from any other seal?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not een produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
 
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the test
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?
yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And.
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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 recolyear

months, and --- days, I served as a . Formonths

and - days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension.
election he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades;
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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 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 objection
able. 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.
QUERE XIV. 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 claimants 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.
TOUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.