Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23229, David Gage, Mass.
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(3 - 1776)

Service                                                       NUMBER
Mass.               Gage, David                       S.23229

Contents
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New York 24.827
David Gage
of Monroe in the State of New York
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Tyler of the REgt commanded
by Colo. Wade in the Mass. ma.
line for 12 mo. 6 days

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 40 Dollars 66 per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of March 
1834 and Lent to Moses Chapm
Rochester N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th of March 24              $121.98
Semi-anu. allowance ending 4(?) '34      20.33
                                                               $142.31

Recorded by  Ele Brown             Cler
Book E.  Vol. 4                              Page 102
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14375
                David Gage
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State of New York
County of Monroe
On this fifteenth day of October in the year 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges
holding the Court of Dyer and (?) in and for the County of Monroe, in the state of New York, to wit Hon. Addison Gardiner, Circuit Judge
and James Smith, Samuel Batts (?), and Joseph Libby(?) Judges of the Country court of said county of the town of Gates in the County of Monroe and State of New
York, aged Seventy three years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make this follow- ing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed Jun 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the  following named officers and serviced as herein stated. vig.

    In December 1775 there being apprehension in that the eight months men on duty near Boston would return home when their term of service expired, other militia were called for to supply
their places.  A Company was detached from Colonel Ezra Woods regiment in the [crossed "Plymouth"] Worcester County, Massachusetts.  Some of this  company were drafted and some volunteered. Said David Gage volunteered for two months and in said December 1st, Milford in Massachusetts, the place where he then resided, he was enrolled in Captain John Tylers company - the Lieutenant was Josph Chapin - the Ensign Graham Nelson - the Company was embedded in Colonel Seth (or Joseph) Reads regiment - the majors name is forgotten - all were under General Wards command.

The company marched in a body in said December from Milford to Roxbury through Holliston, Sherburne, Natick, Needham, Newton and Brookline. The names of the following Captains are remembered in Colonel Reads regiment. Captains Warren, Peters and Cob.(?) General Washington there was at Cambridge with [left margin "2 mos}"]  troops. Said David Gabe served out his two months and was then in February 1776 dismissed at Roxbury without written discharge and returned home to Milford. The company disbanded or separated before they started for home.

In September (as he thinks) 1776, another detachment was ordered into service from Colonel Woods said regiment. Said David Gage was drafted for two months and was enrolled in Captain Samuel Craggins company the lieutenant was Seth Thayer - the Ensign is forgotten He then marched in Captain Craggins company to Tarrytown on the Hudson River in New York, from Milford (his home) through Cambridge, Pomfret, Killingly, Mansfield, Coventry, East Hartford, Hartford, Milford (Conn.), Fairfield and Norwich. At Tarrytown Captain Craggins company was embedded
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Colonel Dana's regiment of Massachusetts militia which collected there and (without other troops) were stationed as a guard against three British thirty gun ships and three or four row gallies which lay in the river against Tarrytown. The major and Lieutenant of this regiment are forgotten. Two or three weeks before his two months were expired said David Gage was taken sick with billious fever and was carried to the hospital. When the two months were completed he was carried from the hospital to Hartford, Connecticut, in a public wagon - his father came and carried from Hartford, home to Milford, at which (?) he arrived on December 1, 1776. One Captain Byington is recollected in Colonel Dana's regiment. Said David Gage was in service at least five weeks before he was taken sick, and did not leave the hospital till fall two months were completed. 
     In September 1777 he was drafted (as his best recollection is) for one month and marched from his home in Milford in Captain Benjamin Farrer's Company of drafted Massachusetts militia to Little Compton over against Newport in the State of Rhode Island. The object of this expedition was to attack and annoy the British at Newport. Forces to the number of seven or eight thousand (as was said) were collected at or near to Little Compton. Captain Farrer's Company was detached from the whole regiment to which his men belonged to go on this service - his lieutenant was by name, Mash - his Engsign is forgotten. The way to Little Compton was through Mendon, Cumberland, Swanzey, Freetown and Tiverton. Captain Farrar's company was embodied in Colonel Harves regiment - the major is forgotten - General Spencer commanded the whole forces. One night all the troops were collected at Falklands point to cross over to Newport to attack the British - stayed there until nearly midnight and were ordered off without an attempt to cross. It is not known why General Spencer abandoned the project. The troops returned to their quarters and continued at that station until the month of draft was completed. Said David Gage was then verbally discharged at Little Compton - the company dispersed and he returned home to Milford the road(?) he had come and reached there about the middle of October 1777, having been one full (?) month in actual service. 
     About the twentieth of June 1778 a company was drafted and detached from a Worcester County regiment and ordered to march to Providence in Rhode Island to help repair the forts there. Said David Gage was drafted and was enrolled in Captain Seagraves Company - his Lietenant was Caley - the Ensign
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ordered to march to Providence in Rhode Island to help repair the forts there. Said David Gage was drafted and was enrolled in Captain Seagraves Company - his Lieutenant was Caley - the Ensign is not recollected. The company marched from Milford to Providence through Cumberland. The regiment commanded by Colonel Wade - (the Major is forgotten,) and were the only troops at Providence. The British then lay on Rhode Island. Said David Gage continued twenty one days at Providence on duty when Captain Seagraves Company was verbally discharged there and separated - he returned to Milford the same road he went from home, and arrived home about July 12, 1778. He asks pensions for twenty one days for this service.

In July 1780 he volunteered for three months and was enrolled in Captain Benjamin Reads Company of Massachusetts Militia - which company was detached from a a whole regiment. of Worcester County Militia - the Lieutenant was Taft, the Ensign is forgotten. The whole company marched July 10 or 11 from Douglas, Mass. to Claverack, State of New York, by  Thompson, Killingly, Pomfret, Mansfield, Enfield, and Suffield in Connecticut and by Sheffield in Massachusetts. He expected to be marched from Clavernack to the northward but was marched from there on the east side of Hudson river to opposite West Point and there crossed over the river to West Point and staid on duty there until the three months of enlistment were completed during which time he was once sent to Fishkill in a detached company and was away from West Point about a week. Capt. Reads Company was in a regiment under Colonel Densmore (he thinks) - then Lieut. Colonel Wheelock - the Major Benjamin Farrer. 
The Quartermaster Warren said one day that five hundred and eight men was the number on duty at West Point. General or Colonel Lamb held the chief command. General Benedict Arnold was at Robinsons Farms opposite to West Point and in that September sold the fort to the British. At the end of the three months enlistment he was discharged at West Point without written discharge about the middle of October, and returned home The men were left to make way home each for himself. At the time of Arnold treachery General Washington came to West Point one day and staid less than a half day.
In summer of 1781 there was a call for Massachusetts Militia to march to the state of New York to prevent the British from going up the Hudson River. The town of Holliston in Massachusetts, near Milford could not furnish its complement of troops by volunteers. Said David Gage volunteered at Milford for said town of Holliston sometime in August 1781 and immediately marched from Milford with part of a company under Lieutenant Loring to Springfield in Massachusetts, and then through the northwest, part of Connecticut to Fishkill in the state of New York - then to West-
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point, then to Peekskill in New York. The whole company was collected there under Captain John Howard- the Lieutenant Nathaniel Loring - the Ensign is forgotten. The company was embodied in Colonel Webbs regiment of Massachusetts Militia the major is forgotten. Three brigades were on duty there, he thinks. He was kept at Peekskill about six weeks and was then put into a company of detached men under Captain Toay of Woburn, Massachusetts) and sent to Fishkill to cut word for the invalid troops quartered there. Captain Toays Company was composed of six or eight men taken from each company in the regiment-- the Lieutenant was by name Wales - no Ensign as recollected. He (said Gage) staid at Fishkill about six weeks and until the three months of enlistment was completed and was discharged there by a written discharge signed by Captain Toay. This discharge was kept many years and was then lost somehow. He returned home to Milford nearly the same way he had come and reached there December 9th or 10th 1781 having been absent from home about three and a half months and on duty in actual service just three months --- He travelled home by himself except a part of the way he travelled with a fellow soldier by the name of John Young of Hopkinton Massachusetts. He is confident he travelled over twelve days and asks pension for three months and 12 days. 3 mo 12 d.

He further states that the foregoing statement contains all the particulars which come to his mind which may be useful in the investigation of his claim to a pension - that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service. 

And in answer to the following seven Interrogatories propounded by the Court, to wit 
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 when you served; such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances as of your service.
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the troops where you served; such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstan us of your service. 

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and is so by whom was it given, 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 -
He days in answer to 
1. To the first Interrogatory that he was born in the town of Milford, County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts December 26. 1758 
2.To the second, that his birth was entered or recorded on the town records of said town of Milford, that there was a like entry or record in his fathers family bible, but he knows not where that bible now is and has no record of his age 
3.To the third, that he lived at said Milford in Massachusetts when called into service and continued to live there until the year 1817, then removed to Henrietta, County of Monroe and State of New York and lived there six years then removed to Pittsford in said County and State and lived there four years - then removed to Gates in said County and State and has continued to live there until now 
4. To the fourth, that he was drafted into service and volunteered at different times as is set forth in the preceding statement 
5. To the fifth- that he has hereinbefore set forth names of officers, and regiments, and circumstances of service as far as is recollected. 
6. To the sixth that he never received but one written discharge and that was given by Captain Toay and was lost as is here inbefore set forth 
7. To the seventh - he would state the names of his neighbors as follows: Oliver Noble, Eleazer Howard, Henry H. Corbin Doctor Nathan Butterfield, Phiny Corbin, Elisha Noble, Albert Noble, all residing in the town of Gates aforesaid 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the 15th day of October 1832 
L. Adams Clerk 
David Gage
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6 I Reuben Tenny a clergyman residing in the town of Henrietta (but until May last, in the town of Pittsford) County of Monroe and State of New York, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with David Gage who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, having known him well for the last fifteen years, at Henrietta and Pittsford while he resided there and then at Gates where he now resides and where I officiate as minister a part of each month, and I Henry H. Corbin residing in the town of Gates aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with said David Gage and faith we certify that we believe him to be seventy three years of age and upwards: that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood when he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion 

Sworn and subscribed in open Court this 15th day of October 1832 
Reuben Genny 
Henry H Corbin 
L. Adams 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 Reuben Tenny who has signed the presiding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Henrietta as he deposes; and that Henry H. Corbin who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Gates as he deposes, and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit. Witness our hands this 15th day of October 1832 
Saml Castle
James Smith 
H H Corbin
Joseph Sibley
Judges of the ourt of Oyer & Terminer in & for the County of Monroe N.Y 

I Leonard Adams, Clerk of the Court of Oyer and Terminer in and for the County of Monson State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Gage for a pension. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office being the seal of said Court this 15th day of October 1832 L. Adams Clerk
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hand and seal of office being the seal of said this 15th day of October 1832 

L. Adams Clerk State New County ss: 
On this twelfth day of June in the year 1833 personally appeared in open court before Hon Samuel S. Selden, Samuel Castle and Ira Carpenter, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Monroe (the same being a Court of record and now sitting David Gage a resident in the town of Gates in said County and State, aged seventy four years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, doth on his oath say that all the preceding statements as now written and to which his name is subscribed are true, and he wishes this to be considered as supplementary to the previous proceedings and that they remain in full force.

Sworn to and subscribed in open court the 12th day of June 1833 
David Gage L. Adams 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 is entitled to credit. 

Witness our hands this 12th day of June 1833 
Saml Tilden 
James Castle
Ira Carpenter Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Monroe N.Y. 

I Leonard Adams, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Monroe, State of New York, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Gage pension, there being erasures, interlineation or crowded whereever there is a red ink figure in the margin 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, being the seal of said Court, this twelfth day of June 1833 
L. Adams Clerk
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14375 

David Gage 
Monroe County, New York 
proof of Bangs Regd 

Admitted 

Private 124 mo & 11 days 
May 15 '33 

Moses Chapin Rochester N.Y.
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BRIEF in the case of David Gage of Gates of Monroe County in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court. 

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 

3. How old is he? 73 years. 

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

[table, headings]Period. | Duration of Service. Months, Days. |  Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
[row 1] In 1775 | - 2 - | as private | Gen. Ward, Capt Tyler Col Ezra Woods & Col Read
[row 2] 1778 | - 2 - | " | Capt Craggins, Col Woods L Dana
[row 3] 1777 | - 1 - | " | Capt Farrar Col Hawes, Gen'l Spencer
[row 4] 1778 | - - 21 | " | Cap Seagraves, Col Wade
[row 5] 1780 | - 3 - " | Cap Benj Read, Col Dinsmore
[row 6] 1781 | about 3 - 15 | " | Lt. Losing, Cap Howard, Col Webb

5. In what battles was he engaged? 

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worcester County Mass

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary 

8.Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? not attached as required 

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above 
Richard Cutts Examining Clerk.
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David Gage 

Brief sent on the first application since when corrected the papers
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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 David Gage [name handwritten] which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes [answer handwritten]

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes [answer handwritten]

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?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes [answer handwritten]

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 amount of pension he is entitled? Yes [answer handwritten]

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under who he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes [answer handwritten]

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes [answer handwritten]

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes [answer handwritten]

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes [answer handwritten]

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 [answer handwritten]


https://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.png
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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 [answer handwritten]

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No [handwritten and crossed off] Yes [handwritten]

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? No [handwritten and crossed out]
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the creditability of the witness or witnesses? No [crossed out]
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the religious direct? No [crossed out]

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? No [crossed out]

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No [writing is very faint as if tried to remove answer]

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? all around [hand written]

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 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 ___________; and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 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 [italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifiying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifiying 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 civil pursuit.
QUERE XVI. Proof of Service [italics]
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 creditability of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers. [italics]
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.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary's Office, Decem 5th 1833 

I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of David Gage as a private is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Benjamin Farrar's Company in Col. Benj Hawe's Regt where he is allowed from Sept 17th to October 29th 1777 for services and travel one month and five days

David Gage's name is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Edward Seagrave's Company in Col. Wades Regt. where he is allowed from June 19th to July 12th 1777 twenty three days.-- = 23 

David Gage's name is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Benj Read's Company in Col. John Rands Regt. where he is allowed from July 14th to Octobr 10th 1780 for service and travel three months seven days 3-7 = 505

David Gage claims for services under Capt Tyler in Decemr 1776 also in Sept 1776 under Capt Samuel Craggin, and in August 1781 under Capt. John Howard the rolls of which are not found in this Office except one of of Capt Sam Craggin for the month of Dec'r 1776 on which his name is not borne. 
Edward D Bangs Leo
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Hon. J. L Edwards
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Sir I have procured the certificate of Secretary Bangs and again forward the papers of David Gage He thinks his absence for sickness is the reason his name does not appear in Capt. Cragging well for Dec. 1776 

He renews his request for the whole time stated in his declaration Please make return as soon as practicable 
Yours respectfully Moses Chapin

Rochester N.Y. Jan 1, 1834. J.L. Edwards, Esq Charles Morton & E Griffith are not heard from
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War Department
Pension Office
September 24 1833
Sir,
The claim of David Gage has been examined and his papers are herewith returned. the regulations require the best evidence in the power of claimants to produce and it is believed from later information that the records in the office of E. D. Bangs Secy of State of Massachusetts furnish rolls of his alleged service. It is therefore necessary that he should obtain Mr. Bangs Certificate in relation to his service.
I am Respectfully 
Yr. Obt. Servt.
J L Edwards
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Revolutionary 
23229
INVALID. 23, 229 
David Page 
Pri. Rev War Act June 7th 32
Index - Vol. 3, Page 148
{Arrangement of 1870.}