Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3205, Peter Eastman, Mass. N.H.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
N.H.
Eastman, Peter
NUMBER
R.3205
CONTENTS
Page 2

State of Vermont 
Orleans County Duly in said Orleans County on this
 twenty fifth day of July A.D. 1832
before the Subscribing authority personally appeared Peter Eastman of the Town of Compton in the Counrty of Three Rivers and Province of Lower Canada, aged Seventy Eight
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 provisions of the act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832. that he enlisted in & entered the service of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein after stated; that he first
Entered the said service in the month of May A.D. 1775.
at the town of Kingston in the State of New Hampshire, the
place of his residence at that time under an enlistment for
the term of nine months in the company commanded by
Captain Moses Mc Farland of Hoonhill in the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, in the regiment commanded by Colonel
Thomas Nixon & Lieuntenant Colonel Nathaniel Nixon a brother
of the first Colonel; that he was first stationed at "old Colonel
Lipps Com" in Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts, where his
lstnd continued until after the battle of Bunker hill: that the
next day, being a Sunday, he was removed to Prospect Hill
where he was employed in building a fort until some time
in the month of September after, when he was removed
to the "Commons" just North of ploughed Hill" and employed
in building be barracks for winter quarters, when he removed
until his said term of enlistment expired, having served the
full term except that his brother at two different times for
about two weeks at that brother request and by consent of the
command of his company sworn in his stead he was regularly discharged He acted as Drummer in his company had
no written discharge, nor did any at that time as this 
applicant believes. He further declares that in the month of
March A.D. 1776 he enlisted in the regular line of the continental army
at the town of Kingston aforesaid, for the
term of nine months; that he entered the service at a
place called "Great Island"  about three miles north of Portsmouth
in the State of New Hampshire, in the company commanded by
Apton John Kelf: in the regiment commanded by Colonel
David Gilman of Pembroke New Hampshire and Archelaus Moore
Major of Londonderry in New Hampshire and was employed
during the whole term aforesaid in building a fort on said Island
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and that he was regularly discharged about one week before the
nine month expired the fort being completed and the new recruit
for one year having arrived in sufficient number to fill the regiment
for another company or was discharged in the same manner 
as after the former campaign. He further states that in the year
1777, being at South Hampton in the State of Massachusetts and
orders coming for such state to send on a certain number of mas
to join the army at Fishkill or Peekskill in the State of New
York; he enlisted for the term of two months, but when he
returned home be found his family in such condition, that he
could not with any propriety go on to perform his said term of 
service personally and of the most exertion not finding one be
out his to supply his place for a less sum, he found one Moses
Emerson and paid him Eighty dollars to supply his place for the
term, who performed the services & returned home and whether he
is now living he does not know. As dulous that the word
of his age is in the town of Kingston, that he was born in the
year 1754; since the revolutionary war he has resided ten or
fifteen years in Salisbury New Hampshire; three years in Forfox
in Vermont and thirty two years in the town of Compton aforesaid. In the time of service aforesaid he was a volunteer, he does
not know of any more direct or full evidence of service which
he could procure then the annexed affidavits; that his name
is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
he hereby relinquishes all claim to one purse or rents except the present

[signature] Peter Eastman
Subscribed & Sworn to before the subscribing thirty
the day & year last above written.
[signature] David M. Camp
July of A. C. Court

Derby July 26. 1832
M Isaac Seerns a Justice of peace for said County of Orleans and
resident in said Derby and Timothy West Eastman of Ascott
certify that we have been long acquainted with Peter Eastman who has subscribed
and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be
of the age of seventy eight as by him stated and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood
or when he has and where he does
reside, to have been a soldier of the revolution as in his declaration
forth and that we concur in that opinion. 
[signature] Timm. W. Eastman

subscribed & sworn to the date above written. [signature] Isaac Severens
Hartt in [illegible] since written before sign & stowings
[signature] DM Camp, Judge A.C.
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4170
Peter Eastman
[illegible]
S.F. Redfield Esq
Derby Vt
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Sir
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
April 26 1833
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.
pony
rendered.
Statement, showing the service of
Duration of the
claimant's service
Rank of
the
claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Age at present,
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr Peter Eastman
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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 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.
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 claim
in the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians 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.
Sate, Terrio of
County of
On this
day of
of
A. B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he servunder
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.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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 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 Revowards
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.
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the pretty certify that the foregoing
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 sertices
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
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
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

Evidence serve may pobably be found among the
Claimant is not went in his allegation that he enlist
time for so long a period
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
tempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected
. 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.
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 givren
, and what has become of it?
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 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
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 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.
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
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at-
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will fol-
The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must sign a sufficient reason for not
confirming to the rule.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under 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
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 and long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
sonally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being uty 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 Forest and served for such service I claim a pension."
line with precision the signal hand which applicant was at the particular rank he held, as the law
that the grate the rents and the length of trees do if he ever set are at four months,
is suite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some one who apply for readers merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the there, the names of the unleave, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration in
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what offers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the Chruding place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent of
thority; 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
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The names of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must ama was near, and it was no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no pubthe
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 gathenticating 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 con-
1
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 resolved 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 wit-
-
man at the share and smart at a wife and affixed the signal officer, under his seal of offer
The notes from all equally applies to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is
set fire to the said free culy.
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
the offer of the Secretary of Massachusetts
for 9 months in 1775 as no troops were raised at that
Page 8

3205
[stamp] REJECTED
P. O.
Peter Eastman
&
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Rich
Recognized.
18
18
18
Contract.
Page 9

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, August 29, 1823
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 on the Muster Roll of Capt. Moses M Farland
Company, in Col John Nixon's Regiment, are borne
the following names, viz
Stephen Eastman, Drummer, having enlisted
April 30, 1775, and serving to August 1, 1775,
and was allowed, for service and travel, three months
and nine days.
Benjamin Eastman, Private, having enlisted
April 24, 1775, and serving to August 1, 1775, and
was allowed, for service and travel, three months
and fifteen days
Ebenezer Eastman, Private, having enlisted
April 24, 1775, and serving to August 1, 1775, and
was allowed, for service and travel three months
and fifteen days
[signature] Edward D Bangs
Page 10

Vermont [illegible]

Peter Eastman
Rejected
Let February
Page 11

District of St Foanus
Province of Lower Canada
Personally appeared before me Cornelius Hyatt Esqr one of the Magistrate Justices of the Peace for said district to deposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with Peter Eastman of the Township of Compton Lower Canada and also acquainted with his services in the American Armies during the American War.
Page 12

September 1833-
Emma
Expins by or the Term of his sistment
in the returned home on furlow.
sworn
this 13th day of
September 1833 Joseph Griffins
[illegible] Cornelius Hyatt
Page 13

State of Vermont
[illegible]
Page 14

[illegible] that the signature affixed to the [illegible] to be genuine.
Subscribed & sworn this day and year [illegible] 
[signature] Abiel Moulton
[signature] Simon Stone

And the said court do hereby certify that it appears to them that Abial Moulton has subscribed and sworn to the above certificate is a clergyman resident [illegible] aforesaid and Simon Stone who has above signed & sworn to said certificate is a resident in [illegible] aforesaid [illegible] is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 4th day of September 1833
[signature] John H. Kimball Register
Page 15

No 4170

State of Vermont
Orleans County ss Derby 25 July 1832
David M. Camp one of the Justices of the County
Court a court of record in and for the County of Orleans
aforesaid hereby declare my 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 solder and served as he states and 
I further certify that the said Eastman by reason of bodily
infirmity is unable to appear in court being his infirm & descrepit
from age and afflicted by a disease of the kidneys Causing
an involuntary urinary discharge and also to come as not
to be able to cross the room without the aid of crutches &
also that [illegible], who has subscribed & sworn to the
foregoing certificate is a Justice of peace as then set forth
that said Eastman is considered by those who know him to
be a credible man; but is unknown to me & that there
statement is entitled to credit.
The explanation of the foregoing, I concieve it proper
and that the applicant has within the last
three days, as he states, travelled to this place from
Compton the place of his residence a distance of
about thirty miles & from a careful examination
of his case I am satisfied that the exercise has
materially injured his health & that he cannot, with
out endangering his life, prolong his journey the
distance of about sixteen miles to the place of holding
witness whereof I have hereunto set my [illegible]
[signature] David M. Camp
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State of Vermont
Orleans County and that
[illegible] Court holden at Derby
in said District on the 4th day of
September in the year one thousand eight hundred and three
I Abial Moulton of the Township of Starford in the Province of Lower Canada a clergyman [illegible]
am well acquainted with Peter Eastman
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that I believe him to be seventy one years
of age that he is reputed and believed in the
neighbourhood there he resides to have been
a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in the
opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

State of Vermont
Orleans County
I Ira H Allen Clerk of Orleans
County Court do hereby certify
that the Hon. David M. Camp
is one of the assistant Justices of
Orleans County Court and that the
foregoing signatures purporting
to be his I believe to be genuine
I also certify that Ebenr Sanborn is a Justice
of the peace for said County of Orleans
the above signature purporting to be his
believe to be genuine 
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my
affix the seal of said Court this 28
July 1832-
[signature] Ira H. Allen Clk
Page 17

I Timothy West Eastman of Ascott in the [illegible] of lower Canada depose & say that [illegible] who subscriber and made oath to the [illegible] is a resident of Joy in said county of Orleans and is there reputed to be a man of [illegible] good character as to truth and veracity and that [illegible] Witness to come to [illegible]
[signature] Tim W. Eastman
Orleans County aforesaid
Duly July 21 1832 subscribed and sworn to before me I also state my opinion that said witness could not be produced before me as stated [illegible][illegible]
DM Camp Judge Orl Q.t.
Page 18

State of Vermont  
Orleans County Be it known that before me
Ebenezer
Sanborn one of the Justices of the peace
for the County aforesaid, personally
appeared Moses
Hunt and made oath to the following statement
3205
I Moses Hunt of the State of Vermont and county
of Orleans do testify
and make oath that I was personally acquainted with Peter Eastman and certify that the
Enlisted and served eight months in the continental
army in the year 1775 in the company of Capt Moore
Purlie and Regiment of Col Nixon and I farther
depose
that the enlisted in the year 1776, for the term
twelve
months and served at Portsmouth in the company
of Capt John help and Regiment of Col. Gilman
Jay July 26th 1832 personally
[signature] Moses Hunt
Appeared Moses Hunt, and made oath the foregoing
Before me, [signature] Ebenr Sanborn, Justice of the Peace