Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16136, Ezra Griffen, Conn. New Jersey
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Conn.            Griffen, Ezra        S. 16136
New Jersey  or Griffin
                      or Giffen                       carded
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Pittsburgh       Ohio           119.775.
              Griffen or Giffen
Ezra, Griffin
of Addabula(?) in the State of Ohio
who was a private in the Corufe(?) command
by Captain Bates of the Rept.(?) command
by Col. Hooker in the County
                                 + N.J.
line for 13 mod(?)

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 13 dollars 33 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Sept.
1833  and sworn to S. Hendry
                             Jefferson

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. '23      $108.33
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4th '24 $21.66
                                                              _______
                                                            $129.99
                                 {Revolutionary Claim,
                                 {Act June 7 1832
Recorded by Go. C. Stiles clerk
Book E.    Vol. 8.     Page 912
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Was placed on the Ohio
Book by mistake
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E. Griffin
application for
Pension





      23577
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State of Ohio Ashtabula County ss
On this 28th day of September AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting Ezra Griffin a resident of Morgan in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio aged 70 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 Act of Congress passed June 7.1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated   That he enlisted as a private soldier in the Year 1778 to the best of his recollection at the town of Granby in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut into a company of State Troops under the command of Lieutenant Joel Higby for the period of five months according to the best of his recollection  that he enlisted in the month of November of the Year last aforesaid and continued in the service in said company for five months which was stationed at White plains in the State of New York when he was discharged in the month of April
That he again enlisted as a private soldier in the Year 1779 to the best of his recollection at the town of Granby aforesaid into a company of state troops under the command of Captain Lemuel Bates for the period of two months as he believes  that he enlisted in the month of September of the Year last aforesaid  that he marched from Granby with said company to the New York station as a guard over Burguoins troops.  He continued in the service through the campaign when he was discharged in month of November in the Year last aforesaid
That he again enlisted as a private soldier in the month of May in the Year 1780 into a company of State Troops in Granby aforesaid commanded by Captain Ebenezer Hurlburt in Colo Hookers Regiment  that he marched with said company to horse neck in Connecticut aforesaid where he served until the last of July in the same year when he was discharged
That he again enlisted as a private soldier about the first of July in the Year 1781 into a company of state troops under
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Command of Captain Stephen Griffin and marched to West point where he remained about four or five months when he was discharged about the first of November in the Year last aforesaid while I remained at west point Lord Cornwallis was taken   that in the Year I moved to Morristown in New Jersey where several times during the Year I volunteered to drive the ["Indians" crossed out] British from the frontier of that country
That he has no documentary evidence of any of his services in his possession. that he received ["his" crossed out] discharges from the service by the captains under which he served at the termination of each period of service as stated above  that the same have been lost by time & accident  that he was born in the Year 1761 at Simsbury in the County of Hartford State of Connecticut where he resided when he enlisted into the army [an inserted sentence is crossed out here] After the Revolutionary War he resided in Maryland Pennsylvania & Virginia about four Years without making any particular place his home  Went into the town of Granby Ct where he resided about three years After which he removed to ["Litchfield" crossed out] Litchfield County in the towns of Winchester & Barkhamsted where he resided more than twenty years  about twenty years from thence he removed to Morgan Ashtabula County Ohio where he resided about twenty three years & where he now resides  that he knows of no clergiman whom he can procure conveniently to attend the said Court to certify to his character &c  Lynds  Jones & Quintus F Atkins are resident in my neighbourhood & can testify as to my character & their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution. has no record of his age.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State  [signed] Esa Griffin
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid [signed] Lemuel Moffitt Associate Judge
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State  [signed] Esa Griffin
Sworn to & subscribed the day & Year aforesaid [signed] Lemuel Moffitt Associate Judge
We J R Giddings & Quintus F Atkins ["residing in the town" crossed out] residing in the town of Jefferson hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ezra Griffin who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 70 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion  [signatures]  J. R. Giddings Q. F. Atkins
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court [signed] Attest Saml Hendry Clk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Lynds Jones and Quintus F Atkins who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the town of Jefferson and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Saml. Hendry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ezra Griffin for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 28th day of September AD 1832 [signed] Saml. Hendry Clerk
[seal affixed to the left]
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Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace Ezra Griffin 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 lengths 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, in the year 1778 for five months as a private soldier in the year 1779 for two months as a private soldier in the year 1780 for two months as a private soldier in the year 1781 for four months as a private soldier and for such service I claim a pension [signed] Ezra Giffen
Sworn to & subscribed before me this fifteenth day of May AD 1833 [signed] Alvin Bagley Justice of the Peace
The State of Ohio Ashtabula County ss
I Saml. Hendry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Ashtabula do hereby certify that Alvin Bagley whose name appears subscribed above in his own proper hand writing which is to me well known, is a Justice of the Peace of the township of Jefferson in said County duly commissioned and sworn agreeably to the Laws of the State of Ohio.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed the seal of the said Court at Jefferson the 15th day of May AD 1833. [signed] Saml. Hendry Clerk. P.[illegible]
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23577
Ezra Griffin Ashtabula Co Ohio
["Return" crossed out]
Adm for 1 year and 1 month
Saml Hendry Clk Jefferson Ohio
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 19 April 1833
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 shew 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, shewing the Service of Ezra Griffin Ashtabula Co. Ohio
[table headings] Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service [subdivided into three columns] Years. | Months. | Days. | 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.
Enlisted 1778 |  | 5 |  | Private | Lt Higby State troops | 70 | Traditionary
Enlisted 1779 |  | 2 |  |  | Cap Bates State troops | Hartford Co. |
Enlisted 1780 |  | about 3 |  |  | Col Hookers Regt | Con. |
Enlisted 1781 |  | 4 or 5 |  |  | Cap Griffin |  |
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, muc[s]icians 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 [blank] County of [blank] } ss.
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] 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. [hand icon with finger pointing to the right] 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 [blank]
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 [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &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 [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] 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. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &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 transaction.
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
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3
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 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 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 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.
[footnotes]
(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 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 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. 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 [blank} year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]. For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]; and for such 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 pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months ["three or four months" in italics], 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 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.
(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 signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.  [footnotes (e) through (i) are within handwritten brackets]
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 certificate must be stitched 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 the 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.
[hand icon with finger pointing to the right] The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in 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 answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
[signed at bottom of page] Geo. B. Whiting
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[initial P or T] 16136
INVALID.
File No. 16,136
Ezra Griffin Pri Rev War
Act:  June 7th 32
Index:--Vol. [slanted line - perhaps "1" or "I"], Page 153
(Arrangement of 1870.)