Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,612, John Flinn, New York
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Service: New York
Flinn, John
Number: R. 3,612
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21653
John Flinn
Michigan Territory

Ent 13 Dec 1776
Deserted 13 March 1779
look on [?] NY Role
3612
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BRIEF in the case of John Flinn 
County of St Clair in the Territory of Michigan 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 75 years 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period | Duration of Service (Y, M, D) | Rank | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Enlisted In 1776 April | 3 years | As a private | Capt Austin, Col. Gansvoort, Major Cochran
Volunteer 1775 | 5 months | blank |  blank
5. In what battles was he engaged? near fort Stanioux [Stanwix] also at the siege of fort Stanioux 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the services Ballstown [Balston] New York
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Claimants own declaration and opinion of Court 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Examining Clerk.
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Territory of Michigan}
County of St Clair} ss.
On this nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Circuit Court for the County of St Clair aforesaid, now sitting; John Flinn, a resident of the Town of Cottrellville in said County & Territory aged seventy five years on the thirteenth day of March last past, 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 to the best of his recollection he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the month of April 1776 for the term of three years, -- That he enlisted in the company of Capt Austin in the third Regiment of the Continental line, under the following named Officers: The name of the Colonel of said Regt was Peter Gansvoort; the Lieut Col's name was Willet from Long Island; the Majors name was Cochran.  The name of the Lieut of the Company was Ball & the Ensign's name was Lament. Deponent does not recollect the name of the Gen'l of Brigade as the Brigade was never while he served brought together. After having served his term of Enlistment viz three years, he was discharged from the service. At the time of the above enlistment deponent resided at Ballstown [Balston] in the then County of Albany, State of New York.
In the second year of deponents enlistment while stationed at Fort Stanwix on the Mohawk he with two hundred and fifty others went from the Fort to the Relief of the Militia who were engaged with Sir John Johnsons forces consisting
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of British & Indians from Canada together with Butlers Rangers (so called) -- this engagment [sic] took place about five miles from the Fort down the River, and continued for four hours. Deponent was also present at the time of the siege of Fort Stanwix by Gen'l St Leger which continued for 21 days, and the beseiged were relieved by the approach of the Militia from below. The force in the Fort consisted of 700 men. By papers found in a Military Chest taken from the enemy, there were fifteen hundred Indians present at the Siege. While deponent was stationed at Fort Stanwix a part of his Reg't was detached to Saratoga a short time previous to the capture of Gen'l Burgoine [sic] -- About three months of deponents service he was stationed at Fort Edward. Thence Deponent went to Fort George on Lake Champlain where he was stationed about 8 months and afterwards went to Albany where he was discharged. In the march from Fort Stanwix to Fort Edward deponent went to Albany, from thence to Newtown; to Half-moon; thence to Stillwater. During his whole service deponent was stationed northwards. At the time of his service deponent recollects seeing Genl Gage -- He never recieved [sic] any written discharge from service. & He hereby agrees to relinquish any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State. Incidentally deponent states that previous to the above named service, he served as a volunteer in the Regt of one Van Schaik for five months, in 1775. No person can be found who has a personal knowledge of deponents services
John (X his mark) Flinn
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court this 19" October AD. 1832 
[Signed] James Fulton Clerk
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John Flinn
21653

Enlisted 13 Dec. '76  3 years
Deserted 13 Mar '79
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And the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion after the investigation of the within affadavit [sic], that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. 
Palmer St Clair Co}  Judges of the Supreme}  Solomon Wiles
Oct 19. 1832}  Court of Michigan}  Ross Wilkins 

I James Fulton Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County of St Clair aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Flinn for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Palmer in said County this nineteenth day of October one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two. 
[Signed] James Fulton Clerk

* The nearest Post Office Cottrellville, St Clair Co. Michigan 
* The nearest Branch Bank of the U.S. at the City of Buffalo State of New York
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Act 7 June 1832
Rejected
See letter 26 April 1833.
to
James Fulton
Clerk
St. Clair Ct [?]
St. Clair County
Michigan
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REJECTED aw
3612
John Flinn
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[Postmark] Detroit Michigan Oct 22
FREE
Honble. Louis McLane
Secretary of the Treasury
Washington City
Pension Office

Crosswise:
Referred to the War Department
30 October 1832 [?]
Treasury Department
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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 John Flinn 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? 
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 [sic] of pension he is entitled? Yes 
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 
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? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no 
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? Yes 
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
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? 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 
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? no, does not state where born, makes no mention of any record of his age, does not refer to any persons to testify to his character and their belief of his service

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 a ______; 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 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 shewn 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. 
+QUERE 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.