Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1114, for Ebenezer Stilson, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn.

Stilson, Ebenezer

NUMBER
S.1119
Page 2

New Jersey 9531
Ebenezer Stilson
Huntingdon in the State of NJ
who was a pri in the Com comm[page ends]
by Captain ____ of the Reg comm[page ends]
by Col Swift on the Conn
line for 3 years

Inscribed on the Roll of NJ
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Centes per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of May
1833 and sent. P. J
Clark  Present

arrears to the 4th of March '33     $ 160-
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep 6,    40-
                                                       ______
                                                       $ 200-
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by ED. Bullock Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 130
Page 3

INVALID.
[incomplete] No. 1114

Ebenezer Stilson
Priv. Conn. Line
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index: - Vol. A, Page 355
Arrangement of 1870
Page 4

Application of
Ebenezer Stilson for a
pension
20248
Admitted
Private.  N. J. Line Cont.
2 years & upwards
Page 5

Document is cut off in several places and quite faded
Page 6

State of New Jersey Henderson county ss:
On this twenty third day of October AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Inferior court of common Pleas in and for the county of Henderson aforesaid now sitting Ebenezer Stilson a resident of the Township of Bethlehem county and state aforesaid aged seventy 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 7th 1832.
that he was born in the Township of NEW Milford, county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut on the 22nd day of November AD 1761 - That he copied the record of his age from his fathers family bible where he has frequently seen it ~  That he entered the military service of the United States during the revolutionary war at Horse Neck in the state of Connecticut on the 10th day of April 1777.  That at this time he resided at New Milford aforesaid~
That he cannot recollect the names of the officers of the company to which he was attached, but that the regiment to which the company belonged was commanded by Col Samuel Canfield ~ That he was at this time a substitute, but does not recollect for whom ~  That in his tour commencing as stated he remained at Horse Neck two months and was discharged on the tenth of June 1777.
That in the Spring of 1778 he did duty as a soldier for two months at the same place and in the fall of the same year for one month at Stratford Connecticut an that in the fall of  1779 he did duty as a soldier, but that at this distance of time he cannot recollect names of the company or first officers except as above states~  That in the month of February 1781 he enlisted in what he thinks was called the NEW England forces for three years he then living at New Milford aforesaid, soon after which he joined the American army at the High Lands in the State of New York.
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not far from Rush Point.  That he there joined a company commanded by Captain ___Bright.  John he thinks & attached to a regiment commanded by Col ____Leviss, and of the Brigade commanded by ____Big General ____Huntingdon,  That the regiment to which he belonged was called the Second Regiment of the New England forces.~  that he remained at the Highlands for a year of thereabouts, after which he marched to Kingsbridge under the same officers where he remained till General Washington marched to the  South to take Cornwallis in the summer of 1782.  and that he reamined at Kingsbridge for ten days or two weeks & then marched back towards Rush Point
that he was acquainted with General Knox and Washington, Colonel Nebb, Swift and others~ 
That he never received a written discharge~
that since the revolutionary war he has lived principally in the Township of Bethlehem aforesaid where he now resides~  that he does not know of an individual surviving who can testify to his revolutionary services.~
That John Lake, the Rev.d John F. Clark and many persons can testify as to his character as a man of truth and integrity of character and state their belief of his revolutionary services.
And her 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
[signed on right] Ebenezer Stilson
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
in open court
[signed on left] George Reas Judge
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We John F. Clark a clergyman residing in the Township of Amwell County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey and [John Lake crossed out] George Rea of the Township of [Bethlehem crossed out] Amwell County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ebenezer Stilson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration.  That we believe him to be seventy years of age.  That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
John F Clark
George Rea
Sworn and subscribed the day and year}
aforesaid in open Court —}
Elijah Wilson}
Judge}
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 John F. Clark who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Township of Amwell aforesaid, and that [John Lake crossed out] George Rea who has also signed the same is a resident in the Township of [Bethlehem crossed out] Amwell aforesaid, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Benjn. Egbert, George Rea, Elijah Wilson Judge &c
I Isaac G. Farlee Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hunterdon aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ebenezer Stilson for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty third day of October A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Farlee Clk
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Ebenezer Stilson Hunterdon County
New Jersey
February 1, 1781
3 years
rolls Col Swift
1781 Admitted

P. J. Clarke, Esq.
Present
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183

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 Ebenezer Stilson Hunterdon County New Jersey
[table headings]
[col1] Period when the service was rendered
[col2] Duration of the claimant's service.
 Years. Months. Days.
[col3] Rank of the claimant.
[col4] Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
[col5] Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
[col6] Battles in which the claimant was engaged.
[col7] Country through which he marched.
[col8] Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
[col9] Evidence by which the declaration is supported.

[row1] Entd. 10th.Apl1777| - | 2 | - |private | - | Col Canfield | Served at Horse neck | 70 years | Traditionary evidence
paper correct
[row2] 1778| - | 2 | -- |  - |  - | - | Horse neck| Horse neck |Witness certified credible
[row3]    --  | - | 1 | - |  - | - | - | Strafford | Connecticut | Clergymans certificate
[row4] Fall 1779| - | 2 | - |  - | - | G Huntingdon | | Joined the Army | | 
[row5] +
[row6] Enlisted Febry 1781| not stated| | | | Capt Bright| Col Swift | | at the Highland| | 
[row7]  - | 1 | or there abouts | | | | | | New York near | |
[row8] ill 1782| enlisted for 3 years | | | | | | West Point | |

X applicant states that he enlisted
for 3 years.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 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, al persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, male 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 
County of } ss.


On this      day of     personally appeared (a) before       A.B. a resident (b) of     in the county of     and State, Territory or District of     aged (c)    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)     , with    and served in the    (e) regiment of the     line, under the following names 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 mist 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.
[An 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       of the Court of     do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of       for a pension.
In testimony where 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     and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with      , who had subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be      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 day and year aforesaid.

[And then 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. and that C.D. , who has also signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the      and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,      Clerk of the Court of     do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of     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 ca 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 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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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated, 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 (n) 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 is 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 service.
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 he 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.

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.


[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 declarant 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 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 reasons 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 sweat positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period 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 reason 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 pensions to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of service. The use of the phrase about three of four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pension 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 swerved; 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.

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 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.

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 their affidavits the time of 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 on 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.
*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 is 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.