Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,601, Aaron Bates, Mass.
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SERVICE NUMBER
Mass. Bates, Aaron S.29.601
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Aaron Bates
Amendd Declar
[illegible handwriting right margin]
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Lemuel Bates
Deposition for
Aaron [underlined] Bates
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I Lemuel Bates of Southampton in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being seventy six years of age do testify and say that in the fore part of the month of December A.D. 1777 on being informed that my brother Aaron Bates was sick at Litchfield in Connecticut, being on his return from the army of the United States, which he entered in the month of August preceding - I went to him at said Litchfield and found him laboring under severe sickness and deprived of reason - I staid with him forty days - when, he being somewhat better, I returned to Southampton, procured a man and sleigh and went again to Litchfield - We placed my said brother upon a bed in said sleigh and in that men we brought him to our father's in Southampton the twenty fifth of January 1778 - He remained in a feeble state for some months afterwards - I further testify and say that John Kirkland Esq. of Norwich who was his Captain procured pay for my said brother to the time of his arriving at home - and further saith not -
[signed] Lemuel Bates

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire Ss.
On the sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty two the aforesaid deponent was examined and cautioned and sworn, agreeably to law, to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed - Taken at the request of Aaron Bates and to be used in an application for a pension from the Government of the United States under the act  act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 and that is the cause of taking this deposition -
[signed] Asahel Birge, Justice of the Peace
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, [crossed out "in red ink"] , will apply to the claim of
[handwritten] Aaron Bates
which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? [handwritten] yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? [handwritten]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? [handwritten] 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 amount of pension
he is entitled? [handwritten] No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
[handwritten] yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
[handwritten] yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? [handwritten] yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? [handwritten] 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? [handwritten] 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 clergyman but [crossed out]citizen 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason obtaining it? [handwritten] yes
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?
XIV. [dagger] 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? [handwritten] yes.
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? [handwritten] no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? [handwritten] yes
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? [handwritten] yes
XVI. [double dagger] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? [handwritten] [yes crossed out] no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 year 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 on 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 objectionable. 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.
[dagger] 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.
[double dagger] 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.
[symbol of a finger pointing right] 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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Elisha Edwards'
Deposition for
Aaron Bates