Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,552, for Rufus Tifft, New York
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New York
Tifft, Rufus 
NUMBER
S. 11.552
carded 
CONTENTS [blank]
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20.987 New York 
Rufus Tifft of Chatauque [Chautauqua]  in the State of N. York who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Grant of the Regt. commanded by Col. Warner in the New York line fo 6 months and 22 days - 
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 22 Dollars 42 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Oct. 1835 Sent to G. B. Holbrook Ripley 
Arrears to the 4th of Sep't $56.25 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M'ch 11,21 
$67.46 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. } 
Recorded by Go. C. Stiles Clerk Book E. Vol. 4. Page 81
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No 18211 Rufus Tifft Chautauque [Chautauqua] County New York 
e.k.l.m 
Admitted Private 6 mo & 22 days 
22
George B Holbrook, Ripley, Chautauque [Chautauqua] County New York
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 183 
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. 
Statement, showing the service of Rufus Fifft Chautauque [Chautaugua] County New York 

Period when the service was rendered. Enlisted 1775 
Duration of the claimant's service. [blank] Years. 1 Months. [blank] Days. 
Rank of the claimant. private 
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Cap Grant 
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. [blank] 
Battles in which the applicant was engaged. [blank] 
Country through which he searched. Marched to Isle Aux Noix 
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. 78 years Crowns Point 
Evidence by which the declaration is supported. None, either living or traditionary, no chargi man, paper property authentication 

Period when the service was rendered. Enlisted 1775 
Duration of the claimant's service. [blank] Years. 3 Months. [blank] Days. 
Rank of the claimant. private 
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Cap Potter 
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Col Warner 
Battles in which the applicant was engaged. [blank] 
Country through which he searched. to St. Johns, to Montreal to 

Period when the service was rendered. Enlisted  1776 
Duration of the claimant's service. [blank] Years. about 4 Months. [blank] Days. 
Rank of the claimant. private 
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Cap Potter 
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Gl. Wooster & Gl. Arnold 
Battles in which the applicant was engaged. [blank] 
Country through which he searched. Quebec 

Period when the service was rendered. Vol 1775 
Duration of the claimant's service. time not stated 
Rank of the claimant. [blank]  
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. [blank] 
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Col Allen 
Battles in which the applicant was engaged. [blank] 
Applicant states that he thinks he was in service about ten months } 
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 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. 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, musicians 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 County of } 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 provion [sic] 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 enered [sic] 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 [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] 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 day 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 was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. [blank] 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 applicacation [sic] of [blank] for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank] 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 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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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 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 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, 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 during 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 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 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.
[j2] 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.
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In the matter of Rufus Tifft Pensioner
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(A) Declaration 
State of New York County of Chautauqua } SS. On this 12th day of October 1832 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of said County, Rufus Tifft a resident of the town of Ripley in said County & state aged Seventy eight years the 18th day of the present month, who being 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 enlisted in the Army of the United States in the Year 1775 at Crown Point under Captain Grant for one month, that he returned to Vermont he thinks in the month of July to the town of Clarendon. In a few days he enlisted under Captain Oliver Potter, Lieut. Ira Allen, Col. Seth Warner, Major Safford for three months thence went to Isle Aux Noix not far from Canada line & to St. Johns thence to the St. Lawrence River, as an advanced guard, opposite Montreal. Staid here about six weeks. He assisted in preventing Gov. Carlton from landing and took he thinks six prisoners, & assisted also in conveying them to St. Johns, 
then returned & crossed the St. Lawrence to Montreal, staid a few days at Montreal and was discharged. In January 1776 he enlisted again under the same Captain in the town of Clarendon Vermont march again to Montreal there Gen. Wooster commanded thence to Quebec & there Gen. Arnold took command, remained there till the 6th day of May following, thence retreated and came back to the states, arrived at Stephentown in New York in the month of June. In the year 1775 he joined Col. Ethan Allen as a volunteer at the surrender of Ticonderoga, & he was in several short skirmishes the particulars are not recollected, and thinks as near as he can determine served in the American Army during the Revolution about ten months. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
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or annuity, except this present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. - [signature:] Rufus Tifft 
Sworn to & Subscribed in Open Court before me [signature:] T. B. Campbell 
And the said Court hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. 
I James B Lowry 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 [blank] 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and seal of Office this 13th day of October 1832 [signature:] James B. Lowry Clerk 
I further Certify that Thomas B Campbell Esqr before whom the foregoing Affidavit was sworn was a Judge of said Court, & the said affidavit was sworn to in open Court & that said Judges signature is genuine Witness my hand & seal this 13th day of [blank]
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October 1832 James B. Lowry Clerk
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In the matter of Rufus Tifft a Pensioner 18211 Geo. B. Holbrook, agent 
Allowed
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State of New York County of Chautauqua } SS. On the 27th day of June AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court, Rufus Tifft, who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith that by reason of old & consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively at the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, & is an amendment to his Declaration taken in open Court October 12. 1832. & hereunto annexed. 
[NOTE: the numbers with asterisks * * are in the right margin, keeping track of the number of weeks and months of service documented] 
*1.* Served for one month in 1775 under Capt. Grant, the same year served *3* three months under Capt. Oliver Potter. In 1776 served under same Captain, *3-20* three months & twenty Days ending on the sixth of May. At the death of Capt. Potter, Lieut. Sunderlund commanded, & he activated & this deponent arrived at Stephentown, New York on the 19th day of June same year, stopped on the retreat 
in Vermont fourteen Days, leaving in the service *-29* twenty nine days. Served under Col. Ethan Allen as a Volunteer (as mentioned in the former affidavit extension of the service under Capt. Grant) *1-15* one month & fifteen days. This deponent also states (which was not recollected in his former affidavit) that in 1777, he served *14* fourteen days with Militia under Capt. White to scout about & range through the country previous to Bennington Battle 16th of August, in the above service this deponent acted as a private. And this deponent says that he has no discharge & no record of service or living witness of of [sic] his service in the Revolution to his knowledge or in his power to obtain, but for which he served he claims a pension. [signature:] Rufus Tifft 
Sworn & subscribed in open Court before me the day aforesaid } [signature:] Artemas Hearick a Judge of Chautauqua County Courts 
State of New York Chautauqua County } SS. We Alanson Pease, a Clergyman, residing in the town of Mina, and Benjamin Caulton, residing in the town
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of Ripley, both of said County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rufus Tiffs who has subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit & annexed declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-eight 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. [signature:] Alanson Pease [signature:] Benjamin Colton 
sworn & subscribed in open Court before me the day & year aforesaid } [signature:] Artemas Hearick a Judge of Chautauqua County Courts 
The answers to the interrogatories are the following. 
question 1. October 14th 1754 
2 I have a record I kept myself in my Bible, & suppose there is a record of my age in the town of Richmond Rhode Island 
3 In the state now called Vermont & since in the state of New York, & in this county frontier years. 
4 Volunteer & enlisted 
5 Col. Seth Warner, Major Safford, Capt. Potter, Grant Hopkins, Bounson, Lieut. Galusha, & Hazeltine Spencer was Col. Warner's Clerk. 
6 No discharge, no commission 
7 Harmon Ensign, James Cole, John Tabor, Joseph Humphry, Stephen Mix, West Barger. 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department in writing to this for certificate hereto annexed that it appears to them Alanson Pease, who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Mina, & that the said Benjamin Carlton resident in the town of Ripley both in said County & who has also signed the
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same is a creditable person, & their statement entitled to credit 
I. James B. Lowry Clerk of the Said Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the Papers hereunto attached Marked (A) and (B) contain the actual proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, had on the 12 day of October last as will appear by my Seal & Signature thereunto attached reference being thereunto had. And I further Certify that the foregoing papers Marked (C) Continues the proceeding of Said Court had on the 27th day of June Inst. In the Matter of the Application of Rufus Tifft for a Pension- And Further that Artemas Hearick Esqr whose name is above subscribed was on the [scribbled out words] 27th Jun. & now is one of the Judges of said Court & that his Signature above subscribed is genuine - Witness my hand and ["signature" is crossed out] Seal of Office this 29th day of June A. D 1833 [signature:] James B. Lowry Clerk
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Rev War 11.552 INVALID. 
File No. 11.552 Rufus Tifft Pri Rev War 
Act: June 7th 32 
Index:-Vol. A, OPage 275