Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14023, for Reuben Nichols, Rhode Island
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RI                        Nicholas, Reuben                 S 14023     

                                                                            Carded
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                              20943
Buffalo
                           New = York
_____________________________________________
Reuben Nicholas
of Evelio in the State of New York
who was a private in the Comp commanded
by Captain Traffarn of the Regt commanded by Col. Topham in the [illegible]
line for 2 years
                    R.I Line.
                            July 3, 1906
                           Records corrected
_______________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 80 Dollars ----- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
________________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Oct
1833 -------- and [illegible] S. Caldwell
                                                 Buffalo
________________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sep' 33                    $200
Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible] '34    40
                                                                  ______
                                                                  $240

                                            {Revolutionary Claim,}
                                            {Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Jo C Stiles Clerk
Book E.    Vol 4     Page 11
Page 3

[Declaration of a Revolutionary Soldier who served in the MILITIA, to obtain a Pension under the Act of Congress,
passed June 7, 1832]

State of New York}  On this third day of December 1832  personally appeared in open Court be-
Eric County, ss.        fore the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Buffalo, in said County, Reuben
Nicholas -----------             a resident of Sardinia in the County of Erie
and State of New York, 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
7, 1832, That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as
herein stated
                  that he was born in the Coventry in Rhode Island in August
1752 that he has no record of his age, except that it is so entered
in his family Bible many years ago that he served as a 
common soldier in the war of the Revolution two years
and a half,  [illegible] twenty two days. That he enlisted
as a private in Captain Traffin's company at Coventry
aforesaid, in the regiment commanded by Col. Topham
of state troops, that said company regiment were in
Genl. Sullivan's expedition against the British at Newport,
that this deponent served one year in said company & was 
duly discharged, that he again enlisted as a private for the
term of six months in Capt. Chandler [illegible] company
& col. Christopher Greene's Regiment & was stationed at 
Newport & served to the end of said term, that he again 
enlisted for nine months at Providence in March 1782
in Capt. Humphrey's company & Col. Jeremiah Olney's
Regiment as a recruit & was removed to Philadelphia
to join the Regiment7 in the fall after was removed to &
stationed at Saratoga, where he continued till the sixth of
Feby 1783 when he was discharged, agreeably to the 
Certificate of Discharge executed & delivered to him,
which discharge is hereto annexed, that the regiment
to which he was attached was in the brigade of
Brig. Genl. Cornell who was stationed at Tiverton
Rhode Island, that Nathaniel Green, Charles Green
Timothy Andrew & Benjamin Green all reside in 
the State of Rhode Island & are well known to this deponent
that Benjamin Green & Charles Green both served in the
war as privates with the deponent, and their
depositions are hereto annexed.
He hereby relinquished 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.
Sworn and subscribed this 3rd                         his
day of December 1832}                         Reuben X Nicholas
                                                                         mark
Noah P. Sprague Clerk of Crt Com Pleas
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation fo the matter, and after putting
the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutiona-
ry Soldier, and served as he states, And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Whitman
Metcalf, who has signed the annexed certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Sardinia and county of Erie
and is a credible person, and their statement is entitled to credit.

I, Noah P. Sprague, Clerk of the said Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify,
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the mat-
ter of the applicant Reuben Nicholas for a pension.
   In testimony  whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this
8th day of December 1832
                                           Noah P. Sprague Clerk
                                              of  [illegible] Common Pleas
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                       20335
                  Reuben Nicholas
                                Erie County
                                       New York


                   Admitted
                       Private 2 years





                  Samuel Caldwell
                         Buffalo
                                New York
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War Department
Pension Office
183x

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 show what is necessary to be done. These 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 showing the Service of Reuben Nichols Erie County N. York

Period when the service was rendered:
1. 1778
2. March 1782

Duration of the claimant's services in Years, Months and Days:
1. 1 year and 6 months
2. 9 months

Rank of the Claimant:
1. Pri
2. Pri

Name and rank of the Company officers under whom he served:
1. Capt. Traffin and Capt. Chandler Bulnem
2. Capt. Humphrey

Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers
1. Col Topham and Col Green
2. Col Olney

Battles in which the applicant was engaged
BLANK

County through which he marched
1. R Island
2. PA

Place of abode when he entered the service and age at the present period
70
1. Coventry R. Island
2. Providence 

Evidence by which the declaration is supported
TRADITIONARY, DOCUMENTARY, LIVING WITNESS

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, 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 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 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. 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. [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 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 whereof 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 has 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 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 and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a 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 it 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 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 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 bis 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 mouths and days, I served as a 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 duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie 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 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. The notes from [a] to [j] 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.

R Newnan
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Reuben Nichols
S.F. 14023
R.I.
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Reuben Nicholas Soldier in the Rhode Island Regiment
This Day Having Complete a Seven Month & Eight 
Days Service as a L[illegible] in said Regiment
Is hereby Honorable Discharged the Service


Given under my hand
at Saratoga this twenty
sixth Day of Feb AD 1783{ Coggeshall Olney, Major
                                           Comd. R.I.R.