Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14471, for Richard Skinner, Connecticut
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(3-1776) SERVICE NUMBER
Conn. Skinner, Richard S 14471
Carded
CONTENTS
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9117
Connecticut
Richard Skinner
Of Haddam in the State of Connt
Who was a Prv in the Com commanded by Captain Johnson of the Regt commanded
By Col Swift in the Connt
Line for 6 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Connt
At the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
To commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of March 1833 and sent to E Warner. Haddam Ct
Arrers to the 4th of March: 33: $40.00
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 4 Sep ‘33: 10.00
$50.00
Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by E. D. Bulloch Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 39
Order to pay 4 Nov. 1836
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Richard Skinner
Admit 6 w private
Ely Warner Eq
Haddam Ct
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State of Connecticut County of Middlesex SS Haddam January 4th AD 1833
On this 4th day of January AD 1833 personally appeared before Charles Arnold Esqr Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Haddam Richard Skinner a resident of Haddam in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, aged sixty eight 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 month of June 1781 with Matthew Hubbard, Caleb Bailey, James Willcox and others and served as a private in the ____ Regiment of the Continental line under the following named officers Col ______Swift, Lieut Col _____Johnson, Capt ______Chamberlain—That he left the service some time the latter part of December 1781 or first of January 1782–That he joined the Regiment under Col. Swift at Fredericksborough in the State of New York—From thence he marched with sd Regimt. to a place called Gallows Hill in sd State—That he continued in the service of the United States in sd Regmt. for the full term of six months and was discharged at the High lands on the Hudson River above West Point—That he does not recollect that he ever had a written discharge, and if he had one, it has long since been lost by time and accident.—That at the time he enlisted he resided in the town
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of Haddam in the County of Middlesex in the State of Connecticut.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State—
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day & year aforesaid— Richard Skinner
And the sd Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states, and that all the material facts stated in the preceding declaration were sworn to in open Court by James Willcox who enlisted with the sd Richard Skinner, and who is a credible person.—
I, Ely Warner, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Haddam, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original procedings of sd Court in the matter of the application of Richard Skinner for a pension—
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Ely Warner Clerk
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Sept 30/97 Edwin A Skinner Boston, Mass.
14471 Rev War
Invalid.
File No. 14.471
Rihcard Skinner
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: —Vol. 1, Page 345
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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OLD WAR & NAVY
Sep 24 1897
[unreadable]
Boston Mass
Sept 21/97
Commissioner of Pentions
Washington D.C. S
Dear Sir:
I find in a list of pensioners (for 1832) in Middlesex County Ct. the name of Richard Skinner. Would you be so kind as to inform me if he lived in Haddam Ct. his age and where
U.S. Pension Office Sep 23 1897
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and when he served his country.
I should be very greatful for information in the regard to these points.
Very truly yours,
Edwin A. Skinner
Box 3705
Boston
Mass.
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J L Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Richd skinner Oct 22
Ct. [unreadable]
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Pension Agency
Hartford Oct 19 1836
Sir
Richard Skinner having neglected to draw his pension for 12 Months his papers are herewith enclosed & transmitted for your special directions authorizing the payment
I am Very respectfully
Your Obdt Servant
James Todd Agt
J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington
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R Skinner
10
E Warner
P 13.3
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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 Richard Skinner which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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 of periods of the war when he served?
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?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?
No
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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?
XII. If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the application 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. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
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, be 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 of which the 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 of four months’ is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
+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 enter 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 authenticated 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 narron ribbon, the end of which much pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.