Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,271, for John Reed, New York
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(3 - 1778 )
SERVICE
New York

Reed, John
NUMBER
S.14.271
carded.

CONTENTS
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299   8946     8948 
New York 
John Reed 
Lowville in the State of New York 
who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Gross of the regt commanded by Col Willett in the NY [illegible]
for 12 mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum [to] commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day of May 1833 and Sent to G. Knox Lowville 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $80.00 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept  $20.00
[totaling] $100.00 
Revolutionary Claim 
Act June 7, 1832. 
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk 
Book E   Vol. 4   Page 30
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13.299
John Reeds [sic]

Declaration
V

admitted.
12 mos Private
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State of New York 
Lewis County } ss.  On this twentieth day of September in the year one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Lewis now sitting John Reed a resident of the Town of Lowville in the County of Lewis and State of New York aged seventy years in December next 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 in the year 1781, he enlisted under Captain Gross in the Regiment of New York State Troops commanded by Colonel Willet, Ajutant [Adjutant] Fonda for nine months and served during that period. That he entered the service in the spring and was discharged at the expiration of his term of service. That he was stationed at Fort Plains N.Y. Marched to Fort Stanwix and laboured in repairing the Fort was at Fort Herkimer -
That from the year 1777, to the 1782 he served in the New York Militia under Captain Henry Miller Lieutenant Samuel Van Aten in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Clock, Several Tours every year except the year 1781 when he served in the State Troops above mentioned – 
That he cannot state the time of entering and leaving the service or the length of time he served in each year, but is confident that the whole time he served in the Militia considerably exceeds three months- That his service in the Militia was rendered on the Mohawk River that he marched at one time to Fort Stanwix
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while serving in the Militia aforesaid 
That while performing the above services his father and mother were both killed and scalpd [scalped] by the Indians 
And he further states that he was in the battle at Johnstown in the year 1781 was also in a battle at Terlaw near Bowmans Creek was also at West Canada Creek at the time Colonel Butler was killed 
That he entered the service as a volunteer at all the times above specified-
that he resided at the time of entering the service in the Town of Palentine [Palatine] Montgomery County, New York,  That he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service 
He 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] John Reed  X his mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day as aforesaid- 
[signed] Carlos P. Scovil Clerk 
We John Blodget a clergyman residing in the Town of Lowville in the County of Lewis and Taylor Chapman residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Reed 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 resides which been
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a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion –
[signed] John Blogett  Taylor Chapman
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
[signed] Carlos P Scovil  Clerk

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 one Blodget who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in said Town of Lowville and that Taylor Chapman who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town and is a credible person and that their Statement is entitled to credit.
I Carlos P Scovil Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Lewis do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of John Reed for a Pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office this twentieth day of September One thousand Eight hundred and thirty two 
[signed] Carlos P Scovil  Clerk
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a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion –
[signed] John Blogett Taylor Chapman
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
[signed] Carlos P Scovil Clerk

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 one Blodget who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in said Town of Lowville and that Taylor Chapman who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town and is a credible person and that their Statement is entitled to credit.
I Carlos P Scovil Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Lewis do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of John Reed for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office this twentieth day of September One thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
[signed] Carlos P Scovil Clerk
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13.299
John Reed
admitted.
12 mo Private

T. Knox
Lowville N.Y.
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BRIEF in the case of John Reed of Lowville in the State of N. York (Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
How old is he? 70 years 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
[TABLE]
Period. In 1781 | Duration of Service. 9 Months, | Rank. As a Private |  Names of General and Field Officers Gen. under whom he served. Capt Gross Col Willett  N. York 
[Handwritten note:]  States that from the year 1777 to the year 1782 (except the 9 months service in 1781) he served in the N, York Militia at different times more than three months [End note]
5. In what battles was he engaged? Johnstown, Bowmans, & West Canada Creeks 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Montgomery County N. York 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence above 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? they are correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
[signed] Wm Gordon  Examining Clerk.
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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 John Reed which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes 
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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 amout of pension he is entitled? Yes [several lines of crossed out text]
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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? Yes
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2 
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? yes 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 
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? Yes 
XIV. 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? 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? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 
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? Yes 
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 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 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. 
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. 
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. 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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Rev War

14.271
INVALID.
File No. 14.271
John Reed
Pri  Rev War

Act: June 7th::32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 313

[Arrangement of 1870.}