Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,681, for Israel Lawton, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
CONTENTS
Lawton, Israel
NUMBER
S. 13681.
learded
Page 2

Vermont 18716
Grace Lawton
Windham Co. in the State of Vermont
ho was a Pr. & Sqt in the Compy commanded by
Captain Brown
of the Regt commanded by
Col. Putnam in the tMass ma line
for 6 mo 12 da priv.
5 "
Serg
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 46 Dollars 32 Cents per ann
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Sept
1833 and sent to J. Elliott
New Fane Vt

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 23
$115.80
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34
23.16
$138.90
 
Revolutionary
Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Eli Brown Clerk
Book E Vol 3 Page 74
Page 3


State of Vermont
District of Marlboro
On this fifth day of September AD 1832
before the Court of Probate within and for the 
District of Marlboro in the County of Windham and
State of Vermont now sitting in open court personally
appeared Israel Lawton resident in Wilmington
in the County of Windham and State of Vermont aged
seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following
in order to obtain the ben of
the act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers and served of
herein stated  [viz] in February 1776 enlisted in Capt
Seares Company in the Massachusetts State Troops and marched to Dorchester in Massachusetts intested for two months and 
was stationed in Dorchester and continued till the enemy
left Boston and was dismissed with out with
discharge thinks in April same year in the
Hardwick in the Worcester County in Massachusetts
In the year 1777 he thinks as early in the season of July
he was called out by the Town of London in the County of
Berkshire when he resided to go on a soldier and went
out under the command of one Captain Brown marched
to Fort Edward and from there to Lake George staid but
a few days and was ordered back to Fort Edward and
afterwards to Saratoga and to Stillwater had a [illegible]
during the time under Col Rufus Putnam after [illegible]
indians thinks he was in service at least six weeks
and perhaps two months but cannot say with certainty
he was dismised without a written discharge
The winter of 1778 was resident in Hardwick in Worcester
County and was turned out by the Town of Hardweek to go
to Rutland Barracks in Massachusetts under one Captain
Page 4

Browning and Lieutenant Ruggles and he was stationed
and served as a sergeant in said company which acted
as a guard to guard the prisoners surrendered by
General Burgaine for two months and was dismissed
by his captain without a written discharge
In the fall of the same year he enlisted in a company
made up from three Towns he lived their in said Hardwick
the captain of the company was captain
stone from the
Town of Brookfield Lieutenant Billings of Hardwick for three months and was marched to the fish kills and there did duty as a
soldier during the time of his enlistment being most
of the winter following and was dismissed without any
written discharge he was not connected with any [illegible]
 he with nine others were detached
from the company and acted as a guard
In the year 1780 he thinks in July at said Hardwick
inlisted in the company made up from several towns
and commanded by Captain Page of said Hardwick
Capt Page was the seignor captain and there being no
Colonel he acted as commandant of the regiment
was marched to west point and then acted as a serjjent
of the company through the term of his service was at
West point when General Arnold proved a traitor
and went off to the enemy General Washington arrived
at the point about the time Arnold went off There were
southern and eastern troops stationed there at the time
but after so great lapse of time the day not recollect 
the name of the officers he was dismissed at the Expiration
of his three months had no written discharge
that he has no documentary evidence of any kind and
knows of no person who can testify to his service
Page 5

Except Adnah Bangs to a part of it whose affidavits
herewith transmitted, he hereby relinquish 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

Questions by the Court
1 in Hardwich Massachusetts in the year 1758
2 I have none
3 in Hardwick and and at Sanden as stated in my
declaration in Wilmington Vermont when I now
reside
4 I voluntered
5 they our embodied in my declaration
6 not in writing
7 Judah Moore Jedidah Bond Adnah Bangs
[signature] Israel Lawton
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year per aforesaid

We Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
Benjamin Metcalf and Judah Moore residents of
Wilmington hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Israel Lawton who [illegible] has and believe hereto seventy four years of
age and that he is reputed in the neighborhood where
he resides to have been a soldier in the revolution
and that we concur in that opinion
Judah Moore
Benjamin Metcalf
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
Page 6

No. 107 Winthrop Co Vermont
Israel Lawton
Declaration for pension Septr 1832
13,972

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogatories 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 Judah Moore and Benjamin Metcalf, who have signed the preceding certificate, are citizens of the town of Wilmington aforesaid, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit - 

I James Elliot, Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Marlborough aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original procedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Israel Lawton for a pension - 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this sixth day of September A.D. 1832
[signature] James Elliot,
Probate Register.
Page 7

13972
Israel Lawton
Windham county
Vermont

Admit
6 mos [months] 12 D [days?] piv 
5" Sergeant

James Elliot [illegible]
New Fane [Newfane]
New York [crossed out]
Vermont
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 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.

[Chart]
A Statement shewing the Service of Israel Lawton, Windham Co. New York
Period when the service was rendered.
Enlisted 1776
Drafted 1777
do 1778
enlisted
do 1780

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years.
Months
2
1
2
3
3
Days
12
11.12
5
6.12

Rank of the claimant.
private
pri
sergant
pr
serg

Names and Rank of the Company Officers under whom he served.
Capt Sears
Capt. Brown
Capt Browning
Capt Stone
Capt Page

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col Putnam

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.

Country through which he marched.
Dorchester
Fort Edward
Lake George
Saratoga
Fishkill
Ruttland
West Point

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period
74
Worchester co mass

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
tradition
witness proves 1st short term

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards,
Commissioner of pensions.
Page 9

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. 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 in
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
considered a Court of Record.
of
On this
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
Serity of
County of
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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 made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
-
and
served in the
(e) regiment of the
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 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.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
A.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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 applicacation 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 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
Page 10

3
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.
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giv-
To a Soldier, and what has become of it?
6. ┃
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.
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.
stall the declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will fill
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.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continent officer or soldier must give this
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 year
days, I served as
For months and --- days, I served as a
and for such service I claim a pension."
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,
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 patient place or place, where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent auhe
was either in the hold or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
in 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 pubbe
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.
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 tin
company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibilty of the
and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer under his seat of the
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
note applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
F.E. Bridge
Page 11

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services. Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the Was of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY
L. W. B.
I. 13681.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
July 15th, 1898.
Madam:-
Replying to your recent communication you are advised that Israel Lawton made an application for pension on September 5th, 1832, at which time he was 74 years of age and residing in Windham County, Vermont, and his pension was allowed for eleven months and twelve days' actual service as a private and sergeant in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Brown and Col. Putnam. He enlisted in Worcester County, Mass. 
Very respectfully,
Commissioner,
Miss Alice Lawton Howard,
Sheffield, Ills.
Page 12

July 15 -98 [July 15, 1898]

Miss Alice Lawton Howard
Sheffield, Ill [Illinois]

Rev War

13681
INVALID

File No. 13,681
Israel Lawton
Sergt" Rev. war

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 216
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

PENSION
JUN
29
1898
U.
S.
OFFICE.
U.
S.
OLD WAR & NAVY.
JUL 2 1898
FILES.
P.
B.
Page 14


Sheffield Illinois
June 27" 1898

H. Clay Evans: 
Dear Sir, 
Can you send me the revolunatry record of Israel Lawton who enlisted from Wilmington Vermont?
I find his name on the pension lists of the records kept at the county clerks office. 
Respectfully, 
Alice Lawton Howard.
Page 15

Affidavit of
Capt. Judah Moore
Page 16

I Judah Moore of Wilmington in the County of
Windham & State of Vermont being Seventy Seven
years of age, do depose & say, that in the year
1787. I commanded a Company of Militia in
the said Town of Wilmington, and that I was the
Commanding Officer of the Militia in said Town of
Wilmington called on Israel Lawton, then
Resident in said Town, to Do Military Duty in
said Company of Militia, agreeable to the Laws
of said state of Vermont, and that said Israel Lawton
objected, and said he was exempt from doing Military
duty agreeably to the Laws of Vermont, for that
he had served as a Serjeant in the Revolutionary
service and that afterwards said Israel Lawton
produced to me a certificate from Capt Timothy
Page of Hardwick in the County of Worcester and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Certifying, that he
the said Israel Lawton, had served in his Company
three months as a Sergeant at West Point, in the
Revolutionary service, and that in consequence
of said Certificate, I exempted said Lawton from
Military duty in my said Company and
further the Deponent saith not
Dated at Wilmington this 22d day of June AD. 1833
Judah Moore
State of Vermont
Windham County ss Wilmington June 22d 1833.
Personally appeared Judah Moore who subscribed
the foregoing Deposition and made Solemn Oath 
to the truth of the same. Before me-
Jairus Hall Justice of Peace

I further certify, that Judah Moore who subscribed
with to the truth of the same, sustains
a fair & unimpeachable character for truth and
veracity
Jairus Hall Justice of Peace
Page 17

I Adnah Bangs of Wilmington in the County of 
Windham and State of Vermont aged Eighty Eight
years testify and say that in the year 1776 I resided
in the Town of Hardwick in the County of Worchester
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Israel Lawton now
of said Wilmington then resided in said Hardwich
I was knowing that said Lawton some time in Febry
of that year enlisted and served two months in Captain
Browns Company I belonged to the same company and
do know that said Lawton served out his time of
time
and was regularly dismissed we were stationed at
Dorchester and there demised and
further the
deponant saith not

Adnah his x mark Bangs

Sworn to before the 5th day of
September 1832 before me John Robert Justice of the peace
-
State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerks Office,
NewFane September 6 A.D. 1832.
I certify that John Roberts, Esquire, is a
Justice of the Peace within and for
the County of Windham aforesaid, and
that the above is his signature-
In testimony whereof I have here
unto set my have and affixed the Seal
of the said County Court on the
day and year above written
James Elliot, Clerk
Page 18

State of Vermont
Windham County court clerk's office
NewFane, July 11 A.D. 1833

I again certify as within, that John Roberts Esquire is still a Justice of the Peace for said county, that the above is his signature, and that Jairus Hall Esquire, is also a Justice of the Peace for said county, and that the annexed and his signatures. Witness my hand and the seal of said court.
James Elliot Clerk