Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 11,934, John Abbot, Vt.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Vt.

Abbot, John
Abbot

NUMBER S. 11934

carded

CONTENTS
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20827
New = York
John Abbott
Cayuga C in the State of New York
he was a private in the Cmp commanded
(by) Captain Sharks of the Regt. commanded
by Col. ___ in the New York
(line) for 8 months,
John Abbot*
Vt. Line
Records corrected May 20 1856

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
(at) the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum
9to) commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension ifsued the 9 day of Oct:
1833 and Curtto R. Day
Sempronius

Arrears to the 4th of Ap. '33 $66.6
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M. '34 ($) 13.3
$19.9
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act, June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Go. C. Stiles Clerk
Book E. Vol. 4. Page 42.
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J. Abbot

John Abbot
21869
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State of New York}
Cayuga County} fs. On this 18th day of August 1832 Gershom Morse a Judge of the Court of Common pleas in and for said County John Abbot of Sempronius in said County aged Eighty four years who after having duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congrefs June 7th 1832
That at the commencement of the war he resided in the Town of Pawlet in State of Vermont then in Sept 1775 he went out as a Volunteer under Capt. Starks and went to Ticonderoga to keep and defend the Fort, and staid there five weeks when he was discharged and went home -- That about the 20th June 1777 he again Volunteered under Capt Starks to oppose Gnel Burgoyne in his progrefs from Canada was in the Battle of Bennington and from there went in to Stillwater and was in the camp when Burgoyne Surrendered and remained there until the last of October making over four months when he was permitted to return home -- That in Sept. 1778 he again Volunteered under Capt. Starks and went to Castleton in Vermont and continued there Six months, during this time was for frequently in Scouting parties and went as far as Crown point --That in August 1779 he was called out on alarm and again went to Castleton under Starks and remaining there four or five weeks he was permitted to return home __
That about the Month of October in the Same year volunteered gain and Capt Starks on an alarm and went to Fort Ann in the State of New York was there about two weeks when he was discharged & sent home, that he was for frequently out at other times in Short terms, but cannot now recollect the precise times, That for all these services he he [illegible] recd one cents -- That he has no
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documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his Services -- That he hereby relinquishes every claim 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,
John Abbot (his X mark)

Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Gershom Morse
a Judg of Cy Com Pleas

We Nathanial L. Moore a Clergyman residing in Sempronius and William Slade of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Abbot who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about eighty four 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 --
Nath'l L. Moore
Willaim Slade

Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Gershom Morse
a Judg of Cy Com Pleas

And I the Said Judge do hereby declare my 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 I further testify that Nathanial L. Moore who has signed the proceeding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Sempronius, and that William Slade who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place, and is a creditable person, and that their statement is entitled to credit -- And I do further certify from a personal acquaintance with the applicant I am Satisfied that from bodily infirmity he cannot attend Court --
Gershom Morse a Judg of Cnty Com Pleas
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Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Judge of the county Common Pleas aforesaid John Abbot the applicant aforesaid, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent lofs of memory he cannot prove positively as to the length of his Services, but according to the best of his recollection and belief he served not lefs than Nine Months and for Such Service declare I declare a pension --
John Abbot (his X mark)

Subscribed & sworn this 28th December 1832
Before me
Gershom Moore a Judg
of Cny Com Pleas

State of New York}
Cayuga County}
Clerks office} fs. I Michael S. Myers, Clerk of said county Do certify that Gershom Morse Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits purport to have been sworn + by who the foregoing certificate purports to have been given, was on the eighteenth day of august 1832 + on the twenty eighth day of December 1832 a Judge of Cayuga County Courts; and that I am acquainted with his hand writing + verily believe his signature to said affidavits + certificate to be genuine. Witnefs my hand + official seal this 4th day of January AD. 1838
W. S. Myers Clerk
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No 21869
John Abbot
Cayuga Co
N. Y

Admitted
Private 7 mos + 29 days

R. Day P.M
Sempronius
N. Y
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 6 1833

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 necefsary 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.

A Statement, shewing the Service of John Abbot Cayuga Co New York

Period when the service was rendered.
Vol Sept 1775 about 20 to June

Vol  77 lost Oct -

Vol Sept 78

Sept 79

Vol Oct 79

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years. Months. Days.
1 (month) 5 (days)

over 4 mo

1 (month) 12 (days)

four or five weeks

about two weeks

Rank of the claimant.
Private

Names and rank of the field officers under whom he served.
Capt Starks
-1.5
4-
1.12
-028
-14
------
49

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
84 years Town of Pawlet Vermont

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditional Evidence told audible by the Judge

A general affidavit that he served 9 mos.

I am respectfully,
You obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

No service can be admitted which is not definitely detailed as the regulations require - The affidavit is allowed for the purpose of removing ambiguity in the specifications of service in the declaration - not to open the door to augment the claim -
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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, mucicians 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 June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District
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. (Right pointing hand symbol) This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, nave, &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 proceeds 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 the opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days 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 name 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 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
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 for, 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 in 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, atttend 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 reasons 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 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 ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___. For ___ months 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 services. 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 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 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.
(Right pointing hand symbol) 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. 125687
John N Ashlon

(Rule (e) has a brace on the right side of it. It also has an underline under part of the statement enclosed in ".)
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State of New York
Cayuga County fs } John Abbot of Sempronius County & State aforesaid being duly sworn doth on his oath depose and say that he is an applicant for a pension under the act of Congrefs of June 7th 1832, That he made his declaration to obtain said pension on or about the 18th. August 1832. That in said declaration after stating his service in the Revolutionary War as to the "precise term, and grade" of each service as fully as his memory would permit, he added in his declaration, that he performed other services, "that he was frequently out at other times in short terms but cannot now recollect the precise times. That in the month of December thereafter other instructions and regulations was rec.d from the war department permitting the applicants for pensions in case where they cannot by reason of the lofs of memory state precisely how long he [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] amend his declaration by making an affidavit as to the actual time he did serve, That in pursuance and in compliance with this regulation he added his affidavit to Said declaration and was sworn to before Judge Morse on the 28 December 1832 in which affidavit he embraced more times that he set forth in his said declaration by precise term and grade, as he supposed that it was the intention + object of the department to allow the applicant for the service which they could not from lofs of memory state all the particulars of - That he had no intention to deceive or defraud the government as he thinks will appear from an examination of the dates of the declaration + affidavit - That he asks for a pension for as much of the time set forth in his Said declaration in the department thence think him equitably entitled to 
That he cannot from lofs of memory state any more particulars as to place or places where his service was performed, in the occurations of each term of service, or of his officers, that is set forth in the said declaration - That he understood them and believes that they were called into service under the authority of the Government of Vermont -
John Abbot (his X mark)

Sworn and Subscribed to this 25 June 1833 before me
Garshom Morse a Judg
of Coy com Pleas
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State of New York}
Cayuga County} fs. I Michael S. Myers Clerk of said County. Do certify that Garshom Morse Esq. was on the twenty fifth day of June 1833 a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said County; and that I am acquainted with his hand writing + verily believe that his signature subscribed to the within affidavit is genuine.
Witnefs my hand + seal of office at Auburn in said County this 27th day of June 1833
M. S. Myers
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11934
INVALID.
Rev War
am

File No. 11934
John Abbott
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: Vol a, Page 1
[Arrangement of 1870.)

John Abbot*
Records corrected, May 20/ [illegible]