Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2489, for Joel Thompson, New York
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New York

Thompson, Joel
Amy
NUMBER
W. 2489
B.L. Wt. 29029-160-55
CONTENTS
Page 2

14603
[2257]
New York
Joel Thompson
of Chenango Co in the State of New York
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Sutherland of the regt commanded
by Col Payne in the N.Y.
line for [En pr]


Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of June
1833 and Sent to
P. Randall, Norwich
-
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $53.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending [Joseph] 13.30
$66.65
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. ⎬
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book E Vol. 4 Page 80

[Cis] to Pa Agt 7th April 1840
To New York City- from
4 Sept 1839. 18 April 1840
Page 3

3.203

New York
Amy Thompson
widow of Joel Thompson
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private
N.Y. Mil.
Inscribed on the Roll at a rate of 
26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on
the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued the
13th day of Decr 1853
and sent to
Charles Robinson
N. Haven
Ct.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 3, 1853, Page 84 Vol. A
Mar [55-] 161063
Date of Death not on []
Page 4

[1]61.063
Act March []
June 6/[15]

Amy
Amy Thompson
widow of 
Joel Thompson   priv
[No] 29029 [is] May 29/56
Revolution
Pensioned
[hrs] helz 53-3205
[Wil6oACr] Mr. 24/56
B  []
James M D. Carr
Norwich
New York
Vol. T. 64

[] M.D. Carr Apl.11/561
Page 5

Joel Thompson
Chenango Co.
New York  N.Y.
No 23257
admitted
8 mo. Private.

P. Randall esq
Norwich N.Y.
Page 6

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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.

A Statement, showing the service of Joel Thompson

Period when the service was rendered
1779 drafted
May 1780 drafted

Duration of the
claimant's service.
Year  Month  Day
4
2
2

Rank of
claimant.
Pri

Names and Rank
of the Company
officers under
whom he served.

Capt. S. Sutherland
Capt. R. Sutherland
Lt. Stephen Haight

Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers.
Col. B. Payne

Battles in which
the applicant was
engaged.

Country through
which he marched.

Place of abode
when he entered
the service, and age
at the present
period.
72 years
Stanford Co of Dutch [efs] N.YK.

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary witness

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 7

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
stance, 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

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 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)     , with      and    9
served in the     (e) regiment of the      line, under the following named officers:
1
(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.
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
and C. D. residing in (the same)
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                1do 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 8

03
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,
0 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.
Continental and ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giv-
6. To a Soldier Did you ever receive a discharge from 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
it 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 [sic] 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.
0
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) Every continental officer or soldier must g8ive 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 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 -------; and for such service I claim a pension."
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 phrases
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 officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration
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 his 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 certficate 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 ([]) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule [] note (j) applies to
continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensible 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.
Page 9


See Clerk Certificate at the end of the declaration.

23251
Joel Thompson
Return to P. Randall
Norwich Chenango
County N.Y.
Page 10

A
State of New York
County of Chenango
On this twelfth day of
February in the year of Our
Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty three personally
appeared in open Court, it being a Court of Common [pleas]
held before Smith M. Purdy, Levi [Biglin], Nathan
Taylor, Herekiah Reed & Charles York Judges of said
Court now sitting, Joel Thompson, a resident of the
town of Sherburne in the County of Chenango & State of
New York, aged Seventy two [(2)] 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 7th 1832