Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15335, Nathan Beers, Conn.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.   

Beers, Nathan  
or Biers

NUMBER
S. 15335
carded

CONTENTS
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Connecticut. 22.57
Nathan Beers
of Fairfield Co in the State of Conn't who was a Private in the Co commanded by Captain Thorp if the Regt commanded by Col Lewis in the Conn't line for two years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn't at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Oct'r 1833 and sent of Hon. G. Tomlinson. Fairfield Ct
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833   200.
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 mar 1834  40.
_______
$240.

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7th, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm R Palmer Clerk, Book 2  Vol Three Page 32
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State of Connecticut County of Fairfield } Ss Fairfield
On this 27th day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before a Special Court of Probate holden at Fairfield in & for the Probate District of Fairfeld in Fairfield County & State of Connecticut on the 27th day of August 1832 & now sitting Nathan Beers, a Resident of Fairfield in s'd County & State aged Seventy five years who being first 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
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated, viz. That he commenced his services in the War of the Revolution in the Summer of 1776, then attached to a Company of Militia in s'd Fairfield commanded by Capt Eliphalet Thorp in Col Lewis' Regiment of Fort. That at that time he served in s'd Company on a Tour of Duty to the City of New York for two months, s'd Company at that time being ordered there en mass, was there on duty till s'd city was Evacuated by the American Troops, then marched out to Harlem where a party of s'd Company himself included battled - at the last mentioned place he served about two months longer & had while there a slight skirmish with the Enemy in which were several killed assisted in during two. Recollects that Capt Ezekial Sanford of Weston then a part of s'd town of Fairfield, was at that place with his Company of Militia, from the fact that s'd Sanford gave him liberty to plunder the Enemy then returned home passing Kingsbridge. And the Declarant further saith that in 1777 he was Drafted from s'd Thorp's Company, whether under one or two drafts he cannot say but knows that in that year he served on Guard of the Sea Coast of s'd Fairfield for six months during which time of service the town of Danbury was burnt he joined the Company at that time & marched up near s'd Danbury in s'd Fairfield County then over to Ridgefield a town adjoining where they engaged with the British. Recollects that Genl
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Arnold was present & acted on that occasion & that Coln Gould who was then the Coln of the Regiment was killed, then followed the British down to a place called Compo on the Coast where they first landed & where they embarked & where they had another though slight Skirmish with them this Tour embraced a period of four or five days. And the declarant further saith that in 1775 he served as a drafted person for s'd Thorp's Company for six months on guard of the Sea Coast & was stationed on Fairfield Green by the Court house the Enemy all this time having the command of Long Island Sound & their lines moving along our Coast & constant & vigilant guard was necessary - In the year 1777 the Declarant further saith that he served on Guard as a drafted person for six months during the Summer Season & was in service at the time the British landed under Genl Tryon on Fairfield beach & burnt s'd town of Fairfield which was in July & that after burning s'd Fairfield they retreated to a place called McKenzie's Point near by where they landed & there we had a pretty severe Skirmish with them at the time they embarked - In the fall of the same year the declarant further saith that he was again Drafted & served for two months at Weston now so called then a part of Fairfield under Lieut Peter Hendricks & recollects that he was while there ordered to guard a certain house in which were persons diseased with the Small Pox And the Declarant further saith that in the years 1780 & 1781 & 1782 he was different times drafted & served as Guard on s'd Sea Coast of Fairfield for three months at a time. Recollects that in 1780 he was once stationed at McKenzie's Point for three months & he thinks under the particular command of Sergeant David Osborn of the same company & was under different Sergeants at different times, once under Sergeant James Bulkly & Andrew Bulkly but he cannot state at what particular times he was under particular Sergeants  - In 1781 & 1782 he was in actual Guard service Drafted as aforesaid on s'd Sea Coast for at least twelve months stationed at the village of Mill River now Southport & at McKenzie's Point in s'd Fairfield & was in occasional skirmishes with parties of the Enemy who with the assistance of the Tories landed plundered & took away Sheep Cattle &c and the Declarant further saith that he was born in the year 1757
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in s'd Fairfield was living in the same place when called into service & has lived in the same place ever since has a record of his age in his family bible & no other he commenced service as before stated & any other general circumstances or Regiments or officers he cannot particularly describe. He never received any written discharges that he recollects & has no Documentary Evidence of his services. He is well known to the Hon Gideon Tomlinson, Walter Bradley, David Hill, Charles Smith a Clergymen & others of the most respected inhabitants of s'd town of Fairfield who can testify to his character for truth & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution and the s'd Nathan Beers hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State
Nathan Beers
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me David Hill Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid -
We Charles Smith a Clergymen residing in the Town of Fairfield & County aforesaid & Reuben Sherwood residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathan Beers who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing Declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age That he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion - Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me 
Charles Smith Reuben Sherwood 
David Hill Judge of Probate
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And said Court hereby declares its opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to the said Court that Charles Smith who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Fairfield and that Reuben Sherwood who has also signed the same is a resident of the town of Fairfield are credible Persons and that their statement is entitled to credit - And the said Court would also certify that Ezekiel O Banks, Nathaniel Perry and Reuben Sherwood the Persons who have subscribed and sworn to the three following Depositions are men of truth and that the statements in their respective depositions are entitled to credit - 
Daniel Hill Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid.

I David Hill Jr. clerk of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the s'd Court in the matter of the application of Nathan Beers for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the 27th day of August 1832
David Hill Jr. Clerk

[seal with ribbon]
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield   SS
On this 8th day of August AD 1833 personally appeared before a Special Court of Probate holden at Fairfield in & for the Probate District of Fairfield in Fairfield County State of Connecticut and now sitting Nathan Beers a resident of Fairfield in sd County and State, aged now seventy six years who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration explanatory of a declaration by him made on the 27th day of August AD 1832 before sd Probate Court at a special session thereof held at Fairfield in the District aforsd on sd 27th day of August AD 1832 in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

In his original declaration made before sd Probate Court the declarant stated that in the summer of 1776 then attached to a compy of militia in sd Fairfield commanded by Capt Eliphalet Thorp Col Lewis Regt. he served one tour of duty to New York for two months and was there in service when the city was evacuated by the American Troops that he then marched out to Harlaem where he served about two months longer. The declarant now states that he served on that occasion at the City of New York for two months as stated in his original declaration and he is positive that he served at Harlaem not less than one month making in all a term of service not less than three months

In his original declaration the declarant further states that in 1777 he was drafted from Capt Thorps Compy whether under one or two drafts he cannot say but knows that in that year he served on guard on the sea coast of Fairfield for six months that during this service the town of Danbury was burnt by the British near to which place he proceeded, and thence to Ridgefield where an engagement ensued with the British in which Col Gould of the Regt to which declarant belonged was killed, The declarant now states that sd service was truly & correctly stated, that at that time
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he was drafted from Capt Thorps Compy Col Gould Regt and that he is positive he served as stated for the full term of six months in that year commencing in the spring, but whether he was drafted one or twice he cannot now say

In his original declaration the declarant further stated that in 1778 he served as a drafted person from Capt Thorps Compy for six months on guard on the sea coast stationed at Fairfield Green. The declarant now says that he was at that time drafted from Thorps Compy Col Dimons Regt and is positive that he served not less than six months stationed as aforsd

In 1779 the declarant further stated in his original declaration that he served on guard as a drafted person for six months during the summer season that he was in service at the time the British landed under Genl Tryon and burnt Fairfield which was in July of that year. The declarant now states that in the spring of 1779 he was drafted from Capt Thorps Compy for six months that Dimon was Col of the Regt and that he served out the term in guarding the sea coast of Fairfield.

In his original declaration he further stated that in the fall of 1779 immediately after the aforsd service he was again drafted and served for two months at Weston under Lieut. Peter Hendricks. The declarant now states that said service was correctly stated that he was drafted from Capt Thorps Compy Col Dimons Regt and that upon reflection this service was in the fall of 1778 instead of 1779 & was immediately after the six months service in 1778 which commenced early in spring.

In his original declaration the declarant further stated that in 1780, 1781, 1782 he was at different times drafted & served on guard of the sea coast of Fairfield for three months at a time, that he recollected that in 1780 he was once stationed at Mckenzies point for three months  and thinks under the particular command of Sergeant David Osborn of the same Compy that he was under different sergeants at different times once under Sergt James Bulkly & Andrew Bulkly, but could not state at what particular times he was under particular sergeants, and that in 1781 & 1782 he was in actual guard service for at least twelve months stationed at the village of Mill River & at McKenzie point in sd Fairfield. The declarant now says that at all the times mentioned from 1780 to the end of the war he was drafted from Capt Thorps Compy Col Dimons Regt that he is sure he served in 1780 for at least three months, that he served in 1781 for at least three
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months, and that upon more reflection he is confident that in 1782 he served in guard stationed at McKenzies point not less than nine months during one draft he being drafted for that time, And the declarant further says that he served in embodied Corps maintained by public authority to defend the sea coast against attacks from the British that his services were continuous, but he was precluded from attending to his private business and that he was in actual duty or in quarters. That he has procured the best and only testimony in support of his claim that he knows of and that he served as a private soldier
Nathan Beers

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforsd before David Hill Judge of Probate for the district aforsd

And the sd Court hereby declares its opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the sd Court hereby certifies that sd Nathan Beers is of good standing in society and possess an unquestionable character for truth
David Hill Judge of Probate

And the sd Court further certifies that the interline above, towit "during the draft" and also the interline above "commenced early in the spring and the corrections relating to the service at Weston which was altered from 1779 to 1778 were all read before the declaration was subscribed & sworn to by the applicant
David Hill Judge of Probate

I David Hill Jr Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Fairfield do hereby certify that the above & foregoing explanatory declaration  of Nathan Beers was subscribed & sworn to before sd Court and I further certify that David Hill whose own proper signature known to me to be genuine is affixed thereto is now and for more than one year past has been the Judge of sd Court duly commissioned and acting as such. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year aforsd
David Hill Jr Clerk
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State of Connecticut County of Fairfield SS
In a special Court of Probate held at Fairfield in & for the Probate District of Fairfield in sd County & State on the 28th day of August 1833 and now sitting personally appeared Nathan Beers the identical applicant for a pension who subscribed and made oath to the preceding declaration to which this is annexed the original of which was made on the 27th day of August 1832 and the supplemental one on the 8th day of August 1833 before sd Probate Court doth on his oath further state that whereas it appears that Abel Sherwood and Ebenezer Osborn who are applicants with the declarant for a pension served with declarant in the same Corps during a portion of their services and that in the supplemental alleges that he has procured the only testimony that he knows of is proof of his service, but that neither of them has taken the affidavits of the others to prove his services which circumstance is required by the Pension Department to be explained, an explanation of which the declarant now says that he was then & now is unable to procure evidence in support of these services stated in his preceeding declaration in proof of which he had not already furnished evidence. That he then did not and now does not know of any witnesses living who can testify for him as to these services. That he did not intend to apply his statement in his supplemental declaration (viz that he had procured the only testimony that he knew of in support of his services) to these services in proof of which he had adduced testimony, but to those services only to which he had adduced no testimony and that the reason  why he did not procure the deposition of sd Osborn & Sherwood who served with him during a portion of his services viz his service at New York in 1776 was that he had procured the deposition of one credible witness to prove that fact, which he supposed was sufficient. And he further states that he has now procured the testimony of sd Abel Sherwood & Ebenezer Osborn in support of whom can give any particular description of other service rendered by the declarant. The declarant further states that he has now procured the best evidence that he can in support of his claim
Nathan Beers

Sworn & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid before
David Hill Judge of Probate for the district aforesaid
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I David Hill p Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Fairfield in Fairfield County Connecticut do hereby certify that the statement of Nathan Beers on the other side hereof was subscribed and sworn to before s'd Probate Court and I further certify that David Hill whose proper signature known to me to be genuine is affixed thereto in the Judge of s'd Court is more & for more than one year past has been the Judge of s'd Court duly commissioned & acting as such in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my special seal this 28th day of August 1833. I further certify that Thomas Robinson before whom the annexed deposition of Ebenezer Osborn & Abel Sherwood were subscribed & sworn to is now & was on the 24th day of August 1833 a Justice of the Peace for s'd Fairfield County duly commissioned & acting as such and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this day  & year afor'd

David HIll Jr. Clerk
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11645
22.573
Nathan Beers
Adm 2 years $80

Hon. G. Tomlinson
Fairfield Conn't
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, July 24, 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 regulations will show 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, (this:}). 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 Nathan Beers
Period when the services were rendered
2/1/6/6/6


 I am, respectfully, Your obedient, servant, J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.
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                     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 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 instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record in the County where such 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 _____________________} ss.

On this ______ day  of ______ personally appeared (a) before __________ of 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 (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 enered (entered) 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 Stat, 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) hat 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 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 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 it 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 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 service of each person
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                                                                        3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts state I 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 propand 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, were 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 who 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 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 the 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.
   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 Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such a 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 an 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 [illegible]
[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 give 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 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.
  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 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 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, h was not employed in any civil pursuit.}
[f]. The law makes the relinquishments indispensable.
[g]. The opinion of the Court in 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 contain the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached hereunto 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 for 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 [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] The 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.
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15335
INVALID.

File No. 15335
Nathan Beers

Pri. Rev. War

Act: June 7" 32

Index:- Vol. 1, Page 33

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of Connecticut Ss District of Fairfield August 20th 1832. I Ezekiel O Banks a resident of the Town of Weston in Fairfield County in said state aged seventy three years being duly sworn according to Law do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Nathan Beers a resident of the aforesaid District and State that he is about seventy five years of age that he served on Guard in Fairfield under Capt Eliphalet Thorp of Fairfield nine months in the year 1782. The service commenced according to the best of my recollection the 1st of March and he was discharged at the end of the time I served at the same time -
Ezekiel O Banks
Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year aforesaid before 
David Hill Judge of Probate for the District aforesaid -
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No 4,645
Page 19

I Reuben Sherwood of Fairfield Town & County & State of Connecticut aged Seventy Eight years being duly cautioned  & sworn do testify & say that in the Summer of 77 I was attached to a company of Militia under Capt. Eliphalet Thorp in Col. Lewis Regim'ts that sometime during that summer I served in s'd Company on a Tour of Duty to the City of New York for two months & was there with the Evacuation by the American [illegible] that I then marched out to Harlem in s'd Company where a part of the s'd Company halted but I soon after returned home, passing Kings bridge and I further  testify & say that Nathan Beers of s'd Fairfield was with me in the same Company I served the same Tour of Duty in s'd City of New York marched out to Harlem afors'd and I further say that I have knowledge that s'd Beers was regimently drafted from s'd Company during the Revolutionary war & served on Guard on the Sea Coast of s'd town of Fairfield & as well as I can recollect I should say that during the war he served as much as two years or more. Further the Deponent Saith not dated the 27th day of August 1832 at Fairfield afors'd.  
Reuben Sherwood

Sworn to & Subscribed 
& date afore'd before me 
A [illegible] Judge of the Court
of Probate for the district aforesaid
Page 20

I Nathaniel Perry of the Town & County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut aged Seventy Six being duly cautioned & sworn Do testify & say that Nathan Beers of S'd Fairfield sometime in the year of 1778 was on duty at Weston than a part of s'd town of Fairfield for about two months under Lieut Peter Hendricks where he served the line aforesaid And I further testify & say that I have personal knowledge that during the war of the Revolution the s'd Nathan Beers was at different times serving in the guard of the Sea Coast of said town of Fairfield but the am't of time of his s'd services I cannot State  further the Deponent saith not 
Dated at Fairfield this 27th day of August 1832
Nathaniel Perry
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & date above written before me  David Hill Judge of Probate Fairfield District
Page 21

I Ebenezer Osborn of the Town & County of Fairfield State of Connecticut aged seventy four years do testify and say that I am personally knowing this Nathan Beers of s'd Fairfield in s'd County & State served on a Tour of duty to the City of New York for two months in Capt Thorp's Company Col Lewis' Regt in the summer of 1776 said service ending at the time said City was evacuated by the American Troops I was serving at the same time in the same Company and at the time of s'd Evacuation of s'd City I returned home further the Deponent said not 
Dated at Fairfield this 24th day of August 1833 Ebenezer Osborn

I Abel Sherwood of Fairfield Town & County Connecticut aged eighty one years do testify and say that I am knowing that Nathan Beers of said Fairfield served in Capt Thorps Company Col Lewis Regt in the summer of 1776 for a term of two months on a tour of duty to the City of New York and was serving in sd City till it was evacuated by the Americans I was serving at the same time in same compy and at the time of the evacuation of sd City - & returned home further the deponent saith not dated at Fairfield this 24th day of August 1833
Abel Sherwood

 State of Connecticut County of Fairfield SS Fairfield August 24th 1833
The foregoing depositions of Ebenezer Osborn & Abel Sherwood were taken subscribed & sworn to before me and I hereby certify that they are persons of high respectability & that their character for truth are unquestionable
Thomas Robinson Just. Peace