Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5133, Roger Holcomb, Conn. Mass.
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(3--1776)

SERVICE
Conn.
Mass.

Holcomb, Roger

NUMBER 
R. 5133
-----------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832 State of New York Green County ss On the Twelfth day of February 1834 personally appeared Before me Munson Buel one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Green and State of New York 
Roger Holcomb of the Town of Lexington In the County of Green and State of New York aged Seventy Six years old who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1932. The said Roger Holcomb Says that he entered the service of the United States In the revolutionary war under the following offer and served as is hereafter named or stated that he entered the service of the United States at the Town of Canan [Canaan]  in the County Litchfield in the State of Connecticut on the first day of September In the year 1777 that he volenteered his services in the Company commanded by Captain Charles Burril of Canan  went from Canan to Bennington in the State of Vermont and in that part of the Country untill untill the first day of November after the capture of Burgoine was then and there discharged at Bennington aforesaid

That he again entered the service at the Town of New Mallery Berksher County State of Massachusetts on the first day of April in the year 1778 that he enlisted for the Term of three months in the Company Commanded by Captain Lacey Taylor of New Malberry went to the City of Albany from thence to Cherry Valley and from thence to Cooperstown State of New York was there stationed to guard against the Indians who were daley committing their barbarities on the defenceless InHabitants our officers there continued In service untill the first day of August being four months was then and there discharged at Cherry Valley in the State of the York 

That I again entered the service at the Town of New Malberry aforesaid Enlisted for the time of three months on the on the first day of September 1779 In the Company commanded By Captain Daniel Taylor, Powell of Great Barrington was the Lieuntenant, went to the Northward to the Town of Bennington aforesaid where he continued to serve untill  the first or second day of December 1779, when he was discharged at Bennington aforesaid in the State of Vermont 

That he again Entered the service of the Town of New Malberry aforesaid on the first or second day of September In the year 1780 volenteered my services for the Term of three months in the Company commanded
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by Captain Shelden of New Malberry went from thence to an place called Still Waters to the Northward of the City of Albany, and there continued to do duty in keeping guard in the said company untill the first or second day of December in the same year 1780 and was then and there discharged at Still Waters aforesaid In the state of New York. And he further says that he after these services he volunteered his services in a number of alarms after this in Captain Daniel Taylors company went to the Northward continued to serve for two or three weeks at a time in these several towers he served one or more months he thinks he should be correct should he say two months, he says for certain he faithfully served in the said service for more than thirteen months. And he further says that he never received any written discharge and he further says that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services and that he relinquishes every claim whatever, to a pension or annuity except the present and does further swear that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state and the reason why he has not earlier made this application for a pension is because he intended to try to procure further testimony which he could not procure and this deponent further swears that he is now seventy six years old a poor, sickly and infirm man that his memory is not good as it once was, that he has stated the days and times of enlistment and discharge to a day that such a thing may be that he might be mistaken in a day but verily believes he has stated them correctly to the day mentioned all this is to his best recollection and rememberance. Has no doubt of his correctness and that he faithfully served for more than thirteen months in said service believes fourteen.
Roger Holcomb
Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of February 1834 before me Munson Buel 
one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Green, State of New York

Clergyman Certificate
We Henry B. Stimson of the town of Windham for the county of Green State of New York Clergyman in Windham and for Lexington and John Thompson of the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mr. Roger Holcomb.
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of said Lexington who has above subscribed his name and sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be seventy six years old and 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 and that we have been well acquainted with him for thirty years past well know that hes well esteemed as a reputable man a man of truth and veracity.
Henry B. Stimson
John Thompson

Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of February 1834 before me Munson Buel Judge as aforesaid

Interrogatories of the Judge
Question 1st. Where and in what year were you born and have you any record of your age. If so where is it?
Answer: I was born in the town of Wallingford in the county of New Haven state of Connecticut. I believe in the year 1758. I am now seventy six years old. I have no record of my age.

Question 2 & 3. Where were you living when called into the service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Answer: When first called into service I lived in the town of Canaan in the county of Litchfield state of Connecticut the other times when I entered the service I lived in the town of New Malberry in the county of Berkshire after the war I moved from that place to the town of Lexington in the county of Green and state of New York where I have lived something like forty years and where I now live.

Question 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer: The first time I entered the service I volunteered the second time he enlisted third time enlisted fourth time volunteered at all the other I was volunteered.

Question 5 State some of the regular officers who where with the troops where you served such as continental and militia regiments as you
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recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer: I never was acquainted with any particular officers but my own we were stationed on the lines as a company in all my towers of duty [illlegible] ranger on the lines.

Question 6 Did you ever receive any written discharge from the service? and if so by whom?
Answer: I never received any written discharge when my term of service expired I was verbally discharged by my captains.

Question 7. State the names of persons to whom you are acquainted in your own neighborhood who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Answer: I am well acquainted with the reverend Henry B. Stimson who has been our minister a part of the time for many years I have lived something like forty years in the neighborhood of Judge Buel and Reuben Hosford. I am likewise well acquainted with Mr. John Thompson, Ira Johnson who have as long been my neighbors.

Certificate of the Judge
I the said Judge as aforesaid do declare that my opinion is after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution or otherwise was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I do further certify that it appears to me that the Reverend Henry B. Stimson is now a clergyman in Windham and also in Lexington also and that John Thompson of the town of Lexington who has certified above with him they are both men of respectability truth and veracity and I do further certify that the above applicant is esteemed as a very respectable man a man of truth and veracity and I do further certify that it is my opinion that the said applicant by reason of bodily infirmity cannot attend court and I do further certify that it my belief and that of his neighbors where the applicant resides that he served in the revolutionary war
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as he states. And I do further certify that when I put the above interrogatories to the said applicant he was under oath administered by me.
Munson Buel Judge as aforesaid

State of New York
Green County} Ss. Reuben Hosford of the town of Lexington in the county of Green and state of New York under oath deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Mr. Roger Holcomb the above applicant. Has lived a neighbor him for more than thirty years. That he is a very respectable old gentleman, a man of truth and veracity and entitled to full credit as a witness.
Reuben Hosford

Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of February 1834 before me Munson Buel a Judge as aforesaid.

State of New York
Green County} Ss. Ira Johnson of the town of Lexington in the county of Green and state of New York on his deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Mr. Roger Holcomb the above applicant has lived a neighbor to him for more than thirty years past has for many many years past during said him heard him say that he was a soldier of the revolution a number of towers and has him him repeat them for many times for more than twenty years past and believes the same to be true and that he is esteemed as a man of respectability truth and veracity.
Ira Johnson
Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of February 1834 before me Munson Buel Judge as aforesaid.

I the said Judge do here certify that all those persons who have above made their affidavits are men of truth and veracity.
Munson Buel
Judge as aforesaid
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State of New York
Greene County Ss.} I William V. B. Heermance Clerk of the said county do certify that Munson Buel Esquire before whom the within declaration, certificates and affidavits were sworn, was at the date of the same, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said county and that his signature to the same is genuine.
Witness my hand & seal of office this eleventh day of March 1834.
William V. B. Heermance Clk.

30.636
Roger Holcomb NY
N. York
5133

Feb. 4, 1836
Report Agt to be

R. Herford
Lexington Heights
Green Co.
N.Y.

24
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information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Roger Holcomb R. 5133

[column headings]
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment. | Length of Service. | Rank | Officers under whom service was rendered. | State. |
Sept 1, 1777 | Nov 1, 1777 | ~~ | Captain Charles Burrell, Colonel ~~ | Conn. |
Apr 1, 1778 | 4 mos. | ~~ | Captain Lacy Taylor , Colonel ~~ | Mass. |
Sept 1, 1779 | Dec. 1779 | ~~ | Captain Daniel Taylor, Colonel ~~ | ~~ |
Sept 1 or 2 1780 | Dec 1 or 2 1780 | ~~ | Captain Sheldon, Colonel ~~ | ~~. |
"" "" | 1 mos at various times | ~~ | Captain Daniel Taylor, Colonel ~~ | ~~ |

Battles engaged in, .............................
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Canaan Litchfield Co Conn.
Date of application for pension, Feby 12, 1834 his cl. al.
Residence at date of application, Lexington Greene Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, b. at Wallingford New Haven Co. Conn 1758
Remarks: No data as to family

The claim was rejected on the ground of insufficient proof of service as required by the act of June 7, 1832 under which he applied.
Very respectfully,
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REJECTED
5133
Roger Holcomb of NY
Con. Troops
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New York
Rodger Holcomb
Suspended
Let to R. Hosford June 24, 1837
to Hon. Z. Pratt 6 Jan 1838
same Mar. 6, 1838
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30,636
Roger Holcomb
Suspended
See let 6th Oct 1834 to R, Hosford

See letter to Same Dec 3d 1834

Let to Hon. A Vanderpoel 15 Jan7 36
" " R. Hosford Aug 26, 1836
Same Feb 16 1837
Let to Hon. Z, Pratt 9 Oct 1837
" to R. Hosford 8 Nov '37

5133
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Roger Holcom
1777 o.2.0 Capt Barril Barrington
1778 0.4.0 " Lacy Taylor Cherry Valley
1779 0.3.0 " Danl Taylor Barrington
1780 0.3.0 " Childen Still Water
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Boston October 18th 1834
Sir,
Yours of the 13th Inst was received this morning. We have again examined the rolls and find them to be as we stated in the certificate sent you.  No roll of Capt. Lacey Taylor's Company is found in this office and as Mr. Holcomb's name was borne on Lt, Eleazer Taylor's Company roll we thought Mr. H was mistaken in the name of his Captain.  If you wish it and will return the certificate you have we will state in a certificate that no roll of Capt. Lacey Taylor's Company is found in this office,  The four days found
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for Mr. H. was an alarm at Bennington. He joined the Company August 17th and left it the 20th both days encluded and was allowed £0=7=8.
Yours Respectfully
Eleazer Homer
Henry White
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[writing from back of page bled through]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office Sept 18th 1834
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Roger Holcomb, as a private, is borne on "a Pay Roll of Militia Company, commanded by Lieut. Eleazer Taylor, in Col. John Ashley's Regt. where he is allowed from August 17th to the 20th 1777, four days.     M. Da = 4
Roger Holcomb's name is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Daniel Taylor's Company, in Lt. Col. John Collar's Regt. where he is allowed from Oct 13th to the 20th 1781, for services and travels, twelve days........12.
Roger Holcomb claims for services under Capt. Lacey Taylor, in 1778, under Capt. Daniel Taylor, in 1779; no evidence of his said services are found in this office, except those above mentioned. Roger Holcomb claims for services under a Captain Sheldon, in 1780. The roll
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of Capt. Ebenezer Sheldon's Company, in Col. Seth Murray's regt for three months and sixteen days, in 1780, is found in this Office - but the name of Roger Holcomb is not borne thereon.
Edward D. Bangs Secy.
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War Department
Pension Office
January 15th 1836
Sir
I have the honor to return you the letter of the Hon. G. W. Say, and to enclose herewith the papers in the cases of Roger Holcomb and David Frayer. The other cases referred to have not been found among the applications from New York under the act of 7 June 1832. If you are able to state the facts of any application to this office by them such facts may furnish the necessary guide for another examination for their papers. 
The case of Roger Holcomb has not been admitted because the evidence derived from the Massachusetts records do not show as much as six months service the minimum provision of the Act of 7 June 1832; and that of David Frayer, because his alleged service is not duly supported and his 1st alleged term is not deemed military service in the contemplation of the act.
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your Ob Servant
J. L. Edwards

Hon. A. Vanderpoel 
House of Representatives
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Washington Feby 3d 1838
House of Reps
Sir
Will you please furnish me with a coppy of the petition of Roger Holcomb from the state of New York for a pension - and all other papers relating to the subject on file in your office. As I wish to present them to the House of Reps.
I have the honor to be
Respectfully your obt svt
Zadock Pratt

J L. Edwards Esqr
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Add Evidence
Roger Holcomb

Osborn Mills NY
Oct 27

Free

NY

Honble James L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
City Washington
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Lexington Heights Gr Ct N York October 25th 1834
Honble James L. Edwards Esqr

Sir
On the return of your last letter of the seventh of October Instant you mentioned that the certificate of the secretary of Massachusetts in relation to the concern of Mr. Roger Holcomb was deficient as it did not state whether there were any rolls of the company of Captain Lacey Taylor in the receipt of your letter I wrote to the two gentlemen who are the Secretaries Clerks who have this day sent me the enclosed this is the fourth return going and coming the first letter with the money was not received the next time it was they charge two dollars and every letter is eighteen cents is that this expense all amount to something like five dollars already and this is a very expensive way for a poor sickley old man that hasnt one cent to pay only what his neighbors gives him hoping he may at last claim his pension I do hope your honor will be satisfied some other way than by sending again in this manner. This gentleman writes me that there is no roll of Captain Lacey Taylor's company and perhaps there is none in the other, I have thought proper to inclose the letter to your Honour which perhaps may be a satisfactory and the same was returned from the Secretary himself, should your Honour dispute the veracity of the old Gentleman I can procure every nabour living within a mile of him who would certify that say any man is entitled to a belief of truth and veracity such has been with me a number of times and gives me as correct an account as any man can of every one of his companions from the first to the last and I do believe he has stated the truth in ever particular please to inform me you will and pleasure as soon as may be, before I close I beg leave to mention the case of Mr. Justice Artman he lies on a bed of sickness occassioned by a paralittic afliction and has so laid for a number of months. I have lately wrote to your Honoour but have not as yet received his pension he really stands in need of it. There are others that are [illegible] waiting for your return.
I remain Honoured Sir Very respectfully
your obt svt
Reuben Hosford
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Honble James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
City
Washington
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Lexington Heights Gr Ct N. York September 26th 183
Honble James L. Edwards Esqr.
Sir
I have herewith the certificate from the Secretary of Massachusetts which gives but little account of the services of Mr. Roger Holcomb although Mr. Holcomb has in his declaration stated a number of months services in those very companies which he enlisted into for three months at a time, Mr. Holcomb is a neighbour to me and a man that is well respected as a man of truth and veracity, I am knowing those papers sent to Mr. Holcomb to come and visit me for the purpose of making some enquiry of him concerning his services he went on to give me an account of the whole of his service. In all these companies in Capt Burrells Company and all the other companies in Capt. Lacey Taylor's Company, Daniel Taylors and others and all their different movements throughout the whole of his services at the northward and else where I cannot believe but that Mr. Holcomb has served every tower as he has stated your Honour will please to inform me your mind on the subject and what must be further done.
Very Repsectfully your
obt svt
Reuben Hosford
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NY Oct 24
Roger Holcomb

Free

Lexington Heights NY
October 27

Honble James L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner Pensions
City Washington
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Lexington Heights Gr Ct N. York Oct 21st 1837
Honble James L. Edwards Esqr
Sir
A few days since I wrote a few lines to your Honour respecting the concern of Mr. Roger Holcomb papers application which I enclosed some months since in a letter with the application of Mr. David Frayer, by your Honours letter of the ninth of October of the present month addressed to the Honble Z Pratt, I understand that that application had never arrived at your Honourable department, in that letter I requested your Honour to inform me by letter that should Mr. Holcomb be obliged to make out a nother application whether you would insist on the county clerk's certificate that Henry Gosless was a Judge which I expected to have awaited your Honours answer, but having this day received the certificate of the Clerk in another case, I have taken the liberty of inclosing them without the old Gentleman as worthy and respectable as he is has no money to advance in payment to the office, Mr. Holcomb and my self went before the judge Goslee this day and made his application, had it ben thought necessary and had Mr. Holcomb ben able to attend to his business, I do presume that he could have procured every person in town to have made a like affidavitt as the one accompanying the proceeding as to his character and belief of his services and the truth of what he had sworn to. I pray your Honours answer to me as soon as may be consistent.
I remain Honble
Very respectfully
your obt svt
Reuben Hosford
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Rodger Holcomb
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Hon J.L. Edwards

Sir,

I understand that Roger Holcomb of Lexington,  has made application to the war department for a pension under the act of June 7th 1837 and that I have been further informed that he has been unfortunately not able to procure witnesses to prove his services and that he is compelled to depend on his own testimony to support his claim.  I have resided in the neighborhood and been acquainted with said Roger Holcomb for more than thirty five years past, and do now and have always considered him a man of truth and veracity and is entitled to full credit and belief when under oath and otherwise.  I am confident that you may safely rely on his oath and that you need fear no information from said Roger Holcomb.  It has generally been understood in the neighborhood that Mr. Holcomb was a soldier of the Revolution, and his character here is beyond reproach.

I am yours truly
Henry Goslee
a Judge of [illegible]
Commissioner of pensions

Lexington,
January 24, 1837
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30.636

Rodger Holcomb
Page 28

State of New York
Greene County

I William V.B. Heermance, clerk of the said county do certify that Henry Goslee Esq before whom the annexed documents were sworn to was at the date of the same one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said county, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said documents, to be his proper hand writing and signature.

Witness my hand and seal of office this seventh day of March 1837
William V.B. Heermance, Clerk
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Green County Ss on the Twenty Seventh day of February in the Year 1837 personally appeared before me Henry Goslee one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. In and for the County of Green and state of New York Roger Holcomb of the town of Lexington the County of Green and state of New York aged Seventy Nine years old 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. That he the said Roger Holcomb entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war under the following officers Thereafter name and served and heretofore stated, that he entered the aforesaid service at the Town of Canaan for the County of Litchfield in the state of Connecticut, on the first day of September  In the year 1776. He state volunteers his service in the company commanded by Capt. Charles Burrel of said Canan (Canaan), went from Canaan to Bennington in the state aforesaid, and there Continued his duty in said Company until the first day November after some weeks after Burgoine was taken and that he was discharged at Bennington, aforesaid that he again entered the service on the first day of April, for the year 1778 at the Town of New Malberry, In Berkshire County state of Massechusetts, enlisted for the term of three months in the company commanded by Captain Lacey Taylor of New Malberry ^Chatfield was [unknown] went from there to the City of Albany, one thence to Cherry Palley, and from there to a place called Cooperstown, then on the frontiers to guard against the Indians who were masecuring the inhabitants, I was detained there and was discharged, continued in duty, officers would not discharge us until the first day of  August, in the same year 1778, being four months one month more than enlisted for, discharged at Cherry Salley, on the first day of August aforesaid, and that he again entered the same service at the town of New Malbery aforesaid enlisted for three months on the first day of September 1779. In the Company Commanded by Captain James Taylor of this Malberry aforesaid, Powel of Great Barrington was the Lieutenant of the Company went to the Northward to the Town of Bennington where they continued to serve until the first or second day of December 1779. When he was discharged at Bennington aforesaid, That he again entered the same service in as the Town of this Nalberry aforesaid, & Volunteered for the term of three months, in the first or second day of September in the year 1780.  In the Company Commanded by Captain Childen of new Mal.   (page end)
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berry aforesaid went to a place called Stillwaters above Albany and there continued to serve [until] the first of second day of december in the same year 1780. When he was discharged at Stillwaters aforesaid State of New York, and He again entered the same service as kw malbery aforesaid a number of times. In the Company commanded by Captain Daniel Taylor for two weeks and more at a time and went to the northward more than one month. And he further says that he faithfully served in his country's service for more than one year and one month being thirteen months and more, and he further swears that he never received any written discharge, and he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to prove his services or who can testify to his services and that he relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he further declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State, that he has been at great expense in sending swine to Boston as his attorney informs him that he the agent of the Secretary or Clerk charged two dollars as he is informed by the attorney and that the first was never reviewed as [illegible] informed and then another letter with two dollars more together with all the postage and all his letters and other great expenses to try to procure witnesses without an effect, and he further says that he has been a poor sickly man for some years past, and that he is how seventy nine years of age and that his memory is not as it once was that he has stated the times of enlistment services discharges as particulars and he says he may be mistaken in a day but does not think that he is mistaken in any one particular that he has mentioned that he served more than thirteen months faithfully in said services.
Roger Holcomb
Sworn and subscribed this twenty seventh day of February 1837 before me Henry Goslee
one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas
In and for the County of Green
State of New York
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Clergymans Certificate
We Augustus L. Chapine Clergyman and John W. Thompson both residents of the Town of Lexington in the County of Green and State of New York do hereby state or certify that we are both well acquainted with Mr. Roger Holcomb and have been for some years past, who has above subscribed his name to the above [affidavit] or declaration and that we do believe that the said Roger Holcomb is now seventy nine years old, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have [been] a soldier of the Revolution and that we do concur in the same opinion and we do further swear that he is considered a man of truth and veracity [illegible].
Augustus L. Chapine
John W. Thompson
Sworn and subscribed this twenty seventh day of February 1837 Before me Henry Goslee one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Green and State of New York

Interrogatories of the Judge
Question: Where and in what year were you born and have you any record of your age? If so where is it?
Answer: I was born in the town of Wallingford, County of New Haven, State of Connecticut. I believe I was born in the year 1785. I have no record of my age but my memory. I am now seventy [seven] years old.

Question 2 and 3: Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War  and where do you now live?
Answer: When I entered the service I lived at Canaan aforesaid always lived after that at New Malbory aforesaid during his other service.

Question 4: How were you called into service? Where you drafted, did you enlist, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer: The first time I entered the service I volunteered, the second and third time I enlisted, the fourth volunteered and the other by militia being called out.
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Question 5th. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served such as Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the General Circumstances of your services.
Answer: I remember a Continental Captain when at Cooperstown by the name of Ballard don't remember the officers to the northward but my own.

Question 6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it.
Answer. I never had any written discharge was always regularly discharged by my Captains verbally.

Question 7th. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood who can testify to your good character as to truth and veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Answer: I am well acquainted with the Reverend Angus L. Chapin the Presbyterian Clergyman in this Village or town of Lexington also his Honour Munson Buel formerly a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for this county, His Honour Henry Goslee Esq. now one of the Judges of the said Court also Reuben Hosford Esquire Attorney at Law, and Mr. John Thompson and almost every other person in this part of the town having lived here something like forty years.  George Man, Joel Hosford also Ransom Johnson Esq Postmaster Lexington Heights.

Certificate of the Judge
I the said Henry Goslee Judge as aforesaid do declare that my opinion is 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, for I have lived as a neighbour to the said applicant for more than thirty five years past and during all this time I have always understood and so has all his neighbours that he was an old revolutionary soldier and I do further certify that the applicant is a man of respectability truth and veracity and if any man can be believed under oath or otherways he may and that the Honourable the Commissioner need not have any fear of Imposition from him for I do believe that the said
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Commissioner will be perfectly safe in granting him his pension on his own oath as though twenty witnesses had sworn to the facts of his services and I do further certify that it appears to me and I do know that the Revd Augustus L Chapin of the town of Lexington is now a clergyman in the Presbyterian Church here and that the said John Thompson who has above signed his name with him is an inhabitant of Lexington and that they are both men of truth and veracity and I do further certify that it is my opinion that the said applicant by reason of bodily infirmity cannot attend court and I do further certify that when I put the above interrogatories to the said applicant he was under oath administered by me.
Henry Goslee Judge
as aforesaid

State of New York
Green County Ss} Ruebene Hosford, Ransom Johnson, George Mann, John Thompson, Joel Hosford, on their several oaths depose and say that they have each of them ben well acquainted with Mr. Rogr Holcomb for many years always understood that he was an old revolutionary soldier and that he is a man of respectability truth and veracity and that his word or oath may safely be relied on if any man in community can and we do severally swear that we do believe that the Honorable James L. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions need have no fear of imposition from Mr. Roger Holcomb and that he would be perfectly consistent in granting him a pension in his own oath as much so as if twenty witnesses had appeared for him that is to say his oath or word here wants no additional testimony to support it and we do believe he is justly entitled to a pension if any man in life is.
Ruebene Hosford
Ransom Johnson
George Mann
Joel Hosford
John W Thompson

Sworn and subscribed several this the twenty seventh day of February 1851 before me Henry Goslee Judge as aforesaid
Green County Ss I do

the other side --
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Greene County Ss I do hereby certify that Ruben Hosford, Ransom Johnson, Joel Hosford, George Mann & John W. Thompson are men of truth & veracity & that their testimony is entitled to respect.
Henry Goslee
Judge as aforesaid
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Lexington Heights Gr Ct S N. York Feb 27 1837
Honbl James L. Edwards Esq
Sir
Inclosed I send you the pension proceedings of Mr. Roger Holcomb, agreeable to your Honours instructions your letter to me of the 14th of the present month, Mr. Holcomb being willing to give your Honour all the satisfaction that you may require of his respectability, truth and veracity, and will send on twenty more should your Honour require it, but his Honour Henry Goslee Esquire [illegible - page folded over] your Honour will be perfectly satisfied with what I now sent on, to send him a pension on his own oath, Mr. Holcomb has been at great trouble and expense in trying to procure witnesses agreeable to your Honours direction in Boston and elsewhere, the examiners in the secretaries charge two dollars, the first two dollars was never received, I then inclosed two dollars more when he then sent on his certificate, that there was no pay rolls there in his case the same I sent on to your Honour and on the receipts of the same your Honour wrote a letter to me saying that Mr. Holcomb might prove his services as in other cases Mr. Holcomb has taken all the pains that is possible to obtain witnesses from Malberry, and else where and there is not one person living to be found, that he can prove his services by, he therefore praying your Honour to give full credit to every word that he has sworn to and send him a pension certificate as soon as may be considered as he is a poor feeble sickley man, in poor and really stands in need of the benefits of his pension, will your Honour make your return to me as soon as may be consistent with your Honours pleasure.
Remains Hon Sec
Very respectfully
Your obt svt
Ruebens Hosford
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Declaration oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
State of New York
Green County
On the twenty first day of October 1837 personally appeared before me Henry Goslee Esquire one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Green and state of New York Roger Holcomb, a resident of the town of [illegible] in the county of Green and state of New York, aged seventy nine years old, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he the said Roger Holcomb entered the service of the United States i the Revolutionary War, under the following officers herein after named and served as follows, or hereafter stated, that he entered the service of the United States at the Town of Coman in the county of Litchfield in the state of Connecticut on the first day of September in the year 1777.  That he volunteered his services in the company commanded by Captain Charles Burrell of Canan in the county of Litchfield aforesaid went from Canan to Bennington in the state of Vermont and there continued to do duty in said company until the first day of November and after Burgoine was taken then he was discharged at the town of Bemington aforesaid being two months, and that he again entered the same service on the first day of April in the year 1778 at the town of New of New Malberry in the county of Berkshire in the state of Massachusetts, enlisted for the term of three months in the company commanded by, Captain Lace Taylor of  New Malberry aforesaid, went from the town of New Malberry to the city of Albany, from thence to a place call Cherry Valley, from thence to a place called Cooperstown then on the frontier to guard against the Indians who were murdering the inhabitants dailey. At the time my three months expired the officers of our company would not discharge me or the troops and the compelled me and the rest of the company to stay one month longer and that  he was discharged at Cherry Valey on the first day of August the same year 1778, that he again entered the same service aforesaid in the town of New Malberry enlisted into the company commanded by Captain Daniel Taylor of New Malberry aforesaid, enlisted
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for the time of three months enlisted on the first day of September in the year 1779 Powel of Great Barrington was the Lieutenant of the company, went from New Malberry to the northward to the town of Bennington where he continued to serve untill the first or second day of December. In the same year when he was discharged at Bennington aforesaid, that he again entered the same service aforesaid at the town of New Malberry aforesaid volunteered his services for the term of three months in the company commanded by Captain Childen of New Malberry aforesaid went from the town of New Malberry aforesaid to a place called Still Waters above the city of Albany, that he volunteered and entered this service at New Malberry on the first or second day of September in the year 1780 and at that he continued to serve int he said company at Still Waters untill the first or second day of December in the same year when he was discharged at Still Waters. And he further says that he again entered the same service a number of times after this at New Malberry aforesaid for two weeks or more at a time in Captain Taylor's company and went to the northern as that he was out at these several times for more than one month, that he served faithfully for more than thirteen months, and he further says that his name is not on any pension roll of the agency of any state nor did he ever receive any written discharge, and he further says that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service although he has sought it a great trouble and expense and that he further relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and this deponent further swears that he is an old man above the age of seventy nine and that he is a very weak poor sickly man that his memory is not quite as good as it formerly was but that he has stated the time of service length of service with his officers names correctly that he well knows and he believes every other circumstance all this is to the
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but of his remembrance and recollection that he claims a pension for one year and one month.
Roger Holcomb
Sworn and subscribed this 21st day of October 1837 before me, Henry Goslee, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Green and state of New York.

Clergyman's Certificate
We, August L Chapin Clergyman of the town of Lexington in the county of Green and state of New York and Ransom Johnson of the same place do hereby certify that we and each of us are well acquainted with Mr. Roger Holcomb of said Lexington who has above subscribed his name and have been well acquainted with him for some years past and we do believe him to be seventy nine years old and that he is generally reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.  And we do further certify that the said Roger Holcomb is esteemed as a man of respectability, truth and veracity and that he is a very poor weak sickly and feeble man.
Augustus L Chapin
Ransom Johnson
Sworn and subscribed this 21st day of October 1837 before me Henry Goslee, Judge aforesaid.

Interrogatories of the Judge
Question 1st - Where and in what year was you born and have you __________ record of your age. If so where is it:
Answer:  I believe I was born in the town of Wattingford in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, and I am now seventy nine years old, believe I was born in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight.
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Question 2d & 3d Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the revolution and where do you now reside?
Answer: I lived during the Revolution in the Town of Canaan in Litchfield County State of Connecticut and in the Town of New Mallery in the county of Berkshire
Question 4h How were you called into service where you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whoom
Answer that had the first time he entered the service under Captain Charles Burrel He Volunteered his service under Captain Larry Taylor Enlisted and under Captain Daniel Taylor enlisted and under Captain Childson Solenteer my service and also under Capt Daniel Taylor in the Last Service
Question 5h State some of the Regular Officers who were with the troop where you served Such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recall and the General Circumstances of your service
Answer In the year 1777 to the Northward header many officers he see these that were called General Estes, and Arnold, but did not know them My self he see a man called Capt Ballard a Continental Capt at [illegible word]
Question 6h did you ever receive any written discharge when the terms of your service expired for which you was drafted or hired If so by Whom
Answer I never did receive any written discharge when any of my times expired discharge by my Captains
Queston 7h State the names of persons whoom you are acquainted and known for your own neighbourhood who can testify to your good character for truth and veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Answer I am well acquainted with His Honour Judge Giles, I am well acquainted with his Honour Munson Buel, also Judge of the B......;y of Green and with Rueben Hosford Esquire Attorney at Law for this town and with Ramon Johnson Esq Postmaster Soshiglove Heights, I have lived in the neighbourhood with all these persons for more than thirty years and I am well acquainted with many others in town
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Certificate of the Judge
I the said Hearyy Gorlee Judge as aforesaid do declare that my opinion prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states and I do further certify that Augustus L Chapin Clergyman and Ramsomb Johnson of the Town of Lexington are both men of respectability truth and veracity both have signed their names to the above Clergymans certificate and both of them are entitled to full credits as Witness under oath or otherwise, and I do certify that the said Roger Holcomb the above applicant is esteemed as a very respectable man of truth and Veracity and I the Said Judge do further certify that His Honour James L. Edward Esquire, may fear no imposition from the applicant but that He may as safely rely upon every word the applicant Mr Holcomb has sworn too as if many of the most respectable persons have swore to the same service, and I the said Judge do further certify that it is my opinion that the said applicant by reason of bodily infirmity cannot attend court And I do further certify that it is my belief and that of his neighbours where the applicant resides that he was a soldier and served as such in the Revolutionary war
Henry Gorlee
Judge as Aforesaid

State of New York}
Green County} Ss Munson Buel, Reuben Hosford, and Ransomb Johnson of the Town of Lexington in the County of Green and State of New York being first duly sworn according to Law doth on their several oaths depose and say that they are well acquainted with Mr. Roger Holcomb the above applicant and have lived in the neighbourhood with him for more than thirty years well know that he is Highly Esteemed as a man of truth and veracity and we do further say that we do verily believe that the Honorable the Secretary of War need not fear and Imposition from the above applicant and we do believe that the Honorable Secretary aforesaid will be perfectly safe in giving M Holcomb his pension as though many other respectable persons had sworn
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to His Services and we do further say that it has always been understood by his and our neighborhood that the said applicant has [been] a Revolutionary soldier.
Munson Buel
Reuben Hosford
Ransom Johnson
Sworn and subscribed this 21st day of October 1837 
Before me Henry Goslee
Judge as aforesaid

I do hereby certify that the above witnesses viz Munson Buel, Rruben Hosford, & Ransom Johnson, who have subscribed to the above affidavit are men of trust & veracity. Oct. 18, 1837
Henry Goslee
Judge as aforesaid