Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7728, for William Tiffany, Connecticut
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SERVICE
Conn.

Tiffany, William

NUMBER
S7728

Carded
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14362

New York
William Tiffany
Alleghany in the state of New York
who was a prv, sgt & corp in the company commanded by Captain Waterman of the Regt commanded by Col. Ely in the Ct : ma line for 3 mo pri 1
1 mo sgt
2 mos corpl

Inscribed on the roll of New York at the rate of 47 dollars 33 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of May 1833 and Sent to J. L. Endress, Danville Village

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $94.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept  23.66
________
$118.32

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 4 Page 50

Letter to J. Fleming Sept 10 1836
"" "" Pensioner "" "" ""
"" "" F. M. Kuhn Nov 27 ""
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Petition for a Pension by
William Tiffany
18389
No such service in
Col Wills regiment in
1781 or 2-
The regt not official as alleged, the [illegible]
must be proved
Could [illegible] but
1 mo in Col Elys regt witness to officer in that regt
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State of New York
Alleghany County fs.

On this ["day" erased] 25th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Hon. Azel Fitch one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Alleghany William Tiffany a resident of the Town of Nevada in the County of Alleghany and State of New York aged eighty years who being first duly sworn ["doth" stricken out] according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congrefs pafsed June 7th 1832--

That he the said William Tiffany was born in Ashford Windham County and State of Connecticut on the thirtieth of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty two--he offers as testimony the record of his family Bible which he himself transcribed from the Records of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ashford County & state aforesaid, that he resided at the same place until the time when he entered the army of the revolution--That he entered into the service by enlisting into the Connecticut State Troops from the Town and County immediately aforesaid--this he did in the month of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy seven and served as near as this deponent can recollect for the term of three months--in a company commanded by Captain Andrew Waterman in Coll. Ely's Regiment of Connecticut State Troops--That Lieut Col McClanel and Major Clark were officers in the said Regiment--that the Company which this deponent was attached to was immediately ordered to march to Horse-neck and proceeded on their march one day--when they received orders to return home and there wait for further orders--that this deponent returned home and in two or three days he was ordered to march to Providence in the State of Rhode Island--that he went with the company to Providence where he served ["with the company" stricken out] as a private soldier until his term of service expired, when he was discharged with the rest of his company and returned home--that Generals Spencer & Arnold were in Providence some part of the winter while this deponent was there--that this deponent hath no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person now living whose testimony he can procure to testify to the above service--
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And this deponent on his oath doth further declare, that after the above mentioned service he continued to reside in the Town of Ashford County & State last above mentioned until the fore part of July one Thousand seven hundred and eighty one or eighty two it being the same year that the British army evacuated Rhode Island and went to New York--he enlisted as a Corporal for eight months in Captain David Allens Company--Daniel Knowlton Lieutenant--in Colnel Wells' Regiment of Connecticut State troops that this deponent was in the town of Ashford County and State last aforesaid when he enlisted that he went to New London and there served as a Corporal for two months or more when he was appointed a sergeant--that he staid in New London until some time in December when the Company were ordered to march to East haven to guard the sea-board where he served until the middle of March when the company which this deponent belonged to was discharged by the order of Governor Trumbull--

He, the said deponent, have no documents whereby to substantiate his claims, has never received any written discharge--nor does he know of any person living whom he can procure to testify to his service--His service alltogether amounted to eleven months--

Shortly after the close of the war he removed to the Town of Montgomery Hampshire County, Mafsachufsetts, where he resided some years (cannot now recollect how long) from thence he moved to West field in the same County & State from thence to Chester and from thence to the town of Sparta Livingston County, New York where he resided ten or more years and from Sparta he moved to the Town of ["Alleghany" stricken out] Nunda Alleghany County, New York--I offer the following named gentleman as evidence of my character for truth & veracity--and who can testify that they believe me to have been a Soldier of the Revolution

And this deponent doth hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the
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agency of any State--
William Tiffany

Sworn to and subscribed the
day & year aforesaid before me
Azel Fitch

we Amos Benton a Clergyman Residing in the Town of Sparta Livingston County & Leonard Reynolds residing in the Town of Nunda and County of Alleghany New York, and Pettis Tiffany residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Tiffany who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration  that we believe him to be eighty years of age--that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and we concur in that opinion
Amos Benton
Leonard Reynolds
Pettis Tiffany

Sworn to and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid before me
Azel Fitch

I Azel Fitch one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Alleghany do hereby certify that from the age and also from the bodily infirmity of William Tiffany the above applicant for a pension he is unable to attend the Court of Common Pleas which sits at Angelica about twenty miles from the residence of the said William Tiffany and I do further certify and declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above names Applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated--And I do further certify that it appears to me that Leonard Reynolds who has signed the preceding certificate is a president in the town of Nunda Alleghany County New York State and that Pettis Tiffany who has also signed the same is a resident of the said Town of Nunda, and they are credible persons and this statement is entitled to credit--and That Amos Benton a clergyman Resident in the Town of Sparta Livingston County who has signed the above certificate is Entitled to Credit
Azel Fitch
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State of New York
Alleging County SS} I Judson W Sherman Clerk of said County of Allegany do hereby certify that Azel Fitch before whom the within declaration purports to have been sworn, and also before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn, was upon the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county.
And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily beleive [sic] his name Subscribed thereto is his own proper hand writing & Signature Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 30th day of October 1832
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No. 18389
William Tiffany
Alleghany Co
New York

[underline]admitted.[/underline]
6 mos Serjeant
2 mos. Corporal
3 mos. Private

30
17.33
10

J. L. Endress
Dansville Village
Livingston Co
NY
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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 shoe 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 (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.

New York

A Statement, Showing the Service of William Tiffany Alleghany Co..  

Period when the services was rendered.:
Duration of the Claimant's service. Years, Months, Days:
Rank of Claimant:
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served:
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service:
Proof by which the declaration is Supported:

Enlisted Dor 1777} 3 months Private Capt. Watermen Col Ely... 80 years Windham County..  Connecticut  Traditional Evidence

Duly July 81 or 2  ,2 months named Corporal... Major Clark  

Until March following 6 months Than Sergeant   Capt. Allen 

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 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 instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of }ss.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. 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 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 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 the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.
To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?

To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[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] 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, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For year months, and days, I served as a ; For months and days, I served as a; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their 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, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
35
John N Ashton
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Apr 24
Pen. cab.
Wm. Tiffany 
N Y
FREE
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington D.C.
Page 13

Dansville Livingston County N Y
Nov 18th 1831
J.L. Edwards Esq
Enclosed I send you
William Tiffany Pension Certificate per request
in your letter of 10th Sept [illegible] for the purpose
[illegible] mentioned. for William Tiffany
Yours, F. M. Kuhn
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Payments to be made
at New York

by [illegible] U.T. Br. Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of New York
Recorded in the Pension
Office, in Book E Vol. 4
Page 80 by
W. L. Williams
Clerk.
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States
of the 7th June, 1832, William Tiffany
of the State of New York
who was a Private Sergeant and Corporal
in the war of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Forty Seven dollars and
Thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this
21 day of
May one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-three
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.
Examined and
Countersigned.
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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7728
Richey
INVALID.
le No. 7728
William Tiffany
Sergh Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. [illegible], Page 375
[Arrangement of 1870.]