Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1238, for John Morgan, Maryland
Page 1

(3 - 1776) 
Service Number
Md. Morgan, John S. 1238.
Carded
Contents
Page 2

19,443
Kentucky

John Morgan
of Oldham Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the Company commanded
by Captain Dathem of the regt commanded
by Col [blank] of the Maryld. ma
line for 9 months from 1780

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 30 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Sep
member 1833 and sent to Isaac
R. Gwathney West Port Ken

Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 $75.--
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 34 15
$90.--

{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act, June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Wm. S Allison Clerk,
Book [illegible] Vol. 7 Page 19.
Page 3

reportd 25 Oct. 1833
and letter same date to
applt. West Port, Ken

Paid at the Treasury under
the Act of the 6 April 1838
from 4th March 1838 to 4th
March 1839.  Agt notified 20
Decr 1839.
_________________________
Page 4

Jno. Morgan
certificate

11711
Page 5

State of Kentucky }
Oldham County } Sct

On this 21st day of September 1832 personally appeared in
open Court before the [struck out: County] Circuit Court of Oldham County in the
state aforesaid now sitting John Morgan of the county of
Oldham and state aforesaid aged about 71 years who
being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832

That he entered the service of the United States in the year
1780 in Dorchester County Maryland where he at the time lived.
He entered then the militia first as a volunteer, for nine months
and served in Capt. Bartholomew Ennolds company, which
company after some time was commanded by Capt Joseph
Dathan, after Capt. Ennolds was promoted, and he served
nearly if not the whole of the nine months.  We joined
the army under General Hooper, a few minutes after the
battle at Nanticoke river at Vienna [illegible]-at another
time He was drafted in the Maryland militia and
served in Capt. Staplefoots company about one month
to guard the county against the Tories & refugees.
He was in no battle-He was marched through several
parts of the State of Maryland but does not recollect
of being marched out of that state.

He was born on the 22nd of September 1761 in St. Marys
County in the State of Maryland-a record of his birth kept
by his father, was in the hands of his twin Brother Thomas
Morgan untill [until] within a few years but he understands
the said record has been lost-He removed when young from
Saint Marys County, to Dorchester County in same state
from which county he entered the said service-In this
county he resided untill[until] about 33 years ago when he removed
to Kentucky, & has ever since continued to reside in said
state and within a few miles of his present residence.
He was acquainted with Col. Eggleston, & General Hooper
of the regular army-and also with the said Capts. Ennolds &
Dathan-whom he thinks were promoted in the regular
service-He has no recollection of acquaintance with
any other regular officers.
Page 6

He knows of no person in existence except his said brother
Thomas by whom he can prove any part of his said service-
and has no documentary evidence of his service.  He thinks
his discharges were merely verbal.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not
on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
John Morgan

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

We Elijah Gates a Clergyman residing in the county
of Oldham and state aforesaid and George Singer residing
in the same county hereby certify that we are well acquain
ted with John Morgan who has subscribed and sworn to
the above declaration, that we believe him to be 71
years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood]
where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution
and that we concur in that opinion.
Elijah Gates
George Singer

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

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 Elijah Gates who has signed the preced
ing certificate is a clergyman residing in the said county of
Oldham and that George Singer who has also signed the
same is a resident in the same county, and is a credible 
person-and that their statement is entitled to credit.
T. T. Crittenden Ct Judge
Page 7

Ky. Sct Oldham Circuit Court Septr. Term 1832.
Septr. the 21st 1832

I Isaac R Gwathney clerk of the Oldham Circuit
Court in the State of Kentucky do certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said Court in the matter of the application of
John Morgan for a pension.
[Blurred seal of office]  In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my
hand and seal of office this 21st
day of Septr. 1832 and in the 41st
year of the Commonwealth.
[word blocked by seal] Ballard D for Is R Gwathney C.O.C.C.
Page 8

11711
John Morgan
Kentucky

return
5.13.17

Isaac R. Gwathney
West Port
Send the certificate
to the clerk of the court
of Oldham at West
Port Ken

[words blacked out]
Page 9

BRIEF in the case of John Morgan
County of Oldham in the State of Kentucky
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  [blank]

3.  How old is he?  71

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

==============================================================
Period. | 
________
Vol. in 1780 | 

Duration of Service. |
__________________
Years, Months, Days. |
nearly 9-- |
about 1-- |

Rank. |
______
As a |
private |
" |

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
_______________________________
Gen. Hooper
Capt. Dathem
Capt. Ennolds

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  None

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Dorchester County Md

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  tradition, states he has a witness but has
not produced his affidavit.

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  right

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.

Chas W Forrest
Examining Clerk.
Page 10

October 12, 1935.
xxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/ady
John Morgan
S.1238

Leo L. Davis
1437 Monaco Parkway
Denver, Colorado

Dear Sir:

The data contained herein are obtained from the
papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for
pension, S.1238, based upon the military service of
John Morgan in that war.

John Morgan was born September 22, 1761 in St.
Marys County, Maryland and when young moved to Dor
chester County Maryland.  The names of his parents
are not shown.

While a resident of Dorchester County, Maryland,
John Morgan enlisted in 1780, and served about nine
months as private in Captains Bartholomew Ennold's and
Joseph Dathem's Maryland Companies.  He enlisted,date
not stated, and served about one month as private in
Captain Staplefoot's Maryland Company.

About 1799 he moved from Dorchester County, Mary
land, to Kentucky.

He was allowed pension on his application executed
September 21, 1832,at which time he was a resident of
Oldham County, Kentucky.

He died July 1, 1840, place not stated.  [handwritten note: On A.B.]

Soldier's twin brother, Thomas Morgan, was living
in 1832, his residence not shown.  There are no further
family data.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 11

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
27th February 1833

SIR:

I return herewith the paper[s-struck out] in support of the claim[s-struck out] of the person[s-struck out] whose
name[s-struck out] [are-struck out] is hereto annexed.

These papers are in several respects defective.  Each case is accompanied
by a brief.  The objections are contained in the negative answers, in red ink,
given to the questions.

Particular attention should be paid to the accompanying regulations and to
the explanatory notes subjoined to the brief.

The extraordinary press of business in this office, arising from the great
number of claims under the act of June 7, 1832, has hitherto prevented us from
attending to the applications sent by you.  The investigation of the cases pre
sented under this law has been difficult and laborious, and notwithstanding the
greatest exertions have been made by this Department, an earlier attention to
your business has been found impracticable.

The brief has been prepared to meet all cases, and thus to save the exces
sive labor which would otherwise be imposed upon the office, and which would
consume so much time as to render the delay two fold greater than it now is
in the investigation of claims and writing letters.  Each case is considered cor
rect in all respects except in relation to those questions to which a negative
answer is affixed.  No other alteration or addition will be required.

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J L Edwards

[handwritten notes at bottom of page]
John Morgan Esqr
Louisville
Ky.--  John Morgan

These papers were returned to the war dept. as a
dead letter and are now sent to the Clerk of Oldham
Co. Ken. Sep 9, 1833
Page 12

John Morgan


App
Louisville 
Ky
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Morgan which require
further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?   [blank]

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?   Yes

V.  *Has he mentioned 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?  No.

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832.  Yes

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal?  Yes
Page 14

2

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolu
tionary service?  Yes

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing it?  [blank]

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  Says he has a
witness but has not produced his affidavit

XIV.  +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?  [blank]
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  [blank]

XVI.  ++ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?  [illegible] 7 not answered

____________________

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*QUERE V.  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 recol
lection 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.
Page 15

3

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 month is to in
definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state 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 objection
able.  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 em
ployed in any civil pursuit.

+QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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 magis
trate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

++QUERE XVI.  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 paper authenticated, the cer
tificate 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.
[right index finger pointing]In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
Page 16

To the Honorable The Secretary of War of the United States

The Petition of
John Morgan respectfully represents that he herewith forwards his [illegible]
duly authenticated in conformity with the instructions issued from your department
Should any thing additional be required for further proceedings in the business
Your petitioner prays you advise herein.  And that you would accord to him
his principal request in the [illegible], which is that his name be enrolled
in the pension list, and that he be authorized to draw a pension, as a
revolutionary Pensioner, under the last act of Congress on that subject.  Your
petitioner would prefer to drawn his pension at Louisville, Ky.

and Your Petitioner as in duly [illegible] will ever [illegible]
John Morgan

Septr. 25th 1832
Page 17

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office
Dec. 5th, 1839.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States," John Morgan,
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Kentucky Agency, at
the rate of Thirty Dollars and [blank] Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838,
to the 4th March 1839.

Respectfully yours, 

Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 18

[Two columns]
[Left column]

1935 Oct. 12 Hist to Leo L
Davis, A.D.Y.  See his
letter in clm. of Thos. Morgan
S.2[illegible]59.
________________________

[Right column]

INVALID. [Written vertically in right margin] Rev War

File No. 1238
John Morgan
Priv. Mary. Mil.

Act: June 7, 1832

Index:--Vol. A, Page 261

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 19

October 12, 1935.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/ady

Leo L. Davis
1437 Monaco Parkway
Denver, Colorado

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request
the records of John Morgan and Thomas Morgan, Revolution
ary War pensioners.

Their records are finished you herewith on separate
pages, as found in the respective claims for pension based
upon service in the Revolutionary War.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 20

DEPARTMENT OF WAR,
PENSION OFFICE, June 27, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted by the Secretary of War for carrying into effect the Act
of Congress, passed June 7, 1832, entitled "An Act supplementary to an "Act for the relief of the sur
viving officers and soldiers of the Revolution."

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 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.  

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 claim
ing 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 } ss.
County of } 

On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared the [blank] of the 
[blank] A. B. a resident of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District
of [blank] aged [blank] 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 [blank], with [blank] and 
served in the [blank] regiment of the [blank] 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.  

He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 [blank]

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] , A. B.

And then will follow the certificate of the Court.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolution
ary solider, and served as he states.
I [blank] of the Court of [blank]
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this
[blank] day of [blank] &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will receive detailed instructions, respecting the nature and form of the testimony, they must
produce, to secure their being placed on the Pension roll.  As the presumption will, in such cases, be
against the applicants in consequence of the omission of their names in the muster rolls, they will be re
quired to furnish, as near as may be, the same evidence as has heretofore been required, by the Regulations
and practice adopted for carrying into effect the act of Congress, of March 18, 1818, and the acts supple
mentary thereto; with such relaxations as have been from time to time, sanctioned by the Department, on
account of the rapid decrease of the survivors of the Revolutionary army, and the consequent difficulty of
procuring direct positive testimony in every case.

Wherever an officer or non commissioned officer is now in receipt of a pension, he should make
application, if entitled to the benefits of this act, by letter merely, setting forth his rank, and the regiment,
corps or vessel, in which he served, and his present place of residence.  His pension certificate must ac
company his letter.

In those cases where the applicants have once been on the pension roll, under the act of March 18,
1818, and have been dropped therefrom on account of property, or for any other reason, or where applica
tion has been made under the act of May 15th, 1828, and the evidence of service is in the Departments, or
having made application and proof of service, and having been rejected, instead of the above declaration
they will make a statement, setting forth, under oath, their having been previously on the pension roll, and
their having been struck from the same, showing their rank, the regiment, corps or vessel in which they
served, their present place of residence, and their place of residence when the first application was made,
or of their application under the act of 15th of May, 1828.

In a case where a claimant may make personal application at this Department, and can produce satis
factory proof of service, and of his identity also, at the seat of government, he may make his declaration
before a justice of the peace.

2.  The case of the State troops, volunteers and militia is different.  There are in the Department no
rolls of the State troops, except those of Virginia; and no rolls of the militia, except those of New
Hampshire.

Applicants, who served in the State troops of Virginia, and applicants, who served in the militia of
New Hampshire, will be required to produce the same proof, as is prescribed for those, who served upon
the Continental Establishment.  But, with respect to the other State troops and militia, there is no record
to advert to, and no presumption to be rebutted.  The nature of the case, therefore, demands a different
rule of proceeding.
Page 21

2

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers of Militia
except as is above provided, will make and subscribe the following declaration}

DECLARATION.

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed, June 7, 1832.

State, Territory or District of }
County of } ss.

On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared in open Court before
the Court of [blank] now sitting, A. B. a resident of [blank] in the County of [blank] and 
State, Territory or District of [blank] aged [blank] 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as
herein stated.
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company officers; the day (if possible) and the
month and year when the claimant entered the service, and the time when he left the same; (and if under
more than one engagement, he must specify the particular periods, and the rank and names of his officers;)
the town, and County or State, in which he resided, when he entered the service; whether he was drafted,
was a volunteer or a substitute; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged; the country through which he
marched; the continental regiments or companies with which he served; and the names of some of the
Regular Officers whom he knew, together with such farther particulars as may be useful in the investi
gation of his claim; and also, if the facts be so, that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows
of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and declares 
that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency 
in the State of [blank]  
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] , C. D.

And then will be annexed the following certificate:

We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank]
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 days and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revo
lutionary 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 [blank]
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank]
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank]
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.

The form of the proceedings and of the certificates will be so varied, as to meet the case, when the de
claration is made out of Court, before a Judge, as hereafter provided for.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commis
sion; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the ser
vices 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, and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one on the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at
tempted; 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 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.
Page 22

3

{To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if  {so, by whom was it giv
{en, and what has become of it?
6.  {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 tes
tify 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, with
out too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of whom should be the near
est clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaint
ance 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, ex
cept the declaration of the party.  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry [inquiry] whe
ther the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.  To require from the
applicants positive proof of service from a temporary survivor would, after the lapse of so many years, be
to deprive many of them of the benefit of the law.  And as no presumption is raised against the Militia by
the existence of Rolls in the Department, there is no good reason why this requisition should be extended to
them.  On the other hand, to receive the declaration of the parties, as a sufficient ground for placing them
upon the Pension Roll, without corroborating circumstances, would be to open the Treasury to great frauds.
A just medium seems to present the best rule for carrying into effect the objects of Congress.

If the two persons, whose certificates is required, cannot be produced in Court, without too much in
convenience and expense to the applicant, then the statement of facts and opinions, above mentioned,
will be made under oath before some Judge or Justice of the Peace, and the certificate of the Court to the
situation and credibility to of the persons making the statement will be given.

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 coun
ty, 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. 

3.  Persons serving in the marine forces

4.  Indian Spies.

Each of these two latter classes of cases will produce proof, as nearly as may be, conformably to the pre
ceding regulations, and authenticated in a similar manner, with such variations as the different nature of the
service may require.

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.