Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10595, Simeon Durham, Conn.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE                                 NUMBER
Conn       Durham, Simeon     S.10595
Carded
_________________________________________
CONTENTS
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[left of page]
Hon Gn Chase Dec 15  753
  [right of page]
14553
New York
_____________[double line]
Simeon Durham
of Mayland in the State of New York
who was a Pr. & Cor. in the Company commanded
by Captain Bray of the Regt commanded
by Col Markham in the Connecticut
line for 1 month Private
12 month Corporal
_____________________[double line]
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 47 Dollars 33 Cents per annum.
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
_______________________________[double line]
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 day of May
1833 and sent M. Brown
Cooperstown NY
________________________[double line]
Arrears to the 4th of Mar' 33                      $94  66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '33          23  66 
    _____________________________[double line]
                                                                   $118  32 {Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Ino Cromwell Clerk
Book E  Vol. 4  Page 53
Page 3

[illegible] of the illegible] of February 1833.
[circular stamp at left 'National Archives of the[illegible]]

Below them in order to obtain the benefit
of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832
State of New York}
Otsego County}Ss    On this 9th day of February 1833.
personally appeared in open Court
before the eyes of the Court of Common pleas in & for
the County aforesaid being a Court of more & now
sitting Simeon Durham a resident of the town of
Maryland in the County& state  aforesaid aged
69 years on the 23d day of July next -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 7.1832. That he entered the service of the
United States under the following named officers & 
served as herein stated [illegible] the year 1780
he was a resident of whosnor[?] then called West Britain Hartford County State of Connecticut
& in the month of May of that year as he now recollects &
believes he entered the service of the United
State at West Point as a substitute for one
Edward Word a corporal in a Company under the Command of Capt Bray [word "company'"crossed out] & in a
regiment under the command of Col Markham
a Continental officer or he believes.
Corporal Word had been injured by lightning
while in the service & unable to perform
Miltitary duty, he sent for this deponent who
took his place as such Corporal for one year
& served as a corporal but never had a
warrant This deponent was placed over a
squad of Men in building Fort Paterson[?] &
Durham, Simeon (Conn.) S-10595
Page 4

completing the works thereof he was also employed
in the same momen [moment] & had the charge of men in
what was called Fort Arnold in building what
he called a Prevact [?] & digging trenches, performing
garrison duty & other occupations incident to an army in the absence of the Enemy
While in this service & of the firing of the
evening gun on a particular occasion he
was rendered perfectly deaf in consequence then after a few weeks, & has never ^perfectly recovered his
hearing which has always proved a [illegible] &
knows inconvenience to him in his subsequent
life this deponent was discharged from his
service of the Expiration of his term of Enlistment of one year as aforesaid but had no written discharge to his recollection
and this deponent further states that in the month of August in the year that Fairfield was burnt by Tryon he volunteered in the [illegible] of
that [illegible] as a substitute for his Father Daniel Durham for one month under Capt
Sloper Leut. Titus Bunnell, Ensign Lewis
in Genl Parsons Brigade but he does not
recollect his Cols name. He lay during this
term at Fairfield & Norwalk until the
Expiration of his term was then dismissed
& went home some time in the latter part of
September of that year. He received pay
as a corporal while in the service of [illegible]Power
was acquainted with Col Hooker of Farmington a continental officer- He has no documentary ["mentary"cont. on next page]
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["mentary"] evidence by which he can prove his
services nor does he know of any person living
whose testimony he could proven to the same
He recollects that his Drum Majors name at
West Point was Ichabod Andrus & the fife
Majors name was Arnold 
Andrus a brother to Ichabod He hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension or annuity except
the present & declares that his name is
not the pension roll of the aqency [words "of the
agency"crossed out] of any State He cannot proven
the certificate of any Clergymen as
require by the War Dept for the [illegible]
that he has always lived in the back part of
the town & was never acquainted
with any one for that purpose
He would upon the War Dept to the following
persons in his neighborhood for his character
as to truth & veracity to[?]   Elisha Chamberlain
Gerard Chamberlin Fonder Chamberlin
Donnie Houghton Nathaniel Carpenter
Doct Joseph Carpenter & Philo Benedict
He was born in North Brandford New Haven Ct.^
lived their till he was 4 years old then
moved into the County of Hartford town of
[illegible] lived the 7 years from then to the
town of New Britain till 18 or 19 years of age
from then to Hillsdale Columbia Co NY
about 6 or 7 year from then to [illegible] 2 years
from then to Hudson about 16 . years from then to Jefferson[?]  Schohorium [?] Co to about
DUR HAM, SIMEON (CONN) 5-10519
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5 or 6. years from them to Davenport Delaware
13. years from there to Maryland his present
place of residence where he has ever since resided
Has a [illegible] of his age or home
obtained from his parents, & further with
not sworn & subscribed the day & year
aforesaid in open Court
Simeon Durham
Horace  Lathrop Clerk

 Mr Jesse Rose & Phillip Wait residents of the town of Maryland hereby certify that we are
well acquainted with Simeon Durham who
has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 69. years of age or herein
to be that he is reputed & believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have all
holden the revolution & a man good
moral character & standing for truth & veracity &
that we concur in the foregoing opinion
sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid
               Jesse Rose [signature]
                Philip Wait [signature]

Horace Lathrop.  Clerk [signature]
And the Will Court hereby declare their opinion after
the investigation of the matter after putting the
interogatories prescribed by the War Department
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states and the
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Court further certifies that it appears to them
that Jesse Rose & Phillip Wait who have signed
the preceding certificate are both residents of
the Town of Maryland & are persons of respectability that they are credible persons & that their notement
is entitled to credit
J. O. Moned
J.G. Wauworth         
Elisha Route
Judges
[circular stamp on right "The National Archives of the United Sates"]

I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Otego[?]
hereby certify, that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said
Court in the Matter of the of motion
of Simeon Durham for a pension
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal of office
this 18th day of February 1833.
Horace Lathrop, Clerk
Page 8

Simeon Durham
13 months
M.Brown 
Atty.
Coopestown
N. Y.

 adm'd
13 mo
viz 
12.  mo Corpl
1.  ~ pri
13.
DURHAM, SIMEON
(CONN) 5-10595
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2520  8
Simeon Durham,
Otsego co
N.Y.

adm d

M.Brown, esq.
Cooperstown,
N.Y.
Page 10


WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew [show] what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
___________________________________________
A Statement, shewing the service of Simeon Durham, Otsego Co
______________________________________________
|Period when the service was rendered|
|May 1780 substitute for Edward Ward|
|Duration of the
claimant's service.|
|Years. 1 ┃
|Months. 1 |
|Days.|
|Rank of the claimant.|
| Corporal|
|X|
|Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.|
|Col. Markham|
|Capt Bray|
|Capt. Soper|
|(Col not recollected)|
|Age at present,
and place of abode when he entered
the service.|
|69,|
|Hartford, Conn.|
|Proof by which the declaration is supported.|
|tradition|
X Served as Corporal but no warrant.

I am, respectfully
your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1852.
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, mucicians 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 [Blank]
day of [Blank]
personally appeared (a) before [Blank] A.B. a resident (b)of
[Blank ]in the county of [Blank]
and State, Territory or District
of [Blank] 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) [Blank], with [Blank]
and served in the [Blank]
 (e) 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,
the country through which he marched. [emblem of a hand pointing index finger to the right] 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.
[ Blank]of the Court of [Blank]
do hereby certify (h) 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 (i) this [Blank]
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 [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 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 [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.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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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 ex-expected.[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
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year--
days, I served as a -. For - months and
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 of 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 thepapers.
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 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.
[ emblem of hand with pointed index finger to right] The notes from[a] to[i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is note
[j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] 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.
Page 13

10595
Rev War     INVALID.
---
File No. 10595
Simeon Durham
Corp. Rev War 
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 104
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives


NAME Durham, Stephen
[arrow with words"Pencil notation"](Denham)
GRADE Private
LINE New York

WARRANT
NUMBER 7057
ACREAGE  100 
ISSUED July 30, 1790
to Edward Cumpston, assigned


__

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volume 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commission officers and privates under congressional resolution of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to he been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.