Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10405, Rufus Briggs, Mass. N. H. New York
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Service: Mass, N.H., New York
Briggs, Rufus
Number: S.10405

This envelope Includes
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
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2325
 New York
 
Rufus Briggs 
of Pittsfield in the State of New York 
who was a Pri & Sergt in the Company commanded 
by Captain Hutchins of the Regt commanded 
by Col Van Vort. in the New York* 
line for 16 months Private and 15 days Sergeant 
* N.H., Mass., and N.Y.
Records completed Feby 7/05

Inscribed on the Roll of New York 
at the rate of 55 Dollars 83 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of November 1832 
and sent to J. C. Walworth Burlington N.Y. 
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 - $83.74 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '33 27.91
[=] $111.65 
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by John Cromwell Clerk,
Book D.  Vol. 5  Page 69 

Right side, crosswise:
See Letter J.C. Walworth - May 30 1835
"          "     Ezra Ames Esq - "    "      "

Right side, upside down:
Died 28 Apr 1833. & paid to that period.
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MECHANICS' BANK,
New-York,

RECEIVED of JOHN FLEMING, President, Agent for paying Pensioners,
Eight Dollars, 38 Cents, being for 1
month 24 days Pension, due to Rufus Briggs, dec'd
from the Fourth day of March 1833 to the Twenty Eighth
day of April 1833 for which I have signed duplicate receipts.
$8.38
[Signed] R G Vaughn

[There is a very faint stamp in the background, but I can only make out GAO]
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State of New York}
Otsego County} ss.
Know all men by these presents that I Susan Briggs of the town Pittsfield in County of Otsego widow of Rufus Briggs late of the said town of Pittsfield desceased [sic] and who was a Revolutionary Pensioner at the time of his death do hereby constitute and appoint R G Vaughn my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name receive from the Agent of the United States for pension in the City of New York in the State of New York (the amount due me of my late husbands pension) my pension from the forth day of March 1833 to the 28th of April 1833 the day of his death 
Witness my hand and seal this 4th day of June 1834,
Susan (X her mark) Briggs
Sealed [?] and delivered} 
in presents of}
[Signed] J.G. Walworth

State of New York 
Otsego County  ss.
Be it known that on the 4th day of June 1834 before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County personly appeared Susan Briggs above named and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be her act and deed 
In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand the day and year last above mentioned [Signed] Ebenr Sheldon } Justice of the Peace
I Certify the reason that Susan Briggs makes her mark is that she never could write 
[Signed] Ebenr Sheldon Justice
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Decleration
State of New York} 
Otsego County ss} 
On the 26th day of July 1832 personly appeared before James C Waworth Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Otsego it being a Court of Record proceeding upon the principles of common Law and having a clerk and Seal, Rufus Briggs a resident of the town of Pittsfield in the said County of Otsego aged 70 years (In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832) first being duly Sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Decleration That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the now State of Vermont Town of Pownal under Captain William Hutchins and marched immediately to Rutland and joined Major Benjamin Whitcombs Battalion this was on the 3 day of May 1778  that he so enlisted and there built a small Fort in the town of Rutland in the said St of Vermont  he is [?] enlisted for seven months ["7-" noted in margin] and served all that time there under the same Officers and was then verbally discharged by the said Major Whitcomb - again in September 1779 he volunteered in the County of Saratoga in State of New York under Captain
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McCalleps [?] and Lieutenant Admiral [his given name] Burch and marched to Fort Edward and then to Fort George in St. N. Y. and served half a month ["-15" noted in margin] and was discharged by Col. Van Vost at Fort Edward - again in the year 1780 August 1st Entlisted in Shaftsbury in the said St of Vermont Enlisted under Bigelow Lawrence Captain and Marched to the town of Castletown in the said St of Vermont at a small Fort there and there Served as a Scout and Served for six weeks ["1.12" in margin] and was then discharged by the said Captain Lawrence  - again in the year 1782 Enlisted 27 day of March under Captain William Hutchins in Bennington St of Vermont for 7 months  ["7-" in margin] marched immediately to the town of Pittsford in the said State joined Major Ebenezer Allen Battalion Worked on a small Fort there and marched from there to Castleton in Vermont and was discharged by Gen. Eathan Allen verbally  - again in year 1782 on the 3 day of November in the town of Pownal St. of Vermont Enlisted under Captain ___ Reed and lieutenant Stearns of the regular standing Army During the war was called out and mustered at at Springfield in Massachusetts and then
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under Captain ___ Reed and lieutenant Stearns of the regular standing Army During the war was called out and mustered at at Springfield in Massachusetts and then Returned home on a furlow and was discharged at the time the News of Peace was proclaimed in June following and that never Recieved any written discharge what Ever and that he was born in the town of West Greenwick Rhode Island has no Record of his age what Ever 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity Except the present and he declares that his name is not in the Pension Rolls of the agency of any State and that that from my advanced age blindness and bodily infirmities am not able to attend a court of Record it being 20 miles from my residence to the Court House of the said County
[Signed] Rufus Briggs 

Subscribed and Sworn the 
day and year aforesaid before me 
[Signed] James C Waworth 
a Judge of Otsego Comn Pleas
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Supplementry Decleration

State of New York}  
Otsego County} 	[SEAL]
Personly appeared before me the undersigned Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Otsego County, Rufus Briggs of the town of Pittsfield in the said County of Otsego who bein[g] duly Sworn according to Law 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 time of his services in all the terms that he was out in the Service but according to the best of his Recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below in the following grades in the year 1778 he Served in Captain Hutchins Company and Major Whitcomes Battalion not less than Seven months ["7mo" in margin] then again in the year 1779 he served not less than fifteen days under Captain McCalleps Company and Col. Van Vosts Regiment in New York State ["15 days" in margin] Then again he served in Captain Lawrences Company as a Scout not less than one month and fifteen days [1M.15days" in margin] in the State of Vermont in the year 1780  - then again in the year 1782 has served in Captain William Hutchins Company and Major Ebenezer Allens Battalion in Vermont not less than Seven Months ["7M" in margin]
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And then again in the Same year 1782 at the time he was Enlisted during the war under Captain Reed Company of the regular Standing Army for during the war he actuly [sic] Served in the State of Massachusetts for a term not less than fifteen days ["15 days" in margin] and was at home on furlow not less than than Six months and and twelve days in this last Service he was Enlisted as an Orderly Serjant and Served as Such during the war and for all of Such Service I claim Pension all which is mentioned in my Original Decleration hereunto annexed of which this is an amendment
[Signed] Rufus Briggs

Sworn and Subscribed this 8th day of November 1832 
Before me 
James C Waworth
Judge of Otsego County 
Common Pleas
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Rev War
10405
INVALID. 

File No. 10,405 
Rufus Briggs
Serg Rev War 

Act: June 7" 1832 
Index:--Vol. A, Page 46 
[Arrangement of 1870]
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STATE AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK.
BE IT KNOWN, That on the 7 day of June 1834 before the Subscriber, a Notary Public in and for said County, personally appeared R G Vaughn the Attorney named in the annexed Power of Attorney, and made oath that the same was not given him by reason of any SALE, TRANSFER, or MORTGAGE of the Pension or Arrears of Pension therein authorized to be received by him.
[Signed] R G Vaughn Attorney
Sworn and Subscribed, the day and year}
last above mentioned, before me,}
[Signed] Hs O[illegible] Notary Public.
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State of New [York]
Otsego County ss.
Abraham Piersons of the Said county aged 65 years being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is acquainted with Rufus Briggs who has made the above decleration in his presents  has known him for more than twenty years past  that he is a man of Standing of truth a veracity and Entitled to full credit and it has ever been reported in in the neighborhood where he lives that he was a Soldier of the Revolution and generally believed and I believe that he did so serve and from his advanced age blindness and bodily infirmities think him unable to attend the Court it being about 20 miles from his residence to the Court Huse of the said County and is as old as he has stated himself to be
[Signed] Abraham Pierson 
Subscribed and Sworn this 20th day of July 1832 before me 
James C Waworth 
a Judge of Otsego County 

Otsego County ss. I the undersigned Judge do certify that I am present and well acquainted with Abraham Piersons that has Sworn to the above Affidavit before me that he is a credible and entitled to full credit 
[Signed] J. C. Waworth 
Judge of Otsego County Courts
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State of New [York]
Otsego County ss 
John Miller of the town of Pittsfield in the said County aged 74 years being dully Sworn saith that he has known Rufus Briggs that has made the above decleration in his presents since the year 1778 at which time I served in the same Company with him under Captain William Huchins at a small Fort in the town of Rutland in the State of Vermont and knows that he there served as stated by him and that he was a good soldier and I believe him to be as old as he has stated himself to be  that I have known him and lived near him in the same town about 20 years and that it has ever been reported and believed that he served in the war of the revolution and I believe he did serve all time he has so stated and that he is a man of truth and veracity and entitled to full credit under Oath or Otherwise and from his age blindness and bodily infirmities is unable to attend Court without enangering [endangering?] his harth [health?]
[Signed] John Miller 
Subscribed and sworn this 26th day of July 1832
Before me 
James C Warworth a Judge of Otsego County
Otsego County ss. I the undersigned Judge do Certify that I am well acquainted with John Miller that he is a credible person and entitled to full credit and that he made the above affidavit before me
[Signed] J C Warworth a Judge of Otsego County
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Crosswise at top right:
Rufus Briggs

State of New York}
Otsego County} ss 
I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said County do certify that James C Walworth before whom the preceding affidavits purport to have been sworn was at the date of the same was one of the Judges of Otsego County Courts & that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits to be his proper hand writing & Signature. Witness my hand & seal of Office this 28th Day of July 1832
[Signed] Horace Lathrop  Clerk
By Thos. K. Cory Depy. Clk
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State of New York 
Otsego County  ss
I James C Walworth one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Otsego aforesaid it being a court of Record with a Clerk and Seal  Do Certify and declare that haveing a full investigation of all the matters in the above decleration of Rufus Briggs hereunto annexed and the affidavits of John Miller and Abraham Piersons both me well known personly to be persons of the strictest veracity and entitled to full credit and belief and after putting all the the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department unto the above named Applicant ware all freely answered on his Oath and are all Answered I believe in his decleration and that that he and the above named Abraham Piersons and John Miller are known to me to reside in the said county I the said Judge Do Certify and declare it to be my Opinion that he Rufus Briggs the said Applicant is wholly unable to attend the regular term of the Court at the Court House of the said County and that the said So Served as is setforth in his Decleration here unto annexed and was a Revolutionary Soldier
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand and declared my opinion at Otsego County aforesaid
[Signed] James C Waworth a Judge of Otsego County Common Pleas
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State of New York 
Otsego County ss
Paul Gammert of the town of Onaonta [sic] in the said County being Sworn says he well recollects that he saw Rufus Briggs in the service in near the Close of the Revolutionary war and that this deponent was then a Soldier than in the service at the town Castleton in the State of Vermont and Briggs was then there in the service 
Paul (X his mark) Gammert
Subscribed and Sworn this 2d day of August 1832 
before me
[Signed] James C Waworth a Judge of Otsego County
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Otsego County SS.
I the undersigned Judge do Certify that I am personly acquainted with Paul Gamment that has Subscribed and Sworn to the within affidavit before me that he is a credible person and entitled to full Credit
[Signed] James C. Waworth a Judge of Otsego County 

Crosswise:
No 4269
admitted
Returned to [?] Sent
to J.C. Waworth
Burlington NY
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Crosswise: June 5
NY

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington
[Postmark] [?] NY JUN 8
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Mechanics & Farmers Bank 
Albany Pension Agency 
June 2,1835. 

James L. Edwards Esquire 
Commissr of Pensions,

Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 30th ult. instructing us to suspend the payment of the pension of Rufus Briggs of Pittsfield I have to state that his name is not found on the Books of this Agency. 
I am, Sir, with great respect 
Your Obt Servt
[Signed] Tho Manley  [?]
Page 21

To what time was Rufus Briggs pri & sergt  a pensioner on the New York roll inscribed on 23 Nov. '32 at 55.83/100 paid ?
[Signed] G.W.C 

Mr Whetcroft 

[Response:]
Died the 28th April 1833 & paid to that period. 
Resptly 
[Signed] H. Whetcroft

G.W.C. Esq.
June 5th 1835
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At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Court House in Cooperstown, within and for the County of Otsego before the Judges of the same Court on the 18th day of June 1833, being a Court of Record and having the power of fine & imprisonment. 
In the matter of the application of}
Susan Briggs, Widow of Rufus }
Briggs, deceased a Pensioner}
David B St John, of the Town of Pittsfield in the County of Otsego, appeared and was duly sworn and examined in open Court and by his testimony it was proved to the satisfaction of the Court that he was acquainted with Rufus Briggs deceased, late of the Town of Pittsfield aforesaid, in his life time; that he died at the said Town of Pittsfield, on the twenty eighth day of April last past, leaving a Widow, Susan Briggs, who is still living, & resides at Pittsfield aforesaid; and that the said Rufus Briggs was a United States Pensioner at the time of his death. 

State of New York} 
Otsego County ss:} I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Otsego aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains in substance, the testimony given by the above named David B St John, and taken down by me at the time in the presence of the Court and that the same has been compared with, and is truly copied from the Records of said Court.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this 2nd day of July AD 1833.
[SEAL]
[Signed] Horace Lathrop, Clerk
Page 23

Left side:
No 247
Rufus Briggs decd
$8.38

Right side:
Payments to be made
at New York 
by the Presd. US Br. Bank 
Agent for paying Pensioners, 
in the Agency of 
New York

[STAMP]
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

Recorded by John Crowell Clerk,
in Book D Vol. 5 page 69

Rufus Briggs
Page 24

WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Revolutionary Claim. 
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Rufus Briggs of the State of New York who was a Private & Sergeant in the Revolutionary Army is entitled to receive Fifty-five dollars and Eighty-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 23d day of November 
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
[Signed] Lew Cass
Secretary of War.
[SEAL]

Examined and} 
Countersigned.} J L Edwards