Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21795, Salathiel Harris, New York
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Service
New York
Harris,Salathiel
Number
S.21795
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✓9158
Vermont
Salathiel Harris of Brattleborough in the State of Ver who was  Pri in the Com commanded by Captain Sargeant of the Reg commanded by Col. Schuyler in the N. Y. ['line for' crossed out] State Troops 9 mo
______
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 3. day of April 1833 and sent James Elliott New Fane Vt.
______
Arrears to the 4th of March 33  $60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept. 33 15.00
$75.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 68
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See Letter to J. Phelps 15 May 37- do to Pen Agent May 29, 1838 do to Pensioner May 29 1838 do to Saml Elliott 30 July 1838 do Pent Payes Sept 171838
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State of Vermont
Windham ss } Brattleboro' Dec 24th 1832
I Jedidiah L. Stark a clergymand residing in s'd town of Brattleboro' do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Salathiel Harris who has subscribed and sworn to the written declaration, that I believe him to be seventy three years of age and that is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion
/s/Jedidiah L Stark
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before /s/Wm R. Hayes Justice of the Peace
I also certify that J L Stark who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the s'd town of Brattleboro' and that his statement is entitled to credit - 
/s/Wm R Hayes Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerk's Office.
New Fane, December 27, A.D. 1832. 
I certify that William R. Hayes, Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the preceding are his signatures - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court on the day and year last above written - 
/s/James Elliot, Clerk. 
[margin note: Salathiel Harris Dec'er for Pension. - August 1832 No 2.190]
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STATE OF VERMONT
County of Windham ss. 
Probate District of Marlborough 
At the Probate Court, within and for said District, being a Court of Record 
On this 2d day of August A.D. 1832 - Personally appeared in open Court, At Brattleboro' in said District 
Present - Hon. Marshall Miller, Esquire, Judge - 
Before the said Probate Court, within and for said District now sitting Salathiel Harris a resident of Brattleboro' in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, aged Seventy two 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 7, 1832 - That he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That on the first of July 1777 ['to go' crossed out] he volunteered to go into the service of the United States for the purpose of going to Ticonderoga and went to Clarendon in the state of Vermont where he learned that Ticonderoga was evacuated - He then went to Hubbardston (Hubbardton) Vt immediately after the battle at that place - From Hubbardston (Hubbardton) he went to Burlington, & thence to Rennsellaer's Mills - He was out in the service four months - The captain of the Company was John Sargeant and the Lieutenants Timothy Church & Israel Smith - The Col of the regiment was Schuyler - Again in June 1778 he was drafted to go to West Point under Captain James Blakeley (Blakeslee) & Lieutenants Rice & Joy - He was at West Point when Gen Arnold came there to take command of the fort - He was one of those who was sent from the fort by Gen Arnold to Morristown New Jersey - He was there under Captain Delavan & thence went to Bargain Town now Hoboken - Gen Washington was there commanding at that place - He was out on this term of service five months making nine months in the whole - 
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 any State. 
To the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, he answers, upon his said oath, as follows:
1. He was born at Holden in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1759
2. Has a record of his age taken from one kept by his father
3. Was living in Brattleboro' both times when called into the service volunteered the first time and was drafted the second - 
4. [blank]
5. [illegible] officers under whom he served her recollects Col. Colden - the Major was a Frenchman whose name he does not recollect - Lieut Brown - of the company to which he belonged at Morristown - 
6. He received a written discharge from his last term of service given by Col Colden but has lost it - 
7. I can refer to Stephen Greenleaf town clerk of Brattleboro' & Levi Goodenough, Joseph Goodhue & LaFayette Clark selectmen of s'd Brattleboro as persons who know me and can testify to my character for truth and their belief of my services in the war of the revolution
/s/Salathiel Harris
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
/s/Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
We Stephen Greenleaf ['a clergyman' crossed out] Town clerk, residing in the town of Brattleboro' in said County and Thaddeus Miller of Brattleboro' in said County hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Salathiel Harris who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
/s/Stephen Greenleaf
/s/Thaddeus Miller
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. 
/s/Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
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Major was a Frenchman whose name he does not recollect - Lieut Brown - of the company to which he belonged at Morristown -
6. He received a written discharge from his last term of service given by Col Colden but has lost it -
7. I can refer to Stephen Greenleaf town clerk of Brattleboro' & Levi Goodenough, Joseph Goodhue & LaFayette Clark selectmen of s'd Brattleboro as persons who know me and can testify to my character for truth and their belief of my services in the war of the revolution
/s/Salathiel Harris
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
/s/Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
We Stephen Greenleaf ['a clergyman' crossed out] Town clerk, residing in the town of Brattleboro' in said County and Thaddeus Miller of Brattleboro' in said County hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Salathiel Harris who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
/s/Stephen Greenleaf
/s/Thaddeus Miller
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. 
/s/Marshall Miller Judge of Probate
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 Stephen Greenleaf who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Town Clerk ['clergyman' crossed out] resident in the said town of Brattleboro' and that Thaddeus Miller who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Brattleboro' in said county, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, James Elliott, Register of the Probate Court, within and for the District of Marlborough aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Salathiel Harris for a pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 2d day of August A.D. 1832.
/s/James Elliot, Prob. Register.
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I Ezra Harris of Brattleboro in the County of Windham and State of Vermont, aged 68 years, being duly sworn, do depose and say, that I distinctly recollect that in May 1777, my brother Salathiel Harris volunteered to serve in the Company of Militia commanded by Capt. John Sargeant of Brattleboro afs'd - & Lieuts Timothy Church & Israel Smith of the same Brattleboro. As nearly as I can recollect he served about 4 months in that campaign. 
I further depose and say, that I fully remember that he enlisted for six months in the Company commanded by Capt. Blakeley of the same Brattleboro, about the middle of May 1778. that he was absent from home eight or nine months - this tour of duty I have always heard him say was at Peekskill on the Hudson River and in New Jersey - that during a part of that campaign he was a member of LayFayette's (LaFayette) life guard - and further the deponent saith not. 
/s/Ezra Harris 
State of Vermont
Windham County ss } Personally appeared Ezra Harris signer of the above deposition, and after due caution made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me 
/s/Dana Hyde Justice of the Peace
Brattleboro August 24, 1838. 
I also certify that the above subscribing deponent is a man of unimpeachable veracity
/s/Dana Hyde Jus. of the Peace
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21795
Revolution INVALID.
File No. 21,795
Salathiel Harris
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 167
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Deposition of Calvin Harris
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I Calvin Harris of Windham in the County of Windham and State of Vermont of lawful age being duly sworn, do depose testify and say that Salathiel Harris my Brother went out the first of May A.D. 1777. on the news of the approach of Burgoyne's Army, entered the army as a volunteer from Brattleboro' Vermont where we both resided, New York at that time claimed Jurisdiction over the now State of Vermont, and my brother entered the army under a proclamation George Clinton Governor of New York, the Captain of the Company to which my Brother Salathiel belonged was John Sargeant the first Lieut Timothy Church and the second Lieut Israel Smith, all of Brattleboro'. The first year as at the time of the Capture of Burgoyne's army 
I do not justly recollect how long he was in the Army, The next year he entered the army under Captain James Blakeley of Brattleboro, the other officers I did not know at this time he enlisted for Six Months. and at the expiration he did not return home but remained two months longer, and further I say not
/s/Calvin Harris
State of Vermont
Windham County ss } Windham August 22 AD. 1838
Then Calvin Harris of Windham in the County of Windham personally appearing and after being ['personally' crossed out] carefully examined and duly cautioned made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth
Before /s/Joseph Wood Just of Peace
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Windham Augt 22' 1838
I hereby certify that the deponent Calvin Harris has long been a resident of this town and that he has ever been esteemed as a man of truth and veracity, and sustains an unimpeachable character
/s/Joseph Wood Just of the Peace
State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerk's Office 
New Fane August 24th AD. 1838
I Marshall Miller, Clerk of said County Court, do hereby certify, that Joseph C. Wood is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature above and before written are genuine - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of the said County Court, the day and year above written
Attest - /s/Marshall Miller, Clerk
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Return this.
admit 9 mo private $30 - 
James Elliott Esq
New Fane Vt
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Salathiel Harris which require further proof or explanation. 
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? [blank]
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? [blank]
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? [blank]
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? [blank]
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? [blank]
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the other under the Act of June 7, 1832? [blank]
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? [blank]
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? [blank]
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? [blank]
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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 revolutionary service?  No:
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No:
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? [blank]
XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No: 
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? [blank]
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? [blank] 
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? [blank] 
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 recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ______year______months, and______days______, I served as a______; and for such service I claim a pension.”
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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 revolutionary service? No:
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No:
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? [blank]
XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No:
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? [blank]
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? [blank]
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? [blank]
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 recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ______year______months, and______days______, I served as a______; and for such service I claim a pension.”
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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. 
+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 magistrate 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 papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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S. Harris - 
Free Free
July 24 
Pension Office } 
[illegible] Vt 
George Wm Crump Esq.
['In the War of Pension Depart't' crossed out]
acting Comm'r of Pensions
Washington City Dis of Columbia
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[handwritten letter]
Brattleboro' July 20, 1838

Sir.
Capt Salathiel Harris, an aged & somewhat infirm old man of this place has for several years been on the pension roll for a very small pension. 
He has shown me your letter notifying him that it is to be discontinued on acct. of some contradiction or variance in his late deposition from his former declaration. &c. and requests my assistance in giving some explanation. Now, this is impossible that we can get copies of that part of the declaration & deposition, which are in conflict 
Latterly his recollection & memory have somewhat failed, & it would not be surprising, if in his last he may have made some errors, tho' his integrity & moral feelings, are
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[handwritten letter]
not questioned here
We have to request the copies alluded to, preparatory to offering such explanations as may be satisfactory, as the loss of his little annuity would be deeply felt by him, being both poor & infirm. 
If the copies can be forwarded, I will remit what little fees may be required for that service. 
Col'o Chase of this village will briefly state his opinion of this man's character for moral honesty.
Capt Harris assures me that he was longer in the service than he has been [illegible] to shew - that he was at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, and in New Jersey when Andrew was executed. 
Yours respectfully
/s/Sam'l Elliot
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Brattleboro July 20th 1838
This may certify that I have been well acquainted with Capt Salathiel Harris for Twenty years past, and I believe him to be as honest a man as there is in my knowledge, and I do not believe that he would intentionally make any misrepresentations.  but is quite an aged man and his mind & memory is very much impaired be is a very poor man & has no friends that is able to assist him - 
/s/Paul Chase
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for Pension Office
Aug 01 Vt
Add'l pff
Salathiel Harris
adm'd No. 9158 -
Free Free
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comm'r of Pensions
Washington City 
(Dis't Columbia)
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[handwritten letter]
Bratt'o (Vt) June 27th 1838.

Sir,
We regret the difficulty that has occurred in relation to Capt Harris pension Business.
The old people that knew most about his service are pretty much gone, and his own powers are drooping - He has been round to look up some evidence - walked 20 miles to see his aged Brother Calvin, whose deposition, I inclose; and also his brother Ezra's - I know both those men & they are honest & respectable. They can only state their general knowledge of his being out in the service which fact seems to be generally known here. - 
We have written to Wardner, at Windsor - He has no documentary evidence as he can find
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[handwritten letter]
and it is not surprising, as many of the services then performed were not the subject of any record* - In fact, we then belonged to New York, or were no body's people - all in confusion & conflict as well as neighboring states as foreign foes. 
I knew Blakeley & Sargeant some of the officers, with whom he first enlisted; but they volunteered & probably were not long out in service. 
Ezra Harris in his dep'n says his brother Salathiel's last service was at Peekskill on the Hudson - He recollects that name, but he was also at Westpoint & other places near that River. 
We hope you will examined the inclosed & perhaps you will be satisfied as to Mr Harris being in the service - I could better advise him, if I had a copy of his original Declaration & the deposition he afterwards signed for Greenleaf - that the small amount
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[handwritten letter]
of his pension will hardly warrant any great expence - for the same reason, I send one deposition without being at the trouble & expence of sending it to the Clerk - Judge Dana Hyde, who took the deposition is a magistrate of this village, & authorised to administer oaths &c. and I was present & saw him examined, & take Ezra Harris' dep'n.
Yours respectfully
/s/Sam'l Elliot
J L Edwards Esq
P.S. *You are also acquainted with the several deficiency & in correctness of all the State's records & returns in those confused & difficult times. 
It strikes me that you now have sufficient evidence of Salathiel Harris being in the Service as much as he was allowed for by his pension, even sitting pretty much aside, his uniform declaration that he served considerably longer; and notwithstanding he may have misrepresented in relation to some particulars it would be gratifying
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[handwritten letter]
to have it so, & his little pension continued his few remaining days. 

for Pension Office
Aug 01 Vt
Add'l pff 
Salathiel Harris 
adm'd No. 9158 - 
J. L. Edwards 
Comm
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I John Bemis of Dummerston in the County of Windham and State of Vermont do on oath depose testify and say - that I am eighty years of age - that in July 1777 I was called upon with Salathiel Harris then and now of Brattleboro' in the state of Vermont to go to Ticonderoga - We both volunteered into the service of the United States as soldiers under Captain John Sargeant & Lieutenants Timothy Church and Israel Smith - and went to Clarendon on Otter Creek 
We then had orders to return which we set out to do but received counter orders and again marched to Hubbardton Vt. -0 I have that s'd Harris was in the service two months on this occasion as I was in the same company with him & I understood that he was out four months - 
We were under Col Schuyler & Brig Gen Schuyler - I lived only three miles from s'd Harris when he went into the service the second term and know that he was gone during the time he  mentioned and at the time often heard of his being in the service in New Jersey & at West Point - 
/s/John Bemis
State of Vermont
Windham ss } Brattleboro' August 2d 1832
Then personally appeared John Bemis and made solemn oath that the foregoing definition by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth before
/s/Wm R Harris Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerk's Office, New Fane, - August 3d A.D. 1832. 
I certify that William R. Hayes Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the above ['are' crossed out] is his signature.
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court on the day and year above written 
/s/James Elliot Clerk.
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State of Vermont
Windham ss } Brattleboro' Dec 20th 1832
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with John Bemis who has subscribed and sworn to the within deposition and that his character for truth and veracity is good
/s/Wm R Hayes Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerk's Office, New Fane, December 27. A.D. 1832. 
I certify that William R. Hayes, Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the above is his signature.
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court on the day and year last above written - 
/s/James Elliot, Clerk.
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Form VAM-51 12-5-41 
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD* 
NAME Harris, Samuel GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9595 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED December 16, 1792 to Casper Iserloan, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have 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.