Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21177, Reuben Ganong, New York
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SERVICE
New York
Ganong, Reuben
or
Ganoung
Elizabeth
NUMBER
W.2117
CONTENTS
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22823  
14.565
Order to pay 10 Oct 1837

New York

Reuben Ganong of Putnam Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Compy commanded by Captain Waterbury of the Regt commanded by Col. Ludington in the N. York line for 10 mos & 10 Ds Died 30th December 1836. Inscribed on the Roll of N York at the rate of 34 Dollars 44 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. --- Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of June 1853 and sent to M. Cannel Gold Arrears to the 4th of Mar 35 $68”88 Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible] ‘51 17”22 $86:10 Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832 Recorded by G.C. Stiles Clerk Book E. Vol. 4 Page 34
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New York 5,455 
Elizabeth Ganoung, or Ganong widow of Reuben Ganong who was a pensioner under the Act of June 1832. and who died on the 30th December 1836 of Putnam Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Scribner of the Regt. commanded by Col. Field in the N. York militia line for 6 months & 5 day Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 31. December 1836 Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May 1840 and sent to F. J. Coffin Somers, N.Y. Will Arrears to the 4th of March 1840 65.29 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep " 10.27 $75.56 Act July 7, 1838. Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book A. Vol. 2, Page 79
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Reuben Ganong’s pension papers

22 & 23
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of New York Putnam County ⎬ ss On this seventh day of February in the year [illegible] personally appeared before the court of Common pleas of said County of Putnam Reuben Ganong a resident of the town of Carmel in the said County of Putnam aged seventy five years the 29th day of September last 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that in July 1776 the declarant enlisted & went as a volunteer he enlisted in Capt Waterbury's company but served in Capt. Ebenezer Robinson's Company the lieutenants in this company were Nathaniel Scribner & Isaac Townsend and was with said company to Peekskill in Westchester County at that time the country was alarmed on account of three British frigates coming up the Hudson river (to wit) the Roebush Phoenix & Rose the declarant at this time served five days part of the time at Peekskill and part of the time on constitution island nearly opposite west point that he was there discharged but had no written discharge On the 8th day of October 1776 the declarant enlisted for three months under Capt Nathaniel Scribner in a company of rangers. Joseph Field was lieutenant they were mustered in the town now South East at one Motts. Col John Field was muster master the service of the company was to detect tories & carry them to the committee of safety at Fishkill The declarant does not recollect of but one field officer that one was Major Melanchton Smith. This service was performed principally in the south part of Dutchess County (now Putnam County untill the month of December 1776 then the company was ordered to Peekskill staid there about eight days then went to Pine’s bridge in Westchester County, from Pine’s bridge to North Castle & then to Bedford in said Westchester County & was at Bedford aforesaid discharged on the 8th of January 1777 at night but had no written discharge
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In January 1777 the militia were called out but the declarant was not called out as the term of the service of the declarant had just expired with Col. Ludington & Col. Field ordered or sent to the declarant a sergeant of the name of Samuel Rice & two other persons to take & fetch back some deserters from their regiments which regiments were then lying at North Castle in said West Chester County the declarant with the others aforesaid did take such deserters & return them to the regiments aforesaid. The term of service at this time performed was five days. About the first of April 1777 the declarant on accounts of one Joshua Hughson & others coming from the British at New York in the neighborhood of the declarant to steal property from the inhabitant was called out by capt Scribner aforesaid for the purpose to take the said Hughson & others were not able to take them though they had robbed some persons. The service performed at this time was two full days. In April the latter part thereof of 1777 the declaration was called out on an alarm in Capt David Waterbury's company of militia the alarm was on account of the British landing & proceeding to Danbury at the time the British did burn Danbury. The company went to Ridgfield in Connecticut before it came near the British forces & then followed them on to near the sound where the British went aboard of their ships at Compo - The term of service at this time was as much as four days In June 1777 the company of Militiamen under Capt David Waterbury was called out with Col. Henry Ludington’s regiment to Peekskill as the declarant understood because the British was expected up the Hudson river. The declarant was then in service at least seven days In July 1777 about the middle of July on account of another alarm was called out in said David Waterbury's company in said Col. Ludington's regiment and went again to Peekskill. The regiment lay about 4 miles from Peekskill village the service that the declarant performed at this time was ten days On the 4th of October 1777 the declarant was again called out as a militiaman  in said Capt Waterburys Company to go to Peekskill
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The declarant did go with the company as such militiaman to Peekskill & the next day was discharged the service at that time performed was two days The declarant directly after Fort Montgomery was taken in October 1777 was called upon by said Capt Waterbury to go and guard the stores at the Red Mills so called in the south part of then Dutches County (now Putnam County) the declarant staid with said Capt three days to guard the stores & untill a company was raised for that purpose. The term of service performed at this time was three days The declarant in 1777 in October directly after the last mentioned term of service had expired enlisted in Capt Comfort Ludington’s Company Timothy Delevan Luntenant, for one month & an half he served the time aforesaid in said company part of the time in guarding the stores at the Redmills aforesaid & part of the time lay at Cross pond in Westchester County does not know that the company belonged to any regiment, but did draw rations from General Parsons brigade the term of service then informed was one month & half- In June 1778. Major Ebenezer Robinson called on the declarant & three others to go on a scout to range the woods in the neighborhood to find some of the lower party (as the British was called) as they were supposed to be in the neighborhood the said major declarant others to the number of five in all went through the woods for three days, & not finding any of them gave up the chase the service performed at this time was three days In June 1779 the British came up the Hudson river & landed at Verplank's point in Westchester County & took the block house which caused an alarm Capt Nathaniel Scribner's company with & in Col. Henry Ludington's regiment were called to Fishkill & were marched down to Capt Heights in the Highlands then were ordered to the shrub oaks in Westchester, The declarant was with the said regiment as a militiaman all this time which was two weeks, at least, who was then discharged with the regiment.
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- In March 1781. That Capt David Merrick's company of militia in Col. Henry Ludingtons regiment was called out to search the mountains in their neighborhood to search for the tory or british robbers who had robed Mr Jay (the father of John Jay afterwards governor of New York) which Mr Jay had had plate stolen as aforesaid as informed at that time the declarant & the regiment went through the mountains in search of the robbers for several days the declarant then served three days in said company & regiment that he has no documentary evidence of his service, that he was at every time regularly discharged but in no case had a written discharges and always went as a volunteer and as a private I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of agency of any State He the further declares on his oath aforesaid in answer to the interrogatories propounded by the court that he was born he has been informed in the south part of Dutchess (now Putnam County) in the part now called Carmel September 29. 1757. the word of his age he has seen in his father's bible since he died his brother Edward has the bible. The declarant has never lived more than four miles from where he now lives, always in Dutchess & what is now called Putnam County, He went always as a volunteer altho many time as a militia man never as a substitute He knows of no general officers nor any others that thou stated in the preceding declaration, did never receive any written discharge that the persons in his neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity & belief of his services are Joshua Gregory or Carmel & Isaac and & Amos Kniffin of the town of Southeast & the Revd Horace Bartlet of Carmel, & Daniel Kent of Patterson Sworn & subscribed in Open Court February 7 1833. Morehouse Clerk & Reuben his mark Ganong
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Putnam County ss. Joshua Gregory of the town of Carmel in the County of Putnam being sworn doth depose and say that he was a soldier in the army of the revolution that he the deponent during the revolutionary war served with Reuben Ganong but not always in the same company who has made the foregoing declaration to obtain the benefit of a pension under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832, at the following mentioned times as mentioned in the said foregoing declaration (to wit with the deponent served with him the first five days spoken of in said declaration also the next three months. the four days spoken of as aforesaid the ten days mentioned in said declaration and also with him the two last terms spoken of to wit two weeks, & also three days that at the time of the war this deponent understood the services were performed as detailed in the declaration by the declarant that the deponent has lived before the revolutionary war, in the war, & ever since within a few miles of the said Reuben Ganong who has sworn to the preceeding declaration, that the deponent believes him to seventy five years of age & that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that this deponent knows it to be the case & of course concurs in that opinion Joshua Gregory Sworn and subscribed in open Court February 7th 1833. Morehouse Clerk of Court Putnam County ss. Amos Kniffin of the town of Southeast in the sd County being sworn doth depose and say that he was a soldier in the army of the revolution that he the deponent was a soldier in the army of the revolution that he served during the revolutionary war with Reuben Ganong the person who made the foregoing declaration to obtain the benefit of a pension at the following enumerated terms spoken of in said declaration to wit the first five days spoken of in said declaration seven days as said therein the ten days spoken of as aforesaid and also the month & a half mentioned in the same declaration see [illegible] in the [illegible] that at the time of the war this deponent understood the other services were generally if not all performed
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as stated in the said declaration that the deponent believes him to be seventy five years old that the deponent has lived before the revolutionary war & has ever since within a few miles of the declarant that he is reputed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the revolution & that this deponent knows it to be the case, & therefore concurs in that opinion in open court Amos Kniffin Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid Morehouse Clerk of said Court We Horace Bartlett a clergyman residing in the town of Carmel in the County of Putnam & State of New York and Daniel Kent residing in the town of Patterson in the same county do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with & Reuben Tarong who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion Horace Bartlett Daniel Kent Subscribed & affirmed in open Court February 7th 1833. Morehouse Clerk And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that 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 Horace Bartlet who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident of the town of Carmel & also Daniel Kent who has signed the same is a resident of Petterson, also that Amos Kniffin who has signed another certificate is a resident of Southeast & Joshua Gregory who has also signed another certificate is a resident of Carmel, and that the said Bartlett, Kent iffin & Gregory are all credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit Samuel Washburn Judge Harry Garrison one of the Judges Bennet Boyd Judge
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State of New York Putnam County I Jonathan Morehouse Clerk of the Court of Common pleas in & for the said County also clerk of said County do hereby certify that the annexed papers contain the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application Reuben Ganong for a pension and on which their decision was founded --- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the 14th day of February 1833 J Morehouse -
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State of New York County of Putnam B On this 4th day of February in the year 1840 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Putnam the same being a Court of Rwward Elizabeth Ganoung a Resident of the Town of Carmel in the County of Putnam aforesaid aged seventy eight years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows” That she is the Widow of Reuben Ganoung who was a Private in the Militia as she was informed by her said Husband in his life time that she does not know under what officers he served nor when the service was performed by her said husband but this declarant does know that her said husband a Revolutionary man in of her married state she frequently saw his pension certificate and was apprised of his drawing his pension money Since however a day after the death of her said husband this declarant as his widow drew from the pension office at New York the arrears of pension due to her said husband at the time of his death This Declarant further declares that she was married to the said Reuben Ganoung on the 6th day of November in the year 1754 one thousand seven hundred & fifty four at the House of her father in the Town of
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Carmel in the County of Putnam aforesaid that her husband the aforesaid Reuben Ganong having died on the 31st day of December 1836 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the Marriage took place previous to the first of January in seventine hundred and ninety year & is at the time above stated Sworn to & Subscribed on the day and year above written WH Stout Clerk of Putnam County Courts  Elizabeth her mark Ganoung
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State of New York West Chester County I Deborah Ganoung of the Town of Carmel in the County of Putnam widow of Ebenezer Ganoung deceased being duly sworn doth depose and say that Elizabeth Ganong widow of Reuben Ganoung late of the Town of Carmel aforesaid deceased is the Sister of this deponent that the said Ganoung  was married to the said Ruben Ganoung on the Sixth day of November 1784. That this deponent and her late husband had stood up with the said Reuben Ganoung and Elizabeth then Elizabeth Craft at the time their marriage was Solemnized that Elnathan Gregory a Clergyman of the Presbyterian Church performed the marriage ceremony This deponent [illegible] that the said Marriage took place on the 6th day of November 1784 from the fact that this deponent was married to her late deceased husband Ebenezer Ganoung who was the Brother of the said Reuben Ganoung on the 6th day of November 1785 being one year after the marriage of her sister Elizabeth This deponent also knows that her said Sister Elizabeth must been married as early as the fall of the year 1784 from the fact that her sister had a Child born within a year after her marriage and the deponent also bore a child born within one year after her marriage and that their is but a trifle over a year difference in the age of her sister’s said child and her
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said child of this deponent This deponent further saith that the said Clergyman the said Elnathan Gregory is deceased that he died more than twenty years since - This deponent verily believes that any person who was present at the said Marriage was dead [illegible] and that there were several present on that occasion amongst others her father in law John Ganoung and John Ganoung Jnr (who is now being on the County of Delaware in the State of New York) Joseph Crane and his wife William Craft the Brother of this deponent Sworn to this 27th January 1840 I Coffin Superior Court Commissioner Deborah her mark Ganoung State of New York County of West Chester ss I Frederick I Coffin Superior Court Commissioner above named do hereby certify that Deborah Ganoung in the within affidavit named is the same person in the said Affidavit mentioned that she is of respectable character and that her statement in the said affidavit is entitled to full credit and belief Fredk I Coffin Superior Court Comm
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No 22823 
Reuben Ganong 
Putnam Co N.Y 

admitted - 10 mo 10 days Private 
11
———
110

3333
 110
———
3443


Walker Sadd Carmel Putnam Co N. Y.
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 183 

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew 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 Reuben Ganong Putnam Co NY 
Period when the service was rendered.
Vol July 1776
Enlisted 8 Oct 76
Enlisted Jany 77
Jany 77
April 77
June
July
Oct 77
No 77
June 78
June 79
March 81

Duration of the claimant’s service Years. Months. Days.
6 5
3
5
2
4
7
2
2
3
1 15
3
14
3
————-
10mo - 10
6. 05

Rank of the claimant.
Private

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Captain Waterbury
Captain Robinson
Lieut Jackson
Captain Jackson
Lieut Field
Captain Scribner
Captain Waterbury 
Captain Ringston
Captain Merricks

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col Fields
Major Smith
Col Ludington
Major Robinson
Col Ludington

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.

Country through which he marched.
Peekskils
Westchester County
Pensbridges Castle
Bedford Bridge
Field
Peekskils
Red Mill
Fishkill

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
75 years
Dutchess County N. York

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Living witnesses tradition & evidence
tradition & one credible witness to his service as stated


I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.
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2 REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 1. The Regular Troops. 2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 4. Indian Spies. As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. DECLARATION. In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. State, Territory, or District of County of ss.

On this  day of   personally appeared (a) before    A.B. a resident of   in the county of    and State, Territory or District of   aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)    , with   and served in the    (e) regiment of the   line, under the following named officers:
 [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of  Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.    A.B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. I   of the Court of     do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of   for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this    day of    & c. 
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with   , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be  years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
 And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.   who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the   and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I,   Clerk of the Court of    do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of   for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this   Day of   & c. 
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 1. Where and in what year were you born? 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? 4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by who, 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 he answers 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 as 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 amount 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 months and days, I served as and for such service I claim a pension.” It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years a, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. [f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. [g] The opinion of the Court is always required. [h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. [i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. Mode of authenticating papers. In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of one of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. Proof of Service. [j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers, and State Troops. The proof required by 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. John N Ashton
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Mechanics Bank
New York 6th October 1837

Sir
Enclosed for your examination the paper in the case of Eggo J.H.V. Hovenborgh a Private at $26 66/100 per annum, under the act of 7th June 1832, who claims his pension from the 4th of September 1835.

I also enclosed for your examination, the papers in the case of Rueben Ganong, deceased, a Private at $36 44/100 per annum, under the act of 7th June 1832, the widow claims the balance due from the 4th of September1831.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Trust
L. Lorillard Pres. Pension Agent
by Sylvester Spencer
Chief Clk

James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 21

Rev
WIDOW, &c.

No. 21177
Elizabeth Ganong
Widow of
Reuben Ganong
Pri Rev War

Act. July 7th 38
Indes:  Vol. A, Page 268-

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 22

heading:  Service  Number
New York Ganong, Reuben W21177
 or Ganoung Elizabeth
Page 23

Somers, New York State, Mar 1840

H.L. Edwards Esq D Sir  Be pleased to inform you as to the result of the within application when mutual [illegible] Your Obdt Fred I Coffin
Page 24

6868

Elizabeth Ganong
Maiden
Pension Papers
Mar. 1840
Act. July 7. 1838

write FJ Coffin
Soners New York

Married 6 Nov. 1784
Husband died 30 Dec 1831

Cal Field
Capt  Larbury
N. York Malitia

Admitted 
Private 6 mo 25 days

F.J. Coffin, Esq
Somers
N.Y.
Page 25

State New York County of West Chester I Thomas Fisher late Deputy Clerk of John H Smith Sn (who at the time of his death was Clerk of the County Courts in and for this County of West Chester) and now acting as Clerk of the said County Courts in and for the said County of West Chester do hereby certify that Frederick I Coffien before whom whom the Affidavit of Deborah Ganoung hereto annexed was made was on the 27th day of January last and at the times here said Affidavit was made a Supreme Court Commissioner of the said County of West Chester that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and that the signature of the said Frederick I Coffin to the said Affidavit I subscribed is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Seal of Office this Seventh day of February in the year 1840 day Thos H Fisher Act Clerk
Page 26

State of New York - County of Putnam I George Todd being duly the sworn doth depose and say that he is a Clergyman of the Presbyterian order residing in the Town of Carmel in the said County that he is the Pastor of the Presbytarian Church in the said town and has preresided over the said Church [illegible] or Pastor as aforesaid for four years and part And this deponent further saith that there has never to his knowledge been kept by any Clergyman presiding over the said Church and Congregation or any other Officer of the said Church and Register of Marriages solemnized by the Clergyman or either of them of the said Church except one that has been kept by this deponent since he has been the Pastor of said Church as aforesaid George T. Tod Pastor of the 2d Presbyterian Church Carmel N.Y. 
Sworn to this 29 day of February 1840 before me W.H. Stout Justice of the Peace 
Putnam County ss
I William H Stout a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Putnam do hereby certify that George T Todd in the above Affidavit named is the same person therein mentioned that he is of reputable character and that his statement in the said Affidavit is entitled to full credit & belief And I do further certify that I am the Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Putnam aforesaid In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 29 day of February 1840 H Stout Clerk
Page 27

State of New York
County of Putnam 
(Tp. ?)  John Warren being duly sworn doth (declare ?) and say that he is a Clergyman of the Baptist order and resides in the Town of South Port in the County of Putnam aforesaid that he is the Elder of Mt Baptist Church in the Town of Carmel in said County and has presided over the said Church as such Elder for eighteen year.  illegible (past ?) . That there has never to his knowledge been kept by any Elder of the said Church or any other officer of the said Church any Register of marriages solemnized by the Elder of the said Church.
John Warren
Sworn to this 29th day of February 1840 before me W H Stout Justice of the Peace

State of New York
County of Putnam (illegible or scribble)
I William H Stout a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County do hereby certify that John Warren in the above affidavit named is the same person therein mentioned that he is of reputable character and that his statement in the said Affidavit is entitled to full audit and belief.  And I do further certify that I am the Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Putnam aforesaid - In testimony I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office this twenty ninth day of February 1840  
W H Stout Clerk