Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12828, Cornelius Dunham, Conn.
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Conn.
Dunham, Cornelius
S. 12828
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20866
New York
Cornelius Dunham
of Seneca Co. in the State of New York who was a private in the Camp commanded by Captain Baldwin of the Rgt. commanded by Col. Swift in the Conn. line for 11 months 18 days -

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 38 Dollars 64 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Oct. 1833 and sent to J.McAllesto
Waterloo

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. (illegible) $96.60
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 3 M. 34   19.32                                                           
                                                          115.92
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1982

ecorded by L.C. Stiles Clerk
ook E. Vol. 4, Page 95,
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Cornelius Dunham 

In the maths of Cornelius Dunham in his application for a pension 19876
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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 Ezra Jones who did signed the (illegible) certificate is a resident of Phelps County of Ontario State of New York - And also that John Burton and Orlando Hubbard are the said certificate here to annexed are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Seba Murphy Clk

I Seba Murphy Clerk of the Court of the County of Seneca hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Cornelius Dunham for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this sixth day of October 1832 
Seba Murphy Clk
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State of New York
Seneca County} SS, 
On this Sixth day of October 1832, personally appears in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Seneca County now sitting Cornelius Dunham a resident of Waterloo in the county of Seneca and State of New York aged Sixty nine years, who being 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.
He entered the Service about the first of July in the year 1779 a private and Substitute for one Jonathan Doolittle in Capt. Baldwin Company of Connecticut Militia (reserved) at this time in Cannon Litchfield County State of Connecticut from which plan he marched to Horse Neck and served one month was verbally discharged and returned home. He during the same year about the first of November He enlisted a private in Captain Hewett Company of Connecticut Militia from the town of Canaan aforesaid and marched to Womack in the state of Connecticut at which place he served Two months - at the end of this term, was verbally discharged and returned home - That in the year 1780 he enlisted about the first of April a private in Captain (illegible) Miles Company in Col. Herman Swift, 7th Connecticut Regiment in the Continental Line in the Brigade Commanded by General Jebediah Huntington and Served Six months - (illegible) at this time in caanan aforesaid from which place he marched first to Litchfield in the 5th of Connecticut, where he (illegible) and thereby to (illegible) point in the State of New York, where he joined the army, and remained with the army in its various marches to King's Ferry New Jersey & had during this campaign one skirmish with the enemy, (North of Staten Island)- at the end of his term of service in the fall of the year he (illegible) a written discharge from Col. Swift (which he has since lost) and returned home - That in the year 1780 about the first of July he enlisted in Capt Starr's Company of Connecticut Militia (Does not recollect the Regt.) marched from Caanan aforesaid to West Point, on the Hudson River, at which place and on the island, near by, he served three months -  assisted in building a prision house and fortification on the Island - at the end of this term of service was verbally discharged and returned home - That he has no documentary evidence of serving but is acquainted with Ezra Jones, who knew him when in the service in the Continental line and is also well acquainted with who reside in his neighborhood who will testify to his character for security and their belief of his having served in the revolution
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a written discharge from Cap Swift (which he has since lost) and returned home - That is the year 1781. about the first of July  he enlisted in Capt Starr's Company of Connecticut Militia (does not recollect the Regt.) marched from Caanan aforesaid, to West Point on the Hudson River, At which place and on the island nearby he served three months - assisted in building a prision house and fortifications on the Island - at the end of this term of service was verbally discharged and returned home - that he no documentary evidence of service butt is acquainted with Ezra Jones, who knew him when in the service in the Continental Line and is also well acquainted with        who resides in his neighborhood, who will testify to his character for security and their belief of his having served in the Revolution - 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. That he was born in the year 1763 in Caanan Litchfield County Connecticut in which town he resided after the war until the year 1789. When he emigrated to the State of New York in which state has since resided - 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Cornelius Dunham
Seba Murphy Clerk

I Ezra Jones residing in Phelps County of Ontario and state of New York, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Cornelius Dunham, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I well knew him when in the Army of the Revolution during six month service in the Connecticut Line, and know him to be the identical Cornelius Dunham, who did serve in said line as above stated - Ezra Jones
Sworn to and Subscribed this day and year aforesaid 
Seba Murphy Clerk.
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State of New York
Tompkins County ⎬
p. Salathiel Dunham being duly sworn
deposes and says that he is brother to Cornelius Dunham
who resides in Waterloo in the County of Seneca in the
State of New York. That in the time of the Revolutionary
war he this deponent resided in Canaan in the County
of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, and the said
Cornelius Dunham resided in the same place. That he
this deponent was knowing that the said Cornelius Dunham
Enlisted into the service either as a Continentte Soldier
or as one of the States troops of Connecticut, under 
Captain
and Garsham Hewet, and understood that he was
in the Continental service for a term of one year
at one time. That he this deponent was out in the
service at that time and only knew of the service
of the said Cornelius by report. That during the term of
the said Cornelius Dunham's service, he had understood
in what company he was serving, and enquired of
a solder [soldier], by the name of comfort Stow who he understood
was in the same company with the said Cornelius, about
the said Cornelius, and the said Comfort Stow told
him, his brother was in the same company with him, and
was well.
                                                 Salathiel Dunham
Subscribed &
Sworn this 27th Sept.
1852 before me
ADW Bruyn
Judge
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19876
Cornelius Dunham
 NY

C.  All - 
Admitted
Private 11 months & 18 days


John McAlister
Waterloo
Seneca 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, showing the Service of Cornelius Dunham served at N.Y. 

ROW 1 ACROSS:
Period when the service was rendered - Sub: July '79

Duration of the claimant's service:  1 month

Rank of the claimant - Pr. 

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served - Capt. Baldwin

Country through which he marched - Connecticut

Place of abode when he entered the service - Litchfield, Connecticut

Evidence by which the declaration is supported - trad'y switches up to (unintelligible) Continental

ROW 2 ACROSS:
Period when the service was rendered: Nov. '79 months
Rank of the claimant - Pr. 

Duration of the claimant's service: 2 months

Rank of the Claimant - Pr. 

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served - Capt. Hewell

Country through which he marched - Connecticut

ROW 3 ACROSS:
Period when the service was rendered: Enlisted Apr '80 , 7th Connecticut, (unintelligible) line   BRACKET

Duration of the claimant's service:  6 months 

Rank of the claimant - Pr.  

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served - Capt. Ellilh

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers - Col. Smith 

Battles in which the applicant was engaged - Skirmish

County through which he marched - Conn., NY, N.J. 

LAST ROW ACROSS:
Period when the service was rendered: 7th Connecticut reg't (unintelligible) July '81

Duration of the claimant's service:  3 months

Rank of the Claimant - Pr
Names and rank of the company officers under whom he served - Capta. Starr



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 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 day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) 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 entered 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 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 application 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 it 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.
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 bis 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 ; For mouths 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 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 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 au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie 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 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 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 in 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. The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in 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.
W. L. Williams Esq
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Dr [Dear] Sir
Mr Dunham has procured one additional affidavit of
his services which he says is all the proof he can make
in this State, and he is to [too] infirm to travel for to procure
more and wishes me to say. "Give him his pension for what
he has [illegible, sufficiently?] proved" and he will be satisfied.
J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Yours Respectfully
M McAlister
Page 13

Rev War
12828
INVALID,

File No. 12828
Cornelius Dunham
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index:-- Vol. __________, Page ________
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

Feby - 23 -  1900
Mrs. D.M. Wells
Cleveland Ohio

----------

May 2 of 1904
J.S. DuShane
New Castle, Pa.
Page 15

Mr. Orland Hubbard and
John Burton
residing in the town of Waterloo in the
County of Seneca are well acquainted 
with Cornelius Dunham who
has sworn to and subscribed
the above declaration that we
believe him to be Sixty nine
years of age that he is reputed
in the neighbourhood where
he resides to have been a soldier
in the Revolution and that
we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed               Orlando Hubbard                                            
this sixth day of                         John Burton
October A.D. 1832⎬
in Open Court
Seba Murphy Clerk.
Page 16


Genesee County
Town of Elba
[illegible initials]
Gideon Dunham being Duly
Sworn Deposeth & saith that he is over 71 years
of age that he & Cornelius Dunham who is
about 69 years of age Resided in the Town of
Canaan Litchfield County Connecticut
at the time of the Revolutionary war; this
Deponent was well acquainted with the said Cornelius
& well recollects his serving as a substitute for
Jonathan Doolittle in the Company of Capt [illegible]
thinks this was in the year 1779; he also knows that
said Cornelius Served in the Company of Captain
Hewit for a time of about Two Months
This Deponent also knows that said Cornelius
Dunham served as an Enlisted Soldier in the
Company of Capt Niles in Swifts Regiment &
he thinks for a term of six months according to
his best Recollection & further that [illegible]
Deponent was a soldier in the Army of the
Revolution at the same time & was with
the said Cornelius at Horse Neck & at 
Norwalk & several other places with the Army
This Deponent further saith that according to
his best recollections the said Cornelius
saith fully served out the several Periods
above specified and was Honorably Discharged
& further saith that                 Gideon Dunham
Subscribed & sworn
Gideon Dunham
this 5th day of July 1833
before me E D Davis Justice of the Peace
[illegible] certify that I am well
acquainted with Gideon Dunham who
has subscribed & sworn to the above
affadavits; he is a Credable [credible] witness
& his statement is Entitled to credit
E D Davis Justice of Peace
Page 17

State of New York
County
Genesee
p
I, Timothy Fitch, Clerk of said County
certify, that Eleazer D. Davis before whom
the within affidavit purports to have been
taken and made was at the date of taking
the same a Justice of the Peace in and
for said County and that I am well
acquainted with the hand writing of
said Justice and verily believe his
name subscribed to the within affidavit
[illegible] to be genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my name and seal of office this
fifth day of July 1833
Timothy Fitch Clerk
By B. Pringle [illegible]
Page 18

R. G. ALLEN, VICE-PRESIDENT
H. K. GREGORY, SECRETARY
N. W. DANA, PRESIDENT
NEW CASTLE CHAPTER
SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION [Letterhead insignia]
C. P. SHAW, TREASURER
J. S. DUSHANE, REGISTRAR
New Castle, Pa.
May 19th 1904
Commissioner of Pensions.
("Old War and Navy Division)
If Cornelius Dunham (or his wife)
of the Connecticut troops, Revolutionary War, made
application
for a pension, will you please give me such military and personal history as may be contained therein.
This information is wanted to perfect
application, of one of his descendants, to membership in
Sons of the American Revolution.
Yours truly
J. S. Du Shane
[rectangle stamp with letter at each corner]
                               V.                                       S.
                                     OLD WAR & NAVY
                                      MAY 21 1904
                                      FILES
                                P.                                       B.
[round stamp]
PENSION
         A
U  MAY  S.
       20
    1904
  OFFICE