Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,913, for Reuel Keith, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Mass.

Keith, Reuel
or
Ruel

NUMBER
S.18,913

carded

CONTENTS
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4899
Vermont
Ruel Keith of ............in the State of Vermont who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Williams of the Regt. commanded by Col. Walker in the Massachusetts line for private 11 mos. $36.66

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of pension issued the 30th day of January 1833 and sent to Pensioner

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832  $54.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833   18.33
73.32

{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7 1832}

Recorded by Vinal Luce, Clerk
Book D. Vol. 4 page 68

(illegible) for payment June 6 1834
see let. to agent
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No. 5371
(Rural Keith-crossed out)

Vermont
Ruel Keith

$36.66 per ann

Post office
Sheldon Vt.
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BRIEF in the case of Rural Keith of Sheldon Cy. of Franklin in the State of Vermont
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?--Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 76
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period:  1775
Duration of Service: 8 months
Rank: Pri
Officers: Capt. Williams, Col. Walker

Period: 1776
Duration: 1 1/2 mo.
Rank: Pri
Officers: Capt. Gilbert, Col. Tupper
afterwards  1 1/2 mo. pri with Capt. Blake

5. In what battles was he engaged? Bunker Hill
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  County of Bristol, Massachusetts
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Living
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective-no certificate of credit attached to the witnesses deposition

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

(illegible signature) Examining Clerk
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Unite Keiths affidavit in support of Ruel Keith's claim
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I Unite Keith of Sheldon in the County of Franklin and state of Vermont do testify & say that I am the brother of Ruel Keith of sd. Sheldon, that at the time of his the said Ruel enlisting I enlisted at the same time into the same company and served with him the sd. Ruel eight months at Roxbury Massachusetts. That he again served with his said brother at Roxbury aforesaid six weeks; and also in Gen. Spencer's expedition at Rhode Island about six weeks longer. I further state that I understood that the said Ruel ^afterword^ served at Castle William forty days but was not with him at the time but have every reason to believe that the said Ruel served as he states in his declaration this day made and examined by me and subscribed by him and sworn to before the Probate Court for the District of Georgia.
Unite Keith (signature)

State of Vermont
Franklin County SS
 Probate Court July 14th 1832.
Then personally appeared before the undersigned authority Unite Keith of Sheldon in sd. county who made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed as therein contained is true. Before me
William Bridges Judge
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State of Vermont
Georgia District SS
( paper seal glued on)

Probate Registers office July 14th 1832
I John Gates Jr. Register of the court aforesaid hereby certify that William Bridges before whom the within affidavit was taken and who has signed the same is Judge of the Court of Probate for the district of Georgia, and his won proper signature attached thereto is his genuine signature.
(signed) John Gates Jur. Register
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court the day and year aforesaid.
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No 5371
Ruel Keith
Declaration
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DECLARATION
Revolutionary claim, under an Act of Congress, passed June 7th A. D. 1832
State of Vermont
District of Georgia ss
Franklin County probate Court July 17th A. D. 1832
Personally appeared in open Court, being the Probate Court for the County of Franklin, and a Court of Record for said County, and State of Vermont, as will appear by the first section of a Statute law of said State, entitled "An act, constituting Probate Courts, Courts of Record," passed November 15, A. D. 1821, [see 1st section of said act,] Reuel Keith aged 76 years, resident in Sheldon in said County, 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 A. D. 1832
In the year 1775 he was a resident of the Tow of Easton, County of Bristol, & State of Massachusetts that he then enlisted into the State Troops and was attatched to a Regiment commanded by Col. Walker, Capt. Macey Williams-his enlistment was within a short time after Lexington Battle and for the term of eight months, which time of service he completed. He was stationed during his service at Roxbury near Boston most of the time, also during the engagement of Bunker's Hill was frequently cannonaded during the time of his service at that place.
In the Spring  following he again enlisted into the same Troops for the time of six weeks under the command of Capt. Job Gilbert and according to the best of his recollection Benjamin Tupper was Col. Was again stationed at Roxbury untill his time expired-he was in no engagement this term of service except some skirmishes with the Piquot Guards-he enlisted to guard the Castle in Boston Harbour soon after the British left Boston to fill a vacancy made in consequence of Freeman Keiths having been taken sick-his enlistment was to serve his (the said Freeman Keith's) time out which he accordingly did-being forty days as near as he can recollect.
He again entered the service and was attatched to what was then called Spencers expedition ( and according to the best of his recollection
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Guards-he enlisted to guard the Castle in Boston Harbour soon after the British left Boston to fill a vacancy made in consequence of Freeman Keiths having been taken sick-his enlistment was to serve his (the said Freeman Keiths) time out which he accordingly did being forty days as near as he can reccollect.
He again entered the service and was attatched to what was then called Spencers expedition (and according to the best of his reccollection) his Capt. name was Blake-this expedition was for the purpose of taking Rhode Island but no attempt other than marching to the Boats obtained to convey us across-when the British commenced firing & we retreated. He was stationed most of the time near a place called Foglin to the best of his remembrance in this service six weeks.
He has no documentary evidence whatever.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Reuel Keith

I Samuel Wead residing in Sheldon hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Ruel Keith of Sheldon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. that I believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & I concur in that opinion. I have been acquainted with said Keith many years. His revolutionary accounts of the war I have often heard him relate & have every reson to believe that his statement is true. He is a man of strict integrity 
Samuel Wead (signature)
Sworn & subscribed (paper cut off here)
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said Keith many years, his revolutionary accounts of the war I have often heard him relate, & have every reson to believe that his statement is true. he is a man of strict integrity.
Samuel Wead
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

The Court afs. 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 soldier of the revolution & served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears that Samuel Wead who has signed the preceeding certificate is a man of character having been heretofore one of the Judges of the County court for the county of Franklin & state of Vermont and Post Master in the Town of Sheldon his place of residence. the court further states that the character of the applicant is well known to the court being personally acquainted with him and know him to be a man entitled to credit. 
William Bridges Judge

(Seal) I, John Gates jr Register of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matters of the application of Reuel Keith for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto  set my hand and seal of office this 6th day of August A. D. 1832.
John Gates Jur. Register
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I Reuel Keith a clergyman, residing in the county of Fairfax & state of Virginia hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Reuel Keith who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration.; that I believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that I concur in that opinion.
Reuel Keith (signed)
Sworn to and subscribed the 29th Jany. 1833
before me
Henry Whitcroft
Notary Public
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Sheldon, Vt.
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P  18913
INVALID

File No. 18913
Ruel Keith
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: Vol 1, Page 204

[Arrangement of 1870]
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No. 5371

Rural Keith
Vermont
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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 Rural Keith which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Did
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Did
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?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he serve?  Has
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? Has
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Has
VII. Has he made a relinquishment to every claim to any other pension that the one under the Act of (paper damaged)  Has
VIII. Has the court given their opinion? Have
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Has
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? Was indistinguishable
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XI. has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and aanother respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?   Not
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? None
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?
XIV. (t) If the applicant has produced a witness as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  Not
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? Does
XVI.(tt) Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Are
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Are

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 .............. for .........months and.........days, I served as a ............; and for such service I claim a pension."
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicants served, and the particular rank he held, as the law direct 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.
(t)QUERE XIV Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not round 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.
(tt)QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.