Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,910, John Curtis, Vt.
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Vt
Curtis, John
S 17910

carded
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10328
New Hampshire
John Curtis
of Cheshire in the state of N. H.
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain --- of the regiment commanded by Col. Whitcomb in the Vt une for 2 years. 

Inscribed on the Roll of N.H.
at the rate of 80 dollars 0 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1834
Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd day of April 1838 and sent to N. G. Babbitt, Westmoreland, N.H.
arrears to the 4th of [illegible] 1833 $160.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 [illegible] $40.00
[total] $200.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J. H. Mc Blair, Clerk
Book E. Vol 1st, Page 76.
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11,630
Jno [Jonathan] Curtis
Private
2 years
11 & 12 interrogations not complete with
Nov 28, 1832
N.C.E.
Allen
$80-- P107.
Nathan G. Babbitt
Westmoreland, N.H.
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11,630
Brief in the case of John Curtis of Westmoreland, Cheshire County in the State of New Hampshire 
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 72
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period, Duration of Service, Rank, Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
March 78, 9 months, private, Capt Stafford, Maj Whitcomb.
March '79, 9 months, private, same
March '80, 6 months, private, same
5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Windsor
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witness, no clergy
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. W. C. Easton, Examining Clerk
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John Curtis 
Westmoreland, N.H.
11630
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John Curtis
Westmoreland, N.H.
11630
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now sitting, John Curtis, a resident of Westmoreland in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, 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 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. In March 1778 he enlisted for the term of nine months service in Capt. Jesse Safford's Company of Woodstock, Vermont in the Vermont militia or provincial troops so called, Lt. Crook of Westminster, ensigns name not now recollected. in Major Whitcomb's Battalion, marched from Windsor Vt to Charlestown, N.H. from thence to rutland Vt where we were stationed most of the time during the term of our enlistment of 9 months and assisted in building a picket fort at Sd Rutland and was in a number of scouting parties the enemy then having a 24 gun ship on Lake Champlain in one of these skirmishes Lt Crook commanded and in one skirmish at Crown Point with a British Barge in which we were victorious -- served out the full period of nine months I was discharged at Rutland.
Again in March 1779, entered as volunteer under the same Captain and same Lt and same Major Whitcomb, marched from Windsor Vt to Rutland and Pittsford where we were stationed and employed a part of the time in building a fort there and the remainder of the time in scouting and had one skirmish with the enemy a few miles about Chimney Point on Champlain in which three of the enemy were killed and one of our men had his cheek shot off; was discharged at Pittsford at the expiration of the second term of nine months.
Again in the month of March 1780, enlisted under the same Captain same Lt and Major for the term of nine months, marched from S. Windsor to Rutland, there to Pittsford, was stationed there about six months when our Capt. Safford had orders to march immediately to Royalton or head of White river across the Green Mountains, Marched accordingly and on arriving at Royalton, the enemy not being there as was expected
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obtained leave of absence and returned home and within about one week afterwards royalston was burnt by the enemy. In all the above services was in the Vermont State troops, lived at Windsor during the whole, resided there until about twenty three years ago, when he came to Springfield, Vt and resided there three years and then came to Westmoreland, N.H. where he has ever since resided excepting temporary absences at Reedsboro, Whitingham, Halifax wand was born in New Braintree, Mass in the year 1760, has no record of age [illegible] Mar Whitcomb Battalion were stationed at Sd Rutland, was acquainted with Capt Hutchins, Lt Marion of one of the companies; Capt. Sawyer and Lt. Sawyer of the other company, recollects no officers of the continental line then in the vicinity.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, John Curtis
before me Aaron Mortenson Judge of Probate.
We, Nathan G. Babbitt and Edmund Brewster both of said Westmoreland
hereby certifiy that we are acquainted with John Curtis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy two 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. N. G. Babbitt, Edmund Brewster
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Aaron Mabron 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 Nathan G. Babbitt and Edmond Brewster who have signed the preceding certificate and residents of said Westmoreland and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. Aaron Matson, Judge of Probate
I, Asa Parker, Registrar of the Court of Probate for said county of Cheshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the court in the matter of the application of John Curtis for a pension.
In testimony wherof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighteenth day of September A.D. 1832.
Asa Parker, { Register of said Court of Probate
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L.W.B.
I. 17910
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
January 13, 1898
Sir: 
Replying to your communication of a recent date you are advised that a very careful search has been made and from the data given the 
names of Peter, Solomon and Henry Cuykendall have not been found upon the Revolutionary war pension records on file in this Bureau.
John Curtis, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, made an application for pension on December 10, 1832, at which time he was 72 years of age and residing at Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and his pension was allowed for two years' actual service as a private in the Vermont troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Safford and Col. Whitcomb. He enlisted at Woodstock, Vermont. 
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner
Mr. Mason H. Newell, Champaign, Ills.
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Mason, Ill
17910
Invalid
File No. 17910
John Curtis
Pri Rev War
Jan 13/98
Hist to Mr. H. Newell, Champaign
Act: June 7th, '32
Index: Vol. 1, Page 86.
Arrangement of 1870
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11,630
Jno Curtis
Nathan G. Babbitt
Westmoreland Vt
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[illegible] Curtis
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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?--
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? Yes.
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? Yes.
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? Yes.
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes.
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes. 
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 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 times 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 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.
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Certificate of Record: Allen Pratt in [the] case of John Curtis for a pension No 11630
I, Allen Pratt of Westmoreland in the county of Cheshire and state of New Hampshire a clergyman hereby certify that I am acquainted with John Curtis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that I believe him to be seventy two 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 I concur in that opinion.
Allen Pratt
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire, Sworn and subscribed to this tenth day of December AD 1832
Nathan G. Babbitt Justice of the Peace
I certify that the Recd Allen Pratt who subscribed and swore to the above certificate is a person entitled to full credit.
Nathan g. Babbitt, Jus. Peace
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Case of John Curtis
affidavit of Rufus Root Esquire
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I Rufus Root, of Windsor in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged sixty nine years, depose and say that in the summer of 1778 I was in Col. Warners Regiment and on duty at Rutland Vt. While I was there, John Curtis, then of said Windsor was at Rutland in service in Capt Safford's Company of Vermont State Troops. I saw him frequently that summer and remember that he was once with me on a scouting party that season. I do not know when said Curtis entered the service at this time or when he left it. The state troops among whom he was, were out for nine months but how much of that time he was then out, I cannot state.
I further depose and say that in the spring of the year 1780 and about the first of April, I enlisted for nine months into Capt Safford's Company in the Regiment commanded by Col. Ebenezer Allen, Vermont troops and from Windsor marched to Rutland Vt; thence to Pittsford Vt where I remained until August; then moved to Royalton, Vt, thence to Bethel, Vt.  I was discharged as I now think sometime in December after my time being then out. I cannot recall the fact, if it were so, that said John Curtis marched from Windsor with me, but well recollect seeing him a few days after I marched from Windsor; he was in my company all the time until we marched to Royalton, after which I cannot recollect that he was in the company, although I am unable to say he was not. Said John Curtis is now presented before me, and, as I understand by him, now resides in Westmoreland, N.H.
Rufus Root
State of Vermont
Windsor County, ss} Windsor August 17th 1832, Then personally appeared the above named Rufus Root, who is well known to me as a respectable and credible person, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, containing the truth and nothing but the truth.
Before me, Carlos Coolidge, Justice of the Peace
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State of Vermont
Windsor County } ss
Woodstock County Clerks Office August 20th 1832
I, Benjamin Swan, Clerk of Windsor County Court, do hereby certify that Carlos Coolidge is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County and theirs the witness is his signature
In testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said court and subscribe my name thie day and year above. Benjamin Swain
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Champaign, Ill. November 23, 1897
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C. Old War & Navy Files 
Jan 6 1898
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly inform me when any of the following persons drew pensions under the acts of 1818 or 1832 for services in the Revolution.
Peter Cuykindall or Van Cuykendall from Orange Co., N.Y.
Soloman Cuykendall from Orange Co. N.Y.
Henry Cuykendall from Orange Co. N.Y.
John Curtis, from Vermont
Respectfully yours, 
Mason H. Newell