Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,085, William Freeman, Conn.
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Service Conn.
Freeman, William
Number $13,085
carded
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18822
Vermont
William Freeman
of Orange Co in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Dana of the Regt. commanded
by Col Ward in the (illegible)
line for 8 mo 12 d

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 27 Dollars 98 Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Oct
1833 and sent to
Simeon Short (illegible)
(illegible) to the 4th of Sept 1833 $69.95
Semi-anu allowance ending 4 March 34. 13.99
$83.94
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book 4 Vol. 3 Page 05
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16.536
William Freeman
Orange Co Vermont
ij
Admit
8 mo's 12 d's
26.66
1.32
27.98
55.96
13.99
55.96
13.99
$69.95

Simeon Short
Thetford VT
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 11 June 1833

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, the subjoiined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must beremoved, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew [show] 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, sh[o]wing the Service of William Freeman

Period when the service was rendered.
May 1776 abt
July 1778

Duration of the claimant's service
Years 1
Months 8
Days 12

Rank of the claimant.
[May 1776] Private
[July 1778] Private

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
[May 1776] Capt. Dana Col Ward
[July 1778] Cap. Hall

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service
80 years
Mansfield
Carmel

Proof by which the declaratioin is supported.
By a living Witness — a clergyman & other Witnesses their credibility not certified by the Card
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1852
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 caliming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instane, 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) the the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I        of the Court of the          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 ecamination 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. residiing 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 in the days 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 commision; 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 on 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 no, 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
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person 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 ex-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 who 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 of 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 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."
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 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. with not 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 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 state.
[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 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 (following line was underlined on the page) 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.
(hand pointing in) The notes from [a] to [i] 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.
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William Freeman
application & certificate
16530
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State of Vermont
County of Orange SS. 
Probate District of Bradford

On this 25 day of July 1832 personally appeared before the Probate Court of the District of Bradford in open Court William Freeman a resident of Thetford in the county of Orange and State of Vermont, aged 80 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the  United States in the year 1776 with Lemuel Sawthworth and served in a regiment of the Connecticut line, under the following named officers; Capt Dana & Company & Col Wards regiment & Genl. Sullivans Brigadeer that he enlisted in the month of May & marched in said Company & Regiment to New York & into New Jersey, then back to Westchester a little above New York, & then to the White Plains a little before the battle & over as the hill new where the battle was fought but was not immediately engaged, that so on after the engagement of the White Plains, he was taken sick & had permissions to go out into the Country for his health that he went to Peaksville a Hudsons River, & arrived there that time after his company & regiment had left, & being still too unwell to join the army, he was permitted by Capt. Pettibone of the same regiment to him a man to swear out his terms, who gave him a furlow to return home. that he did his own? ? ? ?  took his place in Capt. Danas Company & there & returned home, having served about eight months. He further states, that in the month of July 1778 as he thinks he was drafted at Mansfield in Connecticut to serve a tour of six weeks in the militia & was paid in Capt Halls Company & was stationed at New London & then served out his terms& retired home
[signed] WWFreeman
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. having just the attestations subscribed by the war department & according to the deposition of Lemuel Southworth Simeon Short Clerk or Register of the court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Freeman for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 24th say of July one thousaad eight hundred and thirty-two. [signed] Simeon Short Clerk
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out the last of August of the same year. He states that his first enlistment was for the term of one year and that he resided at Mansfield in the state of Connecticut at the time of entering the service.
The following interrogatories were propounded by the Court to the applicant.
Where & in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born in Mansfield in the state of Connecticut in the year 1752.

Have you any record of your age & where is it?
Ans. I have no record in my possession but I suppose my age is recorded in the records of said Mansfield.

Where did you live when you entered the service, where have you lived since & where do you now live?
Ans. I lived in Mansfield when I entered the service & removed from that town to Thetford in Vermont where I now live & have ever since lived in the year 1779 as I think.

How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
Ans. I voluntarily enlisted in the continental service & was drafted for six weeks.

State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served & such continental & militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your services.
Ans. I cannot relate more particularly than I have in my above statement only I recollect a Major Park & a Lieut Col. Johnson of the regular services.

Did you have a discharge?
Ans. No, only the [illegible] mentioned above which I [illegible]
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The Revd [reverend] Timothy Spaulding & William Heaton Esq both of Thetford in the county of Orange aforesaid made the following certificate.
We Timothy Spaulding & William Heaton both of Thetford in the county of Orange VT hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Freeman who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 80 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.
Timothy Spaulding
William Heaton

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

And the said Court certifies that Timothy Spalding who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in Thetford in said Orange County & that William Heaton who has also signed the same is a resident of said Thetford & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit. And said Court further certifies that Lemuel Southworth whose affidavit is herewith transmitted subscribed & was sworn to the same in open Court & that said Southworth is a credible person.
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State of Vermont
Probate District of Bradford in the County of Orange} On this 7th day of Sept AD 1833 Personally appeared before the Probate Court in said District now sitting, William Freeman of Thetford in the county of Orange & state of Vermont who made his declaration for a pension - before this court on the 20th day of July 1832, aged 81 years & after being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following additional declaration. That by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to his best recollections he served not less than seven months in Capt. Donas company & Col. Wards regiment. That he hired a man to serve out the rest of the year for which he enlisted. & that he served not less than six weeks in Capt. Hulls company & was in the field or garrison during each campaign & not engaged in any civil pursuit while thus engaged. 
W. Freeman

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 7th day of Sept AD 1833.
Simeon Short Register of Probate Court
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I Lemuel Southworth of West Fairlee in the County of Orange State of Vermont aged 74 years, depend say that sometime in May 1776 (_) into the army of the United States in Mansfield in the State of Connecticut for the (time?) of our year in Capt. Danas Company. (&?) for Wards S(_) & I further (_) that William Freeman (_) of Mansfield in the State of Connecticut new (_) of Thetford in the county of Orange that of Vermont. Enlisted with me at the same (_) place (_) in the same company and Regiment for the same time of our year. & that he marched in the same company (_) with me to the city of New York (_) into New Jersey. (_) I saw him at Peaks kill in Audrey (_) some distance above New York City, late in the fall of 1776 when we left him in a feeble state of health. I do not know whether he served out his full time of out year, but I am confident he heard news then(?) six months at this time (_) I further say not.

Lemuel Southworth

Subs cu(_) (_) to in open but (_) the 24th day of July (_) 1882.
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I Simeon Short Register of the Probate Court for said Bradford District do hereby certify that Leml Southworth within named is a credible witness & that he was duly sworn to the within deposition in Court on the 25 of July 1832.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court the day & year aforesaid.
Simeon Short Reg.
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13.085
INVALID
File No. 13.085
William Freeman
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7th, 1832
Index: - Vol.  , Page
Arrangement of 1870