Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10444, Willard Child, Conn.
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(3--1776)
SERVICE Conn. Child, Willard
NUMBER S. 10444  carded 
CONTENTS  [section empty]
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[printed form with written responses] 
[left side of page]
Connecticut 9049
=============
Willard Child of Woodstock in the State of Connecticut who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain N. Money of the Regt. commanded by ------- in the [star inserted] militia [was: crossed out] for 7 months } [star inserted] Conn. Febr. 20/5 Records completed.
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Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 23. Dollars 33. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of March 1833. and sent to John Fowler 2d Regt. N. Woodstock. Ct.
===============
Arrears to the 4th of March 33.  46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept. 33.  21.66
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$78.32
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{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Francis F. Francion Clerk, 
Book E. Vol. 3d. Page 7. 

[right side of page at top] 
Pen. Agent. Apl. 13, 1837.
Order to pay. 27. Aprill 1838.
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Willard Child No 2,851 
PO
Return to be made to John Fowler, 2d
North Woodstock Connecticut
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[printed form with handwritten responses] 
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year aforesaid, before the County Court for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut. Attest Armin Bolles Clerk [signature] 

We Elias Child and Chester Chaffee [a clergyman -- crossed out] residing in the town of Woodstock in said Windham County, and now residing in (the same,) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Willard Child who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be 74 of 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. and I Elias Child was knowing to the said Willard Child herein [by -- inserted] the army of the Revolution as he has set forth --- Chester Chaffee Elias Child [signatures] 

Sworn, and subscribed, on the day and year aforesaid, before the County Court for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut. Attest Armin Bolles Clerk [signature]   [Elias Child Chester Chaffee -- signatures crossed out] 

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 Elias Child who has signed the preceding certificate, is a [clergyman -- crossed out] resident in the said town of Woodstock and that Chester Chaffee who signed the same is a resident in the said town of Woodstock and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Attest Armin Bolles Clerk [signature] 

I Armin Bolles Clerk of the County Court for the County of Windham, in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Willard Child for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 17th day of July A.D. 1832 Armin Bolles Clerk [signature]
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[printed form with written responses]
Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. [previous sentence written in italics] 

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, COUNTY OF WINDHAM, } SS.
On this 17th day of July -- A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the County Court of the County of Windham aforesaid, now sitting, ["Willard" written overtop another name that starts with "Fin"] Child a resident of the town of Woodstock in the County of Windham, and State of Connecticut, aged 74 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
I enlisted into the State troops of Connecticut in July 1776 under Capt Nathaniel Morey for 2 months Belonged Col Douglass Regmt. and served at Cambridge Mass In August 1776 I served in the Militia at New York three months under Capt Daniel Lyon and was attached to the Col -- Williams Regt. In the year 1777 in August I served as a Substitute for my Brother Ephraim Child in the militia of Connecticut for two months I marched to Bennington Hill water and Saratoga was near scene of the taking of Burgoyne in the Company commanded by Capt Perly Howe __ the Col name Dos [does] not recollect 

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.
The following interrogatories were by said Court propounded to said applicant, viz:-- [previous sentence in italics] 
1. Where and in what year were you born? 1758 -- May 7th
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? the Record of my age is on the [illegible, part of word missing off edge of page] in Woodstock
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
always lived in Woodstock
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? I was 
a substitute for Ephraim Child Enlisted --- 
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 service. General Arnold Gates and Lincoln Putnam
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? I never Received a discharge
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 in your services as a soldier of the revolution. Elias Child and Chester Chaffee
Willard Child [signature]
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Willard Child. Sur. File No. 10,444 Rev. War, was allowed pension on his application executed July 17, 1832, in Windham County, Connecticut.
He stated that he was born May 7, 1758, and always resided at Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, and served as a Private in the Connecticut troops as follows.
Enlisted in February 1776, under Captain Nathaniel Morey and Colonel Douglas, ["served" -- word inserted] at Cambridge; two months.
Enlisted August 1776 under Captain Daniel Lyon and Colonel Williams ["served" -- word inserted] at New York: three months.
Enlisted August 1777, under Captain Perley Howe, Colonel not recollected, and served two months as a substitute for his
brother Ephraim.
There is no other family data on file.
Very truly yours, G. M. Saltzgaber [signature] Commissioner. 
Child - 2
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Rev War [written vertically bottom towards top of page in upper left corner of page] 
[printed form with written responses] 
10444 [checkmark inserted] INVALID.
-----
File No. 10,444 Willard Child Priv Rev War
-----
Act: June 7th 1832 Index:-- Vol. A, Page 65
[Arrangement of 1870.] [square brackets in original] 

[in top right corner of page] 
1913 May 13. History to Mrs. Katherine C. Meader & 1914 June 5. Hist to Hon. Wesley L. Jones
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Hon. Wesley L Jones
Room 446 Senate Office Bldg. Washington D.C
Personal inquiry June 4, 1914.
(Elias Childs S. 31.605 Willard Childs S. 10,444)
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[printed form with handwritten responses] 
[unreadable: top line of page is cut in half]
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Willard Child S 10.444 
----------------------------------------------------
[table with 6 columns and 4 rows including row of column headings]
[row 1 column headings] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE.
[row 2] Feby 1776 | 2 mos. | Private | Nathaniel Morey | Douglass | Conn. 
[row 3] Aug. 1776 | 3 mos. |  "  | Daniel Lyon | Williams |  
[row 4] + Aug. 1777 | 2 mos. |  "  | Perley Howe | [a check mark] |  

Battles engaged in, [a check mark] 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Woodstock, Conn. always.
Date of application for pension, July 17. 1832 His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Woodstock, Conn.
Age at date of application, born May 7, 1758.
Remarks: In 1777 he served as a substitute for his brother Ephraim - no further data as to family.
Very respectfully,  1565b3m10-08 Commissioner,
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To The Commissioner of Pensions. Washington. D.C.
Kindly give me any information you have concerning Willard Child, Rev. soldier enlisting from Conn.
Also Samuel Lang, Rev. soldier enlisting from Balti. N.H. or possibly from Hanihill, N.H:  Any information will be gratefully received by Mrs. Katherine C. Meader. North Hanahill. N.H. May 8, 1918.
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2851
Willard Child
admitd private 7 mo
$23.33

Jno Forster 2d
North Woodstock. Ct
Page 81.
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[printed form with no handwritten responses added] 
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Willard Childs ----- which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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 served?
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?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?
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[printed form with handwritten responses] 
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?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? NO
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? And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
--------------- 
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 ----and ---- days, I served as a ----; and for such service I claim a pension."
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[printed form] 
3
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 -- phrase in italics in original] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

+QUERE XIV. [Proof of Service.  -- phrase in italics in original]
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 time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be [word in original] 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. -- phrase in italics in original]
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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Hon Lewis Cass Secretary of war
Washington City
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Woodstock Decbr 11th 1832
Sir
I herewith return the papers of Elias Child Willard Child and Chester Chaffee with their answers to the objection to their pension claims. The Deposition of William Sawyer for Chester Chaffee the prove his seven months service at the Northward I sent to the Department some time since. There is no doubt but the above named persons have made a corre [rest of word is torn from original paper] Statement. They are men of honest and correct habbits [habits]. And they are in my opinion entitled to a pension
Yours Respectfully John Foster ad [signature]
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Pension Agency Hartford April 23d. 1838
Sir
Herewith I transmit the claims of Willard Child who has neglected to claim his pension for more than 12 months forwarded for special directions in relation to the payment
I am Very Respectfully Your Obd Servant, Saml Pitkin. [signature]

I. S. Edward, Esq
Commissioner of Pension, 
Washington
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We Foster Thayer a Clergyman Residing in the town of Woodstock in the County of Windham and Nehemiah Child Esquire of the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Capt Willard Child who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Foster Thayer a Clergyman. [signature] 
Neheh; Child [signature] 

Sworn and subscribed to this 16th. Day of July 1832. Before me Jonn May Justice of Peace [signature]
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I Armin Bolles Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Jonathan May Esq before whom the within certificate was made is duly proved a [as] a Justice of the Peace in and for said Windham County that the within signature of his name appears to be genuine, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Public Seal of sd Court at Brooklyn in said being this 5th day of August AD. 1832 
Armin Bolles Clerk [signature]
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Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for the town Woodstock in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut Willard Child, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that I served as a Private soldier at three different times as stated in my Declaration Seven months and I have no Documentary evidence in my possession. and I know of [words "know of" repeated and then crossed out] no person now living who was out with me whereby I can prove my service.  and further the Deponant saith not -- Willard Child [signature] 

Woodstock. Windham County Decmr 7th 1832
The above named Willard Child made solom [solemn] oath to the above Declaration by him subscribed -- and
I hereby certify that he is a credible person and that his statement is intitled to the fullest credit--  
Jonathan May Justice of Peace [signature]
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I George Bowen Clerk of the Court of Probate [inserted: for Woodstock District] within [words "and for" crossed out] the County of Windham and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Jonathan May Esq before whom this written Declaration is made is duly enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Windham and that the within signature of his name appears to be genuine and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Woodstock in said County this 10th Day of
Decer AD 1882 --
George Bowen Clerk of Probate for the District of Woodstock [signature]

[written vertically bottom towards top of page in lower left corner of page: New Declaration of Willard Child]