Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 838, Gideon Billings, Mass.
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SERVICE
Mass.

Billings, Gideon

NUMBER
R. 838

CONTENTS
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Gideon Billings

No. 5454
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STATE OF VERMONT,
WINDSOR COUNTY, SS.
On this Ninth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared,
in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of Hartford District
now sitting, Gideon Billing
a resident of the county of Windsor
and State of Vermont, aged Seventy three 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 that he enlisted at Hardwick
in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of
Massachusetts in the Continental service and was
mustered at Lecester in May 1778 and served in
Genl  Jonathan Warners Guard whilst he was at Fish
kill in the State of New York, remained in the
guard about two months and was marched from there
to White Plains and was attached to Capt Daniel
Shays Company in Col. Rufus Putnam, Regiment
and send Nixons Brigade. We remained at White
Plains untill the fall after and were marched from
there to Roxbury in the State of Connecticut on our
March there we passed thro Danbury, other town, not
recollected, and staid at Danbury sometime from
there we returned to Soldiers fortune, New York where
We built huts. I was detained at Danbury three or four
weeks before I joined the troops again after joining
the Regiment I was taken sick and so remained untill
my father came after me and took me away which
was in February 1779 I was enlisted for nine months
but did not stay but eight; I having left the service
in consequence of being sick and was taken away by
my father who got leave for that purpose of send Nixon
my health being then so for I could not do duty
●
dew Nixon told my father that they did not disary
any one, but that he might take me and take
care of me
I served two months in the year 1776 in the militia
of Massachusetts in Capt Timothy Paige's Company. I was
at this time living at Hardwick and was marched to Hart
ford Con. and from there to New Haven to
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[illegible] and in this campaign I served two
months this was at the time
the Brittish come
out from New York. I was ordered from
back to Dobbs ferry 4 ½ miles from
Danbury was there a short time and
finally discharged at Courtlands Manor
I was born in Hardwick State of Massachusetts
the ninth day of January A.D. 1759

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.
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid
Marsh, Register
Signature of Gideon Billing
-
We, Preston Taylor a Clergyman residing in Barnard
and Jane Richmond residing in the same place, hereby certify, that
we are well acquainted with Gideon Billing who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 73 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.
Sworn and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid
LMarch, Register
Signatures of 
Preston Taylor
Lennie Richmond

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 Preston Taylor
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Barnard
and that the Richmond, who has also signed the same, is a resident in
Barnard
and is a credible person, and that their statement is
entitled to credit.

I, Lyndon A March Register of the Court of Probate of the
District of Hartford do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gideon Billing for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this
ninth day of August
Signature of L. Marsh
Register
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3 -- 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _______,19____
In reply to your request of _______, received _____
for a statement of the military history of Gideon  Billing
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
formation as contained in his (or his widow's) application for penon
file in this Bureau.
received
---
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
Sept.
1976
May 22
1772

LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
2 mos.
2 mos.
8 mos. [illegible]
Feby 1779
[Handwritten text]
When he "left the service in consequence of being sick and was taken away by his father."

RANK.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Timothy Paige
served in General Jonathan
Warners Guard
Daniel Shay

COLONEL
Rufus Pitman

STATE.
Mass.

Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, at Hardwick Worcester Co. Mass
Date of application for pension, Aug  9 1832.
Residence at date of application, Windsor Co. Vt. 
Age at date of application, b. Jany 9 1759 at Hardwick Mass.

Remarks:
This claim was rejected on the ground of soldier having deserted 
from his last service

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
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[Handwritten text to left]
1916 Sept. 20 Hist to Abbie D.
Mac Millan


Ex'r.  INVALID.
[Imprint of stamp REJECTED]
and Mar 1875
[Text crossed out] 
Gideon Billings
P.O.
Service:
Enlisted: ___________, 18
Discharged:______________,18
Application filed: _______, 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
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Vermont
Revol.
Gideon Billings
Rejected
See letter to 
George Bales, 
11 May 1833.
838
Act 7 June 1832
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5454
Gideon Billings


rejected
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
Gideon Billings which
require
further proof or explanation.
1. 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 amout 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?
Close
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen," to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?
to
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing 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?
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service? Not found on the rolls-
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
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?
to
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.
cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
QUERE V. In a case where the
This declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
he
long he served, he said to me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
Personally appeared to law, and the consequent loss of memory, he
, 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 ___ Fpr _______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 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 atems is too indefinite
, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state 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 objection
able. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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 embantied 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.
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 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.
of the certifying officer who authenticates 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 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
The name of the applicant not being on the rolls
of Military [illegible] in the Department
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Jesse Dunham
Depos. for 
Gideon Billings
O.W. Inv. Rej. 838
Send papers to case
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I Jesse Dunham of Barnet in the County
of Windham and State of Vermont of [illegible]
a Certify and say that I was acquainted 
with Gideon Billing in the year 1776 that
in the month of September in said
year he enlisted into Capt Timothy Paige
Company in Hardwick Massachusetts, that
we marched from Hardwick Mass to
Dobbs Ferry on the Hudson River, that
I was in the same company with said
Billings, and that he served two months
and further the deponent saith not
Signature of Jesse Dunham

State of Vermont
Windham County 
[illegible]  Augt 9th 1832
That Jesse Denham
personally appeared and took solemn
oath that she was associated with him 
subscribed contain the truth
& nothing but the truth
Joseph B Danforth
Justice of Peace

State of Vermont
Windsor County &
Woodstock County Clerks Office 14th August 1832
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court do
hereby certify that Joseph B Danforth is one of the Justices
of the Peace within your said County, and that the above
is his Signature-
In testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said Court
and subscribe my name, the day year last above -
Signature of Benj. Swan
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Aaron Blanchard
Depo for 
Gideon Billings
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I Aaron Blanchard of [illegible] County
of Windham and State of Vermont of lawfull
age testify and say that I was acquainted
with Gideon Billing [illegible] of Hardwick
Mass now of [illegible] in the State of
Vermont in the year 1778 & 1779 that
he served in Capt Daniel Shays Company
and Col Rufus [illegible] Regiment 
Perjant in the
Massachusett line and that he served
nine month [illegible] 
Febry 1779
Signature of Aaron Blanchard
.
State of Vermont
Windsor County  [illegible] August 9 1832
Then Aaron Blanchard personally appeared and tool solemn oath that [illegible] by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth.
Signature of Jos. B. Danforth
Justice of Peace

State of Vermont
Windsor County &
Woodstock County Clerks Office 14th August 1832
Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court, do
hereby certify that Joseph B. Danforth is one of the Justice
of the Peace within & for said County, and that the
above is his signature
In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said
Court, and subscribe my name the day year above
Benj. Swan
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Pension Department
Washington D    Rev 3
Gentlemen,
In reply to your letter of the 14th
would say that I have only the war
records of Jesse Kenney which you
will find in Mass. Soldier & Sailor in
War of Revolution, Vol. 1, pages 125, also
in "History of Hardwick"40) He was a
private under Capt. Samuel Dexter
to served through entire war was
firm 1752 -- 1813, buried in Barnard
Vermont Married Hannah Stearns 1776
for the other I can give you only the
following dates, I write to you for
information in regard to be records
of these people because I could find
them myself
171 not sure whether
Gideon Billings form (158 in Mass. Vermont
       " died Oct. 1835, Southard
       " married Mary - died [Southend ?]Vt
Lieut Moses Belding for Oct. 22 - 1740
& died July 5th 1811 bured Barnard Vt
Married Rachel Hayes who
was born in "Acton Mass. 1738, died Nov 1810 and
buried at Barnard VT. and the name John Jr.
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Stearns - The only date in regard to this
 I will copy - 
Steames family came from Suffolk Co England
at
the line of Gov. Whithrope 1630  Our
ancestor is traced to Charles. John 2nd settled at
Lexington Mass, John Jr was my
grandmother Hnnah Stearnes Kenney
Grand daughter of Jesse Kenney) Great grandfather
who [illegible] to Worcester Mass
Is this information what you wished
for ? Please pardon me for taking
so much of our time and thanking
you again. I am respectfully-
Abbie Dunham MacMillan
[illegible]
Monrovia Co. 
Iowa
Aug. 31, 1916