Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11810, John Wilson, Vt.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Vt.

Wilson, John

NUMBER
S.11810

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

14624
23926 New York 
John Wilson
of Genenese in the State of N. York
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Caption ___ of the ___ commanded
by Col. Fletcher in the Vermont
line for 11 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of June
1833 and [sent to J. Wills on Linden?]

Arrears to the 4th of May [illegible] $73.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 [illegible] 18.33
-----------------------------------------$91.66

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Go C Stiles Clerk
Book E Vol. 4 Page 37
Page 3

Jno. Wilson
New York
No. 23926

aom.d

Isaac Wilson Esqr.
Linden
Genesee Co.
N. Yk.
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.

183

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, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necefsary to be done. These 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, shewing the Service of John Wilson

Period when the service was rendered.
1st June 1788 sub.
enlisted

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years.
(blank)
Months
5
6
Rank of the claimant.
Pri.
"

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Col. S. Fletcher
Maj. G. Ormsly

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
70 years
Clarendon
Rutland Co.
Vt.

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 5

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
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 person 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 person 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 claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, 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. (Right pointing hand symbol) This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, nave, &c.]
He herby 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) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I ___ of the Court of ___ 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 examination 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. residing 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 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. 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 commission; 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 one 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 not, 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 6

3
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 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 your 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 whom 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 exited 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, atttend 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 or 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 entitle. 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 serviced 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 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. some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 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 case.
(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, to 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 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.
(Right pointing hand symbol) 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.
Page 7

J. Wilson

23926

Isaac Wilson Agent

Linden Genesee Co. N.Y.


[Udm d]
11 mo pri
$36.66
Page 8

State of New York
County of Genesee SS.
On this 26th day of March 1833 personally appeared
in open Court before the Honorable Addison Gardner Circuit Judge and
Isaac Wilson William Mitchell James Taggart Simeon Cumings
Judges of Common pleas being the Court of Oyer & [Fernince?]
now sitting John Wilson a resident of the town of Middlebury in the County
of Genesee and State of New York aged seventy years who being first
duly sworn according to law do the on his oath make the following declaration
in orders 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 the 1st of June 1781 he entered the service of the United States
by engaging as a substitute for one Samuel Smith of the town of
Clarendon County of Rutland & State of Vermont, & marched from said
town of Clarendon to Castleton Fort or Fort Warrens, in the town of Castleton
in said County of Rutland VT. and was attached to a Company commanded
by Capt. James Brookins & Lieut David Powers of [illegible]
in a Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Fletcher being a Regiment
of Vermont State troops stationed at Castleton to govern the Fort for the
defense of the frontier. Col Fletcher had command of the station. The
names of the Majors was Gideon Ornsby [of Rice Adjutant?]
Phinehas Heath, Commissary Eli Coggswell. The name of the Captain of
the Reg. were as he recollects Capt Brookins, Capt Fisk, Capt. Harks, Capt.
Hutchins, & Capt Blakesley - That there was no other troops on that
station that season, that he can recollect, except on an alarm once or twice
the militia were called for short periods -- That he engaged in said service
for the residence of said Samuel Smith's term of nine months enlistment
as a private soldier. That he was in said company occupied a portion of the
time on fatigue duty in repairing & enlarging the Fort some times on drill &
guard duties & Occasionally in scouting parties to Lake Champlain -
That he scouted from 10 to 30 miles Northward & from Castleton Fort to
Crownpoint [illegible]. That he continued in said Company and did duty
as aforesaid until the last of October of the same year 1781, when by an
arrangement of the Colonel & Officers of the Garrison Capt Wm Hutchins
of said Regiment enlisted a company of six months more to serve as a
Page 9

Garrison for Castleton Fort where they then were during the winter season. 
The term of the nine months [renew?] having about expired and as but one
company was deemed necessary for the winter, Capt Hutchins had the [perir?]
of Enlisting as many as he could for the winter company from any part of
the Regiment & that this declarent then enlisted into Capt William
Hutchins Company of Vermont State Troops for six months as a private
soldier.
This this declarent further says that he continued in said
Company of Capt William Hutchins & in said Castleton Fort, otherwise
called "Fort Warren" & did duty during the Winter of 1781-82, & said
Capt Hutchins being the most of that time the highest officer and commander
of the Fort and until the expiration of this said six months
terms of enlistment which was the 18th day of May 1782 when he
was regularly & honorably discharged at said Fort by a written
discharge signed as he well recollects seeing his discharge he took it from his
pocket book many years ago, it was then worn into several pieces, & he recollects
thinking it of no use to him_ & what became of it he cannot tell_
That the declarant further says that at the time of acquiring said discharge
he had been in said Service in said Fort and its vicinity & on scouting parties
uninterruptedly for not less than eleven months, for which he claims a
pension. And he further says, that he has no documentary evidence, and
knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his said
Services.
And in answer to the interrogatories especially
[but?] to him by the court he says.
1st He was born at Mendon, Worcester County Massachusetts, on the 25th March 1763
2nd Has no record of his age but supposes his birth is recorded in Mendon aforesaid
3rd That he lived in the town of Clarendon, Rutland Co. Vermont when he substituted
to take the place of Saml Smith. That in 1782 he removed from 
Clarendon [afor?] to Whiting. Addison Co. Vermont where he lived
about 17 years & that since that time he lived at Sangerfield Oneida
Co. N. Y. about 3 years. Whiting [afor?] 2 years Crownpoint Essex Co.
Page 10

N.Y. 4 years Orangville Genesee Co. N. Y. 19 years & Middlebury
Genesee Co. where he now resides 4 years
4. As before set forth a substitute for first five months & by enlistment for
2nd term of six months.
5. There were no continental regular officers or Continental Regiments where
he served. & the general circumstances of his service were as has already
been herein before set forth. And he recollects that in the fall of 1781.
at Castleton Fort, a soldier by the name of Horton Lee and another by the
name of - Elwell were severally tried before a Court Marshall on
a charge of conspiracy & desertion toward the army & were
sentenced the said Lee to 200 & the said Elwell to receive 150 lashes on the
naked back & to be returned to the Continental Regiment from which
they had deserted previous to enlisting into after the Vermont State services
which punishment them see inflicted on them & they were recruited they were
sent off to their respective Regiments. & understood that Horton Lee
was afterward, tried & executed. - He also well recollects the circumstance
in the fall of 1781. That Sergeant Tuppen who belonged to the Garrison,
at a time the Militia were called in for their assistance, took command
of a small scouting party & went to the northwards to [reconnect?] Ticonderoga
& that he was surprised by a superior force of the enemy & himself killed
& his men taken prisoners. but they were soon after exchanged
& returned back to Castleton.
6. Hereto a written discharge as set forth above:
7. That the Rev. Beriah N. Leach a clergyman & Col. Ira Wilson
of Middlebury are persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood
& can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his
services as a soldier of the revolution -
And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity
except for the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the
agency of any state.
John Wilson

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Timothy Fitch Clerk
We Beriah N. Leach clergyman residing in the Town of Attica in the
Page 11


County of Genesee & State of N. York & Ira Wilson residing in the Town of 
Middlebury [in?] said County of Genesee do hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with John Wilson who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That
we believe him to be seventy years; That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we
concur in that Opinion
Beriah N. Leach
Ina Wilson
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
before me Timothy Fitch Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the
matter and after and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as the States.
and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Beriah N. Leach who
has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Attica in said
County of Genesee and that Ira Wilson who has also signed the same is a residence
in the town of Middlebury in the same county, and is a credible person and that their
Statement is entitled to credit.
A Gardiner
Isaac Wilson
William Mitchell
S. Cumings
James Taggart
I Timothy Fitch Clerk of the Court of [Ayer?] and [Terminer?] and of the County of
Genesee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceeding of said Court in the matter of the
application of John Wilson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal of office this 26 day of March
Timothy Fitch Clerk

Declaration of John Wilson
Page 12

S

Oct. 23, 1905.
Inv.File No.11,810,
John Wilson,
Rev. War.

Sir:
In response to your letter dated October 13, 1905, received in
the Bureau October 16, 1905, you are advised that the last known
residence of the above noted John Wilson was Middlebury, Genesee
Co., N. Y., in 1833.
For date of last payment of pension apply to the Auditor for
the Interior Department, Treasury Department, citing following data:
Certificate No.14624; Issue June 6, 1833; Act June 7, 1832; Agency
New York. He may be able to furnish place of residence at date of
said payment.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mr. A. P. McIntosh,
Belfast, N. Y.
Page 13

Belfast N.Y. Oct, 13th 1905

Hon. V. Warner
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Sir:
I have to thank the
Department for information communicated to me in its
letter of July 21 1905 as to the particulars of pension
granted to John Wilson of The Vt. Troops in the Revolutionary war
of James Brookins Company Col. Fletchers regiment. He lived
at Middlebury N. Y. so your letter says when he applied for
the pension March 23 1833. Now may I trouble you again for a
little farther information. Can you inform me when and where
he lived at the time the last payment was made to him of
his pension. If so I shall be greatly obliged.
Very Respectfully
A.P. McIntosh
Page 14

Belfast N.Y. July 8th 1905

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly
inform me whether or not a pesion from the United States was ever
granted to John Wilson of Vermont for services in the War of the
Revolution. He served in Capt. Wm. Lighthall's company of Co.Seth Warner's
Additional continentals. If a pension was granted him I should like to
know whether it was continued to his family after his death or to his
widow and if so the names and relationship of the persons to whom it
was paid and the residence of John Wilson when the pension if any was
granted and of the persons who had it after his death. Or perhaps it
might have been granted to his widow I understand her name was
Mary. An early reply will greatly oblige and I shall be much indebted
for any information received
Very respectfully
A.P. McIntosh
Page 15

11810
INVALID.

RevWar

File No. 11,810
John Wilson
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: Vol. a, Page 411

(Arrangement of 1870.)

July 21. 1905 History to A.F. McIntosh Belfast, N.Y.
1905 Oct. 23. A.P. McIntosh info last known of AW p.o. address.
Page 16

O. W. AND N. DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Searched by A.O. [?]
Claim No. __
Certificate No. __
Claimant __
Soldier John Wilson
Service VT. Rev. War
__
Additional service __
Remarks No other claim
as above than [???] 11810
July 19, 1902
__
__
__
__
__
Chief of Division.
6091b10m11-02
Page 17

L. 11,810
John Wilson.
Mch. 26. 1833. Middlebury
N.Y. [B?] Mendon, Worcester
Co. Mass, Mch 25, 1763 as
Clarendon Rutland Co. VA at [cul?]
June 1, 81.P.Capt James Brookins
last to Oct.81 Col. Samuel Fletcher
VT. State [illegble]

5m

Ninth 1781 P. Capt Wm Hutchins
[Hook says?
Nov. 20 1781


[dir?] May 1, 82 GM

wife not mentioned.