Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17307, Reuben Bull, Conn.
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(3─1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Bull, Reuben

NUMBER
S.17307

carded

CONTENTS
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17.846
Connecticut
===============
Reuben Bull
of Middlesex in the State of Connt.
who was a Corpl. in the Comp. commanded 
by Captain Hart of the Regt. commanded 
by Col. Selden in the Connt. 
line for 6 mons. Corp.
=================
Inscribed on the Roll of Connt.
at the rate of 21 Dollars 96 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
==================
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Sep.
1833 and sent to T. Ingham
===================
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33  $43.93
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 33  19.98
$54.90
4th Mar 34  10.98
$65.88

{Revoluutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Record by Go C. Stiles Clerk
Book E. Vol. 4.  Page 6.
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Nov_30.

Reuben Bull
19299
6 mo Crpl
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State of Connecticut,}
Middlesex County} ss.
Probate district of SayBrook in sd county

On this Tenth day of Sept 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate within and for the Probate district of Saybrook county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, now setting at SayBrook in said district Reuben Bull a resident of SayBrook in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty one years, who being firt 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 was Eighty one years of age in November last. That he was born in SayBrook in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, where he has always lived. Thate there is a record of his age in the family Bible of his Father, put there he supposes by him, & that there is no other record of his birth, that he is aware of.
That in the month of June A.D. 1776 at the Town of SayBrook aforesaid, he enlisted to serve in the Revolutionary War for the term of six months_ and that he faithfully served out the whole period of his said enlistment, as a corporal. That the officers of the company in which he enlisted and served, Elisha Chapman. Captain, John Hart 1st and Job Wright 2d Lieutenants, and Nathanial Jones Ensign, all of whom are dead, as the applicant supposes. That he joined the said company at Killingsworth in this state, that they went from thence to New York by water, and there joined the Regiment, the same being commanded by Col. Samual Selden of Lyme in this State. Lieut. Col. Latimer, and Majr. Clift. That the said company was stationed in the city, or a little back of, until the British were landed on Long Island, when said company was ordered on to said Island, marched down in to the neighborhood of Jamaica, and went in to (unknown word_ Hill Fort. remained there until the British came up in sight & pitched their tents. Considerable fighting but the said company not engaged in it. The enemy retreated back at Brooklyn in the night. across the Rive to New York the night while and dark. That the said company took its old place again on York Island, remained a short time and then went to Turtle Bay where they encamped and remained until about the fifteenth
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of September when the enemy came up with a number of armed ships, and commenced firing upon the Americans, including the said company in which the applicant then was and rendered a considerable force under cover of the fire four their ships they immediately came on and drove the Americans in great confusion from their encampment, to Harlem. The applicant lost his pack, and most of the men lost the packs. Great coats &c. The applicant with many others, lay out a Harlem all nigh on the ground. The Troops at Turtle Bay fled in the utmost confusion, each man appearing disposed to take care of himself in his own way. Gen'l Washington came up, I saw, and heard him (illegible word) to form the Trops, but could not. From Harlem the Troops went to White Plains, where there was an engagement. The company in which the applicant was, were nearby, and saw it, but not in it. The said company remained at different places in that neighborhood until they were discharged including the applicant, at North Castle in the state of New York after serving the said period of six months. The applicant thinks he had a written discharge but is not certain. If he had it is lost. General Wallsworth commanded the Brigade to which said Regiment belonged.
The applicant says that he never made any application for a pension before this.
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The said Reuben Bull 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.
Reuben Bul;
Before me
Samuel Ingham
Judge of Probate

We Aaron Hovey a clergyman, residing in the town of SayBrook and William Bull residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Mr. Reuben Bull who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 81 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.
Aaron Hovey
William Bull
Before me
Samuel Ingham
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Rev'd Aaron Hovey who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the tow of SayBrook and that William Bull Esq who has also signed the say, is a resident in the town of SayBrook and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Ingham
Judge of Probate

I, Richard P Williams Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of SayBrook in the Statte of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Reuben Bull for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Probate Office this Tenth day of September 1832
Richd P Williams Clerk
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I Martin Redfield of Killingsworth in the County of Middlesex, and State of Connecticut aged Seventy Seven the 10th day of January 1833 arebase(/) testify and say that I am personally acquainted with Reuben Bull of SayBrook in said County, who is now present. That I enlisted in June 1776 as a fifer into a company commanded by Capt. Elisha Chapman, John Hart, first and Job Wright 2d lieut. and Natha'l Loves Ensign to serve for six months. Next I served in said company the whole time, I was discharged at the end of the six months at North Castle in the state of New York. That we served as I herein stated in my application for a pension and that said Reuben Bull belonged to said company and served out the whole of said six months, as a corporal and was discharged at the same time that I was and further this deponent saith not.
Martin Redfield

State of Connecticut}
Middlesex County}
SayBrook 
September 10th 1832
Personally appeared Martin Redfield of Killingsworth and after being duly cautioned to (illegible word) truth, made solemn oath, that the whole deposition by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth. And I further certify that said Martin Redfield is well known to me and that he is a credible witness
Samuel Ingham
Justice of Peace for 
Middlesex County
& Judge of the Court 
of Probate for the district 
of SayBrook
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John Stannard of SayBrook, in the County of Middlesex and Stae of Connecticut, aged 72 year. testifies and sys, that, he enlisted, he thinks the last of June or First of July 1776 at S. SayBrook to serve in the Revolutionary Army six months and served out the whole time in the state of New York at the City. Turtle Bay Militia previous & since was discharged at North Castle in said state he thinks about the last of Dec? having served out the whole period of his said enlistment. That the company in which he served was commanded by Samuel Selden. That he is well acquainted and always hath been, with Mr. Reuben Bull of S. SayBrook who is now making application for a pension. He enlisted in to the same company with applicant (with applicant crossed out substituted  by which deponent) served, about the same time and joined the same at Killingworth, and went with them as the deponent then undertook, and hath always supposed to New York. That when the deponent joined said company at newly out a few days after that, he found the Said Bull was in it and that he served in said company during the whole time with the deponent as above related, and was with him honorably discharge at said North Castle after serving out the whole of the said six months. The deponent, thinks that said Bull served as a corporal. And further the deponent saith not
John Stannard

Subscribed and sworn before me in open court of Probate this tenth day of September 1832 and I certify that I am well acquainted with the said John Stannard and that he is a man of truth and veracity and a credible witness. Samuel Ingham
Judge of Probate
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17.307
Invalid
File No. 17.307
Reuben Bull
Corpl. Rev War

Act: June 7th32
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 53
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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I Richard P Williams, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of SayBrook in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matte of the application of Reuben Bull there (illegible word) for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at SayBrook in said district this 2d day of June A.D. 1833
Richd P. Williams Clerk
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19299
Reuben Bull
Ct

admd
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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 Reuben Bull which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Does the declarant make declaration in the county where he resides? yes

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?  blank

IV,. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

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? yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

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? yes
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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? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? blank

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? blank

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? blank
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? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? No for ques 16

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed b 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, he 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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3

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 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 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 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 as performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In the 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.
QUERE XVI. 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 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.