Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14464, for Levi Silvester, New Hampshire
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Continental
N. H.
Vt.

Silvester, Levi

NUMBER
S. 14464



CONTENTS
Carded
Page 2

24180
New York
Levi Silvester
of Tioga Co in the State of New York
 who was a Sergt.&c. in the Comp commanded
 by Captain Stevens of the Regt. commanded
 by Col. Reed, in the Vermont
 line for 16 months private
4 months Sergeant
N. H., Continental and Vt.
Feb 18/07
Records completed 

$53.33
20
$73.33


Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 73 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of Nov.
1833 and sent to J Robinson
Present, of Elmira

Arrears to the 4th Sep. 11 $183.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar ‘34.  36.66
$219.99

Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.


Recorded by Go. C. Stiles Clerk
Book E. Vol. 4 Page [1??]
Page 3

Levi Silvester
Declaration-
10.218

Suspended
[illegible-very faint]

Direct to the case of
James
Robinson
Agent, Elmira
Tioga County
New York
Page 4

State of New York Tioga County ss
  Personally appeared
before the undersigned a Justice of the
Peace in and for the County of Tioga
aforesaid Levi Silvester who being
by sworn deposeth and saith that
according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods
mentioned below and in the follow
in grades - For one year and eight
months I served as a private and
for four months I served as a
Sergeant and for such service I 
claim a pension.-
Levi Silvester
Sworn & subscribed the 29 day of December
1832 before me
Hiram Gray J. P.

State New York Tioga County ss 
 I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Levi
Silvester who has subscribed and Sworn to the above affidavit,  that he is a credible person and his
statement entitled to full credit
Hiram Gray J. P.
Page 5

State of New York Tioga County ss
I Green M Tuthill, Clerk of the said County of Tioga
do hereby certify that Hiram Gray Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn and by whom the foregoing certificate was executed was on the date thereof a Justice
of the Peace in and for the said County of Tioga - that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and know his signature thereto affixed to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of
Office this 29 day of December 1832-
Green M. Tuthill
Page 6

At a Court of Common Pleas holden
at the Court house in the Village
of Elmira in and for the County
of Tioga in the State of New York commencing
 on the fourth day of September1832. Present Hon
 Grant B Baldwin, first Judge, Davis Bently, Joseph L.
Darling, John R. Drake and Elijah Shoemaker Esqr Judges

State of New York Tioga County ss 
On this seventh day of September 1832 personally
appeared in open court before the Judges aforesaid
being a Court of Record, because made
so by the Constitution and Laws of the
State having by law Clerk & Seal.  Now
sitting Levi Sylvester a resident of the Town of
Catherine in the County of Tioga and State of
 New York aged seventy seven years and upwards
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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers
and served as herein stated. That sometime
in the month of October 1775 he enlisted
in the town of Newbury in the State of
Vermont for the time of one year,
under Captain Mann, Lieutenant Pettingale
Page 7

Col Israel Read & Lieutenant Col.
Jacob Gillman. And Marched from Newbury
 aforesaid to winter [insert 426?] before they
joined the main army. This was in
November. We lay there stationed
till the month of March ‘76 when the
British evacuated the City of Boston.
Then we went to Providence and from
there to New London; we there went
on board of a ship and sail’d to 
New York through the sound; we
staid at New York about two weeks, 
then ordered up the North River to
Albany; we then march'd to Lake
George, cros’d the Lake in Batteuse
then cros’d Lake Champlain and landed,  
at St. John’s - then marched to a place called
Caughnawaga to relieve Col Beitle’s [Bidel?]
Regiment then stationed at the Cedars, 
but they were taken before we
got there; We then cros’d over the
St Lawrence and fortified ourselves
at Lisbone. Staid there about
8 or 9 days waiting for General
Arnold and when he come we marched
up the Cedars - we lay there till we
collected together the Batteuse
 - we then went to relieve the prisoners
that were on an Island in the
St Lawrence - The next day after we
got the Batteuse, gave up the prisoners
-- we then march'd back to Montreal, and 
staid there till the

2
Page 8

3
American forces were defeated at
Quebe; then he retreated back to
St Johns and met the other part of
the army; we then went to the Isle
 of Noix; then to Crown Point; then 
to Ticonderoga;  was employed in
repairing the Fort and in building Fort
Independence on the opposite side of
the River St. Johns; we staid at
Fort Independence till September the
first- This deponent then had the
small pox and like to have lost
One of his eyes with it; we were then
Ordered over to Ticonderoga to be
reviewed previous to being discharged
by Gen. Gates. He was then discharged
by this officer and Lieutenant Col Jacob
Gillman gave him his discharge which he lost-
In the spring of 1777 he enlisted
under Capt Simon Stevens who lived in
Newbury on Connecticut River
in Vermont. He was out in this service
till the first of August;, Major Herrington
was the commanding officer of the
Troops; we were ordered to join Gen
Gates. The officers would not go, alleging
they were raised to defend the frontier.
There was then a draft made upon the
militia and this deponent was drafted
and was marched to Pollet [Pawlet]. He then
Page 9

enlisted into Col Herrick's Regiment of
Vermont Rangers in Capt Burton’s
company and march'd the next day after
he enlisted; Went on a reconnoitering
party to Mount Independence to see if
the British vessels lay there. And while here
we took three prisoners and took them
to Pollet and were then ordered to
take them to Bennington, which
we did and then returned again
to the Regiment at Pollet. The
next day were ordered to Stillwater
or Saratoga and when we arrived
there, we were ordered out west
to keep the Indians and tories from
going back into Canada; we lay there
three days; we were then ordered to go
to the Hessian Breast works; when we
came in sight they were stacking their arms.
And we were ordered to guard the prisoners
down to the Landing. This deponent
was then one of a detachment of about
thirty under Major Weight who went to
Mount Ticonderoga and Mount Independence.
 The object of this expedition was
to annoy the Enemy in his retreat
to Canada- took some tories that
were driving off cattle and intercepted
a number of Cattle. He was on the scout
about two weeks - when he returned the
term of the Regiment had expired and

4
Page 10

5
he was discharged and he returned home.  In
the month of May 1778 he enlisted
for four months under Capt Nehemiah
Lord in which company this deponent
was second Sergeant under Major
Wait. Served out the term in Peacham
in the State of Vermont; was discharged
and returned home. That he has
no documentary evidence of his
said services neither does he know
of any person whose testimony he
 can procure who can testify to them.
And in answer to the several
Interrogatories put to him by the
Court he says that he was born in the
town of [Billingsley] in the State of
Massachusetts on the 31st day of July in
the year 1755 & has no record of his
age, but retains it as handed down
to him by his parents- that in all
his service he was a volunteer.
That Col. Reid, Gen. Stark, Gen-
Sullivan were with the troops where
he served. Had a written discharge
but it has long since been destroyed.
When he first entered the service
he lived at Newbury in the State of
Vermont; after the close of the war
he continued to live at the same
place last aforesaid fourteen years, 
then lived in Irasburg, County of
Orleans and State of Vermont 12 years
Page 11

then lived in Scipio Cayuga County
and State of New York three years from
which time he has lived in Catherine
to the present time. He would refer
to Judge Darling & the Hon
Samuel Lawrence & Samuel Winton
Esquire who are his neighbors and well
acquainted with his reputation for truth
and veracity, and who can testify
to their belief in the truth of the
foregoing declaration - that 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.
Levi Silvester
Sworn to & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
Green M Tuthill Clk

We Simeon R. Jones a Clergyman of South
port, Tioga County N. York & Joseph L. Darling
a Judge of this Court and Amos Bonney Esquire both
last mentioned are residents of Catherine,
County and State aforesaid hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with Levi Silvester who has subscribed and sworn to the above
Page 12

declaration; that we believe him to
be seventy seven 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.
Simeon R. Jones -
J. L. Darling
Amos Bonney
Sworn & subscribed-
the day & year aforesaid
Green M Tuthill Clk

And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion after the investigation of the matter
and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by
war department that the above named
applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and
served as he states. And the Court further
for that it appears to them that Simon
R Jones who has signed the preceding
certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of
Southport and that Amos Bonney who
as also signed the same is a resident in the Town of
Catherine and is a credible person and
that their statement is entitled to credit.
J B Baldwin
First Judge
Page 13

I Green M. Tuthill Clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas of Tioga County aforesaid do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Leo Silvester
for a Pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of Office this 8th day of Sept 1832 
Green M Tuthill Clerk
Page 14

No. 162118
Levi Sylvester
25 Sep 32
6 Dec

5.16

James Robinson
Elmira
Tioga C'y
New York
Page 15

No. 19218
BRIEF in the case of Levi Wester of Catharine
County of Tioga in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832,)

1.Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? Seventy Seven years 77
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.


Enlisted some time in the month of October in 1775 until September 1st 1776 | 11 months  | As a private | Col Israel Read, Lt Col. Jacob Gilman, Capt Mann, Lt Pettingale, Vermont

Enlisted in Spring of 1777 & was drafted till [??] | duration not specified | private | Capt Simon Stevens, Major Herrington , Col Henrich, Capt Burton

Enlisted in May 1778 | 4 months | 2nd Sergent  | Capt Nehemiah Lovel, Major Wait

5. In what battles was he engaged?
not any
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Newbury, Vermont
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
His tradition is supported by the affidavit of a Clergyman & another respectable citizen, whose credibility is verified by its Court.

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
Chas G Wilcox
Examining Clerk
Page 16

Adm'd
16 months Private
4 months Sergeant
G. C.
Page 17

Washington City Nov 7 1833

As the authorized agent of
Levi Silvester, an applicant
for a pension under the act of
June 7, 1832, I do hereby agree
to receipt of certificate for one
year and four months as a
Private and four months as a
Sergeant in full of all other
claims for a pension.
Given under my hand the day
 and year above written.
James Robinson
Page 18

Levi Silvester
Objections
Page 19


BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Levi Sylvester, which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the 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?
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? No
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
Page 20

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?
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? Yes
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?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been 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? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed
by 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, 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."
Page 21

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 is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
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 be 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 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.
Page 22

1926 Feb 3 Photos mailed
to A.W. DeGoosh, AW

14464
Rev War
INVALID.
---
File No. 14, 464
Levi Silvester
Sergt Rev. War
-
Act: June 7 1832
Index: --Vol. [M or 7 or 1], Page 342
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 23

The service in this claim in 1775 was
in Capt. Benj. Mann's Co., N. H. Regt. Col.
James Reed, which makes the Caption
on jacket "N.H." (The Lt. Col. was Israel Gilman)
and in 1776 Capt. Benj. Mann, Cal. James
Reed were of the 2" Continental then
comes the Vt, service-
I put this in after verifying
every thing-- MMHF
Page 24


Jan. 27, 1926.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir:
Jan. 27, 1926.
Please furnish photostat copies of seven pages
from the Revolutionary War pension claim of Levi Silvester,
S. 14464 not certified.
A. W. DeGoosh,
U. S. Shipping Board,
Washington, D. C.

received payment
$1.05
A E Wilson
Chief Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.

Request for Photostating
(To be prepared in duplicate.)
3 - 2006
Ex. AW

Job No. 2972
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK
Date Jan 30 1926.

Subject Levi Silvester, Rev. S 14.464

1 copies of 1 pieces consisting of 7 pages to be
forwarded when completed to the Rev & 1812 Wars Section Division
Remarks:
Approved:

A E Wilson
Chief Section

Chief Clerk.

[rectangle stamp]
FINANCE DEPT.
JAN 24
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Page 25

3-2233
113
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
Jan 27, 1926
Chief Rev Sec.
I have this day received
from A.W.DeGoosh
cash No. _____
for $1.05, requesting

photostat copy
As per
letter herewith.

1926 Feb 2 Photos mailed 
Finance Div. notf’d. AW
O. K. Notified

O.J. RANDALL
Chief Finance Div.
H.C.L.

Jan. 27, 1926.
[pho]tostat copies of seven pages
[for] pension claim of Levi Silvester,
died.

A. W. DeGoosh,
U. S. Shipping Board,
Washington, D. C.

Section.
3 - 2006
([pho]tostating in duplicate.)
Ex. AW

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK
Date Jan 30 1926.
Subject Levi Silvester, Rev.  S 14.464

1 copies of 1 pieces consisting of 7 pages to be
forwarded when completed to the Rev & 1812 Wars Section Division
Remarks:
Approved:

A E Wilson
Chief Section

Chief Clerk.