Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,600, Peter Dickey, Conn.
Page 1

Dickey, Peter
S. 23600
Born in Boston, Mass.
Page 2

Pennsylania 354
Peter Dickey [...] in the state of P who was a [...] in the Company [...] by Captain of the Rose [...] and Col Pierson in the [...] 8 days $ [...] 21 Inscribed on the roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 4 dollars and 21 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.  
Certificate of pension if used the 11th day of Feb and sent to [...]
1832 [...] 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1803 160.52
[...] allowance ending [...].
(underlined:)                                          32.10 1/2
                                                                197.62 1/2
{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by P. T. Sprague Clerk
Week [...] Vol. 5 Page 6.
Page 3

Susquehanna County Ss.
State of Pennsylvania on this tenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Court of Susquehanna County now sitting, Peter dickey, a resident of Gibson township in the County of Susquehanna and State aforesaid aged eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th AD 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States by enlistment in April in the year of our Lord 1775 in New London County in the State of Connecticut under Lieutenant John Roiment for six months and served under Captain James Chapman and marched from New London to Roxbury near Boston and joined Col [illegible regiment and served my time out and was discharged. The next year in the Spring of 1776 I enlisted in Captain Deshons company and joined Colonel Lettemans regiment and went to New York City by water and worked on York Island fortifying and on the fifteenth day of September when the British come in to New York I was taken a prisoner of war and held a prisoner until the next Spring and then was exchanged and went back to New London being a year. And then I went to Virginia in order to go onboard of a privateer but was disappointed they having sailed before I arrived. I then enlisted in the Virginia Troops for two years in Captain Wicks and Lieutenant Walford company and joined Colonel [illegible] regiment in the Spring of 1777 and marched to Valley Forge in the State of Pennsylvania and from there to Philadelphia, and was in the battle at Monmouth and from there was marched to a place called Scotch Plains and continued there and near there through the Summer and Fall and then went back to Philadelphia and took up winter quarters and the next Spring 1778 we went into New Jersey and continued between New York and Philadelphia through the Summer and Fall and the next winter we quartered at a place called [illegible] in Pennsylvania and the next Spring I was discharged having served out my time and went home to New London and heal. So states that he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service and 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 to his knowledge. 
Peter Dickey X his mark

Sworn & subscribed in open court.
Sept 10th 1832.
Asa Dimock J. Peace
Page 4

Mr. George W. Leonard -- a clergyman resident in the county Susquehanna and Joseph Washburn residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Dickey who has subscribed and [...] into the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be eighty three years of age and that he is [...] and beloved in the neighborhood and where he [...] to have been a soldier in the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
George W. Leonard
Joseph Washburn
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court. Sept. 10th AD 1832
Asa Dimock by Proxy

And said Court do hereby [...] their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department the the above and foregoing named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he stated.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that George W. Leonard -- who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County and that Joseph Washburn who has also signed the same is a resident in the County and is a [...] person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the County, Asa Dimock by Proxy

State of Pennsylvania 
Susquehanna County:  I Asa Dimock by [...] of the County of common pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, of the said County in the matter of the application of Peter Dickey for a pension. 

In testimony whereby I have hereunto signed by hand and seal of office as [...] this tenth day of September AD 1832.

Asas Dimock by Proxy
Page 5

State of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County Ss.
Personally appeared before Joseph Washburn Esquire one of the Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Susquehanna aforesaid, Peter Dickey of the town of Gibson in said county and state aforesaid, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th day of June 1832 and being duly sworn according to law in answer to the interrogatories prescribed in the regulations of the War Department under said act doth on his oath depose and say - 

1st that he was born in the town of Boston in the state of Massachusetts on the 26th day of May old state in the year of our Lord 1749.

For the 2nd interrogatory he says that he has not any record of his age but [illegible] his birth was registered at Boston where he was born but does not know it.

To the 3rd he says at the time when he was called into the Continental Service he lived at a place called Mohegan between Norwich & New London in the state of Connecticut. And since the war ended he followed the seas for a number of years and when he settled himself it was at a place then called the province of Maine and lived there a number of years. And from there went to Connecticut State in the county of Tolland and lived there some over twenty years and from there he came into Pennsylvania State where he still resides in the township of Gibson and County of Susquehanna.

To the 4th he says he was called into service by enlistment as stated in his application.

To the 5th he says that the officers whose names is given in his application are the principal ones that he did know in the Connecticut Troops was General Spencer, Major Tylor & Major Clift and in my second enlistment there Colonel Sheldon & Pearsonsons was near General and in the Virginia he does not remember anymore officers than what he named in his application, except General Beadford, Colonel Parker was wounded in the battle of Monmouth.

To the 6th he says in the two first tours of duty in the Continental service done in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York States he had no written discharge given him. He was once exchanged a prisoner of war. But for his two years service in the Virginia Troops he did have a written discharge given him by General Woodford and in a voyage at sea was shipwrecked and lost his [illegible]
Page 6

and all his papers and with it said discharge and thinks his name must be registered on the rolls of Captain Hicks company and Colonel Parkers regiment.

To the 7th he says the names of those who have certified to his character will be found by reference to his application name by George W. Leonard & Joseph Washburn, one of which have known him for seventeen years.
Peter Dickey X his mark

Susquehanna County Ss.
I do hereby certify that the above and foregoing declarations was made by Peter Dickey an applicant for a pension under oath the sixth day of August 1833. Witness my hand and seal at Gibson the day and year aforesaid.
Joseph Washburn, Justice of the Peace

{Seal}
Page 7

State of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County Ss.
I Asa Dimock Protonotary of the court of Common Pleas of said county, do hereby certify, that Joseph Washburn Esq whose signature in his own proper hand writing appears subscribed to the attestation of the affidavit of Peter Dickey, is, and was of the sixth day of August instant, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified as appears of record.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, at Montrose the thirtieth day of August AD 1838.
Asa Dimock Prot.
Page 8

16646
Peter Dickey

Susquehanna County
Pennsylvania


Adm 1 yr. 7 months & 8 days

Asa Dimock
Montrose
Susquehanna County
Pennsylvania
Page 9

War Department
Pension Office

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. Those 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, showing the Service if Peter Dickey, Susquehanna County, Penn.
Page 10

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 persons 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 persons 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, musicians 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. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)

 

He hereby 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 declarations, 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 applicant.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produces 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 11

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 you 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 service 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 existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declarations 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, attend 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 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 entitled. 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. 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 services 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 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 years, 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 services 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 emplo9yed 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 signatures 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 certificates 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.

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.

The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the exam of Militia men, Volunteers and state Troops. The proof required by rule in case (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 in the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

[written on the bottom]
His name is not on the rolls of service in this office. see note J - proof of service
Page 12

Revolution

23.600

INVALID

File no. 23,600
Peter Dickey
Pri Rev War

Act June 7th 32

Index: - Vol. 2, Page 109

(Arrangement of 1870)
Page 13

Comptrollers Office
December 10th 1833

I Elisha Phelps, Comptroller of the public accounts of the State of Connecticut, do certify that by an authenticated copy of a payroll of the 5th Co. 16th Regt of troops raised by order of the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut May 1775, that Peter Dickey served therein as a private, from the 9th day of May until the 17th December 1775; being seven months and eight days. The company was commanded by Capt James Chapman, & regiment by Col. Samuel H. Parsons.

(The records of the state show that the General Assembly at their session in June 1776 ordered six battalions to be raised & to serve until the 25th of December 1776, appointed Samuel Seldon Col, Jonathan Lattimer Lt Col & Giles Russell Major of one of them, & Richard Deshon one of the Captains
Page 14

No roll of this regiment has been found, nor any evidence showing how long it was in service; and the expense of it is charged to the United States upon the books of the pay table, at £4185.18.5.
E. Phelps
Page 15

I William Ashcroft of New London in the state of Connecticut, a pensioner, being of lawful age, do testify & say, that in the years 1775 & 1776 I was a member of Captain Chapman's company in the regiment of Connecticut troops commanded by Colonel Parsons, that I served in said company at and near New London in Connecticut, at Roxbury in Massachusetts, & at New York; and I well remember that Peter Dickey from Union was a soldier in the same company.
William Ashcroft

State of Connecticut
New London December 31st 1833
Personally appeared William Ashcroft and made solemn oath tot he truth of the foregoing deposition before the subscribing authority. And I hereby certify that the said deponent is personally known to me as a competent & a credible witness.
Attest Thomas Mussey Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut
New London County Ss.
I John D. Witt Clerk of the county court in and for said New London County do hereby certify that Thomas Mussey Esq before whom the above deposition of William Ashcroft was taken and sworn was on said 31st day of December 1833, and still is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of New London and that his signature above affixed I believe to be in his own proper hand writing. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county this 4th day of January AD 1834.
John D. Witt Clerk
Page 16

State of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County Ss.
Personally appeared before Joseph Washburn Esquire one of the Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Susquehanna aforesaid, Peter Dickey of the township of Gibson in said county and state aforesaid an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th day of June 1832 and being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that [illegible] Hubbad and Isaac Olivers of New London served with me in Captain James Chapmans comp and in my tour of service at New York City there was in the same regiment that I belonged to James de la Bee & George de la Bee and the last knowledge I had of them they was living in Woodstock in the state of Connecticut Windham County, and when I went to Virginia Isaac Olivers, Dennis Clay or Gray & William Hatton went with me. Oliver H. Clay was killed in the battle of Monmouth & Hatton I know not what became of it may be possible that he may be an applicant for a pension.
Peter Dickey X his mark

I do hereby certify that the above statement or declaration, was made by Peter Dickey an applicant for a pension, underneath the thirtieth day of November 1833. Witness my hand and seal of Gibson township the day and year aforesaid.
Joseph Washburn J. Peace

State of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County Ss. I Asa Dimock Protonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, certify that Joseph Washburn Esq is a magistrate as above and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my seal of office, and subscribed by name this twenty eighth day of January AD 1834.
Asa Dimock Prot.
Page 17

Susquehanna County Ss.
Before me one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said county of Susquehanna personally came Wareham B. Walker of [illegible] township in said county a man well known to me and on his oath did depose and say that eleven years ago last September past he was in the state of Connecticut and called on Samuel Crawford & Ingoldshire Crawford, son of Samuel Crawford, and they both made inquiry concerning Peter Dickey as he was neighbor to said Peter Dickey, and that Dickey was formerly from this neighborhood and was old acquaintance and stated to him that Dickey was entitled to a pension according to act of Congress and wanted he should inform said Dickey of his rights and that he did inform him, but Dickey being old and poor in property he thought he could not endure the expense upon uncertainty of evidence and since that time Samuel Crawford is deceased as he has been informed, his son is yet living as he believes and further the deponent saith not.
Wareham B. Walker

{Seal}
I do hereby certify that Wareham B. Walker who has subscribed his name to this deposition is a man of truth and veracity and that full credit is to be given to his statement the above sworn to and subscribed before me this thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord 1833.
Joseph Washburn J. Peace
Page 18

State of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County Ss.
I Asa Dimock Protonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, certify that Joseph Washburn Esq is a magistrate as written and that the within signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name this twenty eighth day of January AD 1834.
Asa Dimock Prot.
Page 19

[writing on top cut off and illegible]

Peter Dickey
Pension Application

16646