Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16704, Thomas Challis, N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE                                                 NUMBER
    N. H.           Challis, Thomas                S. 16704     
                                                                  carded
________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
Page 2

                                 16704
                              INVALID.

File No 16, 704
      Thomas Challis
      Sergt  Rev War

Act June 7th 32

Index:--Vol. 1, Page 427

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 3

                                     4224
            New Hampshire
__________________________________________________________
Thomas Challis of Plainfield in the state of New Hampshire who was a Pr Sargt. in the Company commanded by Captain Quimbey in the Regt commanded by Col Wingate in the New Hampshire line for 3 months, Private
                               5 "          , Sargeant
___________________________________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 35 Dollars --Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
____________________________________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Feb 18(?)3 and sent 
Hon. W. Hubbard House of Rep.

____________________________________________________________________
Arrears to 4th Sept 1832                                   $52.50
Semi=anl. allowances ending 4th March 33       17.50
                                                                          __________
                                                                          $70.00
                                                                         ___________

                                                            {Revolutionary Claim of 
                                                            { Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book D  Vol. 1st  Page 138--
Page 4

                  DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of 7th of June, 1832.

State of New-Hampshire   }
County of Sullivan            }  SS.

On this 19th day of September 1832 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Probate now sitting Thomas Challis a resident of Plainfield in the County of Sullivan and State of New-Hampshire, aged 83 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  [blank] with [blank] and served in the [blank] regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers:

In the fall of the year 1775 he thinks on or about the first of October volunteered and went from Kingston or Hareke a Parish of Said Kingston in the County Rockingham State of New-Hampshire to Brookline a town adjoining Roxbury Massachusetts where he was stationed for some little time thinks about six weeks and was from there ordered to Wistes Hill near Boston where he continued to serve for the space of two weeks and was there discharged after having faithfully served two months--He states that he placed himself under such officers as he found on the ground and that he was shifted from one command to  another so that it is difficult for him to name the Officers under whom he served as above- Well recollects [illegible] Cholas Elliot of Boscawen NH and Stephen Badger of Kingston who served at the same time with him, both of whom he believes are dead so that he has no proof of this two months service--On or about the first of June 177(?) he enlisted for five months in Captain Quimby's Company of Col Wingates New Hampshire Regiment being there a resident of Kingston aforesaid whence he [illegible] by way of Charlestown N.Y. and Rutland Vt to Mount Independence when he was stationed for most of the time for the 5 months for which he [illegible] and was there discharged after having served out the term of his engagement the fore part of November 1776--He afterwards in the fall of the year 1777 volunteered at said Kingston and went in a Company Commanded by Lieutenant French of Sandown NH by way of Windsor and Manchester Vermont to the north River and was stationed opposite Saratoga N.Y for the term of one month and was there so stationed at the time of the surrender of Burguoyne and was immediately discharged.--He further states that Jeremy Dudley, Abraham Darling and James Proctor were privates with him during the 5 months above stated but does not [illegible] that either of them are now living nor any other individuals by whom he can prove said Service nor the one month Service last above stated.--
   He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
   Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.             Thomas Challis
          Frederick A Summer  Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above name applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
    Frederick A Summer  Judge of Probate

I Aaron Nettleton [unknown symbol] Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Thomas Challis for a pension.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this nineteenth day of September A.D. 1832
    Aaron Nettleton [unknown symbol] Register of Probate
Page 5

I Thomas Challis of Plainfield State of New Hampshire depose and say that on the 19th day of September 1832 I made a Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of the 7th June 1832 of which the within is a copy. That in my original Declaration made as aforesaid I omitted to state the fact that I was appointed a Sergeant at the time of the commencement of my five months service in 1776 and accordingly did a Sergeants duty the five months I served at and near Mount Independence, and beg leave to [crossed out] make this affidavit as an amendment to my original Declaration--
                                                             his
                                           Thomas      X   Challis
                                                          mark
State of New Hampshire }                
Sullivan S.S.                     }  Sworn and subscribed this 29th day of December 1832 before me
                              John Bryant   Justice of the Peace

[On the left margin, written vertically]
Thomas Challis

Copy Thomas Challis Declaration

[On the bottom third, written upside down]

I am well acquainted with Thom Challis and know him to be a man of undoubted character for the truth
Janry 14th 1833   H Hubbard M.C. [Member pf Congress
Page 6

I am well acquainted with Thos Challis and know him to be a man of undoubted character for truth

Janry 14th 1833 H Hubbard, M. C. [Member of Congress]


[Written vertically along far right margin] Thomas Challlis
Page 7

Thomas Challis
Plainfield
N.H.
Private 8 months

in Roll of Service                  [This is all crossed 
Capt Quimby's Company     [ out]
Sargt--

11.12 and 17 Objections
 
Dec 8 1832
Admd
 
Ha H Hubbard  [crossed out]

Hon. H. Hubbard
   House of Reps

P [111? 141? 11?}
Page 8

BRIEF  in the case of Thomas Challis of Plainfield in the State of New Hamp  
                (Act 7 June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge?  Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  83 Years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Period.           |      Duration of Service            |      Rank.     |  Names of Generals and Field Officers
                      |                                                 |                    |                   Under whom he served.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
                      |      Years,  Months,  Day.          |  As a           |  Gen.
Fall in 1775    |        "            2           "             | Private        | not recollected
June 1st-76    |        "            5           "            |  "                | Capt. Quimbey  Col. Wingate
Fall--77          |        "             1          "             |  "                | Cap. French.

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  none stated

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  not stated

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary 
      evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?   Neither [This is underlined]

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

    I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

                                          D. D. Addison
                                            Examining Clerk
Page 9

                           BRIEF in the case of Thomas Challis of Plainfield in the State of New Hamp
                                         (Act 7 June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declarations made before a Court of a Judge?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  83 Years.

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Period.         |   Duration of Service.                     |   Rank.           | Named of General and Field Officers
                    |                                                        |                      |   under whom he served.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                    |     Years,   Months,   Days.              |      As a         | Gen.
fall in 1775  |         "               2         "                  |   Private        |       not recollected  
June 1st,76  |         "               5        "                   |    "                |  Capt Quimbey  Col. Wingate
Fall --77       |        "                1        "                   |    "                |  Cap  French.

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  none stated

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?   not stated

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by  traditionary evidence,
     by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Neither  [This is underlined]

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

      I Certify that the foregoing statement and answers agree with the evidence in the case mentioned above.

                                                                                              D. D. Addison
                                                                                                Examining Clerk.
Page 10

                                           4224
New Hampshire
__________________________________________________________________________________
Thomas Challis of Plainfield in the State of N Hamps who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Quimbey of the Regt commanded by Col. Wingate in the N Hamps line for 8 months
__________________________________________________________________________________

Inscribed on the Roll of New Hamps at the rate of 26 Dollars 66  Cents for annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Many 1833 and [illegible] Hon H. Hubbard   House of Reps
__________________________________________________________________________________
Arrears to 4gth of Sept 1832                   $39.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar"33       13.33
                                                              _________
                                                                 $53.32 
                                                              _________

                                                      {Revolutionary Claim,}
                                                      {Act June7, 1832.         }

Recorded by D. D. Addison   Clerk,
Book D   Vol. 1st,    Page 148
Page 11

Thomas Challis
  Plainfield
  N.H      

   
               25
               10
           2/35  
               17.50
                42.50


Hon H. Hubbard
    House of Reps
Page 12

 BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red-ink, will apply to the claim of Thomas Challis which require further proof or explanation.

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

II. Did the declarant made 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 amout 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?   No device or inscription
Page 13

                                                                           2

XI,  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman or another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?   
No --  [Word is underlined]

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it.   No-- [Word is underlined]

XIII.  If the application 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-?   -----[no answer]
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?----   [no answer]

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' service?----  [no answer]

XVI.  ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  --- [no answer]

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?   none  [word if underlined]
                                     ________________________________________________________
                                          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 _________; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 14

                                                                  3

   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 phase about three or four months [last 4 words are italicized]  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 regiments, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witness, 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 authorized, 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 15

Payments to be made 
at Portsmouth N.H.
by the Pres of U.S.B. Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of N.Hamp



Recorded by D, D, Addison
Clerk, in Book D Vol. 1st,
Page 148
Page 16

                             WAR DEPARTMENT.
                            Revolutionary Claim.

   I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United Sates, of the 7th June, 1832, Thomas Challis of the sate of New Hampshire who was a Private in the army of the  Revolution

is entitled to receive Twenty Six dollars and Sixty Six cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th March 1834, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.

    Given at the War Office of the United Sates, this Fifthteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty Three

                                                                         Lew Cass
  [Here is attached                                             Secretary of War
a paper seal/sealing
wax ]

Examined and   }
Countersigned. }
             J L Edwards
Page 17

Thomas Challis
     Declaration


No 4--8 mo

[Written vertically at far left edge]
John [illegible]  Justice of the Peace
Page 18

                              DECLARATION

   In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832.

State of New-Hampshire,  }
County of Sullivan             } ss.

  On this 19th  day of September 1832 personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting Thomas Challis a resident of Plainfield in the County of Sullivan and State of New-Hampshire, aged 83 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 Sates in the year  [blank] with  [blank] and served in the  [blank] regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers:

   In the fall of the year 1775, he thinks on or about the first of October he volunteered and went from Kingston or Hawk a parish of Said Kingston in the County of Rockingham State of New-Hampshire to Brookline a town adjoining Roxbury Massachusetts where he was stationed for some little time  thinks about six weeks, and was from there ordered to Winter Hill near Boston where he continued to serve for the space of two weeks and was then discharged after having faithfully served two month--He states that he placed himself under such officers as he found on the ground and that he was shifted from one  command to another so that it is difficult for him to name the officers under whom he served as above--Well he collects Nicholas Elliot of Boscawen N. H and Stephen Badger of Kingston who served at the same time with him both of whom he believes are dead as that he has no proof of this 2 months service--On or about the first of June 1776 he enlisted for five month in Captain Quimby's Company of Col Wingate's New Hampshire Regiment being then a resident of Kingston aforesaid whence he proceeded by way of Charlestown N.H. and Rutland Vt to Mount Independence where he was stationed for the most of the time for the 5 months for which he engaged and was there discharged after having having served out the term of his engagement the fore part of November 1776--He afterwards in the fall of the year 1777 volunteered at said Kingston and went in a Company commanded by Lieut. French of Sandown N. H. by way of Windsor and Manchester Vermont to the North River and was stationed opposite Saratoga N.Y. for the term of one month and was there so stationed at the time of the Surrender of Burgoyne and was immediately after discharged--
   He further states that Jeremy Dudley, Abraham Darling and James Proctor were privates with him during the 5 months above stated but does not know that either of them are now living nor any other individuals by whom he can prove his said service nor the one months service last above stated--
     He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
    Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
                                              Thomas Challis
                                               Frederick A Summer   Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
                                Frederick A Summer  Judge of Probate
I Aaron Nettleton scilicet Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Thomas Challis for a pension.
           In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this nineteenth day of Septemberreth 1832
                         Aaron Nettleton scilicet Register of Probate

                 
[Here a paper seal 
was attached.]
Page 19

     I, Thomas Challis of Plainfield in the County of Sullivan State of New Hampshire a soldier of the Revolution depose and say that on the 19th day of September 1832 I made a declaration before the Honorable Probate Court then sitting at Claremont with and for Said County of Sullivan in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of June 7th 1832 for Revolutionary services. that in said declaration I omitted through forgetfulness to state that during five of the eight months served therein named I was a Sergeant and did a Sergeants duty in Captain Quimby's company of Col. Wingate's Regiment at Mount Independence.  I therefore offer this as an amendment to my declaration aforesaid and pray the Honorable War Department to make the additional allowance therefor.

                                                                                                   his
                                                                                 Thomas      X      Challis
                                                                                               mark

State of New Hampshire  }
Sullivan ss'                        } Jany 26th 1833 Sworn and subscribed before me
                                                John Bryant   Justice of the Peace

I further certify that Thomas Challis the above deponent is a credible witness
                                                John Bryant    Justice of the Peace

We Dana Clayes a Clergyman settled within the town of Plainfield aforesaid and Levi Bryant one of the Selectmen of said Plainfield do hereby certify that we are acquainted with the above named Thomas Challis who is in our opinion a creditable person--         Dana Clayes
                        Levi Bryant

Sullivan SS Jany 26 1833 Sworn and subscribed before me
                                            John Bryant      Justice of the Peace

We the subscribers depose and say that we fully believe that Thomas Challis aforesaid did serve four months as a Sergeant as by he above stated for the reason that we consider him a creditable man and that we have in years past heard him speak of having been a Sergeant in the Revolutionary War as above stated in his affidavit--
                                                              [illegible symbol] Thomas Challis scilicet
                                                              Thomas Watson

Sullivan ss Jany 26, 1833  Sworn and subscribed before me
                                                      John Bryant  Justice of the Peace

I further certify that all the above deponents are credible men
                                                       John Bryant   Justice of the Peace
Page 20

[The top part of the paper is not copied correctly.

[illegible]   Challis  Thomas              [illegible]
                     Challis Elizabeth