Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31751, John Holcomb, Conn.
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SERVICE
Conn.

Holcomb, John

NUMBER
S. 31751
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Connecticut 22.501

John Holcomb

of Litchfield Co in the State of Connecticut 
who was a private in the company commanded 
by Captain Silliman of the regiment commanded by Col. Waterbury in the Connt
line for 14 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 46 dollars 66 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Sept. 1833 and sent to Pensioner Sharon CT

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833   116.65
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '34  23.33
________
$139.98

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk
Book E Vol. three Page 19
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5094

John Holcomb
C.T.

22.501

Adm. 1 year and 2 months

$46.66
  93.32
  23.33
 116.65

Direct returns to
William P. Burrall clerk of Probate So Canaan CT

Claimant
Sharon Con
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
183__

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. 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 of, John Holcomb. CT

[column headings]
Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. | Age at present and place of above when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported. |

State troops May 1775 enlisted | 7 Months | Private | Cpt Dundee Col Waterbury | 83 born in Hartford CT living in Danbury CT when called into service now lives in Litchfield CT | a surviving witness proves the 1st tour of service 7 months. Certificate of clergyman Deacon and a citizen

Spring 1776 | about 8 Months | private | Capt. Hubbell, Col. Silliman |

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions
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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
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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 at the bottom]
+ Services not proved 8 mo ~
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State of Connecticut County of Litchfield
Ss. Probate District of Sharon
At a Court of Probate for the district of Sharon holden at Salisbury on the 16 day of August 1832 present
Samuel Club Esq Judge
On this 16 day of August 1832 Personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate in the district of Sharon now sitting John Holcomb a resident of the Town of Sharon in the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut aged eighty three 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 act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
I was born in the town of Windsor in the county of Hartford in the state of Connecticut in the month of October 1749. I have no record of my age tho I have been told by my mother that my birth is recorded on the record of the town of Windsor. I was living in Danbury in said State of Connecticut when called into service, I have since the Revolutionary War generally resided in the town of Cornwall in the County of Litchfield aforesaid, tho for the last fifteen or sixteen years I have resided in the said town of Sharon, where I now reside. In the month of May as I think,, in the year 1775 I enlisted with a company of Connecticut State Troops or volunteers, under Nobel Benedict of said Dan
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bury Captain; and one Clark of said Danbury Lieut and Daniel Hicock of said Danbury Ensign. I belonged to Colonel Waterbury's Regiment. We marched out to Horse Neck and staid a few weeks, from thence to New York, from thence we went up the Hudson River to Albany by water, from thence up to Fort George & crossed Lake George to Ticonderoga, from thence to Isle Au Noix in Lake Champlain, from thence to St. Johns. Our forces had a battle with the enemy at St. Johns. General Montgomery had command at that time. General Taylor was with the troops a part of the time. Thence we returned to Isle Au Noix, & then back again to the Fort at St. Johns, & we remained in the vicinity of the Fort until it surrendered & I was one of the guard who marched in to take possession of the Fort after it was evacuated by the enemy forces. This was in cold weather but I don't remember the month. I was detached as one of the guard to mount the prisoners down, and I came on with them as far as Esopus on the Hudson River. I was dismissed as Esopus and returned home. I enlisted for seven months at this time and served out my time faithfully.
And said applicant on his oath further states that in the spring of the year 1776, I enlisted again in a company of Connecticut forces in a company commanded by Gaylord Hubbell of New Fairfield in the County of Fairfield, Captain; I have forgotten the names of the Lieut & Ensign, I belonged to Colonel Silliman's Regiment. We embarked at Stamford I think on board of a vessel &
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sailed to New York, soon after I arrived at New York I was detached from the regiment into a company of Artificers and was employed in erecting Chevaux de frise near Fort Washington & remained there in this employment until a few days before Fort Washington was taken, we went across to Fort Lee, and after Fort Washington was taken, I crossed thru Newark, Princeton to Trenton in New Jersey and from thence across the Delaware into Pennsylvania, and was employed in various services such as making oars &c. I remained in this vicinity until after the capture of the Hessians at Trenton and had permission to return home. I enlisted on this service for seven months and was absent before I left the army on my return home about eight months. General Washington was with the troop in their march thru the Jersies. I don't recollect at this time the description of other troops who were with us nor can I now remember the names of the officers who had command, I can only ascertain this by reference to the history of those days. I never had any written discharges. I was in no battles during my last tour of services.
I am known to Hon. Ansel Sterling, Hon. Charles F. Sedgewick, Cyrus Swan Esq of said Sharon and with Rev. Timothy Stone, Samuel Hopkins Esq, Petere Burin Esq of said Cornwall in my present neighborhood and to many others who can testify to my character for veracity & their belief of my services.
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as a soldier of the Revolution. And I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. And I do also state that I have no documentary evidence by which to prove my services, nor do I know of any other person except the proof hereto annexed, now living whose testimony I can procure, who can testify to my services.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
John Holcomb

We Oliver Burnham and Nathan Hart residing in the Town of Cornwall, in the county of Litchfield, in the immediate vicinity and neighborhood of John Holcomb who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, and we hereby certify that we are & have for many years been well acquainted with the said John Holcomb, that we believe him to be eighty three 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 to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Oliver Burnham
Nathan Hart
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At the same Court, the said John Holcomb presented to this court in support of his claim for a pension as on his declaration is set forth, the following affidavits and depositions as are hereunto annexed, that is to say, the deposition of Daniel Hicock marked A and the deposition of Rev. Timothy Stone marked B and it appears to the satisfaction of this court that Oliver Shepherd Esq is a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Fairfield & that the depositions of the said Daniel Hickock is in the proper hand writing of the said Oliver Shepherd Esq and this court doth certify that Samuel Hopkins Esq by whom the aforesaid depositions of Rev. Timothy Stone is certified is a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Litchfield & that the said Certificate by him subscribed is subscribed by him the said Justice Hopkins in his own proper handwriting.
And the said Court Doth declare its opinion that 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 Oliver Burnham Esq who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in
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the said town of Cornwall and was late one of the Judges of the County Court in and for the said county of Litchfield, and the said Nathan Hart who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Cornwall and is one of the Deacons of the Congregational Church in said town, and that they reside in the vicinity of the said John Holcomb and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court
Abijah C. Peet Clerk

I Abijah C. Peet Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Sharon do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Holcomb for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at the Probate office in Salisbury this 16 day of August AD 1832.
Abijah C. Peet Clerk
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31751
Revy INVALID.
File No. 31,751
 John Holcomb
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: --Vol. 2, Page 194
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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A

I Daniel Hickock of the town of Danbury county of Fairfield & state of Connecticut of the age of eighty four years doth depose and say that in the spring of 1775 I recd an Ensigns Commission from the Governor of the state of Connecticut accompanied with orders to enlist volunteers for the term of seven months and agreeable to said order I enlisted a number of men and among them was John Holcomb who enlisted for the term of seven months & about midsummer I was ordered to repair to Canada with the men I had enlisted and I accordingly did and was attached to Col. Waterbury's Regt and was knowing to the said John Holcomb serving his time of enlistment faithfully and further the deponent saith not.
Daniel Hickock

Fairfield County Ss. Danbury July 11th 1832
Personally appeared Daniel Hickock signer of the above Deposition and made solemn oath that the above deposition according to his knowledge and belief is the truth before me.
Oliver Shepard Justice of the Peace

Fairfield County Ss. Danbury July 9th 1833
I do hereby further certify that Daniel Hickok the above deponent is a man of fair character for truth and is a credible witness.
O. Shepard Justice of Peace
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No 5094
Cnt

The within is the Deposition of Daniel Hickock to be used in proof of the service of John Holcomb int he war of the Revolution taken and sealed up by me.
Oliver Shepard Justice of Peace for Fairfield County in the State of Connecticut
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B

I do hereby testify that Mr. John Holcomb now residing in Sharon and who has formerly lived in this town has been known by me for more than seventy years and have often heard him spoken of and never heard any individual express a a doubt of his veracity nor do I know of any grounded questioning his integrity.
Cornwall July 23 1832
Timothy Stone

Litchfield County Ss. Cornwall July 23d 1832
Personally appeared Revd Timothy Stone signer of the above deposition and made oath to the same before me.
Samuel Hopkins Justice of Peace
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The Deposition of Revd T. Stone taken at the request of Mr. John Holcomb to be improved before County Court within & for the County of Litchfield taken sealed, sealed up to this 23d day of July 1832.
By me Samuel Hopkins Justice Peace
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State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield}Ss. Probate District of Sharon
At a Court of Probate for the District of Sharon holden at Canaan within and for said district on the 4th day of July AD 1833.
Present William M. Burrall Esq Judge 
On this 4th day of July AD 1833, personally appeared in open court before this Court of Probate for the district of Sharon, in open court, and now sitting and being a Court of Record. John Holcomb, a resident of the town of Sharon in said District who being first duly sworn makes the following declaration supplementary to a former declaration made by him before this Court on the 16th day of August AD 1832 in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
The declarant says, in answer to an objection made by the Commissioner of Pensions to his first declaration that he does not know of any witnesses who are living that can testify to the second term of service mentioned in his first declaration aforesaid, that he has made inquiry but finds that those persons with whom he served & with whom he was acquainted, are either dead or removed for parts unknown to the declarant.
John Holcomb
Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid before me
Wm. M. Burrall Judge of Probate
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At a Court of Probate holden at Canaan within and for the district of Sharon on the 17th day of July AD 1833 the said John Holcomb produced before said Court, his original declaration made before said Court on the 16th day of August AD 1832 and also the deposition of Rev. Timothy Stone, which had been at that time before this Court, and also the depositions of Samuel Hicock which had been heretofore before this court, with an additional certificate thereupon of Oliver Shepard Esq dated July 7th 1833 - the credibility of said deponent. And it doth appear to this court there said Oliver Shephard Esq is now and was on the said 9th day of July 1833 a Justice of the Peace for the County of Fairfield and that the signature to said supplementary certificate purporting to be his is genuine.
Whereupon said Court doth order all said documents to be again connected together and affixed to this supplementary declaration under the seal of this court.
By the Court
Wm. P. Burrall Clerk

I William P. Burrall Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Sharon do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the original application of John Holcomb for a pension and of his subsequent declaration supplementary thereto. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of office this 17th day of July AD 1833.
Wm. P. Burrall Clerk