Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21611, Oliver Arnold, Vt.
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Vt.   Arnold, Oliver    S. 21611
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No. 11,736
Vermont
Oliver Arnold of Rutland Co. in the State of Vermont who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Robinson of the Reg’t commanded by Col. Bellows in the Vermont troops line for 18 months & 16 days, Private $61.55
______
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 61 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of June 1833 and sent to Moses M. Strong Rutland Vt.
______
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $123.00
semi-an. Allow acne ending 4 Sep. 1833 30.77
$153.77
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 50
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Oliver Arnold
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Oliver Arnold 
25216
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STATE OF VERMONT,
RUTLAND COUNTY, ss. } On this 12 day of April A. D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of the District of Rutland now sitting, Oliver Arnold a resident of the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 86 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.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. that he lived in Clarendon during the revolutionary war, where he now resides, & has ever since resided and did reside for some years previous to the war, that the part of the country in which he resided was very thinly settled & that the inhabitants of Clarendon (which was then called Fairfield) & those of some of the adjoining towns constituted a company of which Ichabod Robinson was the Captain & Levi Colvin Lieutenant the company was not attached to any particular regiment, that the company was formed be thinks some time in the year 1776 but it was at any rate about a year before Burgoyne surrendered, soon after the company was formed then proceeded to Rutland & erected a fort in that part of the town now known as "Gookins falls" & that he employed & found a yoke of oxen, the most of the time, & also hired an irishman to work with him a part of the time which the company were engaged in building the fort he was on guard in Castleton & Hubbardton on the line to Ticonderoga, about the time the fort was completed he started to go ['went' crossed out] had proceeded to Hubbardton & received orders to retreat to Castleton & thence home having been about ['about' crossed out] & engaged in building the Hubbardton he was called to go on guard at Castleton, where he & some others of the company were taken whith their oxen & carts & pressed into the british service & compelled to draw the baggage of Burgoyne & the Hessians to Fort Edward, where Samuel Williams & himself forged a pass, with Burgoynes signature & with that effected though he was compelled to have his oxen & cart which he lost entirely, at which time he was gone nineteen days, about a year previous to being taken by Burgoyne he was called on to go with his oxen & sled to Charlestown N. H. to draw the artillery to Sutherland falls on Otter Creek & was gone about two & a half months & was out at Pittsford 18 days at Weybridge 16 days bringing away the inhabitants when burnt out by the tories, on a scouting party at 56 days, on guard at Castleton under Isaac Clark 37 days, at Shelburne fight, under Thomas Sawyer 20 days, at Pittsford helping build fort 30 days, he is old & infirm & unable to recollect
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all the time that he was out he was frequently out on alarms not less than 2 or 3 days at a time & he thinks as much as 60 days in the whole he always kept himself equipped & in readiness to go whenever occasion required & his oxen & cart were generally out with him, he was born in Pawtuxet Rhode Island June 22-1746, he knows of no record of his age, he now lives in Clarendon in the county of Rutland aforesaid he moved there he thinks in 1772 where he has ever since resided, he volunteered the services that he rendered in the army he saw Col. Bellows, Maj. Bellows, Col Olcott, Gen Ethan Allen he saw Gen'l Burgoyne & many of his subordinate officers whose names he did not know, he knows of no documentary evidence that he can obtain except the affidavit of Levi Colvin, which accompanies this ['affi' crossed out] declaration
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. 
/s/Oliver Arnold
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.} /s/F W Hopkins Reg.
We Philetus Clark a Clergyman residing in Clarendon and Ruel Parker residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Oliver Arnold who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 87 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neigbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
/s/Philetus Clark
/s/Ruel Parker
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.} /s/F. W. Hopkins Reg.
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 Philetus Clark who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Clarendon and that Ruel Parker who has also signed the same, is a resident of Clarendon afs'd and is a credible person and their statement is entitled to credit. 
I Frederick W. Hopkins Clerk 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 Oliver Arnold for a Pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12 day of April A.D. 1833
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[blank]
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No. 25216
Oliver Arnold Rutland County Vermont
admitted 
18 mo 14 days Private $16:55
Moses M Strong Rutland Vermont
E [initials: RKW]
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 183[blank]

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 shew 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, sent this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Oliver Arnold Rutland County Vermont
[column headings: Period when the service was rendered.|Duration of the claimant's service.(Years.|Months.|Days.)|Rank of the claimant.|Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.|Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.|Proof by which the declaration is supported.|]
Served 1776|( - |8|15)|private|Cap Robinson, Col|86 years|Traditionary evidence & Clergymans|
Called out|( - | - |['19' crossed out])| " |Bellows, Major Bellows, Col Olcott|Clarendon Rutland|certificate, certified credible one witness certified credible|
Called|( - |2|15)| " |Gen. E. Allen|County Vermont|papers correct.|
Vol.|( - | - |18)| " |[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
Vol.|( - | - |16)| " |[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
Vol.|( - | - |17)| " |[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
Vol.|( - |1|26)| " |Cap Clark|[blank]|[blank]|
Vol.|( - |1.|7)| " |Cap Sawyer|[blank]|[blank]|
Vol.|( - | - |20)| " |[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
Vol.|( - |1| - )| " |[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
Vol.|( - | 2| - )| " |[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
[total]|([blank]|18|14)|
[end of columns]
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 et 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, mucicians 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 [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] 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 [blank] 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] 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 [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &c. 
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, 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 [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank] , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] 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 investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a RevoIutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank] of office, this [blank] day of [blank]&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 transaction. 
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will also, whether he produce 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-
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 services 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, declaration 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 most 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 give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant 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 loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making au 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."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held; as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of 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 tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of 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 place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f]The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion or the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if he has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature 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 certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which 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 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 cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule [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 to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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21611
Revolution INVALID.
File No. 21,611
Oliver Arnold
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32'
Index: - Vol. 2 Page 10
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Oct. 21/93 Mil. Hist. to John McCrary, 35 E. 10" St., St. Paul Minn. Rev. Svc
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Levi Colvins Affidavit
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I Levi Colvin of Clarendon of the age of 88 - years being duly sworn do depose, testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Oliver Arnold and have been for more than 67 years, that I knew him during a great share of the revolutionary war, I know that during the war he was engaged a great part of the time, more or less in the the service, and that I was the Ensign for a long time in the same company in which the said Arnold served, it is impossible for me to state, from my infirmity & by reason of the great lapse of time to state definitely the amount of his service but has no doubt, that it exceeded two years - Clarendon April 8th 1833
/s/Levi Colvin
State of Vermont
Rutland County ss } Clarendon April 8th 1833
Then personally appeared before me Levi Colvin the signer of the above written instrument & made solemn oath that the same contains the truth & nothing but the truth
I further certify that I am personally acquainted with Levi Colvin & believe him to be entitled to credit - 
/s/Daniel S Ewing Justice Peace
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State of Vermont
Rutland County ss } I Robert Pierpoint Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland certify that Daniel S. Ewing is a Justice of the peace for said County duly commissioned, and that I believe the within signature to be his hand writing
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Rutland this 24th day of April A.D. 1833
/s/R. Pierpoint