Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,408, for Daniel Saunders, Rhode Island
Page 1

(3–1776)

SERVICE 
   R. I.

Saunders, Daniel 

NUMBER
S. 23,408
==============
CONTENTS
Page 2

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7, 1832.
Printed & Sold by Kemble & Hooper, 8 State-st. Troy, N.Y.
——————————————————————————————-

Form for State Troops, &c.
——————————————

State of New York, }
County of Renfselaer } ss.
On this Ninth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open
Court, before the Judge of — the Troy Mayors Court
now sitting, Daniel Saunders a resident of Graftek — county of Renfselaer
and State of New York, aged Seventy five 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.
Page 3

[insertion not found] is reputed to be good. and that [illegible]
his attestation.
Archibald Bull [signature]

For answers to the interrogator’s [illegible], the applicant says the 14th & 16 is connected as may be seen above — and to 
the 5th & 6th he makes the following affidavit —
Renfselaer County fs. Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of Renfselaer County
aforesaid the above applicant Daniel Saunders who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that by reason of old
age and the consequent lapse of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service - nor can
he for like reasons more fully state the names of his officers — but according to the best of his recollection he
served not lefs than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades — For two years I served
as a private & For at least two weeks I served as a sergeant and for each service I claim a pension
Daniel Saunders [signature]

Sworn and subscribed before me }
this 25. day of May 1833. }
Joseph Crandal [signature] Justice of the Peace }
State of New York Rensselaer County fs.  I hereby certify that Joseph Crandal
Page 4

[left side:]
New York 24659
==================
Daniel Saunders
Rensselaer In the State of N. York
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Babcock of the Regt commanded
by Col Topping in the R. Island
line for Troops for 2 years
===================
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
====================
Certificate of Pension ifsued the 29 day of Jany
1834 and sent A. G. Hamand
Berlin N.Y.
====================
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833       $200:00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar ‘34  40 00
                                                       =========
                                                               240:00
                                                              ======
{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. B. Whiting Clerk
Book E     Vol. 4     Page 122

[right side:]
Dead.  Lee Eaton to Mr. Fleming
29 March 1834
Page 5

14,645
Daniel Saunders 
Rensselaer co
N York

Suspended for 
rolls —

Admitted
Private 2 years

5.6.14 — 16 db
May 6 ~. 1833

P. 376

A. C. Hammmond
Berlin
N. Y.
Page 6

BRIEF in the case of Daniel Saunders
of Rensselaer co in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  court

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

3. How old is he? 75
 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
     Enlisted In 1777
Duration of Service.  Years,  Months,  Days.
     10 [months]
Rank.
     Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
     Gen. Cornwall
     Capt. Honey, Col. Stanton
Period. 
     do 1778 [the year is crossed out]
Duration of Service.  Years,  Months,  Days.
     1 [year]
Rank.
     Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
     Capt Babcock, Col Topping
Period.
     — 1779
Duration of Service.
     2 or 3 weeks
Rank.
     Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
     [empty]
Period.
     drafted 1780
Duration of Service.
     1 [month]
Rank.
     Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
     Lieut Perigo
Period.
     do 1781
Duration of Service.
     1 [month]
Rank.
     Private.
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
     Maj. Bolivian

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rhode Island 

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary & living witnefs

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Not connected as required

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
   
L E Bradford [signature]
Examining Clerk.
Page 7

That in the Year 1777 he resided in the Town of Charstown in the State of
Rhodeisland — that in the forpart of May of that Year he entered the
service & enlisted in the State Troops of the State of Rhodeisland in what
was then called the Fifteen Months service five months of which was then
expired & he enlisted for the remaining ten months of the service under
Captain Peleg Hoxey, William Gardner was his Lieutenant and 
John Welch Ensign in Colonel Joseph Stanton Juniors Regiment —
he remained after his said enlistment with his company at
Charleston aforesaid Garding [sp] the shore untill [sp] the Company was filled
by enlistments which occupied about a month when they were marched
to Eastgreenwich where they remained a few days & then 
went to Warwick neck where we were joined to Colonal Corwells
Regiment (afterwards General Carnuree) that while stationed here he 
with others volunteered under Colonel Corwell and went in the 
night to the Island of Prudence and supprised [sp] and took Eleven 
prisoners & killed two & wounds two others and also took with 
some small arms a boat of the enemy, which boat & small arms
was retaken by the British barges with one of the wounded prisoners —
this last occurrence was in the summer some time, soon after
which they were marched to Tivertown when they Joined the troops
which were afterwards commanded by General Cornwells while
there he was engaged in General Spencers expedition on Rhode island
as a boat man [“& was also engaged in General Sulivan’s [sp] expedition
on Rhode island was” is crossed out] that he continued at this post till his time was
out when he was discharged having served his ten months —
he then immediately on the expiration of his first term of enlistment
reenlisted for one year under Captain Joshua Babcock 
in Colonel Topping’s Regiment in the same Brigade under 
the command of General Cornwell, this last enlistment was
he thinks the 14th of March 1778 — that they remained at
Tivertown aforesaid during that Year excepting occasional
excursions out & during this time was engaged in General
Sulivans [sp] expedition on Rhodeisland — that he faithfully served
out his said last enlistment and was discharged at Tivertown
aforesaid having served one year and ten months — That in the
fall of 1779 he belonged to [insert “Captain Augustus Stantons”] company of Light infantry as a sergeant
and as such with the Company turned out on an alarm from said 
Town of Charlestown & marched to near what was then called Updikes new
town where they remained two or three weeks — That in the Summer
Page 8

of 1780, he went as a drafted man from Charlestown aforesaid under
Lieutenant Robert Perigo and Ensign John Taylor to a place called
Brentons Neck on the Island of Newport in which service he was
engaged One Month — That in the summer of 1781 he went as a drafted
man from Charleston aforesaid under Major Edward Alvin to a 
place called little neck beach in the town of South Kingston where
he was engaged in garding [sp] the shore for one Month — That he
has no documentary evidence of his services and that he knows of no
person whose testimony he can procure except what is hereunto annexed
who can testify to his services —
     To the prescribed Interrogatories prest [sp] by the Court he answers
1.  He was born in the Town of Charlestown in the state of Rhodeisland and in
the year 1757
2.  He does not know that there is any record of his age
3.  He was living when called into service in the town of Charlestown aforesaid -
Has lived since the Revolution in said town of Charlestown 
and now lives in the Town of Grafton County of Renfselaer &
State of New York where he has lived for the last thirty years
4.  He entered the service by volunteer enlistment and served as
above stated
5.  For answers to this interrogatory he refers to the statement given above
6.  He did receive a discharge but knows not what has become of 
it —
7.  He is known in his present Neighborhood to General Aaron -
Worthington P.M. & Isaac Saunders Esquire who can testify as to his character
for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier in
the revolution — Daniel Saunders [signature]

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid }
State of New York } Archibald Bull Clerk [signature]
Renfselaer County fs. } Charles Hall [signature] of Grafton County & State last aforesaid
being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he was acquainted with Daniel
Saunders above named during the War of the Revolution. That
he knows he was in the service in the Years 1777 and 1778 as he has
above stated and believes his whole statement as above given is 
true — and further says not — Charles Hall [signature]
Sworn & Subscribed the day }
and Year aforesaid — }
Archibald Bull Clerk [signature]
I certify that Charles Hall the above deponent is a man whose character
for truth and voracity [illegible] full faith and credit aught to be given to
Page 9

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
NEE/HMK

February 27, 1930.

Mr. Rollin W. Rogers
509 Manhattan Avenue
New York City
New York.

Dear Sir:

     I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim S. 2340S, it appears that Daniel Saunders was born
in 1757 in Charlestown, Washington County, Rhode Island.

     While residing in Charlestown, Washington County, Rhode
Island, he enlisted in May 1777, served ten months in Captain
Peleg Moxey’s Company, Colonel Joseph Stanton’s Rhode Island 
Regiment, and was in a skirmish on Prudence Island. Immediately
after the above service, on March 4, 1776, he enlisted and served
one year in Captain Joshua Babcock’s Company, Colonel Topham’s
Rhode Island Regiment, and was in General Sullivan’s Rhode Island
expedition, where he served as a boatman.

     In the fall of 1779 he belonged to Captain Augustus 
Stanton’s Rhode Island Company and served two or three weeks as
sergeant.
     In 1780 he enlisted and served one month under Lieutenant
Robert Perigo, and in the summer of 1781 he served one month under
Major Edward Bolivian.

     He was allowed pension on his application executed August
9, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Grafton, Rensselaer
County, New York, where he had lived for about thirty years.

     There are no data concerning his family.

     The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford
any information in regard to Isaac Saunders (Sanders) as
described by you.  The land bounty rights to which you refer, pertain
to land that was granted by the State of New York, and it is
suggested that information relative thereto might be obtained from
the Director, New York State Library at Albany.
     Very truly yours,

     EARL D. CHURCH
     Commissioner.
Page 10

[left side of document:]
Revolution
23408
INVALID.
—————
File No. 23,408
Daniel Saunders
Pri  Rev War
——————
Act: June 7” 32”
Index :—Vol. 2, Page 352
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side of document:]
1930, Feb. 27 Hist to
Mr. Rollin W. Rogers, M.E.E.
Page 11

Daniel Saunders

5-6, 14 16
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 
Daniel Saunders, Rensselaer co New York which require 
further proof or explanation.

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

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason 
assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled to?  No — amended

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
No — amended

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of 
June 7, 1832?  yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk’s seal affixed ?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal?  yes
Page 13

2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service ?  yes

XII. If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason for not 
obtaining it ?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. #If the applicant’s name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  No — Amended
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the 
regulations direct?  No - Amended

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant’s service ?  yes

XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ? No —Amended

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ?  And
if not, which of them is not so answered?  all answered
————————————————————————
EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection 
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades;  For ——-
year ——- months, and ——— days, I served as a ——-  For ——- months
and ——- days I served as a ——-; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 14

3 
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 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 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 a declaration is highly objectionable.
It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement ; the particular place or places 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.
#QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must
prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of 
the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the
regiment, company, and line to which 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.
++QUERE XVI. 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 paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape narrower than 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.
[pointing emoji] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of 
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the 
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 15

In the Matter of }
Daniel Saunders }
Application for a 
Pension
14645
Page 16

Esqr. before whom the above affidavit purports to have been sworn was on the day of 
the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County and that I am
acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature above subscribed is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County
this 29th day of May 1833.  Henry R. Bristol Clerk [signature]
for E. L. Howard Sears [illegible]

And the said Daniel Saunders [“He” is crossed out] 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 the agency of any State, [“or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of” is crossed out.]
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Archibald Bull Clerk [signature] Daniel Saunders [signature]

We, William Satterlee a Clergyman, residing in the town of Berlin and 
Ziba Hewitt residing in Crafton hereby certify that we are
acquainted with Daniel Saunders who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration ; that we believe him to be seventy five 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 day and year aforesaid. Wm.  Saterlee [signature]
Archibald Bull Clerk [signature]      Ziba Hewitt [signature]

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 
William Satterlee who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident
in the town of Berlin and that Ziba Hewill who has also signed
the same, is a resident in the town of Crafton and is a credible person, and that their
statement is entitled to credit.

I, Archibald Bull Clerk of the [“Court of” is crossed out] [illegible] Mayors Court
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of Daniel Saunders for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ninth day
of August 1832.    Archibald Bull Clerk [signature]
Page 17

Rhode Island District
Clerks office of the District Court of the United States 
In the City of Providence. December 18th 1833
I certify that it appears from the Roll of a 
Regiment now in this office raised by the 
State of Rhode Island, during the Revolutionary 
War and first commanded by Cole. Joseph
Stanton in the year 1777 and subsequently
in 1778 & 1779 by Cole. John Topham that
the name of “Daniel Saunders“ is borne on said 
Roll as a private But it does not appear how
long he served  It appears said Roll was made
up in the year 1775 to ascertain the amount
of deprecation of wages due to each one who
served in said Regiment
In testimony whereof I have hereto
set my hand and affixed the seal of 
said Court this Eighteenth day of
December the 1833.
Benja Cowell Clerk
of said Court
Page 18

509 Manhattan Ave.
New York City
Jan. 7, 1930

Bureau of Pensions
Revolutionary Department
Washington D. C.
Dear Sir,
Isaac Saunders (also spelled Sanders) is mentioned in New
York in the Revolution as member of the Seventh Regiment Albany County
Militia and securing land bounty rights. He later resided in Stephentown
Rensselaer County N.Y.
Daniel Saunders is mentioned in Pension Roll of American Revolution
VL II p 404 as receiving a pension for service in Rhode Island and as residing
in Rensselaer County N.Y. where he died Aug 24, 1833 Age 76.
Please send any information you have regarding these soldiers especially
such as would determine birthplace names of wife and family and in the case
of Isaac Saunders date of birth and death and location of land.
Very truly yours
Rollin W. Rogers