Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21637, Thomas Beedle, N.H.
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N.H.
Beedle, Thomas
or Beedel
Number S21637
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Vermont  11,690
Thomas Beedle
of Caledonia County in the state of Vermont
who was a Pv in the company commanded
by Captain Shepard of the Regt commanded 
by Col Starks in the 1 New Hampshire
line for 
13 mo Private $43.33
============
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont 
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
============
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of June 
and sent to 
1833 amon Paul Danville, VT
============
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833            86.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 1833  21.66
                                                                ====
                                                             $108.32
                                                                ====
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J. T. Sprague clerk,
Book E Vol 3 Page 53
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Thomas Beedel's
Declaration
~~~~~~
21603
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State of Vermont
District + County
of Caledonia
On this 18th day of August
A.D. 1832 personally appeared 
in open court, before the court
of Probate for the district aforesaid
now sitting Thomas Beedel a resident of Woodbury in the county + district aforesaid aged ninety three years the twenty second day of August instant 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 + served as herein stated about the first of May 1776 at Boscawen in the state of New Hampshire his then place of residence, he enlisted in the New Hampshire troops for the term of six months in the company of Capt.
Shepard of Canterbury, in the regiment of Col.
James Wyman, marched thru Concord and Charleston N.H. + Rutland, VT to Mt. Independence and was there stationed to the close of his engagement and was discharged
in the month of November 1776 - that at said Boscawen about the first of April 1777 he enlisted in the New Hampshire troops for the term of four months under Capt. Peter Kimball
of Boscawen N.H. + in the Regiment of Col. Starks marched by way of Charleston N.H. + Bennington VT to Albany N.Y. and was engaged in transporting provisions from Albany up the Mohawk river in batteaux during the whole term of his enlistment he was discharged at Albany between the haying and harvest -
that at said Boscawen a few days after his return
from the same last named, he enlisted for the term of two months in the company of the same Capt. Kimball and marched to Bennington VT + was in the Battle of Bennington which took place about one week after his arrival at Bennington was stationed after the battle for the remainder of his term at Bennington Village + there served out the term of his enlistment.
That in the month of May and he thinks in 1778 he enlisted at said Boscawen for the term of one month in the company of Capt. Gerrish of said Boscawen for the purpose of guarding the frontier from the
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incursions of the Indians while the inhabitants were putting their seed into the ground _____ marched to [illegible], stationed at Peacham VT which was at that time a frontier town and there served during the said month ____ was born at Amesbury in Massachusetts but the year he cannot tell he has no record of his age ____ he resided at Boscamen about twenty years after the close of the war + then removed to Canaan NH and there lived twenty years or more, thence removed to Danbury N.H. and then resided about eight years and removed from thence to his present residence in Woodbury VT or into the neighborhood a year ago last December ____ that when he entered the service he was not drafted + was not a substitute but enlisted at every engagement ____ that he never had a written nor printed discharge ____ that he has no documentary evidence + that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Jedidiah Danforth whose affidavit is herewith transmitted 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 ____
Thomas { X his mark} Beedel
Sworn to + subscribed the day + year aforesaid
Before Benjamin H. Deming
Judge of Probate
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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.Court of Probate for the District of Caledonia aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Beedel for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 21st day of December A.D. 1832
Amos Paul
Register
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Admitted
13 months
$43.33





Amos Paul Esq -
Danville
VT
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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.  These 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 Thomas Beedle

===============================
Period when the service was rendered.
Duration of the claimant's service.
Rank of the claimant.
Name and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Name and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
Country through which he marched.
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
_________________________________________________
1 May 1776      6 mos      Private   Capt. Shepard
Col. Wyman
From Boscawen to Mt. Independence
93 years
Boscawen, N.H.
[illegible]
-----
1 April 1777     4 mos      Private   Capt. Kimball
Col. Starks
From Boscawen to Mt. Independence
93 years
Boscawen, N.H.
-----
                        2 mos      Private   Capt. Kimball
Battle of Bennington
From Boscawen to Albany
and March [illegible] to Bennington
93 years
Boscawen, N.H.
-----
  May 1778      1 mos      Private   Capt. Gerrish
Peacham
93 years
Boscawen, N.H.

__________________________________________________

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 adoped:
	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 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 appreared (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 provion 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 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 virture of service in the State Troops, Volunteers and 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 hassubscribed 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 day 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. ______________ who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the ________________ 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 hearby certify that the foregoing contains the original preceedings 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 of 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 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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                                        3

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of this 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 substitue, 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?
	6. {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 of County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, of 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 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 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."
	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 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 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 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 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 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 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 cases of Militia man, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in note [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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21637
INVALID.
Revolution
File No. 21637
Thomas Beedle
Pri   Rev War
Act June 7 32
Index: - Vol. 2,  Page 35
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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We Nathaniel Currier and John Fales of Canaan in the county of Grafton and state of New Hampshire certify that Thomas Bedel formerly of this town now of some town or place in U.S. by report of a credible witness and we further certify that for fifteen or twenty years last past we have frequently heard him and others say that he served in the revolutionary army.
Nathaniel Currier
John Fales
State of New Hampshire Grafton [illegible] Dec 14th 1832 Sworn to before me
Mireyah M. Smith Justice Peace of certify that the above named Nathaniel Currier and
John Fales are credible witnesses
Mireyah M. Smith Justice Peace
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I Jeddiah Danforth of Orange in the county of Grafton and state of New Hampshire testify and say that in the year 1776 I lived in Canterbury state aforesaid and that I was then well acquainted with Thomas Bedle of Boscawen in said state and that I was knowing to his serving in the New Hampshire Militia at Mount Independence in Vermont under Captain James Shephard six months that is from June A.D. 1776 till the last of November in said year and I further say that I served with him during said term and that he was the head of our mess in presence of
Walter Sherwell
Mireyah M. Smith
Jeddiah Danforth {X his mark}
State of New Hampshire Grafton {illegible] March 14th A.D. 1831 then personally came before me the above named Jeddiah Danforth and made oath that the above by him subscribed is the truth
Mireyah M. Smith Justice Peace
I certify that the above named Jeddiah Danforth is a credible witness
Mireyah M. Smith Justice Peace
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I Daniel Blaisdell now of the age of seventy years and at this time living in the town of Haverhill in the county of Grafton state of New Hampshire do testify and say that when the Pension Act of 1818 was passed by Congress I was a Judge of the Court of Commonpleas in said county recollect very well that Thomas Beadle then living in Canaan in said county applyed to me to assist him to obtain a pension agreeable to the provisions of said act and as near as I can recollect he stated in his declaration that he had served in Coln Beadels regiment of the New Hampshire line 8 or 9 months and again in 1786 at by Mount Independence about 6 months but this service being performed in my opinion at that time did not entitle him to a pension under the Act of 1818.  And whether I forwarded the papers to the war office or not I cannot not remember and at this time I have made search and cannot find them, but can most cheerfully testify that I have been acquainted with said Thomas Beedel who I am informed at this time lives in the town Woodbury in the state of Vermont for more than twenty years and was never never acquainted with a more upright and honest man, and I further testify that from what he then, and at other times told me, and from what others have told me I have not the least doubt but he served as long or longer than one year during the Revolutionary War.
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and is by the Act of 1832 entitled to a pension.  And I further testify I have no interest in his obtaining a pension other than what arises from knowing him to be a just, but [illegible] man ---
and further saith not
Daniel Blaisdell late member of Congress.
Haverhill Dec 17th 1832

Grafton [illegible] Dec 18, 1832
Sworn to before Geo. Woodward Jus. Peace

State of New Hampshire

Grafton [illegible]
I George Woodward Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county of Grafton do certify that the Hon. Daniel Blaisdell whose own proper signature is above affixed is entitled to full [illegible] in and weight of the court is a man of truth.  And I do also certify that Mireyah M. Smith Esq. is a Justice of the Peace [illegible] aforesaid county duly qualified to take affidavits and that I believe that on the two [illegible] papers will be found his genuine signatures.  I also certify that George Woodward is also a Justice as aforesaid that the above is his genuine signature.
Witness my hand and the seal of said court this 18th day of Dec 1832
Geo Woodward clerk