Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,222, for James Pratt, Vermont
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Vt.     Pratt, James    S. 14222
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Vermont 18765
James Pratt
Pawlet in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Hutcher of the regt commanded
by Col Allen
in the Vt. [illegible]
line for gmo

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of October 1833 and sent to Clt. Pawlet Vt.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832 $75.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 3 15.00
$90.00 [total]

(Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.)
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 84

order to pay Nov. 16, 1836.
Order to pay & letter to G.H. Harmon
15 Mar 1842

Died
Spt. 15, 1854
Page 3

James Pratt
1st Declaration.
& Peter Stevens'
affidavit
Page 4

State of Vermont
Rutland County
District of Fairhaven

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

On this fourteenth day of August 1832 personally
 appeared in open Court before the Judge
of the Court of Probate for the District of Fairhaven
 now sitting James Pratt a resident of Pawlet in said
County of Rutland, aged Sixty nine 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.
He was born at Ware in the County of Hampshire
and State of Massachusetts, and removed when very
Young to Halifax in the County of Windham
and State of Vermont. Early in the Spring of the
year 1780 or 1781, (and he cannot say with certainty
which) he enlisted at Halifax aforesaid for 9 months
in the Vermont Troops, went to Pittsford, Vt. and
joined a company commanded by Capt. Hutchins
 of Bennington, in which the other officers
whom he recollects were Lieutenant Spencer
Bennington and Ensign Brookins - In September
 he was marched in this company to Castleton  
 and joined the Regiment commanded by Col
Ebenezer Allen in which Isaac Clark was Major.
In the month of October the British landed at
Skeensboro, (now Whitehall) in the State of New York
Alarm Guns were fired at Castleton for the
other troops or militia to come in, and this applicant
was marched in a detachment under Major Clark
To Fort Ann in the State of New York - The Fort
was surrendered the morning they arrived. - The British
then marched towards Fort George and Ticonderoga.
Page 5

And Major Clark’s detachment returned to Castleton.
Gen. Ethan Allen had then or soon after arrived at
Castleton, who (as he thinks) commanded the Vermont
Troops. They were afterward under Gen. Enos. He served
out his time at Castleton and was dismissed without discharge.
 He knows of no surviving Witnesses who can testify as to his 
service, nor has he any documentary evidence thereof. 
He was born at Ware in the County of Hampshire and State 
of Massachusetts in the year 1765 on the 25th March. He has 
resided in Pawlet since the Revolutionary war, where he removed in 1794.
He has no record of his age, except one record in an old Bible of his parents.
He is known to John Griswold, Nathaniel Hastings and Phineas Strong,
Who can testify as to his veracity.
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
James Pratt
Sworn to and subscribed 
the day and year aforesaid


We John Griswold a clergyman residing
in the Town of Pawlet in the County of Rutland and
State of Vermont and Phineas Strong residing
in Pawlet aforesaid, hereby certify that we are
well acquainted with James Pratt who has subscribed
and sworn to the above Declaration; that he is a
man of undoubted veracity, that we believe him
to be Sixty nine years of age; that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood when he resides, to
have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that
We concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed
this fourteenth day of August 1832.
John Griswold 
P. Strong
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Rutland County
District of Fairhaven

Peter Stevens of Pawlet in said County being
duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he is
Seventy three years of age and was a Soldier of
the Revolution and served in the whole about
Eleven months; that he is well acquainted with Capt.
James Pratt who has subscribed and sworn to
the foregoing Declaration, and has known him
she has resided in Pawlet since the Revolutionary
 war; that he has understood him to have been
a soldier in that way, and has no doubt he served
as he states in his foregoing declaration.
That he this Deponent was called out on alarm
at Pawlet aforesaid in the fall of 1780, and marched
under Capt. Starke of Said Pawley and Ensign
Samuel Willard of same place of the Militia to
Castleton Vermont where he remained about 2
weeks. and served under command of Gen Ethan
Allen who is the only field Officer he recollect, as
his time of service was short, and as he had resided
in Vermont only two months, when he came from
Glastonbury Connecticut, to work at his trade that summer.
 That he has no doubt the said James
Pratt served at Castleton at the same time this
Deponent did, although not personally acquainted
 with him at that time -  and said Deponent
believes that said Pratt served then as aforesaid
from the circumstance of said Pratt relating many facts
and occurrences which happened at that period
within this Deponent’s personal knowledge and
which are still fresh in his recollection. Particularly
 said Pratt in conversation mention their
  circumstance of the troops being drawn around a
Pine Stump almost every morning, and General
Allen's making Speeches to them from the stump-
and also the fact of three men by the name of Castle-
 being one [Adam] Starkweather to serve for them and
the said Starkweather being dismissed immediately after
by Gen. Allen, which facts are distinct in the recollection
 of this Deponent and further this Deponent saith not, 
except that the said Castles were [disputed] of [Ticonderoga]
Sworn to and subscribed this 14th August 1832. Peter Stevens
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And the said Court hereby declares that in the opinion of
said Court that James Pratt the before named
applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and
served as he states in his foregoing Declaration;
that having propounded to him the several interrogatories
 required by the Instructions of the Department
of War, his answers thereto, which are embodied in his
said Declaration, are entirely satisfactory, and
all his statements are true in the opinion of the Court.

And the said Court certify that John Griswold
 who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing
 certificate and Phineas Strong, who
 has sworn to and subscribed the same, are both
Gentleman of high respectability and that said
John Griswold is a Clergyman. 
And that their testimony as to the reputation of
said applicant as a soldier of the Revolution is
that the belief is general and that no doubts have
ever existed on the subject to their knowledge and further
that Peter Stevens who has sworn to this deposition is a man of veracity.
Given under my hand
this 14th day of August 1832

I  Selah H. Merrill Register of the Court of Probate
for the District of Fairhaven, do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
 of the said Court in the matter of the
application of James Pratt for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of Office this fourteenth
day of August in the year one thousand
Eight Hundred and Thirty.
S.H. Merrill
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James Pratt
Sally Larned's Affidavit
Page 9

I, Sally Larned, of Halifax in the County of Windham and State of Vermont, being in the sixty eighth year of my age, depose and say that all the time of the war of the american Revolution, my father with his family lived in said Halifax, that my father and my brothers were often called into the army but at what particular time I do not recollect. I will recollect that at one time my brother, James Pratt, who now lives at Pawlet in this State went into the army in the Spring and was gone till fall of the year my father went after him to Castleton where I understood he had the smallpox. I remember it was cold weather when my father brought him home, and that he was feeble a good while after he got home, but what year it was or the particular length of time he was gone I do not now remember.
Sally Larned

State of Vermont      
County of Windham }  Sworn to this 27th day of June 1833
Before me: Darius Bullock, Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify I am well acquainted with the above named Sally Larned and that she is a person entitled to credit and belief.
Darius Bullock, Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont-
Windham County Court Clerk's Officer
New Fane, June 29 A.D. 1833
I certify that Darius Bullock, Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace with in and for the County of Windham aforementioned, and that the above and his signatures.
Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court.
James Elliot, Clerk
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No. 4556
Vermont

Admit
9 mos.
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BRIEF in the case of James Pratt of Pawlet
county of Rutland in the State of Vermont
(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? 69

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period - Spring In 1780 or 1781
Duration of Service - 9 months 
Rank - As a Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. - 
Capt Hutchins, Col. Allen, Genls Allen & Enos

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Halifax. Windham County, Vermont.

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Jas Miching Clerk
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November 15, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/EEL
James Pratt - S. 14222
Mrs. James H. Clark
P.O. Box 96,
West Pawlet, Vermont
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of James Pratt, born in Ware, Massachusetts, March 25, 1763, wife, Sarah Giles, died at Pawlet, Vermont, September 15, 1854.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.14222, based upon the military service in that war of James Pratt.
James Pratt was born March 25, 1763, at Ware, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and when very young, moved to Halifax, Windham County, Vermont. The names of his parents are not shown.
While residing at said Halifax, James Pratt volunteered
about April 15, 1780, served as a private in Captain [ ] Hutchins'
Company, Colonel Ebenezer Allen's Vermont Regiment, was stationed
at Pittsford and Castleton in October following, when
the British landed at Skeesborn, he marched in a detachment
under Major Isaac Clark to Fort Ann, in New York, but arrived
after the fort had surrendered. He returned to Castleton and
continued to serve until in January, 1781, when he was discharged.

In 1794, he moved to Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont, of
which place he was a resident when he was allowed pension on
his application executed August 14, 1832. He was referred to as
Captain James Pratt; no explanation for the title was
given.
He died September 15, 1854, place not shown.
There are no data as to wife or children.

[Handwritten] 
Sol in Vt book page 320
Page 13

In 1833, Sally Larned, a sister of the soldier, James
Pratt, was aged sixty-eight years and lived in Halifax, Vermont. She stated that during the Revolutionary War, her
father lived in Halifax, Vermont, and that he and her brothers
were often called into the army and that her brother, James,
left home at one time in the spring and remained until the
fall. She did not give the name of her father or of her
brothers, other than said James, nor is the name of her husband
shown.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension and the name and address of person paid in the case of the
Revolutionary War pensioner, James Pratt (S. 14222), you should
address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

James Pratt
Certificate No. 18765
Issued October 1, 1833
Rate $30.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Vermont Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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4556
James Pratt
Pawlet
Vt
Claimant
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
May 1st 1833
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, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

Statement, showing the service of James Pratt of Pawlett, Vt.

Period when the service was rendered - Apl. 1780 to Jan. 1781.
Duration of the claimant's service - 9 months
Rank of the claimant - Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served- 
Col. E. Allen, Maj. Isaac Clark
Age at present and place of abode when he entered the  service. - 70 years,  Halifax
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Peter Stevens affidavit
Sally Larned affidavit

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS.
Commissioner of Pensions.

Mr James Pratt
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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:
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
On this
day of
personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
of
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
1,
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 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
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
Page 17

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
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?
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
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.
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.
the age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
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
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, ad all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It mmust, in every case, 
be clearly shown under which  officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the
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
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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.
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 for
are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note il applies to continental troops only.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 18

James Pratt
Declaration
George W. Harman, Agent
Pawlet
Rutland Co
Vermont
Page 19

State of Vermont
Rutland County     }    
Declaration 
On this tenth day of August AD 1833, personally appeared before the Probate Court, within and for the District of Fairhaven, in the County of Rutland, James Pratt, a resident of Pawlet, in the County of Rutland, age seventy years, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath and in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832, that he entered the service of the United States early in the Spring of the year 1780. And he thinks it was about the 15th of April 1780 that, residing at that time at Halifax, in the State of Vermont, he voluntarily enlisted at said Halifax, for the term of nine months, under the authority of the State of Vermont, in the Vermont State Troofs, so called and went from that place, through the towns of Bennington, Manchester, Pawlet, Rutland and others intermediate, to the town of Pittsford, in the County of Rutland + State of Vermont, where he joined a company of Infantry, commanded by Capt. Hutchins of Bennington, in which the other officers, whom he remembers, were Lt. Spencer of Bennington + Ensign Brookins. He remained at Pittsford, with the company aforesaid, as a private soldier, in which capacity he inlisted, building a fort + scouting in that vicinity, until the month of September or October, when he was marched in his company thro' Rutland to Castleton in the County af'd, a distance of about seventeen miles, and then joined the regiment commander by Col. Ebenezer Allen, in which Isaac Clark was major. He remained at Castleton, a part of the time in garrison + a part scouting in that neighbourhood + a part cutting wood, until some time in the month of October, when the British, having landed at Skeensboro (now Whitehall)
Page 20

in the State of New York, + distant from Castleton about ten miles, he well remembers that alarm guns were fired at Castleton, in order that the neighbouring Militia & other troops might assemble to repel the enemy. Immediately after this, he was marched, in a detachment under the command of Maj. Clark to Fort Ann, in the State of New York, at which place he arrived the morning on which the fort was surrendered by the Americans. The British then marched towards fort George & Ticonderoga; and Maj. Clark's attachment, in which the declarant was then serving, returned to Castleton. Gen. Ethan Allen had then, or soon after, arrived at Castleton, + who, as the declarant thinks, commanded the Vermont Proofs. They were afterwords under the command of Gen. Enos. The declarant served at Castelton, about three months longer, in garrison, scouting + cutting wood, by turns + was dismissed in January 1781 without discharge in writing: having, as he perfectly well remembers, served out the full term of nine months, for which he enlisted, during which time he was not an employee in any civil pursuit. The declarant has  made the greatest exertions, to obtain the affidavit of someone of his [illegible] associates in arms, to this service, as above detailed; but has been unable to procure the same, or even the knowledge that any of such associates are alive. He refers, however, to the affidavit of his Sister, Sally Larned, which will show, that he was absent from his home + as she supposed in the service of his country.
And the declarant well recollects, that while at Castleton, the Troops were, almost every morning, drawn up around a Pine stump, from which Gen. Allen used to made addresses to them. And he also remembers that one Asa Starkweather served there; + these facts are corroborated by the affidavit of Peter Stevens, who also swears to his belief hat the declarant was at Castleton, as he has above stated.

And being interrogated, the declarant says, that
Page 21

he was born at Ware, in the County of Hampshire and
State of Massachusetts, on the 25th day of March AD. 1763. His
age is recorded in an old Bible, by the hand of his parents
which is now in his possession, but he knows of no other
record thereof. At the time where he entered the service
of his country he was resident at Halifax af’d & continued
to reside there, until the year 1794. when he removed to
Pawlet & where he has ever since lived. He voluntarily
enlisted. Capt. Allen & Sawyer commanded companies
in the regiment to which he belonged. He never received
discharge & has no documentary evidence of his service.
He can named John Griswold, Phineas Strong, Nathaniel Harman, 
Josiah Monroe,  Judah Moffitt & many others, to whom he is known,
 and who can testify as to his character & veracity, and their belief
of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. But
the Rev. E.W. Plumb, being a young man & having recently come
to Pawlet, is not sufficiently acquainted with declarant, to attest the same.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or an annuity, except the present & he declares
that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency of any State.
James Pratt
Sworn & subscribed
the day & year af’d

We Josiah Munro and Judah Moffitt
both residing in Pawlet and hereby certify, that we are
well acquainted with James Pratt, who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him
to be seventy years of age; that he is reputed & believed in
the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a
soldier of the Revolution, & that the belief is general
no doubts have ever existed on the subject, & that we
concur in that opinion
Sworn subscribed
the day & year  af’d
Josiah Munro
Judah Moffitt

And the said Court does hereby declare its
  opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting
the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary

[handwritten vertically]
It will be seen that in his first declaration, the declarant procured the affidavit of the clergyman.
Page 22

lutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court
further certifies, that it appears to him, that Josiah Munro
who has signed the preceding certificate is a credible person
& that Judah Moffitt who has also signed the same is a credible person, both resident in Pawlet aford & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Selah H. Merrill, Register of the Probate Court
in & for the district of Fairhaven, & County of Rutland
do certify, that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of said Court in the matter of the
application of James Pratt for a pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand & affixed the seal of
said Court at Castleton this 10th
day of August AD 1833
S. H. Merrill


James Pratt
Declaration

George W. Harman, Agent
Pawlett
Rutland Co
Vermont
Page 23

P.O. Box 96
West Pawlet, Vermont
Nov. 2, 1937
RECEIVED NOV 4 193[] MAIL SUB-DIV VETS. ADM. [ ] 15
To the Commissioner
Dept. of the Interior
Dear Sir. Please send me
the Rev. War record of Capt. James
Pratt. Born at Ware, Mass, March 25, 1763
died at Pawlet, Vermont Sept. 10, 1854.
wife Sarah Giles Children
Elisha, Lucy F., Esther, Sally,
Dorcas, Minor, James Jr. Alvrah and
Ervin. Is said to have
lived in Halifax, Mass. before
coming to Pawlet, Vermont, which
the History of the town said he
did in 1792
I thank you for this
Yours truly
Mrs. James H. Clark
Page 24

West Rupert Vermont
Feb 1930
R R 
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Rev. Dept.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir-- James Pratt born Ware, Mass.
March 25, 1762, died at Pawlet Verment Sept. 10
1854, said to have been a captain
wife's name Sarah Giles whom he m.
Feb. 7, 1788 probably at Ware Mass.
Children's names Elisha, Lucy F. Esther, Sally,
Dorcas, Minor, James Jr., Alvah & Ervin. Said
to have come to Pawlet Vermont, in 1792
If he has a military record please will
you send it to me.

His father Elisha born 1729 died July 31, 1807 at Pawlet,VT
is also said to have been a Capt in Pawlet
History, if you have any dates concerning
him, I would be glad of that as I
only know of this one son James
Page 25

Thanking you for a reply at your
convenience I am
yours truly
Mrs. Karl W. Guiford
Elisha Pratts wife died in 1827 at the
age of 90, she may have received the
pension. Her maiden name was Lucy
Fletcher
REVOLUTIONARY & 1812 WARS
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
[ ]
FEB 9 1930
Page 26

[ ] 
Nov 8 1838
J L Edwards Eqs
Comms of Pensions
Sir, Herewith I have the honor to forward Mr [ ]
of James Pratt to whom a year's stipend
is due.
I will thank you to inform
me if it is incumbent upon Mr [ ]
to forward the papers in these cases
for the pensioner or his attorney

Very Respectfully
your obt servant
E T Englesby Pro'y & Pension Agent [for R B Cole]
Page 27

Pawlet March 7 1842.
The inclosed paper is sent to the Commissioner
of Pensions to procure his order for the payment of the arrears due to the pensioner,
James Pratt.
When the order shall be made 
the Comr will please remit the paper directly
to the Pension Agent at Burlington
Very respectfully
G. W. Harman

J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pens
Page 28

May 26, 1930
Mrs. Karl W. Guilford
R. R. #1
Rupert, Vermont
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S.14222, it appears that James Pratt was
born March 25, 1765, at Ware, Hampshire County,
Masschusetts, and moved when very young to Halifax,
in Windham County, Vermont.
While residing in Halifax, Vermont, he enlisted about April 15, 1780, served as a private in Captain Hutchins' company, Colonel Ebenezer Allen's Vermont Regiment and
was discharged in January, 1781.

In 1794, he moved to Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont, of which place he was a resident when he was allowed pension on
his application executed August 14, 1832.


From AB [handwritten] 
He died September 15, 1854.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.

The Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to afford
any information in regard to Elisha Pratt.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.

[handwritten] Both of these officers appear in Heitman as of NH [ ] book shows a Capt Hutchins but no Col Ebenezer Allen
Page 29

1930 May 26 Hist to Mrs Karl F Guilford EEL
1937 Nov 15 Hist to Mrs Jas H Clark EL

Rev War
14222
INVALID.

File No. 14.222
James Pratt 
Priv Rev War
Act June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 303 
(Arrangement of 1870.)