Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,671, Elijah Blake, N.H.
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(3-1776) 
SERVICE | NUMBER
N.H. Blake, Elijah S.6.671
carded
CONTENTS
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[left-hand page]
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 Mar 1838 to 4 March 1839. Agt notified 1. May 1840

[right-hand page]
[illegible]-255 New York 14559
Elijah Blake of Oswego Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Houghton of the Rgt. commanded by Col. Nicholes in the N. Hampshire line for 9 Months - 

Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 30 Dollars [stricken] Cents [end stricken] per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of June 1853 - and [illegible] J. Shethworth. [illegible]
Arrears to the 4th of Ma '55 $60
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '55 15
$75
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832} Recorded by G C Stiles, Clerk
Book E. Vol. 4. Page 45
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State of New York Oswego County} On this 20 day of Septem-ber [September] AD 1832 personally appeard [appeared] before me Samuel Freeman a judge of Oswego Common Please [Pleas] Elijah Blake a resident of Williamstown in the County of Oswego aforesaid and State of New York aged 69 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following dec-laration [declaration] in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress dated June the seventh 1832 - 

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that he was born in the town of Keene - County Cheshire - and state of New Hampshire - that he enlisted the Spring of the year 1780 and in the Month of May as he verily believes that the name of the Captain of the Company in which he enlisted was Houghton of Winchester in the state of New Hampshire the name of the Lieuten-ant [Lieutenant] was Pratt of Chesterfield, and the name of the Ensign was Durant of Keene State of New Ham-phshire in Col Nichols Regiment enlisted at Keene in New Hampshire and Marched to West Point was there three months on duty that he knew General Arnold and that he stood sentry at his door when the said Arnold came out, and not seeing his waiter, the Gen. said to him this deponent, "Sentry, lay down your gun and saddle my horse quick" that he did so as soon as it could be done; and
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immediately Gen Arnold mounted him and said with a loud voice "Gen Washington is to be here sun and hour high" then rode of across the flatt to the River and forever after abandoned our cause and joined the Enemy

That after the Expiration of three months he was discharge [discharged] and went home and was occasionally out when a call was made in cases of alarm and to perform service of different kinds where he was directed; but that he has never laid them up nor did he consider in the time of it, that he did any more than was his duty to do in a voluntary way to help on the glorious cause of Freedom and Liberty. 

That afterwards he again enlisted under Captain Smith, Lieutenant Johnson and Marched to Averel New Ham-pshire in the year 1782 in two companies under Webb who was Commandant was there 6 month on guard. that the British had threatened to take Col Bailey + Col. Johnson and had made several attempts, that he was one of the men who was sent to be their guard that he remained then on guard six months and until he was dismissed that he enlisted at Keene N.H. in the Spring of 1782 and continued until in the month of November following and that he returned home ragged and sick but not any wise disposed to be a tory - that he never has had any written discharge that the war soon closed after this, hostilities ceased and he
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continued to reside in said town for a few years and then removed to Vermont, Rutland County in the Sown of Sudbury and from thence removed to the State of New York Oneida County and was for many years employed as a Surveyor and Surveyed the Scribas Patent and a great Territory lying Northerly + Westerly from Rome have been a resident of said County and of Oswego County for upwards of thirty six years and that he now resides in Oswego County in the town of Williamstown which formerly belonged to Oneida County - that there is a record of his age in said Keen ^town Clerk's off N. Hampshire that he knows of no person living by whom he can prove his services that he finds a number of persons who were at Stoney Point at the time he was there but that he can find none of his Company or of the same Regiment and that the distance which he lives from the place where he entered the service is so great that he can not think of making a journey there with the uncertain prospect of finding any evidence when he gets there that his great infirmities forbid the idea of going in person and is unable otherwise to perform such a journey - that he is as well known in this section of the State of New York as almost any other person, having surveyed
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the greatest part of it And that he is particularly known in his present neighborhood to Revd Truman Gillet a clergyman residing in said town of Williamstown and also to Luke Wellington residing in the same place both of whom can testify to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution

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. Sworn + subscribed before me this 28th day of September 1832 Sam'l Freeman judge Oswego County Courts [signed] Elijah Blake

Mr Truman Gillet a clergyman residing in the town of Williamstown Oswego County N.Y. - and Luke Wellington residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elijah Blake who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine years old; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution as he states and that we concur in the said opinion. Sworn + subscribed before me this day of September Sam'l Freeman Judge Oswego County Court [signed] Truman Gillet Luke Wellington
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And I the said Judge do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I do further certify that it appears to me that Truman Gillet who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Williamstown and that Luke Wellington - who has also signed the same is also a resident of the same place and is a credible person, and that I am personally acq-uainted [acquainted] with them both and believe their statem-ent [statement] is entitled to credit and that I am acqua-inted with the said Applicant and have a knowledge of his health having attended upon him and prescribed for him as a physician and believe that the said Applicant can not from bodily infirmity attend in Open Court - Saml Freeman Judge Oswego County Courts
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State of New York Oswego County Clerks office } ss: I Eric Poor Clerk of the Said County do hereby certify that Samuel Freeman Esq. before whom the foregoing Declaration and affi=davit [affidavit] purports to have been sworn and also by whom the foregoing certificate purports to have been subscribed, was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Oswego (which is a court of Record) and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name Subscribed to the said affidavit, Declar=ation [Declaration] and certificate to be his proper hand writing and Signature - Witness my hand and Seal of office this 23 day of January A.D. 1833 [signed] Eric Poor Clerk By O. McPherson Dep Clerk

[bottom] Elijah Blake Pension Papers = Application before a Judge
aomd
9 mos pri---30$ [end bottom]
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[faint] 23835 [end faint]
Elijah Blake Oswego Co New York.

aomd

J. Southworth Esq. Camden. Oneida Co New York
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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 ad the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particular 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 Elijah Blake. Oswego Co. N. York.

[column headers] 
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 of-ficers [officers] under whom he served. 
Age at present, and place of abode, when he entered the service. 
Proof by which the declaration is supported
[end column headers
[handwritten rows]
May 1780 " 3 " Priv. Col. Nichols Corp. Houghton  Lieu. Pratt
69 years Cheshire Co. New Ha-mpshire [Hampshire]
Traditionary

1782 " 6 " " Cap. Smith Lieu. Johnson 
[end handwritten rows]

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J.L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claim-ing [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 day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. -> This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and per-sons [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 revolu-tionary [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 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.

I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the 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 ex-expected [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, atttend [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.

--
[footnotes]
[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 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 in 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 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 pub-lic [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 the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the wit-nesses [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 [illegible] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, 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.

[signed] Joseph [illegible]
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Second Comptroller's Office, April 21st, 1840. 

Sir: Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Elijah Blake, - a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany N.Y. Agency, at the rate of Thirty - Dollars [stricken] and Cents [end stricken] per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department from the 4th of March 1838, to the 4th March 1839. Respectfully, yours, Albion K. Parris Comptroller. 
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
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Rev War 
6671
INVALID

File No 6,671
Elijah Blake Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. A, Page 35
[Arrangement of 1870.]