Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17026, for Gideon Platt, Connecticut
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Platt, Gideon

NUMBER
S. 17026

carded

CONTENTS
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17.069 Connecticu
Gideon Platt
Middlebury in the State of Conn
who was a Pri in the Com comman
by Captain of the Reg comman
by Col Douglas in the Connt
line for 6 mo [illegible] Pri of Caval 2

Inscribed in the Roll of Connt
at the rate of 29 Dollars 66 Cents per ann
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of [illegible]
1833 and Seny R S Hinman, Salembridge
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 59. 3
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep.  4 "   148
                                                            $74.1

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by ED Bullock  Cle
Book 6 Vol. 3   Page 34
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Gideon Platt
applin. for Pension
8 1/2 months
No 1321
August 4, 1832
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that he removed to Waterbury that part which is now Middlebury in the year 1784 or 1785 & has resided there ever since.

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 any state

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid   Gideon Platt

And the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations 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 John B Richardson and Jason Atwater are respectable clergymen the former a resident of Salembridge Society in Waterbury and the latter of Middlebury, and that Sa[illegible] Fro[illegible] who has also signed the certificate is a very respectable man residing in said Middlebury and formally a representative from said town in the State Legislature and that this statement
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may be relied upon and that their certificates are hereto annexed.

I Robinson S. Hinman Clerk of the Court of Probate for said District do hereby that the foregoing which was begun on the 28th day of July and completed this 30th day of July 1832 contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gideon of Middlebury for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand & seal of office this 30th day of July 1832.

R. S. Hinman Clerk
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Benjamin Finn of Middlebury in New Haven County Court being duly sworn and says that he was a soldier in the Revolution that in June 1776 he enlisted in a company commanded by Capt Samuel Peck for six months and served about four months when he was taken with the disentery & was discharged from the army.  That he is acquainted with Deacon Gideon Platt of said Middlebury and that said Platt was in said C[illegible] with Deponent and [blocked out] believe he served [illegible] time.  That they went [illegible] in a vessel to New York and further [illegible].

John B. Richardson of Salembridge Society in the town of Waterbury hereby certifies that he is well acquainted with Deacon Gideon Platt of Middlebury that he formally resides in Middlebury near Mr. Platts, that he now resides within about 2[illegible] miles of Mr. Platt.  That said Platt is a very reputable man his word may be relied upon.  That he has heard it said that Deacon Platt was a soldier in
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the Revolution.  That Mr. Platt has lived several years where he [illegible] and formally lived in Milford [illegible].  That he believes his age is as much as 75 years.

John B. Richardson
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We Jason Atwater & Larmon Townsend of Middlebury Con. certify that we are acquainted with Deacon Gideon Platt of Middlebury and know him to be a reputable man and in whose word can be depended upon and in whose statement we should place implicit confidence.

Dated at Middlebury this 30th day of July 1832

Sworn before
R. S. Hinman Clerk

Jason Atwater
Larmon Townsend
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[blank page]
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State of Connecticut}
County of New Haven} ss
I John Beach Clerk of the County Court for said County & keeper of the seals thereof and of the Records & the Commissioning of Justices of Peace for said County do hereby certify that I am acquainted with Robinson S. Hinman Esq. and with his official signature & his hand writing and that he is a Justice of peace within and for said county of New Haven and has been for more than a year past - duly appointed and qualified to administer oaths and that his official signature to all the papers hereto annexed is his hand writing and are all genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal of office this 28th day of November A.D. 1832.
Jn Beach Clerk
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State of Connecticut}
County of New Haven} ss.
District of Waterbury}
On this 28 day of July A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for said District now sitting Gideon Platt of Middlebury in said District & County aged 75 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 to wit:
That in June 1776 he enlisted for six months under Capt. Samuel Peck of Milford, and served at New York, Long Island, White Plains, Turtle Bay &c. and was discharged on Christmas Day of that year
That Jehiel Bryant was first Lieut -- Dickerman 2d Lieut., & Timothy White Ensign.  He served in a Regt. commanded by Col. Douglas , Lt. Col. Arnold & Major Phineas Porter
In margin:  6 months New York &c. 1776
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That in the fall after he returned from N. York he was called out in the Light Horse and marched on to Horn Neck with a small company.  That after a few days the most of them were dismissed & sent home, but that himself and a few others were retained as light-horse-men & runners for Genl. Putnam & Parsons that he rode with Genl. Parsons and remained with him two months or more.  He returned some time in October he thinks for farmers were gitting in the second crop of hay.   or"Rowing" *
In April at the time Danbury was burnt I went with the rest of the militia and was in the service at that time about a week  this was in 1777 Capt Chas Pond of Milford commanded us. **
At the time New Haven was taken in the year 1779 July 4 I was called out with the rest of the Militia the same week Fairfield was burned  we were out on this tour about a week Capt Perrit commanded us part of the time Capt Pond part
At the time the above services were rendered I resided in Milford where I was born whether [words blotted over] of my birth there does not know ***

*In Margin:  2 Months 1777 Horse Neck
**In Margin  ¼ Month
***In Margin  ¼ Month
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that he returned to Waterbury that part which is now Middlebury in the year 1784 or 1785 & has resided there ever since
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Gideon Platt
And the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories subscribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that John B. Richardson and Jason Atwater are respectable Clergy men the former a resident of Salembridge Society in Waterbury, and the latter of Middlebury, and that Larmon Townsend who has also signed the certificate is a very respectable man residing in said Middlebury and formerly a representative from said town in the State Legislature - and that their statement 
Note:  page ends but lays over another which shows the following:
That he has heard it said that Deacon Platt was a soldier in
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may be relied upon - and that their certificates are hereto annexed--
I Robinson S. Hinman Clerk of the Court of Probate for said District do hereby that the foregoing which was begun on the 28th day of July and completed this 31st day of July 1832 contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gideon of Middlebury for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand & seal of office this 31st day of July 1832
R. S. Hinman Clerk
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Benjamin Finn of Middlebury in New Haven County Cont. being duly sworn deposes and says that he was a soldier in the Revolution that in June 1776 he enlisted in a company commanded by Capt Samuel Peck for six months and served about four months when he was taken with the disentery [dysentery] & was discharged from the army.  That he is acquainted with Deacon Gideon Platt of said Middlebury and that said Platt was in said Company with Deponent and [ink blot] believes he served [ink blot] term.  That they went [ink blot] in a vessel to New York and further saith not.  
John B. Richardson of Salembridge Society in the town of Waterbury hereby certifies that he is well acquainted with Deacon Gideon Platt of Middlebry that he formerly resided in Middlebury near Mr Platts.  that he now resides within about 2 miles of Mr Platt.  That said Platt is a very reepectable man - his word may be relied upon - That he has heard it said that Deacon Platt was a soldier in
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the Revolution - That Mr Platt has lived several years where he now does and formerly lived in Milford Ct.  That he believes his age is as much as 75 years -
John B. Richardson
State of Connecticut.}  Waterbury
County of New Haven} ss  July 28th, 1832
Personally appeared Benjamin Finn to me known as a respectable man and signed the foregoing deposition in my presence and made solemn oath to the truth of the same.  and also appeared John B. Richardson a clergyman  of Salem Bridge and signed the above certificate and made oath to the truth of the same--
R. S. Hinman Just Peace
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We Jason Atwater & Larmon Townsend of Middlebury Con. - certify that we are acquainted with Deacon Gideon Platt of Middlebury and know him to be a respectable man and in whose word can be depended upon and in whose statement we should place implicit confidence
Dated at Middlebury this 30th day of July 1832
Jason Atwater
Larmon Townsend
Sworn before
R. S. Hinman Clerk
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17.026
INVALID
File No. 17,026
Gideon Platt
Pri Rev War
Act:  June 7" 32
Index:—Vol. 1, Page 298
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Gideon Platt
Admd
2 mo Priv Dragoons - $8.
6 mo 14 days Pri Infantry 21.
p 27  $29.
H J Hinman
Salembridge
Connt.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative in red ink, will apply to the claim of Gideon Platt which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

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

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

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
-No

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

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

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

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And is so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

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

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

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witness as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? 
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
-No

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

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
-No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories [prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
-No- 1. 2 & 3 not 

EXPLANATORY NOTES
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:  
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposed 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 _______;l and for such service I claim a pension."
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8
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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. 

Quere XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be [he] belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 

Quere XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.
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State of Connecticut}
County of New Haven}  ss.
District of Waterbury}
On this 13th day of April 1833 personally appeared before said Court Gideon Platt who is the same Gideon Platt who made the original declaration to which this is annexed and under oath made the following supplemental declaration.  To wit:
Obj.c'n Ⅳ
In answer to the fourth objection in the Brief, he says that his tour of six months under Captn. Peck commenced the fore part of June 1776 and ended on Christmass day of that year.
That the 2d Term when he served in the light horse he thinks he commenced in August, and knows it was in the year 1777.
The third term was in April 1777 when Danbury was burnt and the fourth when Fairfield was burnt in July 1779.
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Obj'n. Ⅴ
In answer to the fifth Objection he says:  That the first term under Captain Peck he served six months the 2d time in the light Horse was two months - the third was one week - & the fourth was for one week making in all eight months & two weeks-
Objec'n. Ⅵ
In answer to the sixth objection he says that in his first term he has stated the officers names in the Company and Regiment in his Original declaration.  That for the two months he was out as light horse man, he was not attached to any Regt. but served immediately under the command of Putnam & Parson's
In the tours of one week at Danbury & one week at New Haven they were not attached to any Regiment.
Obj'n. ⅫⅠ.  
In answer to the 13th Objection he says that he has hereto annexed the affidavits of two soldiers who were with him during the six months service who testify to the said service and as to the service he does not know of any one who can testify to the same
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He says he was born in Milford New Haven County Connecticut on the 6th day of September 1757.
Has no record of his birth
Lived in said Milford when he entered the service and untill 1784 or 1785 when he removed to Middlebury where he has lived ever since and now lives.
Gideon Platt
Sworn this 13th of April 1833
Before me
R. J. Hinman Clerk
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State of Connecticut County of New Haven
Probate District of Milford ss.
At a Court of Probate held at Milford within and for the Probate District of Milford on 10th day of April 1833
Present William Strong Judge.
Personally appeared in open Court Elisha Clark aged 78 years and Elijah Bryan aged 73 years both of Milford aforesaid who being duly sworn do depose and say - that according to the best of their recollection they inlited [enlisted] on the 20th of June ^for six months in a Company of State Troops commanded by Capt. Samuel Peck of said Milford after being a few days inlisted, we went to New York and were there employed untill the enemy landed on Long Island, when our Company were divided, a part of which  went  one on the Island and the other part went to South Bay - after the enemy had taken New York our Company was again united at Harlem, the remainder of our term of Six Months, we were imployed at and about Harlem thence to White Plains and ^in its vicinity, and at the expiration of six months were discharged at North Castle, but had no written discharge - our Company belonged to Col. Douglass Regiment - Deponents further say that Gideon Platt formerly of Milford, aforesaid, and now of Middlebury, in said County and State, inlisted and served, in said Company with us during the term of Six Months in manner aforesaid
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against the Common enemy during the War of the Revolution - and further deponents say not -
Elisha Clark
Elijah Bryan
I David L. Baldwin Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Milford do hereby certify that ^the foregoing Depositions were sworn to and subscribed in open Court --
In testamony [testimony] whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 10th day of April 1833 --
David L. Baldwin Clerk
State of Connecticut, Probate District of Milford April 10th 1833 --
I William Strong Judge of the Court of Probate for said District do certify that David L. Baldwin whose signature is to the above certificate is Clerk of said Court, and has the keeping of the records of said Court, that full faith and credit are due to his official acts, that the foregoing is the seal of said Court, and that the foregoing attestations are in due form --
The Deponents Elisha Clark and Elijah Bryan are both known to me to be men of truth, and their statements are intitled to full faith and credit
W. Strong Judge of Probate
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
NAME Platt, Isaac
GRADE Private 
LINE Artillery Artificers
WARRANT NUMBER 13616
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED July 12, 1792 
to --- not shown ---
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800* which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.  Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.