Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,545, for Ezra Thorp, Connecticut
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(3-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Conn.  Thorp, Ezra   S. 11545
Continental
carded
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New York  20,097
Ezra Thorp
of Dalwan in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Comp commanded by Captain Dennison of the Reg. commanded by Col. Waterbury in the Connt* line for 2years
*Conn. Continental N.Y.
Records completed Oct 21 [illegible]
_____
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 80 Dollars  __ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
_____
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of Dec. 1833 and sent to M. Hector, South Kortright
_____
Arrears to the 4th of [illegible] $160
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept '31   $40
$200

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by G.C. Stiles Clerk
Book E, Vol. 3, Page 86
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In the Matter of Ezra Thorp
18301

Prisoner 2 years

Asmd
24 mopri 
80$
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Declaration of Ezra Thorp
Declaration in Order to Obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of New York}
Delaware County} ss
On the 9th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Please now sitting Ezra Thorp a resident of the town of Harpersfield in the County of Delaware state of New York aged Seventy five years in March last who having 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 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the Spring of the year 1775 I enlisted the services of the United States in a company of Connecticut state troops as a volunteer in a company commanded by Captain David Demmon in a Regiment Commanded by Colonel Waterbury and first rendevoused [sic] in the town of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield in the state of Connecticut and marched from there to the White Plains in the County of Westchester in the state of New York and was there encamped and stationed for a short time from there marched to the City of New York and was there put on board of vessels and sailed up the Hudson River and landed at Albany & from Albany we were marched to the northward to Ticonderoga from there on board of boats up lake Champlain to St. Johns and were stationed at
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[This is a duplicate image of the previous image with no changes in the text.]
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that Fort until we took the fort from the British [A]fter the taking of the fort I was marched back to Ticonderoga under the Command of General Montgomery and I was discharged and returned home during the winter after a service of Nine months.
That I entered the service again in the month of December in the year 1776 in a company of militia in the town of Fairfield in the state of Connecticut as a volunteer in a Company commanded by Captain Eliphalet Thorp and marched to a place called New Rochel in in [sic] the County of Westchester in the State of New York and stayed there but a short time from there we were marched to Kingsbridge or near to it and was stationed there until the month of March in the year 1777 and was then discharged and returned home after serving out my time of three months.
That I entered the service as a militiaman in the Spring of 1777 under a draft and was stationed on the lines so called between the American  and the British armies until the fall of the year 1779 and was employed in guarding the lines and protecting the lines and property of the inhabitants when required.
That in the month of October 1779 I was drafted and entered the service in a Company of Militia of the Connecticut State troops under the Command of Captain Gray and Lieutenant Samuel Taylor in a Regiment Commanded by Colonel Dimon that I was stationed in the town of Fairfield at a place called Greens Farms and that I did duty and served there for two months and in the month of December I was discharged.
That on the 7th day of April 1780 I with a company or party of men under the command of Captain Alexander Harper volunteered in
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the said company and were sent out on a scouting party or Indian Spies west of the Fort in Schoharie that we fell in with a party of about thirty Indians and a number of Tories under the Command of Brant and myself with four others including our Captain Harper were taken prisoners and carried to Niagara from there to Montreall [sic] from there to Chamblee and was there in prison in a dungeon for a  term of more than one year and a half from there I was carried back to Montreall from there to an island in the River St. Lawrence called Prison Island and was kept there a prisoner for one year from there I was carried to Quebec from there I was put on board of a ship and carried to Boston and in the latter part of December in the year 1782 I was discharged after being a prisoner two years and eight months and at the time I was discharged at Boston I was without money or friends more that two hundred miles from home.

That 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.

The court then propounded to him the following interrogatories.
1. Where and in what year was you born.
I was born in the town of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut in the year 1757.
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Have you any records of your age.
I have in my fathers Bible wrote and taken from that.

Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live.

I lived when called into service in the Town of Fairfield. I have lived since the revolutionary war a part of the town in the state of Connecticut and for the twenty five years last part I have lived in the town of Harpersfield in the County of Delaware and State of New York where I now live.

How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute.
I was sometimes drafted and generally a volunteer.

State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served together with the general circumstances of your service.
The names of the officers were General Schyler [Schuyler], General Montgomery, Colonel Waterbury, Captain David Dimon and served as before declared in this declaration.
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State the names of persons in your present neighborhood to whom you are known that can testify as to your character for truth and veracity and their belief of your service as a solder of the Revolution.
The names of them are: Stephen Finn and Isaac Pierce.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] Ezra Thorp
C. B. Sheldon Clerk

We Stephen Fenn a Clergyman residing in the town of Jefferson and Isaac Pierce residing in the town of Harpersfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ezra Thorp who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid  [signed] Stephen Fenn 
[signed] Isaac Pierce
C. B. Shelden Clerk

And I certify that the above named Stephen Fenn and Isaac Pierce are to me personally known and that their statement are entitled to credit. [signed] C.B. Sheldon Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories proscribed 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 Stephen Fenn who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Jefferson and that Isaac Pierce
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Isaac Pierce who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Harpersfield and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Crawford B. Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the Court of Delaware do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Said Court in the matter of Ezra Thorp for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this ninth day of October 1832.
[signed] C B Sheldon
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State of New York}
Delaware County}  Isaac Patchin of Jefferson in the County of Schoharie and State of New York being duly sworn saith that he is now seventy years of age and is well acquainted with Ezra Thorp of Harpersfield in Delaware County. and on the 7th day of April 1783 Ezra Thorp and this deponent was sent on a scouting party under the command of Captain Alexander Harper an officer in the Militia service in Colonel Peter Zeily [Ziele] Regiment west of the fort in Schoharie fell in with a party of Indians that were over powered the party this deponent and Ezra Thorp belonged to and took them prisoners in the now Town of Harpersfield and County of Delaware and carried the said Ezra Thorp and this deponent to Niagara, then to Montreal in Lower Canada, from there to Shamble [Chambly] where Ezra Thorp and this deponent was imprisoned in a dungeon more than one year and an half year then sent to Prison Island and remained there prisoners to the close of the Revolutionary war. Then carried to Quebeck [sic] from there by water to Boston and discharged from imprisonment in the month of December 1782 more than 200 miles from and friend or acquaintance without money or clothes. And the deponent further saith that I have seen a certificate from Colonel Peter Zeiley of the service of Ezra Thorp and of Captain Harper being ordered on the expedition, from circumstances Ezra Thorp has lost the paper. And the deponent further saith not.
[signed] Isaac Patchin
Subscribed and sworn the 13th day of September 1832 before me and I certify that said Isaac Patchin is a credible witness.}
[signed] Samuel Stevens Justice of the Peace
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State of New York}
Delaware County } ss.
I Anthony M. Paine Deputy Clerk of the said county do certify that Samuel Stevens before whom the written affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and Signature & Witness my hand and seal of office this 8th day of October 1832.
[signed] Anth: M. Paine Deputy Clerk
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State of New York}
Delaware County} ss.  Banks Morehouse of the town of Blenheim in the County of Schoharie and State of New York being duly sworn doth on his oath depose and say that he is sixty nine years of age and is acquainted with Ezra Thorp of Harpersfield in the County of Delaware who is now making application for a Pension, that in the month of October 1777 the said Ezra Thorp and this deponent volunteered for two months service in the army of the Revolution in a company of Connecticut State Troops commanded by Capt Gray and Lieutenant Samuel Taylor in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Jonathan Dimon that they were stationed in the town of Fairfield in said State at a place called Greens Farms. That the said Ezra Thorp did serve the full term of two months that they were discharged on the 23rd day of December 1777 and further this deponent saith not.
[signed] Banks Morehouse
Sworn and subscribed this 17th day of September 1832 before me and I certify that the said Banks Morehouse is a credible witness.
[signed] Samuel Stevens Justice of the Peace
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I} I Anthony M. Paine Deputy Clerk of the said county do certify that Samuel Stevens before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper handwriting and signature. Witness my hand and seal of office this 8th day of October 1832.
[signed] Anth: M. Paine Deputy Clerk
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State of New York
Livingston County ss. Joseph Thorp of the town of Groveland in the county of Livingston and State of New York being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is now eighty two years of age that he is the Brother of Ezra Thorp of the town of Harpersfield in the county of Delaware an state of New York and that he is well acquainted with the said Ezra Thorp who is now about seventy five years of age that the said Joseph Thorp well recollects the time when said Ezra Thorp went into the public service in the army in the War of the Revolution. That the said Ezra Thorp enlisted as also did this deponent Joseph Thorp at the same time and in the same company and remained in the same service with the said Ezra through the Spring Summer & Autumn. That the said Ezra and this deponent enlisted as private soldiers under Captain David Dimon or Doming in the town of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut in the Spring of the year 1775 and as this deponent believes in the month of April of that year and that the period of the enlistment of the said Ezra was for nine months. That the company was infantry and belonged to Col. Waterburys Regiment which as this deponent supposes was of the Connecticut line of State Troops that soon after this enlistment they were marched to New York City where they went aboard a vessel and sailed up the Hudson River to Albany from there the said Deponent and the said Ezra Thorp marched to Ticonderoga where they assisted in building Boats and after a few weeks they went to St. Johns in Canada in Boats at which place they were under command of General Montgomery and assisted at the seige [sic]of that place and also at the capture thereof that after the taking of St. Johns this deponent was sent to Montreal and the said Ezra as this deponent understood believes returned down the Lake Champaign. This deponent further saith that at that
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time he understood and he now verily believes that the said Ezra Thorp served out the full period of nine months the period of his enlistment. And the deponent further saith that the next winter after the Battle of White Plains this deponent and the said Ezra Thorp again enlisted into the United States Service under Captain Eliphalet Thorp a cousin of this deponent for the term of three months the enlistment took place in the Town & Country of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut and were embodied in Col Woosters Regiment and as this deponent supposes they were in the Connecticut line of State Troops. This deponent and the said Ezra Thorp with a small party under the said Col Woosters command were marched for the purpose of making an attack upon Fort indepandance they were encamped in the neighborhood of the Fort till the time of their enlistment expired and the said deponent further saith that he personally well knew that the said Ezra faithfully served out the whole period of three months the time of his last mentioned enlistment and further this deponent saith not.
[signed] Joseph Thorp
Sworn and subscribed the 26 October 1832 before me E. Clark, Justice of the Peace of Livingston County

State of New York
Livingston County ss. I certify that Elias Clark before who whom the proceeding affidavit was sworn was at the date thereof a legally authorized Justice of the Peace of said county and that I know his name to the said affidavit is his own handwriting & signature.
Witness my hand and seal of office October 16" 1832
[signed] Chauncey R. Bond Clerk of Livingston county.
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No. 18301
Ezra Thorp, Delaware County
New York

Martin Hector, South Hortright Delaware County 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 subjcined rules, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The rules and the regulations will shew [sic] 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, shewing [sic] the Service of Ezra Thorp of Delaware County, New York.
_______
[Table column 1] Period when the service was rendered.
[1st entry] Vol. Spring 1775
[2nd entry]  Dec 1776
[3rd entry] drafted 1777
[4th entry] Drafted Oct 1779
[5th entry] Vol. 7 April 1780
[Table column 2] Duration of the claimant's service.
[1st entry] 9 [months]
[2nd entry] 3 [months]
[3rd entry] not stated
[4th entry] 2 [months]
[5th entry] 2 [years] 8 [months]
[Table column 3] Rank of the claimant.
[Entries 1 - 4] Private
[Entry 5] as Indian spy
[Table column 4] Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
[1st entry]  Capt Dennison
[2nd entry] Capt Thorp
[3rd entry - none]
[4th entry] Capt Gray
[5th entry] Capt Harper
[Table column 5] Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
[1st entry] Genl. Montgomery Col. Waterbury
[None for entries 2, 3, and 5]
[4th entry] Col. Dimon
[Table column 6] Battles in which the applicant was engaged. [No entries]
[Table column 7] Country through which he marched.
Rendevoused in Fairfield Connecticut. March to White Plains, to New York, to Albany to Ticonderoga to St. Johns. Marched to New Rochel [sic] to Kings Bridge, Stationed near Fairfield. Went as a scouting party to Schoharie was taken prisoner with Capt Harper & carried to Niagara to Montreall [sic]
[Table column 8] Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
75 years Fairfield Connecticut
[Table column 9] Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary, & 3 living witnessed certified credible. [illegible] certificate. Not properly attached.

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, 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. An 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 [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers:
[The following is enclosed with braces. in the document.] 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served 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. [Printer's mark of a pointing hand] 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 that State of [blank]
Sworn to an subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] A.B.

[The following is contained in braces in the document.]
[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 [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &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 [blank] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] 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 subscribe the day and year aforesaid.

[The following is contained within braces in the document.]
[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 is appears to them that A.B. [blank] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C.D., who has also signed the same in a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank] of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.
Eery 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 witnesses 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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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 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 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 he 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 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.
_____________
[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 were he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to this rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariable be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental office or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under who 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 a language so definite as to enable 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."
[The following paragraph is highlighted as the objection needing to be addressed.] 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 perfoemed; 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, and he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[End highlighted paragraph.]
[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. [This paragraph is highlighted as needing to addressed.]
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying office 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 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.
[printer's mark of a pointing hand] The notes from [a] to [i] 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.
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Rev War. 11545
INVALID.
File No. 11,545
Ezra Thorp
Pri. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. A, Page 374
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of New York
County of Delaware ss. I Crawford B. Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware do certify that the foregoing & annexed contains the original proceedings of the Said Court in the matter of Ezra Thorp for a Pension & in the Said Court on the 9th day of October 1832. And further that Martin Keeler before whom the annexed affidavit or amended declaration purports to have been Sworn was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware,  it being a Court of record and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and Signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said Court this tenth day of June 1833.
[signed] C. B. Sheldon Clerk
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Amended declaration of Ezra Thorp
Whereas on the 9th day of October in the year 1832 I Erza Thorp did make a declaration before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Delaware in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 in which I said declaration it was stated by me that I entered the service in the Spring of 1777 under a draft and was stationed on the lines & called between the American & British armies until the fall of 1779. Which said declaration was forwarded to the war department and has after an examination been returned with objections. Now in order to remove the objection the following proceedings has been had.
Personally appeared before me Martin Keeler one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Delaware and State of New York Ezra Thorp who being duly sworn deposeth and says 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 period mentioned below and in the following grades. In the Spring of 1775 I entered in the militia a volunteer and served nine months.
In the month of December 1776 I volunteered again and served three months.
In the Spring of the year 1777 I was drafted I was drafted and served under said draft until the fall of 1779. I stated in my first declaration that I was employed in guarding the lines when called upon scout stating any particular service and now I state as fore as I can recollect my service during said term of time
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In the month of June 1778 I was drafted in a company of Connecticut State Militia under Captain Daniel Godfrey and served under him three months and was stationed for the three months at Fairfield on the seashore in the State of Connecticut and at the end of three months I was discharged or dismissed from that guard and from the month of September 1778 to the fall of the year 1779 I was frequently called up and did duty sometimes one week sometimes two weeks and sometimes a month making in all from the Spring of the year 1777 to the fall of 1779 at least six months that I actually was stationed at Fairfield aforesaid and did duty as a private soldier.
In the Month of October 1779 I was drafted and did duty under Captain Gray in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Demon and served two months.
On the 7th day of April 1780 I volunteered under Captain Harper and was taken prisoner and carried to Canada and kept a prisoner until I was carried to Boston and discharged after the close of the war for such service I calm a Pension.
[signed] Ezra Thorp
Sworn and Subscribed to before me this 8th day of June 1833.
[signed] Martine Keeler one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Del. County.