Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 10412, for Edmund Taylor, New Hampshire
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE N.H.
Taylor, Edmund
NUMBER R 10412
CONTENTS
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State of Vermont
Hinsboro District,| ss.  District of Windsor, ss.
On this eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the probate Court for the District of the Windsor, and Court being  a Court of record, now sitting, Edmund Taylor  a resident of Ludlow in the County of Windsor  and State of Vermont, aged eighty two 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 enlisted in Keene New Hampshire in the year 1775 for Eight months; was enlisted by Ebenezer Carpenter  of Keene who had the promise of being a Sergeant in the Company, if he would enlist such a number, and in a few days after the Declarant enlisted he marched to Winter Hill, Mass. under Sergent Carpenter;  with [illegible] Brown and John Stroud, who enlisted at the same time hat he did, and joined the Company at Winter Hill  Commanded by Capt Benjamin Mann, who belonged to Mason N.H.  Lieut. Gaines Brewer, Ensign Pettingill, Orderly Sergeant's name was Allen, and Regiment commanded  by Colonel James Reed of Fitzwilliam Mass.  Major [Nathan Hail, Stock Bried knew the surgeon?]  Declarant helped to fortify said Hill;  often saw the British at [?] but never was in an engagement; continued in service on said Hill during his enlistment, and was discharged on said Hill; had no written discharge.
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He hereby relinquish 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.
He was born in Litchfield in the State of New Hampshire, on the fifteenth day of May 1750. Has no record of his age. He was living in Parkersfield, now called Nelson, in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, when called into service. Before the close of the Revolutionary War he moved from Parkersfield aforesaid, but does not recollect what year, to Dublin in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, and after living in said Dublin about two years and a half, he moved to Stoddard in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, and after living at said Stoddard four or five years, he moved back to Parkersfield again, and after being there two or three years, he moved to Cavendish in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, where he continued to reside till about ten years ago, when he moved to Weathersfield in the County of Windsor aforesaid, and resided there about five years when he returned back to said Cavendish, and resided there about two years, when he moved to Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, where he has resided ever since.
He states, that he had a furlough for three weeks during the time of his enlistment, and returned home and wanted to stay at home longer than the time, specified in his furlough, and hired his father to go and take his place in the service in his stead, and that his father went and served as his substitute about three weeks when the Declarant returned to the service, and joined his company again, and at another time desiring said substitute the declarant tried to get a discharge from the service,  but could not obtain a discharge, he therefore hired Jonathan Hodgman, as a substitute, to take his place and serve in his stead, for three weeks, and the Declarant returned home, and at the expiration of three weeks he returned to the service again and joined his company, and continued in the service, till he had served out the full term of his enlistment.  The said Hodgman served in Declarant's stead all the time of his said last mentioned absence of three weeks.  In October and the forepart of November during said enlistment the Declarant was sick with the dysentery, fever, cough, &c. and was confined to the hospital in Cambridge about six weeks.
He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.  
Genl Sullivan, Genl Lee,  & Genl Greene were with the troops, where declarant served, and also Genl Washington from sometime in July.
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He states the names of Josiah French and John Austin, as persons to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Edmund Taylor X his mark
Witness, [signed] Reuben Washburn
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid } 
[signed]  Jabez Proctor Judge

We Josiah French and John Austin, residing in the town of Cavendish in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Edmund Taylor, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty two 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.
[signed] Josiah French   John Austin
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. }
[signed] Jabez Proctor Judge

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 Josiah French and John Austin who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the town of Cavendish in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
[signed] Jabez Proctor Judge

I Reuben Washburn Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor, in the State of Vermont, [end of page]
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do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Edmund Taylor for a Pension
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
[signed] Reuben Washburn.-

No [12552?]
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31,033



Hon. H. Hubbard
H  R
[adm?] 4th June 34
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State of Vermont
District of Windsor, ss } On this seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and thirty four, personally appeared in open Court, before the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor in the State of Vermont now sitting Edmund Taylor, a resident of the Town of Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged Eighty three years the fifteenth day of May now last past, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following supplementary Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832-
That he enlisted in Keene in the State of New Hampshire, on the tenth or eleventh day of June 1775, into what was then called the Eight months service; that he was enlisted by Ebenezer Carpenter of said Keene, and served in the Company commanded by Capt Benjamin Mann, and Regiment commanded by Col. James Reed of Fitzwilliam in the State of Massachusetts, as Stated in his original Declaration, until the first or second day of January 1776, when he was discharged.
Edmund Taylor X his mark
Witness [signed] Reuben Washburn

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
[signed]  Jabez Proctor Judge
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I Peter John Nichols a Clergyman residing in the Town of Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Edmund Taylor, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing original and supplementary Declaration; that I believe him to be Eighty three years of age, and upwards: that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood, where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion-
[signed]  Peter John Nichols
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid }
[signed] Jabez Proctor Judge

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 Peter John Nichols, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the Town of Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, and that his statement is entitled to credit.
[signed] Jabez Proctor Judge
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I Reuben Washburn, Register of the Probate Court for the District of Windsor in the State of Vermont do hereby certify the foregoing contains the original and supplementary proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Edmund Taylor for
a Pension.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court, this
Seventh day of April in the year of our Lord [one] Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Four -
[signed] Reuben Washburn.-
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Vermont
Edward Taylor
Rejected
[Ans?] Hon H Hubbard
June 4th 1834
10,412
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10,412

Edmund {Edward?] Taylor

Service: of Vt born in NH

Enlisted at Keene

REJECTED
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Vt
Edward Taylor


Hon. H. Hubbard
H  R
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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office, 
April 8th 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 show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margins 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 [blank]

[the form is blank]

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

[illegible Fullam Jr?]
Ludlow Vt
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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. 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 7, 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: 
[in brackets:] 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. [end of brackets] 

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 for the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A.B.
[in brackets:] And then will follow the certificate of the Court. [end brackets] 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
 I_____of the Court of _____do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of_____for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____day of_____&c.

 If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by 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 to and subscribed the days and year aforesaid. 
[in brackets:] 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 clergymen, 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 [end of page]
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3
 will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the county in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of 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 clergymen, 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 Clergymen, 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 inquiry 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 the 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 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 authorized before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 

(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. (
b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. 
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: - For _____ year _____months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____months, and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension." 
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase [in italics: about three or four months,] in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
(i) The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 

Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 

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

If claimant enlisted in June he must be mistaken as to the term of his service.