Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,127, William Boyd, Penn.
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SERVICE   Penn.
Boyd, William  
NUMBER  S. 22,127
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Pennsylvania  11,49
William Boyd 
of Chester Co. in the State of Penn’a who was a Pr & Sgt  in the Company commanded Captain Dubois of the Regt commanded Col McAllister in the Pennsylvania Troops 
1 Yr. Sergeant  $60.00 
6 Mo. Private    20.-
$80.00 
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of May and Sent to 1833 Francis James  Westchester  C. House Pa 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 160.00 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 40.00 
$ 200.00 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk 
Book E. Vol. 6 Page 3
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Declaration of William Boyd in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 
State of Pennsylvania 
County of Chester} Ss.  
On the ninth day of April Anno Domini One thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Isaac Darlington President and his associates Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid now sitting William Boyd a resident of the township West Bradford in the County and State aforesaid aged eighty years and upwards 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 
1st About the first of June One thousand seven hundred & seventy-six Your applicant volunteered as a private at Northampton township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in a company commanded by Capt. Zephany Lot, which became attached to a Regiment of eight companies under the command of Col Carbride, Gawn Adams was a Lieutenant in our company, and Jacob Bennett Standard bearer of the Regiment. - Applicant does not remember the names of any other officers of the Regiment. The Regiment met at Richard Leeston’s Tavern in the said township of Northampton, where it marched, crossed the Delaware, and halted at Trenton New Jersey where we staid all night and at which place we drew our arms. From Fenton we marched to Princeton and halted for the night from Princeton we marched to New Brunswick where we arrived next day. On the next morning we crossed the Raritan and arrived at Perth Amboy the same day. The Regiment remained at Perth Amboy about a month or six weeks as nearly as I can now recollect - whilst we remained at Perth Amboy
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we were on parade twice each day and performed the duties of sentries. I recollect amongst other troops at Perth Amboy whilst we were, a Regiment commanded by Col. McAllister. From Perth Amboy our Regiment moved to a small town called Blazing Star, on the Raritan River. There we remained all night and the next day marched to Bergen opposite New York. We remained at Bergen about a week performing the common duties of Soldiers encamped - Whilst we remained at Bergen orders were received that each company should furnish a proportion of men to make up a flying camp. The next morning after the arrival of the above orders we were drawn up in line and a speech made to us on the subject of turning out to join the flying Camp on the following morning we were again ordered into line, and a speech on the same subject again made to us. Nine of our company, myself among the number enlisted in the flying camp as privates for five months from that time We took an oath and got eight Dollars bounty.  Our company officers in the line for as I recollect them were James McKissick Capt. Robert Vanhorn Lieut and John Carter ensign. After we enlisted we were removed across a marsh a short distance to Powles [Paulus] Hook where we stood about a week - We then received orders to march back to Perth Amboy which we did and joined the Regiment under the command of Col. McAllister, at which place I remained with the Regiment, until orders came that one man should be taken out of each company to drive a team. The waggon Master asked me if I was willing to go and drive team belonging to a train of Artillery.  I told him I was and did join to drive the waggon. The next day all the troops marched to Fort Constitution and joined Genl Washington, I staid (with other Waggoners) at Perth Amboy to take care of our teams for some time. In a few weeks after the troops had left us for the fort we one morning heard a firing, and the waggon master said he thought it was the British attacking Fort Washington, which proved to be
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the case for about eleven oclock in the forenoon, intelligence came by express that Fort Washington was taken by the enemy, and we were directed to drive the Waggons in haste to New Brunswick. We were obliged to take a circuitous route in order to cross the river, and by the time we arrived at New Brunswick the British were on the opposite side of the River from whence they fired on us. One of the men attached to one of the field [unreadable] to which the waggon I drove belonged, was killed. All the rest of us escaped injury. We lay there all night and the next morning we started early for Princeton where we halted a short time and then moved on to Trenton Between Princeton and Trenton we joined Genl Washington - The waggons crossed the Delaware, the army remained on the Jersey side. We crossed the Delaware in the evening - The next morning we went with the Waggons a distance of five or six miles from the river into the interior, in order to preserve our baggage &c. from the British. We remained there more than a week when a good many were taken sick of the camp fever - I was taken ill and applied to the Waggon master for a discharge. There being no superior officer near the Wagon master gave me a written discharge. That discharge I have long since lost. I went home having been absent for about six months and all that time in the service of those six months I was engaged as a Waggoner about two months – 
2nd About the first of April One thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven I again entered the service as a draughted militia for two months from the township of Northampton aforesaid, in a company commanded by Capt Zephany  Lot, a son of the Capt Lot with whom I first marched The names of the other company officers I cannot remember our company marched from Northampton aforesaid to near the Paoli, where we joined a Regiment under the command of Col. Lacey, the whole under the command
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of Genl Potter. We remained in the neighborhood of the Paoli until our term of service expired, when we returned home. I do not now remember the names of any other of the officers than those I have mentioned under whom I served this tour.  I was during the whole of this tour First Sergeant of our Company.  
3rd  After being at home a few days I again entered the service as a substitute in the place of Hugh Adams who was draughted for two months, as a militia man for the aforesaid township of Northampton in a company commanded by Capt Henry Lot. I do not remember the names of the other company officers. Our company marched from Northampton as aforesaid, crossed the Schuylkill at Richardson fording above the Swedes ford, and joined the Regiment under Col. Lacy, near the Gulf Mills in Montgomery County Pa. Whilst we were there we were principally employed in watching the road from that place to Gray’s Ferry on the Schuylkill to prevent the country people from carrying provisions to the British then in Philadelphia. After the expiration of the two months (our tour being out) I returned home to Northampton township, Genl Potter was called away whilst we were at the Gulf Mills, and Col. Lacy was promoted to the rank of General. I do not recollect the names of any other of the officers than those whom I have mentioned under whom I served this tour. I was during all this tour first sergeant of our company.   
4th   I had been at home about two or three days when I again entered the service. On an application to the sub-Lieutenant of the County of Bucks I enlisted as a substitute (in the place of whom I do not now know) for two months and received Two hundred Dollars bounty continental money and eight Dollars per month for my pay - I enlisted as a private and marched in a company commanded by Capt Garrett Dungan - I do not recollect the names of the other company officers. I enlisted in Newton Township, Bucks County - We marched from thence to White Marsh in Montgomery
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County Pa. where our company joined the troops under Genl Lacey, we remained in the neighborhood of White Marsh until the expiration of the two months, engaged in guarding the roads and passes to prevent the carrying of provisions to the British troops in Philadelphia - at the expiration of these two months I returned home. I was during the continuance of this tour the first Sergeant in our company- I do not remember the names of any other officers under whom I served than those above mentioned – 
5th In a few days after my return home I again entered the service as a private by enlisting under the sub Lieutenant of the County aforesaid whose name was George Gill as a substitute but in the place of whom I do not know for two months receiving the same Bounty and pay as before in continental money,  I enlisted this time in Newton township as aforesaid and marched in a company commanded by Capt Henry Dubois, I do not remember the names of any other officer the company - we marched from thence to near White Marsh aforesaid, and were during this engaged in similar services to the last before mentioned, this time joined the troops under Genl Lacey and remained in the neighborhood of White Marsh during these two months. After the two months had expired I went home. I was first Sergeant of our company during this tour also - The names of any other of the officers under whom I served I do not remember.
6th  I had not been at home more than about a week when my own turn again came round as a drafted militia man for two months from Northampton township aforesaid, and I went into the service in a company commanded by Capt. Henry Lot I cannot recollect the names of the other officers of the Company, our company marched from Northampton aforesaid to near White Marsh aforesaid and joined the troops under the command of Genl Lacey - Whilst there we were employed as last aforesaid in standing guard to prevent the inroad of the enemy's foraging parties & in obstructing the passage of provisions to the English in Philadelphia - our tour of two months having expired I returned to my home. I have given the names of all the officers which I can recollect during this tour - I was first Sergeant of our Company during this tour [unreadable]
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7th After a lapse of two or three weeks from my return home I again entered the service as a substitute in the place of the aforesaid Hugh Adams who was drafted as a militia man for two months from the township of Northampton aforesaid in a company commanded by the aforesaid - Henry Lot.  Our company marched from Northampton aforesaid to the Skippack road between Germantown and the Schuylkill river, where we joined the troops under Genl Lacy - I was one of a number whose duty it was whilst we were there, to go out in scouting parties at night to watch the roads and prevent the entry of provisions into Philadelphia for the British army.  This duty we performed at night and lay by in the day time. We remained near the same place during the continuance of these two months when our term of service having expired we returned home, and I did not enter the service any more. I was First Sergeant of in company during this last term of service – 
Declarant further says - I never was in any general engagement but was in the skirmishes whilst out in scouting parties - While we were near the Gulf Mills a party of the British Light Horse in Infantry came in us whilst we were on a scout. They fired on us but did not happen to do any damage. We were obliged to retreat on account of the superior numbers of the enemy. At another time whilst we lay at White Marsh a party of perhaps forty of us were attacked near that place by a superior number of the British the exchange of a few shots we were forced to retreat to save ourselves from being overpowered by a force greatly superior to our own.  One of our men was on this occasion wounded in the hand by a sword cut from a British Horseman.  The name of the man thus wounded was Martin Hilaman Declarant further says - I have no documentary
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evidence of my services and I know of no person whose testimony I can procure who can testify to my services.  My memory has become defective through age, and the names of many of the officers under whom I served have escaped my recollection,  I am now and have been for the last eight years and upwards totally blind.  And now am and have been for upwards of three years been an inmate of the Poor House for the County of Chester.   
To the Interrogatories directed to be propounded by the Court Declarant answers as follows to wit – 
1st To the first interrogatory, he answers I was born in Plumstead township Bucks County on the twenty third day of and fifty three day of January One thousand seven hundred and fifty three. 
2nd To the second Interrogatory he answers
I have no original record of my age. It is recorded in a Bible which I gave to my son who resides at New London Crossroads in this County, and was copied into that Bible from a “confession of faith” which belonged to my father 
3rd To the third interrogating he answers 
I resided in Northampton Township aforesaid when at home during all my different terms of service - I have lived since the Revolutionary war First in Northampton aforesaid where I removed to Upper Makefield both in Bucks Co. Penna.  From thence I removed to Chester County now Delaware County, between the Borough of Chester and Marcus Hook from thence I removed to New London crossroads Chester County.  From then I removed to Washington County.  From thence I returned to Chester County East Nottingham township from thence I went to the Poor House in West Bradford township Chester County aforesaid where I now live -The above named Counties in all in the State of Pennsylvania.  
4th To the fourth interrogatory he answers 
The answer to this interrogatory is set forth in the body of the Declaration aforesaid
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5th To the fifth interrogating he answers 
The answers to this interrogatory was clearly and fully set forth in body of the foregoing declaration as Declarant is enabled to do 
6th To the sixth interrogating he answers I never received any other discharge from the service than the one given me by the Waggon master which is lost – 
7th  To the seventh interrogating he answers my services as a soldier of the Revolution are not known to any in my immediate neighborhood. In compliance with the requisitions of the last interrogatory I name Genl John W. Cunningham and John Carlisle of the neighborhood in which I resided before I became an inmate of the Poor House.   
I know but one clergyman in this County of State, he does not live in my vicinity and resides it from the Court House, upwards of twenty miles.  I know not whether I could have obtained his attendance, certainly not without great inconvenience to himself.  
Declarant says --- 
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 
William Boyd his mark
Sworn in open Court this North day of April A D 1833  
John W. Cunningham Prot
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We John W Cunningham of the township of New London and John Carlisle of the township of Lower Oxford both of the County of Chester hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Boyd who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to about Eighty years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided (previous to his admission to the Poor House) to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion 
John Carlisle
John W. Cunningham
Sworn in open Court the 9th April 1833 
Isaac Darlington President 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 John W Cuningham Esq who has signed the presiding certificate is a resident of the township of New London aforesaid and that John Carlisle who has also signed the same is a resident in the township of Lower Oxford aforesaid that they are both credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit 
By the Court John W. Cunningham Prot
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I John W. Cunningham Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the within & foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Boyd for a pension.  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Office this ninth day April in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty three 
John W. Cunningham Prot
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No. 24324
Wm. Boyd
Chester Co
Pennsylvania
Admitted
1 yr. Sergt  60.-
6 mo Pri     20.-
$ 80.-
Francis James
West Chester Co. House
Pennsylvania
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Pension Office, 
183 
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. Statement, shewing the service of Wm Boyd Chester Co. Pennsylvania
Period when the service was rendered   Vol June 1776  Duration of Claimants Service  
Rank of the claimant  Private  Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served  Cap M. Lot  Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service   80 years Bucks County Pennsylvania   Proof by which declaration is supported.  Traditionary evidence
Period when the service was rendered  enlisted  Duration of Claimants Service   6, 2 of which was a waggoner   Rank of the claimant   Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served   Col. Curbride
Period when the service was rendered   days before June 77   Duration of Claimants Service  2 months  Rank of the claimant   Sergeant  Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served   Col. Meddleston
Period when the service was rendered  sub. for H. A. [Hugh Adams]  Duration of Claimants Service  2 months   Rank of the claimant  Sergeant Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served     Captn McKissick
Period when the service was rendered   sub name not stated  Duration of Claimants Service    2 months  Rank of the claimant  sergeant    Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served   .  Genl Washington
Period when the service was rendered sub name not stated  Duration of Claimants Service  2 months  Rank of the claimant  Sergeant  Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served   Captn Lot
Period when the service was rendered   sub the name not stated   Duration of Claimants Service   2 months   Rank of the claimant   Sergeant    Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served  Col Lacey
Period when the service was rendered   sub H. Adams   Duration of Claimants Service  2 months  Rank of the claimant    Sergeant   Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served   General Potter   Captain H. Lott  Colonel Lacey   Captain Dungen  Captain Dubois  Captn Lot Genl Lacy  Captn Lot
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 in stance, 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:    
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]            
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only that of 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 revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I of the Court of hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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.                 
[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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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 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 Town officer 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. one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject     
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.        
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as 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 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 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 wife nesses, 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 [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.    
John N. Aston
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Revolution   22127   OWN
INVALID
File No. 22,127
William Boyd
Sergt Rev War.
Act:  June 7" 32"
Index:- Vol 2 Page 44
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Apl 16
WEST CHESTER APR 11
Pa.
24324
Free
J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, D. C.
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West Chester, Pa. April 11th 1833 
J. L. Edwards Esq 
Sir 
Enclosed, I transmit you the Declaration of William Boyd, a Revolutionary Soldier. your attention to his case at as early a period as may suit your convenience, would confer on the old man who is as you will observe a pauper, a very great favour.  Should there be, through informality, or an omission of particulars in his statement, any difficulties in the way of granting him a pension, which may be located please inform me thereof.  Should you pass favourably on his application, be good enough to direct the certificate to me, at this place very respectfully yours &c 
Francis James