Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16256, for Jonathan Snow, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn.

Snow, Jonathan

NUMBER
S.16256

Carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

32523
8383
Jonathan Snow
Connecticut
Adm 8 Months
$26.66

Jno Howard Esq
CLk Tolland Ct
Connt
Page 3

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
4th June1833
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 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, showing the Service of Jonathan Snow Tolland ity  Connecticut

Period when the service was rendered
Enlist 1776 ┃
1779
Duration of the
claimant's service.
2 months
6 months

Rank of
the
claimant.
Priv
"
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Capt Clark
Dana
Col. Wells

Age at present,
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
80 years
Windham
[illegiblr]
Connt.

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary
witnesses
3 Witness only
1 [illegible]
Testafied to his
Service
Papers not authentic

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.
classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.
The Regular Troops.
2.
The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. ┃
Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Terry
County of

On this
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
of
aged (c)
and State, Territory or District
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)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
and
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he servunder
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 on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
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:
We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C.D. residing in (the same;
who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
1,
Clerk of the Court of
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application if that the foregoing
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
Page 5

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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 exexpected
. 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.
{To a Soldier, and what has become of it?
offcer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
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.
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, 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.
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.
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.
┃ The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
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, anddays
, seven months and served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about home as four monthe
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 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
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 pubthe
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.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on 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 witand
the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 6

[Text to left]
Letter to Pen Agt
Died
28th Sep 1847
Letter to Powel 23
19 Oct 1884
Oct 1847

[Text to right]
22523
Connecticut.
Jonathan Snow
Tolland in the State of County
who was a Private in the Co
command
by Captain Dana of the Rgt
commanded by Col Wells
in the Connect
line for and sent to 
8 mos.

8583.
Inscribed on the Roll of Count
at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of Sept
I833
Howard, C.C. Tolland Ct

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833 66.65
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 34. 133
$79.98

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm R. Palmer Clerk
Book E Vol. three Page 42,
Page 7

Jonathan SNow
Decbr
Page 8

State of Connecticut
County of Tolland ss. Willington
On this 18th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open
Court for the Court of Probate for the distant of Tolland in the
County of Tolland aforesaid & State aforesaid now sitting present
Jeremiah Parish Esq. Judge holding said Court Jonathan
now a resident of the town of Willington in the District County &
aforesaid aged eighty years who being first duly sworn according to
law doth on his oath make the following declaration in one
obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832,

1st. That he entered the same of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein stated
about the first day of February 1776 I enlisted
into a company of State of Ashford in the County of
Windham my native place of two months, the Company
was commanded by Capt Benjamin Clark, Daniel Moulton
. We marched to Cambridge Mass. and were stationed in
Cambridge, & at Roxbury and I there saved the whole two
month while at Cambridge we united in the College the
British Consulate Boston while I was at Cambridge I see
them when they sailed out. We belonged to a regiment of
State hoops Connecticut line I do not recollect the day
of the officers of the Regiment. I served the two months, was
discharged and returned to said Ashford

2.Tour on or about the 15th day of June 1777 I enlisted
again into a company of State Troops commanded by Capt.
James Dana Lieut Hale in Col. Levi Wells Regt
for nine months we were stationed at New London
and we quartered at a house west of Fort Trumbull I
there performed duty in said Company six months when I
Page 9

obtained a substitute who was accepted by the officers
and I was discharged after having served six months and I
returned home to my family we had no special duty except
keeping guard & I have proof of my services except
the inclosed depositions I cannot find any person living
who was with me on my first tour and do not know of my
that I can produce
In answer to the interrogatories put by the Court- I
was born in Ashford Windham County, Connecticut
August 13, 1752 I have no record of my age. I was
living at Ashford when called into the service and since the
revolutionary War I have lived in said Ashford in Stafford
Columbia Compel in Mansfield and in Willington
where I now lives I was called into the service as herein Stated
Col. Putnam was at Cambridge and I believe he commanded
our regiment but am not fully sure I saw Gen Washington
do not recollect the names of any other officers except
what I have herein stated I never had any written discharge
I am known to Seth Vinton & Samuel Johnson of Willing-
ton who can testify to my character for veracity, and their belief
of my services as a soldier in the revolution I hereby relinquish
every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll
of the agency of any State Sworn & subscribed the day & year
Jonathan Snow

He Seth Vinton and Samuel Johnson both residing in 
Willington hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Jonathan Snow who has subscribed and sworn to the above declar-
ation that we believe him to be eighty years of age that he is a
man of unity and that he is reputed and believed in the
Page 10

neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the
Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Seth Vinton
Samuel Johnson
And the said Court hereby declare their opinion after the inves
tigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the war department that the above applicant
was a revolutionary soldier and said the states
the said Court further certifies that Seth Vinton and Samuel
Johnson who have signed the preceeding certificate are
residing in said town of Willington and both are credible person
and that their statement is entitled to credit. And they for
they find that Stephen Butler Ephraim Squire Caleb Hender
the deponent whose depositions have been exhibited herein
Court and accompany this declaration he also credible persons
and that their statements are entitled to credit
part by the Count 
attest J. Howard Clerk

I Joseph Howard Clerk of the Court of Probate for
the City of Tolland do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings in the matter of the appli
cation of Jonathan Snow of Willington in Tolland County
for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand seal of Office this 18th day of
August AD 1832
J. Howard Clerk

A Copy of [illegible] certified by owned Clerk of Court of Probate for
Tolland Dist in Tolland County
Page 11

State of Connecticut
 Tolland Probate district S.S. Tolland

I Jeremiah Parish Judge of the Court of Probate for
the district of Tolland do certify that the foregoing continues
the Original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the
application of Jonathan Snow of Willington in Tolland County
for a pension and the seal affixed to the foregoing certificate
of Joseph Howard Clerk of sd [said] Court on the 18th day
of August 1832 then was the only seal and by a Court
but since a new seal has been proved & is now and by
Court to authenticate the proceedings thereof and in the
only seal and by sd Court in like cases

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed the present seal
of Court at Tolland this 5th day of July
1833
Jeremiah Parish  Judge
Page 12

[J.L.Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C. sideways]
Oct. 19. 1896
Pensioner case
Jonathan Snow
Page 13

Pension Agency
Hartford Octo 15, 1816.

Sir
I transmit for Special direction
to payment-- the enclosed papers of the
Conservator of Jonathan Snow a
a pensioner under the
Act of 7 June 1832, claiming one years pension - 
evidence of the Official [illegible] of the Justice before whom the papers were
executed is lodged in this office
I am very Respectfully
Your Obt. Serv.
H Goodwin 2d Agt
per H Towler pens Clerk

L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 14

Pension Agency
Hartford Ct 18. 1847

Sir
Herewith I transmit the papers of Grant
Wickwire - Benoni Johnson, & the administrator of
Jonathan Snow and  pensioners on the act of
June 1832 claiming twelve months or more pension
due for special directions relative to the
payment
I remain Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
H Goodwin Agent
per H Towler

JL Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 15

P
16256
INVALID.
File No. 16,256
Jonathan Snow
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7"" 32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 3

[Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 16

Feb. 17 1897 - History to Hon.
H.H. Snow, Kankakee, Ills.
Ser Im. 14.543
Page 17

Stephen Butler
Depo for Jona Snow
Page 18

I Stephen Butler of Ashford in the County of
Windham and State of Connecticut being Seventy
four years of age do depose and say that I was a
soldier in the army of the revolution and that I
belonged to Capt James Davis Company in
Col Levi Wells regiment at New London and
served there in said company nine months that
I enlisted on or about the fifteenth day of June
one thousand Seven Hundred and seventy nine
further testify that Jonathan Snow then of
said Ashford now of Willington in the County
of Tolland enlisted at the same time I did and
for the same buried and was in the service
with me at New London six months that
said Snow then obtained a substitute for
the last three months of his term who was
excepted by the officers & said Snow was
discharged and left the army and further the
deponent saith not
Signature of Stephen Butter

Tolland County ss Williston July 26th 1832
Personally appeared Stephen Butler and made
solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by
him subscribed
I hereby certify that said Buller is a man of truth and
his testimony is entitled to full credit sworn
Origin Dimock Justice of Peace
Page 19

Clerks office
State of Connecticut
County of Tolland ss.   Clerks office

I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of Tolland County Court
do Certify that Origin Dimock Esq before whom the within
deposition of Stephen Butler of Ashford was on the 26th
day of July 1832 duly made & executed was at that
time & this is a justice of peace within & for sd [said] County
of Tolland legally appointed & authorized to administer
oaths and take depositions that the signature of his
name to the within certificate surely believe is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto us
my hand and seal of office this 25th
day of August 1833
Jeremiah Parish Clerk
Page 20

Ephm Squire &
Caleb Hendee
[illegible]
Jon Snow-
Page 21

We Caleb Hindee and Ephraim Squire
both of Ashford, in Windham County
and State of Connecticut hath of
lawful age depose and say that
we have always been well acquainted
with Jonathan Snow of Willington
in Tolland County in said that
and we
believe him
to be Seventy nine years of age,
that he is a man of truth and
veracity. That he is reputed and
believed in the neighbourhood where
he resides to have soldier of the
Revolution, and that we concur in
that opinion - and further the
deponent saith not
Signatures of 
Ephraim Squier
Caleb Hender

Windham County  Ashford July 24th
1832
Personally appeared Ephriam Squire
and Caleb Hendee who severally
made oath to the South of the above
deposition by him subscribed
I hereby certify that said Squire
and said under and each
of them man of truth and
their Testimony is entitled to
full credit
-
Sworn to before me
Ichabod Bulkley Justice of
Peace
Page 22

Armin Bolles Clerk of the County Court within
and for the County of Windham in the State of
Connecticut do certify that Ichabod Bulkley
R
&
before whom the within affidavit was made is duly
enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for said Windham
County that the within signature of his name is in
his hand writing and that full faith and credit
ought to be given to his act as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the Public
Seal of said Court this 24th day of
July A.D. 1882
Armin Bolles Clerk