Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R.1415, Sylvester Bugbee, N.H. Vt.
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Service Number
N.H. Bugbee, Sylvester R.1415
Vt. Jemima
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Vermont N.26.017
Sylvester Bugbee
of Orange Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Mait of the Reg. commanded 
by Col. Horington in the N. York Troops
line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 80 dollars __ cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension is used the 2 day of Dec
1833 and (unreadible) to Jos. Berry
Newbury Vt
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833 200.00
(unreadible) allowance ending 1s March 36 40.00
$240.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book E, Vol. 3 Page 54
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Sylvester Bugbee
State of Vermont
County of Orange ss - On this 2nd day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before the Probate Court for the district of Bradford in the County of Orange & State of Vermont now sitting Sylvester Bugbee a resident of Newbury in the said County of Orange aged seventy 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 into a company commanded by Captain Benjamin Wait of which Zebulon Lyon was Lieutenant and -- Hawley was Ensign belonging to a Regiment supposed to be in the New York line commanded by Colonel -- Hosington (Hoisington) - at Pomfret in the State of Vermont the latter part of winter or early in the Spring of1776 for the term of one year and marched the last of March or first of April for the forts at Newbury and vicinity where this company arrived on the 5th day April 1776 - He served his term of one year [margin note: 1 Yr] fully out and was discharged as he believes the Spring of 1777 at Newbury Vermont - 
He enlisted a second term at Pomfret Vermont on the first of April 1778 for the term of one year into a company commanded by Captain Solomon Cushman - belonging to Colonel Timothy Bedel's Regiment of which John Wheelock was Lieut Colonel supposed to be of the Continental Establishment - A part of the Regiment was marched to Albany New York soon after enlistment - He was one of the corps and continued there through the enlistment - [margin note: 1 Yr rolls] A considerable part of the time the battalion was first under guard for refusing to march further to the south - they contending that they were enlisted to guard the northern frontiers only - this deponent with the rest of the Corps was discharged as he thinks at Albany the last of March 1779 - 
He enlisted again at Pomfret Vermont in the Spring of 1780 into a company commanded by Capt Jesse Safford in a Regiment or Battalion commanded by Colonel Benjamin Wait (formerly Capt Wait) supposed in the Vermont line - but whether for six or twelve months he cannot recollect - Was stationed at a fort at Bethel Vermont
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Was employed in Scouting and keeping guard - Was marched to Royalton Vt. the day on which it was burnt - marched on and overtook the Brittish Tories and Indians in the night after - but our officers permited them to escape with the prisioners & plunder of the town unannoyed. He further says that he has no documentary evidence of his services & never received any written discharge from the services - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any pensions except the  present - & declare that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state
/s/Sylvester Bugbee
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid - 
We Clark Perry a clergyman resident in the town of Newbury, Vermont & Joseph Berry of said Newbury, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Sylvester Bugbee who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed & he lived in the neighborhood, where he lives to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion - 
/s/Clark Perry
/s/Joseph Berry
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid - 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & keeping the depositions of Joshua Bayley & Anna Bayley herewith transmitted, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it
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appears to them that Clark Perry who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in said Newbury & that Joseph Berry who has also signed the same is likewise a resident is said Newbury & is a credible Witness & their statement is entitled to credit - And the Court also certify that Joseph Berry Esqr. ['As' crossed out] before whom the annexed depositions of Anna Bayley & Joshua Bayley were taken & sworn, is & was as the day of taking the same a Justice of the Peace for said Orange County & his signature thereto genuine - 
I Simon Short Clerk or Register of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that foregoing contains the original proceedings of s'd Court in the matter of the application of Sylvester Bugbee for a pension
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 2d day of Aug't AD 1832
/s/Simon Short Clk
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State of Vermont
County of Orange ss. on this 22nd day of July AD 1833 Personally appeared in Open Court before the Probate Court for the district of Bradford in the County of Orange & State of Vermont - now sitting - Sylvester Bugbee personally appeared before the said Probate Court who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more positively as to the precise length or periods of his services than he has done in the previous declaration made before this Court on the 2nd day of August AD 1832 but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades - 
For one year I served as a private soldier in Captain Benjamin Wait's Company in Major (or Colo.) Joab Hossington's (Hoisington) Corpse - [margin note: 1 Yr] For one year I served as a private soldier in Captain Solomon Cushman's company in Colonel Timothy Bedel's Regiment [margin note: 1 Yr rolls] - For eight months I served as a private soldier in Capt Jesse Safford's company in Colo. Benjamin Wait's Regiment - fourt months of the latter served at a Fort at Bethel Vt. and not less than four months at a fort at Pittsford Vermont - near lake Champlain - and during the latter service he recollects - that ['several' crossed out] three of the inhabitants of a town adjoining Pittsford, called then Neshobe were taken & carried off by the Indians - a Scout was sent from Pittsford fort after them - this Scout not returning, a second scout was sent from Safford's company, consisting of Sarg't Billings, Oliver Willard & Sam'l Mathews and said Sylvester Bugbee in pursuit of them - We proceeded to the Lake - crossed it - went to Crown Point & Ticonderoga - fount the corpse of one of the first scout on the Lake shore & where he had been killed and the other two had been taken prisioner - which services amount to two years & eight months and for such services I claim a pension - He further states that after a diligent search no further or better testimony could be found by him than is hereunto annexed and made part of this record
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And the following interrogatories were by the Court propounded to said applicant and the following answers were by him returned viz
Where and in what year were you born?
I was born in Woodstock, State of Connecticut on the 1st day of Jany. Ad 1760 - 
Have you any record of your age and if so where is it - I have none but suppose there is a Record in the Town of Woodstock aforesaid 
Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live - 
Answer In Pomfret, Vermont, In Pomfret, Orange & Newbury I now reside in Newbury
How ['where' crossed out] were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom - 
I enlisted as set forth in my disclosure I was a substitute for Allexander Hutchinson and as such, served four Months
State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops, where you lived, such  Continental & Militia Regiment as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service - 
I cannot be any more particular than what is st forth in my application, and disclosure
I do not recollect of ever having or receiving any written discharge - If I ever had one it is lost. The applicant refers to the following named persons with whom he is known in his Town and Neighborhood, and who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as a soldier of the revolution - (viz) Isaac Bayley Esq. Moses Johnson, John Thurman, Col'o Joshua Bayley, Col'o Simon Storms, & Col'o Alvin Finny, Capt Hanes
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Johnson, Peter Burbank Esqr. and David Johnson - 
/s/Sylvester Bugbee
Subscribed and sworn to this 22nd day of July AD 1833, before - 
/s/Wm Sherman Judge of Probate
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I Simon Short Register of the Probate Court aforesaid ['do hereby certify' crossed out] have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court, this 22d day of July AD 1833 - 
/s/Simon Short Register
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9442
Wid Jemima Bugbee Verm't
Act July 7th 38
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 7th July 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay and Pensions to certain widows
State of Vermont Orange County
Probate District of Bradford } ss. 
On this 24th day of June 1843 Personally appeared before the Court of Probate for said District of Bradford holden at Newbury in said District Jemima Bugbee a resident of Newbury in the County of Orange and State of Vermont aged 77 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit ['of the' crossed out] of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838. entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"
That she is the widow of Sylvester Bugbee who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution and a Pensioner of the United States upon the Rolls of the Vermont Agency under the act of June 7, 1832. the precise sums he received per annum she does not recollect 
She further declares that she was married to the said Sylvester Bugbee in the month of September in the year seventeen hundred and ninety three that her husband the aforesaid Sylvester Bugbee died on the [blank] that she was married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz at the time above stated
She further states that she ['since' crossed out] was married in the State of New York by a Justice of the Peace his name she
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does not recollect. She has no family Record of her marriage or of the Births of her children and knows of no record of her marriage in any place. She had two sons only the eldest of whom has long since died the other is now living in Newbury Vt. 
/s/X her mark Jemima Bugbee
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I Stephen Thomas Register of the Probate Court for the district of Bradford aforesaid do hereunto subscribe my name & affix the Seal of Said Court at Newbury in said district aforesaid this 24th day of June 1843 - 
/s/Stephen Thomas, Register
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Jemima Bugbee Vt
Sylvester
act 1838. Susp'd
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State of Vermont
County of Orange }
Be it known, that on this Thirty first day of October A.D. 1852 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared 1 Alvah Bugbee resident of 2 Newbury in said County, and made oath according to law that 3 he is the legal heir of Sylvester Bugbee the Identical man who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, Jemima his widow and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of 4 July 7, 1838
That 5 he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes the affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint C. W. BENNETT, of Washington City, my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of 6 Sylvester Bugbee's widow for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Department at Washington City or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim., which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D.C. Agency; to appoint or or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises. 
7 /s/Alvah Bugbee
Sworn to, Subscribed, and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said 8 Alvah Bugbee to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged. 
9 /s/P. W. Ladd Justice Peace
State of Vermont
County of Orange ss. }
It is hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Orange County in the State of Vermont that 9 Alvah Bugbee the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney, is the 10 legal heir of the reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that 11 P. W. Ladd Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this First day of November 1852
12/s/S. M. Flint County Clerk 
1. Claimant's name or names in full. - 2. Post Office address. 3. "That he is the identical man," or "that she is the widow of the identical man," or "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c. &c. 4. Leave this line blank. - 5. "He is," "she is," or "they are." - 6. Revolutionary soldier's full name. - 7. Claimant's signature. - 8. Claimant's name. - 9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of." - 11. Magistrate's name." - 12. Clerk's signature. 
N.B. - Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
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No 9442
Jemima Bugbee Verm't
Suspended 
Letter to D. C. Churchill aa. Oct'r 1863
1415
Act July 7th '38
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I Sylvester Bugbee of Newbury in the County of Orange and State of Vermont of the age of seventy three years, do depose make affidavit and say - that I did enlist as a private soldier into a company commanded by Captain Benjamin Wait, for the term of one year, during the revolutionary - that Lieut Zebulon Lyon then of Pomfret in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont enlisted me at said Pomfret and there paid me my bounty money - that I did duty part of the time as a private soldier, and part of the time I served as waiter to Lieutenant Lyon, and that during the time in which I served said Lyon as a waiter, I was detailed for that purpose - I further say that I was never engaged under a civil contract with said Lyon, as his waiter, not under any contract in any way or manner otherwise than by my enlistment as aforesaid - I further say that I was enrolled in said Company and did the duties of a private soldier until sometime after the company had marched to and ['here stationed and' crossed out] been stationed at Newbury Vermont - I further say that after dilligent search during the last summer at Pomfret and other towns in the vicinity where I enlisted - I was not able to find an individual who belonged to the aforesaid company that I then learnt that Capt Wait died several years since at the Westerly part of Vermont and that Lieut Lyon & ensign Hawley were both dead - And that according to my best information and belief not a noncommissioned officer or private of said Company except myself is now living in this part of the Country or elsewhere within my knowledge - I further say that the above is intended to be in addition to and explanatory of my declaration - made before the
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Probate Court for the district of Bradford in the County of Orange on the 2nd day of August AD 1832 and on the 12th day of June AD 1833 in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
/s/Sylvester Bugbee
State of Vermont
County of Orange ss - At Newbury in Said County on the 28th day of October AD 1833, Personally appeared Sylvester Bugbee a resident of the town of Newbury and with whom I am well acquainted and made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the truth & nothing but the truth And I do certify that said Bugbee is well known to me as a man of truth and a credible witness
/s/Joseph Berry Justice of the Peace
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I Elias Stevens of Royalton in the State of Vermont of the age of 78 years last October do testify & say that as a Lieutenant in Captain Solomon Cushman's Company in Colonel Timothy Bedel's Regiment of Newhampshire - on the first day of April AD 1778 or within a few days of that time I enlisted Sylvester Bugbee then of Pomfret in Vermont in said Company as a private soldier for the term of one year at said Pomfret 
I have now in my possession, Capt Cushman Commission under said Bedel and also a pay roll made at Albany in the State of New York containing the name of said Bugbee as a private and showing his and the company's claims to pay from first of April the first of July 1778 - showing the number of months & number of days to which each officer & soldier was entitled to pay - Said Bugbee's term is set down as being three months which is as long as any one period at the end of the first three months - Some being for 2 months 21 days & so on to three months - My papers in relation to said company's services were all destroyed at the burning of Royalton by the Tories & Indians in 1780 - These are papers that I got of the widow of the afs'd Capt Cushman and all that I could obtain in relation to this business - Said Sylvester Bugbee is now present before me and I know him to be the same man that I enlisted as above stated - The company left Albany as I think about the first of September 1778 and when it arived in Vermont it separated some part going to the posts at Royalton, some to Newbury and some to other places as we were needed in scouting & guarding the frontier - I do not recollect of said Bugbee's being under my command after we arrived on duty in Vermont and I have no knowledge or belief but that he served his enlistment fully out - I have heretofore stated that I thought said Bedel's Regiment was discharged at the expiration of Eight months from enlistment but my own papers being destroyed and having made this statement from the best evidence & recollection then in my power I may not have been and probably
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was not correct as to the time of discharge, for the Regiment may not have been discharged until the expiration of the full year - tho I can not be positive from my own recollection
/s/Elias Stevens
State of Vermont
County of Orange ss. Tunbridge June 19, 1833
Then General Elias Stevens of Royalton personally appearing before me made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true - And I further certify that I have been well acquainted with said Stevens for more than forty years and know him to be a person of credibility and that his Statement is entitled to credit
/s/Samuel Austin Justice of the Peace
I Simon Short Register of the Probate Court within & for the District of [illegible], Orange County & State of Vermont do hereby certify that Samuel Austin & Joseph Berry who have affixed their names respectively to the affidavits of Elias Stevens & Moody Bedel herein contained are Justices of the peace for said Orange County & I believe their signatures herein to be genuine - 
[court seal affixed] Given under my hand & the seal of said Court July 11, 1832
/s/Simon Short Reg'r
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I Moody Bedel of Bath in the County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire of the age of 70 years do depose and say that my father Col'o Timothy Bedel raised a regiment to serve for the term of one year during the Revolutionary war - the enlistment commencing with the first day of April 1778 in which Solomon Cushman commanded a company as a Captain - A battallion from this Regiment was ordered by Gen'l Gates to march from their encampment at Haverhill & vicinity to Albany NY about the month of July 1778 - The battalion marched under the command of Lieut Col'o John Wheelock and Capt Cushman's company composed part of the battallion - It returned to Haverhill and that vicinity some time in the fall after The Regiment was discharged the ['last' crossed out] first day of ['March' crossed out] April 1779 
I knew Sylvester Bugbee now residing in Newbury in the County of Orange & State of Vermont as early as the year 776 - He was then doing duty as a Soldier or rather waiter to Lieut. Zebulon Lyon in Capt Benjamin Wait's company in Major Hosington's (Hoisington) Corps and was then stationed at Newbury - I am clear in the opinion that the Hosington (Hoisington) Corpse was not discharged from Service until after the taking of Burgoyne in Oct'r 1777 - altho Major Hosington (Hoisington) had deceased the winter previous while on a Journey to Albany after money to pay off his troops - Hosington's (Hoisington) Corpse came on to Newbury the fore part of April 1776 - It was an independent Corps raised under the authority of New York - that State then claiming Jurisdiction over the territory now called Vermont. 
I well remember said Bugbee as a Soldier in Captain Solomon Cushman's company in my fathers Regiment - (as I was  with my  father most of the time) - before the company marched for Albany - I know nothing but that Bugbee served out his enlistment fully in Cushman's company - 
/s/Moody Bedel
State of Vermont - County of Orange ss. Newbury July 11, 1833
Then Gen'l Moody Bedel of Bath in the County of Grafton & State of Newhampshire personally appeared before me - made solemn Oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true - And I further certify that I have been well acquainted with said Bedel for more than twenty years and that he is a person of credibility & that his statement is entitled to credit - 
/s/Joseph Berry Justice of the Peace
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I William Bennet of Woodstock County of Windsor & State of Vermont aged 70 years Depose and Say that in the year 1780 I was acquainted with Sylvester Bugbee then of Pomfret in the State of Vermont now of Newbury in said State & well know that the said Bugbee was in the Service in Capt Jesse Safford's Company in Col. Wait's Regiment (Troops raised by the authority of what is now the State of Vermont) & that the said Bugbee Served four months that I served with him in the same company, that during said time we were stationed at a Small Fort in Bethel in Said State of Vermont
I further Depose & Say that at the time the said Bugbee was in Said Service he was a Substitute for one Alexander Hutchison then of said Pomfret - & further Deponent sayeth not
/s/William Bennet
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss } Woodstock June 7th 1833
Then personally appeared William Bennet & made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him Subscribed contains the truth & nothing but the truth before me - & I hereby certify that the said William Bennet is a credible witness - 
/s/Edwin Hutchinson Justice of peace
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss } Woodstock County Clerk's Office June 7th 1833
I Benjamin Clerk of Windsor County Court do hereby certify that Edwin Hutchinson is one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said County and that the above is his signature - 
[court seal affixed] In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the Seal of said Court the day & year above and subscribed my name - 
/s/Benj'a Swan
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['Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1872.' crossed out]
1415 REJECTED [initials: own]
P. O. Jemima Bugbee widow of Sylvester
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank], 18[blank]
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank]
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank]
Alleges: List of suspended claims, appointed in 1852, shows cause
Re-enlisted: of suspension as follows: "Suspended for further proof."
Attorney: [blank]
P.O. [blank]
[blank] Recognized. [blank] Contract.
[blank] Cert. of Dis. Searched for [blank], 18[blank].
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3918
Sylvester Bugbee
Admit - 2 Ys Pr $80.
Joseph Berry Esq
Newbury Vt.
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https://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngWar Department
Pension Office
April 26 1883
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. 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

A Statement, showing the Service of
Period when the service was rendered
Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. Days.
Rank of the claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
M. Sylvester Bugbee
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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 et 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, 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, 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 : 
[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 on that of the Agency in the State of [blank] 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] 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 [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 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 investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a RevoIutionary 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 [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is 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. 
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 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 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.

[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 most 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 loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making au 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 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 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 place 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 or the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if he has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no 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 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 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.
⇒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 [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.
Page 26

[handwritten letter]
Lynn N. H. August 18 1843

Dear Sir
I am requested to forward the Declaration of the widow Bugbee's affidavit of her son for your examination & Division
I have the hon'r to be very Respectfully your &c 
/s/D. C. Churchill
Page 27

[handwritten letter]
[margin note: 112]
Pension Office
Oct'r 11. 1843

Sir
The papers in the case of Jemima Bugbee claiming a pension under the act of July 7th '38 have been examined and filed. The proof as to the date of the marriage is not satisfactory. Record evidence public or private or documentary proof showing the relation of husband and wife between the parties prior to Jan'y 1st 1794 should be adduced especially as the time approaches so nearly to the limit of the law. The Deposition of Alvah Bugbee is herewith returned for proper authentication as a Register of Probate has no authority to certify the official character of a Justice of the peace. The use of his seal is confined to the act of the Court of which he is the recording officer. The certificates of the Comptroller of New York and Secretary of State of Vermont as required to establish the service of Sylvester Bugbee which was admitted when there were no rolls accessible by which they could be listed. He says he served a year under Capt'n Benj'a Wait in 1776 - in a regiment commanded by Col'l Hosington (Hoisington) NY Line. & in 1778 enlisted for one year at Pomfret Verm't - under Capt'n Solomon Cushman in Col'l Timothy Bedel's Reg't continental establishment - in 1780 enlisted again at Pomfret Vermont under Capt'n
Page 28

Jesse Safford in a Reg't commanded by Col'l Wait Verm't Line for six or 12 months but which he does not know

D. C. Churchill
11 Oct'r 1863
D. C. Churchill Esq'r
Lynn N.H.
Page 29

Silvester Bugbee Application &c 3918
Return to be made to Joseph Berry Esq'r 
Newbury Vt. agent for applicant
Page 30

I Joshua Bayley of Newbury in the County of Orange and State of Vermont of the age 79 years do depose & say that I recollect in the fore part of the Spring Season of 1776 a Corpse of men - called as I think Hosington's (Hoisington) Battallion arrived at Newbury a part of which was stationed at Newbury and part at a post at Corinth - I think they stayed at Newbury all the season - as much as eight or ten months - I well recollect the officers of the corpse - among whom was Capt. Benjamin Wait. Lieut Zebulon Lyon and Ensign Hawley - I remember also that Sylvester Bugbee who has for the last dozen or more years lived in this place - was a soldier in s'd Wait's company - and I have no doubt but that he did duty as such during his engagement and such in the general belief in this vicinity - 
/s/Joshua Bayley
State of Vermont
County of Orange ss - At Newbury in the said County of Orange this first day of August Ad 1832 the foregoing deposition of Colonel Joshua Bayley was sworn to and subscribed before me - and I certify that I reside in the neighborhood of said Bayley and know his reputation for truth and veracity to be perfectly good 
/s/Joseph Berry Justice Peace
Page 31

I Anna Bayley of Newbury in the County of Orange and State of Vermont of the age of Seventy Eight years do depose and say that I well recollect the day on which the Battallion or Regiment of men under the Command of Colonel Hosington (Hoisington) arrived at Newbury for the defence of this northern frontier at the time of the Revolution. It was on the 5th day of April 1776 that these troops arrived at my father in laws. Gen'l Jacob Bayley's house in said Newbury - as on that day my second daughter was born which circumstance enables me to fix on the day - 
I remember of Capt Wait's Company composing part of the Battallion or Reg't - I remember also that an officer of belonging to the Corpse was called Lieut Lyon & boarded during the time at a neighbor's house near ours - and that a small young man of the name of Bugbee was one of the Soldiers - and I have no doubt but that it is the same Sylvester Bugbee who has for many years last past lived a near neighbor to my family and is the only person of that name within my knowledge - 
/s/Anna Bayley
State of Vermont
County of Orange ss. At Newbury in the said County of Orange this first day of August AD 1832 the foregoing deposition of Mrs Anna Bayley wife of Col'o Joshua Bayley was sworn to and subscribed before me - 
And I certify that I reside in the immediate vicinity of said Bayley's family and believe said Mrs Bayley's reputation for truth & veracity to be perfectly good 
/s/Joseph Berry Justice Peace