Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19,280, Joel Fox, Mass.
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(form completed in black ink)

Mass Fox, Joel W.19.280
Hannah B.L.W. 29730-160-55
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(form completed in black ink)

16932
Massachusetts
Joel Fox of Dracut in the State of Mass who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Varnum of the Regt commanded by Col Jackson in the Mass line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of --80 Dollars --Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued she 9th day of March 1833 and sent to Hon J Kelson H K
Arrears to 4th of March 1833 160 00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 40.00
$200.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Daniel Boyd [signature] Clerk, book D Vol. 2 Page 37

[second page has number 75 and J Kelson written in pencil]
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(form completed in black ink)

4939
Massachusetts
Hannah Fox widow of Joel Fox Mass who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars " " Cents per annum, to commence on the 8th day of [crossed out March] Feb., 1849 [the 9 is written over the type written 8].
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of July, 1849, and sent to  Joel Adams Lowell, Mass.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 371 Vol. 2

[on second page]

Reported
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(handwritten in black ink)

183.293 Act Mar. 3d/55
July 5th/55
Hannah Fox
wid of 
Joel Fox
Private
Capt. James Varnum
See, "application for pension under Act of Feb. 2, 1848"}
Rev. War
Mass [illegible] 48 939
at: 160 AG pm. 12/56
Boynton [signature]
Joel Adams,
Lowell,
Mass

(written diagonally across the section listing Capt. Varnum)

29730 iss Jun 14/56

[written sideways in section with Boynton's signature]

[illegible]

(handwritten in black ink on second page)

Vol. F. 101. [illegible]
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11436
Joel Fox
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(form completed in black ink)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss.
On this [crossed out tenth] twelfth day of September Anno Domini 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of [crossed out Common Pleas] Probate now sitting at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth of aforesaid Joel Fox a resident in the Town of Dracutt [sic] in said County
Who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy seven he enlisted into the Army of the United States for the term of three years & served During that period in the eight Regiment in the Massachusetts line under the following officers. Colonel Michael Jackson, Lt. Col. John Brooks, & in the Company of Captain James Varnum the last of whom is now my neighbor & friend. I served the full term of my enlistment, recd. an honorable Discharge as appears by the original papers hereto annexed
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He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any State, Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Attest John Varnum [signature]
Joel Fox [signature]
S P P Fay [signature] J Prob

[crossed out We a Clergyman residing in the town of in the county of hereby certify that we are well acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and 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 in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,]

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. [crossed out And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that who has signed the preceding Certificates is a Clergyman resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.]
J. P. P. Fay [signature] J Prob

I [crossed out Elias illegible] I, Isaac Fiske Register on Clerk of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex [crossed out Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts] do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of said Court, in the matter of application of Joel Fox for a pension. [word cover by affixed seal] testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of officer this [crossed out tenth] twelfth day of September in the year of our lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two.
[affixed seal] Isaac Fiske [signature] Reg.
of the Court of Probate
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(typewritten form in black ink was not filled out)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit, 
At the Court of within and for the County of begun and holden at day of A. D. 183 On the application of claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:

1. Where, and in what year were your born?
Answer,

2. Have you and record of your age, and where is it?
Answer,

3. Where were you living, and when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you live now? Answer,

4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom? Answer, 

5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where your served, such Continental and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service? Answer,

6. 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? Answer,
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(handwritten in black ink. page is folded in half)

[on left side]
Hannah Fox.

[on right side] 
act '44-498
W13892
Hannah Fox
wid of Joel 
Mass
act 7 July 1838
Married 1783
Rejection, husband
died, 8 July 1849
[illegible] acts 17 Mar 44
12 Feb 48
$80_
[illegible] 8 July 49
Joel Adams
Lowell
Mass
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(handwritten in black ink)

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows, & the acts in addition thereto.
State of Massachusetts
Middlesex County} ss.
On this sixth day of march in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty nine, personally appeared before the Court of Probate for said County of Middlesex, the same being a Court of Record Hannah Fox, a resident of the town of Dracut in said County of Middlesex, aged eight four years ^ in May next, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration; in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions "to certain widows"' ^  & the acts additional thereto that she is the widow of Joel Fox who was a private in the Army of the Revolution, and served in the Revolutionary War at sundry periods and under different officers, as I have often heard him state, for a more particular description of which service She refers to the Statement made by him in his declaration for a pension now on file in the War Department at the City of Washington. She further declares that she was married to the said Joel Fox on the thirteenth day of November in the year Seventeen hundred and eight three, and that her husband the aforesaid Joel Fox died on the eighth day of February in the year eighteen hundred and forty nine; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, to wit, at the time above Stated.
Subscribed & sworn to by the said 
[crossed out Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before, ] Hannah Fox,  at her own hands in Dracut in said
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County on the year & day first above written _ Mrs. Fox being nearly blind & unable from age & infirmity to attend Court - the words "In May next" [underlined] & "The acts in addition Thereto" [underlined] - and the words "and acts additional there to being interlined before her subscription & oath Thereto before me

Hannah X [a large black x with word her above it and the word mark below it] Fox

S P P Fay judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex aforesaid,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss
I Isaac Fiske Register of the Court of Probate in & for the County of Middlesex hereby certify that the hon S P P Fay, whos [sic] own proper signature in above matter, is the Judge of the probate Court aforesaid, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this sixth day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and forty nine
Isaac Fiske [signature] Reg
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183.293
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APPLICATION FOR BOUNTY LAND.
(By the Widow of a deceased person who has not had a Land Warrant,)

STATE of Massachusetts
COUNTY of Middlesex ss }

On this thirty first day of March A.D., one thousand eight hundred and fifty- five personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Hannah Fox aged Eighty Eight years, a resident of Dracut in the State of Massachusetts who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Joel Fox deceased, who was a Private [crossed out in the company commanded by Captain] in the Revolutionary War and Served in Captain James Varnum's Company [crossed out in the Regiment of commanded by] in the war with Great Britain [crossed out declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812,] and for proof The Military Services of the said Joel Fox she refers to the Evidedence [sic] now in the Pension office of the United States in the Case of the said Joel Fox on his application for a Pension and for proof of her marriage and the decease of her husband she [illegible] to the evidence on file in said office in the case of her application for a pension [crossed out that her said husband] under the act of Feb. 2. 1848 [crossed out A. D.] for the term of and continued in actually service in said war for the term of and was honorably discharged at on the day of A. D. 
She further states that she was married to the said Joel Fox in Dracut on the Thirtieth day  of November A. D. 1783, by one John Varnum, a Justice of the Peace and that her name before her said marriage was Hannah Cheever that her said husband died at Dracut on the eighth day of February A. D. 1849 and that she is now a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3d, 1855 and she desires that her certificate may be sent to Joel Adams of Lowell Mass
Hannah [letter x with the word her above it and the word mark below it] Fox
witness Joel Adams [signature]
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(form completed in black ink)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston, June 21. 1855
I Hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed, Joel Adams was a 
Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court. the Signature of the Justice in person.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

[seal affixed] E M Wright [signature]
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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STATE of Massachusetts
COUNTY of Middlesex }
We, Lydia Fox and Gayton M. Hall residents of the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Hannah Fox in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.
Lydia Fox [signature]
Gayton M. Hall [signature]

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Joel Adams [signature] Justice of the Peace.

STATE OF  [blank]
COUNTY OF   [blank] ss.}
I,  [blank] certify that  [blank] whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice [affixed seal covers three lines rendering them unreadable and unviewable] County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified; that on the  [blank] day of [blank] A. D. 185 . as such are entitled to full faith and credit. 
Given under my hand this  [blank] day of  [blank] A. D. 185 .
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I, George Hovey of the town of Dracut in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massts [sic] on oath depose and say, that I am the Town - Clerk of said Town of Dracut, and have the Custody and care of the Records of said town - That I have examined said Records and find no record of the Marriage of Joel Fox and Hannah Chever; I furthermore declare that I cannot find any Record of the marriage of any persons by the late Parker Varnum Esq. of said Dracut, who was a Justice of the Peace for said County. And I also declare, that there is no record of any marriage on said town Record from Feby. 2d A. D. 1773 to July 3d 1788.
I furthermore declare that I find a Record of the mention of marriage of Joel Fox and Hannah Chever both of Dracut on the 22d of March 1783 and the following a true copy of said Record to with. "Mr. Joel Fox entered with me his intention of Marriage with Miss Hannah Chever both of Dracut. Dated at Dracut March. 22. 1783."
"Wm. Hildreth, Town Clerk"
George Hovey [signature] Town Clerk of Dracut

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss March 2D 1849 - Personally the above named George Hovey, and made oath that the above written Declaration on affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me. Joel Adams [signature] Justice of the Peace
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(form completed in black ink)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's office, Boston, March 7. 1849
I hereby Certify That at the date of the annexed attestation Joel Adams was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex.
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestation as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
[seal affixed]
W W Calhan [signature] Secretary of the Commonwealth
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BRIEF in the case of Joel Fox of Dracut in the State of Masstt [sic]
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infimity?

3. How old is he? 74 years

4. State his service as directed in the form annexed.

Period.   Duration of Service.  Rank.  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
In 1777- 3 years Capt. Varnum Col. Jackson

5. In what battles was he engaged? none [illegible]

6. Where did he residence when he entered the service? Dracut, Mass

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? [illegible] commanding officer

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Richard Cutts [signature]
Examining Clerk
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Joel Fox (Mass)
W.19280
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West Point March 23 1780
This may Certify that Joel Fox has Returned in his arms and accoutrements that he Recd from the Publick

James Varnum [signature] Capt

[The National Archives stamp is over the Capt part of the signature]
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West Point March 22d 1780

Joel Fox soldier in the 8th Massachusetts Regimt is Discharged the Service of the United States this Day and all issuing Commesary [sic] are Desired to Deliver Provision to him on his way to Dracutt [sic]

Given under my hand at West Point march 22/1780

Michl Jackson [signature] Colo. Comr (signature) 
4 Massachusetts Brigade
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Served the Witness for the thirty first March 80
For Moses Church MO
Jos Williston [signature]

Joel Fox (Mass)
W. 19280

[National Archives stamp bottom center]
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I Patty Hall of Dracut in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, widow aged seventy nine years, on oath declare that I am the Sister of Hannah C. Fox of said Dracut widow of the late Joel Fox of Dracut, deceased, and I furthermore declare that I was present at my  father's house in Dracut when the said Joel Fox was married to my Sister the above name Hannah C. Fox; my father's name was Ezekiel Chever and my Sister was married to said Joel Fox by the late Parker Varnum Esq. a Justice of the Peace for said County of Middlesex residing in said Dracut; This marriage was solemnised [sic] on or about the thirteenth day of November, in the year Seventeen hundred and eight three. There were many other persons present at said marriage, all of whom are now dead. Said Parker Varnum has been dead many years. Said Joel Fox was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States and died at said Dracut on the 8th day of Feby inst. Patty Hall [signature]

Middlesex ss Feb 28th 1849
Then the above named Patty Hall widow personally appeared and testifyd [sic] and made oath to the above certificate that she has subscribed to be fore me
Ira Hall [signature], Justice of the peace
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(form completed in black ink)
(top portion is handwritten and appears to have been laid over the form for the purpose of scanning/copying)


Middlesex Feb Feb 28th 1849

I certify that the within named Patty Hall is personally known to me as a person of truth and credabilty [sic]
Ira Hall [signature] Justice of the Peace

(beginning of form)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston March 7 1849
I herby Certify, That at the dates of the annexed attestations Ira Hall was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

[seal affixed] W W Calhan [signature] Secretary of the Commonwealth
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(form completed in black ink)
[illegible initials written sideways above the File No. line]
Rev
Widow, & c.
File No. 19280
Hannah Fox
Wid " of 
Joel Fox
Priv Rev. War
Act: Feby 2nd '/48
Index: - Vol. A, Page 248
{Arrangement of 1870.}
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[check mark]
29.730

Rev Army
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I James Varnum of Dracutt [sic] testify and say that During the Revolutionary ^ War I served as an officer; that in 1777 Joel Fox of said Dracutt [sic] who signed the annexed Declaration enlisted with my Company for the term of three years, as a private Soldier. that he was an excellent Soldier & served out the full term of his enlistment. that the Discharge hereto annexed purporting to be signed by James Varnum was signed by me at the time it bears Dated. I am also acquainted with the signatures of Col. Michael Jackson & Lieut. Col. John Brooks under whom I served several years. & have no Doubt that the paper hereto annexed purporting to be signed by them are genuine, & were signed at the time bear Dated.
James Varnum [signature]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. September 3d 1832 The above named James Varnum personally appeared before me & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me John Varnum [signature] Justice of the Peace
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(handwritten in black in)

Medford April 15th 1818.

This is to certify that Joel Fox was a soldier in the 8th Massts [sic] Regiment from the beginning of the year 1777 to the beginning of the year 1780, & that having served three years he was duly discharged.
J. Brooks [signature] Lt. Colo of [illegible] Regt
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Joel Fox, Mas. Act of June 1832 $80.00

To what three was he last paid
GCA
Pension Office  Pd to 4th Sept. 1841
May 2 1849       B. L. B.
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(handwritten in black ink)

Lowell. Ms. March, 4th 1849.

Dear S.
I inclose [sic] and forward to the Pension Department, the Declaration of Hannah Fox, widow of Joel Fox, late of Dracut in the County of Middlesex, Mass, I also forward the best Evidence I can obtain of the marriage of the said Joel & Hannah.
I hope the Document will be satisfactory. I can see her Claim is just, and she is lawfully intitled to the Pension -
I am very respectfully your obedient Servant
Joel Adams [signature]
for Hannah Fox

[in the lower left corner]
To the Hon Secy of War}
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(hand written in black ink)

11496
Joel Fox
Private
2 years
Adm
Hon J Nelson
[illegible]
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(form completed in black ink)

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joel Fox Dracut Masstt [sic] which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

V. *Has he mentioned 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 amout [sic] of pension is he entitled? yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes

VII. Has he made relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No

VIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?


XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  y
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?  y

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? y

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?


EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____  year ______ months, and _______  days, I served as a _________; For _____  year ______ months, and _______  days, I served as a _________; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite , and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 objection able. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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. 

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service. 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 claimants 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. 

+QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating 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 paper 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 every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.