Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4511, Charles Hamilton, Mass.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE  Mass Hamilton, Charles 
NUMBER R.4511
CONTENTS [section empty]
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Charles Hamilton Son of Charles Hamilton decd
who was an applt. for a Revo. Penn.

J.E. Heath Esq Comr. Pensions
This deposition of Charles Hamilton is made & forwarded to the Department for the purpose of obtaining a copy of the papers in the claim of his father Charles Hamilton for a Pension & the deponent request [crossed out] desires that such copy of said papers be sent to us.
Very Respy. Edward Smith
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State of New York County of Madison Ss.
On this 15th day of November A.D. 1852
personally came before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace with in & for the Court of Madison in Said State, Charles Hamilton who being by me first duly sworn did depose & say that he is a resident of the town of Lebanon in said County & is a farmer & has lived in said County over twenty years. Deponent further says that Charles Hamilton the father of Deponent lived in said County of Madison from about the year 1830, to the year 1845, when the said Hamilton died. That his said father at the time of his decease, & for about three years previous thereto resided in Said town of Lebanon, & that at the time of his death he was eighty four years of age & upwards that the said deceased came to the State of New York & in to the said County of Madison from the town of Essex, Chittenden Co. State of Vermont, when he had resided for over thirty years.
And Deponent further says that the said Charles Hamilton deceased the father of Deponent was a Revolutionary soldier, & served, as deponent was informed by the deceased, about two years, & that he was while in Said Service in the engagement at the Battle of Bennington, that he was always reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & deponent has no doubt that
he was such
Deponent further says that some fifteen or sixteen years ago to the best of Deponents recollection the saw Deceased was advised by John G. Stower that he was entitled to a Pension from the United States, & that the said John G. Stower prepared & forwarded to the Department of Pensions on behalf of said deceased an application for such pension that nothing was heard from said application, except that it was understood that the same had been suspended, but for what cause deponent is unable to state.
That the said Stower who had charge of said application was a man of irregular & intemperate habits, & as deponent believes the said business was neglected or unskillfully prosecuted by him. That a good deal of expense was incurred by this deponent for the said deceased in processing said application to be made, & that the matter was at length abandoned for the reason
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that the deceased was unable to advance the necessary means to continue it. 

Deponent further says that he has no doubt that the said deceased was entitled to a Pension, and deponent desires, as one of the heirs of the said deceased to make an effort to procure said Pension to be allowed for the benefit of the children of said deceased, or to take what steps may be necessary to recover any monies that may be due to the heirs of the now deceased from the Government of the United States on account of the military service of the said deceased. For that purpose deponent desires to procure from the Pension Office a copy of the application before mentioned, & heretofore made by the deceased as above stated with copies of [inserted] all the papers & proof accompanying said application, with the reasons for its rejection. The object being to learn from said proofs & papers the facts already proved in regard to the service of said Deceased, & to obtain such knowledge as they may furnish of the probable sources of the proof of fact that may require to be proved in the said intended application of the heir of the Deceased. Deponent also says that the before mentioned John G. Stower is dead, & that he died about one year since then residing in the town of Sullivan in said County of Madison.

Deponent further say that he has recently made application to the said Pension Office for the copies before mentioned, through Myles  Edwards & Smith of the City of Washington, & that said application was refused, as deponent is informed by said Edwards & Smith, for the reason that the said Department require in such cases that the object for which such copies & information are wanted be stated by the party making the application. To satisfy said Department that said copies & the information desired are applied for in good faith & for a lawful & proper purpose, this deposition is made Charles Hamilton [signature] 

Sworn & Subscribed before me this 15th of November 1852. And I do certify that I am well acquainted with the above subscribed Deponent Charles Hamilton, that he resides in the town of Lebanon in said County of Madison, & has resided in said County over twenty years last past, that he is a person of the full respectability whose statements are entitled to undoubted faith & credit. J. Mason Justice of the peace [signature]
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STATE OF NEW-YORK, Clerk's Office, Madison County, } ss.
I, LORENZO. D DANA, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that J. Mason Esq. whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment [crossed out] of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, [crossed out] a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected or appointed, and qualified, and authorized by the laws of said State to take the same; and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and verily believe the signature to the said certificate is genuine, and that said instrument is executed and acknowledged [crossed out] Sworn according to the laws of said State.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal, the 17th day of November 1832.  L.D. Dana Clerk. [signature] 

[partially round seal in left center of page]
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[left side of page] 
Charles Hamilton Pension under act of June 7. 1832
18251 [checkmark] 

1 seal [bottom left corner of page] 

[right side of page] 
Affd
Rejected & supposed to be returned to Judge Brunson of Burlington NY 
May 10 1819 -- 
They are not on file here [illegible]
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State of Vermont Chittendon County SS. 
We Chester Ingraham a clergyman residing in the town of Essex in County & state [crossed out] aforesaid & Joseph Neul -- residing in the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Charles Hamilton formerly of said town & now as we believe & are informed a resident of Hamilton Madison County New-York that we believe him to be 73. years of age _ that we knew him while a resident of said town of Essex the said Chester Ingraham for 25 - years & the Said Joseph Neul - for 20 - years that he has always been reputed & believed in that town & neighborhood to have been a soldier of the Revolution & to have been a man of truth & veracity & we concur in that opinion  
Chester Ingraham [signature] Joseph Neul [signature] 

I do certify that on this 4th day of September 1832 personally appeared before me Chester Ingraham a Baptist Clergyman of Essex & Joseph Neul to me known & Subscribed & made oath to the foregoing affidavit & I certify that I are acquainted with them & that they are credible witnesses 
Henry Bliss Justice Peace [signature]
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STATE OF VERMONT, Chittendon County, SS. }
I Nathan Maxwell Clerk of Chittenden County Court, do hereby certify that, Henry Bliss Esqr. before whom the annexed disposition is taken, was at the time thereof, a Justice of the Peace, duly qualified, acting under the authority of this State, and that I believe his name thereto subscribed, to be his own proper signature. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Burington, this [previous sentence printed in italics] 4 day of September A.D. 1832
Nathan B Maxwell [signature] 

[partially round seal in left center of page]
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
State of New York Madison County SS. 
On this 9th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of common pleas of the said County of Madison now sitting, the same being a Court of record established as such by the laws of the State of New York Charles Hamilton a resident of Hamilton in the said County & State aforesaid aged seventy one years at & upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.

That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated 
Firstly that in August 1777 then being a resident 1 m.  of Williamstown in the County of Markham & State of Massachusetts he was called out together with the rest of the militia, upon the approach of Geneal Burgoynes army that he marched & served in the Company of Captain Samuel Clark, the Regiment of militia men commanded by Colonel Symon but whether he did actually command on that occasion declarant does not recollect. 

Declarant was in Bennington battle, another storming the Tory & British breastworks_ & [illegible] [2 words crossed out] Colonel Barnes after he was wounded & taken prisoner. Said Colonel was & his Regiment was on that occasion -- Declarant was discharged In the vicinity of the battle ground having served a month.

Secondly that in June 1778 then residing at 12 ms Williamstown aforesaid he enlisted for one year in the Massachusetts Troops [crossed out] State troops in the Company of Captain Samuel Clark General Ladd & Colonel Powells Regiment
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Declarant joined the Company at Lanis - The Company marched from there to Litchfield & remained there a few weeks. & then marched to New Haven in Connecticut where & at East Haven & West Haven declarant served out his time. was employed a considerable part of the time in building a fort at East Haven in which their same continental troops (& declarant thinks they belonged to Glovers Brigade) came into New Haven & remained a few days. Declarants corps paraded with them once or twice - He was discharged at New Haven in June 1779 having served out his full term of one year. 
 
Thirdly That early in the spring of 1780 then 8 ms residing at Williamstown declarant enlisted for nine months in the Company of Captain Thurson & the Lieutenant named Johnson also, in the Massachusetts militia. That the Company met at Williamstown and marched on to Carleton to a place called Fort Warren. That declarants Company when arrived at Carleton was attached to Colonel Allens Regiment. That a Continental officer named Hutchens commanded & with a few continual solders garrisoned the fort, while the militia encamped about or in the vicinity, That he served part of the time at a place called Fort Venyson about twenty miles from Carleton. That late in the fall of 1780 & after having served only Eight [underlined] months he was discharged at Carleton aforesaid.

Fourth That about May 1. 1781 then residing at 6 ms Pawlet in the State of Vermont he enlisted as a volunteer Served for six months in a body of men raised for the purpose of scouting upon [illegible] frontiers or to north. The plans for
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rendezvous near Carleton & from there the men were scattered in small parties along the Northern frontier. Declarant on their [illegible] after went down Otter Creek & to Ticonderoga & Crown Point. Declarant does not now recollect the names of any officer of higher rank than Sargeant. He recollects the name of a Sargeant Wood under whose command he very often Scouted as before stated. That about seven weeks before the termination of the six months for which declarant had enlisted he was discharged at Carleton on account as he was informed & believes, that there was sufficient to exist no necessity to keep up the scouting parties any longer.

That he has no documentary evidence unless there can be found upon the files of the war department the affidavit of one Kirby [underlined] showing declarants services for one year as before stated. Said affidavit was sent on to maintain a claim of declarant to a Pension under the former Law but which was registered as declarant was informed because he was not upon the continental establishment [illegible] not believed that application was made about 1819 or 1820. 
That he knows of no person except said Kirby whose testimony he can procure. That he has endeavored to get another affidavit from him, but has been unable to procure in and around his claim.
Declarant was born December 9, 1760 at Sharon Litchfield County & State of Connecticut. Has a record of his age in his own family Bible. 
That he lived when called into service at the places before stated.
That since the Revolution war he has lived in Pawlet in Vermont a little over three years, then removed to Shilling in Vermont where he resided twelve years & then removed to Essex Vermont where resided thirty two [underlined] years & then [a word crossed out] removed to Hamilton Madison. County New York four years ago last remaining where he
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now resides _ 
That he was called into service in the manner before stated. 
That he has stated as aforesaid the names of the regular & other officers he served & other Militia & Continental Regiments with which he was acquainted.
That he never had a Commission or a [word crossed out] written discharge 
That he hopes to prove by the affidavits of Chester Ingraham a Clergyman & Joseph Culler that he [illegible] a good character for truth & veracity at Essex in the State of Vermont where he formerly resided & that he was then reputed to be a soldier of the Revolution & he hopes to prove the same as to his good character for veracity and the reputation of his service as a soldier of the Revolution of Hamilton where he now resides by Andrew Peck a clergyman of Hamilton Madison County & Jedediah Peck [crossed out] Woodard [inserted] of the same place --- 
He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State 

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Charles Hamilton [signature] A.S. Sloan Clk [signature underlined] 

We Andrew Peck a Clergyman residing in the town of Hamilton & Jedediah Woodard residing in the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Charles Hamilton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy one years of age &  upwards; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a solder of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion & that he is of good character for truth & veracity  Andrew Peck [signature] Jedidiah Woodard [signature

Sworn to & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A.S. Sloan Clk  [signature]
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[written vertically from bottom to top in left margin of page] 
+ And further Amd [crossed out] Andrew Peck who has signed the affidavit hereto annexed is a resident in the town of Hamilton Madison County & that Jedidiah Woodard is a resident of said town & that both are credible witnesses & entitles to credit   

[written horizontally left to right starting at top of page]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the war Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he stated. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them [word crossed out] Andrew Peck who has signed the foregoing Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Hamilton & that Jedediah Peck who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Hamilton & is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit-

And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Chester Ingraham who has signed the affidavit hereto annexed is a Cler [illegible] resident of Essex in the State of Vermont where said Charles Hamilton formerly resided & that Jospeh Neul is also a resident of said Essex, that they are credible persons & their statement entitled to credit. 

I Andrew S. Sloan Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Madison do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Charles Hamilton for a Pension 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 9th day of October 1832. A.S. Sloan Clk [signature]

[seal attached in bottom center of page]
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N. 18251.
Charles Hamilton [word crossed out] 
County New York.
4511 
i.

Refd  to E.D. Bungs
for proof Sept 27
33
Suspd --

Stower
John G Stoner Hamilton, Madison
County New York

Madison [faint pencil in bottom right corner of page]
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 183
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 [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 claim.
---------------------------------------
A STATEMENT, shewing [showing] the Service of Charles Hamilton Madison County New York
-------------------------------------
[table with 11 columns and 5 rows including row of column headings]
[column headings] Period when the service was rendered [written vertically bottom to top] | Duration of the claimant's service. Years. | Months. | Days | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported. |

Called Augt. 1777| - | 1 | - | private | -- | Col Symonds | | Marched to Litchfield to New Haven to East Haven To Ticonderoga and to Crowe & Point & | 71 years Berkshire Massachusetts | traditionary evidence Clergiman certificate &c. witnesses certified credible - papers not properly attached

Enlisd. June 1778 | 1 | - | - | private | Cap Clark | Col Powels |  |  |  |     

Enlisted Spring 1780 | - | 8 | - | private | Cap Johnson | Col Allen |  |  |  |   

Enld. May 1781 | - | 6 | - | private |  |  |  |  |  | 


I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
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[printed form] 
2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion [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) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [graphic of a hand pointing to the right:] 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.] [square brackets in original]

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.] [square brackets in original]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of & c.

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ,
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] [square brackets in original]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation [application] of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. 
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Count 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 he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons --one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. 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 Justice of the peace, the certification 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 he 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 case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: 
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duty sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: -- For ___ year ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___ . For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ___ ; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase 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 places where the service was performed; that the applicant served; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, providing the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

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

[Proof of Service. -- in italics]
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[graphic of closed right hand with index finger pointing] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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[printed form with handwritten responses] 
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873. [entire line crossed out]

REJECTED  [diagonal stamp from upper left to lower right]

4511. 
P.O.  Charles Hamilton
Service: _____ 
Enlisted: _____ , 18 
Discharged: _____  , 18
Application filed: _____ , 18
Alleges: _____ 
Re-enlisted: _____ 
Attorney: _____ 
P.O. _____ 
Recognized.   _____  Contract
Page 19

Rev. 
New York
Suspended [illegible] June '32
letter 21 Oct 1833
to
John G. Shower
&c. Hon. B. Bicknall [illegible] 
[illegible] '38 to same 12 Dec. 1838
to R. Judson 5. Aug. 1839 [checkmark]
Page 20

Let to Edward & Smith
3 Nov 1852
same 4 Feb 1853
Abbott & Church.
13th Sept 1853.

[small rectangular stamp of some kind in bottom center of page]
Page 21

[page very dark] 

Feb 28 - 1853 [underlined] 
Ril to Carry 
Chas. Hamilton
[line illegible]
Now deceased
Abbott & Church
Hamilton Madison County NY 

[address written vertically bottom to top of page overtop of horizontal address given: Mr. J E Heath Comr. of Pensions 
Washington D.C.]

[round postal stamp in bottom left corner: HAMILTON NY FEB 24]
Page 22

Charles Hamilton
77. Saml. Clark.  Simonds Tias &  1m
78  "  "  Powell  12
80. _  Johnson   Castleton __ 8
81. Sergt.  Vt. Troops --  6m
Page 23

Hamilton Feby 24th 1853 Madison Co. N.Y.
Hon. J.E. Heath Comr. of Pensions Washington D.C. 
Dear Sir
In the month of October 1832 Charles Hamilton of Hamilton Madison Co. N.Y. made his application to the Pension Department to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832  His application was drawn & forwarded to the Department by John H. Stower, a man for many years [inserted] often of irregular & intemperate habits & who died a year or more ago. It was understood that the application was suspended, but upon what grounds or for what cause it was not known, & no information can be obtained of Mr Stown as he is dead. The children of Charles Hamilton, now deceased, and desirous of learning the grounds of that suspension with a view of renewing the application.
Charles Hamilton one of the children of the Soldier applied to your department within the past few months, & procured a copy of his fathers application. He supposed he would also learn the reasons of the rejection or suspension mentioned  If consistent, & we suppose it to be so, you will greatly oblige the parties who feel interested by sending a statement of the Same. 
Very truly & obediently for Abbott & Church
Page 24

In the Matter of the Pension of Charles Hamilton, a Rev Soldier [underlined] } 
J.L. Edwards Esquire Comr. of Pensions
Sir
Some years Since Charles Hamilton made an application for a pension in Consideration of Revolutionary Services [underlined] and has been kept in a State of Suspense for years, his Counsel either does not know what has been done in the matter & what yet remains to be done to process the pension (if one can be obtained) or else keeps from him the requisite information.
Mr Hamilton wishes me to write you and ask what has been done and what remains to be done; that he may not be kept in a State of Suspense longer and Says that by an answer you will confer a favour & shall receive the thanks of one that fought boldly in defence of Liberty
Dated Hamilton Madison Co. N York Nov 2 1838  W. Thompson
Page 25

Mar. 29 
D.C. Iss. at. 

[written vertically top to bottom and right to left of page] 
Hamilton 
L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pen
Washington 
Hon. Bicknell
Page 26

House Rep Washington 28th March 1838  
Dear Sir 
At the request of J. G. Stower Esqr of Hamilton Madison Co N.Y. I take the liberty to ask what disposition has been made in the case of Charles Hamilton an applicant for a Pension? The papers were sent to the Department some time since
I am sir verry [very] respectfully your Obt Sert. B. Bicknell 
J. L. Edward Esq
Page 27

Sherburne, Chenango Co. NY. 15 July 1839
Hond. Sir 
+Charles Hamilton [underlined] of the County of Madison in this State has this day called on me relative to his pension some 5 or 6 years ago he says he made application through John G. Stower Esq. his agent or atty, for the last two years Stower has been so much addicted to intoxication as to be unable now to give any account further than to say the papers are all in your office, will you do me the favor to give me a short statement how the application stands and what objections now exist in order to give the applicant the privilege of removing the objections, if consistent -- please direct your communication to me at this place
With respect I remain Your Obt Servt 
Roswell Judson

Hon. J. L. Edwards Washington

P.S. you will find my name at your office as a regular pension agent on the recommendation of the Hon. S. Beardsley - Judson 
No 18.257 Index No