Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 21,377, for Isaac Miner, Rhode Island
Page 3

19.112
Isaac Miner
Caledonia Co
Vermont
Admitted 
11 mos 29 d's 
$39.84
Amos Paul Esq
D meville 
Vt.
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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 at-
tempted; 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 or 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 received a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giv-
en and what has become of it?
{To an Officer.{Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by who was it signed, and hat 
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can tes-
tify 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 char-
acter 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 be-
fore 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, form 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
Jude or Justice of the 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 pro-
cure, 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. 
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[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will fol-
low a rule laid down for his guidance. 
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not 
conforming to the rule. 
[c]The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the 
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so 
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the 
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason 
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For----years------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 person who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is 
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent au-
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 sea, or if he has no pub-
lic 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 con-
tains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must 
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 
Proof of Service. 
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, 
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well
as the regiment company, and line in which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the wit-
nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule is
not [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 this fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all  be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Isaac Miner's 
Declaration 
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19112