Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,781, Eliphalet Edmunds, Continental Rhode Island Vt.
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(3-1776)
[column headings: SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER|]
Continental|Edmunds, Eliphalet|S 16,781|
Rhode Island|[blank]|[blank]|
Vt.|[blank]|[blank]|
[end of columns]
carded. 
CONTENTS
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New York 28553
Eliphalet Edmunds of Monroe Co in the State of New York who was a Musician & Priv in the Company commanded by Captain Lee of the Reg't commanded by Col Allen in the Vermont * Militia line for 4 mo. 14 days Musician 13 " 28 " Private}
*and Continental and R. I. 
______
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 62 Dollars 86 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of April  1834 and sent to Hon. F. Whittlesey
______
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834  $188.38
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept 4 '34 - 31.43
$220.01
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Sam'l H. Page Clerk,
Book E Vol. 4 Page 55
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State of New York
Essex county ss } William Edmonds being duly sworn says that he is well acquainted with Eliphalet Edmunds now of the town of Brighton in the county of Monroe in said State - that this deponent knew the said Edmunds in the year 1782, and served with him in the same  regiment continental line commanded by Jeremiah Olney that this deponent served with the said Eliphalet Edmunds nine months in said regiment - This deponent was in the company commanded by Captain Humphrey and the said Eliphalet Edmunds in the company commanded by Captain McCumber - That this deponent & the said Eliphalet Edmunds were both discharged together at the expiration of the said nine months at Saratoga barracks and further this deponent says not - 
/s/X his mark William Edmonds
Sworn to before me this 4th day of Sept 1833} 
/s/Nathan Sherman Justice of the peace
Essex county ss. I the magistrate before whom the above affidavit was taken do certify that the deponent William Edmunds is a credible person and that his affidavit is entitled to full credit 
Given under my hand this 4th day of September 1833
/s/Nathan Sherman Justice of the peace
I the undernamed Justice of the peace do certify that the name Eliphalet in the eighth and eleventh times from the top in the above affidavit have the apearance of having been erased before signer
/s/Nathan Sherman Justice
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State of New York
Essex County ss } I Leonard Stow Clerk of the County of Essex & Clerk of the court of common Pleas of said county do certify that Nathan Sherman Esq whose name is subscribed to the Jurat of the within affidavit and also to the within certificate was at the tie the same bears date an acting Justice of the Peace in & for said county duly elected & sworn And further I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the jurat of said affidavit and also to the said certificates ['is' crossed out] are the given signatures of the said Justices
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and office my seal this fifth day of September in the year 1833
/s/Leonard Stow clerk
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State of New York
Monroe County } ss, Jonathan Colvin being duly sworn deposes & says that he is well acquainted with Eliphalet Edmunds now of the town of Brighton in said county of Monroe - That this deponent was well acquainted with the said Edmunds during the war of the revolution this deponent being resident of the Town of Clarendon in Vermont at the same time that the said Edmunds resided there during the revolutionary war - That this deponent recollects distinctly  of the said Edmunds serving as a volunteer during the year 1777, or thereabouts and of his being called out frequently on alarms - knows of the said Edmunds being in a company commanded by a Captain Elkanah  Cook - recollects of his being a fifer in some company but whether in Cooks company or not he cannot recollect - That sometime after the taking of Burgoyne this deponent recollects distinctly of said Edmunds enlisting in what was called the four months service but whether it was the continental line as the State militia this deponent cannot state - Recollects distinctly of his going away - of the conversation of the neighbours afterwards that Edmunds had been out four months - This deponent recollects distinctly that from the time of the return of said Edmunds ['return' crossed out] after the four months service aforesaid & until he went to Rhode Island that he was engaged as a minute man & used to come out on all alarms - Recollects of the said Edmunds leaving Clarendon when he went to Rhode Island, - the time this deponent cannot state - and recollects of hearing that he had  enlisted in the nine months service
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This information he had from the parents of the said Edmunds who were very much concerned.  on account of this sons enlisting - Recollects distinctly of the said Edmunds returning home about the close of the war after his nine months service aforesaid - This deponent recollects distinctly of the said Edmunds shewing his written discharge to his parents & to this deponents father after he returned from the nine months service - and further this deponent saith not - 
/s/James Colvin
Sworn to this 27th day of August 1833 before me - /s/W B Alexander Justice of the Peace
State of New York
Monroe county }ss I W B Alexander  the Justice of the peace before whom the above affidavit was taken do certify hereby that I am well acquainted with the said Jonathan Colvin who has sworn to said affidavit and that the said Colvin is a person of veracity and whose statement is entitled to full credit - Given under my hand this 27th day of August 1833 - 
W B Alexander JP
State of New York
Monroe County} ss I Leonard Adams clerk of said county do certify that William B. Alexander ['who' crossed out] before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been taken & who has subscribed the above certificate of verity was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in & for said county & that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to said affidavit & to said certificate to be his proper hand writing & signature
[court seal affixed] Witness my hand & seal of office this Seventh day of October 1833 - 
/s/Leonard Adams clerk
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State of New York
Monroe County ss }
On this third day of December in the year one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before Samuel D. Selden Esquire first Judge and Joseph Sibley & Samuel Castle Judges of Court of Common pleas in and for the county of Monroe & State of New York now sitting Eliphalet Edmunds of the town of Brighton in the said county & State aforesaid aged sixty eight 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 the act of Congress passed June of 1832. That he entered the service of the United States at the times & under the circumstances following
That at the period of his first service he resided in the town of Clarendon now in the county of Rutland & State of Vermont but which was then claimed both by New Hampshire & [margin note: service] by New York - His first service commenced in the Spring of the year
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but what time in particular he cannot state when he served as a substitute for his father James Edmunds who resided in the said town of Clarendon but whether it was in the New Hampshire or New York militia he cannot particularly ['but' crossed out] state but thinks it must have been the former - The manner in which applicants father was called into service was that the militia on the frontiers divided themselves into classes & took turns in serving in the army which was determined by casting or drawing lots & the father of applicant was drawn under the arrangement - applicant served for his father in the capacity of a private for four or five weeks in the town of Rutland aforesaid and were stationed at a place called Meads falls - This being merely a volunteer company applicant received no discharge & received no pay He cannot state the time his service expired, but thinks it was the first time of having corn - The Captain of applicants company was Thomas Sawyer but cannot recollect the names
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of any other officer
[margin note: 2nd service] Within a few days after his term of service as aforesaid & he thinks in the fore part of the summer of 1777 the whole militia were called out and applicant volunteered at the said Town of Clarendon in a company commanded by Captain Elkanah Cook - He thinks the first Lieutenants name was Richard Weaver but does not recollect the names of any other officers nor does he know what regiment his company was attached to as whether it was attached to any - He engaged as a musician & served as a fifer in the Company after he enlisted they marched to Ticonderoga passing through the Town of Rutland, Castleton Hubberton (Hubbardton) & he thinks Bridport to Mount Independence near Ticonderoga - He does not recollect how long they staid there but staid till the American army retreated, from Ticonderoga - To the best of his recollection his company were out one month - After the retreat the whole company returned back to Clarendon, where they were dismissed
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verbally & received no written discharge - He thinks the time he was thus in service was about two weeks - Immediately on his return to Clarendon [margin note: 3d service] & within a very few days he entered the company of Captain Thomas Lee of the three years men as a substitute for a soldier named Peleg Eddy who was sick - Eddy enlisted in the town of Clarendon - applicant served as a musician in Lee's Company about four or five months - He thinks that Lees company belonged to Colonel Warners regiment - but does not recollect the names of any other officers in Lees company - after he entered the service as aforesaid he marched south through Vermont to the town of Bennington & then the regiment marched to Saratoga where the regiment to which the applicants company belonged were during the surrender of Burgoyne - while they were Saratoga Peleg Eddy joined the company & took the applicants place immediately after the surrender of Burgoyne & then the
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applicant returned back to Clarendon - The Company in which he served for the time aforesaid belonged as applicant believes to the Continental line & he understood the men were enlisted for three years - 
[margin note: 4th service] In the forepart of the summer of 1778 as he thinks & believes the frontiers being much exposed to the depredations of the Indians, militia were raised to guard the frontiers. Applicant enlisted at Clarendon aforesaid for a period of three months in the new Hampshire militia as he believes - The regiment in which he enlisted was commanded by a Colonel Allen - Does not recollect whether they had any Lieutenant Colonel - The majors name was also Allen & the Captain of applicants company name was Allen also - Thinks the first Lieutenants name was Sawyer but applicant does not recollect the names of any other officers - The regiment was divided into two divisions - The one in which applicants
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company was went to the town of Pittsford on the frontiers where they built a picquet fort - where they sent out the three months during which they were engaged in scouting parties mounting guard &c - after which his Company was dismissed by his Captain - He got a written discharge from Major Allen which he has since lost - Thinks it was in September or October that they were dismissed at Picquet fort at Pittsford & ['they' crossed out] he then went home to Clarendon aforesaid - after this & before he [margin note: 5th service] enlisted in the regular army as after mentioned he was engaged about one half of his time as he believes in irregular militia service either being out to service in place of some one who was drafted or taking some ['for' crossed out] ones place or in cases of alarms & sometimes was out three or four weeks at a time - and was about three years engaged in that kind of life - In the year 1781 he went to reside in Rhode Island in the town of Situate (Scituate) - He was there when he enlisted in the regular
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continental army which was in [margin note: 6" service] the spring or in April 1782, in what was called the Rhode Island regiment belonging to the Continental line - The Colonels name was Jeremiah Olney - There were two majors - Major Coxwell Olney & Dexter - adjutants name was Sherman - His Captain's name was McComber - orderly sergeants name was Sheldon - Captain of another Company he recollects was Humphrey - He enlisted for the period of nine months - marched with a small company through Stanford Connecticut through Danberry directly to Kings ferry, then across the North River to Pumpton (Pompton) New Jersey then through Morristown & thence to Philadelphia where they joined the regiment - Then whole regiment marched back by same route across Kings ferry then went up to  Highlands opposite West point, where they united with Companies sufficient to make a brigade commanded by General Huntington - Recollects that Colonel Swift was one of the
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general officers - Staid some time there and then marched down to Kings ferry & joined the grand army under General Washington - Then went on the lines on New Jersey side and his regiment lay about a month on the lines this must have been towards the fall of the year - They then marched back to Kings ferry & joined army - At this time artificers were wanted to go to west point and as applicant had been bred a Carpenter he was ordered to go to west point where he worked about a month ['there' crossed out] at getting out timber making barracks &c Then went with the regiment to Saratoga where they wintered & staid till the close of the war - The regiment broke up & were discharged at Saratoga Barracks sometime in the end of the winter 1782-3 - Got a written discharge he thinks from the Colonel of the regiment, which he has since lost - after discharge went back to his residence in Rhode Island -
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That he has no documentary evidence of his service except the two affidavits hereto annexed, nor does he know of any other persons alive whose testimony he can procure to his services
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State 
To the Interrogatories prescribed by the Secretary of the War Department he answers as follows
To the first Interrogatory 
That he was born in the town of Situate (Scituate) in Rhode Island on 13 April 1764.
To the second Interrogatory 
He says that most likely there is a record of his age with the town Clerk of S(c)ituate aforesaid but that he has  none in his possession except his fathers family bible 
To the third interrogatory
He says that when he was called
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into service he resided at the places as mentioned in the preceding declaration. & since the war he has resided in Rutland county - Vermont - afterwards in St Albans on Lake Champlain - afterwards in Oneida County in New York State - afterwards Jefferson county same state. & Monroe County where he has resided for the last eighty years - 
To the fourth Interrogatory
He says he was called into service in manner as set forth in the preceding declaration
To the fifth Interrogatory
He says that the names of his officers & the general circumstances of his service are as set forth in the preceding declaration 
To the sixth Interrogatory
He says he received the discharges mentioned in the preceding part of the declaration which he has since lost
To the seventh Interrogatory
He says that the names of some of the persons residing in his present neighbourhood & who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution are Zachariah Lewis Abiathar Eaton, Jacob Gould, John Haggsmon
/s/Eliphalet Edmunds
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforementioned 

/s/L. Adams clerk
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We Zachariah Lewis & Abiathar Eaton both residing in the town of Brighton & county of Monroe State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the the said Eliphalet Edmunds who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sixty Eight years, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & we concur in that opinion
/s/Abiathar Eaton
/s/Zachariah Lewis
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid before me
/s/L Adams clerk
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I, Leonard Adams clerk of the Court of Common pleas in & for the county of Monroe & State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Eliphalet Edmunds for a pension - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this third day of December Eighteen hundred & thirty two - 
/s/L. Adams clerk 

Monroe Common pleas
In the matter of Eliphalet Edmunds application for a pension - Original proceedings
14897
H. Gay Rochester Monroe Co. NY. Atty
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State of New York
Monroe county }ss. On this Seventh day of October in the year one thousand Eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open Court before Samuel L Selden Esquire first Judge and James Smith and Sam Castle Esquires of the Court of common pleas in and for the county of Monroe & State of New York now sitting Eliphalet Edmunds the applicant for a pension in the above proceedings mentioned, and produced the two affidavits and certificates annexed to these proceedings, and being again duly sworn according to Law and again examined by the said Judges made the following additions amendments and corrections to this preceding declaration under oath as aforesaid viz 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 he swears positively and distinctly that he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades viz - 1. First service mentioned in preceding declaration, - he served in the capacity of a private for a period [margin note: 28] not less than Four weeks - 2d. In the second service mentioned in said declaration
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her served for a period not less than two weeks as a musician - 3d. In the third service mentioned in said declaration he served for a period not less than four months as a musician - 4th - In the fourth service mentioned in said declaration he served for a period not less than four [margin note: 4] months as a private - That in the preceding declaration three months is stated to be the period of service, but since the drawing up of said declaration his memory has been refreshed and he now distinctly remembers that he served four months in that service - 5th That from the period of his last service down to the time he went to Rhode Island, he says that he was engaged altogether not less than Six [margin note: 6] months as a minute man coming out on all alarms - That the three years of his life as mentioned in said declaration was employed in that sort of service, but he makes up the period of six months by calculating the different weeks & says during that period in which he was actually engaged in active service, and he has little doubt that if all these weeks and days were put together it would
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amount to a longer period than six months, but he swears distinctly that it could not be less than six months - 6th - In the sixth service he served as a private in the continental line as mentioned in preceding declaration margin note: 9-] for a period not less than nine months - And that for the above services he claims a pension
/s/Eliphalet Edmunds
/s/Sam'l L Selden
/s/James Smith
/s/Sam'l Castle
{Judges of the Court of Common pleas in & for the said county of Monroe 
Subscribed & Sworn to this 7th October 1833 before me} 
/s/Joseph Sibley Judge of the County Courts of Monroe County 

State of New York
Monroe County }ss I Leonard Adams clerk of the Court of Common pleas in and for the said County of Monroe and State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court as well as the Term of December 1832 ['and' crossed out] as of the Term of October 1833 in the matter of the application of Eliphalet Edmunds for a pension and that the above signature of Samuel L Selden, James Smith, Samuel Castle and Joseph
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Sibley are the genuine signatures of the Judges of said Court of Common pleas - 
[court seal affixed] In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this sixteenth day of October in the year 1833
/s/Leonard Adams clerk 

6 mo aggregate service as a minute man in the course of 3 years, not duly specified & disall'd.
adm'd 
4 mo 14 musician
13. 28. pri - 

Monroe Common pleas
In the matter of Eliphalet Edmunds an applicant for a pension
Original proceedings & Amendment
H. Gay attorney Rochester N. Y.
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Monroe Common pleas
In the matter of Eliphalet Edmunds an applicant for a pension
Original proceedings & Amendment
H. Gay attorney Rochester N. Y.

6 mo aggregate service as a minute man in the course of 3 years, not duly specified & disall'd.
adm'd
4 mo 14 musician
13. 28. pri -
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[typewritten letter]
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. [initials: awf]

May 9, 1928.

Mrs. Edmunds L. Chapman,
Prospect Farm, 
Albion, New York.

Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 16781, it appears that Eliphalet Edmunds was born April 13, 1764 at Scituate, Rhode Island.
While a resident of Clarendon, Vermont, he served four weeks as a private, as substitute for his father, James Edmunds, in Captain Thomas Sawyer's Vermont Company, dates not stated.
He served in the summer of 1777, two weeks as a musician in Captain Elkanah Cook's Company; and later in same year served four months as musician in Captain Thomas Lee's Company, Colonel Warner's Vermont Regiment.
He served in the summer of 1778, four months in Captain Allen's Company, Colonel Allen's Regiment; after which he was out until in 1781, at various times on alarms, amounting to six months, no officers given.
While residing at Scituate, Rhode Island he enlisted in the spring of 1782 and served as a private in Captain Macumber's (McCumber) Company, Colonel Jeremiah Olney's Rhode Island
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[typewritten letter]
Regiment until discharged December 20, 1782.
He was allowed pension on his application executed December 3, 1832, while a resident of Brighton, Monroe County, New York.
Owing to the very large number of similar inquiries and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, the bureau is unable to make immediate reply to each inquiry pertaining to soldiers of the Revolution.
Letters are being answered as rapidly as possibly in the order of their receipt.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 23 May 1833

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These 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 the Service of Eliphalet Edmunds Monroe Co NY
[column headings: Period when the service was rendered.|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.|]
sub:spring|(not|spec|ific)|pr.|Cap Sawyer|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|68.Rutland Vt.|Trad'y & witnesses not certified to|
 - '77|(about|2|weeks)| " | " Cook|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
Enlisted|(not|spec|ific)| " | " Lee|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
'78|([blank]|3|[blank])| " | " Allen|Col Allen|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|[blank]|
'82 RI reg't Continental}|(not|spec|ific)|[blank]|Macomber(McCumber)| " Olney.|[blank]|R.I. Con'l|R.I.|[blank]|
[end of columns]
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2 
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. 
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line,' State troops," " militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits 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, 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 [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
[margin note: By applying to Benjamin Courland Esq of [illegible] proof of pention in [illegible]]
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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.
/s/W. L. Williams Exclk
Page 29

19847
Eliphalet Edmunds, N.Y.
adm'd
Hon F. Whittlesey
['Horace Gay' crossed out]
Rochester Monroe N.Y.
Page 30

[handwritten letter]
MRS. E. L. CHAPMAN
"Prospect Farm"
ALBION, NEW YORK

April 23, 1928. 
Bureau of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:
Some time ago I wrote to the Bureau of Pension asking if you have a record of the pension given Eliphalet Edmunds who enlisted in the Revolutionary Army about 1780 and served about two years as a musician. He was given a pension of $6.00 per month. He was born in
Page 31

[handwritten letter]
Rhode Island (Providence) on April 13, 1764 and died in Brighton NY Sept. 11, 1841.
Self addressed stamped envelope was enclosed with my request. As I have received no reply am writing again to ask if there is a charge or fee asked for such service, if so, if you will let me know I will gladly pay it. We wish the information to us as proof.
Yours sincerely,
/s/Mrs. Edmunds L. Chapman
Page 32

[handwritten letter]
MRS. E. L. CHAPMAN
"Prospect Farm"
ALBION, NEW YORK
[margin note: awf. 5/9/28]

Feb. 7, 1928
The Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: - 
About 1780 Eliphalet Edmunds of Rutland Co., Vermont enlisted as a musician and served about two years. As a Revolutionary Pensioner he received $6.00 per month. He was 6 ft in height, weight 200 lbs. 
Will you please send me what data you have in regard to
Page 33

[handwritten letter]
him, as further proof that he served in the Revolutionary War? I am enclosing stamped self addressed envelope.
Thanking you in advance, I am, Yours respectfully, 
/s/Mrs. E. L. Chapman
Page 34

16,781
INVALID.
File No. 16,781
Eliphalet Edmunds 
Musician & Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 118
[Arrangement of 1870.}
1928 - May 9 - Hist to Mrs. E. L. Chapman awf.
Page 35

Eliphalet Edmunds 68 in 1832 b. 1764 {brother of James S. 12853 see affs in Andrew 
William S 45367
Page 36

Maj'r Dexter Certificate 9 mos
Page 37

It appears by the Regimental Book That Eliphalet Edmunds enlisted for and served the continued term of Nine Months a Private in the Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Jeremiah Olney in the Rhode Island line, on the Continental Establishment, and that he was honourably discharged from said Regiment at Saratoga in the State of New York on the twentieth day of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two. - 
/s/Jno Dexter Major of said Reg't. codem tempore.
February 16th 1834. -
Page 38

For J. L. Edwards Esquire
Pension Office
Page 39

[handwritten letter]
Rochester N.Y.
16 oct 1833

Sir,
Enclosed are the proceedings in the case of Judge Edmunds for a pension. Additional proceedings had before the Court are appended & the objections of the War Department obviated as far as it is possible for him to do so. Below is a short statement of the Service for which he claimed a pension & the mode of proof. I have the honor to be Sir 
Your most ob't serv't
/s/H. Gay
1st Service 4 weeks proof - his own testimony certified to me the usual way
2nd Service 2 weeks proof - do - corroborated by the aff't of Colvin annexed
3
3d Service 4 mos. - proof - do. do. do. 
4th Service 4 mos proof - His own testimony 
5th Service 6 mos. proof do & Colvins aff't
6th Service 9 mos proof - His own testimony & Edmunds & Colvins affid'ts
In all about 24 mos. 2 weeks 
H
Page 40

Eliphalet Edmunds - Pvt - 
R. Island line
New York
See [illegible] rolls not proven
Transferred to W Dept
Ex'd one old Book & Rej.
Wid. - Invalid file no. 16,781.
Page 41

1828 papers to be filed with Act 
OWJ
#16.781
Page 42

972
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS. 
TREASURY  DEPARTMENT. Sept. 13. 1828.
Eliphalet Edmunds, of Brighton, in the County of Monroe, in the State of New York, has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution," approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the  Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termination, at which period he was a Private in captain [blank]'s company, in Col. Olney's regiment of the Rhode Island line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing - 
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the records in his office. 
By order of the Secretary,
/s/A. Dinkins.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
20th September 1828
['It appears by the records in this office, that a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars has been issued to [blank] in the [blank]' crossed out]
It further appears that Eliphalet Edmunds is not now on the pension list of ['the' crossed out] any agency, and has not been so since the  3d March 1826 ['at the rate of [blank] dollars per month' crossed out]
The name of Eliphalet Edmunds cannot be found among those of the Rhode Island line, to whose Certificates for the gratuity of Eighty Dollars were issued - 
/s/Peter Hagner Aud
Page 43

War Depart: Bounty land office
14 May 1829. 
The records of this office do not shew that Eliphalet Edmunds of the R. Island line was received or is entitled to bounty land of the United States.
/s/Robert Taylor
Page 44

Eliphalet Edmunds 972
1547.3064.3330.
Rec'd 2d Aug't 1829
318.
Page 45

To the Secretary of the treasury
Page 46

To the honurable the Secretary of Treasury 
Dear Sir after much trouble and Expence I have found two of the Old Revolutionary Soldiers who served in the same Regement with my self and who are now pentioners and have been - Ever since the Law was passed I have been at the Distance of between four and five hundred miles to obtain their testamoney which s'd testamoney I inclose with this letter and if the aforesaid Evidence should prove satisfactory in your m ind I should feel much grattified to Receive that pention which my Country is indetted to me for as I served my Country fathfully for the space of three years and as I have got allmost past labour and have not propperty to report my self I must become burdensome to my fellow veterans if I can receive what is my wright it would carry me through life with provision I should feel to Return my worms thanks to my Government you will plese to wright to me let my application turn as it may Brighton August th 21st 1829
I am sir very respectfully your Obedient servent
/s/Eliphalet Edmunds
to the Secretary of the treasury
Page 47

[addressed envelope]
Pension ['Pension office' crossed out]
[postmark: ROCHESTER N.Y. JUNE 18]
18 June 1829
War department
City of Washington
Page 48

E Edmunds. 972.
1547.3064.
Rec'd 19 June 1829
War department
City of Washington
Page 49

Mr Dickins Sir I Received your letter dated May 19th 1829 informing me the Evidence I sent in my pitision (petition) to the War department for my revolutionary clames were not satisfactory, I had the opinion of several persons at the that time who was of the opinion it was all the law Required I do not know that there is one man alive that belonged to the Company I served in and if alive I know not what part of the World they Reside in it is not imposable but I can find one alive that belonged to the same Regiment I served in with whom I was well acquainted I would now wish to learn from you if I can find one who served in the same Regiment and at the same time i did and obtain his testamoney of my services wheather that with what Evidence you have wont be satisfactory if you will wright to on the receipt of this letter you will very much grattify your humble serv't I will now send sum of the names of the men who belonged to the same company I did they are as follows Henry Randol Nehemiah Randol James Butler Zebulon tanner John hicks one page one writer and two by the name of Cowls if any of those persons I have named to you should be pentioners you will plese send what part of the country they Reside in I should be much grattifyed to have Returns as soon as may be Dated at Brighton June 8th 1827 Dear Sir I Remain your friend and humble servant 
/s/Eliphalet Edmunds
Page 50

[handwritten letter]
Rochester 30th Aug't 1828

Sir, 
Mr. Eliphalet Edmonds [Edmunds] informs me that he is about to apply to the war office for the allowance provided by a Law of the last session of Congress to Revolutionary officers &c.
Judge Edmunds has resided in this neighbourhood about four years and is highly esteemed by his neighbours and acquaintances, he was an elector of President and Vice-president from Jefferson County in this State in 1816. When I became just acquainted with him, being an elector myself at the same time, with high respect and whom 
I am Sir Your m't Ob Serv't
/s/N. Rochester