Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21,605, Nathaniel Aikens, Mass. Vt.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE Mass Vt
Aikens, Nathaniel or Aikens, Mary
NUMBER W. 21. 605
CONTENTS
Page 2


[left side]
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from the 4 Sept 1836 to 27 Nov 1836. the day of his death Agt Notified
21 March 1839


[right side]
20209
New York
Nath'l Atkins of St. Lawrence in the State of N. York who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Dexter of the Regt commanded by Col Larned in the Mass line for 10 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of Aug. 1833 and sent to A.C. Low St. Lawrence

Arrears to the 4th Mar 33 $66.66.
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 16.66
83.33

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by P C Stiles Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 3 Page 41
Page 3

[left side]
In the matter of Nathaniel Aikens

application for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832
14593

Vol 18. p. 214
[illegible] Roll on

{right side]
Admd
10 mo pri
$33.33
-
Page 4

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832

State of New York
St Lawrence County
On this twenty fourth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County now sitting Nathaniel Aikens a resident of the town of Potsdam in said County of St. Lawrence County and State of New York
aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - that in the month of November or December 1775 he enlisted as a volunteer for six weeks at Hardwick in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, in Capt Saml Dexter's Company in Col Lonnid's Regiment in the Massachusetts State Troops. He went immediately to Roxbury and was there engaged in preparing for a defence against the British, and served out his full term of enlistment there and was persuaded to remain there and do duty two weeks longer
when he was dismissed at Roxbury, some time in the month of February 1776 as he thinks.

In October 1780, having moved to Barnard in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont
he was there hired as a substitute for one Smith, for two months, and went immediately to Bethel in the same County and
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joined Capt Jesse Safford's company of Vermont militia which was raised and stationed there to protect the Inhabitants against hostile Indians. He served his full period of two months in doing duty at the Fort there and in scouting. no other company was there at the same time and he does not know what Regiment said company belonged to if any - he was dismissed at the fort at Bethel the last of December he thinks

The last of January or first of February 1781 he enlisted again as a volunteer for two months at Barnard aforesaid and went immediately to Bethel aforesaid and joined a company of Vermont
militia commanded by Lieut Beriah Green. He served said period of two months as he did the former company in doing duty at the fort and in scouting against the hostile Indians. He was
dismissed at the Fort he think the last of March Arnie Cannin, whose affidavit is hereunto annexed was in the same company with him six or seven weeks, said Aikens was 2d Sergeant in said company

In the Winter of 1782, he enlisted again as a volunteer for four months at Barnard aforesaid, in Capt Beriah Green's company of Vermont Militia and went immediately to Corinth in Orange County in said State, and served there about two months, keeping guard and scouting, and these returned to the Fort at Bethel aforesaid and served the
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remainder of the said period of four months and was dismissed there some time in the spring does not recollect precisely the time

He further says that he has no documentary evidence of his said services. never having received a written discharge he expects there are persons living in Barnard aforesaid who were in the same company with him during his four months campaign above mentioned and he has sent for their depositions but has not received them yet. He moved from Vermont to Potsdam where he now resides about 2 years ago and is well acquainted with Jabez Willis, Horace Allen and others in said town who can testify as to the reputation in his neighborhood of his said 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. He lived in Barnard aforesaid till about 2 years ago when he moved to Potsdam aforesaid when he has resided ever since
Nathaniel Aikens [signature]

sworn & subscribed the day year aforesaid
A C Low Clerk

We George Wilkinson, Clergyman, residing in Potsdam aforesaid and Jabez Willis one of the Judges of said Court of common pleas residing in the town of Potsdam hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Aikens, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is reputed & believed in
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the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
George Wilkinson
Jabez Willis [signatures]

Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
A C Low Clerk

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 George Wilkinson who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman and resides in Potsdam aforesaid and that Jabez Willis
who also signed the same is one of the Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas and resides in Potsdam aforesaid

I Alvin C Low Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas aforesaid and of said County of St. Lawrence do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Aikens for a pension and I further certify that Horace Allen before whom the following affidavit of Ammi Currier purports to have been taken, and Zenas Clark afore whom the following affidavit of Dorcas Parmenter purports to have been taken were both Justices of the peace of said County of St. Lawrence at the times when the said affidavits appear to have been taken and that the signature of the said Horace Allen & Zenas  Clark affixed to the said affidavits and the certificate following them are their own hand writing respectively.

In testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this Twenty fourth day of
September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
A C Low Clerk
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St Lawrence County 
I Alvin C Low Clerk of said County certify that the annexed papers contain the original proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas of said County in the case of the application of Nathaniel Aikens for a pension that the ends of the tape were though and inadvertently omitted  to be put under the seal first affixed to said paper

I also certify that Horace Allen who took the affidavit of said Aikens which is annexed is a Justice of the Peace that his signature hereto is genuine.
A C Low Clerk

Witness my hand & seal of Office this 28th day of May 1833
A C Low Clerk
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State of New York
St. Lawrence County ⎬
Dorcas Parmenter of Potsdam in said County being sworn saith that she is the sister of Nathaniel Aikens of said town, that in the year 1775 they lived at their fathers in Hardwick Massachusetts that the said Nathaniel enlisted as a soldier in Capt Dexters Company for two months, as she then understood, that she well recollects assisting him in preparing to be absent during said Campaign, and saw him leave home some time in November or December 1775 and he was gone, as she believes, the full period of two month, and was stationed in Roxbury Mass doing
military duty, that Letters were occasionally received from him by her father and she well recollects the time when he returned home

Deponent further saith that in March 1780 her fathers family moved to Barnard in the State of Vermont and the said Nathaniel Aikins enlisted at Bethel Vermont, as she understood in October 1780 in Capt Jesse Safford's company for two months, and she
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recollects the time when he left home and when he returned, and understood that he was stationed at Bethel aforesaid as a soldier during his absence which she believes, was about two
months, and she recollects of his being absent during two different campaigns after that, one of about two months, and one of about four months
Dorcas Parmenter [signature]

Sworn & Subscribed this 6th day of September 1832 before me
Zenas Clark Justice Peace

I certify that the above named Dorcas Parmenter is a person of truth & veracity
Dated Sept 6. 1832. Zenas Clark Just Peace
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State of New York
St. Lawrence County ⎬
Ammi Currier of Potsdam in said County being sworn saith that he is sixty seven years of age,
that he hath long been well acquainted with Nathaniel Aikens of Potsdam aforesaid who is now making application for a pension, that in the winter of 1781 a company of Rangers was raised by the State of Vermont and stationed at Bethel for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants  against hostile Indians and commanded by Lieut. Beriah Green for two months that he went from Corinth in Newhampshire and enlisted in said company about ten days after its term of service had commenced and all served during the remainder of the said term, and he well recollects that
said Aikins was 2nd Sergeant in said company and served til the company was dismissed and has no doubt he served during the whole period of two months-
Ammi Currier [signature]

Sworn & subscribed this 13th day of September 1832 before me
Horace Allen Justice Place

Said Currier is esteemed a man of truth & veracity. Sept 13, 1832
Horace Allen J. P.
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State of Vermont
County of Windsor ss:
James Aikins of the town of Barnard in said County being sworn saith that he is the brother of
Nathaniel Aikins now of Potsdam in the County of St. Lawrence and State of New York formerly of Hardwick in the State of Massachusetts. - That in the winter of 1776 while this Deponent resided in Vermont and the said Nathaniel at his father's in Hardwick aforesaid the deponent went home to his father's and then learned that the said Nathaniel had previously enlisted for two months and was then in the military service at Roxbury, Mass. this deponent then went to Roxbury on business and then joined Capt Dexters Company in Col Lonned's Regiment as a substitute for a person whose term would expire in about two weeks, and this deponent served out the said term and his said brother was in the same company during that time and was dismissed at the same time this deponent was

and this Deponent further saith that in the winter of 1782 Capt Beriah Green's
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company was raised in and about Bethel, Vermont to go to Corinth in said State of Vermont for about four months to guard the Inhabitants against the Indians, that this deponent belonged to said Company and served with said company for the said term of four months, part of the time at Corinth and part of the time of Bethel, And he further saith that the said Nathaniel Aikins belonged to the said Company and served therein the said term of four months
James Aikins [signature]

State of Vermont
Windsor County Ss
At Bernard in said County on the 17 day of September, 1832 Personally appeared James Aikins signer of the above Deposition and made oath to the truth of the same before me
Calvin Greene Justice of Peace

I hereby certify that the above Deponent is a person of truth and veracity
Calvin Green Justice Peace

State of Vermont
Windsor County 
Woodstock County Clerks Office Sept 17th 1832 
I, Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court, Do hereby certify that Calvin Greene is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, and that the above are his signatures -

In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said Court and subscribe my name, the day of year above
Benj Swan
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State of New York
St. Lawrence County
Nathaniel Aikens the above named applicant being sworn saith by way of amending his declaration above subscribed that he served two months as private in the first campaign by him mentioned in his said declaration also that he served two months as a private in the second campaign. that he served two month, as second Sergeant in the said third campaign and that he
served four months and private during his last campaign being ten months whole for which he claims a pension
Nathanel Aikens [signature]

subscribed & sworn the 28th day of May 1833 before me
Horace Allen Just Peace
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Abstract of said Aikins services.
From Nov or Decr 1775 2 month
October 1780-2 do
Jany or Feb. 1781. 2 do
Winter of 1782. 4 do
10 months
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No 14593
Nathaniel Aikins St Lawrence County New York

5.14.14 16
P. 383

May 8

A C Low Clk St Lawrence County Court  New York
Page 17

BRIEF in the use of Nathaniel Aikins
County of St Lawrence in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 72
4. State his service, as directed the form annexed.
Period.
Enlisted as volunteer in 1775 from Nov or Dec to Feb 1776
Subst 1780
Vol 1781
Vol 1782

Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days.
from Nov or Decr to Feb 1776 [as above]
2 months 
2 months
4 months

Rank
As a Private
Private
2nd Serg't
2nd Serg't

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.
Capt Dexter Col Lorned
Capt. Safford
Lieut Green
Capt Green

5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worcester Co Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence Living Witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not connected as the regulations require

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

Dyer Castor
Examining Clerk
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4595
In the Mary Aikens widow of Nath'l Aikens dcd

Declaration under the act of July 7. 1838.
3122
Mr 27. Dec 1784
H dd 27 Nov 1838
Husband died 27 Nov 1836 27 Nov. 1836

Admitted
Private 10 months

B. G. Baldwin
Potsdam N.Y.
agent
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838, entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows

State of New York
St. Lawrence County
On this eighth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared before the Hon Zenas Clark one of the Judges of the County Court
in and for the County and State aforesaid Mary Aikens a resident of the town of Potsdam in the County of St Lawrence and State of New York, aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"" That she is the widow of Nathaniel Aikens who was a private in the Revolutionary Army and who drew a pension for his services therein under the act of 7th June 1832. She does not know the names of any of the officers under whom he served nor how long he served, but believes it to have been for a less period than one year. He lived at Hardwick in Massachusetts when he enlisted for one period and at Barnard in the State of Vermont when he enlisted again as she believes  and the service was performed in the Militia as she believes, in both states, although she is not certain as to that point, but begs leave to refer the Department to the proof and application made by her said husband when he obtained his pension.

She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel Aikens on the twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four, that her husband the aforesaid
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Nathaniel Aikens died on the twenty seventh day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six: that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above stated.

She further saith that her fathers name was Silas Tupper, that she was born March 28th 1766 in Sandwich Massachusetts, and lived there until about two years before she was married; when she moved to Barnard in the State of Vermont, where the said Nathaniel Aikens lived, that she was married to him in that town at the time above stated by Asa Whitcomb Esq. a Justice of the Peace. she lived with her said husband in Barnard aforesaid until about 1811 when they moved into Potsdam N.Y. where she has ever since resided, and now resides with her sons John and Nathaniel She further says that she has no record of her age or marriage of the ages of her children, but that she has always recollected the same and has no doubt but the above statement of her age and marriage is correct and that the names and ages of her children by
her said husband are as follows, to wit.
Solomon Aikens born Sept 1785. now deceased-
Sally wife of Francis Whitney of Potsdam born March 1787
Dorcas wife of Aikens Foster of do. born April 1791.
Lurana wife of Saml Parker of do - born May 1793
John Aikens of Potsdam born May 1795.
Mary wife of Silas Smith residence unknown born Aug. 1797.
Hannah wife of Thomas Spencer of Moira N.Y. born Nov. 1799.
Nathaniel Aikens of Potsdam born August 1805.
Daphna Aikens of do born May 1802

she further declares that the pension certificate of her said husband is in the words & figures
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following that is to say
War Department
Revolutionary Claim

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Nath'l Aiken of the State of N. York who was a Private in the Revolutionary army is entitled to receive thirty three dollars and thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831. and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year

Given at the War Office of the United States, this 12 day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Lew Cass
Secretary of War

Examined and Countersigned s
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pension

She further saith that the accompanying certificate of the Town Clerk of Barnard Vt. of her marriage with her said husband she has obtained for this application, and she also intend to have procured and annexed hereto the affidavit of Nathan Parmeter who resided in Barnard Vt. before this deponent removed in to said town of Potsdam
Mary X Aiken her mark [signature]

Subscribed and Sworn before me the day and year first above written
Zenas Clark
Judge St. Lawrence County Court
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State of New York
St Lawrence County ⎬
I Zenas Clark one of the Judge of the County Courts of said County hereby certify that on the 8th day of January 1839 Mary Aikens appeared before me and made oath to the foregoing declaration and subscribed her name thereto by making her mark in my presence being unable to write by reason of a [illegible] hand. And I further certify that the said Mary is unable, in my opinion, from age and bodily infirmity, without injury to her health to attend Court personally to make her declaration
Zenas Clark
Judge

State of New York
St Lawrence County SS I Alvin C Low Clerk of said County hereby certify that Zenas Clark is and was on the eighth day of January 1839. one of the Judges of the County Court of said County duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature to the preceding certificate
and jurat of the foregoing declaration in his own handwriting with which I am well acquainted. And I further certify that Benjamin G. Baldwin was a Justice of the Peace of said County on the
___ day of January 1829 and that his signature to the jurat of the affidavit of Nathan Parmeter hereto annexed is in his proper hand writing with what I am well acquainted. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal of said County 15th this day of January 1839
A C Low Clk
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Copy of the Record of the Marriage of Nathaniel Aikens & Mary Tupper
---
Nathaniel Aikens & Mary Tupper of Barnard were Married December twenty seventh seventeen
hundred Eighty four
By Asa Whitcomb Esquire

I certify that the above is a true copy of record with the Exception of the date which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows-- December 27 - 1784
Luther Chaney Town Clerk

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss ⎬ Barnard December 7th 1838
I Luther Chaney above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the County Town and State aforesaid and that the above is a true Extract from the Records of said Town of Barnard with the Exception above named as certified by me
Luther Chaney Town Clerk

Sworn to before me
Rollin Richmond Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont 
Windsor County ⎬
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court Do hereby certify that Rollin Richmond is a Justice of the Peace in aforesaid County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature above written is genuine

Given under my hand, and the Seal of said County Court this tenth day of December AD 1838-
Benj Swan Clerk
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State of New York
Lawrence County ⎬
Nathan Parmeter of Potsdam in said County being sworn said that he is aged 79 years last March. that he resided in Barnard Vt. in 1784 and was then well acquainted with Nathaniel Aikens and Mary his wife named in the annexed papers, that he attended the wedding and saw them married which was at the time mentioned in the declaration of the said Mary annexed, that this deponent, had before that time married a sister of the said Nathaniel Aikens, and he lived in the neighborhood of the said Nathaniel until 1816 when this deponent moved into the town of Potsdam where he now resides, that the said Nathaniel Aikens and family moved into the said town of Potsdam the next year after. and this deponent has always been intimately acquainted with the family ever since, living but a short distance from them, and he further saith that he believes the said Mary Aikens, was lawfully married to the said Nathaniel Aikens and that the said Nathaniel died on the 27th day of November 1836 and that the said Mary is now living as his widow and that the other parts stated in the said Mary's declaration an truly stated, that he has so heard the same said
Natham Parmeter [signature

Sworn this 11th day of May 1839 before me
Benjamin G. Baldwin, Just Peace. 

I am well acquainted with the said Nathan Parmeter and believe his statements entitled to perfect Credit B. G. Baldwin J Peace
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2709
New York Albany

Mary Aikens widow of Nath'l Aikens who was a Private in the Mass line for 10 months

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 33 Dollars & 33 Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Nov 1843 and sent to B. G. Baldwin Potsdam N. York

(Act of March 3, 1843.)
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1 Page 100

[right side]
Reported Nov 11th
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Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 27605
Mary Aikens Widow of Nathl Aikens
Pri Rev War

Act March 3d 48
Index: Vol. A Page 6
(Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 27

Albany 3122

Mary Aikens widow of Nathaniel Aikens who was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832
and who died on the 27th November 1836 of St Lawrence in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Dexter of the regt commanded by Col. Larned in the Mass line for 10 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 27. November, 1836. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of June 1839 and sent to B. G. Baldwin Potsdam, N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th of _____
Semi-annual allowance ending_____
---
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by D. Brown
Book A Vol. 2 Page 66
Page 28

Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6 April 1838
from 4 Sep 1840 to to 4 March 1841. 
Agt notified 25 Feb 1842
Page 29

2693
Mary Aikens
Pension Declaration
Under act 3 Mch. 1843

B. G. Baldwin
Potsdam, St. Law Co. NY
Agent
Page 30

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3d March, 1843, granting
pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7. 1838-

State of New York
County of St Lawrence ⎬ SS
On this second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty then  personally appeared Mary Aikens a resident of the town of Potsdam in the County of St. Lawrence aged seventy seven years on the 28th March A.D. 1843 who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3rd March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War-

That she is the widow of Nathaniel Aikens who was a private in revolutionary Army. that he lived in the State of Vermont when he enlisted and he served in the Vermont militia as she believes, and for a period somewhat less than a year although of this she is not certain that she does not
know the company or regiment in which he served and she further saith that she has drawn & received five years pension under the act of 7th July 1838. the annual amount of which was thirty three dollars and thirty three cents

And she further declares that she
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is still a widow
Mary X Aikens her mark [signature]

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written before me
Benjamin G. Baldwin Justice Peace

I hereby certify that the above named Mary Aikens is personally known to me to be the same person described in the foregoing Declaration, and that I assisted her in obtaining her four years pension under the act of July 1838 - that she made her mark to the said declaration, never having learned to write as she alleges
Benjamin G. Baldwin Justice Peace
Dated June 2. 1863

State of New York 
St Lawrence County ⎬ ss. 
I, Alvin C Low Clerk of the County of St Lawrence, do hereby certify that Benjamin S. Baldwin Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration of Mary Aikens purports to have been subscribed and sworn was at the time of taking said declaration a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, duly elected and qualified, and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice of the Peace and verily believe that the signatures to the certificate of the said declaration, genuine

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said County, the 9th day of June 1843
A. C. Low. Clk
By G.B. Eastman D. Clk
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office
Feb'y 8 1842

Sir,
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States, Mary Aikins a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N.Y. Agency, at
the rate of Thirty three Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 July 1838, has
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1840 to the 4th March 1841-
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K Parris Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office,
March 16th 1839

Sir,
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States, the Widow of Nathaniel Aikens, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N. York, Agency, at the rate of Thirty three Dollars and thirty three cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1836,
to the 27th November 1836, the day of his death

Respectfully yours
Albion H. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present
Page 34

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathaniel Aikins which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain ing it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
X [written] If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? No
X [written] Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? No
XV Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state  precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the  consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ years _____ months, and _____days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ and days, I served as a _____ and for such service I claim a pension.

[handwritten in left margin]
The deponents affidavit failed to [illegible]
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by  competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit-

QUE XIV Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must
prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may  administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating 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 paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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[envelope]
2693
July 28, 1843
Mary Aikens
March 30/42
NY

$33.33 per an

B.G. Baldwin
Potsdam NY

[postmark]
POTSDAM NY JUL 23

[sideways]
J L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City
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State of New York
St. Lawrence County
Potsdam July 22. 1843

Dear Sir
Please examine the enclosed declaration of Mrs Aikins for 1 yrs. pension send certificate to me if right

Yours Truly
B. G. Baldwin

J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pension