Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22,630, Charles Wilder, Vt.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE  Vt.

Wilder, Charles
Sally
or
Sarah

NUMBER W. 22,630

CONTENTS
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20.890
New York
Charles Wilder
Brattleboro*, in the State of New York who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Warner of the Regt. commanded by Col. Schuyler in the New York line for 12 months, & 22 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 42 dollars 42 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Oct. 1833 and sent to S. Crippen Worcester 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept $106.05 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M '24  21.21 $127.26 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832 
Recorded by G. C. Stiles Clerk
 Book E. Volume. 4, Page [40?]

[* Brattleboro is in Vermont]
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cert. returned by C.G. Pettit of Greenfield Centre, NY July 6, 1840. sent same day to Hon. L.C. Peck HR Letter to Mrs. Olive Waterman June 6. 1851
Albany 5473
Sally Wilder widow of Charles Wilder who was a Vt. pensioner under the Act of June 1832 and who died on the 17 March 1838 of Cattaraugus Co. in State of N.York who as a Private in the company commanded by Captain Warner of the regt. commanded by Col. Schuyler in the Vt. line for 12 months, & 22 days. Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 42 Dollars 44 Cents per annum to commence on the 18 March 1838 Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of June 1840 and sent to Hon. L.C. Peck House of Representatives Arrears to the 4th of March 1840 $83.27 Semi-annual allowance ending to 4 Sept 21.22 $104.49 
{Act July 7, 1838.} 
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book A. Vol. 2. Page 110
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Mary born [1780]
Charles was born 21 day day of June 1784
Salley was born 13 day of April 1786
Ruben was born 26 day of February 1788
Nathanel was born 20 day of December 1789
Mary was born 4 of August 1791
[illegible]tha was born 4 day of May 1793
Oley was born 7 day of November 1794
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Willard was born 27 day of November 1796
Josiah was born 15 day of November 1798
Samuel
Eunes was born 8 day of August 1801
Samuel and Betsy the twins was born 10 day of April
Leonard was born the 4 day of October 1806 
Eunes died the 21 day of June 1813
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In the Matter of Charles Wilder
 23256
S. Crippen
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State of New York 
Otsego County Ss:} [paper damaged] day of February A.D. 1833 Personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Otsego now sitting - Charles Wilder a resident of the Town of Worcester in the County of Otsego and State of New York aged Seventy five years on the 14th day of June now last past, 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 year 1776 he resided in the Town of Brattleboro in the State of Vermont, and in the month of August of that year he enlisted for the period of three months into a company commanded by Capt. Samuel Warner of Brattleboro and Josiah Boyden of Dummerston and Abel Dimmick of New Malbury Lieutenants - that he joined said company at the time above stated at Brattleboro, and soon thereafter marched from that place in said company, to the place at the time called Number 4, now called Charlestown New Hampshire. From thence, to Otter Creek, and to Mount Independence in the State of New York. After remaining at Mount Independence for a short time he marched with said company back to Rutland, and from thence to Wethersfield in Vermont, and continued at that place until the expiration of the three months service, and he was then dismissed from service, and returned home to his fathers in Brattleboro, the place of his residence. And he also states that Capt. Powers had command of another company, which marched from Number 4 above stated with Capt. Warner's company and continued together until both of said companies were dismissed - and also that one Major John Stephenson of Guilford, Vermont had command of said companies during said three months service and continued with them until said companies were discharged from the service as above stated - and he further states that both of said companies were at the time called Continental Troops -
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And the said Charles Wilder further declares in manner aforesaid that in the month of July 1777 he volunteered into a company of Militia commanded by Francis Prouty of Brattleboro, who was at the time a Lieutenant an Ensign and which he does not now recollect that marched with said Company from Brattleboro to Manchester Vermont, and was stationed at that place in said Company, and remained there, in actual service at this time for the period of four weeks, and was then dismissed and returned home to Brattleboro, he was called into service at this time on the evacuation of Ticonderoga by the American Army under command of Genl. St. Clair. And he the said Charles Wilder further states that within a few days after his return home from the service at the time last above stated, he was again called into service in the same company commanded by the said Francis Prouty - that he also at this time volunteered and marched from Brattleboro in said Company to Bennington and arrived there the same day of the Battle with the British under Col Baum but did not arrive at the place where the Battle was fought until after the Battle had closed - he was then marched to Vauloon Schoick [Walloomsack?], ten or twelve miles from Bennington and there joined the American Troops under command of Genl. Stark, and remained at that place four weeks and was then dismissed from service and again returned home to Battleboro aforesaid - he also well recollects that Genl Warner from Hartwick [Hardwick] Massachusetts was stationed at Vauloon Schoick [Walloomsack?] at the same time and had command of a Small Brigade of Militia - And he further declares and says that on or about the 20th of September 1777 he again volunteered and was called into service in a company of Militia commanded by Capt John Sargent of Brattleboro, and Timothy Church of the same place Lieutenant that he marched from Brattleboro in said Company to Stillwater in the State of New York, and there joined a Regiment of Militia commanded by Col Schuyler and was there stationed and remained in actual service until after the Battle with Genl Burgoyne and on the day of said Battle, Col. Schuyler
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Regiment was in the flank guard of the American Army, and that he continues with the Army, and in actual service until the Capitulation was entered into between the Commanders of said armies- that he was then dismissed and returned home to Brattleboro aforesaid. and that he was in actual service at this time for the period of four weeks.
And the said Charles Wilder further declares in manner aforesaid that about the last of May or first of June in the year 1778 he again volunteered and was called into service in a company of militia commanded by Francis Prouty, there Lieutenant resided at Brattleboro aforesaid- and immediately marched from Brattleboro to Rutland in Vermont, from there to Castleton, and to Pittstown,- and after being out at this time two or three weeks, Lieutenant Prouty was taken sick and left the service, and the same company was thereafter commanded by Lieutenant Cook from Windham County Vermont. that the said company was stationed at Pittstown, and Rutland and was frequently marched out in scouting parties to guard the frontiers - and continued in the service at this time until some twice in the month of September and until after the middle of that month and was then dismissed and returned home to Brattleboro. And he further states that he recollects that a Capt Bronson was a part f this time in Pittstown with a company of militia, and that he cannot now recollect the names of any other officers who were in the service where he was stationed during this period of service.

And the said Charles Wilder further states that he again went into service in the Month of May 1779 as a volunteer in a company of Militia commanded by Lieutenant Whipple of Brattleboro and marched sixty or seventy miles north of Brattleboro, to what was then called Sugar River- that said company went out at this time as a scouting party, for the purpose of Guarding the frontiers and to protect the inhabitants against the Canadians & Indians- and that he remained in service in said company at this time [ about-crossed out] six weeks when the said company returned to Brattleboro and was dismissed- that he has no
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recollection that any field officers were out in the services where he was at this time but he does recollect that a captain by the name of Boyden had command of the company of militia that was a part of the time with Lieutenant Whipples company
And he further states that some time the fore part of the month of September 1779 he again volunteered into a company of militia commanded by Capt Spaulding of Putney Vermont and Lieutenant Pettee of the same place that he went into service in said company at the time last above stated and marched out the frontiers nigh the Canada Line ^ with said company as a scouting party and continued in the services at this time in said company for the space of two months during all which time the said company was marching from place to place nigh the Canada Line in the state of Vermont and was at the expiration of two months service desmissed [dismissed] and returned to Brattleboro aforesaid

And he further states that he was born in the town of Templeton in the county of Worcester Massachusetts in the year 1757 that he now has a record of his age in his possession which was made by his father and which contains the record of the ages of the whole of his fathers family that he lived at Brattleboro at each and every time he was called into the service as above stated and that since the Revolution he resides at Battleboro until about thirty five years since at which time he moved into the Town of Worcester in the county of Otsego and State of New York where he has ever since continued to reside until three years ago last spring when he removed into the town of Maryland in said county of Otsego where he resided until the first of January now last past, at which time he again moved back into the town of Worcester aforesaid where he now resides
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That he was called into service at each and every time as he has above stated and the names of the officers who were with the troops where he served are above stated and set forth as fully as he can now recollect the same 
That he never received any written discharge from the service as he now recollects or believes and he further states that he is known to Doct Uriah Bigelow and Francis Dickinson.
in his present neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services except the deposition of Jesse Hadley which is hereunto annexed
And he the said Charles Wilder 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 any agency of any state also that there is no clergyman residing in his neighborhood and therefore he is not able to comply with the instructions in this particular 
  Charles Wilder
Sworn to & subscribed the 11th day of February AD 1833 in open court }
  Horace Lathrop clerk

Mr Uriah Bigelow a physician residing in the town of Worcester in the county of Otsego and Francis Dickinson of the same place here by certify that we are well acquainted with Charles Wilder who has subscribed his name to the above declaration and that we have known him for more than thirty years now last past that we believe him to be seventy five 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 also that he sustains a fair character for truth & veracity
 Uriah Bigelow
 Francis Dickinson
Sworn & subscribed before me the 9th day of February 1833
Seth Chase a Judge of Otsego County
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I Seth Chase a judge of the court of common pleas of Otsego county before whom the above named Uriah Bigelow and Francis Dickinson were sworn to the above certificate by them subscribed do certify that I am well acquainted with the said Uriah Bigelow & Francis Dickinson and have been thus acquainted with them for many years now last past and that they are men of good character, and their testimony entitled to full credit and that said Uriah Bigelow is a regular practicing physician of respectable standing in the town where he resides
Seth Chase
State of New York Otsego county Ss } I Thomas Lathrop clerk of said county do hereby certify that Seth Chase before whom the above affidavit of Bigelow & Dickinson purports to have been sworn & whose name appears to the above certificate was at the date of the same a Judge of Otsego county courts: duly appointed and sworn as such and that 
I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said certificate & affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 18th day of February 1833 Horace Lathrop clerk
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Oswego County [Note: should be Otsego County]
On this 24th day of September 1832 personally came before Alden Crandell justice of the peace Jessey Hadley who being duly sworn deposing & says that he is well acquainted with Charles Wilder and was during the war of the revolution that he the said Hadley will be 79 years of age in November next and during the revolutionary war was also his the said Wilder in the state of Vermont county of Windham and town of Brattleborough at the time said Wilder (whom this deponant believes to be about 76 years of age) in listed [enlisted] for three months under Captain Samuel Warner and Major Shepeson dont exactly recollect this Christian name thinks it was John in the year 76 in the year following deponent knows of said Wilders going into the service under captain John Sergents & Frances Prouty Ensign  dont know how long he served at that time who knowing of said Wilders turning out towards the close of the war dont recollect the year or the length of service thinks it was about three months dont recollect the officers this deponant says that he has bin aquainted with the said Wilder ever since the revolution and that he lives in the town of Mary land in the county of Otsego & state of New York and further this deponant saith not 
Sworn to and subscribed this 24th day of September 1832 before me Alden Crandell justice 
Jesse Hadley 
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jessie Hadley who has subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit before me and that he is a man of good moral character and his statements entitled to full credit and belief
Alden Crandell justice of the peace
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[written upside down
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the]

State of New York
Oswego County SS [Note: should be Otsego County]  Eric Poor clerk of the said county do hereby certify that Alden Crandell before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the justices of the peace in & for the said county and that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature witness my hand & seal of office this Twenty fourth day of Sept 1832
Eric Poor clerk
By D McPherson Dep clk
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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 certify that it appears to them that Uriah Bigelow who has signed the preceeding certificate and sworn to the same before one of the judges of this court is a physician residing in the town of Worcester in the county of Otsego and that Francis Dickinson who has also signed and sworn to the same certificate is a resident of the said town of Worcester and that they are both credible persons and entitled to full credit in their statements 
JO Morse
James C Warnerlett   } Judges
Elisha Foot
I Horace Lathrop clerk of the court of common pleas in and for the said county of Otsego do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Charles Wilder for a Pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 18th day of February AD 1833
Horace Lathrop clerk
State of New York Otsego County Personally appeared before me the undersigned a judge of the court of common pleas in & for the said county of Otsego Charles Wilder who subscribed his name to & made the above declaration and 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 at each respective time he was in the army but according to the best of his recollection he served no less than
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the periods mentioned below and in the following grades
For three months I served as a private in Capt Warners company 
for eight weeks I served as a private in a company commanded by Francis Prouty
For four weeks I served as a private in capt sergents company
For three months and a half I served as a private in a company commanded by Francis Prouty Lieut
For six weeks I served as a private in a company commanded by Lieut Whipple
For two months I served as a private in capt Spauldings company
And for such service I claim a pension 
Subscribed & sworn before me the 1st day of July 1833 Seth Chase a judge of Otsego county } Charles Wilder
State of New York Otsego County Ss I Horace Lathrop clerk of the said county do hereby certify that Seth Chase Esqr before whom the above affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the judges of Otsego county courts and that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper handwriting & signatures 
witness my hand and seal of office this 6th day of July 1833
Horace Lathrop clk
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Marriages by revd Joseph Farrar [this is the correct spelling]
Charles Wilder and Sarah Spaulding October [crossed out 27th 1782] twenty seventh seventeen hundred eighty two The foregoing is a true record of the marriages of the foregoing persons, and of the times that the revd Joseph Farrar married them while a setler Minister in Dummerston as certified to me by him 
State of Vermont
Windham county  ss} [Pd?] Jason Duncan Town clerk
Town Clerks office Dummerston April 24th 1840
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the record and certificate thereunto with the exception of the date; which is expressed in fair legible figures as follows Octr 27th 1782 Joseph Duncan town clerk of Dummerston

I Joseph Duncan above named depose and say that I hold the office of clerk in the town county & state aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Dummerston with the exception the above named date as certified by me Joseph Duncan Town clerk
Sworn to and subscribed this 25 day of April AD 1840
fore me Enos Leonard Justice of the peace

State of Vermont
Windham County Court clerk's office
New Fane May 15th AD 1840 
I Marshall Miller, clerk of said court certify that Enos Leonard and Joseph Duncan are justices of the peace within and for said county duly commissioned and qualified and that their signatures hereunto written are genuine In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said court the day and year above written 
Attest Marshall Miller clerk
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I Anna Laughton of Dummerston in the county of Windham and State of Vermont of Lawful age depose and say that sometime in the month of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two according to my best recollection Charles Wilder and my sister Sarah Spaulding both of said Dummerston started from my Fathers house in said Dummerston for the purpose of going to the revd Joseph Farrars then the regular officiating congregational minister of said Dummerston for the purpose of being joined in marriage agreeable to the laws of the state of Vermont and said Charles and Sarah returned back to my fathers in the same evening giving us to understand that they were lawfully married and further that the said Charles and Sarah lived together ever after as husband and wife until the decease of said Charles Wilder which took place as I am informed in the month of March 1834
Anna her x mark Laugton 
Dummerston April 23 AD 1840 The above affidavit sworn to and subscribed before me Joseph Duncan justice of the peace
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State of New York
Cattaraugus County} Ss On this 20th day of April in the year of our Lord 1840 personally appeared before me Peter Tenbrock one of the judges of the court of common pleas of the said county Sally Wilder aged seventy seven years a resident of the town of Farmersville in said county who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows that she is the widow of Charles Wilder who was a soldier in the army of the revolution as she believes will appear by referring to his declaration and proof now in the Pension office or War Department
She further declares that her husband drew a pension under the Act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832 That he then resided in the town of Worcster in the county of Otsego in the State of New York
She further declares that she was married to the said Charles Wilder in the month of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two in the town of Dummerston in the county of Windham and State of Vermont and that the marriage ceremony was performed by the reverend Elder Farrow [Farrar] his given name she does not recollect at the home of the said Farrow [Farrar] in said town
She further declares that she lived with the said Charles Wilder from the day of their marriage until the day of his death which was on the seventeenth day of March 1838 at the town of Farmersville in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York
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and she further declares that she has no record of her marriage neither does she know that there is any person living who was present at the marriage but she has a record of the births of her fourteen children seven sons and seven daughters which she had by the said Charles Wilder her husband which is herewith enclosed and she further declares that her husbands original certificate has not been returned to the pension office but has been kept in her possession from the day of her husbands death until the present time and will be forwarded with this declaration and further saith not
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year first above written Sally her x mark Wilder
Peter Tenbrock Judge of Cattaraugus Common pleas 
I hereby certify that Sally Wilder the person who signed the forgoing declaration in my presence is unable to attend in open court on account of bodily imfirmities or to write her name 
Farmersville April 20th 1840 Peter Tenbrock Judge of Catteraugus common pleas
State of New York County of Cattaraugus Ss} I Frances E Baillet clerk of the court of common pleas of the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that Peter Tenbrocck Esq is a judge as within and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of said county the 24th day of April 1840 Francis E Baillet clk

7068
Mar Sept 
1782
Husband 
March 1838
Mrs S Wilder, Vermont 
Admitted
Private 12 & 22day
Hn LC Pecke
HR
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Charles Wilder
New York
No. 23256

[illegible]
Admitted
Private 12 mo & 22 days

Schuyler Crippen
Worcester
Otsego Co.
N.Y.
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
June 3 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 show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus}). You will when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Charles Wilder
Period when the service was rendered /
Duration of the claimants 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 present period / Evidence by which the declaration is supported.

1776 enlisted 3 months / private / Capt Saml Warner / / From Brattleboro to Charleston then New Hampshire thence to Otter creek and Mount Independence New York from Brattleboro to Manchester Vermont / 75 years / Traditionary Witness
July 1777 vol /  28 days / private / Lt Frs Prouty / Maj Inv Sherperson Genl Stark
1777 28 days 
Sept 1777 vol / 28 days Capt Jno Sergent  / Col Schuyler
last May or 1st June 1778 3 months 15 days served till some time in Sept same year / Lieut Frs Prouty Lieut Cook
May 1779 vol / 1 month 12 days / Lieut Whipple
Sept 1779 vol 2 months / Cap A Spaulding


I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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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 serviced on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.  The Regular Troops.
2.  The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3.  Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4.  Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will in the first instance, make applications by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832
State, Territory, or District of
County of } ss.
On this     day of     personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of     in the county of     and State, Territory or District of     aged (c)      years who being 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)     , with     and served in the      (e) regiment of the     line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.  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
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,                             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     of the Court of     do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of     for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this     day of      &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman. residing in the     and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with     , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be     years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 certified, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the     and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the     and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,     Clerk of the Court of     do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of      for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this    day of     &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corrobating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at 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 your age, and if so, where is it?
3.  Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4.  How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?  And if a substitute, for whom?
5.  State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.  {To a Soldier.} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?  {To an Officer.}  Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.  The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.  The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.  
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by 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 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  year  months, and  days, I served as a  For  months and  days, I served as a  ; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of 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 authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, 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 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 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.  in is personally [illegible] by [illegible] certificate

[i] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops,  The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 25

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.  3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Washington, D.C.  19

SF 22.630

In reply to your request of ...... received...... for a statement of the military history of Charles Wilder a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - Aug 1776 
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 3 mos
RANK -Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN - Samuel Warner
COLONEL -
STATE - Vt

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - July 1777
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 4 weeks
RANK -Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN - Lt Francis Prouty
COLONEL -
STATE - 

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - 1777
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 4 weeks
RANK -Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN - Francis Prouty
COLONEL -
STATE - 

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - Sept 20 1777
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 4 weeks
RANK -Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN - John Sergent
COLONEL - Schuyler
STATE - 

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - May or June 1778 May  1779
LENGTH OF SERVICE - Sept 1778 / 6 weeks
RANK -Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN -Lt Francis Prouty & Cook / Lieut Whipple
COLONEL -
STATE - 


DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - Sept 1779
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 2 mos
RANK -Pvt
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN - Spaulding 
COLONEL -
STATE - 
Battles engaged in Stillwater
Residence of soldier at enlistment Battleboro Vt
Date of application for pension Feby 11 1833 His cl was al
Residence at date of application Worcester Otsego County NY
Age at date of application, born June 14 1757 of Templeton Worcester Co Mass died Mch 17 1838 at Farmersville Cattaraugus Co  N.Y.
Remarks He mar Oct 27 1782 at Dummerston, Windham Co Vt Sarah daughter of Leonard Spalding She was al. pens. [allowed pension] on an app ex. Apr 20 1840 while a resident of Farmersville NY aged 77 years
Sec supplement herewith for further family data.
 
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
6-285C
Page 26

VLM 
Rev War Section
December 10, 1918

Mrs George B Crippen
Worcester, Otesgo County
New York
Madam:
In addition to the military history of Charles Wilder W File No 22,630 Revolutionary War you are furnished the following data as to his children:
Mary date of birth illegible
Charles born June 27, 1784
Sally April 13, 1785
Ruben February 23, 1788
Nathaniel December 28, 1789
Mary August 4, 1791
Sentha May 4, 1793
Oley November 7, 1794
Willard November 27, 1796
Josiah November 15, 1798
Eunes August 8, 1801, died June 31, 1803 or 1813.
Samuel & Betsey April 10, 1803
Leonard October 1806
In 1851 signed Mrs Olive Waterman
Very respectfully
GM Saltzgaber
Commissioner
Page 27

Rev War
Worcester, Otsego Co NY
Nov 30, 1918
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington DC
Gentlemen,
Will you please send me the Revolutionary record of Charles Wilder of Brattleborough, Vt said to be a pensioner of the Revolutionary war?  His wife was Sarah Spaulding, daughter of Leonard Spaulding, Captain in Revolutionary war. Did Capt Lo Spaulding or widow have pension?
Thanking you for information I am
Sincerely yours
(Mrs George B) Caroline W Crippen
Page 28


Rev
WIDOW &c
File No 22630
Sally Wilder
Widow of Charles Wilder
Pri Rev War
Act July 7th 38
dex: Vol M Page 346
[Arrangement of 1870]
1918 Dec 10 Hist to Mrs B Crippen (Caroline W)
Page 29

House of Reps
June 2, 1840

Sir
I Send herewith for your examination the Claim of Mrs. Sally Wilder widow of Charles Wilder who claims a pension

Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
L. C. Peck


Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comsr pensions
Page 30

July 6 1840
[illegible]
5473
act 1838 NY
Sally Wilder
Hon JL Edwards
Com Pensions
Page 31

Greenfield Centre June 17.-1840

Sir
By the last mail I received the enclosed Pension Certificate.  It was doubtless sent to me by mistake.  As I know no person of that name I herewith enclose it again to the department that it may go to its proper destination.
I am Respectfully your Obt. Servt.
C. G. Pettit

J. L. Edwards
Com. Pensions
Page 32

Greenfield Centre June 17.-1840  

Sir 
By the last mail I received the enclosed Pension Certificate. It was doubtless sent to me by mistake. As I know no person of that name I herewith enclose it again to the department that it may go to its proper destination. 
I am Respectfully your Obt. Servt. 
C. G. Pettit  

J. L. Edwards Com. Pensions
Page 33

Charles Wilder
Payments to be made at New York by Pres. U.S.N. Bk. Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of New York
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book C, Vol. 4, Pag 60 by G. C. Stiles Clerk.
Page 34

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Charles Wilder of the State of New York who was a private in the Revolutionary Army is entitled to receive forty two dollars and [forty] two cents per annum, during his natural life,  commencing on the 4th of March,1831, and payable semiannually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.

Given at the War office of the United States this 10 day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three
[signature] Lew Cass
Secretary of War. 

Examined and}
Countersigned.}
[signature] Geo Wm Crump
Acting Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 35

State of New York
Cattararaugus County} Rhuben Wilder personally appeared before me Henry Foot Esquire one of the justices of the peace of the said county and after being duly sworne [sworn] the said Rhuben Wilder saith that he is a resunt [resident] of the town of Farmersville in the said county saith on his oath that he is fifty two years of age and he is the second son of Charles Wilder and Sally Wilder and that the said Charles Wilder his farther [father] and the said Sally Wilder his mother has always lived with him ever since his remembered are in the neighborhood with them until that his father the said Charles Wilder drew a pension under the act of congress pased [passed] June the 7 1832 he then resied [resided] at the Town of Worcester in the county of Otsego state of New York and that he drew his pension at that place till the 4 of March 1833 his father removed to this town in the month of June of that yeare and that his farther [father] drew his pension up to march the 4 1838 and that he died on the 17 day of march 1838 at his deponants house in Farmersville aforesaid and that his farther [father] certificate has not ben [been] returned to the pension office but has been kept in his mother prossion [possession] ever since his father death and will be returned herewith and further says that the said Sally Wilder is still the widdor [widow] of the said Charls Wilder and has not since married      Reuben Wilder
Sworn until subscribed before me Henry Foot this 20 day of April 1840 
Henry Foot Justice of the peace of Cattaraugus County I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Rhuben Wilder the person who maid [made] the foregoing affidavit in my present and that he is a person of truth and verasity
Henry Foot J P
Page 36

State of New York            }
Cattaraugus County ss.  } I Frances E. Baillet, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Henry Foot Esq. is a Magistrate as within and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County the 24th day of April 1840.

Francie C. Baillet Clk

[dim partial image of seal]
Page 37

Washington  free
War Office
Worcester Vt
March 4

Pension Office
Page 38

No Rev War claim for a Leonard Spalding Spaulding
VLM Dec 9 1918
Worcester March the 1 1851
Mrsers as a stranger I presume to address you on a subject which I do not understand but being old & infirm and in low surcumstance [circumstance] I thought that to do this would answer every purpos[e] I am granddaughter of one Leonard Spalding or Spaulding but I think you will find his name in some of the papers of the revolution for he was in that war for seven years and spent all his property he was wounded at Bunkers hill & from that Battle he was carried home & staid home 3 months and then he took the field again and remained untill they ware all discharged and shook hands with his honor general Washington at the taking of general Cornwallis which was the end of his many battles and as he died some 8 or 10 years after the war but his widow lived * till 1825 I often told my mother that she ought to draw a pension but there was no way to get it & my father too was a soldier of a short time & he had a small pension while he lived & my Mother lived 3 years after my father died and she had his pension while she lived my fathers name was Charles Wilder he has bin [been] dead 13 years but with this I will not say more but sir I think I ought to draw my grand fathers pension her I saw in the newspapers that the grand Children could draw if thare [there] was none drawn before & that never has bin [been] I know of one old widow who can testafy [testify] to what I say here & I have no way to do only as I have done here & if you find his name that would answer every purpos[e] some are geting [getting] pension when they have not had the [groing?] to get it as this ought to be but sir if you will look and find his name and do me the favor to [w]rite me or send me some pension I do not want to go to the lawyers for I will have them to pay I am trying your patience sir I fear with my scrawl
*she was in her 95th year
Page 39

and if I remember right my grandfather held some office in the army but I forgot and I have one son in the army he has bin [been] there since 1890 inlisted for 5 years & I have 2 sons with me small boys and I have bin [been] hardly prest [pressed] & to take this step my mind has been tride [tried] that if I would do this I should get well paid and I have don[e] so much sir your humble servant 
if you [w]rite to me direct I am 57 years of age

to Mrs Olive Waterman Worcester
Otsego
NY

Sir my Mother lived between 200 & 300 miles from me when she died but as I can well remember hearing her tell when she was quite young that they had some Torys for neighbors & they were angry with her father because he would fight for his country & they set his hous[e] on fire but the family all escaped alive this was in 1776 he had to leave the army then for a few weeks to see to his family he had 2 sons who were in the latter part of the revolution they both died young one was married & left 2 children his name was Leonard his children are both dead also I have 3 brothers but they are far from me one of them was in the ware [war] of 1812 and he is dead and I have a family and I wish to be believed in this truth that I may have something to help myself to a living for my mind is so bent on this that I must do this much & I should get well paid
Page 40

and if I remember right my grandfather held some office in the army but I forgot and I have one son in the army he has bin there since 1890 inlisted for 5 years & I have 2 sons with me small boys and I have bin hardly prest [pressed] & to take this step my mind has been tride [tried] that if I would do this I should get well paid and I have don[e] so much sir your humble servant 
if you [w]rite to me direct I am 57 years of age

to Olive Waterman Worcester
Otsego
NY

Sir my Mother lived between 200 & 300 miles from me when she died but as I can well remember hearing her tell when she was quite young that they had some Torys for neighbors & they were angry with her father because he would fight for his country & they set his hous[e] on fire but the family all escaped alive this was in 1776 he had to leave the army then for a few weeks to see to his family he had 2 sons who were in the latter part of the revolution they both died young one was married & left 2 children his name was Leonard his children are both dead also I have 3 brothers but they are far from me one of them was in the ware [war] of 1812 and he is dead and I have a family and I wish to be believed in this truth that I may have something to help myself to a living for my mind is so bent on this that I must do this much & I should get well paid but the land bounty would not do me [puite? quite?] so well
[several words above]
get my grandsirs [grandfather's] pension
but I have faith that I shall