Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 10,526, for William Platt, New York
Page 3

State of New York
Oneida County

On this sixth day of December in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before the Vice Chancellor of the fifth circuit in the state of New York aforesaid in open court William Platt a resident of the town of Remsem in the county of Oneida aforesaid aged seventy three years who being duly sworn according to law doth ___ his oath made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress papered June 7, 1832. to mit. 

That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776, during the month of May and served as a private under Captain Hiot who resided at or near Parkhill for the term of Eight months. That during the said term of Eight-months he was on the lines above the City of New York on the nor River about Kings Breidge. That while there he saw Gen. Washington for the first time, that at the end of the 8 months he was regularly discharged by said Captian Hiot.

That he again entered the army in the month of April in the year 1777 and served as a private, under one Captain Dellaware whose Company composed a part of Col. Webbs Regiment in which he served for the term of nine months and was regularly discharged by the said Capt. Dellaware. - 

That during the term of nine months aforesaid he company aforesaid ___ over the North River from North Salence into Fort Montgomery. That the next ____ from the said fort to ___ ____ and to a place called the English neighborhood and there to Hackensach where the army was inspected by Barron Steubee. That he served a part of the time  ____ the continental soldiers ____ _____
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That there is no one now living to the knowledge of this deponent who was in the army with him in either of the above campaigns. That his brother Samuel Plat who is about seven years younger _____ this deponent was there living with this deponents father and was well acquainted with the deponents ____ and swore in the ____ of aforesaid.
And further _____ not William Platt.
Taken and sworn this sixth day of December 1832
before me ________ ___ Chancellor

State of New York
Oneida County

Samuel Platt being duly sworn says that he is aged sixty six years and ____ that he is the brother of William Platt the above named applicant for a pension. That he this deponent lived with his father John Platt with the said William Platt. That he well remembers that his said brother enlisted in the army of the United States at the several times he the said William has above stated that he went from house at ____ several times here in mentioned and that he was absent as long as he whas therein stated. That he ____ the said William to be seventy three years of age. That he is _____ and believes in the very ____ where he has resided to have been a  soldier of the Revolution. That he has resided at nee several places stated by him in his said declaration. and further  _____ not.
Taken and sworn this sixth day of Dec 1832.
Signed Samuel Platt
before me _________
Page 6

State of New York 
Oneida County

Obadiah Platt of the town of ______ in the county of Oneida aforesaid aged sixty years and upwards being duly sworn deposes ____ ____ he is the brother of William Platt above ___  that he this deponent resided at the time his brother William enlisted and served in the army of the United States militia his father. A  ____ ____ aforesaid that he does not distinctly remember in fact of his brother William going and returning from __ armu but that he well remembers hearing his mother and sisters often talking about the said William being a soldier in the Revolution at the time he was on the lines, that he has often since then heard it spoken of in the family that has often heard his brother tell the details of his several campaigns that he believes his brother is seventy three years of age and that the facts state by him in his above declaration are true. 

Obadiah Platt
And further south not ___ and sworn this sixth day of Dec 1832 before me.

N. Williams Chancellor

And the said court do hereby declare this opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War department that the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served the States; And the court further certify taht it appears to them that Samuel Platt and Obadiah Platt are brothers of the above named applicant and that their depositions are entitled to credit and that the applicant is a man of fair character and ______ to credit. 

N. Williams
Chancellor
Page 7

I, James Watson Williams, Clerk of the Court of Chancery of the State of New Yrk for the Fifth Circuit, do hereby certify that the fore going contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Platt for a pension.

In Testimony Where of, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this sixth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
J.Watson Williams
Clerk in Chancery
5th Circuit, N.Y.
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______
Declaration for Rev. Pension as of 3 Feb 1853 by Lydia Moulton

Signed by J. Hathaway
Rome, N.Y.
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subscribed and sworn to on the day and year above written, before me 
Wm J Barnes
Justice of the Court

Lydia Moulton

Declaration of Rev, Pension Act of 3 Feb '53 by Lydia Moulton
Sent by J Hathaway 
Rome, NY
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Claim for Bounty Land, Revolutionary Service

State of New York
County of Oneida
SS

On this 18th day of September AD 1857 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace within and for said County, Lydia Moulton, formerly widow of William Platt a US pensioner deceased aged 74 years, resident of Trenton in the state of N York, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Joshua Moulton, and was widow of said Wm Platt, deceased, who was a soldier in the company commanded by Captain /to her unknown/ in the regiment of Revolutionary forces commanded by /she cannot say/ in the War of the Revolution, of the Revolution of 1776, that her said husband served in at said war on or about the _ day of AD for the term of months /doesn't know and continued in actual service in said war for about the term of __months and was honorably discharged at /place to her now known/ on or about the _day of /can't say/ for which service he was pensioned by the US Govt at eighty dollars per year, proof of service is on file.
She further states that she was married t the said William Platt, and has her bible record of same, in Whitestown on the 30th day of April 1837 by one Elder Hase, a minister, and that her name before her said marriage was Lydia Mitchell, that her husband died at Western NY on the 26th day of April AD 1847 and that she is now a widow of Joshua Moulton, whom she married at Floyd NY  August 7th 1857. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3d 1855.
She further declares that she has not heretofore made application for bounty land under the act approved Sept. 28th, 1850 or any other, nor obtained a land warrant for _ acres, No. _ which she has legally disposed of and cannot now return
[signed] Lydia Moulton

We Alfred Sizer and Mary Sizer residents of Trenton in the state of N York upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Lydia Moulton in our presence and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be. Alfred Sizer, Mary Sizer.
The foregoing declaration and affidavit was sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons -that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in the claim.
Wm Ralph, Justice of the Peace
For attaching of Justice's official character re pension papers
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19925 
Wm Platt
NY
aomd
24 mos pre
80$
Sam'l P Lyman Esq
Utica
NY
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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 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 ho were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &C, Persons who served on board of Private Armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops
2. The state Troops, Militia and Volunteers
3. Persons employed in the Naval service
4. Indian Spies

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

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832
State, Territory or District of } ss
County Of

On this    day of     personally appeared (1) before      A.B. A resident (b) of the      in the county of       and State, Territory, or District of    aged (c)     years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the bent of the provion 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     (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 a subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, AB a Clergyman, residing in the     and C.D: Residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with     , who has subscribed ad sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be    years of age;. that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
[and then will follow the Certificate of the Court]
And the said Court to hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that A.B.     who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the     and that C.D.,  who has also signed the same is a resident in the       and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,   Clerk of the Court of       do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the 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 witnesses cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts state I 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 who 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 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 if 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 or a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is he 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 of the matter. 

[footnotes]
[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 [italicized: 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.

[italicized: Mode of authenticating papers.]
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticate 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 end 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.

[italicized: 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. 
[small symbol of a hand with the index finger pointed to the beginning of the line to the left] 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.

W.L. Williams
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[this is the front of an envelope, the right side of which has been ripped off, obscuring some of the words]

[written sideways across the left side of the envelope] 281.765

[stamp] ROME NY SEP 23 1857

Hon. Comms. of Pen [cut off]

Washing [cut off]
Page 30

Hon. Charles Rich
Truman Platt
Recd. 26 Feb 1821

case

Rejected, not having served on the continental [uncertain: establishment]

The letter 21 March 1821

[written sideways, vertically intersecting with the previous text]
J.L. Edwards, Esq.

Pension Office

Department of War.

8283

[written upside down at bottom of page]
Truman Platt
Page 33

[STAMP] Rome, N.Y., Nov. 17 1857

Hon. Coms. of Pensions
Washington
Page 34

Rome, N.Y. Apr. 18

Hon. C. Of Peas.

Sir, 
In the matter of app. of Lydia Moulton wid. for pens. and L. B. you have again advised me (the 11th inst.) of the requirement of action before "a comnt. of Record". Such action was heard 2 weeks since, before our Supreme Court, and the Dec. sent you by mail - filed additional and [unintelligible]. [uncertain: Freeting] it reached the office and will be early laid before you. 

I am yr. [uncertain: servant]
Jay Hathaway

P.S. Please allow me to inquire of a letter form me, on widow Hannah Halladay's claim for Pension reached you?
Page 38

Declaration for Pension
Revolutionary claim

[written sideways up the left hand margin of the page] For proof of marriage and identity Lee Brants land papers. RM
23 Oct, 1857

State of New York
County of Oneida

On this, 18th day of September 1857 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said county Lydia Moulton widow of Joshua Moulton, formerly widow of William Platt, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, but his officers names, and the particular service he rendered she is unable to state or name but refers to the proof on file at Pension office, upon which he was pensioned, at the rate of $80 per annum, Act of June 1832. That she was married to said William Platt on the 30th of April 1837 at Whitestown N.Y. by one Elder hase, and refers to an affidavit this day made proving that fact, which affidavits are made a for the 2nd page of her Declaration for county [uncertain: card], baring even date herewith, and sent to Pension Office. 
That said William Platt died at Western in Oneida County April 26th 1847, - that she subsequently married one Joshua Moulton at Floyd in said county 9th June 1852, and that he died in said town on the 7th day of August 1857 - and that she has since continued and is now a widow.
In proof of which said facts, she again refer to the affidavits above named, and claims the benefits thereof to sustain there her declaration, made for the purpose of being placed on the [uncertain: best?] of Revolutionary