Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 21,780, Joseph Griffin, N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)

Service: N.H.

Griffin, Joseph

Number: S. 21.780

Contents:
Page 2

No 11738
Vermont
Joseph Griffin
of Orleans Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a Private in the company command
by Captain McClary of the Regt command
by Col. Poor in the N. Hampshire
2 years Private
$80.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per ann
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of June
1833 and sent to T. Hinman
Derby St
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. 1833
160.00
40.0.2
200 or
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by
D. Brown clerk
Book E.
Vol. 3
Page 66
Page 3

Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the
act of the 6th April 1838
from 4 March to 16 July 1834
Agt notified 23 Dec 1842
Page 4

John Griffin
Declaration
1906g
Page 5

State of Vermont
Orleans County ss
On this 21st day of July A.D. 1832
personally
appeared before the Hon
Probate Court for the
District and County of Orleans aforesaid
Joseph Griffin of Compton in the
County
of Seabrook and province of Lower Canada
aged seventy
five years who being
first duly
sworn according to law doth on his oath make
the following
[crossed out statement] declaration in order
to obtain
the
benefit of the
provisions made
by the act of Congress
passed June 7th
1832
that he enlisted in
the army of the United States
January 24 - 1777 at Benfield in
the
County of Rockingham in
the State of New hampshire where he then lived and entered the army
as a private April 20th 1777 at Ticonderoga in
Capt Micheal McClary's Company in Col. Alexander
Scammels Regiment and Gen.
powers regade in the
New Hampshire line.
that he was in the returning
army from Ticonderoga,
and in the battles of
Stillwater and Saratoga. That after Gen. Burgoyne
surrender was marched through Albany and
Kings ferry in Valley forge where the army
wintered over in the main army under Gen See at the Battle at Monmouth but not in the
engagement was marched though the
White Plains
in Hartford in Conn. and wintered in Danbury
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the spring was marched through Fishkite
Pennsylvania and to the Wyoming, and there
in his [illegible] army with the  indian
country, and then back by the Wyoming and
[illegible Exeter] and through New Jersey and New York
Danbury in Connecticut where I was
discharged January 24th
1780
and I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever
to a pension or an annuity except the present
and that my name is not on the Pension Roll
of any agency in any state - Joseph  Griffen
Sworn and subsisted the
day and year aforesaid
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a
Revoutionary soldier and served as he states
I John W. Kimball Register of the
Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of said Court
in the motion of the application of
Joseph Griffin for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office
this 21st day of July 1832-
John H. Kimball
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19,069
Joseph Griffin
Orleans 60
Ven
Canada
admitted
24 mo. Private $80.00
E
Timothy Hinman,
Derby
Vermont
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
183
Sir
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. 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.
Period when the service was remembered
US. July 1777
A Statement, shewing the Service of Joseph Griffin
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years | Month | Days |
3
Rank of
the
claimant. |
| Private |
┃ Names and Rank
of the Company
officers under
whom he served.
Capt McClary

Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers
Col Scammel
[illegible] Poor
Battles in which the applicant was 
engaged.
With C
[illegible]
Sarotoga
Monmouth

Country through
To [illegible]
N Hamp
to New York and back

Place of abode
when he entered
the service, and age
at the present
period-
75 year
Deerfield
N Hamp

I am, respectfully,Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are
also excluded from the benefits 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, 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 (e) 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 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 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 enered 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
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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 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 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 applicacation 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
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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8 
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 1. Where and in what year were you born? 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live? 4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 6. To a soldier:Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? To an officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. 
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. a resident of Canada
[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 late 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 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 a  ---and for each 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, 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 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 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 is the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only. This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. If witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration. A resident of Canada
Page 11

Order Drawn for 100 Dollars
J. P.
Page 12

Joseph Griffin a soldier in the Third
New Hampshire Regiment formerly an
Inhabitant in the town of Dearfield
County of Rockingham & State of
New Hampshire; having faithfully
served three years in the Service of
of the United States of America - it being the term of his Inlistment
is Honourably discharged and is
permited to return to the above State
James N[illegible]
To Whom it may Concern
Camp Danbury
Janury 24th 1780
Page 13

Griffin, Joseph
NH S21780
Page 14

Camp Danbury 23d Jan 1780
This may Certify that Joseph Griffin a Soldier in the 3rd
New Hamp Regt has Rec 1912 for his depine
of Bething for 1777 & 1778 at the Stipulated
prices and has recd Pair Shous Shirt
over all that & 1 Rifle Brook Toward
his clothing Bounty for 1779
James Blanchard Mark &
Clother
Page 15

21780
INVALID.
Revolution
File No. 21780
Joseph Giffin
Lt Rev War
-
Act June 7 32
Index Vol. 2 Page [illegible 1400]
(Arrangement of 1870)
NH  Griffin, Joseph  S 21.780
Page 16

T. Spaffords affidavit
for S. Griffin
Page 17

I Tyler Spofford of Compton in the County
of Sherbrook in the Province of Lower Canada
formerly of Charleston in the State of
New Hampshire do depose and say that
I served in the armies of the United States
during the war of the Revolution that I was
[illegible] the war of the Revolution that I was
in the army under Gen. S[illegible] in his expedition to [illegible] the Indian Country in the year 1779 [illegible] that I
then became acquainted with Joseph Griffin
of Compton the County of Sherbrook
in the Province of Lower Canada that he was
a private during that expedition
and that the above named Joseph Griffin
is the identical Joseph Griffin who has
this 21st day of July 1832 made his
declaration the probate court in Orleans
County [illegible] and I believe that
that he served agreeably [illegible] his declaration
Tyler Spofford
ap
Page 18

At a Probate Court holden at B[illegible] in the
County and District of Orleans in the State of
Vermont, on the 21st day of July 1832
personally appeared in said Court the [illegible] [illegible] Tyler Spafford and made
solemn oath that the facts set forth in the written
affidavit by him [illegible] are true and it
further appeared to satisfaction of said court
that the said Spafford is a credible witness
In testimony whereof I John H
Kimball Register of said Court
have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of said Court in the
day & year last aforesaid
John H. Kimball Register
Page 19


TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Dec
2d
1842.
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
, and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending
the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pen
sion agents, The admon of Joseph Griffin, decd
Pensioner on the Roll of the Vermont
---
-
Agency, at the rate of Eighty
---
Dollars
Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June
1832
has been paid at this Department, from the
4th of March-- to the 16th July 1834.
956
James
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
Comple
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