Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15683, Ashbel Tucker, Vt.
Page 1

Vt.

Tucker, Ashbel

S. 15683

Carded
Page 2

No18080
Vermont
Ashbel Tucker
of Orange Co. in the State of Vermont
who was a [ ] L.V Corpt. in the
comman
by Captain
of the [ ] comman
by Col Olvitt in the troops
line for 4 months Sgt. Vt. 20.00
& " Corpl at 10.00
30.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 30 Dollars per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 16. day of August
1833 and sent to J.K.Parish
Randolph VT
Arrears to the 4th March1833
60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 1833 
15.00
$78.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown
Clerk
Book E.
Vol. 3
Page 94
Page 3

State of Vermont District of Randolph. On this the 10th day of August A 1832 Presiding in open court before the [ ] The probate court now sitting in Randolph in the county of Orange & [ ] state [ ]. Ashbel Tucker a resident of Randolph aforesaid aged 82 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of [ ]  June 7, 1832.

That he was born in Bolton State of Con. & resided [ ] in [ ] in said said until he arrived of age and moved from there to Hanover, N. H.  & from there to Norwich, VT. where in the next month of May 1776 he enlisted for the term of six months and was stationed at Royalton VT at a Fort and was immediately made a Corporal & remained at said Fort in White River about 3 months & then went to [ ] on Con River in said state and was there made an orderly Srgt & continued in that [ ] clearing on [ ] of said six months. His Capt. was David Woodward and The Reg he commanded by Col Frye Bailey. He further states that he was drafted as a Srgt from said Norwich, in Capt Joshua Lazarus company and marched directly to Ticondaroga & joined the continental troops in the Spring of 1777 and served one month of more in said town that he stood as a minute man during the whole ware and performed frequent tours of duty which according to his belief was as much as two months in addition to the above and he states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows no person whose testimony he can prove except that of John Lyman herewith forewarded.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of this agency of any date
Ashbel Tucker

Sworn to and subscribed this day and year o[[ ] 


 Fredrick Griswold Judge of Probate
Page 4

4042
Ashbel Tucker
/
Aom
4mos Sergt
20.00
3 .. Corpl. 10.00
$30.00
J K Parish
Randolph
VO
Page 5

War Department, Pension Office
April 25 1883

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. 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 you 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, showing the Service of Ashbel Tucker

Period which the service was rendered
Duration of the claimant's service (years. months. days.) 
Rank of the Claimant
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.

1776 6 months Corp 3 mos Serg 3 mos Trye Bailey 82 Norwich John Lyman, affidavit and corroborating facts

1777 1 month 7 months Segt Col. P. Olcutt "" J. Lyman, affidavit

2 months at different times called out as a ... man

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions

Ashbel Tucker
Page 6

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 claim-
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians 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 (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of
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 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 serv-ed
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers ;) the town or country 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 revolu-
tionary 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 additious, 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
vears of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where be 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 Revo-
lutionary 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 proceeding 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 commis-
sion; 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 ser-
vices 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, (1) 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
War Frye Bailey a Col a Caftain
should he [ ] and the warrants
Page 7

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at-
tempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be and ex-
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 Volanteers, 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; services. 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 their character for veracity, and their belie of your services as a soldier of the  Revolution. 
The Court your will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, 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 should Court, without too applicant much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of whom 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 the 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 givingsuch certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any in direct proof, except the declaration of the party. . the
enquiry proof, except whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject, 

 declaration
the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belier is general and  subject.
required, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein Court. requested to perform,
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 country, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court 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 of the 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 Country, under his seal office will be annexed, stating that such  person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have and 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.


 1a] 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 declarants must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a significant reason for not conforming to the rule.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The age declarant must mention the period or periods the of the war when he served.
(e)Every continental officer claimant or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under who 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 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 her 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 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 served two years in the militia, & c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or 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 indispensible.
[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 and if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of 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 con-tains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached hereto 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.

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

? The authority under which this service was performed [ ] produced & accounted for.
Page 8

a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-
sion on file in this Bureau.
Ashbel Tucker S.F. 1.7.15683
DATES OF
LENGTH OF
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
ENLISTMENT OR
RANK.
STATE.
SERVICE.
APPOINTMENT.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL. May 1776
6mos.
Country
Corpl 896
David Woodward
Frye Bailey
Spg & Summer
1777
1 mo
Sgt
Joshua Hazen
Peter Olcott
2 mos
minute man
at various
times
Battles engaged in, home state
Residence of soldier at enlistment,[ ] Vermont
Date of application for pension, Augu10:1832
Residence at date of application, Randolph, Orange Co, Vermont
Age at date of application, born in 1751 at Bolton Conn
Remarks: There is no data in file as to his family
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
J-2856
Page 9

Ashbel Tucker Declaration No.2.
State of Vermont
District of Randolph on this 10th day of June A1833 personally appeared Ashbel Tucker in open prbate Court now sitting at Randolph in Orange County who being first duly sworn according to law do it on his oath make the following additional declaration to his declaration hereto for made on the 10th day of August A 1832. That he is as yet unable tp find  any further testimony in support of his claim other than was forwarded as first he states that [ ] to which he was attached while stations at the Fort in [ ] & Newbury were ordered into service by the Committee of Safety thus increasing control over the N. Hampshire grants so called. He is not positive that Frye Bailey was commissioned a Col. He also states the he has lost his servant as script under which he served for the last 3 month of his 6 months tour at [ ] Forts. He was very frequently out with scouting parties through the woods / but the rendezvous was at [ ] Forts during [ ]. He was born in Bolton Con in 1751 - 
age supposed to be recorded in town clerks office in P Bolton, - resides in [ ] Vt. where he was called into service & lived there & in Randolph where he now resides since the Revolutionary war. that he [ ] in [ ] service [ ]  his town to Ticondaroga when he was drafted as a Sgt he also states as regards the tour to Ticonderoga as stated in joint declaration he is quite positive that he was under Col Peter Olvitt and knows that he served not up than one full month
Ashbel Tucker

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Calvin Blodgett Judge
Page 10

I William Hebard Clerk in Register of the Probate Court for the District of Randolph County of Orange and State of Vermont hereby certify the forgoing contains
the original proceedings of this court in the case
of Ashbel Tucker in his application and second
Declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pension. In testimony of which I hereunto [ ] my official name and affix the seal of said court this 10th day of June A 1833

William Hebard Clerk of [ ]
Page 11

Ashbel Tucker
No 40427
Page 12

Mr Litton Eastman as clergyman residing in Randolph [ ] Dudley Chase of the same name herby certify that we are well acquainted with Ashbell Tucker who has  signed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 82 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Tilton Eastman
Dudley Chase

Sworn & [ ] the day & year [ ]
Frederick Griswold Judge of Probate

And the said court of opinion after investigation to the matter of putting the interrogations prescribed by the [ ] that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states and the court also certifies that Tilton Eastman is clergyman & that Dudley Chase bot residing in Randolph [ ] are well known to and the Court and are credible persons & this statement is entitled to [ ]

I J.K. Parish [ ] Reg of the that Probate Court 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original [ ] of said [ ] in the matter of the application of Ashbel Tucker for pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto as my hand and seal of office this 
10th day  of August 1832
J K Parish [ ]
Page 13

I Ashbel Tucker of Randolph in Orange County
and State of Vermont of Lawful age do testify and say that I enlisted as a militia man in service now in the State of Vermont in the war of the Revolution in the month of May in the year of 1776 for the term of six months I was stationed at [ ] in Vermont - was made  a Corporal immediately on my arrival at [ ] there about three months & then went
to survey in [ ] state and then was moved on [ ] canal from [ ] term of service which was six months from the time of enlistment - I enlisted in the [ ] by Captain David Woodward I in the regiment commanded by Col Fry Baiely - and I further state that I was a [ ] sergeant and [ ] in term of [ ] of one month or more in as [ ] commanded by Capt. Joshua Hazen and was joined to the continental [ ] at Ticondoroga  during that time -- And I further state that I [ ] as a minute man during the whole war and performed regiment tour of duty but cannot recollect exactly how long as time probably two month of more
Ashbel Tucker

 State of Vermont Orange County 
[ ] July 14th 1843
I hereby certify that the above [ ] was signed and sworn to in my presence
Luther Wheatley Just Peace
Page 14

I John Lyman of Brookfield orange county o state deputy of lawful cape & testify and say that I have examined the within affidavit signed by Ashbel Tucker
and can State that I was knowing to the
Six months serving [ ]  in the same - and
further state that I was knowing to his being out
as a militia mem at other times but cannot
tell how long
John Lyman

State of Vermont Orange County
Brookfield July 14th 1832
I hereby certify that the above affidavit was signed and sworn to in my 
presence Luther Wheatley Just Peace
The above named to John Lyman is a
credible witness
Luther Wheatley Just Peace
Staet of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office [ ] aug. 13.1832
I hereby certify that Luther Wheatley Esq is a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Orange in land that and that to his [ ] and [ ] is [ ] full faith and credit out to be given.

Declaration of Ashbel Tucker

Ashbel Tucker
In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of this office this 13th day of August
AD.D.1832.
Timothy Merrill
Secretary of State.
Page 15

New York, NY
Feb. 8, 1894

Bates, H, G.
Desires he date of death of his great grandfather, Ashbel Tucker of Randolph, Vt, who was provisioned in 1832, or if date of his death does not appear on the pension roles, the date on which the pension was stopped, as set forth.

M.C. D.H.G.
Department of the Interior
Feby. 10, 1894
Respectfully referred to the Commissioner of Pensions.
Joseph Daniels
Chief Clerk
Page 16

In Re Dictated
William G. Bates
Attorney and Counselor at Law,
146 Broadway
New York, Feb 9th. 1894
Secretary of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
Sir:-
It appears from the records of your Department which have been kindly furnished to me that my great grandfather, Ashbel Tuck-er of Randolph, Vermont obtained a pension about 1832 for services in the War of the Revolution.  He made application August 10th 1832 and his pension was allowed. Will you kindly send me the date of his death as appears from your pension rolls or if you have not that the date on which the payment of the pension was stopped. I desire to use the information in making application for membership in the sons of the Revolution.
Yours respectfully,
W G Bates
Page 17

T
O W F N

U S Pension Office Nov 4 1892
Page 18

WILLIAM G. BATES,
Attorney and Counselor at Law,
146 BROADWAY
New York, Nov. 2nd 1892.
(Dictated)
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: -
I am very anxious to find out whether a person by the name of Ashbel Tucker ever enlisted in Continental Army. He 
is one of my great the grand and I have always understood that he formed one of the party which attacked and captured Fort Ticonderoga, on the West side of Lake Champlain at the commencement of the Revolution. At the time he was a Sergeant or was shortly thereafter made one, and family tradition makes him one of a small scouting party that was sent to reconnoiter the defences of Canada.  If there is among your records the name of any such person I should be very glad indeed to get it from you and also the dates of his enlistment and his discharge.
He lived at the time I believe in what is now the State of Vermont, but at that time was known, if I remember correctly, as the New Hampshire grants. If you can give me any information on this subject I shall esteem it a great favor.

Yours very truly,
W G Bates
Page 19

McNamara 23
Received Jul 17 1914 Division
Page 20

9 Ashburton Place
Boston, Mass

Pension Department
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs -
Will you please send to the above address the military record of Ashbel Tucker who was pensioned in Orange Country, Vermont, on Aug. 13, 1833, and any family data connected with his record.
Thanking you in advance, I am very truly yours
Thomas F. McNamara
Page 21

I
15683
INVALID.
File No. 15.683
Ashbel Tucker
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
index:Vol. /
, Page 38/
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 22

1893. Feb. 16.
Hist. to W.G. Bates
new york ny.
F.S.
1893 may 9 Pleases where soldier was start above. See letter within
Feb 17/94. [ ]
William Bates 146 Bradinay NY
1917 July 26 Hist to Thos F McNamara