Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22798, Paul Griffiths, R.I.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
R.I.

Griffiths, Paul

NUMBER
S.22798
B.L.Wt.18381-160-55

CONTENTS
[blank]
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143.146 Act March 3/55
May 21/55
Paul Griffiths
Privt.

Col. Archibald Crary
R.I. State Troops
Revolutionary War

Pensions
Ad: 160 A Cm March 12/56
N.Y June 52-28888
Boynton

B.T. Clark
Cazenovia N.Y.

No. 18381 ss Mar 18/56

Vol. G.127.
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28.888.
New York No. 28,888

Paul Griffiths
Madison Co. in the State of New York was a private in the Comp'y commanded by Captain Olney of the Regt commanded by Col. Crary in the R. Island state troops for 9 mon.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 30 Dollars --- cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Aug 1834 and sent to O.P. Granger Morrisville

Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 34. $90.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 34 15.00
Died Jan. 2, 1857  $105.00

Revolutionary Claim: Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Geo. Wm. Crump Clerk,
Book E Vol. 4 Page 126.
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Griffiths
approved
25810

Paul Griffiths
25.810

service under Stroud not established & disallowed

Admd
9 mo. pri.
30$
O.P. Granger
Morrisville
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Declaration
In order to obtain the bounty of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 
State of New York, Madison County, ss. On this 8th day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in the open Court before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Madison and State of New York now sitting Paul Griffiths of the town of Nelson, County & State aforesaid, aged seventy years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - About the 1st of June 1778 Declarant enlisted in the United States service for the term of nine months in the company of Capt. Nathan Olney, Col. Crary's regiment and the Brigade of Gen. Cornill in the Rhode Island State troops - for this service he made application for a pension and sent proof of the same to the Department in 1823 but received for answer that as the service was not on the Continental establishment, his claim was rejected, but his papers would remain on file - Declarant then lived in Nelson, Madison County in New York state and now lives in the same place
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In June 1780 Declarant enlisted in the State troops of Massachusetts at Killingsley in that State for nine months. He with six others went to Windham in Connecticut and took a deserter from jail and went with him on to Morristown in New Jersey and then joined the main army under Gen. Washington and thinks he was in the regiment of Col. Simond. Staid in different parts of New Jersey until after Andre' was hung and then went to West Point - crossed the river there and built huts - all blacksmiths were then required to turn out for the purpose of working at their trade and about forty among whom was the Declarant did so and continued at work until spring and until declarant's tour had expired - when he was discharged.

Declarant was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, the 29th day of May, 1762, as he has been informed and believes - has no record.

He lived in Scituate the first time and in Killingsley in the State of Massachusetts the last time when called into service from Scituate he removed to Massachusetts - then to Vermont then to Massacusetts and from there to Nelson 20 years since. He voluntarily enlisted both times.
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Declarant received a written discharge both tours from service but they are lost.

He is known to Benjamin Hutch, Thomas Ackley, Robert Irish & Natham Card who can testify to this character for truth & veracity & then belief of his having been a revolutionary soldier.

He has no testimony except such as is on file in the Department & knows of no person whose evidence he can procure.

He has never made any application for a pension except is herein before stated and hereby relinquishes all who he claims to a pension but the present.

Paul Griffiths

Sworn & Subscribed to this 8th day of October, 1832.
A.S. Sloan Clk

We, Levi Brown, residing in Nelson & Robert Irish of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Paul Griffiths who has sworn to the above declaration - that we believe to be seventy years of age that he reported & believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion.

Robert Irish
Levi Brown

Sworn & Subscribed to this 8th day of October, 1832  in open court - A.S. Sloan, Clk

And the same Court also hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogators
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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 Levi Brown, who has signed the necessary certificate in the town of Cazenovia, County and State aforesaid and that Robert Irish who has also signed the same is resident of the town of Nelson, County and State aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contained the original proceedings of the said Court in the month of the Application of Paul Griffiths for a pension-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this ninth day of October 1832.

A.S. Sloan, Clk
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Declaration of Paul Griffith

"Bennet Bicknell, Reg't
Morrisville, N.Y."

Proof of the withing service by 2 credible & disinterested witnesses, ?  certified as such, is required in this case.

29 May 1822

paid
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State of New York

Court of Common Pleas, County of Madison ss.

On the fifth day of February, 1822, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record for the said County created as such by the laws of the State of New York, Paul Griffith, age seventy two years, resident in said County who being first duly sworn according to law saith on his oath sworn that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: in Colonel Crary's regiment in Capt Nathan Olney's company in the Rhode Island Line and that I enlisted in June in the year 1779 to same for nine months and was discharged in the month of April 1780 - at Howland Ferry now called Tivertown, Rhode Island, by Colonel Crary - and that I have now other evidence of my said service now in my possession and I do solemnly swear that I was a Resident Citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property on any ? their of with intent thereby so to diminish it or to bring myself within the provisions of An Act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and navel tours of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the eighteenth day of March, 1818, and that I have not nor has any person for me any in trust any property  contracts, or debt owed to me nor have I any income other than is contained in this schedule hereunto annexed any by me subscribed schedule
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Schedule
one cow worth $10.00, one old mare $20.00 - $30/00
[?] $8, a fine old [?] of [?] furniture $6 - 14.00
one  oak hand sythe chain old [?] 6.00
$50.00

my occupatio
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11 April 1818
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State of New York, Madison County ss.

William Whipple of the town of Cazenovia, County and State aforesaid, being duly sworn according to law & deposith and sayeth that he is personally acquainted with Paul Griffith, the within named petitioner who signed the within declaration and this deponent further sayeth that the said Paul made his first declaration to the Secretary for the War Department the eleventh day of April 1818, before him the said deponent who then being one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly authorized to take said declaration and the same was forwarded to the Secretary for the War Department and sent back for two witnesses which the said Paul has not been able until this time to procure said witnesses on the account of his poor circumstances and ill health and further this deponent sayeth not.

William Whipple

Sworn & subscribed before me this 2nd day of January 1823

Darius Morris Comm

I certify that William Whipple is a credible witness and is duly entitled to testify

Darius Morris
Comm.
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Clerk's Office, Madison County, State of New York, ss.

I hereby certify that Darius Morris before whom the within affidavit was taken, was a Commissioner to take affidavits in and for the County of Madison, at the time of taking the same, duly commissioned and qualified - that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Commissioner, and verily believe the signature of "Darius Morris" subscribed to the within, as such commissioner is his own proper hand writing.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 2nd day of January, 1823 -

Bennet Bicknell, Clk
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State of New York,
Davis County, ss.

On the ninth day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty two before me personally appeared George Thrasher of the Town of Palmyra in said County who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with Paul Griffiths whose application for a pension is hereunto attached and that deponet enlisted in the town of Fountain in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the month of June 1779, into the continental service in the Revolutionary War for the term of nine months and served as a private in the company commanded by Capt. Nathan Olney in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Crary in the Rhode Island Line and that deponent was discharged at the expiration of said term and that he well recollects that the aforesaid Paul Griffiths enlisted a few days after deponent enlisted and served as a private in the same company and regiment with deponent for and during nine months and was honorably discharged at the same time with deponent and that deponent has no doubt the said Paul Griffiths did the duty of a faithful soldier during all his said term of service and that deponent has no interest whatever in the event of his application - 

George Thrasher

Sworn & subscribed this 9th day of July A.D. 1822 before me

William Van Duzer
Commissioner

I certify that that [sic] George Thrasher is a credible witness and is fully entitled to belief.

Wm. Van Duzer
Commissioner
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State of New York
Ontario County Clerk's Office ss.

I certify that William Van Duzen, whose signature appears within and which I verily believe to be his proper hand writing, was on the ninth day of July instant a Commissioner in and for the County of Ontario duly commissioned ans sworn and authorized to take affidavits - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this tenth day of July A.D. 1822 -

Gavin L. Nicholas, Clk
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State of Rhode Island
Providence ss. 

On the ninth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, personally appeared Southward Griffiths of the town of Foster in said County who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is personally acquainted with Paul Griffiths whose application for a pension is hereunto attached and that deponent enlisted in the town of Scituate in said County of Providence and State of Rhode Island in the month of June 1779, into the Continental service in the Rhode Island army ? the term of nine months and served as a private soldier in the company commanded by Capt. Nathan Olney in the regiment commanded by Col. Archibald Crary in the Rhode Island Line and that deponent was discharged at the expiration of said terms and that he well recollects that the aforesaid Paul Griffiths enlisted at the same time and place and served as a private in the same company and regiment with deponent for and during nine months and was honorably discharged at the same time with deponent and that deponent has no doubt the said Paul Griffiths did the duty of a faithful soldier during all his said term of said service and that deponent has no interest whatever int he event of his application -

Southward Griffiths

Providence ss. at Foster
Sworn and subscribed this 9th day of December A.D. 1822 -
Before me Peleg Place, Justice of the Peace
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State of Rhode Island in the town of Foster in the County of Providence ss.

I hereby certify it appears by the ? of the General Assembly of the State aforesaid now in my ? that Peleg Place Esq., who has signed the within declarations as a Justice of the Peace has been duly appointed and authorized as Justice of the Peace within and for the town of Foster in said County for the present year -

Foster, December the 9th Day A.D. 1822 -
Witness Daniel Howard G. Clk
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I hereby certify the Southern Griffiths is a credible witness and is fully entitled to belief -

Peleg Place Justice Peace
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143.146
Paul Griffiths
application for Bounty land

B.T. Clark, agent
Cazenovia, New York
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STATE OF NEW-YORK, 
County of Madison,

On this 15th day of May A.D., one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, personally appeared before me, M. Spear, A justice of the peace, within and for the county and State aforesaid, Paul Griffiths aged 98 years, a resident of Nelson in the state of New-York, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Paul Griffith who was a private in the Revolutionary Army and draws a pension for thirty dollars per annum.

He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved the 3d day of March, 1855. He also declares, that he has never applied for nor received, under this or any other act of Congress, any bounty-land warrant. He refers to the evidence on file in the pension office for proof of his service in the Revolutionary War. His pension certificate was issued August 27, 1834, and signed "John Forsyth Acting Secretary of War" 

his
Paul "x" Griffiths
mark

We, B.T. Clarke and S.D. Clarke residents of Cazenovia in the state of New York, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Paul Griffiths in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be.

B.T. Clarke
Sam'l D. Clarke

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were 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 he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.

M. Spear, Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF NEW-YORK,
Clerk's Office, Madison County, ss.

I, LUCIUS P. CLARK, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, that M. Spear Esq. whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected or appointed, and qualified, and authorized by the laws of said State to take the same; and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and verily believe the signature to the said certificate is genuine, and that said instrument is executed and acknowledged according to the laws of said State. & that I have no interest in the within claim.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal, the 17th day of May 1855

Lucius P. Clark Clerk.
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No. L5810

Paul Griffith, Madison County, New York

a omd

Peter Morey Jr. Cazenovia, New York
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 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.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Paul Griffith Madison County New York
Period when the service was rendered. Enlisted 1778, Enlisted 1780. Duration of the Claimant's service. Years -, -. Months. 9, 9. Days. -, -. Rank of the Claimant. private, ". Names and rank of the field officers under whom he served. Cap Olney, Col. Crary, Genl. Cornell, Col. Stored. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 70 years, Scituate, Massachusetts. Proof by which the declaration is supported. Traditionary evidence, papers not properly attached. I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions. It can not be redily admitted that such service as that above alleged is [illegible] of proof & claimants are required to produce the best evidence.
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2 REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. The following regulations have been updated: 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, Boatment, &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, 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 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 first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaraion, 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 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 my have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. If such survivng 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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3 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborationg 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 exexpected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, on 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 Refolution. 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, to respectable persons - on 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 as 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, atttend 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 declaraion 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, deposet 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 that 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 they 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 alway 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 inscripton 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 Depoartment, 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. The notes from [g] 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 set to the War Deparmtnet, with the declaration.
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for a 
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section EEL March 12, 1930 Mr. Andrew C. White 424 Dryden Road Ithaca, New York Dear Sir: I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 22796, it appears that Paul Griffiths was b born May 29, 1762, in Scituate, Rhode Island. While residing in Killingly, Connecticut, he enlisted June 1, 1778, (hand written marginalia: He gave 1778 & 1779 Both but as he stated it at he served 9 mos & was discharged by Col. Crary & as he resigned in May 1779, I used 1778), and served nine months as a private in Captain Nathan Olney's Company, Colonel Archibald Crary's Rhode Island Regiment. He enlisted in June, 1780, and served until December, 1780, in Captain David Cady's Company, Colonel Simons' Connecticut Regiment, (hand written marginalia: I could not identify Col. Simons as of Conn but as David Cady was from Conn. & he stated once that it was Conn. ser. I used "Simon's Conn. Regt."), then served until spring as blacksmith under Captain Dutcher of the Artificers. He stated that he moved from Connecticut to Massachusetts, thence to Nelson, Madison County, New York, of which place he was a resident when he was allowed pension on his application executed October 8, 1832. He died January 2, 1857. In 1822, the soldier stated that his wife was then aged fifty-three years, but did not give her name and that he had a daughter, Abigail, aged nineteen years, living with him. There are no further family data. No charge is made for this service. Very truly yours EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.
Page 28

statement of the military history of Paul Griffiths soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as conatined in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. SF 22798
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. June 1, 1778 or 1779, July 24,'80, LENGTH OF SERVICE. 9 mos., Dec. 31, '80, Continued to serve until Spring as Blacksmith. RANK. Pri, ", OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. Nathan Olney, David Cady. COLONEL. Archibald Crary, Dimon. STATE. R.I., Conn. Battles engaged in, _ Residence of Soldier at enlistment, Scituate, R.I., at 2nd enl. Killingly, Conn. Date of application for pension, Feb. 5, 1822. Cl. Al. Residence at date of application, Nelson, Madison Co, N.Y. Age at date of application, Born May 28, 1762 at Scituate, R.I. Remarks: In 1822, soldier refers to his wife, 53 yrs old, name not stated, and to a daughter, Abigail, 19 yrs old. Add: the only eli.
Page 29

[illegible]: Act /32 N.Y. Boynton
Page 30

relating to the bounty land claims of Mrs. Martha Mesler & Mary Osborn, widows respectively of Peter Mesler & Nehmiah Osborn, which you enclosed to this office yesterday. I have the honor to state, that, the claims aforesaid, were suspended on the 20th of November last, for the reason that their [page cut off]
Page 31

118381 No [illegible]
Page 32

Suspended al letter W.B. Pierce and Pension Agent dated April 8th 1847 Let. to Otis P. Granger Sept. 19 48 Let. to B. T. Clarke Jany 17, 1850. Let to P.A. 17 Apl. 1851 " H Hubbard " " "
Page 33

Revolution 22798 INVALID. File No. 22,798 Paul Griffiths Pri Rev War Act: June 7" 32" Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 161 [Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 34

Apl. 6, 1905 Histy to Mrs. Andrew C. White Ithaca Ny. Apr. 20, '08 Hist. to Carrie Langworthy Smith Letter with S. F. 10551 George Davison FW. 1930 Mar 12 - Hist to Andrew C. White EJF
Page 35

New York Revol. Paul Griffit Suspended see letter to Peter Morey 17 August 1833 Letter to P. Morey 3 Feb. 1834 Act 7. June 1832
Page 36

424 Dryden Road, Ithaca, N.Y.

Jan. 30, 1930.

U.S. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: -

Please send me a copy of the record of the military services in the Revolutionary War of Paul Griffiths, who died at Georgetown, N.Y., Jan. 2, 1857. He was great grandfather of my wife. If any fee is required, please let me know.

Yours very truly,

Andrew C. White

[stamp]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
O
JAN 21 1930
Page 37

File on case Paul Griffith O.W. and L Division - 3-525; J.R.W. #22798 Jno. Revolutionary War 
dates of enlistment June 1779, June 1780. length of service 9 mos, 9". Rank Prit, ". Capt. Nathan Olney, Cady. Colonel Crary, not stated. State R.I., Conn. Battles engaged in - none mentioned. Residence of soldier at time of enlistment - Scituate R.I. (over)
Page 38

Date of application for pension, Oct. 8, 1832.
Residence at time of application,
Madison Co., N.Y.

Age at date of application, Born May 29, 1762, at Scituate, R.I.

Remarks; his claim was allowed \.
J. Warner - Commissioner

From Carrie Langworthy Smith
16 Grant Place, Utica, N.Y.
- M date -
Page 39

ANDREW C. WHITE
424 DRYDEN ROAD
ITHACA, N.Y.

Mar. 23, 1905

U.S. Commissioner of Pensions;

Dear Sir, --

My great grandfather, Paul Griffiths was a Rhode Island soldier in the Revolutionary War and lived in later years near Cazenovia in Madison Co., N.Y.

I desire to learn the exact date of his birth, place of residence, battles in which he took part, etc. I presume that his application for a pension is on file in your office. If so, I should be glad to have the information contained in it, and am willing to pay any necessary fees for copying.

Yours respectfully,
Mrs. Andrew C. White.

[stamp]
U.S.P.P.
OLD WAR & NAVY FILES
MAR 27 1905
Page 40

State of New York Madison County SS. On this 27th day of March 1851 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Paul Griffiths who being duly sworn according to law declares and says that he is the identical person who was a pensioner under the Act of 7th June 1832 at the rate of Thirty dollars per annum; and on the roll of the Albany Agency and that his said pension was suspended in the month of April 1847. The object of this declaration is to ask that his pension may be restored to him; and the said suspension removed; and he respectfully refers to the evidence of [illegible] Revolutionary [illegible] on file in the Pension office at Washington. Paul Griffiths Subscribed and sworn before me 1851 me to in a Bo. 
STATE OF NEW-YORK, Madison County Clerk's Office, SS. I, Lorenzo D. Dana, Clerk of said County do hereby certify, that B. T. Clarke Esq. whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly elected or appointed, and qualified, and authorized by the laws of said State, to take the same; that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and verily believe the signature to the said certificate is genuine; and that said instrument is executed and acknowledged according to the laws of said State. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official seal, the 27th day of March 1851. L. D. Dana Clerk.
Page 41

State of New York
Madison County Ss:
On this 27th day of March
1851 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace
in and for said County duly authorized
by law to administer oaths, personally appeared
Paul Griffiths who being duly sworn according to
law declared and says that he is the identical
person who was a pensioner under the act of
7th June 1822 at the rate of Thirty dollars per
able, and on the roll of the Albany Agency
and that his said pension was suspended in
the month of April 1847.
The object of this declaration is to ask
that his pension may be restored to him, and
the said suspension removed, and he respectfully
refers to the evidence of his Revolutionary services
on file in the Pension Office at Washington.
Paul Griffiths
Subscribed and sworn before
me this 27th day of March
1851 by Paul Griffiths known to
me to be the person mentioned
in [illegible] declaration
B. T. Clarke Justice Peace
Page 42

Jany 8-50
Mr. Cole
James L. Edwards, Esq.
Com. of Pensions
Washington 
D. C.
[stamp][illegible] N. Y.
Jan 4
Page 43

Cazenovia, Jan. 3, 1850

Dear Sir,

Mr. Paul Griffiths has a pension certificate issued from the War Department Aug. 27, 1834, for the sum of thirty dollars signed by John Forsyth, Acting Secretary of War & counter signed by yourself - he says for some reason unknown to him, his pension was stopped in 1847. Will you have the goodness to inform him why said pension was stopped. Please direct your answer at your earliest convenience to me at this place -

Respectfully yours,
B.T. Clarke

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Com'r of Pensions
Page 44

June 13, 1848
Enquiry about
Paul Griffith's case
N. Y.
Otis P. Granger
Morrisville
N. Y.
Free
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com. of Pensions
Washington D. C.
[stamp]
MORRISVILLE N. Y.
JUN
Page 45

Morrisville, Madison County, N.Y.
June 8, 1848

Sir,

Under the recent act of Congress extending the pension of certain widows, what particular forms are necessary to enable those widows to obtain their extended pensions? Will you have the goodness to send me a copy of the act & all the necessary forms under it.

Respectfully yours,
Otis P. Granger

J.L Edwards, Esq.
Com'r of Pensions

P.S. I some time since, addressed a line to you to ascertain the reason of the suspension of the pension of Paul Griffiths, a pensioner under the act of 1832. I got no answer to my communication.

Otis P. Granger

Ans'd by Cole
Page 46

Mch 24/48
Otis P. Granger Case 
of Paul Griffith
[stamp] MORRISVILLE NY
MAR 26
Free
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com. of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Page 47

Morrisville, Madison County, N.Y. March 20 1848
Sir
Paul Griffith a pensioner at the rate of
$30 per year under the act of 1832 States to
me that his pension has been discontinued
by the Department. I wish you would
state to me by letter the cause of the
discontinuance. He very much needs the
pension if he is entitled to it.
Respectfully yours
Otis P. Granger
J L. Edwards Esq.
Washington
Page 48

Albany N. Y.
March 18th 1847
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Sir,
Upwards of a year ago Paul
Griffith applied to me paid him in obtaining increase of
pension, and related the facts set forth in his accompanying
declaration. I immediately forwarded a synopsis of his
statements to Wm C. Stanton of Connecticut in order
(if possible) to obtain the proofs required. The result was I
received from Mr. Stanton the enclosed papers being
First, a
transcript from a revolutionary document showing that Paul
Griffith (or Giffis) did serve agreeably to his statement from
July through December 1780, and
Second, the affidavit of Daniel 
Fairman, who knew said Paul Griffith, & testifies to the 
particulars of his enlistment in 1780
in Company with George Little
of Killingly Conn.
The applicant states that he does not know
whether the above service was set forth in his original declaration
he then having no proof thereof. It is a frequent occurrence for 
applicants to omit a statement of such parts of their service as
they are unable to prove.
I am Sir
very respectfully
your Obt. Svt.
Wm. B. Pierce
Page 49

Paul Griffith
Act 1818
Morrisville
20 Aug't.
Free
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D. C.
Page 50

Morrisville, Madison County, N.Y.
August 19, 1834

Sir,

Paul Griffith made application for a pension in the fall of the year 1832, & by the enclosed letter from you, it appears that nine months service was established by proof on file - your Department, & the other nine months was not established agreeably to the regulation of your Department.

I cannot ascertain from him [illegible] what course he has taken to establish the other nine months service, but Mr. Griffith wishes me to say to you that if you cannot allow the whole of his claim from the papers which you have in your possession, he will accept of a certificate for nine months service only - Peter Morey J has been his agent in the matter & he Griffith has become somewhat impatient at the delay occasioned by some cause unknown to him.

Griffith wishes me also to say to you that a speedy decision of his case will be of great service to him, being poor & in feeble health. He wished the certificate forwarded to me.

May I soon expect certificates in the cases of Job Barstow & Abraham Bartlett?

Respectfully yours,
Otis P. Granger

J.L Edwards

Griffith wishes the enclosed returned to me -
O.P. Granger
Page 51

War Department
Pension Office
Dec. 28th, 1832

Sir,

The applications of Paul Griffith and Benjamin Stone for pension under the act of 7 June 1832, have been examined. The testimony on file establishes their claims for 9 months service respectively. The additional claim for service alleged in the late, and not alluded to in the former declaration, should be established agreeable to the regulations (herewith forwarded) applicable to original applications under the above act.

I am Respectfully
Yr. Obt. Servt.
J.L Edwards

Peter Morey Ins. Esq.
Cazanovia, N.Y.
Page 52

War Department
Pension Office
April 14 1823
Sir,
Your application for a pension under the acts
of Congress providing for persons who served during the
revolutionary war, has been examined, and I have
to state, that the service set forth in your declaration
not having been performed on the Continental establishment, the claim is rejected. The papers will 
remain on the files of this office agreeably to the regulations of the Department.
I am, respectfully
Your Obt Sert
J. L. Edwards
Mr. Paul Griffith
Care of Bennet Bicknell Esq
Morrisville
New York
Page 53

Paul Griffith
applicant for Increase
of Pension
Act June 7, 1832
Enlisted in Capt. Walkey
Company of Col. Webbs regiment, August 15 1780, discharged 14th Decem. following
Served 4 Mo.
Geo. Little enlisted
the same time in Capt.
Riley’s Company of Col.
[illegible] regiment and [illegible]
14 Decem. foll.
Agent
Wm. B. Pierce
Albany
N. Y.
Page 54

Supplemental Declaration
In order to obtain increase of Pension.
State of New York, Madison County ss.

On this 11th day of January 1947, personally appeared before me Paul Griffiths, a resident of Erieville in said County, aged 87 years, who being duly sworn saith that he was a revolutionary soldier of the United States and is now a pensioner at the rate of $30 per annum

That Declarant served during said war under two enlistments, the first in the State Rhode Island under officers of that State & the second, in the State of Connecticut under Connecticut officers. That when Declarant applied for his pension through the agency of Otis P. Granger Esq. of Morisville, Madison County, N.Y., he asserted & proved his service in Rhode Island, to wit a service in 1778 under Colonel Crary & Captain Nathan Olney for which service he now receives said pension of $30 per annum, Declarant does not know whether his subsequent service in Connecticut was set forth in his declaration, if not it was because he had no proof thereof & knew not where to obtain it. He lived during said war in Killingly, Connecticut. His said first enlistment was from the neighboring town of Scituate, R.I. in 1778. His second enlistment was in 1780, from the town of Truntown, Connecticut, a little south of Killingly. He enlisted in company with a companion, George Little, who left Killingly in company with Declarant for that pur[page folded over]
Page 55

-ed to the company of Captain Cady. After inlistment
they proceeded to Windham where they took a
deserter and from thence they were ordered to Morriston
N. J. where declarant was placed under the command
of Lieut. Humphrey (as declarant believes) although
he cannot now remember the names of his officers
with any degree of certainty. They were all strangers
to him belonging to the line of the State. After Declarant’s
service in Morristown, he went to West Point & worked
as a blacksmith during the winter under command of
Captain Dutcher of the Artificers. This officer promised
him for this work $3.00 a day, but never paid him
a cent. He continued to serve until Spring when he
returned home having served with the troops of the
line & afterwards with the Artificers for a period of a
year, for this service he receives no pension.
Paul Griffiths
Subscribed & sworn the day
& year first aforesaid before me }
Philetus Lathrop
Justice of the Peace
State of New York Madison County Clerks Office} ss 
I A. Scott Sloan Clerk of said
County do hereby certify that Philetus Lathrop Esq. the person
before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken was on the
day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace of said
County, duly qualified, authorized by the Laws of said
State to take the same. That I am well acquainted with
the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe his signature to
the said affidavit is genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed my official seal this 18th day of January 1847
A. Scott Sloan Clerk
Page 56

State of Connecticut
Windham County} Ss
I William C. Stanton a Justice of the Peace within
and for the County of Windham on my oath of office
do hereby certify That I have in my possession a
Document purporting to be a genuine one, headed as
follows to wit,
A Return of the men inlisted or detached from
“21st Regiment to Join Continental Army July 12th 1780
said document is signed "Obadiah Johnson Colo." It
is dated at "Canterbury July 24th 1780" and at
the bottom of the document it is directed 
“To Genl Douglass” and is filed on the Back
“A return of men for the continental army
from 21 Regt 24th July 1780”
And I do further certify that on said return
is the name of George Little and Paul Griffis
and that they were (as appears on said return) members of
Capt. Cady’s Comp. of militia at the time, and that
their place of abode was at Killingly, Connecticut
That they were “enlisted to serve until last day of
December next (which would be Dec 31st 1780 and
they were “receipted by Capt. Webb”
Page 57

And I do further certify that it is in my
opinion a genuine document and that it was
found by me at Plainfield Among the papers
of the Late Brig. Gen. John Douglass of said Plainfield
Deceased.
Attest Wm. C. Stanton Justice of Peace
Voluntown June 19 1846
Page 58

State of Connecticut
Windham County} SS
I Uriel Fuller, Assistant Clerk of the
County Court for the County of Windham aforesaid
do hereby certify that William C. Stanton Esquire
is a Justice of the Peace within and for said
County, duly commissioned and qualified -
I further certify that I verily believe the fore
going signature purporting to be his is genuine-
[seal] In testimony whereof I have hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed
the seal of said Court this tenth
day of July A.D. 1846 -
Uriel Fuller Assistant Clerk
Page 59

State of Connecticut
Windham County} Ss
I Daniel Fairman of Killingly in the County and State
aforesaid aged 86 years and upwards being duly cautioned and
sworn according to law do on my oath depose and say that in
the year 1780 Capt. David Cady commanded the company
of Militia in the South Parish in the town of Killingly aforesaid
and that I was a member of said Company & resided
within its limits. That George Little and Paul Griffis alias
Griffith were also members of the said Capt. Cady’s Company
and with whom I was well acquainted.
That the aforesaid George Little and Paul Griffis
alias Griffith some time in the forepart of July or about the time
people begin to mow their grass, enlisted into the continental
service and went off with some of the continental officers
and got rid of our haying. This was in the summer of 1780
aforesaid. I cannot tell how long the said Little or Griffis
were gone in this tour of duty but I do know they enlisted
as aforesaid stated and went off, and it was said they
were in the army and it was so reputed and believed
and ever has been to this time. They lived within two or
three miles of me when they enlisted.
Daniel Fairman His X mark
In Presence of
Almira Fairman
mark
Wm. C. Stanton
Page 60

State of Connecticut
Windham County} 
Killingly April 10 1846
Then Personally appeared Daniel Fairman who has subscribed
to the within deposition by his mark and who is personally
known to the subscriber as a witness whose testimony is entitled to full credit and belief and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me
Wm. C. Stanton Justice of Peace
Page 61

State of Connecticut
Windham County}  ss
I Uriel Fuller Assistant Clerk of the County
Court for said Windham County, do hereby
certify that William C. Stanton Esq was at
the time of taking the foregoing affidavit, and
now is a Justice of the Peace for said County
duly Commissioned & sworn & I further
certify that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
[seal] In testimony hereof I have hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed
the seal of said Court his first
day of May A.D. 1846
Uriel Fuller Assistant Clerk