Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21578, Oliver Wickes, R. I.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE NUMBER

R. I. 
Wickes, Oliver
S. 21578
B.L.Wt. 26146-160-55

===
CONTENTS
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37.084  
Oct Mar 3 / 85
April 3 / 55
---
Oliver Wicks Jnr
---
Capt. Jeremiah Olney
Col. Hitchcock
Rhoad Island

Revolution
Pensioner
---
R.I. 32-1969
---
Boynton
[Illegible] : 160 [Illegible] May 16 / 56
[Illegible] [signature]
--
Benjamin Cowell
Providence
-- [vertical writing]
No. 26146 is May 19/56 [illegible]
--
[Illegible] DB. Cowell. Aug 12 / 55
R.I.
June 32 1969
Page 3

1969
Rhode Island
Oliver Wickes
of Kent in the State of R.I.
who was a [illegible] in the company commanded
by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded
by Col. Waterman in the R.I.

time for 
15 days Ensign
1 mos Sergt [Sergeant]
10 mos 15 days Private

transcribed on the Roll of R.I.
be rate of 45 Dollars 30 Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued 14th day of Nov [?]
1832. and Serg [?] M Whiting
E. Greenwich, R.I.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 

$67.95
  22.65
=====
$90.60

{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.

[Rec]orded by J. H. BLair  Clerk.
, D Vol. 3rd Page 140

-- [right side] --
[illegible] 4 Dec 1833
[illegible signature] Brungh HN
[illegible]
Green Feb 16 '48
[illegible]
Page 4

Oliver Wickes

37084 [?] [upside down]
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State of Rhode Island
County of Kent
On this twenty first day of March
1855 personally appeared before 
me a Justice of the Preace within
& for said County, Oliver Wickes
of East Greenwich in said County
aged 97 years who being duly
sworn accepting law [illegible]
days that he was a soldier of the
Revolution that in the year 1775
by enlists as a soldier in Capt.
Jeremiah Olney's Company in
the Regiment commanded by
Col. Hitchcock of Rhode Island
& served eight months + afterwards
he performed other services in
other companies + regiments in
said War + war honorably discharged
+ he further
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entitled under the act of Congress approved March 3, 1855. He also declares that he has not received a warrant for Bounty land under their or any other  of act of Congress nor made any other application therefore.

Oliver Wickes

Isaac S Whitford

We Warren C. Abbe and Mercy Arnold residents of East Greenwich in said County and state upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Oliver Wickes in our presence that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is the identical person he presents himself to be. 

Warren C. Abbe
Mercy  An Arnold

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 applicants to be credible persons that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in this claim. 

Isaac S Whitford Just of the Peace
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Kent Sc State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation
I John C. Brown Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Kent do hereby certify that Isaac S. Whitford whos name is affixed to the foregoing instrument of writing was at the time of giving the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County of Kent aforesaid fully commissioned & qualified and to whose official acts as such full faith and credit are due.

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court at East Greenwich. R.I. this twenty seventh day of March A.D. 1855

john C. Brown, Clerk
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Oliver Wickes No. 9358

15 days Ensign
1 Mo + 2 days Sergt
10 Mo + 15 days Private

[illegible]

[illegible]

N. Whiting Esq. 
E. Greenwich R. I.
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BRIEF in the case of [handwritten] Oliver Wickes of the County [printed] of [handwritten] Kent -- [printed] in the State of [handwritten] R. Island
[printed] (Act 7th June, 1832) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? [handwritten] Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 

3. How old is he? [handwritten] 74 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

Period. | Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days. | Rank. As a | Names of General and field Officers under whom he served. Gen. |
In 1775 Spring | - 8 - | Private | Col. Hitchcock, Capt. Olney
" 76 Fall | - 1 - | as [illegible] | Col. Waterman, Capt. Ralph
" 77 " | - 1 - | do | Capt. Roy 
" " | - - 15 | do | Same
" 78 Aug' | - - 20 | Serg. | Col. Holden, Capt. Bennett
" " | about 1 | do | Capt. Johnson
" 80 Aug | - - 15 | Ensign | Capt. Roy

5. In what battles was he engaged? [handwritten] none

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? [handwritten] Scituate

7. In his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, or by traditionary evidence, by incidental evideance, or by the rolls? [handwritten] Depositions & Commission

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? [handwritten] No Clergyman's Certificate

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 

Levin Belt 
Examining Clerk.
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Oliver Wickes. 9358
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State of Rhode Island, Court of Common Pleas August
County of Kent  Term AD 1832

On this twenty fifth day of August AD 1832. personally as heared in open Court, before the Justices of teh Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, Oliver Wickes of East Green-wich in the County of Kent & State aforesaid, aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn, ac-cording 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 offices and served as herein dated. That he was born at Coventry in said County of Kent on the twenty ninth day of September in the year 1757. and resided there when he enlisted and until July in the year 1786. when he re-moved to said East Greenwich where he resided until this year 1807. when he removed to Newport on Rhode Island   (^ and lived there) about fifteen years and, and then returned to said East Greenwich where he has ever since resided. (^ and that he has a record of this age.) That he enlisted at Scituate in the County of Providence into a Company commanded by Capt. Jeremiah Olney in Col. Hitchcock's Regiment of Rho. Island State troops, in the Spring of the year 1775. and immediately marched to Boston and joined the Army there. That he served under the enlistment at Boston eight months and was discharged on the last day of December. Genl. Nathaniel Greene commanded the Brigade that in the fall of the year 1776 he was drafted in the militia and served one month at Warwick neck under Capt. Nathan Ralph in Col. John Waterman's Regiment. 
That
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That in the fall of the year 1777, he was drafted and served one month at Tiverton in General Spencer's Expedition one month under as he thinks Captain William Roy and also in the same year he served under the said Capt. Roy fifteen Days at old Warwick town so called. That he was drafted out in the Militia and served twenty days as a Sergeant in Capt Ralph Bennett's Company in Col. Holden's Regiment on Rhode Island in General Sullivan's Expedition, and was there in the great storm of August 1778. That he was afterwards in the fall of the same year drafted again and served as a Sergeant about one month at Quidnesett neck in a Company commanded by Capt. Edmund Johnson. 
That in the Month of August 1780 he was called out by allarm, and served at Bristol as ensign in Capt. William Roy's Company, fifteen days. Making even one year in the whole. That has no written discharge but had one which is lost. He hereby relinquishes every claim to whatever to a pension or annuity and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State. 
Oliver Wickes
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolution-ary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that 
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the
and that
who also signed the same are residents in the 
and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, JOHN BROWN, Clerk of said Court of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [handwritten] Oliver Wickes
for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [handwritten] Fifth day of [handwritten] September
[handwritten] in the year 1832
John Brown
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By his Excellency William Greene Esquire, Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief, of and over the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations. 

To Oliver Wickes __ Gentleman, GREETING. 

YOU Oliver Wickes being by the General [illegible] elected and chose by the Place and Office of Ensign of the Second Company or Trained Band of the Town of Coventry in the County of Kent in the State aforesaid, are hereby, in the Name of the Governor and Company of said State, autho-rized, empowered, and commissioned, to exercise the Office of Ensign of and over the Company aforesaid: And to command, guide and conduct the same, or any Part thereof: And in Case of an Invasion or Assault of a common Enemy to infest or disturb this Plantation, you are to alarm and gather together the company under your Command, or such Part thereof as you shall deem sufficient, and therewith, to the ut-most of your Skill and Ability, you are to resist, expel, kill and destroy the same, in order to preserve the Interest of the good People in these Parts. You are also to follow such Instructions, Directions and Orders, as shall from Time to Time, be further given forth, either by the General Assembly, the Governor and General Coun-cil, or other your superior Officers. And for your so doing, the Commission shall be your Sufficient Warrant and Discharge. 

GIVEN under my Hand and Seal of the said State, the Nineteenth Day of June in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty and in the fourth year of Independen

By his Excellency's Command, 
Henry Ward [illegible] 
W. Greene
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26.146

[long squiggle line top to bottom of page with illegible cursive writing at bottom]
S---? A---?
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Department Of The Interior
[On Left Side Of Page] O. W. & N. Div
[On Left Side Of Page] F.S. 
[On Left Side Of Page] M.E.C.

[Center, Next To O. W. & N. Div] Bureau Of Pensions
[Next To M.E.C., Center-Right] Washington, D.C., May 13, 1895]

Madam:-
In response to your communication of recent date requesting information relative to one Oliver Wickes, a solider of the Revolutionary war, I have the honor to advise you that his pension papers have been again examined and it is found that he was born at Coventry, R. [illegible]., and resided there at the time of his enlistment, instead of Coventry, Conn., as given in the statement of his military services supplied you by this Bureau under date of February 23, 1895.  His residence at the date of his application for pension was East Greenwich, R.I.

You will please find enclosed a corrected copy of the statement of his military services.  

Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.

[bottom left corner]
Mrs. H.M. Carpenter,
8[illegible]2 1st Ave., South,
Minneapolis, Minn.
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O. W. & N. Division. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

F. S.       Bureau of Pensions,          M.E.C. 

Washington, D. C., February 23, 1895. 

Madam:-

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

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment. |  Length of Service. | Rank. | Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered. Captain. | Colonel. | State. 
Sept. 1775 | 8 mos. | Pvt. | Jeremiah Olney | Hitchcock | R. I. 
Fall 1776 | 1 mo. | Pvt. | Nathan Ralph | Waterman | R.I. 
Fall 1777| 1 mo. | Pvt. | William Roy | Not stated. | R.I. 
--- 1777 | 15 days | Pvt. | William Roy | Not stated. | R.I. 
Aug 1778 | 20 days | Sgt. | Asaph Fennell | Holden | R.I. 
Fall 1778 | 1 mo. | Sgt. | Edmund Johnson | Not stated. | R.I. 
Aug. 1780 | 15 days | Ens. | William Roy | Not stated. | R.I. 

Battles engaged in, None mentioned. 

Residence of solider at enlistment, Coventry, [strikethrough] Conn. [end strikethrough] R. I. 

Date of application for pension, August 25, 1832. 

Residence at date of application, East Greenwich, [strikethrough] Conn. [end strikethrough] R. I. 

Age at date of application, Born at Coventry, [strikethrough] Conn. [end strikethrough] R. I. Sept. 29, 1757

Remarks: 

Very respectfully, 
Mrs. H. M. Carpenter, 
Commissioner

[illegible overlapped typing] 1st Ave., Souty, Minneapolis, Minn.
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[handwritten diagonally] Revolution

[handwritten at top of page] 21578

[typed, centered] INVALID. 

File No. [handwritten] 21578
Oliver Wickes
Sergt Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"

[cut off]ndex: --Vol. 2, Page 451

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Feb 28/95 [illegible] 
Mrs H M Carpenter 802 - 1" Ave. So. 
Minneapolis Minn. [illegible]
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Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Old War & Navy Division
Washington DC - 
Will you [illegible] look up the record of Oliver Wickes of East Greenwich R I - 
He was my Grandfather
I am told reliably he served in the Revolutionary War - 
Was in the Battle of Lexington 
April 19th 1775 - that he drew a pension while he lived - Not able to tell when he died -
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or when he enlisted in 
but presumably in 
County Kent Co R I - 
All of which facts I wish to prove officially to the satisfaction of 
" The Daughters of the Revolution"

Mrs H M Carpenter
802 1st Ave South
Minneapolis Minn. 
February the first Ninety Five
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State of Rhode Island
County of Kent

On this Ninth day of November AD 1833. 
Personally appeared before Nathan Whiting, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Kent, Oliver Wickes of East Green-which in the County of Kent, a Pensioner under the Act of Congress, passed June 7th `832, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following statement, in addition to his original Declaration made before the Court of Common Pleas in said County of Ken at this August Term AD 1832 in order to obtain an increase of the compensation allowed him under his first application for a Pension.  

That this applicant, previous to entering into the service of the United States learnt the trade of a house carpenter and had worked at that trade about three years. That in the year 1775. while he was at Boston under his first enlistment for the term of eight months, he was directly after the engage ment with the enemy at Bunker Hill, [crossed out, illegible] with others, taken out of the company and employed as an Artisan at the Carpentry business, and served at that business for the period of six months until about the last of December of the same year (^when the term of this enlistment expired.) That he was employed in making Pickets of at Prospect Hill, and getting timber and building barracks for the Troops. That his pay for the aforesaid Term of six months was at and after the rate of Ten Dollars per month. That this applicant would have stated the above facts in his original application for pension, but that he did not at the time know or reflect that this circumstance would by the Act of Congress make any difference to his compensation. Wherefore he prays the War Department to revise and reconsider his case, and to allow him an additional compensation for the services above stated, according to the provisions of the aforesaid Act of Congress, and
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and that the same may be allowed him for the time past [crossed out] as well as for the future. 

Oliver Wickes

State of R. Island-
Kent SS At East Greenwich the Day and year first written Oliver Wickes subscriber to the foregoing application set his name thereto in my presence and (^made) solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein contained before me and I certify that the said Wickes is by profession a house car-penter, and has worked at the trade for the most of the most of the time since my first acquaintance with him, which is a period of thirty four years last past. 
Witness Nathan Whiting Just. Peace

Kent The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas
I certify that Nathan Whiting Esq is a Justice of the Peace for the town of East Greenwich in our County of Kent, that the above is his proper signature in his own hand writing & that full faith credit is and ought to be given to 
all his official accts - 
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name & the seat of said Court at East Greenwich this nineteenth day of November AD 1833. 
John Brown Clk
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I Benjamin Green of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, being duly sworn, do testify and say that Oliver Wickes, formerly of Coventry aforesaid but now of East Greenwich in said County served as a Soldier at Liverton in General Spencer's Expedition in October 1777 one month. That this Deponent was there at the same time, and served one month, [crossed out] and they were a part of the time in the same Company. That the Deponent thinks the commanding officer of said Company was Lieutenant Bailey but is not cer-tain. 
Benj Greene

State of R. Island, County of Kent SS}
At East Greenwich August 22nd 1832. Sworn to and subscribed before me and I certify that I have been ac-quainted with the Deponent for many years, and that he has always sustained a good character for truth and veracity. 
Nathan Whiting Just. Peace

I James Green of Coventry [crossed out] in County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, aged sixty eight years, being duly worn do testify and say that Oliver Wickes formerly of said Coventry, but now of East Greenwich in the said County of Kent, was together with this Deponent called out in the Militia on an alarm in the month of August 1780 under Capt. William Roy. He went to Bristol on the Eastside of Narragansett Bay and served about fifteen Days. It was the first time of this Deponent doing military Duty and the said Wickes was the ensign of said Company. James Greene

Kent SS. Sworn to and subscribed at East Greenwich August 22nd 1832. Before me and I certify that the Deponent is a person of good character for truth. Witness Nathan Whiting Just. Peace
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I Joseph Rice of Coventry in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island, being duly sworn, do testify and say that I was an enlisted soldier in the Company command by Capt Edmund Johnson in Col Varmisen's Regi-ment of the Rhode Island State Troops in the year 1775. and served at Boston the Term of Eleven Months. That Oliver Wickes then of Coventry aforesaid was also a soldier in a Company commanded by Capt. Jeremiah Olney in Col. Hitchcock's Regiment. That the said Wickes served in said Company for the term of Eight Months, and was discharged the last day of December 1775. That [illegible] was well acquainted with the said Wickes at that (^time) and have ever since been well acquainted with him. That this Deponent also knew of his serving in Genl. Spencer's Expedition under Capt Roy at Liverton in 1777 the term of one Month (^we were both in the same Company.). That the said Wickes was also a Sergeant in a Company with this Deponent on Rhode Island in Genl Sullivan's Expedition under Capt. Ralph Bennett in Col. Holden's Regiment, and that were served at that time the Term of Twenty days and the great August Storm took place while we were on the Island. The said Wickes was then a Sergeant. 
Joseph Rice

Kent SS} Subscribed and sworn to before me at East Greenwich this Twenty third day of August AD 1832. And I certify that I am well acquainted with the Deponent and that he sustained a good character for truth and veracity. 
Witness Nathan Whiting Just. Peace
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I Stephen Green of Coventry in the County of Kent and [crossed out] State of Rhode Island, being duly sworn, do testify, and say that I was a soldier in a Company [crossed out] commanded by Capt Edmund Johnson in the face of the year 1778 and served in said Company and Quidnesett neck in North Kings Town in said State the term of about one Month and that Oliver Wickes of East Greenwich who then resided at said Conventry served with me in said Company as a Sergeant for the term aforesaid. Stephen Greene

Kent SS} Sworn to and subscribed before me at East Greenwich the 23rd day of August AD 1832 and I certify that I am acquainted with the Deponent and that he is a credible Witness. 
Witness Nathan Whiting Just. Peace

Kent SS The state of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations 
Clerk Office Court of Common Pleas
I certify that Nathan Whiting is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of East Greenwich in our County of Kent that the aforegoing is his proper signature in his own hand writing that full faith I credit is sought to be given to all his official acts. 
In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office at East Greenwich the first day of September in the year 18[cut off]
John Brown Clk
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I Oliver Wickes of East Greenwich in the County of Kent & State of Rhode Island do make the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining an additional pension -- That i am in the 95 year of my age, that I am now on the list of pensioners of the Revolutionary War at 45 Dollars per annum, in addition to the service for which I am [illegible] said pension of 45 Dollars -- I served as a Sergeant in Captain Edmund Johnsons Company, in the Revolution-ary War one month Stationed at Quidnesset neck so called in North Kingston and quartered at the House of our John Green on said Quidnesset neck on the west side of the Naraganset bay, the British at that time was occasionally committing depredations on the indignity of the inhabitance who resided there, by taking their cattle, which was done by one Captain Wallage who lay off against said neck with his vessel guarding the bay to prevent vessels from going to and from the port of Providence, for which months service I have never received any Compensation whatever - 
Oliver Wickes
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The State of Rhode Island } 
Kent SS March 29th 1852
Subscribed & sworn to this day - 
before me the subscriber and I further certify that I am well acquainted with said Oliver Wickes that he is a man of undoubted truth and veracity that any declarations of his may be relied upon for its correct ness ---
Jeremiah S Slocum Justice Peace
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I Ruth Hulin of East Greenwich in the County of Kent and the State of Rhode Island SS on oath do testify and say 
That I am now in the 80 year of my age that I am the Daughter of John Green who formerly lived on what is called Quidnessett Neck so called, in the time of the Revo-lutionary War. I remember there was a Company of soldiers quarter at my fathers house - the names of the officers and soldiers I do not remem-ber, neither do I know they were from -- 

Witness
Jeremiah S. Slocum 
        her 
Ruth X Huling 
       mark 

State of Rhode Island } 
Kent SS
March 27th AD 1852
Subscribed and sworn to this day 
Before me
Jeremiah S. Slocum 
Justice Peace
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Senate Chamber
Washington Term 1848

[illegible]
I make the likely to ask from you an answer to the accompanying letter from Oliver Wickes. The writer is well known to me, and is a man in whose vertivety I would place full confidence. 

I am 
very respectfully 
Your [illegible]
Albt. C. Greene

W. L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
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[upper right hand corner] No. 9358. 
Oliver Wickes

[bottom center of page]
N. Whiting Esq. 
E. Greenwich R. I.
Page 32

BRIEF objects to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answer in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 
[handwritten] Oliver Wickes
which require further proof or explanation. 

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? [handwritten] yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? [handwritten] yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason as-signed for his not doing so? 

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of war when he served? [handwritten] yes

V. Has he mentioned 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? [handwritten] in one case no in six cases yes.

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with regulations? 
[handwritten] yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? [handwritten] yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? [handwritten] yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? [handwritten] yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? [handwritten] yes
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[center of page] 2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood to his revolutionary service? [handwritten] no

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain-ing it? [handwritten] no

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained testimony of at least the living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 

XIV. If the application has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? [handwritten] yes
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? [handwritten] yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? [handwritten] yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? [handwritten] yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? [handwritten] yes

[centered] EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: 
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recol-lection, 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."
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[centered] 3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase [italicized] about three or four months [end italicized] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. 

QUERE XIV. [italicized] Proof of Service. 
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on 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 claimants 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 adminis-ter 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. 

QUERE XVI. [italicized] Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office by the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.