Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 675, Moses Bearden, Conn. Continental
Page 1

(3 - 1776 )
SERVICE
Conn.
Continental
CONTENTS
Beardsee, Moses
of
Beardsley
NUMBER
R. 675
Page 2

State of New York
Greene County
On this 27th day of March 1837
before the subscriber one of this Judges
of the County Court of said County. Moses
Beardsley of Prattville in said County
aged 77 years on the sixth day of January
last, who being first duly sworn according to
law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the
benefit of the provisions made by the out of
Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted
about the month of January 1778 near
fort Independance in the state of New York
under Captain Wither, into the Connecticut line for for three years, does
not now distinctly recollect No. of the
regiment or who commanded it thinks
it was Col S. B. Webb, well recollects of
serving a short time under Capt Lewis
was stationed at the Highland and at varies
places along the
lines in Westchester County
and that while serving in said Regiment
he was wounded in a skirmish with Delaney
house by a sword cut across the shoulder
that he was also wounded on volentary
hill. That after having served with me
Regiment about one year & five months
he being somewhat disabled he was sent
with other invalids to Connecticut and
was stationed at Black Rock & Bridgeport
on Long land sound, where he served out
his enlistment and was discharged at
the expiration of said three years
while so stationed on the sound recollects
serving occasionally under Lieut [illegible]
, while with his Regiment recollects 
well Genl Parsons, & also of serving in detachment with Sheldons Regiment
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that he was born at Stratford, County of Fairfield State of Connecticut & that he resided there
when he entered the service that he has resided
there since the Revolution & now resides in the
town of Northville, County of Greene State of
New York, that he received a written discharge
at the expiration of the service which is now lost, and that I am acquainted with Col
Josh Pratt & Frederick A. Fenn in the neighbourhood
he can testify as to my character for truth
veracity & their belief as to my service as a  soldier of the Revolution
that he has no documentry evidence
& he knows of no person, whose testimy
he comprome who can testify to his services,
the hereby relinquish every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity as
the present and declares that his name
is not on the pension roll of the men
of any state

Moses Beardlee

Sworn & subscribed to the day
and year aforesaid before me
Henry Goslee one of the
Judges of the County Courts of said County

And the said Judge doth hereby declare
his opinion, after the investigation of the
matter and after putting the interrogating
prescribed by the war department, that the
above named applicant was a Revolutionary
soldier & served as he states, and that the
applicant is unable to attend court by
reason of bodily infirmity and further
that Zadock Pratt & Frederick A. Fern who
have signed the annexed certificate are men
of truth & veracity & that their statement is entitled
Henry Goslee
Jusde as aforesaid
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We Zadock Pratt & Frederick A. Fenn residing in the town of Orathville Greene County hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Moses Beardsley residing in the [illegible] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy seven years of age. That he is reputed & believed to be in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion

Zadock Pratt
Frederick A.Fenn

Sworn & subscribed to before me this 27th day of March 1837
Henry Goslee one of the judges of the county courts of mid county.
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34.235

State of New York
Greene County ss
I William F B Heermance clerk of the said County do certify
that Henry Goslee Esq. before whom the within declaration was and
before whom the within certificate of Zadock Pratt & Frederick A. Fenn.
was also sworn was at the date of the same, one of the Judges of the
County Courts of the said County, duly commissioned and qualified and
that the signature of the said Judge to the said declaration and to the
said certificate, is genuine
Witness my hand & official seal this thirty first
day of May 1837
William FB Heermance Clerk
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27660
Moses Beardsley

suspd

Letter to Hon. A. Vandeywel 16 March 1835
"
"Hon L Cass 17 Feb 1836
to Hon. Z. Pratt 15 Sept 137
to same 6.Jan '38
to do 25 Jan 1838
do do Feb 21 1838

Henry Goslee Esq
Lexington 
County of Greene
New York


will perceive that more was [illegible] no
discharged at the expiration of 1 year & 5 mo.
but was not to Bridgeport on account of being wounded [illegible]
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office.

Oct 22d 1833
Nov 1

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. These 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 compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

[Chart]
A Statement, shewing the Service of Moses Beardsley

Period when the service was rendered.
[illegible]
February
Apl 
1777
1st May
sub. Nov
1778 about

Duration of the claimant's service.
years
Months
1
9
5
5
Days
5
21
14

Rank of the claimant.
Private
"
"

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served
Col. Silliman
Cap Clark
Col Wooster
Cap Lewis
[illegible]Gen Arnold
Cap Barnes
Cap Walker
does not rec thename of the col who commanded the regiment

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
78 years
Connecticut
(Stratford)

Proof by which the declaration is supported.

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

No declaration as above
by examining the original declaration you will perceive that Moses Beardsley was not discharaged at the expiration of 1 year & 5 mo and was sent to Bridgeport on account of being wounded. N. Eurke
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1835,
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:
2.
The Regular Troops.
3. ┃
The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
4.
Persons employed in the Naval Service.
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
considered a Court of Record.
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
On this
day of
ST
County of
of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
aged (c)
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
with and
line, under the following named officers:
there set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he servunder
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 rested 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
the Agency in the State of
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any state, or (if any) only on that of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
A. B.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
and C. D. residing in (the same)
who has
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the 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.
1
Clerk of the Court of
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
do hereby certify that the foregoing
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
&c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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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 corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected
. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
Case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
{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.
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
To an Officer has become of it?
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
inquiry 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 parcounty
, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his gemine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will for
low the rule laid down for his guidance.
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.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the person or person of the war when he served.
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 and wait in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being only sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year----
months, and ------
days, I served as a -. For - months and
days, I served as a-
-- and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the place the earth
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two year
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration
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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must be his seed, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
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 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.
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
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 the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the
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 to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 10

 
Ex'r.
INVALID.
M 670
-
Moses Beardsley
P.O.
Service:
Enlisted: ,18
Discharged: ,18
Application filed: ,18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.

Moses Beardsley
N.York Case
Act '32
Report this case to Hon. Z. Pratt
H.R.
get the paper,
probably never returned as the original declaration is not on file
Page 11

Moses Beardsley
N. York
Act June 1832
See letter to Hon Z Pratt, H.R.

675 Rev
New York
Suspended Act 7 Jun '32
Letter 6 July '34
Henry Goslee