Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14434, for Ezekiel Sheldon, Rhode Island

Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
R.I.
CONTENTS
.
Sheldon, Ezekiel
work
4000
NUMBER
14434
Carded
This Envelope Includes
-
Received from GAO
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER

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1400. 00
MECHANICS' & FARMERS' BANK.
Act of 7 June 1832
May 31th May
1818
RECEIVED of the President of said Bank, Agent for paying Pensioners,
Eighteen -
Dollars and eighty six cents, being for
months 6 days Pension due to Ezekiel Shelden Children
from the 4th day of September 1847 to the 30th day of January 1848
for which I have signed duplicate receipts
many
$18.86
J. Hunt
that
son

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PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received Wm A

Page 4

---
New York 20377.
-
---
-
Ezekiel Sheldon
of Chenango in the State of N.Y
who was a priv in the Comp command
by Captain Cornell of the Regt command
by Col Crary in the State Troops
line for
14 months
R.I.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per ann
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of Sept
1833 and sent to
P.B. Prindle Norwich N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 33 116.65
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 23. 33.
140.08 ┃
Recorded by
Book E.
Revolutionary Claim, ┃
Act June 7, 1832.
Francis Clerk
Vol. 4 Page 86.
a
not on a

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Ezekiel Shelden
Pension
Capers
1
Direct Pension Certifi
cates if allowed to
Ⓧ
B. Grindle
Norwich
Chenango
O
N. J.

Page 6

State
Chena
Mo.
1 mo:
1 No:
of Mo:
mos
No.
of New York
seesell for certificate of Clerk
ough County, Personally appeared to the the
the undersigned a Judge of the one
said County, M. Ezekiel
of
mouth in said County
Nelson of
to me known
1
who being sworn says 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 men
tioned below and in the following grades
to wit viz
Amended Declaration
in
Gen
in
for one month I served as a private
Capt Mities of Capt. Cornells company under
Cornell
in
Genl
For one month I served as a private
Capt Cornells Company, under Genl Conell
for one month I served as a private
Capt. Smith a Cornells Company,
Cornell
under
for one month I served as a private
in Capt. Cornells Company under
Cornell
Genl
for nine months I served as a nine
in Capt. Carrs Company under
and General
Cornell Sullivan
May
for one month I served as a private
in Capt Hope Smiths Company under Col
Kimball
and for all the above period
service combined making the year &
two months I claim a pension
places

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of
that all of the above
named and spec
his services were in
the
Rhode Island
Militia execpt the nine
months to
which was in the Rhode
land
State troops-
During the above pencils
for which he claims a pension he was
not employed
in any civil present and
●
embodied
the corps in which he served were all
corps called into service by
competent
Island
authority of the State of Rande
alles
at Sheldon
as to the periods of the war when he
served, he has stated about as fully in his declara
tion as he can remember. His memory is poor &
much broken in a few years part - He cannot
distinguish
-
●
with perfect accuracy the years
in which events happenedbut
he thinks
he has stated the years in which his different
services happened correctly, and that they
are accurately
stated in the Tabular State
ment from the war department accompanying
his papers. The months and days in which
he commenced his military tours he cannot alms
recollect, but he is confident that he
served at least as long as he has stated
---
what makes him confident of the year in
which he enlisted for the nine months to
that the time had expired before the battle
He cannot state any morely
1
the particulars of his service that he has
aliens done. He hopes that the above
will be found sufficientwished
to & sworn before
June 1833
with M Pindy
first Judge of Chenango County Courts

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State of New York
County of Chenango
On this ninth day of October in
the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty two per
sonally appeared in open Court before
John Tracy of vi Biglow of man
Taylor Charles North and Hezekiah
Head Esquires Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for said
County of Chenango being a Court
of record in and for said County
now sitting Ezekiel Sheldin
&
resident of Plymouth in the County
of Chenango in said State aged
seventy four (74) 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 7 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officer and served as herein stated Viz:
interest subsitute the name of the person for whom
was a subsitute he does not recollect) son in in the
month of June 1776 as herein after the British
of Boston for Rhode Island then for one month
the own of Situate Rhode Island into a company
commanded by Coomer Smith Captain of Situate or
errell of the same place but does not recollect which
Sautenant Barter Rounds the Ensigns name he does
not recollect does not recollect the same day I the
regiment officers and the commandant the Brigade
was General Cornell the same day he was hired as a
Intestate in passed muster with his company at situate
and then immediately marched down the Warwicks Point
with his company the place of rendious and he

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2
3d
remained there with his company during the month
the term for which he was hired a substitute and
was then discharged verbally by the Captain was
in no skirmish or battle during this lest Asa relain
John Sheldon and Thomas Taylor privites were also in the same
company and remained with him that served with
him during the aforesaid term of one month
A short time after he was discharged, but does not
recollect the precise time, he was drafted for a month
at situate Rhode Island into a company commanded
by Captain Cornel of litta E
partner of sale & his name does not
recollect. Leidenant Barter Rounds of situated
not reccollect the names of any of the regimental officers
The Commandant of the Brigade was General Cornell
A day or two after drafting passed me with his com
pay at situate and in the course of that day or the
next marched with his company to Warricks Point
place of rendezvous-- he received no pay or bount at
the time he was drafted-- he remained at Warwick
Point in actual service during the whole men the except
one day he went with his company to Rhode Island
at the time of Cornells expedition but remained
there only five or six hours and then returned back
again to Warwicks Point and there remained until
the expiration of the month for which he was drafted
and was then discharged verbally by the Captain
was in no battle or permish during this term of
Service Daniel Kimball & Samuel Youball of
the town of Situate and privates were drafted into
the same company and served the last mentioned
term with him
About two men the after his last discharge here
as a substitute the name of the person does not recollect
or one month at situate Rhode Island into a
company commanded by Hone Smith Captain as he
thinks but it might have been Cornell who was his
Captain the term last afore mentioned Leutenant
Barter Rounds Ensigns name does not recollect

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the names of the regimental officers does not recollect
the commandant of the Brigade was one Cornell
and muster same day the situate and in a day
betwe marched with his company Warwicks Point
place of rendezvous-- Received no pay or bounty
from the Goverment remained at Warwick in
until the expiration of the month and was then
discharged verbally by the Captain was in
no Mermisher Battle during this term. Joseph
Medberry private was a soldier in the same
pany filed with him and was discharged at
the same time
about a month or six weeks after his last dischard
was drafted at Scituate for one month into a comhave
commanded by Captain Orrell Lieutenant
Barter Rounds the Ensigns name does not recol
at the names of the regimental officers does not
recollect. The Commandant of the Brigade was
General Cornell passed muster in the course of
1
two days after drafting at Scituate of marched
with his company in a day or two to Warwick
Point the place of renderous remained there
in actual service guarding the shores until
the expiration of the month the term for which
he was drafted and was then discharged ver
bally by his Captain was in no skirmisher
battle during this term
Enlisted some time in the latter part of summer
or fall, but the precise time does not recollect
for nine months at Warwick Point was enlisted
by a recruiting Sergeant whose name he does not
reccollect the Company into which he enlisted
&
was commanded by Captain Caleb Carr of Warren
●
Lieutenant Nathan One of situate the Ensigns
name does not recollect the regiment to which
his company was attached and belonged was under the
command of Colnel Archibald Crary of

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Greenwich Rhode Island as it was said at
and Col James Williams of Seituate the
names of the Mayor and other Regimental
officers on Connell at some times act as the
Commandant of the Brigade and of other time
General Sullivan passed muster same day he
enlisted at Warwicks Point. received a bounty
as he thinks of about six dollars at the time of
enlistment and also received a gun & accoutrements
which he returned at the time of his discharge
in the space of one or two de marched with
his company to Bristol the place of rendevous
and there joined his regiment remained there
until three or four weeks before pencers expedition
to Rhode Island when he marched with his
Company to Tivertown and remained there
until the time of the attempt penser upon
Rhode Island which attempt failed after this
failure remained at Tivertown about a month
and then returned to Bristol the place
rendevous, and there remained until the
expiration of the nine months the term for
which he enlisted and was then discharged
verbally by the Colonel as he thinks
was in
no furnish or battle during his term of
service - Thomas Taylor & Windsor Potter privates
and one Cole Cofferal belonged in the same
company and served with him
about two or three months after he was discharged before
the precise time he does not recollect but it was sometime
in the summer of 1776 volunteered again for a month
but does not recollect whether he was drafted or went as
subsitute you entered the company Situtate Rhode Island
into a company commanded by Hope Smith Captain Barter
Rounds Lietenant the name of the Ensight does not
recollect - thinks Stephen Kimball was Colonel of the

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Regiment does not recollect the names of any other
of the Regimental officers.  Thinks the commandant of
the Brigade was General Sullivan  passed muster at
Scituate in a day or two after he entered the company and
then marched with the company in a day or two through
Tivertown [Tiverton] on to Rhode Island at a place called Butts
Hill Fort, and remained there about a week and then
went to place called Quaker Hill about five miles from
the  fort & remained about a week at that place and
near by until the month for which he entered the service
had expired and was then discharged verbally by the
Captain-was in no battle or skirmish during this 
time of service.  Israel Philips

and he further states that he has no documentary
evidence of these his services during the Revolution
without the affidavits of Pardon Brown & Hannah 
Curtis which are herto [hereto] annexed are to be considered and he
knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who
can testify to his services more fully than than those whose
affidavits are hereunto annexed

In answer to the interrogations required to be put
by the War Department to applicants for pensions
he answers as follows
1sst  He was born at Scituate Rhode Island February
11 1788

2  Has no record of his age - but there was one in
the Town Clerks office at Scituate Rhode Island

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3rd  Resided at Scituate, each time he was called into
the service and remained there after the war seven
or eight years & then went to Johnson Providence
County Rhode Island and there remained about
three years, and then moved to Stafford in Connecticut
and remained there one year and then moved
to Paris, Oneida County New York and there remained
something like thirty years and then moved to Plymouth,
Chenango County State of New York where he now
resides.

4th  Entered the service as stated in his declaration
sometimes was drafted sometimes went as a sub-
stitute and once enlisted.

5th   General Sullivan at Rhode Island General
Cornell at [illegible] neck, the general circum-
stances of his services are stated in the body of his
declaration as near as he can recollect

6th  He was always discharged verbally

7th  he gives the names of  Raney D Delay Merchant
and Sheldin Physician, Judah Bement a farmer
Erastus Foote Justice of the Peace, Ira Bull Justice
of the Peace all of Plymouth County of Chenango and
men to whom is known and  residing in his neigh-
borhood where he now resides and who can
testify to his character for veracity and their
belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution

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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present and decclares
that his name is not on the pension roll of the
agency of any state.  Ezekiel Sheldon
I wrote & do subscribe the day
and year aforesaid
JK Pike Clk

We further, Clark a Clergyman of the Presbeterian [Presbyterian]
Church residing in Plymouth county of Chenango
and Judah Bement of the same place certify
that we are well acquainted with Willaim Taft [lined out]
Ezekiel Sheldin who has sworn to & subscribed
the above declaration that we beleive [believe] him to be seventy
four years and upwards of age that he is reputed and
beleived [believed] in the nieghborhood where he resides to have been
a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that
opinion and that we have never heard any doubts
expressed by any person of his having been a soldier
Sworn to and subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
J K Pike Clk   L. Clark & Isaiah Bement

Page 15

them that Luther Clark who has signed the preceeding certificate is a Clergyman of the Presbyterian Church a resident of the town of Plymouth County of Chenango and that Judah Bement who has also signed the same
is a resident in the same town County aforesaid
and is a credible person and their statement is
entitled to credit
Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas
of Chenango County
Charles York
N. York
Hezh Read
Charles York
Levi Bigelow

State of New York
Chenango County ss
I Jarvis K Pike Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for the County of Chenango do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the
application of Ezekiel Shelden for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of Office this ninth
day of October AD 1832
P.B. Prindle
Dep Clk
I also certify that Smith M. Paidy before whom the annexed affidavit of Ezekiel Sheldon purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same First Judge of Chenango Common Pleas paid County, that I am acquainted with
his hand writing and verily believe his sightnature
to the affidavit is genuine-
Witness my hand
and seal of office, this 3d June 1830
P.B. Prindle Dep Clerk

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State of New York
Chenango County 
I. Pardon Brown of the Town
of Plymouth in the County
and State aforesaid being duly sworn before
the undernamed Justice of the Peace of said
County of Chenango Depose and say that
for Seventeen years past. I have been personally acquainted with Ezekiel Sheldon that
ever since my first acquaintance with said
Sheldon it has been the common report that
he was a revolutionary soldier and as far as
my information extends generally believe I
never heard it disputed or questioned and further that I heard Thomas Taylor who was reported to have been a revolutionary soldier, some years since say that said Sheldon was in the service at the same time that he the said Taylor was and further that said Sheldon is considered a man of unquestionable veracity and further this
deponent saith not Pardon Brown
Subscribed and sworn to before me
Erastus Foote Justice of the Peace
Sept 10th 1832
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with Pardon
Brown the above named deponent & believe him to be a man of unquestionable veracity
Plymouth Sept 10th 1832
Erastus Foote

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State of New York
Chenango County js: I Jarvis K Pike Clerk of the said county do certify that Erastus Foote before whom the written affidavit purported before
have been sworn was at the date of the same
one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for said County and that I am
acquainted with his handwriting and certify
believe his name signed to the said affidavit
and Certificate to be his genuine hand
writing, and signature
Witness my hand and seal
of Office this ninth day of
October 1832
PB Prindle
Dep Clerk
County

Page 18

State of New York Chenango County
Personally appeared before
the undernamed Justice of
of the peace in and for the County
aforesaid Hannah Curtis of the town of
Plymouth County & State aforesaid and after being duly sworn by the under named Justice makes the following declaration that she is of the age of thirty one years that she is the daughter of Ezekiel Sheldon that she believes him to be seventy four years of age that this deponent has miner her infancy often heard Ezekiel Sheldon say that he served as a Soldier in the revolutionary war that she believes from what she has heard others say that the report of his being a revolutionary soldier is generally believed that said Sheldon formerly
lived in the State of Connecticut that
that time he has lived in the town of
Paris in the County of Oneida & State of New York that he now lives in the town of Plymouth
the County of Chenango State of New York
Subscribed & Sworn this 13th
day of September 1832 before Hannah Curtis
Mr. Erastus Foote Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named deponent and believe
her to be a person of unquestionable truth
and veracity
Erastus Foote Justice
Plymouth Sept 13th 1832

Page 19

State of New York 
Chenango County
B. I James K. Pike Clerk of the said County do certify that Erastus Norte before whom the within affidavit preports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the
Peace in and for the said County &
that I am acquainted with his hand
writing and verily believe his name
Subscribed to the said affidavit
and Certificate to be his genuine
handwriting and signature 
Witness my hand and seal
office this ninth day of October
1832
P.B. Priddle
Dep Clerk

Page 20

Know all men by these presents that we Pardon
Brown and Mary Brown his wife of Plymouth
in the County of Chenango Charles G. Otis and
Rosey Otis his wife of Hamilton Elisha Bently
and Deborah Bently his wife of Brookfield
Madison County State of New York Children
of Ezekiel Sheldon who was a Revolutionary
Pensioner of the United States do hereby constitute and appoint Alvah Hunt our
true and lawful Attorney for us and in our
name to receive from the agent of the United States for paying pensions in the Citty of Albany
State of New York the ballance of said pension
from the 4th day of September 1847 to the
30th day of January 1848 being the day of his
death.
Witness our hands and seals this
6th day of May 1848
sealed and delivered Pardon Brown
in presence of
F. E. Dimmick
Mary Bros
Charles D Brown
Charles G. Otis
Roy Otis
Elisha Bently
Deborah Bentley
State of New York
Chenango County of
Be it known that on the 6th day of May 1848 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Pardon Brown and Mary Brown his wife Charles G. Otis and Rosy Otis his wife, Elisha Bently and Deborah Bently his wife above named and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be their act and deed in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the  day and year last above mentioned J. E. Dimmick

Page 21

I certify that the name of Philander B. Prindle
in the within power of Attory was erased and
the name of Alvah Hunt interlined above it was
all done before signing
May 6th 1848
F E Dimmick Justice
of the Peace

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
received from GAO

Page 22

No 1826
Ezekiel Sheldon Chenango
County New York
Admitted
Private 14 months
P.B. Prindle Norwich Chenango
County New York
M

Page 23

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, showing the Service of Ezekiel Sheldon, Chenango County N. York 
- Period when the service was rendered 
- Sub. Sept. 1776
Drafted 1776
Sub. 1776 1777
Drafted 1777
Enlisted 1777
1778
- 
Duration of the
claimant's service.
Years, Months, Days
 - 1 - 
 - 1 - 
 - 1 - 
 - 1 - 
 - 9 - 
 - 1 - 
_
Rank of
claimant.
private
private
private
private
private
private
_ 

Names and Rank of the Company
officers under whom he served.
Cap Smith or Cap Cornell
Cap Cornell
Cap Smith or Cap Cornell
Cap Cornell
Cap Carr
Cap Smith
_
Names and Rank of the General
and Field officers.
Genl Cornell
Genl Cornell
Genl Cornell
Genl Cornell
Col Crary
Col Kimball
Genl Sullivan 
_
Battles in which the applicant was
engaged.
No battles or skirmishes mentioned 
_ 
Country through which he marched.
Marched to Warwick point 
Marched to Warwick point
Marched to Warwick point
Marched to Warwick point
Marched to Bristol to
Tworton, Long Island.
_
Place of abode when he entered
the service, and age at the present period
74 years
Situate Rhode Island
 _ 
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
 _ 
I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

Page 24

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army. and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers, all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.
On this _ day of _ personally appreared (a) before 
_ A.B. a resident (b) of_  in the county of _ 
and State, Territory or District of _ aged (c) _ 
years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _ , with,  _ and served in the _ (e) regiment of the _ line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and state in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _ 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
{And then will follow the certificate of the Court.}
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _ of the Court of _ 
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _  for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _ 
day of _
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _ and C. D. residing in (the same), hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _ , 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 day and year aforesaid. {And then will follow the certificate of the Court}
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. _  who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _  and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _ 
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _ Clerk of the Court of _ 
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal _ 
of office, this _ day of _  &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

Page 25

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier.} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
6. {To an Officer.} Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a]The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b]The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
[c]The age of the declarant must invariably be mentioned.
[d]The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e]Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason 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 ------ 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 the four months, 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 the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority
; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f]The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g]The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h]The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i]The Clerk must that his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no 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 under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j]In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses,
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well 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, the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[1] The notes form [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in rule [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indespensible 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 sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Page 26

April 12, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/FEL
Ezekiel Sheldon - S.14434
Clara A. Martin
18 Sherman Avenue
Glens Falls, New York
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Esek Sheldon, of Rhode Island or New York, who might possibly have been called Ezekiel, also record of William Sheldon who was born in 1817 and served in the Civil War.
In order to identify the record of the last named soldier, the name of the organization in which he served is essential, also date and place of death, if you have such information.
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon
service of Esek Sheldon in the Revolutionary War. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office. The record of one Ezekiel Sheldon, only, has been found and is given herein as found in pension claim, S.14434, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
Ezekiel Sheldon was born February 11, 1758, in Scituate, Rhode Island. The names of his parents are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.
While residing in said Scituate, Ezekiel Sheldon enlisted in September, 1776, and served until the summer of 1778, fourteen months in all, as a private under Captains Comer Smith, Cornell, Hope Smith and Caleb Carr, Colonels Archibald Crary and Stephen Kimball in the Rhode Island Troops.
After the Revolution, he continued to reside in Scituate, Rhode Island for seven or eight years; then moved to Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island, where he lived for three years; thence to Stafford, Connecticut, and lived one year; thence to Paris, Oneida County, New York, where he lived for thirty years: thence to Plymouth, Chenago County, New York.

Page 27

Ezekiel Sheldon was allowed pension on his application executed October 9, 1832, while residing in Plymouth, New York.
In 1832, soldier's daughter, Hannah Curtis was aged thirty one years and resided in Plymouth, New York. The name of her mother
is not shown nor are the names of any children designated.
In 1832, one Ira Sheldin was a physician of Plymouth, New York, and the name of Asa Sheldon also appears; no relationship of either
of the above named persons to the soldier was shown.
Date of death
on Ab

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.

Page 28

1912 Sept. 21. Hist to Mrs.
W. L. Darling letter in claim
of Asa Sheldon N. 22204, and
1834 Apr. 19. Hist to Clara
A. Martin St
I
Rev War
14434
INVALID.

File No. 14434
Ezekiel Sheldon
Priv. Rev War
---
Act: June 7 1832
Index: --Vol. 1, Page 839
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 29

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

Page 30

STATE OF NEW YORK.
ALBANY COUNTY.
Be it known, That on the 31st
day of May 1841
before me, a Commissioner of Deeds, duly authorized by the laws of this State to administer oaths, personally appeared Alvah Hunt
the Attorney named in the annexed Power of Attorney, and made oath that he has no interest whatever in the money he is authorized to receive by virtue of the annexed Power of Attorney, either by any pledge, mortgage, sale, assignment, or transfer, and that he does not know or believe that the same has been so disposed of to any person whatever.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year last above written, before me. L Jenkins
Com of Deeds. 
A. Hunt

Page 31

Payments to be made
at New York
by the Presdt S Brook
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of
New York
●
FINAL RAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E. Vol. H Page 86 by S. F. Franciosi 
Clerk.

Page 32

WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832. Ezekiel Sheldon of the State of New York
who was a private during the Revolutionary War
is entitled to now Forty Six dollars and
Sixty Six unto per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September, in every year
Given at the War Office of the United States
this Fourth day of
September one thousand eight
hundred and thirty three
Examined and
Countersigned. }
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pension
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Page 33

No 20.377

Page 34

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

Page 35

State of New York
Chenango County
Be it known that before me Francis E Demmick
a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Mary Brown wife of Pardon Brown Rosey, Otis wife of Charles G. Otis. Deborah Bently wife of Elisha Bently and made oath in due form of law that they are the daughters of Ezekiel Sheldon the identical person who was a pensioner, and is now dead, and to
whom a certificate of pension was issued, which
is herewith surrendered that the deceased
pensioner resided in the town of Plymouth in
the County and State aforesaid for the space of
two years before his death and that previous
thereto he resided in Brookfield Madison
County and State aforesaid
Sworn and subscribed
this 6th day of May 1848 before me
Mary Brown
Rosey Otis
Deborah Bentley
F E Jemmick Justice of the Peace
the spot at the End of the
Name Rose was done before
signing F E Dimmick Justice of Peace

Page 36

172
Ezekiel Sheldon
Children
$18-86
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

Page 37

State of New York
County of Chenango ⎬
I, Bur B. Andrews Clerk
of the Circuit Court holden at Norwich in and
for said County do hereby certify that satisfactory
evidence has been exhibited to said Court
that Ezekiel Sheldon was a pensioner of the
United States at the rate of forty six dollars
and sixty six cents of us annum was a resident
the County of Chenango in the State of New York
and died in the town of Plymouth in
the State of New York in the year 1848 on the
30th day of January, that he left no widow
but that he left the following children whose names are Mary Brown wife of Pardon
Brown Roxy Otis wife of Charles G. Otis &
Deborah Bently wife of Elisha Bently all
over the age of twenty one years and are
the only children of the said Ezekiel Sheldon
In testimony whereof I have herein
to set my hand and affixed my
day of Office at Norwich this
16th day of May in the year
of our Lord 1848
Bur B. Andrews Clerk

Page 38

[RECORD] CORD DIVISION. 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C., _ , 19_

In reply to your request of _, received _ for a statement of the military history of Ezekial Sheldon a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, your 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
Sep 1776
1777
1778
-
Length of Service 
1 months
1
1
1
9
1
 
-
Rank
Priv.
-
Officers under whom service was rendered
Captain Colonel
Comer Smith, Cornell, Hope Smith, Caleb Carr, Colonel Archibald Crary, Stephen Kimball
 - 
State
Rhode Island
-
Battles engaged in, _
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Scituate R. I.
Date of application for pension, Oct 9, 1832
Residence at date of application, Plymouth, N.Y.
Age at date of application, _
Remarks: _ 
Very respectfully, Commissioner.

Page 39

18 Sherman Avenue
Glens Falls, New York
January 29, 1934
U. S. Department of Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
[Received Jan 31 1934 mail Sub-Div Reader 19 Vets]
Dear Sirs

Will you kindly find out for me or tell me where I
might find out the following information?
The Revolutionary Record of Esek Sheldon who was born Nov. 10, 1736 at Glocester R.I.
and who was the first  settler of the town of Lee
Oneida Co. N.Y. Is it possible for him to have been called Ezekiel Sheldon?
could you, also, tell me of the Civil War Record of William Sheldon who was born 1817.
Please, send the bill for this and I shall promptly
remit. Thank you!
Very respectfully yours
Clara A. Martin

Page 40


September 30, 1934
XXXXX
B [ ]J/KML
John Keith-S.2[5]273
Ezekiel Sheldon-S.14434
Bertha C. Keith Wood
30. Fifth Avenue
Ilion, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of John Keith, S.2[9]273, and Ezekiel Sheldon, a pensioner of
Chenango County, New York, in 1833, both soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
You are furnished herein the histories of John Keith and Ezekiel Sheldon, the data for which were obtained from the papers
on file in the respective claims for pension based upon their military service in the Revolutionary War.

John Keith
3.29273
John Keith, or Keth, the son of David, was born May 23, 17[6]1, in
Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
Just prior to 1775, John Keith was living in Boston, Bristol
County, Massachusetts with his father and about May 1, 1775, still
a resident of Easton, he enlisted, served as corporal in Captain
Macey Williams' Company, Colonel Abiel Mitchel's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged February 1, 1776. He enlisted in February, 1776, served two months as private in Captain Matthew Randall's
Company, Colonel French's Massachusetts Regiment. He enlisted in
April, 1776, and served six months as private in Captain Isaac
Hodge's Company, Colonel Francis' Massachusetts Regiment. . He enlisted
in August, 1778, served three months as private in Captain Mathew Randall's Company, Colonel Clapp's Massachusetts Regiment,
was in General Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island and was in
the engagement there. He enlisted in April or May, 1779, served
three months as private in Captain Abner Howard's Company, Colonel
Jesse Thiller's Massachusetts Regiment and nine months as sergeant
and ranger in Captain Tucker's Company in the same regiment.

Page 41

In 1783, John Keith moved to Hope, Massachusetts, where he lived twenty years; thence to Boston, Massachusetts, lived there six months; thence to Westmoreland, New Hampshire; thence to Brookfield, Madison County, New York, where he was living when he was allowed pension on his application executed October 9, 1832. 
It is not stated. that soldier was ever married. 
Ezekiel Sheldon
S.14434
Ezekiel Sheldon was born February 11, 1758, in Scituate, Rhode Island. The names of his parents are not shown. 
While residing in said Scituate, Ezekiel Sheldon enlisted in September, 1776, and served until the summer of 1778, fourteen months in all, as a private under Captains Comer Smith, Cornell, Hope Smith and Caleb Carr, Colonel Archibald Crary, and Stephen Kimball in the Rhode Island Troops. 
After the Revolution, he continued reside at Scituate, Rhode Island, for seven or eight years; then moved to Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island, where he lived for three years; thence to Stafford, Connecticut, and lived one year; thence to Paris, Oneida County
, New York, where he lived for thirty years; thence to Plymouth,
Chenango County, New York.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October [9?],
1833, while residing in Plymouth, New York.
In 1832, soldier's daughter, Hannah Curtis was aged thirty
one years and resided in Plymouth, New York. The name of her
mother was not shown nor are the names of any other children designated
.
In 1832, one Ira Sheldin was a physician of Plymouth, New York,
and the name of Aga Sheldon also appears; no relationship of the
above named person with surname Sheldon to the soldier was shown,
and there are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.