Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17942, William Gelston, New Jersey New York

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NewJersey    Gelston, William       W 17942
New York                    Asernath

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17821
Connecticut
William Gelstson
of E Haddam in the 
State of Con who was a Pri in the Com commanded by Captain - of the Regt commanded by Col Clinton in the N.Y. Troops
for 8 mo 8 dys

Inscribed on the Roll of Con at the rate of 30 Dollars 29 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sept
1833 and sent E. A Bulkley East Haddam
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $75.72
15.14
=======
$90.868
=======
Semi-anl. allowance ending Mar. 2---
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 16

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4678
Connecticut

Asinath Gelston widow of William Gelston
who was a private N. Y.
in the N York troops
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 30
Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
twenty fifth day of Jany 1844
and sent to
J.C. Palmer
East Haddam
Cont
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol 1 Page 67

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State of Connecticut
County of Middlesex ss. 
On this fourteenth day of July in
the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Three personally appeared Asenath Gelston a resident of East Haddam in said Middlesex County, before the County Court for said Middlesex County being a Court of Record and having a Clerk and Seal, said Asenath Gelston being of the age of
Eighty Three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of
Congress passed July 7 1838, entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows and an act approved the twenty third
day of August 1842 amendatory thereof, and a Resolution approved the sixteenth day of August 1842, entitled "Resolution declarative
of the pension act of July 7th 1838, and an act passed on the 3rd of March 1843 entitled an act granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War
That she is the Widow of William Gelston who was a private in the War of the Revolution, and the particulars of whose service she does not know. That said William Gelston was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of Thirty Dollars twenty nine cents per annum, and that his name was inscribed on the pension roll on the 25th of September 1833. payable at the Connecticut agency.
That she desire that reference may be had to the Declaration of the said William Gelston and the proofs annexed thereto for
evidence of the service performed.
she further declares that she was married to the said William Gelston by the Rev Elijah Parsons pastor of the 1st Congregational Society of East Haddam on the day of
July one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, the day of the month she does not recollect- That her husband the aforesaid William Gilson died on the 24th day of June 1840 - that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January
seventeen hundred and ninety four to wit at the time above stated.
She further declares that she is still a widow
Asenath Gelston
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written  Before me john C Palmer Judge County Court Middlesex County

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State of Connecticut
County of Middlesex ss.
I, Isaac Parsons of East Haddam Middlesex County & State of Connecticut depose and say that I am now and for twenty six years last part have been Pastor of the first Congregational Church in East Haddam, and as such have the custody of the Records of said Church of Admission, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths
That on examination for evidence of the
Marriage of William Gelston and Asenath Sears
I find recorded in said Records the following, to wit
July Seventeen Hundred and Eighty One, William Gelston and Sena Sears were joined together in the marriage Covenant which is entered on said record apparently at the time the transaction took place, and in the hand writing of my uncle and predecessor Rev Elijah Parsons who was ordained & installed Pastor of said Church in 1772. And I further say
that the above is a true extract from the Record of said Church with the exception of the date which is expressed in the record in fair legible figures as follows - "1781. July" and further this Deponent saith not
Isaac Parsons Pastor of the first Congregational Church of Christ in East Haddam, Conn
Sworn to and subscribed this 22nd day of July A.D. 1843 before me and I certify that Isaac Parsons the Deponent is known to me personally and is a credible person and his
statements may be relied upon -
John C Palmer Justice of the Peace-

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State of Connecticut
Middlesex County
Probate District of East Hadd  East Haddam
On this 3rd day of September  personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of
Probate for the District of East Haddam, being a Court of Record having ing a Clerk and seal, now sitting, William Gelston a resident of the town of East Haddam, State, County
and District aforesaid, aged seventy six years about who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
1st That on the 3rd day of July 1775 the Deponent then residing at Southampton Suffolk County on Long Island State of New York enlisted into a company of New York State Troops for the term of six months - John Hulbert was the Captain- John Davis first Lieutenant, Wm Havens 2nd Lieutenant
The company was first called together at East Hampton on Long Island. We had not been there but a few days before we heard that some British shipping had anchored in Gardners Bay, We immediately marched
to Montauk- before we arived there the British

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troops had landed, taken some Beef and gone off  The Deponent enlisted and served as a Fifer. While at Montauk the Deponent was taken sick, also the first Lieutenant and a number of soldiers. While we were
sick the rest of the company was ordered to New York
There was a company of State troops (at the same time stationed at Oyster pond Point commanded by Captain Grinnell- Captain Hulbert drafted some soldiers from Captain Grinnels Company and proceeded to New York  - from thence to Albany and then to Ticonderoga -
Those left sick at Montauk as soon as they recovered were collected together by Lieutenant Davis and went to New York, where we joined Captain Grinnel Company, which had proceeded there. We staid at New York some time, and were then ordered up the North River to a small Fort (called Fort
Constitution, while there we were employed in keeping garrison and guard and repairing the works
While at Fort Constitution, Captain Hulberts company was ordered from the North with a number of Prisoners that had been taken at Fort Chandler to Canaan in Connecticut, from which place they came to Fort Constitution about the first of December.
The Deponent then joined Captain Hulberts Company which remained at the Fort until the 15th of January when we were dismissed. We staid at the Fort about half a month, more than the time of our enlistment in  consequence of not being relieved by other troops as was expected. The regiment to which deponent

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belonged was commanded by Colonel James Clinton. When we were first at Fort Constitution, there was a Company from the neighborhood of New York, but Deponent cannot particularly describe it. The
date of the Deponents enlistment and discharge are taken from a Pay Roll of the Company that was found among the papers of Captain Hulbert, which of Edward Howell of East Haddam Middlesex County Conn which is trans accompanies the Declaration
transmitted to the War Department the
deposition of James Sayre also accompanies
this declaration-
2nd In the fore part of the month of July in the year 1776 the Deponent then residing at a place called Black River or Roxbury in the North part of the State New Jersey, whither he had gone for the purpose of learning a trade, after the British fleet had arrived at Sandy Hook and landed on Staten Island
volunteered as a fifer with the militia that was
called out to defend the shore opposite Staten Island and served for one month, when other troops were called in. We marched to Elizabeth town and encamped-- We were stationed principally near Daytons Ferry -  The Regiment to which we belonged was stationed between Cranes and Daytons Ferries
Oliver Spencer was Colonel of the Regiment - the other officers the deponent does not recollect. The Captain of the Company was one Horton - the other officers the Deponent does not recollect - We were employed in
guarding the shore and situated in plain view of

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the troops of Staten Island, but nothing decisive occurred during this period-- The Deponent has no documentary evidence, and knows of no witness whose testimony he can procure that can testify to his service --
3rd Late in the fall of the year 1776 when the American Army retreated through New Jersey, the British Army followed them and halted at Elizabeth town - The deponent then residing at a place called Black River or Roxbury in Morris County New Jersey volunteered
as a fifer with the militia of the State which were called out and first stationed at Morristown.  Oliver Spencer was Colonel
of the Regiment, the other officers deponent does not recollect. The name of the Captain of the company to which Deponent belonged was Horton, the other Company officers he does not recollect -
While at Morristown Colonel Spencer was informed by Express that there was a party of British troops after forage, plunder encamped at Springfield and quartered in a meeting House - Colonel Spencer
collected his Regiment, made a quick March and and arrved at Springfield about 9 o'clock in the evening intending to fall upon them while asleep, but we found them all out and paraded. It was rather dark that night, but we were ordered to attack them there

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was a pretty brisk fire kept up for some time on both sides. The Militia got rather in confusion and Col Spencer ordered a retreat, he had his horse shot from under him. Several of our men were wounded-- We retreated a short distance and made a halt for the night-- Early the next morning a General I think his name was Mac Dougle - came where we were with three or four hundred men but the British had left.  There were several killed and wounded among the British as we were informed. We went into Springfield the next morning. We afterwards moved to New Brunswick, Bound Brook and Morristown where we were dismissed.  The Deponent was in the service at this time one month
The Deponent was made a fife major by Colonel Spencer and had a warrant, which he has lost.  He has no documentary evidence in support of this claim and knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure that can testify to his service.
The Deponent was born at Southampton Suffolk County on Long Island State of New York in the month of September 1756. The Deponent has no Record of his age other than one in a family Bible.  The Deponent when first called into the service lived at Southhampton abovesaid and afterwards when

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he entered the service at a place called Black River or Roxbury in the North West part of the State of New Jersey - ever since the Revolutionary War the Deponent has lived at East Haddam Middlesex County
Connecticut, where he now resides. When the
Deponent first entered the service he enlisted and afterwards at both times volunteered, The Deponent has stated as particularly as he can recollect the names of the officers who were with the troops, where he served - and such of them as he can recollect with the general circumstances of his service. The Deponent never received any written discharge, but was regularly dismissed as he has before stated.
The Deponent is well known to Revd Joseph Vaile, Revd Simeon Dickinson,
Epaphroditus Champion, Noah Bulkeley Richard Green and most of the other inhabitants of the town of East Haddam, who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as as a soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the
present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid
William Gelston

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Rev
WIDOW, &c.
No. 17942
Asinath Gelston
Widow of William Gelston
Pri Rev War
Act: March 30 1843
Index: - Vol. A, Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.}

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7703.
Connecticut
Asenath Gelston widow of William Gelston
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832,
and who died on the 24th June, 1840
of Middlesex in the State of Connecticut
who was a Private in the company
commanded by Captain_________of the Regt
commanded by Col Clinton in
the N. York Troops line for 8 mo & 8 dy
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 30 Dollars & 29 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of
Sept. 1843 and sent to John C. Palmer
East Haddem, Conn
Total amount, $151.45
[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by Tho. Lumpkin, Clerk,
Book A Vol. 1, Page 182

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We, Simon Dickinson a Clergyman, residing in the town of East Haddam and Richard Green
residing in the same town, hereby certify that
we are well acquainted with William Gelston
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six 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
Simeon Dickinson
Richard Green

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 Simon Dickinson, who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of East Haddam and that Richard Green who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of East Haddam and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Eliphalet A. Bulkley Judge of Court

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I, Matthew G. Warner Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of East Haddam, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Gelston for a pension-  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 3d day of September AD 1832

Matthew G. Warner  Clerk

Application of Wm Gelston for pension
8308
enlt 7 July 1775
dis 15 Jany 76

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Asenath Gelston
$30 per an
John C. Palmer
East Haddam,
Con.

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East Haddam Dec 22nd 1843.
Hon J.L. Edwards

Dr Sir
I have the honor to transmit said application of Asenath Gilton & Hannah Rathburn for
Pension under act of March 43. in which can have the goodness to address any correspondence to yours
Obedt Servt
John C Palmer

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State of Connecticut
County of Middlesex
On this twenty first day of December Eighteen Hundred Forty Three personally appeared before me John C Palmer Judge of the
County Court for Middlesex County being a Court of record having a Clerk & Seal Asenath Gelston a resident of East Haddam in the County of Middlesex & State of Connecticut
aged Eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisionmade by the act of Congress passed on the 3rd March 1843
granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the widow of William Gelston who was a private in the Connecticut Continental
army in the Revolutionary War, and that she received the annual amount of Thirty Dollars twenty nine cents under the Act of July 7th 1838. she further declares that she is still a
Widow
Asenath Gelston
Sworn to & subscribed on the day and year above written before me & I certify Asenath Gelston the applicant is personally known to me & is a credible person & her statements may be relied upon.
John C Palmer Judge Co Ct
State of Connt
Middlesex County

I John Fisk Clerk of the County Court of Middlesex County hereby certify that John C Palmer Esq is Judge of sd Court. That his commission tookeffect on the 20 June 1843 & expires June 10. 1844 & that the signature above is his own genuine & proper signature. In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 26 day of Decr AD 1843
Jno Fisk Clk

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State of Connecticut
Middlesex County ss.
I John Fisk Clerk of the County Court for Middlesex County hereby certify that John C Palmer is Judge of said Court. That his
Commission took effect June 20th 1842. and expires June 20th 1844, and that the signature to the certificate on the application of Asenath Gelston hereto annexed purporting to be his is his own genuine and proper Signature-
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and the seal of said Court this    day of December 1843.

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State of Connecticut
Middlesex County ss.
I John Fisk Clerk of the County Court for said Middlesex County, hereby certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Asenath Gelston for a pension, that John C Palmer is Judge of said Court, and a Justice of the Peace for said Middlesex County, and that his commissions as such Judge and Justice
of the Peace bear date on the 20th June 1843. and will expire on the 20th June 1844 and that the signatures to the Declaration of Asenath Gelston, and the Depositions of Isaac Parsons Alfred Gates and Oliver Green hereto
annexed, purporting to be his are his own genuine and proper signatures. In testimony whereof by direction of said Court I have hereunto affixed my signature and the seal of said Court at Middletown this 9 day of August A.D. 1843
Jno. Fisk Clk

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I Oliver Green of East Haddam Middlesex
County and State of Connecticut aged Sixty Nine years having been duly cautioned examined & sworn depose and say, that I have been well acquainted with Asenath Gelston formerly Asenath Sears of said East Haddam, and who was the wife of William Gelston
late of East Haddam deceased a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, and with said William Gelston ever since my earliest recollection. I having resided in the same school District with said William Gelston and said Asenath, during the last past sixty years
with the exception of about six years. That said
William & Asenath lived together as husband a wife from the time of my earliest recollection to the time of the decease of the said William in the summer of 1840 and that said smith is still living in said East Haddam, and has not intermarried since the decease of said William and is still his widow, and continues sole, single, and unmarried and further the Deponent saith not-
Oliver Green
Sworn to and subscribed this 7th day of August A.D. 1843. before me, and I certify that Oliver Green the Deponent is well known to me, and is a magistrate and a credible person and his statement may be relied on.
John C Palmer Justice of the Peace

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State of Connecticut
County of Middlesex
I Alfred Gates of East Haddam in the County of Miller aged forty one years having been duly cautioned examined & sworn depose and say
that I am now and since the 1st Monday of October 1842. have been the Town Clerk of said Town, and as such have the custody of the Records of Marriages births and deaths of said Town. That I have examined the same from the
year 1770 to the present time July 14th 1843, and do not find the marriage of William Gelston and Asenath Sears recorded there. That I do not find therein any record of
birth or deaths affording any evidence of such marriage-
That I have been acquainted with said William Gelston who was a Revolutionary Pensioner residing in East Haddam and said Asenath his wife for thirty years past. That said Asenath Gelston since the decease of said William has remained sole single and unmarried and is still living in East Haddam. That on the records of said Town the death of said William is recorded as follows, to wit-
"William Gelston Esq. and June twenty fourth one thousand eight hundred and forty"and
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the
record in fair legible figures as follows " June 24th 1840" and I Alfred Gates above named depose and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk of the Town of East Haddam in the County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town with the exception above named as certified
by me
Alfred Gates Town Clerk
Sworn to and subscribed on the 14th day of July A.D. 1843, before me and I certify that Alfred Gates the Deponent is personally
known to me and is a credible person and his statements may be relied on-
John C Palmer Judge County Court Middlesex County

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State of Connecticut
County of Middlesex
Probate District of East Haddam
East Haddam

On this 12th day of June AD 1833 personally
appeared before the Court Probate for the District of East Haddam, William Gelston a resident of said East Haddam, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of June
7th 1832 who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that the term of service mentioned in the first specification of his claim was six months and twelve days, which period he served as a fifer.
That by reason of old age and the loss of  memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service mentioned in the second and third specifications of his claim, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades
for one month (the period mentioned
in the 2nd specification of my claim) I served
as a fifer
For one month (the period mentioned
in the third specification) I served as a fifer
and for such services I claim a pension
Sworn & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
William Gelston

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I, Wm. W. Higgins Clerk protem of the Court of
Probate for the District of East Haddam, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the additional proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Gelston for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of sd Court this 18th day of June AD. 1833
Wm W Higgins
Clerk Protem

Additional proceedings on the application of
of William Gelston for a pension

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State of New York
County of Suffolk and
Town of Southampton

Personally appeared before me Josiah White one of the Justices of the peace of said County, James Sayre, resident in the town
County and State aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration That William Gelston then of the Town County and State aforesaid did on the first day of July 1775 enlist in Capt John Hulberts Company of
the third regiment of the New York State line of troops Commanded by Col James Clinton and that his first march was to Montalk where said William Gelston was taken sick and left and the he met the above named Company at Fort Constitution and served until about the first of January 1776 Deponent further says that the above named William Gelston was a fifer in said company and he thinks him to be about 76 years of age and that he is now a resident of the State of
Connecticut
James Sayre
I hereby certify that the above named deposition was taken and subscribed before me the 18th day of August AD 1832
Josiah W White justice peace

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Deposition of James Sayre
State of New York
Suffolk County Clerks office
 I Joseph R Huntting Clerk of the Court of Common pleas in and for said County Do certify that Josiah H White Esquire before whom the foregoing Deposition of James Sayre was taken is a Justice of the peace in and for said County and duly authorized by Law to act as such and further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and believe the Signature of Josiah H White to be the proper hand writing of the said Justice. In
Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 24 of August 1832
Joseph R Huntting Clk

Deposition of James Sayre on the application of William Gelston for a pension

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Hon James L. Edwards
Court of Pensions
Washington D.C.

J C Palmer
East Haddam
Oct. 2. 1843
Asenath Gelston
# Rathburn

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Sept 28, 1843.East Haddam
Hon J.L. Edwards

Dr Sir:
 I some time since had the honor to transmit the application of Asenath Gelston and
Hannah Rathburn for a Pension, from which I have as yet recd no return. Will you have the kindness to say whether the applications have been received, and if so, at what time action upon them may be expected-
With respect I am
Your Obed Servt
J. C. Palmer

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Hon James L Edwards
Pension Office
Washington D.C.

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East Haddam Aug 10th 1843
Hon J. L. Edwards
Dr Sir, I forward application of Mrs Asenath Gelston for a pension who is one of the
most respectable of my neighbours, and whose case has been delayed as depending upon the same ground as Jeniva Randall which was in May last decided favorably. Please forward any communication on the subject to me at East Haddam- I wish also to call your
attention to Jeniva Randalls application under the last act which was forwarded some time since, last of May or1st of June and desire that it may be acted upon as soon as may be
consistent with other duties
Your Obed Servt
John C Palmer

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9421
Asenath Gelston
Cont
Act July 7th 38

pri
$30.29 per am
John C Palmer Esq
East Haddam
Cont.

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William Gelston
Servd days Fifer
$36.29
E A Bulkley
East Haddam
Ct

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
William Gelston which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 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 entitles? yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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? yes

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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 relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV.If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no No quer 16
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered  satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

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 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.

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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state 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 shewn 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.
QUERE XIV.  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 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 administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.