Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10,743, Gershom Gilbert, Conn.

Page 6

[handwritten]
Gershom Gilbert
Q Mr.
Montgomery Co: N.Y.
One year in colo – 
Chandler’s regimt.
Connectt. line .
3d. May, 1819
----- 
found on the rolls.
Served one year as Qr M Serj- & about 2 mos as a Qr. Master & then resigned
Admitted as a Qr M Ser

Duncan M Martin,
Judge,
Alexander St. John, agt
Northampton, Montgomery County, N. Y.

Page 10

[printed form completed in handwriting]
The Honorable Secretary of the War Department,
Town of Northampton County of Montgomery & State of New York
Sir,
The preceding Vouchers are forwarded to the War Department for the purpose of procuring the Applicant, named in such Vouchers, to be placed on the Pension List.
	I will thank you to forward to me as soon as possible, the Certificate or Document of the Application being granted, in the manner adopted in your Department.
	I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
Your most obedient servant,
[signed] Alexander St. John
Agent for the Applicant.

Page 17

[handwritten]
State of New York
County of Montgomery} ss.
Robert Gibbs of Northampton being duly sworn says that he was intimately acquainted with Gershom Gilbert of the said town of Northampton during his life time, and that on the 13th day of January 1832, about 12 o’clock at noon the said Gershom Gilbert died a natural death by reason of bodily infirmities and old age in the presence of this deponent, (and several others) at the dwelling house of the said Gershon Gilbert.
	And further this deponent on his oath aforesaid says that he was at the dwelling house of the said Gershom Gilbert on the 26th day of May 1822 and that the wife of the said Gershom Gilbert died a natural death by reason of bodily infirmities and that John B. Gilbert, Nathan Gilbert, and Barzilla Gilbert are the only surviving children of the Gershom Gilbert as to his knowledge and verily believes that there are no others, and that it is the common opinion throughout this region of country that there are no others now living.
[signed] Robert Gibbs
Subscribed & sworn
This 12th day of June 
1837 before me ---
[signed] Flavel B. Sprague
Justice of the Peace 

I certify that I am well acquainted with Robert Gibbs who has subscribed his name to, and made oath to the above affidavit, and that he is a man of good moral character and that his statement is entitled to full credit –
[signed] Flavel B. Sprague
Justice of the Peace

Page 19

[handwritten]
State of New York
County of Montgomery}ss:
Barzilla Gilbert of Northampton being duly sworn, says that during the life time of his father Gershom Gilbert, he recollects of having seen and read the discharge which was given to him at the close of his services in the Revolutionary war and that discharged him as a Quarter Master, and that in the year 1819 or within a year or two of that period of time John Fay was a Representative in Congress from this Congressional District and while there the said discharge was entrusted to the care of the said John Fay for the purpose of having him present it to the Secretary of War to make a trial to get the said Gershom Gilberts pension raised from that of a Quarter Master Sergeant to that of a Quarter Master. That the request was answered either by the said John Fay or the Secretary of War stating that the said Gershom Gilbert had not served long enough as Quarter Master to entitle him to the pay of a Quarter Master under the Law of 18th March 1818, but that it was very near to it having fallen only a few days short of the time stipulated by said act. That the said letter containing the answer has been mislaid or lost, and cannot now be found. That this deponent thinks that the said discharge was never returned, but was probably attached to the papers of the original claim which were then on file in the office of the Secretary of War, and from which the said Gershom Gilbert was pensioned.
And further this deponent saith not.
Sworn to and subscribed this day of June 1837 in open court.
[signed] Barzilla Gilbert 

[signed] Geo: D. Ferguson, Clerk

Page 24

[handwritten]
Camp at Valley Forge 13th March 1778

Mr Gershom Gilbert, Quarter Master of the late Colo. Chandler’s Battalion, hath leave to retired from the Service at his own Request, & he is discharged from his office in said Battalion, & is permitted to pass from hence to the State of Rhode Island accordingly. 
[signed] James Mitchel Varnum B General

To all concerned. -

Page 28

[handwritten]
Northampton Montgomery County
New York State July 31st 1837 ~

Dr. Sir,
     Your answer and objections to the enclosed papers have been received with thankfulness, and I have presented them to the Court, (the Judges of the County,) for a review of them in [illegible – possibly comunion] with your letter on the subject. 
     They were not personally acquainted with the said Gershom Gilbert, nor had they any knowledge of any of the facts until the 14th day of June last, when the said Nathan and Barzilla Gilbert appeared before them in open Court and made oath to the said Declaration. The Court then examined them, ^and the papers^ and directed their Clerk to certify their opinion, which you will find at the close of the proceedings of the enclosed papers in words following to wit: “And that their testimony in this matter was in all respects satisfactory to said Court.
     I have requested them to give a separate certificate now according to your request, and would be willing to, had they formerly been personally acquainted with the said Gershom Gilbert or the heirs, but they have to ground their judgment wholly upon the testimony contained in these papers, therefore they did direct their Clerk, (as their Organ) to certify to all the facts which you require, or as near as possible according to circumstances. It is particularly stated in the declaration, also in the affidavit of Robert Gibbs that Gershom Gilbert died on --------- day of -------- and that ------ are the only children of &c. They are the only heirs – The Law states particularly that the shall go to the “widow, and if no widow to the children.” If there were other heirs they have no right to the money. It is also stated in the declaration & in the affidavit of Robert Gibbs that the wife of the said Gershom Gilbert died on ----- day of ------ as you will find on a review of the claim here returned for your further examination and report thereon. If this explanation should not be satisfactory you will please send the papers back, and I can then influence the Court to certify to the facts which you require, but they will do it wholly from the testimony contained in the claim or from other testimony which will be adduced. Why should you not give credence to the testimony under oath of all these respectable men who have souls either to be saved or lost as well as yours & mine. I solicit the favor that you carefully examine the two last affidavits and then the last certificate of the Clerk - - John B. Gilbert is not a resident of this county, consequently could not consistently appear in open court with Nathan & Barzilla and, simply gave his power of attorney to them that he was one of the children, not intending that it should have bearing only to get the claim allowed, for you discover that it is sealed in with the other papers and will finally be kept in your office at the time you issue the pay certificate. I sincerely hope that you will not censure the high dignity of the Court of the County, nor me for my frankness in this sending back the papers. Give the papers a careful re-examination and communicate the result of your deliberations to me.
With sentiments of much respect &c
[signed] John J. Shaw

Hol. J. L. Edwards Comr. of Pensions