Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8,335, Ira Dodge, Conn.

Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
 Conn.

Dodge, Ira

NUMBER 
S. 8.335

Carded

CONTENTS

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14345

18319

New York 

Ira Dodge 
 Genesee in the State of New York 
He was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Bunnel of the Regt. Commanded by Col Arnol in the CL [illegible] for 13 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of May 1833 and Sent to Timothy Fitch. C. C.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833    $86.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept - 21.66
                                                            $108.33 
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by W. J. Williams Clerk,
Book C Vol. 4 Page 53

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Ira Dodge

Application for a Pension 

18317

L

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State of New York 
Genesee County Js

On this 11th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas - for the Court of Genesee now sitting Ira Dodge a resident of the Town of Clarendon Orleans County NY aged seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the [illegible] 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; that in the latter part of the summer of 1775 he was drafted to [illegible] together with several others of the same Company that at this time he stayed at L Island Sound for Two months he says he cannot recollect the names of officers at this time as they were all strangers to him Except the names of some General Officers [illegible] General - Washington [illegible] and Arnold he thinks was the Col

That in the year 1776 in the month of May he enlisted into the Company of Capt Nathaniel Bunnel of Cheshire for the Time of seven months David Hitchcock was Lieutenant Benedict Arnold was the Col of the Regiment Marched to Long Island was in the Battle near Brooklin on the 28th of August 1776 and on the night of the 29th Retreated with Gen Washington to New York then marched the Tenth Day then to north Castle and remained there until the month of December when he was discharged by Col Arnold having served out his Enlistment; That at this Town of - [illegible] he was aquainted with Generals - Washington Sulivan + Putman -

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That he was drafted in the fall of 1777 at the time Burgione was taken and marched to Peekskill and Fishkill under Capt Ephraim Cook of Cheshire and continued in that service for Two months and was then Discharged by Capt Cook and went home 

That in the year 1778 in August he thinks he enlisted into the Company of horses that was raised in the Towns of Cheshire + Wallingford CT and was [illegible] [crossed out] [illegible] [rest of paragraph illegible] 

That he is augmented with Samuel Cook Amos Allen [illegible] Langdon Esqr and others in his neighborhood who can attest Character for [illegible] [illegible] and their belief of his services as a Revolutionary soldier 

That he was home in the Town of newhaven Ct in the year 1778 ; that he lived in Cheshire New Haven County when called into service war before the [rest of paragraph illegible] then he removed to [illegible] NY then to Byson Genesee County where he lived until last April when he removed to Clarendon in Orleans County N York where he has lived since that time being a little over six - months he further states that he has no Record of his Age

That he humbly relinquishes every claim whatsoever for a pension or annuity except the foresaid and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any states

That he is not now aware of any person who is now living by whom he can prove his said services  That he never Received another Discharge but was always Discharged verbally 

Sworn to and Subscribed this 11th day of Oct 1872 in open court

T. Fitch Clerk 

Ira Dodge [signature]

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Genesee County Js 

Mr Lemuel Cook + Amos Allen residing in the Town of Bergen Genesee County N York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ira Dodge late of Byson but now of Clarendon Orleans County who has subscribed and sworn to the Above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of Age that he is [illegible] in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that Opinion 

And the said Lemuel Cook further says that he has been acquainted with Ira Dodge about fifty years knew him first in Plymouth Connecticut and has known him ever since that he has always been [illegible] and believed him to have so been a soldier of the Revolution and a man of Couth and veracity since this deponent has known him 

Subscribed and sworn in open court 
This 11 day of Oct 1832 
Lemuel Cook  Amos Allen 

T. Fitch Clerk 
And the said Court do humbly Declare this opinion after the investigation of the Matter and after pulling the investigation presented by the War Department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that Lemuel Cook and Amos Allen who have Signed the proceeding certificate are Residents of the Town of Bergen and are Good [illegible] Men and that their statement is entitled in Court

Isaac Wilson 
Robert Onell Jr
William Michell

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Genesee County [illegible]

I Timothy Fitch Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Genesee County do hereby certify that the foregoing [illegible] is the Original [illegible] of the said Court in this [illegible] of Ira Dodge for a pension 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this Eleventh day of October 1832

Timothy Fitch Clerk

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No. 18319

Isaac Dodge [Name is different from majority of Documents]

Jonesville - N. Y. -

admitted 

13 mo. Private

Timothy Fitch Clk
Jonesville NY  -

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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 those 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 show 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 and 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 Isaac Dodge [Name is different than majority of documents] Genesee Co - New York 

Period when the Service was rendered 
Duration of Service
[illegible] summer 1775 / 2 Months
[illegible] May 76 / 7 Months 
[illegible] Fall 77 / 2 Months 
[illegible] Sept. 78 / 2 Months 

Rank of the Claimant Private 

Name and rank of the field officers under whom he served.
General Washington 
Capt Arnold
Capt Bunnel
Col Arnol -
Capt Cook - 

Age at present. And place of abode when he entered the service.
74 years
Cheshire [illegible] County Connecticut 

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditional Evidence all before the Court - 

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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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 appeared (a) before _ A. B. a resident (b) _ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the Unted 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 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 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.
_ 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, vis:
(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. 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 application 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

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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 appeared (a) before _ A. B. a resident (b) _ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the Unted 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 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 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.
_ 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, vis:
(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. 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 application 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

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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.
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?
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 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 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 of 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.
[underline]
[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 claimant 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 __ 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 phrase [italicized] about three or four months, [end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions [illegible] 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; 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 affix 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 of 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.
[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, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers, and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable 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.
[handwritten] John N. Ashton

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[illegible]

8335 [mark]

INVALID

File No. 8335

Ira Dodge

Pri Rev War

Act: June 7 [illegible]

Index: - Vol. [illegible], Page 99

[Arrangement of 1870]