Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,531, Michael Barber, Conn. Continental

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SERVICE   Conn.
Continental
Barber, Michael
NUMBER  S. 31,531

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Connecticut 22.505 
Michael Barber 
of Simsbury in the State of Connt who was a Private in the Compy commanded by Captain Mills of the Rgt commanded by Col Wyllis [Wyllys] in the New York line for one year.   
Inscribed on the Roll of Connt at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of Sep 1833 and sent to C Pettibone Simsbury Cont 
Arrears to the 4th Sept 1833  100.00 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34. 20.00 
$120.00 
{Revolutionary Cla June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Wm R. Palmer 
Book E Vol  three Page six

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Michael Barber
19347
[unreadable]

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State of Connecticut 
Harford County } ss Simsbury Sept 10  1832,  
On this 10th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for Simsbury District in said County now sitting Michael Barber, a resident of Canton in said County & State aged 78 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 7th 1832.   
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named circumstances, viz. 
That in the month of March 1776 he enlisted into the Continental Army in Capt. Amasa Mills Company that he was marched through Farmington & Haven to Stratford in said State, there went on board a vessel said to New York. That when arrived to New York was put into Col. Wylly's Regiment.  That he enlisted for one year & served at the time of his engagement & was regularly dismissed at Peekskill in the State of New York.  The Brigadier Generals name was Parsons that he was in the battle on Long Island & retreated in the night to N. York with the Continental troops.  That he & the whole brigade were marched as he believes in December 1776, to Hackensack in New Jersey that there was some firing, a British guard was taken, & some stores. That he was in N. York, in the company & Regiment aforesaid when the British took N.York & when the Continental troops were driven out. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present; and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any

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State    Michael Barber 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me  
John O Pettibone Judge of Probate 
To the interrogatories propounded by the Court, he answers, to the first- 
1st. That he was born in Simsbury March 3rd 1754. 
2 that his birth is recorded in the family Bible & supposes it is recorded in the town records of  said town of Simsbury 
3d that he was living in Simsbury when called into service, & has ever lived in Simsbury & in that part of Canton which was formerly a part of Simsbury, where he now resides. 
4th My enlistment 
5th Generals Washington & Putnam & others  
6th Does not recollect of having received a written discharge. 
7th All the inhabitants of Canton & many in Simsbury

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State of Connecticut
Hartford County }   Simsbury, Sept. 10 1832 
I Hosea Case residing in the town of Canton, & in that part of said town which was formerly a part of the town of Simsbury in the County & State aforesaid, do certify that I have been long & intimately acquainted Michael Barber of Canton aforesaid that I believe him to be about 78 or 9 years age; that I know he was a soldier in the war of the revolution & served as a private in the company of Captain Amasa Mills of Col. Wyllys Regiment during the whole or near the whole of the year 1776. Col Wyllys Regiment was on the regular Continental establishment.   
Hatea Case 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid, before me John O Pettibone Judge of Probate 
I further certify that I am personally acquainted with Hosea Case, the above named deponent that he is a respectable citizen & credible witness 
Simsbury July 9th 1833. 
John O Pettibon Judge of Probate

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State of Connecticut
Hartford County } ss Farmington September 1832 
I Samuel Richards residing in the town of Farmington aforesaid hereby certify that I have been long well acquainted with Michael Barber of Canton in the County and State aforesaid, that I believe him to be the about 78 or 9 years of age, that I knew he was a soldier in the war of the revolution, and served as a private in the Company of Capt Amasa Mills of Col. Wyllys  regiment during the whole or the greater part of the year 1776.  I was a subaltern officer in the same company and served during the whole that time 
Samuel Richards 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid and I certify that Samuel Richards is a credible person.   
Lemuel Whitman Judge of Probate
I  Henry Nash Clerk of the Court of Probate for Farmington District do hereby certify that Samuel Whitman who has annexed his name as above, is Judge of Probate of said District, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.   
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 5th day of September 1832 
Henry Nash Clerk

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We, Jairus Burt a clergyman, residing in the town of Canton, in Hartford County & State of Connecticut and William H. Hallock, residing in the same town of Canton, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Michael Barber of said Canton, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 78 years of age, that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.   
Jairus Burt 
Wm H. Hallock 
Subscribed & sworn to Nov. 9 - 1832, before me John O Pettibone Judge of Probate 
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 Michael Barber, was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to said Court, that Jairus Burt who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the town of Canton aforesaid, and that William H Hallock who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town & is a credible witness and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
John O Pettibone Judge of Probate 
I Benjamin Ely Clerk of the Court of Probate for Simsbury District, do certify that the foregoing contains the original procedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Michael Barber for a pension.  And I also certify that John O Pettibone who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing as above, is Judge of Probate for Simsbury.   
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 9th day of Nov. 1832. 
Benjamin Ely, Clerk.

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State of Connecticut 
Hartford County }  ss Probate Office, Simsbury July 9th 1833 
Present, Hon John O. Pettibone Judge. 
The original papers in the application of Michael Barber resident of Canton in said County having been returned to the Judge, by the Commissioner Pensions as the credibility of a witness had not been certified which was entirely accidental omission; and the Judge in this case certified the credibility of the person who deposed before him in this case.   
And the Court doth further certify & state that he has been very particular in his enquires whether the belief is general that said Barber served one year as a private in the revolutionary war; and whether any doubts have existed upon this subject; and upon such enquiries the Court is fully established in the belief that said Barber did serve for the time of one year as stated in his declaration and that he served as a private.   
John O Pettibone Judge of Probate 
I Benjamin Ely, Clerk of the Court of Probate for Simsbury District, do certify that the foregoing contains the whole procedings in the matter of the application of Michael Barber for a pension 
And I also certify that John O. Pettibone, who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing as is Judge of Probate for Simsbury District 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 9th day of July 1833 Benjamin Elye Clerk. 
The attention of the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions is requested to the statement of the Court as to the time said Michael Barber served; and this because that in the brief there is stated "about 9 months" and at bottom of same page in red ink "12 months” implying doubt in the mind of the Commissioner whether said Barber served 9 months or 12 months 
Benjamin Ely Clerk

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19347   22,505
Michael Barber 
Cont 
Admd [admitted] 1 year $40 
C. Pettibone 
Somsbury Connt

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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 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 compling with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A Statement, showing the Service of   Michael Barber Cont
Period when the service was rendered. March 1776 enlisted    Duration of Claimant’s Service.  about 9 months   Rank of the claimant.   Private   Names and rank of the Company Officers under whom he served.   Captain Mills   Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.  Col Wyllys    Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  Battle on Long Island   Country through which he marched.  Strong form in con N. London, N. York. N. J.   Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.   78 he was born in Simsbury Ct  there entered the service and now lives in same place   Evidence by which the declaration is supported.  Two surviving witnesses, certificate of clergyman and one Citizen
I am respectfully 
Your obedient servant 
JAMES L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.

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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 in stance, 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) served in the (e) regiment of the 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 that of 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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of for a pension.               
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of & c.            
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.          
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.                 
Sworn and subscribed the 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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  alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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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 Town officer 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. 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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 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 - months and --- days, I served as 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 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 that they served two 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 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 or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.         
Proof of Service.         
[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 [i] 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.

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31531
Revy INVALID 
OWN
File No. 31,531  
Michael Barber 
Pri  Rev War 
Act:  June 7" 32” 
Index: --Vol. 2 Page 26 
[Arrangement of 1870.]