Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,343, for Amos Odell, New York

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(3--1776) 
SERVICE New York Odell, Amos
NUMBER S. 23.343 
CONTENTS [section empty]

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[left side of page] [printed form with hand written responses] 
New York 24.438
================ 
Amos. Odell of Putnam Co in the State of New York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Townsend of the regt. commanded by Col. Hyatt in the N. Y. md line for 7 mo.
================ 
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
================ 
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Decr. 1833 and sent to Hon. A Ward, H Reps---
================ 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833. $58.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '34 - 11.68
=====
$69.99
=====
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book E Vol. 4 Page 27

[right side of page] 
Date of death not on A.B. J L L.

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28.278 Amos Odell pension papers
Service of woodcutting disallowed. 
admd 7 mo pri 
Ward 
Hod g

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State of New York County of Putnam Ss} 
On the tenth day of Sepr. 1833 personally appeared before the Court of common place of Putnam County Amos Odell a resident of the town of Phillipstown in the County of Putnam & State of New York aged seventy eight years in February last, 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 in the spring of the year 1776. he was drafted out of the company of Capt. George Lane who commanded the company in whose beat the declarent resided in Phillipstown now in Putnam County, but then in Dutchess County in the State of New York. The declarent with others who were drafted or otherwise raised formed a company who were under the command of Capt. Elijah Townsend & were soon after the declarent was drafted stationed at a place called the Red Mills, then in Dutchess County but now in the town of Carmel in Putnam County, to guard the public stores & preserve the peace & quiet of the country from the conduct of tories and cowboys. The period for which the declarent was drafted was three months. [three months underlined and "3 m" written in left margin] & the whole of the three months was faithfully devoted to the military service of the country at the Red Mills. Nathaniel Jagger was the Lieutenant under Capt Townsend whilst declarent was in the service as aforesaid. The declarent is not aware that this company whilst engaged as aforesaid was attached to any regiment Col. Ludington, who was the commanding officer of the regiment of Militia in which declarent was enrolled. was once or twice at the Red Mills whilst declarent was there.
That directly after the expiration of the three months service above mentioned, the declarent went as a substitute for Henry Carman. for three months, [three months underlined and "3-M" written in left margin] on the lines in Westchester County, in a company commanded by . . . . Lockwood the name of the Lieutenant was . . . . Sacket, the company was attached to the regiment of militia commanded by Col. John Hyatt. this service was rendered in the County of Westchester near White plains, the whole of the three

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months were devoted to the military service of the country 3 in the performance of such duties as were required of the declarent
That in the winter of 1777. as this declarent believes, and in the month of January, the whole of the country was alarmed & all the militia in this county were ordered out that the declarent went in this alarm under the command of Capt. Moses Dusenbury, the Insign was John Dusenbury a brother of the captain. the Lieutenants name not recollected,  during this alarm the declarent went into the lower part of Westchester County & was absent in the 1 mo service more than a month, during this service the legs & feet of the declarent were much frozen. occasioned by exposure in severe weather, & they have never been well since, allways attended with pain & much of the time a running sore
That in the spring of the year 1777 the declarant enlisted for during the war into a company commanded by a man called capt Obediah Bridges, the lieutenant was Robert Connelley, after the enlistment he declarant went to Fishkill & reported himself to the said Capt Bridges & the declarant & others were then ordered to cut wood & turn it into cord for the use of the army. that declarent in pursuance of such directions went into that business & continued thus engaged for one year & nine months, and during that time received his clothes and rations in the same manner as soldiers who were imployed in other duties.
While engaged in this service the declarant knew Col Swartwout, Col Ludington, Capt, Townsend Col. Hyatt, Capt Lockwood --------

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The deponent hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State. And this deponent further says that during the revolutionary war he lived in what is now called Phillipstown in Putnam County & has ever since the revolution resided in the same town & yet resides there
This declarent further says that he does not know any other persons who can testify to his services which are specified in the preceding declaration other than those persons whose depositions are hereto annexed 
The declarent was born in Westchester County in the State of New York at a place called Sim. The manner or Cartlands manner, but at a very early age he with his father removed to Philipstown. That his first service was as a drafted soldier, the second was voluntary. the third when in the alarm was as he understood compulsory the service under Capt. Bridges was in pursuance of a voluntary enlistment The declarant recollects, Col Ludington Col Hyatt Col Hammond, Col Swartwout, General Putnam. 

The declarant has no record of his age, he never received a written discharge from the service, he never received a commission.
The declarant is known to Nathaniel Cole the Sheriff of the County of Putnam and to Daniel I Tompkins a clergyman, who resides in his neighborhood & who he believes can testify to his character for veracity & good behaviour & their belief in his services as a soldier of the revolution. Amos his X mark Odell 

Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 10th day September AD 1833 J Morehouse Clk [signature]

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[writing on page crossed out with 3 large Xs] 
The Tompkins a clergyman residing in the town of Philipstown in Putnam County & Nathaniel Cole, Sheriff of said county residing in the same town do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Amos Odell who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy eight 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

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State of New York Putnam County} ss: 
Gabriel Christian of Philipstown in the County of Putnam being duly sworn says that he is sixty one years of age [the 19th Sept Instant -- inserted] that he was born in said town & has known Amos Odel from [word crossed out] infancy to the present time, has lived a near neighbor to him. that when he was quite a lad the said Amos Odel was often at the house of the father of the deponent with his gun either going to or returning from military imployment in the service of his country. The deponent had brothers older than himself & it was with them, when they were going & returning from service that he saw the said Odel It has ever since the revolution been reputed & believed that the said Amos Odel was a soldier in the army of the revolution & the deponent concurs in that opinion
Gabriel Christian [signature] 

Sworn & Subscribed before me this 31th day of August 1833 & I do certify that the deponent is entitled to credit 
Daniel D Travis Justice of the peace [signature]

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State of New York Putnam County} Ss: 
Isaac Post of the town of Philipstown in Putnam County being duly sworn doth depose & say that he is sixty nine years of age that he knows Amas Odel of said Philipstown, was brought up in the same neighborhood & has known him from early childhood, that the said Amos Odel was in the military service of the country during the revolutionary war, but the deponent cannot recollect the year, he had a brother in the same company with said Odel & after went to see his brother & saw the said Odel in the service, the term for which his brother went into the service was three months, & said Odel was in the same company & went for the same length of time The deponent believes that the said three months was spent by the said Odell in the service, which was on guarding the Red Mills & the property which was there accumulated, the company in which said Odel served was commanded by Capt. Townsend Nathaniel Jagger was the lieutenant 
The deponent has allways from the revolution up to the present time known the said Amos Odel, & has during that time lived in the same neighborhood with him. It has allways been reputed & believed in the neighborhood that the said Amos Odel was a soldier of the revolution in which opinion the deponent concurs  Isaac his X mark Post 

Sworn & subscribed this 9th day of [August -- crossed out] [September -- inserted] 1833 And I do certify that the deponent is a credible witness   Daniel D Travis Justice of the Peace  [signature]

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State of New York Putnam County } Ss 
George Graves of the town of Philipstown in Putnam County being duly sworn, deposes & says that he is seventy three years old, that he knows Amos Odel of Philipstown & has known him from a period before the revolutionary war. they were brought up within three miles of each other That during the revolutionary war, but in what year the deponent cannot say, he was in the service on the lines in Westchester County & Amos Odel was in the service at the same time but in a different company from that in which the deponent served. this service was three months, during this service Fort Montgomery was taken, at a subsequent period the deponent served in the same company with the said Amos Odel for a period of three weeks under one Capt. Lane. this was near Peekskill in Westchester County
The deponent knows that the said Amos Odel was on several other occasions in the military service of the country during the revolutionary war, but he cannot fix when the year when the services were rendered nor on the length of services, he was a good & faithful soldier The deponent knows that the said Amos Odel was engaged at one time three months in the coaling service during the revolutionary, this service was in Fishkill George Graves Esq [signature] 

Sworn & subscribed this 9th day of [August -- crossed out] [Sept. -- inserted] 1833 before me, and I do certify that the deponent is a credible witness  Daniel D Travis Justice of the Peace [signature]

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State of New York Putnam County} Ss.
Isaac Odel of the town of Philipstown in the County of Putnam and State of New York being duly sworn deposes and says that he was seventy four years of age on the fifteenth day of August 1833. that he is a brother of Amos Odle who also resides in Philipstown, that he was present at the time his brother Amos Odel enlisted under Capt. Obediah Bridges in the year 1777. this deponent inlisted at the same time.  the deponent enlisted at the same time & went into the service with his brother, the deponent & his said brother were ordered to cut wood & [illegible] it into coal for the use of the army, that they commenced said business & the deponent continued for six months in said employment; that his brother Amos Odel was during the whole of the six months [word crossed out] employed in the same business for the army & when the deponents term of enlistment had expired, he left the service & also left his said brother employed in the same way & that he continued about a year in the same service after deponent left it deponent often saw the said Amos during the year he continued in the service, after deponent left, whilst he was engaged in the service as aforesaid & has not the least doubt but he continued the whole of the year in the service of his country as aforesaid
The deponent further says that in the year 1776 he & his said brother went into the service for three months on the lines in Westchester County, they were in the company commanded by -- Lockwood. _ - - Sacket was Lieutenant and the company was attached to Col John Hyatts regiment of Militia. the whole time was spent on the lines in Westchester, & deponent knows that the said Amos Odel was on this occasion in the military service of the country for three months.
The deponent was on several occasions called out in alarms when his said brother was also out but the

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precise length of time spent in the service during these alarms he cannot say, the deponent further says that Amos Odel was absent from home in the service on other occasions and it was said that he went on the lines & was engaged in guarding the public property from the depredations of the enemy Isaac his X mark Odell

The deponent Isaac Odel subscribed & sworn to the preceding affidavit before me this 31th day of August 1833 & I do certify that he is a credible witness Daniel D Travis Justice of the Peace [signature]

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We Daniel D Tompkins a Clergyman residing in the town of Philipstown in Putnam County and Nathaniel Cole ---- residing in the same town do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Amos Odell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion Daniel D Tompkins [signature] Nathaniel Cole [signature] 

Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 10th day of September 1833 J Morehouse Clk. [signature] 

and the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & 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 then Daniel D for Tompkins [word erased then re-written] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Philipstown & that Nathaniel Cole who has also signed the same is a resident of the same town and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit        
Bennet Boyd {signature] Harry Garrison [signature] Samuel Washburn [signature] 
[written vertically from bottom towards top of page, beside list of names -- Judges of said Court]  

I Jonathan Morehouse Clerk of the said court of Common pleas do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Amos Odell for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto 

[line showing at bottom of page from the page underneath this one] county of Westchester, near White plains, the whole of the three

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set my hand and affixed my seal of office at the commencement of the declaration of the said applicant this 19th. day of September in the year of our Lord 1833 J Morehouse [signature] 

[written vertically from bottom towards top of page, in bottom left corner of page] Amos Odell Pension Papers

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State of New York Putnam County ss } I Jonathan Morehouse Clerk of the County of Putnam do hereby certify that Daniel D Travis, before whom the annexed affidavit of Gabriel Christian, Isaac Post, George Travis & of Isaac Odell purport to have been taken was at the time of the taking said affidavits a Justice of the peace in & for the County of Putnam, duly commissioned & sworn & that full faith & credit should be given to his official acts. And I do further certify that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe that his signature to said affidavits is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Carmel in said County this nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord 1833.  J Morehouse [signature] 

[line showing at bottom of page from the page underneath this one] Col. John Hyatt, this service was rendered in the County of Westchester near White plains, the whole of the three 

[round stamp in left center of page]

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March 2, 1934. BA-J/ILL Omd Amos Odell S. 23343
Frederick C. Hacker 2120 Tiebout Avenue New York, New York.
Dear Sir: Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Amos Odell, a pensioner of New York. The record of Amos Odell is given below as shown in the papers on file in his claim for pension, S. 23343, based upon his service in that war. Amos Odell was born in the month of February, 1755, in the Manor of Cortland, Westchester County, New York, and moved at a very early age with his father to Philipstown, Dutchess County, that state; the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Philipstown, New York, in the spring of 1776, at which time he belonged to Captain George Lane's company of "that beat," he enlisted and served three months in Captain Elijah Townsend's company, Colonel Luddington's New York regiment, at Red Mills; immediately after this, he enlisted and served three months as private in Captain Lockwood's company, Colonel John Hyatt's New York regiment, engaged near White Plains; in the winter of 1777, he served one month in Captain Moses Dusenbury's [N York -- inserted] company. From in the spring of 1777, he served over a period of more than a year in Captain Obediah Bridges' [New York -- inserted] company, engaged in preparing fuel for the troops. [hand written note inserted in right margin of page:  use name of state next time] 

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 10, 1833, at which time he resided in Philipstown, Putnam County (formerly Dutchess County), New York. It is not stated that he was married.
In 1833, Isaac Odell, soldier's brother, resided in Philipstown, New York; he stated that he was born August 15, 1759, and that he served

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in the same company with his brother, Amos Odell, in the Revolutionary War.
The Revolutionary War records of this office do not show a claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service of Isaac Odell, [hand written note in left margin: One of Conn. in files] the brother referred to herein. Such pension and bounty land claims made to the United States are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office.
Very truly yours, A. D. HILLER, Assistant to Administrator.
2.

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[printed form with hand written responses] 
Revolution 23343 INVALID.
-----
File No. 23,343 Amos Odell Pri Rev War
-----
Act: June 7th 32 Index:--Vol. 2, Page 304
[Arrangement of 1870.] [square brackets in original] 

[written vertically from bottom towards top of page in left margin of page] 1934 - March 2 - Hist. to Frederick C. Haacker - ILL

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28.278 Amos Odell New York
Return admd.
46.66
11.66
------- 
58.32
M Ward 
Walker Todd Carmel Putnam County N. Y.

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[printed form with hand written responses] 
WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 18th Nov. 1833 
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 [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, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
--------------------------------------- 
A STATEMENT, shewing [showing] the Service of 
=============================== 
[table with 8 columns and one row, the row of column headings] 
[row 1, column headings] Period when the service was rendered [written vertically bottom to top] | Duration of the claimant's service. Years. | Months. | Days | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Field officers under whom he served. | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported. 

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, James L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.  

The services performed in cutting wood He cannot be admitted unless the Claimant shall clearly shew this was not a Civil Contract.  [words underlined] That he was regularly enlisted and detailed from the time for the Service as alleged. ---

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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) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion [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) , 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. [graphic of a hand pointing to the right:] 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.] [square brackets in original] 
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.] [square brackets in original] 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I  of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of & c. 

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] [square brackets in original] 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the 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 Count 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 he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. 
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons --one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. 
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by Justice of the peace, the certification of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing he services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
-------------------------------------- 
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the 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 duty 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 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 years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of 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; 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, providing the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 

[Mode of authenticating papers. – in italics] 
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. – in italics]
[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. 
[graphic of closed right hand with index finger pointing] 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.

Page 23

2120 Tiebout Avenue, New York, Feb. 11th, 1934.
Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:
The Report, from the Secretary of War, to the Senate, in 1835, listing the Pensioners of the Revolutionary War, shows that an Amos Odell, [underlined] age 78, of Putnam [check mark & "OK" -- inserted in right margin of page] County, N. Y., was placed on the Pension Rolls, Dec. 21, 1833. On what Revolutionary War services was the above claim filed?
Kindly inform me if the Pension Records contain any information concerning his parentage, [underlined] place of birth, or give any information concerning his children.
Very truly yours, Frederick C. Haacker. [signature] Frederick C. Hacker.

[upside down round stamp at bottom center of page] RECEIVED FEB 18 1934 MAIL SUB-DIV VETS ADM [illegible] #16