Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16209, Caleb Chapman, Conn.

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Chapman, Caleb	W.16209
Chopman
Lydia

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Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 Sept 1837 to 5 Oct 1837. The day of his death agt. notified 19, August 1839.

New York, 20462
Caleb Chapman
Of Steuben in the State of N.Y. who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Chapman of the Regt. Commanded by ____ in the State Troops line for 9 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of N.Y. at the rate of 30 dollars ___ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831[4?]

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 33 ___         $75.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34, $15.00
				          $90.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act. June 7, 1832
Recorded by Franciori, Clerk,
Book E. Vol 4 Page 52.
see letter

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Lydia Chapman
Widow of Caleb Chapman
Who was a pensioner under the Act of June 7, 1832 and who died on the 5 Oct, 1837 of Steuben Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private (Conn.) in the company commanded by the Captain Chapman of the rgt. Commanded by ____ in the Con. Militia line for 9 months.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Oct. 1939 and sent to Morris Brown Urbana N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. ’39		$65.16
Semi=annual allowance ending Mar. ’40  15.00
				$80.16
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book A, Vol 2, Page 73

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Caleb Chapman in the matter of his application for a pension
1 year & 4 months service
Write to J.G. Masters(?)
Bath Steuben Coty

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State of New York
Steuben County
I Caleb Chapman the petitioner in the declaration annexed being duly sworn saith  _ that he served in the year 1779 in Captain Chapman’s company as a waiter as in his said declaration is stated that he was regularly enlisted and enrolled as a member and soldier of said company and was not in it under a civil contract - that at that time he served three months as is in his said declaration stated that said company was ordered out by the state authorities of Connecticut and was not attached to any regiment.
Also that he enlisted in the year 1780 in Captain Elisha Chapman’s company of the militia as is in his said declaration stated and served as therein stated that said company was ordered out by the state authorities of Connecticut and was a militia company of said state – he served therein three months. Also that in 1781 he enlisted in Martin Kickland’s company as in said declaration is stated and served as therein mentioned that said company belonged to the militia of the state of Connecticut and was ordered out by the authorities of said state that is acted with in regiment – he served therein six months and further that the services stated by him in his declaration to have been performed as a boatman and guard were performed – that he was ordered out by a sergeant but by what authority he cannot say and hereby relinquishes his pension for the same and prays a pension for the three terms first above mentioned which said three terms in the whole account to twelve months – that during said terms he was not employed in any civil pursuit that the said companies in which he served

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Were embodied corps of militia of the state of Connecticut and called into service and aforesaid.
Caleb Chapman
Subscribed and sworn this 13th day of June 1833 before me
Wm Hamilton
Justice of the peace of said county

State of New York
Steuben County
I Aron C. Switzer deputy clerk of said county do certify that William Hamilton before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county. That I am well acquainted with his handwriting and that the name subscribed to said affidavit is his proper handwriting and signature. Witness my hand and seal of office this 13th day of June 1833.
AC Switzer

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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832.
State of New York
County of Steuben
On this twenty seventh day of November in the year 1832 for personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of [O?__] and Le[----] of the said county of Steuben now sitting at Bath in the county aforesaid. Caleb Chapman a resident of the town of Urbana in said county aged sixty eight years who having duly sworn according to law doth on his oaths make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States in the Connecticut ---- Troops in a company commanded by Captain Elisha Chapman in the spring of that year, 1779, (thinks in the month of May) that he entered as a volunteer and acted in the capacity of a waiter to Captain Chapman by whom he was selected for that purpose.
That he was born in the town of Saybrook in the state of Connecticut aforesaid on the twenty third day of July in the year 1764. That his age is recorded in his family bible and was then scribed by him into his own bible from his fathers family bible. That he resided in Saybrook until about thirty years of age when he ac---ed to New Duchess in the state of New York and aci—ded there about three years when he ac---- to Bath in

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the county of Steuben in the state last aforesaid in the --- of the said town of Bath which has since been erected into a new town called Urbana where he now resides.
That he entered in the service as before stated in the spring (thinks in the month of May), 1779, --- the town of Saybrook aforesaid and marched to New Haven in the said state of Connecticut to grant[?] the city of New Haven for which express[?] purpose said company was acired[?] as the applicant then understood and still believed that the applicant does not know the said company was attached to any regiment or brigade. That the applicant does not remember the names of the lieutenant or ensign but knows that Ira[?] B--- was the orderly sergeant. That the applicant continues in said service as waiter to the captain of said company until the month of August and until he had completed the term of three months that being the time for which he enlisted. He was then discharged at New Haven and returned to Saybrook. That he did not receive any written discharge.
That in the next year 1780 in the month of June this applicant again enlisted in Capt Elisha Chapman’s company from Saybrook and marched to New Louden and was stationed

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at Fort Trumbell in New Loudens to guard New Louden. That said company was raised for the sole purpose of guarding said fort and was the only company stationed there, said company relieved a company that had been stationed there a---t the end of the three months for which they were enlisted they were again relieved by another company. He served the said term of three months.
In the month of April in the year 1781 this applicant enlisted as a soldier from Saybrook in Captain Martin Kirkland’s company which company was raised for the purpose of guarding Forts Trumbell and Phoenix and was raised for the term of six months that said company served said term about equally at said Forts. That during said term New Louden was burnt and it was then applicants good fortune to be at that time at Fort Pheonix. At the end of said term of six months they were verbally discharged.
In the month of May in the year 1783 he was drafted to man a row boat to guard Saybrook coast for two months and said term was served in rowing said boat during the night for the purpose aforesaid and was discharged by parol

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He was again drafted for two months as a guard to guard during the night at Saybrook and served said term. That he now had received a written discharge.
That David B. Coriel, David Kingsly, Erastus Webster, Obediah Wheeler are his neighbors and can testify to his character for truth and their belief of his services as a solider of the revolution.
That he never received a written discharge. That he knows of no person who can testify to his services that in documentary evidence.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever for a pension or annuity except the foresent[?] and declares his not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Caleb Chapman
M.S Rumsly Dep Clk, Steuben County

We David B Corril a Clergyman residing in Steuben County and John S. Chapman residing in the said place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Kaleb Chapman who subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age that he is reputed and believed in this neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution [?]

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Concern[?] in that a[?]
David B. Coriell
John S. Chapman
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
M. S. Rumsey Dep Clk
Steuben County

[?] the said court do hereby declare the opinion after the investigation of the matter and after [?]ing the interrogation as predescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and that court further certifies that is appears to them that David B. Coriell who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Urbana in the county of Steuben and that John S. Chapman who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person and that their statement is certified to credit.
Robt. Morell  -----
Judge L Presiding Officer
John Cooper Jr, a judge C.C.
Geo. C. Edwards

State of New York
Steuben County
Martin S. Rumsey Deputy Clerk of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of the County Steuben do hereby certify that foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Caleb Chapman for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 28th day of November 1832
M.S. Rumsey Dep Clk

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5879
Married 23 Nov 1786
Dd 5 Oct 1837
Lydia Chapman

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Declaration in order to obtain the pension of the act of congress of the 7th July 1838.
Entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows

State of New York
Steuben County
On the 11 day of July 1838 personally appeared before me, Henry J Williams, a judge of the Steuben County court, being a town[?] of record, Mrs. Lydia Chopman a resident of the town of Urbana in said county aged 75 years in the 8th April 1839 who being –in- duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed July 7 1838 entitled An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.
That she is the widow of Caleb Chopman who was a private during the revolutionary war and received a pension by a certificate now in her possession given in the new office September 13 1833. Signed by her[?], Case no 20462 recorded in book E vol 4 page 52.
She further declares that she was married to the said Caleb Chopman in Saybrook Ct on the 23rd of November 1786 by the Revd Mr. Hotchkiss as were[?] further appear[?] by the accompanying

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proof which is all she has been able to obtain.
That her husband the aforesaid Caleb Chopman died in Urbana Steuben County NY October 5, 1837. That she was not married to him prior to his during the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794 viz at the time [?] stated
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year [?] written before
Lydia Chopman 
her X mark
Henry S. Williams

I further certify that the wife Lydia Chopman cannot from bodily infirmity attend in open court.
Henry S. Williams
Asst Judge

Steuben County
Richard Chopman being duly sworn says that his mother Lydia Chopman here named has never married since the death of her said husband as here stated.
R.L. Chapman
Subscribed and sworn to this 27th day of June 1839.

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before me
Henry S. Williams

State of New York
Steuben County
I William Hamilton clerk of the said county do certify that Henry S. Williams before whom the preceding affidavits purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the judges in and for the said county. And that I am well acquainted with his land writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the two affidavits and certificate to be his own proper hand writing and signature. Witness my hand and seal of office this 24th day of July 1839.
WM Hamilton Clerk
Steuben County

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State of New York
County of Steuben
I Ansel J M Call surrogate of said county do hereby certify that at a surrogate court held in afor said county, before me, the said surrogate at my office in the village of Bath on the second day of July 1846 it was proved by the adduction of testimony satisfactory to the said court that Lydia Chapman late of the town of Urbana in said county died on the 27th day of March 1843 that she was a pensioner of the United States under the act of July 7 1838 that she left the following named children her surviving, viz: Richard L Chapman, Betsy, wife of David Coryell, Hellena Casterline wife of Timothy, Nancy wife of Daniel Hull, Elisha Chapman, John S. Chapman that they are her only children her surviving and each of them is over twenty one years of age.
In testimony whereof I have here unto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said court this 2 day of June 1846.
A J M Call
Surrogate

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State of New York
County of Steuben
As to James S Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
The petition of Richard L Chapman of North Urbana in the county of Steuben and state of New York respectfully represents that he is one of the children of Caleb Chapman and Lydia his wife. That the said Caleb was a pensioner of the United States at the time of his death under the act of 7th June 1832.
That he died on the 5th day of October 1837 leaving the said Lydia, his widow. That a pension was granted to the said Lydia as the widow of said Caleb under the act of 7 July 1838 commencing on the 6th day of October 1837 and expiring on the 4th day of March 1841, at the rate of thirty dollars per annum.
That the pension certificate issued to Lydia Chapman and bearing the date the 28th day of October 1839 is now on file in the pension office at Albany.
Your petitioner further represents that his said mother left six children, who are named and described in the annexed certificate of the clerk of Steuben County and that our petitioner has been duly appointed by the surrogate of Steuben County. The administrator of the Estate of his mother the said Lydia Chapman and is duly and legally authorized and qualified to act as such administrator. And your petitioner further represents that he is informed and believes that the said Lydia Chapman was in her life time entitled to arrears of pension under the said act of 7th July 1838 and certain resolutions of congress passed in August 1842 from the 4th day of March 1836 to the 6th day of October 1837.

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And your petitioner further states that the said Lydia Chapman died on the 27th day of March 1843 and your petitioner as her administrator and on behalf of himself and the other children of the said Lydia Chapman now makes application for the said arrears of Pension, and prays that a pension certificate may be issued authorizing him as such administrator to receive said arrears of pension for the benefit of himself and the other children of the said Lydia Chapman.
R.L. Chapman
Sworn and subscribed this 11th of November 1845 before me
Geo Huntington Justice

I certify that the above declarant or petitioner is personally known to me and that he only made oath before me that the facts set forth in the foregoing petition are true to the best of his knowledge and belief on this 11th day of November 1845.
Geo. Huntington
Justice

State of New York
Steuben County 
I Paul C Cook Clerk of said county do hereby certify that George Huntington before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a justice of the peace in and for said county and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit and the certificate to be his proper hand writing and signature.
Witness my hand and seal of office this 11 day of November 1845
P C Cook Clerk

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“Marriages”
“Caleb Chapman and Lydia Shether”
“Of Saybook  Nov 23 1786”
Middlesex County 
Town of Saybrook
On this 12th day of May in 1839 personally appeared before me Revd Fredk Wm Hochkiss who being sworn says that he was the pastor of the first ecclesiastical society of Saybrook state of Connecticut on the 23d of Nov. 1786 and still is the senior pastor of said society – that the above is a true extract from the records of said church – that he married the said Caleb Chopman and Lydia Shether on the said 23d Nov 1786 as stated in the said extract.
Fred. Wm Hotchkiss
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written.
Geo. Pratt Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut
Middx County
I John Frisk[?] clerk of the county court of the County of Middlesex do certify that George Pratt Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within and for sd county of Middlesex as sd commission on file in my office – and that his name subscribed to the preceding certificate is his proper hand writing and signature in testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal of sd court this 14 day of March D. C. 1839
Jn Frist Clk.

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No. 19.719
Caleb Chapman
Steuben County
New York

Admitted 
Private 9 mo

I.(?) G. Matten(?) Agt.
Steuben County
Battle P.O.
New York

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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 company 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 margins 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 the Service of Caleb Chapman Steuben County New York
[in table; format not preserved here]
[headings:] Period when the service was rendered	
Duration of the claimant’s service (months)
Rand of the claimant	
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served	
Names and Ranks of the General and field officers	
Battles in which the applicant was engaged	Country through which he marched	
Place of abode when he entered service, and age at the present period	
Evidence by which the declaration is supported
[from columns]
Enlis 1779
Enlis. 1780
Enlis. 1781
Draf 1783
Draf

3
3
6
2
2

Waiter
Private
Ditto
Boatman
Guard

Cap Chapman
Ditto
Cap Kirstand

From Saybrook to New Haven Con; to New London Stationed at Ford Tramball
“ & Phernny[?]
Fort Saybrook
Ditto

68 years, Saybrook Connecticut

Traditionary

I am respectfully, Your obedient servant, J.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 as 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. Teamers, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as person 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 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 lie 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 enered 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 dad rear 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      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.)
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 applicacation 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 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 [t]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 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 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. 
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing go by reason of bodily infirmity; in which ease 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 most 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. ln 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:
“Personalty 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 about three or four months, it 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 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 this case 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 24

State of New York
County of Steuben
I Anset JM Call, Surrogate of the said county, do hereby certify that at a surrogate court held in & for said county before me the said surrogate at my office in Bath on 6th day of March 1845 it was moved by the adduction of testimony satisfactory to the said court that Lydia Chapman late of the town of Urbana in said County died on the 27 day of March in the year 1843 that she was the widow of Caleb Chapman a revolutionary soldier and that she was a pensioner of the United States under the act of 7th July 1838 at the rate of thirty dollars per annum, that she left the following named children her surviving, viz. Richard L Chapman, David B. Coryell & Betsy his wife, Helena wife of Timothy Casterline, Nancy wife of David Hale, John S. Chapman & Elisha Chapman, Sally Ann(?) wife of Garret Randall ["Sally to Randall" crossed out] that they are her only children her surviving & each of them is over twenty one years of age. And I further certify that Richard L Chapman has been duly appointed administer of the estate of the said Lydia Chapman deceased and legally authorized & qualified to act as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of the said court this second day of October 1846.
AJM Call
Surrogate

Page 25

Rev. Widow, &c.
File No. 16.209
Lydia Chapman
Wid of 
Caleb Chapman
Riv. Rev War
Act: July 7th /38
Index: Vol. A, Page 131

Page 26

Nov 19 ‘46
James L Edwards, Esquire
Commission(?) of Pensions
War Dept.
Washington City

Page 27

Albany, November 16, 1846
James L. Edwards, Esquire
Commission(?) of Pensions

Sir, I have received your letter of the 12th --- in relation to the claim of the children of Lydia Chapman, to arrears of pension under the act of July 7, 1838.
I p[?] you reject the claim on the ground that she died before the passage of the joint resolution of Jany 23 1845.
It appears to me your decision is erroneous. She died in 1843, after the act of August 1842, having previously in 1839 or 1840 made her application under act 7 July 1838.
Now the act of August 1842 gave her a right to claim 5 years pension with act of 1838, and that right was not taken away at the time of her death. If, therefore, it was [?] she should be living to claim any rights under the joint resolution of Jany 1845, at the date of the resolution, it may equally [?] that she should be living at the date of the act referred to in that joint resolution, in [?] to affect her rights under the act of August 1842. On fact the children claim arrears in her case under the act of August 1842, which act was not repealed or modified until after her death. And if her rights [?] upon the time of her decease, she had then a vested right to the arrears never claimed. The subsequent law could [?] her of it. I subscribe these remarks for your consideration, and take the liberty to request that you will

Page 28

receive your decision in her case.
I am, sir,
With great respect your obedt Servt
Lemuel Jenkins

Page 29

445-3
New York
Lydia Chapman
Act. 1838
Married 23 Nov. 1784
Husb died 5. Oct. 1837
Captain Chapman, Connt Militia
Admitted
Private 9 months
Morris Brown Esq
Urbana
New York

Page 30

Albany October 29th 1846
James L Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
I enter the application of Richard L. Chapman, administrator of Lydia Chapman, for the arrears of pension due her under the act of 7 July 1838, proven 4 March 1836, to the 6th of October 1839, under the join resolution of the 23nd of January 1845.
I am, sir,
With great respects,
Your obdt Sevt
Lemuel Jenkins

Page 31

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller’s Office
August 6th, 1839,
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled “An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,” The widow of Caleb Chapman a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N.Y. Agency, at the rate of thirty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1837, to the 5th October, 1837, the day of his death. 
Respectfully yours,
Albion K Parris
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Page 32

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller’s Office
August 5th, 1845,
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled “An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,” and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, the Adm of Lydia Chapman, decd, a Pensioner on the Roll of Albany, New York, Agency, at the rate of thirty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1840, to the 4th March, 1841.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K Parris
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Page 33

Bath June 12th 1833
JS Edwards Esq
Sir
The papers upon which Mr Chapman sought to obtain a pension were returned to me. Mr Chapman has made further oath on the [?] by the department which is, attached to his declaration & duly authenticated, all which are returned and respectfully submitted to your consideration.
Your Obt Servt
Jo G Masten