Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28982, Nathaniel Baldwin, Conn.

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(8-1776)

SERVICE                                                                    NUMBER
Conn.                              Baldwin, Nathaniel    S.28982

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Included on the Roll of Mohegan [...] 
at the rate of 20 Dollars [...] per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issue the 4th day of March
and [...]
[...] Thomas J. Drake,

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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
Territory of Michigan
County of Oakland SS:
On this 26th day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred & Thirty Three, personally appeared
in Open Court, before William A. Fletcher & Amasa Bagley, Judges of the Circuit Court in & for the County of
Oakland within the Territory of Michigan now sitting: Nathanial Baldwin a resident of the Township
of Oakland in the County aforesaid and Territory of Michigan aged Seventy Two years, within a few days
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 7. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served
as herein states.
The names of the field officers are most now recollected, Captain Gershom Hewitt of the Town
of Caanan in the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut Commanded the company I belonged to, Peter Buell was
my Lieutenant of the Town of Litchfield in the County aforesaid, Ens [illegible] The day and month I entered
the Service I do not recollect, but it was I think late in the fall of seventy-nine [illegible] It was the fall preceding the
hard winter So called I think in the fall of Seventeen hundred & Seventy nine, the company assembled at Litchfield
in Connecticut, then marched through Danbury, to the Town of [illegible], from thence to Middlesex, there 
halted, and I was quartered at the House of Thomas Hanford, whose son or sons, it was said was in the British
service, at this place we remained some time. The [illegible] time is not remembered, from this place we marched to a
place I think called Reading, to get there we went through the Town of Norwalk, previously destroyed by the enemy
and halted at the house of Cage Starr, so called familiarly, at the house of Starr we halted for the night.
I at this place during the night I got my foot and ancle injured by the falling of a Large log, so much so
that I could not march with the company in the morning, but in the course of the day, Travelled after the company
about one mile and was obliged to put up, my foot to painful to Travell. The next day I marched rather followed after
the company to a place called Bethel, perhaps I was more than one day getting there. I near Danbury, at this place
I was compelled from the condition of my foot and ancle which was [burned?] the same time it was bruised by the falling of
the log aforesaid to remain a number of weeks, perhaps Eight weeks. I put up at the house of one Benedict,
who nursed my and drew for me my rations from the public stores, and took care of me until my father sent his
horse for me to ride home on, and said Benedict afterwards received of my father a compensation for taking care
of me, my lameness continued during the Spring and Summer following, preventing me wholly from work.
The object of the service of the company I belonged to was as I supposed to watch the coast, and prevent the
depredation of the Tories & Enemy. we were in no engagement. At another time I was called on and Marched
with a company under the command I think of one Medad Hill his rank not remembered. We had a chaplin
with us by the name of Beckwith a minister from Litchfield farms, we marched through New Milford
and towards New York, some  miles, how far not remembered, before  we reached our place of Destination
[illegible] countermarched and ordered home. Before the close of the War I was drafted, then residing in
the Town of Goshen in the State of Connecticut [illegible] months I think, and for this service
my father hired a substitute for me, to what [illegible] the company marched or what service they performed
I do not know, how [illegible] think that from the time I
first volunteered under Captain Hewitt aforesaid, until I was [illegible]
more, over and above the march  towards New York and the draft of three months aforesaid, I was
at all times ready when able to march, to go and perform duty when called on from the time I first volunteered
until the close of the War. I have no Documentary evidence of my service or discharge.
Michael Beach who is now dead was in the company with me when I was hurt as aforesaid.
I know not of any person now living whose testimony I can procure as to my service or anything
relative to it. Levi Norton Levi Carr, Nathaniel Newell John Norton Titus Gaylord were
men who I recollect was in the company under Hewitt with me, but if living I know not
[last line cut off and illegible]

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about one mile and was obliged to put up, my foot to painful to travell, the next day I marched rather followed after
the company, to a place called Bethel, perhaps I was more than one day getting there. Near Danbury, at this place
I was compelled from the condition of my foot and ancle which was burned the same time it was bruised by the falling of
the log aforesaid to remain a number of weeks, perhaps Eight weeks. I put u at the house of one Benedict
who nursed me and drew for me my rations from the public stores and took care of me until my father sent his
horse for me to ride home on, and said Benedict afterwards received of my father a compensation for taking care
of me, my lameness continued during the spring and Summer following, preventing me wholly from work.
The object of the service of the company I belong to was as I supposed to watch the coast and prevent the
depredation of the Tories & Enemy. We were in no engagement, at another time I was called on and Marched
with a company under the command I think of one Medad Hill his rank not remembered. We had a chaplin
with us by the name of Beckwith a minister from Litchfield farms, we marched through New Milford 
and towards New York, some miles, how far not remembered, before we reached our place of Destination.
[illegible] countermarched and ordered home. Before [illegible] close of the War I was drafted, then residing in
the Town of Goshen in the State of Connecticut, [illegible] months, I think, and for this service
my father hired a substitute for me, to what [illegible] the company marched or what service they perform
I do not know, how long I was in the service [illegible] I think that from the time I
first volunteered under Captain Hewitt aforesaid untill I was [illegible] again nine months or
more, over and above the march towards New York at the draft of three months aforesaid. I was
at all times ready when able to march, to go and perform duty when called on from the time I first volunteered
until the close of the War. I have no Documentary evidence of my Service or discharge.
Michael Beach who is now dead was in the company with me when I was hurt as aforesaid
I know not of any person now living whose testimony I can procure as to my Service or anything
relative to it. Levi Norton Levi Carr, Nathaniel Newell John Norton TItus Gaylord were
men who I now reccollect was in the company under Hewitt with me, but if living, I know not.
I was born in the Town of Goshen in Connecticut the 20th of July Seventeen hundred and sixty one
The family Record of my age was kept by my father in the family Bible, that Bible I suppose
is yet in the possessions of the heirs of Isaac Baldwin late of Goshen aforesaid deceased, when living my
only Brother. I was living in Goshen my native Town when I was called into the Service. I first
volunteered and was afterwards drafted. Thenames of the Regular officers or those of the
Militia further then above stated I know not.  I have no knowledge of ever having had
a discharge for same. I had not as I was unable to return with the company in consequence
of my lameness. Since the Revolutionary War I lived about one year in Newhaven, then
afterwards in my native Town in Goshen in Connecticut, for many years, thence I moved in to Ontario
County, Town of Bloomfield, in New York and there resided upwards of twenty years, in September
1824 I moved to Oakland in the county of Oakland and Territory of Michigan where I now live.
Rev. Isaac W. Ruggles Daniel Bronson, Roger Sprague Benjamin Horton Doctor Cyrus Chipman, Elisha
Beach are acquainted with me and can certify as to my character for Truth & veracity and their belief of my
services as a Soldier of the revolution. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity
except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Subscribed and sworn to the day & year aforesaid                              Nathaniel Baldwin
In open Court Elias Comstock, Clerk
We Isaac W. Ruggles a clergyman residing in the Town [illegible] in the County of Oakland and Elisha Beach residing
in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Baldwin who has subscribed & sworn to the above
declaration: that we believe him to be of Seventy Two years or nearly so of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood
where he resides to have a Soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.   Isaac W. Ruggles
                                                                                                                                                                                      Elisha Beach
In Open Court Elias Comstock Clerk

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And the Said court do hereby declare this opinion after investigating the matter and 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 Isaac W. Ruggles who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Pontiac
in the County of Oakland. And that Elisha Beach who has also signed the same is a resident in
Pontiac aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
                                                                                        {illegible] A. Fletcher Presiding Judge [illegible]
                                                                                        Amasa Bagley Associate Judge

I Elias Comstock Clerk of the Circuit Court in & for the Count of Oakland
do hereby certify that the foregoing [illegible] the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Baldwin for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand and seal of the Said Court this 26th
day of June A. D. 1833.                                          Elias Comstock Clerk

Michigan Territory                                                Oakland County Circuit Court
County of Oakland                                              November Term 1833

I Nathaniel Baldwin the declarant who made & signed the
within written declaration being duly sworn dispose and say that
from old age and the consequent loss of memory it is impossible
for me to state the precise time and length of my Service but
according to the best of my reccollection I served not less than six months
as a private Soldier. I was according to the best reccollection in the said Service with an Embodied Corps
called into Service by competent authority and I was not during the time of my Service Engaged
in any Civil persuit. And for that Said Service I claim a pension. Nathaniel Baldwin
Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court this thirtieth day of November
A.D. 1833. Elias Comstock Clerk

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27.324

Nathaniel Baldwin
Michigan Ter.

Returned [struck through]
Adm. 6 Months

Thomas J. Drake
Pontiac
 M. T.

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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office  [written by hand 1st 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 what is necessary to be done. These 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 facilitating the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of

[column headings: Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimants 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,
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions.

 [written by hand "Must shew how long he was in Actual Military service Cannot be allowing for service performed by another person."]

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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 an 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 genera 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. Indians 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} ss.
County of}

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 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 articular period, and rank and name of his officers;) the town or county and State in which e resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [an icon of a hand pointing to the next sentence.] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid                  A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

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 days and year aforesaid.

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 witnesses 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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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according tot he 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 as 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. {Didi you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodies in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statements 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 inquiry 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 printed black line appears. to separate the main body of the text from the foot endnotes.]

[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.

[on the left and right of item e there are brackets written by hand. and each have what appears to be initials or other symbols to point our attention to this information.] 
[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 grade 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 reasons 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 reasou 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 a pension 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, of 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 corpse 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 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] The 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 declarations.

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[written by hand "28982 Reg"]

"INVALID"

File No. [written by hand "28,962
Nathaniel Baldwin
Prv Rev War"]

Act:  [written by hand "June 3d 32"]

Index: -Vol.  [written by hand "2"], Page  [written by hand "24"]

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[added by hand sideways on the right side of paper "1925 Oct. 7. Copies mailed to E B Baldwin see receipt for payment in Reuben Baldwin W23523."]

Request for Photostating      3-2005
(To be prepared in duplicate.)

Ex.  [written by hand "A W" in black ink]

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK

Job No.  [stamped in black ink "2491"

Date  [written by hand Oct. 2-25"]

Subject  [written by hand "Nathaniel Baldwin Rev. S28982. ] (No.)  [written by hand "1"] copies of (No.) [written by hand "4"]  pieces consisting of (No.) [written by hand "6"] pages to be forwarded when completed to the  [written by hand "Rev. 1782 Sect"] Division. 

Remarks:  [written by hand "please take copies of each sheet separate this was requested by person paying for item although they wee fragments of same page.

[added initials "OK" in a box to the right of the last paragraph.]

Approved  [written by hand "A E Wilson"]
Chief Division [crossed out]  [written by hand "Sect."] Chief Clerk

 [written by hand "see receital for payment in  Reuben Baldwin W23523"]