Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8159, Allen J Bridges, N.C.

Page 1

SERVICE 
N.C.

Bridges, Allen J.
Elizabeth

NUMBER
W.8159

Page 2

Illinois 26,228.
Allen J Bridges
of Green Co. in the State of Ill
who was a Pr in the Company commanded
by Captain McDowell of the Regt commanded 
by Col --- in the N Carolina 
line for  ---
7 Mo Pr $23.33

Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of April
and Sent to --
B4 Hon C. Slade, HR

Arrears to the 4th Mch '32 - 70.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34 11.""
$81.""
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by J T Sprague Clerk
Book C--Vol. 8 Page 4

Page 3

4179
Illinois
Elizabeth Bridges
Widow of Allen J Bridges
Nc
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a Private
____________________________

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate 
of 23 Dollars 33 
Cents per annum, to commence 
on the 3d February, 1853.
____________________________

Certificate of Pension issued 
25th day of May 1854
and sent to 
N. A. Hurd
Jerseyville 
Ills
____________________________
Recorded on the Roll of Pensioners under act 
February 3rd , 1853, Page 192 Vol.A

1321

Page 4

State of Illinois, Green County SS

On this Sixth day of March A.D. 1834,
personally appeared before the County 
Commissioners Court of Green County Illinois,
(being a court of record) Allen J Bridges
aged Seventy seven 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 was born in the county of Maiz in
the State of North Carolina, near the Falls
of Neuse River, in the year 1756; he 
volunteered and entered the service of the United
States, as a private in the North Carolina Militia 
when he was very young, the precise year he 
cannot recollect, under the command of Captain 
Alexander, attached to Colonel McDowells
regiment under the command of General 
McDowell--- his first employment was in
guarding the fords and landings on the 
Catawla river to keep the British and Tories 
from crossing - he was in the battle commonly 
called Ramon's Battle near the Catawla r
river- he was in the battle of Solofury also
from Catawla we marched with the 
prisoners three months that he served in all
between seven and eight months for the space

Page 5

of seven months he is confident. He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 territory

Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 4th Day of March 1834.

Allen J Bridges
Moses O. Bledsoe Clerk

The Court propounded the following interrogating:

1st: Where and in what year were you born?

Answer. I cannot recollect what year I was born
in, but I shall be seventy eight years of age
next December the 29th day. I was born in
the State of North Carolina.

2d. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?

Answer. I have no record of my age, it was
set down in my mothers old Bible, but has
long been lost.

3d. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?

Answer: I was living in the state of North Carolina. Roan County, when I volunteered, from thence to Wilkes County in the state of Georgia from thence to Oglethoorp County Georgia, from thence to Jackson County, from thence to Tennessee, from Tennessee to Greene County Illinois, where I now live.

4th: How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?

Page 6

Answer. I never was drafted or served as a substitute. my father entered the service and I volunteered to go along with him and serve my country. 

5th: State the names 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 the service?

Answer. I do not recollect that I was acquainted with or saw any of the regular officers during the time was in service, nor do I recollect any events except what have been alluded to in my narrative in the foregoing declaration.

6th: Did you ever receive a discharge from service?

Answer. I never received any discharge for my services during the revolutionary War.

7th: State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.

Answer. I would refer to John Green, James
Whitlock, Thomas Rattan, Alexander Smith,
Enoch Banns, the Revd Elijah Dotson and
many others -- Signed in open court on the
6th day of March A.D.1834. Subscribed and sworn to in open court.

Allen J Bridges
Moses O. Bledsoe clk

Page 7

We Elijah Dotson, Clergyman residing in the County of Greene and State of Illinois, and John Green and Thomas Rattan also of Greene County, hereby certify that WE are well acquainted with Allen J Bridges who has signed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be the age he has stated, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolutionary war, and that we concur in that opinion, and that his oath is entitled to full faith and credit. 

Subscribed and sworn to in open court 6th of March 1834. 

Elijah Dodson Clergyman
John Green
Tho Rattan
Moses O Bledsoe Clerk

And the said County Commissioners Court of Greene County, do hereby declare their opinion, after an investigation and careful examination of the applicant, and the matters touching his present application by putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the applicant Allen J Bridges, was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the said Court further certify that it appears to them that Elijah Dodson is a Clergyman, resident in our said County of Greene, and John Green and Thomas Rattan, who have signed the foregoing certificate and were sworn to the same in open Court, are citizens of our said County - that they are credible persons and their statement is entitled to full credit. Given the 6th of March 1834.

J Loston
Cyrus John
Jesse P Mound

State of Illinois, Greene County
Moses O Bledsoe, Clerk of the County Commissioners

Court of Greene County, do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Contain the matter of the application of Allen J. Bridges for a pension. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my name and covered my seal of office
to be affixed, this 6th day of March A.D. 1834
Moses O. Bledsoe Clerk C.C.C.G.C.

Page 8

State of Illinois
County of Jersey

On this twenty sixth day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three personally appeared before the County Court in and for the County and State aforesaid Elizabeth Bridges aged sixty one years a resident of the County of Jersey and State of Illinois who being duly sworn according to law declares on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress - passed February 3rd 1853; that she is the
Widow of Allen J. Bridges who was a
pensioner of the United States and drew
his pension at Springfield in the
State of Illinois, that her said Husband
was a resident of the County of Greene
and State of Illinois and drew the sum twenty three dollars and thirty three
cents per annum
She further states that she was married
to the said Allen J Bridges on the thirteenth day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty six; that her husband the aforesaid
Allen J Bridges died on the second day of August, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty six in the County of Greene and State of Illinois that she was married to him at the
time above stated, she further swears
that she was a widow at the passage

Page 9

of the act of February A.D. 1853 and
is still a Widow, and that she never
before made application for a pension

Attest
Elizabeth Bridges
J. Havins
J. Cambell


Subscribed and sworn to before me Judge
of said Court the day and year first
above written

George E. Warren
County Judge
State of Illinois
County of Jersey ⎬

I George W Lowder Clerk in and for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that George E. Warren Esqr before whom the foregoing declaration was made and who has hereunto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Judge of the County Court aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn the testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office as Clerk of the County Court of said County this twenty sixth day of February A.D. 1853

George W Lowder Clerk

Page 10

497. Mar 18/63
Elizabeth Bridges 
Widow of Allen J.
Illinois

Act February 3r 1853

N.A. Hurd
Jerseyville, Illinois

Page 11

State of Illinois
Greene County
I, Francis P Vedder Clerk of the
County Court in and for said County do hereby certify
that Mr. Allen J Bridges and Miss Elizabeth Irvin was
Joined in the holy bonds of Matrimony on the 13th day
of July A.D. 1836 by Abraham Enslow Esq an acting
Justice of the Peace in and for said County all of which
appears of Record in my said Office
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of
said Court at Carrollton this 25th day
of February A.D. 1853
-
Francis P Vedder Clerk

State of Illinois
Greene County

I, Francis P. Vedder Clerk of the County
Court in and for said County do hereby certify that
from Satisfactory Evidence on file and made of record
in my said Office that Mr Allen J Bridges died
in the County of Greene and State of Illinois on or about
the 2nd day of August A.D. 1846
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court at Carrollton this 25th
day of
February A.D. 1853 -
Francis J Vedder Clerk
send in care
of
N.A. Hurd
Jerseyville,
Illinois

Page 12

RECORD DIVISION.

3 -- 525.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.,_______________, 19
In reply to your request of ______,
received _______
a statement of the military history of Allen J. Bridges
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL.
STATE.
7 months private Alexander McDowell N.C. 
Battles engaged in, Ramsour,  Salsbury
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Rowan Co N.C.

Date of application for pension, September 6, 1834 His {illegible] al
Residence at date of application, Greene Co. Ill
Age at date of application in Wake N C. Dec. 29. 1756
Remarks:
Died in Greene Co. Ill. Aug 2, 1846
Soldier married July 13. 1836 in Greene Co. Ill. Elizabeth
Irvin She was al. pension an application executed Feby 26, 1853, while a resident of Jersey Co Ill aged 61 years
Very respectfully,
6 -- 2856
Commissioner

Pensioner: Elizabeth Bridges

Page 13

1912 Nov 7 Hist. to
Mrs. E. H. Lockwood, Letter
in R.F.4.347 Adonijah Gris
old V. L.M.
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 8159

Elizabeth Bridges
Widow
Witnesses
Allen J Bridges
Private Rev War
Act: Feby 3d 1853
Index:--Vol. A, Page 84
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 14

25.33
Pension Office
23d May 1854
Sir
Please certify the time
to which the within named pension
was
paid or the date of his death.
Very Respectfully
S. Cole
for the Commissioner


Allen J. Bridges, Act 1832 $23.33 per annum
Died 2" Aug 1846. Paid
Auditor
F Burt Auditor 

Francis Burt Esquire
The Auditor, Treasury


Pensioner: Elizabeth Bridges
Dates
The creator compiled or maintained the parent series, Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, between ca. 1800–ca. 1912.
Access: Unrestricted

Page 15

Com of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Page 16

497
Elizabeth Bridges
Widow of Allen I.
Ill.
Let to W. A. Hurd May 16/53
to same Oct 6/53
Act Feb. 3rd 1853

Page 17

Rec. Ev. 2d Aug. 1846, if death cannot [illegible] if
not ask also for ev: that applicant is the wife of P {illegible signature]

Page 18

 March 18th 185
497
Appl of Elizabeth
Bridges widow of
Allen J
Illinois
Jersey Co:
Ill
26228
Act 3rd Feb. 1853.
$23.33 too pen. an:
Com: Feb. 3rd 1853
[illegible]
N. A. Hurd
Jerseyville
Ill.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Pension Office, Official Business

Page 19

Sept. 18, 1853
[illegible] ev. in case
of
Elizabeth
Bridges widow
of
AllenJ
Bridges.

circular stamp Saint Louis MO  Sep 11

W. A Hard
Jerseyville, Illinois

  written sideways 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Page 20

[round stamp] Jerseyville, Ill May 16
Elizabeth Bridges

Comm. of Pensions
Washington D. C. 

Cole
FREE

Page 21

Pension Office
Oct 6th 1833
Sir
The paper filed as additional evidence
in the case of Mrs. Elizabeth Bridges, does
not meet the requirements of my letter of the 16th May last. Competent and satisfactory
evidence of disinterested parties must be
adduced, fully identifying her as the widow
of the pensioner described in her declaration
before her claim can be allowed. Her
our affidavit is not sufficient, even if it
were unobjectional in other respects, That
filed by her in answer to my letter however, is mutilated by an erasure, which
renders it entirely inadmissable, even
were it competent testimony

Very Respectfully
S. Waldo
Commissioner
N.A. Hurd, Esq
Jerseyville
Illinois

Page 22


State of Illinois
County of Madison

On this fifteenth day of May A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three personally
appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and
for said County George Muirhead
and Ann Skidmore
both residents of the County of Madison
and State of Illinois
who being first duly sworn according to law declare that
Elizabeth Bridges is the widow of Allen J Bridges late of
Green County Illinois who was a pensioner of the United States
for service in the revolution that the name of the
said Elizabeth Bridges before her said marriage to the
said Allen J Bridges was Elizabeth Irvin They further
state that they were well acquainted with the said
Elizabeth Bridges before her marriage and have known her
up to this time. They swear that they are not interested
George Muirhead
Ann Skidmore

subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year first above written
and I certify that George Muirhead and Ann
Skidmore are credible
persons will known to me, and I further certify that I am not interested nor [illegible]
in the prosecution of this claim
F B Winship J. P. seal

State of Illinois ⎬ 
County of Madison
 I John A Prickett Clerk of the Court in and for the County aforesaid do
Certify that F. B. Winship Esqr whose genuine signature
appears to above proceeding is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace duly 
commissioned and qualified In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal of office
This fifteenth day of May A.D. 1854
John A Prickett
Clerk

Page 23

Oct. 13 1841
[circular seal Carrollton IL. Oct 3]
P Eusing officer  28
free
Joshua Bell
Secretary of war or Successor
in office Washington City

Page 24

Carrollton Illinois  Oct. 1st, 1841
John Bell Esq secretary of War
Dear sir I beg leave
to invite your attention to the case of Allen J Bridges
of Green County who is a Revolutionary Pensioner he draws 
(I believe) $22.33 per annum he says that
his papers in the first instance was not made out right 
That they represented him to be a volunteer and
did not state the fact that he volunteered as
continental soldier during the Revolutionary
was, and served (I believe) seven months before
Peace was made and then guarded the British
Prisoners at Salisbury Three months until they were
exchanged he thinks that inasmuch as he was
soldier for the war whether long or short he is
intitled to a larger Pension he says the man
who drew up his papers did not discover that to
volunteer as a continental Soldier according to was
volunteering during the war and only used the
word as we now most generally accept it
Please sir, give me your opinion on the subject
and if his Pension can be enlarged please send
of
directions how to proceed and also forms of all
instruments of writing necessary
with due respect I am yours &c
Calvin Tunnell

Page 25

Pension Office 
May 16th 1853
Sir:
Before Mrs. Elizabeth Bridges can be allowed a pension, as the widow of Allen J. Bridges, a revolutionary soldier, satifactory evident must be filed, identifying her as the same person who, under the name of Elizabeth Irvin, is certified to have been married to said soldier on the 13th July, 1836.

Her declaration does not state her maiden name, nor is there any proof on the file of her said identity. 
I am respectfully, Your obt. Svt, 
L P Waldo 
Commissioner.

Page 26

State of Illinois
County of Jersey
On this sixth day
of September A.D. one thousand eight hun
dred
and fifty three personally appeared
before me the undersigned and made oath in
due form of Law, Elizabeth Bridges, and
States on her oath that she is the widow of Allen J
Bridges who was a soldier of the Revolution
and a pensioner of the United States and
that her name before her said marriage was
Elizabeth Irwin
-
That she is still a widow
Attest
John Boyle
Elizabeth  X  Bridges
Her Mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me George W. 
Lowder, Clerk of the County Court in and for the  County of Jersey and State of
Illinois the day and year first above
written 
In testimony whereof I have here
unto set my hand and
official seal this the 6th
day of
September A.D. 1853
George W. Lowder
Clerk of County Court

Page 27

case of Elizabeth Bridges, Widow of Allen J.
Jersey County and state of Illinois
act 3rd Feby 1853.

Claim, (original, for increase.)
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance
Husband was a pensioner under the act of 7th June 1832. 
Record Evidence of Marriage
(If for increase.)

Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
N.A. Hurd, Esqr,
Jerseyville, Ill.
Name and residence of Agent

J. C. Boynton
Examining Clerk

Page 28


30.2105.
Allen J Bridges
Illinois
Adm 9. Months

JAMESL. EDWARDS
Your obedient servant,
Commissioner of Pensions
Hon C. Slade
to
Ho of Rep

Page 29

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office
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 the 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 don. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
James L. Edwards,
Commissioner or Pensions

Page 30

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, mucicians 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 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
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 particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.     A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of 
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 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.
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


Pensioner: Elizabeth Bridges

Page 31


alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted;
 and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected
. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
{To a Solder.
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
, and what has become of it?
one has become of it?
To an Officer
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
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]The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. 
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. 
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so 
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:

"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his 
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For____ year_____  months and --
days, I served as a ; 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 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 a declaration is
objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority
; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal
of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by
a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the  Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses
, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[i] 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.