Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,490, John Wemple, New York.

SERVICE
New York
Wemple, John
NUMBER
8 23490
CONTENTS

24. 623 New York
John Wemple
of Schenectady in the State of New York who was a Sgt. R. in the Comp commanded by Captain Myn deld of the Regt. commanded by Col. Wemple in the New York line for 5 months and 14 ds. Sept. 3
3. private $25.64 10. $35.64
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 35 Dollars 64 Cents per annum. to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Janu. 1834 and unto G. H. Yates Schenectady
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 33 $89.10 Semi-ant. allowance ending Mar 34 17.82 $106.92
Revolutionary Claim, as June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Geo. C. Yates Clerk. Book E. Vol. A. Page 128.

John Wemple
1842
v
No 39
To the Care of Giles F. Yates Schenectady pales N.Y.

State of New York } County of Schenectady } ss.
On this Fifth day of October one thousand eight hundred and Thirty-two, personally appeared before me William Strong - one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, John Wemple a resident of the town of Princetown in said County & State aged Eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
He was born at Fort Hunter in the then County of Albany, now County of Albany-gomery on the 4 th day of October (Old style being the 15 th October new style) in the year 1749. The record of his age is in his family Bible.
When he was called into the service of the United States in the army of the revolution he was living in the then township now City of Schenectady and he has lived ever since the revolutionary war at Norman's Kill, now Princetown in said County of Schenectady.
He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
Early in the year 1775, he enlisted in Captain John Mynderse's Company of minute men, to wit, at the time said Company was first organized. The other officers of said Company were Laurence Mynderse and James H. Peck Lieutenants & Abraham J. Pruax Ensign. This Company was afterwards he thinks in the year 1777 in the latter part thereof attached to

Colonel Abraham Wemple's Regiment of Militia. His other field officers whom he recollects were Abraham Swits & Melyndert Wemple Majors.
He served in said Company from the time of his enlistment therein as aforesaid until the end of the said war. He served faith- fully during the whole of said period whenever the services of his Company were in requisition; and at no time procured a substitute. He was out in every expedition in which his Company or the Militia of said Regiment were engaged, except one to Cobleskill, when he was excused through sickness. If it be required that he should state his different engagements & the specifying the particular periods, he must be permitted to say that as he made no mem- orandum thereof at the time nor since, his memory does not serve him to do so fully; more particularly since his services were made up of numerous tours some of which did not con- sist of more than three or four days each. The most prominent of the expeditions in which he engaged, were as near as he can recol- lect them as follows.
To Johnstown in the beginning of the year 1776 about fourteen days, on which occasion a detach- ment of soldiers were ordered out under Generals Schuyler & Genl. Prock, in consequence of some hostile movements on the part of Sir John Johnson who eventually surrendered himself a prisoner of war and disarmed his tenants and dependants.
In the fall of the year 1776, he was on

duty with the troops at Skeneateborough and Fort Ann, and assisted in guarding the boats laden with ammunition &c from Fort Ann to Skeneateborough. He was from home in this expedition about four weeks.
In the spring of the year 1777 he served with a detachment of about 300 men under Colonel Warner and marched to Jessup's patent in pursuit of a party of Tories who rendezvoused there. He was in this expedition under command of Captain Jesse Van Slyck and was from home about one month.
In the spring of the year 1776 he was at Sacondaga engaged in fortifying that place. His Commanding Officers there whom he now recollects were General Clinton or Governor Clinton & Adjutant Funis waggoner. He was on duty at this place about three weeks.
From the month of June the first day thereof until and after the surrender of Burgoyne & his army on the 17 th of October then next; to wit for the term of nearly five months he was on duty at Fort Edward Stillwater, Snookkill, and other posts occupied by the American army in that campaign, and was in the battle at Snookkill aforesaid & the other engagements and skirmishes which took place during this Northern Campaign.
In the years 1778 & 1779 he was with the Detachments of militia that were ordered out to Forts Plain & Plank & Stone Arabia - performed garrison duty at Stone Arabia (Fort Paris) nearly one month & at Fort Plain nearly three months. He was at Fort Plain in pursuit of the enemy when that place was burnt by

by them. He has been twice at the forts in Schoharie discharging military duty there at both times for a period not less than six weeks
He was under the command of Major Swits in an expedition to Ballston when that place was burnt by a party of the British under Major Monroe in the year 1780. In this expedition he was from home at least three weeks.
In 1781, when Warrensbush was destroyed by the enemy under Majors Ross & Butler he served with the troops under Colonel Willett and was from home on this occasion at least three weeks
In the year 1780 when Coughnawaga and other settlements on the Mohawk were devastated he was on duty as well as the whole Regiment of Col: Abraham Wemple aforesaid He was in this tour about three weeks then returned to Schenectady and after remaining there two or three days was ordered out to the upper fort in Schoharie where he did garrison duty about two weeks while there he was under the command of Capt. John Roseboom & had command of that fort himself for eight or ten days.
He has often been on scouting expeditions to Helderberg, Beaverdam & other places infested with Tories, and took his turn in guarding Schenectady. In addition to the term of service he performed as a minute man from 1775 to 1777, the time of his actual service in Colonel Wemple's Regiment as a soldier, and as a scout & Indian spy exceeds twenty months.
From the year 1778 till the end of the war

he was the orderly sergeant of said company of Captain John Mynervse
THE FOLLOWING are the names of some of the regular officers whom he knew, or who were with the troops where he served, and such continental and militia regiments or companies with which he served, or as he can recollect, viz: General Gates, General Arnold General Schuyler & the companies that served under them, Colonels Gansevoort Lt. Col: Marinus Willett, His levies, & Colonels Van Dyck, Cortland, Dubois, Gordon & Harper & Adj t Jellis A. Fonda He never received any written discharge from the service.
He has no — documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except those whose depositions are hereto annexed besides others who can testify to the same services.
The following are the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, to wit: James H. Cook, Cornelius L. Van Santvoord, James V. Pyley and Giles H. Yates —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever, to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first aforesaid
before me
Wm Strong
John W. Wemple Justice of the Peace
I Wm Strong the Justice of the Peace. Upon said Before Whom The foregoing declaration was been subscribed and I swear to verily certify that the person named John Wemple is unable to attend court by reason of bodily infirmity and I do hereby declare my opinion after an investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that said Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states Witness my Hand this fifth day of October 1832.
Country of Schenectady ss. Wm Strong Justice of the Peace And the aforesaid John Wemple being further 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 & for the same reason & also for other reasons set forth in the preceding declaration by him subscribed, he cannot state the names of all the officers un- der whom he served, yet testifies that while he was engaged in the ser- vice

services in said declaration & in this supplemental affidavit set forth, he was not employed in any Civil pursuit whatsoever. He served as a private in said Company of Captain Mynderse in the beginning of the year 1776 at Johnston for a term not less than fourteen days under Generals -14 Schuyler & Gen. Brock & the officers of Colonel Wemple's Regiment aforesaid
as a private at Skeneborough & Fort Ann in the fall of the year 1776 in guarding the boats laden with ammunition -26 playing between said forts for a term not less than twenty-six days. He cannot remember the names of the officers under whose immediate command he then served. In the same grade he engaged in the expedition aforesaid to Sessop's patent for a term not 1- less than thirty days under command of Captain Joseph Van Dyke of said Regiment & Colonel Warner of the continental line. In the spring of the year 1776 at Sacondaga or the Fish House under General Clinton & Adjutant General Waggoner other officers whose names he cannot call to mind, for -20 a term exceeding twenty days , in the same grade -
3.0 In the like grade of a private from the first day of June until the 17 th day of October 1777 to wit for the term of One hundred and thirty eight days he performed military duty in said Company of Captain Mynderse under the different field Officers engaged in the memorable expedition against Bur- goyne. He has performed garrison duty in the years 1778 & 1779 as a sergeant in said Company at Fort -25 Paris for a term exceeding twelve days - at Fort Plain as such sergeant at least eighteen days - at the Schoharie -18 forts twice as such sergeant for a term in the whole not less than forty days - In the same grade 1.10 of sergeant he engaged in an expedition under Major -18 Swift to Ballston for a term exceeding eighteen days in 1780.
In the same grade of sergeant in Colonel Willett's expedi- tion against the enemy under Col. Butler in the year 1781 - -18 at least eighteen days . In the like grade of sergeant he was on duty with Colonel Wemple's Regiment aforesaid in the fall of the year 1780 when the settlements along the -20 Mohawk river were destroyed by the enemy. In this town

re served not less than Twenty days - A few days after this last named tour he was ordered out to the upper fort of Schoharie where the enemy were expected to make an incursion & performed garrison duty at said fort under command of Captain John Roseboom for a term not less than fifteen days in the grade of Sergeant, and for more than half of said fifteen days, the command of said fort, de- volved upon this Deponent. This Deponent performed many short tours as an Indian spy & in mounting guard at Schoharie for a period in the whole as this Deponent is certified not less than seven months - yet this Deponent claims a pension only for one hundred and fifty four days services in the grade of a Sergeant as above enumerated, and for nine months services as a private as aforesaid Subscribed & sworn this 22 d day of July 1833 J. Brown
before me William Strong J.P. I, Giles F. Yates Deputy Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, that William Strong Esq before whom the foregoing deposi- tion of John Temple purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County that I am acquainted with his handwriting & verily the signature to the same purporting to be his is genuine. Witness my hand & the seal of said County, this 28 July 1833 J. H. M. [Signature] Deputy Clerk

County of Schenectady ss
James J. Peck
of the Town of Rotterdam in said County, being only sworn saith, that he is well acquainted with John Wemple who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration, and knows that he belongs to Colonel Wemple's Regiment of militia as set forth in said declaration, and that he served for a term exceeding four weeks at Fort Plank & further for a term exceeding three weeks at Fort Plain. This deponent testifies in so far as that said John Wemple was active during said war & engaged in many expeditions against the enemy, yet cannot recollect them suffi- ciently well after the great lapse of time that has intervened since they occurred, to specify dates & periods of service.
Subscribed & sworn this 28 th day of July, 1833 before me and I certify the same to be a true copy of credibility
James J. Peck
J. HARMAN
Justice of the Peace
State of New York County of Schenectady ss.
I, John S. Vrooman
Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, that Joshua D. Harman before whom the preceding deposition of James J. Peck purports to have been sworn, was on the day of the date thereof a justice of the peace in & for said county. That I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe the signature to the same purporting to be his is genuine. Witness my hand & seal of office this 8 th day of August 1833
John S. Vrooman Clerk

County of Schenectady ss
On the twentieth day of October in the year  day of  the year first aforesaid personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County now sitting, Cornelius L. Van Santvoord of the City of Schenectady in said County who being duly sworn said, that he was an Ensign in Captain Abraham Oothout's Company of militia in the Regiment whereof Abraham Wemple was Colonel, and knows that John Wemple who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, was a soldier in said Regiment; and had always the reputation of being active and faithful in the discharge of his duties. This deponent remembers in particular to have seen said John Wemple perform military duty with the troops under Gen. Schuyler at German Flatts & at Bemis's Heights in the northern campaign of 1777 which eventuated in the surrender of Burgoyne.
Corn. L. Van Santvoord
Subscribed & sworn in
open Court this 20 th day
of October 1832.
John S. Voorhman
Clerk.
The said John S. Voorhman before whom the foregoing deposition purports to have been sworn in open Court, do hereby certify, that said Cornelius L. Van Santvoord appeared to said Court, and being first taken a man of credibility whose statements are entitled to credit. My hand & seal of office this 28 July 1832. John S. Voorhman Clerk.

County of Schenectady ss. And the aforesaid John Wemple being further duly sworn saith that he believes the officers under whom he served at Fort Paris in Stone Arabia in the years 1778 & 1779, were Captain Mynduse & Major Wemple & Colonel Abraham Wemple all from Schenec- tady - the names of the officers from other places stationed there this deponent cannot recollect that the officers under whose immediate command he served at Fort Plain were Major Wemple & Captain Barker - at Schoharie were Captain Mynduse aforesaid & James H. Peck his Lieut- enant, & Captain Roseboom - when the settlements along the valley of the Mohawk were destroyed, if he remembers right the whole of said Regiment were out of this readiness deponent, that his Captain John Mynduse was along also Col. Wemple, Captain Oothout, Captain Van Slyck & Jellis J. Fonda In the expedition against Rops & Butler in 1781 he thinks his Captain John Mynduse & Jellis J. Fonda had the command of the detachment he belonged to - And this deponent saith, that while engaged in the several expeditions & tours in his declaration & supplemental affi- davits specified, he was all the time under arms & not engaged in any civil pursuit
John Wemple
Subscribed & sworn this 22 d October 1833, before me Henry Strong Dean
John Wemple
Wemple

State of New York County of Schenectady } ss.
I James H.
Peek late a Lieutenant in the army of the revolution, do hereby certify that John Wemple who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration was enlisted in Captain John Mynders's Company of minute men of which Company I was one of the Lieutenants during the revolutionary war - that he enlisted in said Company in the year 1775 and served therein for & during said war, and from the year 1778 as orderly sergeant thereof - that I was out with him in several campaigns, of which I remember in particular those at Schoharie Fort Ann & Fort Edward -
James H Peek
Subscribed & Sworn this Sixth - Day of October 1832 before me W m Strong Justice of the Peace
I W m Strong Before Whom the above Certificate of James H Peek has been subscribed and I mean to hereby certify that I am well acquainted with James H. Peek and believe that he is a man of veracity and that his statements is entitled to full credit and I further certify that I believe by reason of Badly impaired sight he is not able to attend court with me My Word this Sixth day of October 1832.
W m Strong Justice of the Peace

County of Schenectady
Frederick Van Patten of the town of Glenville in said County, being duly sworn saith that is well acquainted with John Wemple who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that said John Wemple was a member of the same Regiment to which this Deponent belonged; viz that of Colonel Wemple - This Deponent remembers to have seen said John Wemple perform military duty during said war on several occasions. He saw said John perform garrison duty in the year 1779 at Fort Paris in Stone Arabia while this Deponent was on duty at the same place for the term of one month at the upper Schoharie fort at least three weeks, and when the settlements along the valley of the Mohawk were destroyed by the enemy, he this Deponent saw said John Wemple on duty, but cannot tell how long, & further this Deponent saith not.
Frederick Van Patten
Subscribed & sworn this 28 th day of November 1833, before me, and I hereby Certify that said Deponent Frederick Van Patten sustains the reputation & I believe him to be a man of credibility, whose statements are entitled to full credit.
John H. Van Eps Justice of the Peace
John H. Van Eps
State of New York County of Schenectady
Clerk's Office
John S.
Vrooman Clerk of said County, do hereby Certify that John H. Van Eps before whom the

foregoing deposition of Frederick Van Patten has been taken was on the day of the date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County, also that his signature thereto is genuine. and I further certify that William Stroop before whom the foregoing deposition of John Wemple has been taken on the twenty second day of October last, was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, & that his signature thereto is genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of said County this 2 nd day of December 1833.
John S. Vrooman Clerk
WE James V. S. Ryley residing in the city of Schenectady in the county of Schenectady aforesaid, and Giles H. Yates residing in the city of Schenectady do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Wemple who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty three 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.
Subscribed and sworn the { day and year aforesaid
John S. Vrooman
Clerk.
James V. S. Ryley
G. H. Yates
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 James V. S. Ryley & Giles H. Yates who have signed the above certificate are residents of said City, and both
credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. I John S. Vrooman Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that William Stroop before whom the foregoing declaration & affidavit of James V. S. Ryley and Giles H. Yates was at the time thereof and is now one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County, & that the signatures thereto purporting to be his are genuine. I the said Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Schenectady do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Wemple for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twentieth — day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two
John S. Vrooman Clerk.

18142
John Wemple Schenectady co New York
ch i j
Admitted
Superior 5 Months & 4 days Proved 3 "
Giles F. Yates Schenectady city N.Y.

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 your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined 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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of John Wemple of Schenectady county N.Y.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlisted 1775 militia service to the end of the war 1776 private Capt Myderson Col Wemple Schenectady & Fort Ann 83 Tradition   1777 1 5 14 1/2 From 1778 to the end of the war a sergeant. Maj Suits Brookhill Sacandaga Fort Edward Stillwater Fort Plain Schoharie Schenectady city New York living witness proves 1775 to 1778 as orderly sergeant to the end of the war   1778 1 12   1779 21   1780 21   1781 21   actual service extends 2 years  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } 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 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.
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 application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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 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 traditional 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 proper county, 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 _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of 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.
[k] 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.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
J. P. Mansfield

Revolution
23490
INVALID.
File No. 23,490
John Wimple
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1891 st
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 25-2
[Arrangement of 1870.]