Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,252, John White, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
White, John
NUMBER
S. 15252
carded.
CONTENTS

20.34 New York John White of Madison in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Comp commanded by Captain Broden of the Reg commanded by Col Angus in the Mass line for 14 Mos.
★ Mass. Line, Sept. 1805. Records corrected.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 10 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Aug. 1833 and due to A.S. Stodd At Madison
Arrears to the 14th of Mar 93 33 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 33 23 33 $116 66
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Book E , Vol. 4 , Page 39
G. Astles
Clerk.

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 7 th June 1832
State of New York } ss Madison County } 2
On this eighth day of October 1832 personally appeared before the Judges of the court of common pleas of the County of Madison in open court, James B Eldredge presiding Judge John White a resident of the Town & County of Madison and State of New York, aged seventyone years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he enlisted, or turned out as a minute man so called at the time for eight months, in the Town of Pelham in the County of Hampshire, Massachusetts in a company commanded by Captain David Cowden of said Pelham, and Lieutenant Robert Hamilton of the Town of Conway, in said County 2 nd Lieutenant Jacob Haskins, of the Town of Yarmouth in said State, and was attached to Col. Ruggles, Woodbridge's Regiment of Southwick, in said County, Lieutenant Col's name not remembered: a Major Stacy of New Salem in said County, was the Major given name not remembered And that he entered  entered the service of Comm. & Cont. his march with his company, between the 21 st and 25 th of April 1775, and proceeded by a newbrained road Holden, by the way of Watertown to Cambridge near Boston, and was there assigned to Col. Woodbridge's Regiment, that on the seventeenth of June his Regiment had orders to march early in the morning to Bunker hill, He was not engaged in the battle but stood guard over the officers baggage, and he there served, six months, and was dismissed, with a number of others, but received no discharge. And that he again enlisted, as a substitute for James Campbell who was drafted, two months in the State troops, being a resident of same town County & State as before, on the fourth of May 1777, in Captain John
written

Thompson's Company, of the same place & Lieutenant Noah Dickinson of Anthroft. And 2 d Lieutenant Wilson of Greenough given name not known, both in the same County & State, & that the company mustered in Putnam of said on the fourth of May the year of said & commenced his march through Northampton, and crossed the green Mountains by way of Chesterfield & by way of Pittsfield, to Greenough & crossed the Hudson, to Albany, where he drew ammunition. He then marched up the River to opposite the present site of Troy, where he crossed the Hudson, & marched up the east side of said River to Fort Edward, from thence he marched to Lake George, & crossed the lake, & landed near a place called Mount Hope, & from thence to Ticonderoga where, he joined a Regiment commandants name not remembered. The company was immediately ordered on fatigue to procure timber and shingles for the are buildings for the use of the Army, and continued in that service about six weeks, at a place then called Skene'sboro, we then joined the army at Ticonderoga, & was immediately ordered on another fatigue for a week in building a timber Redoubt for a guard, and on the night he was relieved from this fatigue Ticonderoga was evacuated by the American Army, commanded by Genl St. Clair Being on the above fatigue was the reason that I formed no acquaintance with the officers of the Regiment He then retreated with the part of the army, to Castleton & Rutland to Bennington, & from thence to Adams, where the company disbanded, the time of service had previously expired & that he served in this tour over two months, he received written no discharge. And that on the sixteenth day of August of the same year, he enlisted again for three months under Capt John Callin, of Norwich, in said County of

Hampshire. Lieutenant Pomeroy of Southampton & 2 nd Lieutenant Samuel Parsons of Northampton, both in said County. That he was at the time a resident of Pelham of said State & that he mustered at Hatfield in said County the same day and marched directly to Bennington, where he joined the aforesaid Col. Woodbridge's Regiment. He arrived a few days after the battle of Bennington. Our Regiment was ordered to Otter Creek, & the companies composing it divided on different commands, in scouting & securing the country, & protecting the inhabitants from the depredations of Tories & Indians until a short time previous to the capture of Burgoyne, when we were ordered to join the main army at or near Bennington, where they did join the main army and remained with it until after the capture of Burgoyne & then marched with the main army to Albany. He knew Gen. Gates, & Lincoln, & thinks that Gen. Paterson was there. Did not know Gen. Arnold. And that he was marched from Albany to a place below on the Hudson called Coxsackie, where he was dismissed and in both the above last campaigns in going to and in returning home, he finished his own expenses and received a written discharge and that he again enlisted as a private in the state troops of Massachusetts under Captain John Cutter of Brookfield in Worcester County, and entered the service on the 16 th day of August 1781. & mustered at Brookfield aforesaid, first Lieutenant Brown, 2 nd Lieutenant Bells. Brown of the town of Holab in said County, & Bells from Hartwick, & marched from Brookfield to Springfield in Hampshire County, & from thence to Litchfield in Connecticut & from thence to Westpoint in this State, where we found our Regiment commanded by Col. Luke Drury, & was there was stationed during the time of the enlistment, which was for three months, and there received a regular

written discharge signed by the Col. of the Regiment, and that this discharge, was put into the hands of an agent between forty & fifty years ago, at a time when it was expected that Congress was about granting an annuity to the Soldiers of the Revolution, & he left the Country & never returned the discharge — And that the garrison of West Point at the time was under the command of Gen. McDugal the greater part of the regular army had marched to Virginia to capture Lord Cornwallis. — And that he has no documentary evidence, that he was born in the Town of Petersham Worcester County Massachusetts, on the 16 th day of November in the year 1760, as he has always been informed & believes & he believes there is, or was a record of his age in said Petersham, & that he resided, a part of the time during the revolutionary war, in the Town of Pelham County of Hampshire Massachusetts, & a part of the time in Belchertown same County & State & that he resided in the latter place at the time of the last enlistment, & continued his residence in the latter place after the latter place Revolutionary war until the year 1797, and then removed into this State to his present residence, where he has continued to reside. — And that he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. And that he is acquainted with: Israel Rice John Brown, Ebenezer Durnham Gen Erastus Cleveland John Lucas. Capt David Peabody David Gilmore all residents of said town of Madison, to whom reference can be had And that he knows of no one now living who served with him the two months services rendered in the year 1777 at and near Ticonderoga, except James

White who if living resides in the town of Poughkeepsie County of Dutchess & State of New York, whose — Affidavit, has been applied for, but not yet received As he knows of no one living who served with him in the three months campaign, commencing in August 1777 at the taking of Bunkerhill, & before & after.
Sworn & Subscribed to this 8 th day of October 1832. in Open Court. A. S. Sloan Clk
John White
And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion, after the investigation of the Matter, and after putting the interrog- atories 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 ap- pears to them that Israel Rice & John Brown, who have signed the Annexed Certificate, are residents of the town of Madison in the County of Madison, and are credible persons, and that their Statement is entitled to credit —
I, Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Madison, do hereby Certify that the fore- going contains the original proceedings in the Matter of the Application of John White for a pension —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this ninth day of October 1832 — A. S. Sloan Clk

State of New York Madison County ss
Samuel White of the Town and County of Madison & State of New York age 69 years having been first duly sworn according to law, now depose & say that he is personally knowing to John White now a resident of the Town & County of Madison & State of New York having enlisted on the sixteenth day of August 1781: in a company of Militia or State Troops, commanded by Captain John Cutter of the Town of Brookfield, County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts for three months, having himself enlisted in the same company & performed the same marches, & services, and in the same Regiment and at the same time as he states in his declaration & that this deponent as well as the said John White both resided in the Town of Belcherstown County of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts, at the time of the above named enlistment, & that this deponent is of the age of sixty nine years, and that he has no doubt but that John White is the age he states, and that both this deponent & the said John White were at the time of the above enlistment residents of the Town of Belcherstown County of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts for three months And also this deponent was, knowing knowing to the said John White again enlisting in the month of August in the year 1777 for three months, in a company of militia or State Troops, and, was absent for three months to the best of his knowledge & belief  there ; reputed to be in the Army, in the campaign at the taking of Burgoyne, and, after his return here, heard him at different times relate the marches & incidents of the said campaign, as set forth in his declaration, and this deponent has no doubt, but that he served as he states and both this deponent, & the said John White, at the time of said enlistment, were residents of the Town of Pelham in the County of Hampshire Massachusetts Samuel White Subscribed & sworn to this 6 th day of September 1832 before me Thomas Chillend Justice of the peace

State of New York } Madison County }
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Samuel White who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing affidavit. I have been acquainted with him ever since he resided in this Town, and that he is a man of good moral character, and reputed in the neighborhood where he resides a man of truth and veracity & that I fully concur in that opinion, and believe that all he has set forth in said affidavit is entitled to full credit & that I do fully believe the same to be true.
Madison 24 th May 1853 Thomas Miller Dr. J. Pease

State of New York } Mecklenburg Co } Thomas Mellin a resident of the Town of Mecklenburg in the county afore- said being sworn in due form of Law, do hereby depose and say that he is eighty years of age that during the Revolutionary war he resided in the Town of Pellham Massachusetts that there he was well acquainted with John White who now resides in Mecklenburg now resides White who is now present, that soon after the war at Lexington Battle this deponent volunteered and joined a company commanded by Captain Isaac Gray and marched to near Boston where they remained during the cam- paign which was eight months, that the said John White was then a soldier in the Army at that place, though he does not belong to the same company nor Regiment with this depo- -nant yet they were stationed near each other and this deponent repeatedly saw said White during the campaign and knows that he then served as a soldier
Thos Mellin
Subscribed sworn before me
August 13th 1832
James Beddridge first
Judge Meck Co.
I certify that the above affidavit was subscribed before me by the above named Thomas Mellin and that the said Mellin is a man of good character for truth and veracity and that his statement is entitled to credit. May 25th 1833 James B Beddridge J.P.

State of New York } Madison County Clerk's Office } ss. I, Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the said County. Do Certify that James B. Eldridge, before whom the within Affidavit purports to have been sworn, was, at the date of the same, the first Judge of the County Courts in and for the said County - And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit, to be his proper hand writing and signature - Witness my hand and seal of Office this ninth day of October 1832 - A. S. Sloan Clk.

State of New York } /s Madison County
Israel Rice and John Brown of the Town & County of Madison and State of New York, the said Rice of the age of 71 years And the said Brown of the age of 67 years both being first duly sworn according to law, do on their oath depose and say that they are well acquainted with John White of the aforesaid town of Madison, and have been for more than thirty five years last past.
And that they have many years ago conversed with the said White on the subject of the services rendered by him during the Revolutionary war, and have heard him at different times relate many of the incidents of the different campaigns in which he served as set forth in his said declaration, which has been read in their presence, And that the said John White is universally esteemed & reputed in the neighborhood and town where he lives as a man of moral worth & influence in society, as a citizen, of strict integrity, unimpeachable for truth & veracity, and that all that he sets forth in his said declaration, is entitled, to the fullest credit & belief; and that they do fully believe the same to be true, and have no doubt but that he is of the age he states, and that he has always been reputed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution & have never heard such
Subscribed and sworn to this 8th day of October 1832 before me Thomas Killen Jr Justice of the peace
reputation doubted & they concur in that opinion Israel Rice John Brown
State of New York } /s Madison County
I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Israel Rice and John Brown, ever
since their residence in this Town, & that they are men of good moral character, and universally reputed in the neighborhood where they reside to be men of truth and veracity & that I fully concur in that opinion & believe all they have stated above to be true Madison 24th May 1833 Thomas Killen Jr. Justice of the peace

State of New York } Madison County } I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Israel Rice and John Brown, who have subscribed and sworn to the within Affidavit, and that they are both of them men of respectability, in every respect, and men reputed in the neighborhood & town where they live, of undoubted truth and veracity, and as such I consider them; and that all they state in their said affidavit, is in my opinion entitled to full credit and belief, and I do fully believe the same to be true Madison 8 Octr. 1832 { Thomas Miller Jr. Jus. Peace
State of New York } Madison County Clerk's Office } ss: I Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the said County do certify that Thomas Miller Jr. before whom the within and annexed affidavits purport to have been sworn, and also whose name appears to the above affidavits and annexed certificates, was, at the dates of the same, One of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County - And that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affida- vits and Certificate, to be his proper hand writing and sig- -nature - Witness my hand and Seal of Office this ninth day of October 1832 - A. S. Sloan Clk.
John White
10335
adm. d. 14 mo - per. 446.66

State of New York } Chautauqua County }
James White of the Town of Pomfret in Chautauqua County in said State being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that he is personally known John White, now of the Town of Madison County of Madison, in said State, enlisting in Captain John Thompson's Company of State Troops, in the month of May 1777, south of the Town of Pelham County of Hampshire Massachusetts, and that Noah Dickinson of Amherst and Nathan Wilson of Granville in Hampshire County in Massachusetts, were first & 2 Lieutenants in said Company, and that he mustered in said Town of Pelham the 27 th May of that year & marched from thence through Northampton Shutesbury Pittsfield Greenbush to Albany & from thence up the River Hudson, to Spits Kill, crossed it & from thence to Fort Edward to Lake George, crossed the lake & from thence to Ticonderoga where he performed the service required, on different fatigues & duties required for the army, principally out of camp, and retreated with the army when the place was evacuated, with the part of the army, by way of Castleton to Bennington, and this detachment enlisted in the same company and from the same place and performed the same marches & services, for the full time of the enlistment, & that the said services were rendered during the revolutionary war and this deponent is of the age of 73 - years past & has no doubt but that the said John White is of the age of seventyone years as he states
Aug 20, 1831 Aug 29, 1831 J. File 15252
Subscribed & sworn to before me, the subscriber a Justice of the Peace of Chautauqua County, N.Y. October 1 st 1832
James White
Jacob Houghton, J.P.

State of New York
Chautauqua County ss
I, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Chautauqua, do hereby certify, that I have been acquainted with James White, whose Affidavit is annexed, for the last Eighteen years; that he is respectable in society, and sustains a good moral character for truth truth and veracity - And in my Opinion, the annexed Affidavit by him made before me, is and ought to be, entitled to credit
Dated October 1 st 1832 -
Jacob Houghton, J.P.
State of New York
Chautauqua County ss.
I James B. Lony Clerk of the said County do Certify that Jacob Houghton Esquire before whom the within Affidavit purports to have been Sworn, was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in & for the said County, and that the within Certificate of Affidavit & the above Certificate are genuine. Witness my hand and Seal of Office this Eleventh day of October
A.D. 1832
James B. Lony Clerk

1632. John White Madison Co New York
i author j -
adm D
A. G. Sloan Clerk Madison Co New York.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of John White, Madison Co. New York.
   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.     Apr 1775 " 6 " Pvt Capt D. Condon Lt. Hamilton Col. Ruggles of Woodbridge Maj. Stacy None Mass t 71 years New Hampshire Co. Mass t Two Witnesses   May 1777 2 " " " Capt. Stacy Thompson Lt. Dickey " " N York   Aug 30 " 3 " " Capt. Butler Lt. Pomeroy Col. Woodbridge Capture of Burgoyne "   Aug 1781 " 3 " " Capt. Butler Lt. Brown Col. L. Drury None Conn t  
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 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 _____. 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 [e] 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.
Joseph Rowen Esq.

Miss Winifred Root 2201 W. St. N.W. Wash D.C.
c/o Mrs G. W. Shull - personal mgf. Apr. 28, 1914

1914 Apr. 29 Hist. to Winifred Root. V.L.M.
9
15252
INVALID.
File No. 15252
John White Priv. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 453
[Arrangement of 1870.]