Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,862, John Woodward, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Woodward, John
S. 11862.
CONTENTS
Carded.

20.939 New York
John Woodward of Chautauque in the State of New York, who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Van Buskirk of the Regt. commanded by Col. Morely - in the Westside - line for a full term
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Dec. 1833 — and Sutto S. A. Brown, Jamesstown
Arrears to the 14th of Sep. 33 $ 200 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4th Mo 34 40 $ 240
Revolutionary Claim, filed June 7, 1832. W. B. Northway Recorded by W. B. Northway Clerk
Book 6. Vol. 4. Page 40

15878
John Woodward Chautauqua co. New York.
on rolls of New. Col. Shure
Admitted
Private 2 years
12-16 ft May 10. 1833.
P. 391.
Samuel A. Brown Painesstown N. York

BRIEF in the case of  John Woodward  of  Chautauqua  in the State of  New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Enlisted In 1776 4 private Capt Grevnor,   do  1780 3 Capt. Banister, Col. Morris   1781 9 Capt Cook, Lieut Miller   1777 About 1 Col. Sprout  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Quebec  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worthington, Massachusetts.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not corrected as required 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. E. Bradford. Examining Clerk.

15378- * Joseph Woodward N.Y.
12-16
Samuel A. Brown & Jamestown Tew N.Y.

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Woodward of Chautauqua co N.Y. which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned 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? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? two citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? all answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 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 shewn 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.
†QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
†QUERE XVI.  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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

John Woodward

State of New York } Court of Chautauqua } ss
On this eleventh day of October 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautauqua, now sitting John Woodard a resident of the Town of Ellington in the County of Chautauqua and State of New York aged Seventy five 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, -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. In the month of January 1776, information was received that the American army in Canada was in distress & wanted assistance, and that he then enlisted at the Town of Worthington in the State of Massachusetts under Capt. Grosvenor, Lieut. name Stephen Fitch, Ensign - Willcox, that the Company immediately marched to for Quebec, by the way of Albany, Ticonderoga, St. Johns, Montreal thence to Quebec, found the American Army stationed at Abrahams plains, in great distress, suffering many privations, & the small pox was also raging in the army, that while he was there he had the small pox, that after the arrival of Gen. Worcester, it was thought proper for the army to retreat from Quebec, that the British followed them about forty miles up the river in their vessels, that in the retreat they passed up the St. Lawrence, from thence to St. Johns, thence to Crown Point, thence to Ticonderoga, thence to Whitehall, that the retreat was in considerable confusion, that after 2 or 3 days from Quebec the army was very much scattered, and after he arrived at White Hall, he went directly home to Worthington.

accompanied by but 2 or 3 of his comrades where he arrived some time in May of that year, that in that campaign he enlisted for three months, but from the time he enlisted to the time of his return home was more than four months.
That in the month of September of the same year 1776, he again enlisted at Worthington for the term of three months, under Captain Pannister, Lieut. Col. Mosely, St.
Col. Wells, Adjutant King, the company constituting the Regiment marched separately from where they were mustered, and met at Frogs point on East River somewhere about 30 miles from New York, that the company in marching from Worthington passed through Old Hartford, New Haven, Horse Neck, to Frogs point. - That immediately after they arrived at Frogs point, the army was ordered to march or retreat to Palatine's Hill a distance of 7 or 8 miles thence retreated to White Plains, remained there till the term of his enlistment expired where the company were all dismissed and he returned home after having served three months.
That in the year 1780, in the month of July or August he again enlisted at South Hampton in the State of Massachusetts, being one of the quota furnished by that town, to fill up the Continental army, that the quota furnished by the State of Massachusetts rendezvous at Springfield; and was thence conducted to West Point under the command of Col. Cook, where they joined the Army, that they

arrived at West Point soon after Major Andre was executed, that in marching from Springfield they passed through Hartford New Haven, direct to West Point, the other inter- mediate places does not recollect. While at West Point he was employed in building and repairing forts. Fort Putnam, & Fort Arnold the name of the latter was afterwards changed, recollects the chain stretched across the river at West Point. Winters at that place, was once out near Fredericksburg, some weeks guarding the public stores. At West Point he was in a company commanded by Lieut. Miller, Col Sprouts Regiment, recollects the names of but two Commandants of Regi- ments at West Point, Col Brewer's Regiment & Col Jackson Regiment. Though there were others, - Was discharged in March or April 1781, received a written discharge from Col Sprout, (which has been lost more than 40 years) & returned home to South Hampton. That in that Campaign he enlisted for and served nine months -
That in the summer of the same year (1781) he again entered the service for the term of eight months being one of the number again furnished by the town of South Hampton, that he joined the army in the State of New Jersey, was rendezvoused at Springfield and marched direct to New Jersey, does not recol- lect the name of the officer under whom they marched, he joined the same company to which he belonged in the last preceding cam- paign, in Col Sprouts Regiment, that the Army marched from New Jersey to West Point.

Soon after, when they remained as near as he can recollect, about 2 months, when his company was ordered to Newburg to guard the public stores, where he remained through the winter, that when his term of service had expired he went to Fishkill & there received a written discharge & returned home, that he supposed his discharge was of no consequence except as a passport to get home & subsequently paid no attention to them, that he served in this expedition eight months. That in addition to his regular service of four, three, nine and eight months, as above stated, he volunteered in the summer of 1777, think in August when the country was in a state of great excitement at the expected approach of Gen Gen Burgoyne, down the North River, that he marched at that time from Worthington to Fort Miller, & was in the service about one month.
He has no documentary evidence of his service, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.
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.
Sworn to and subscribed, } John Woodward the day & year aforesaid } James Blony Clerk

To the Interrogatories propounded by the Court, as suggested by the War Department, the applicant made the following answers -
1 st . - He says he was born in the Town of Plainfield in the State of Connecticut on the 7 th day of August 1757 - 2 d . - Says there is a record of his age in his family Bible which was made 20 years ago - knows of no other - 3 d . - Resided at Worthington in Massachusetts, when he was called into the service the first & second campaigns, & in the alarm services, and at South Hampton (same State) when he was called into the service the term of nine months - & eight months - That since the Revolutionary war, and soon after he left the service he returned to Worthington, thence removed to Paris, Onida Co N.Y. thence to Sangersfield, same Co. thence to Greenfield, Town of Stafford, thence to Ellington, Chen. Co., where he has since resided & where he now resides - and has resided in Ellington for almost 24 years - 4 th . - He was called into the service in the manner set forth in his declaration & never was a substitute - 5 th . - Saw Gen Arnold, Worcester Major Cady, at Quebec, at Froy's Point & White Plains, Saw Col. Mosely, Lt Col. Wells, Adjutant, King, at West Point, Gen Washington Gen Putnam, Col Oliver, Col Sprout. Drames Regiment, Jackson's Regiment & saw some of the same at New Jersey, the general circumstances of his services are faithfully detailed in the declaration above -

6 th says he received two written discharges from the service, does not recollect the name of the officer granting them one at Fishkill - they have both been lost many years.
7 He says he is known by the Hon: Eliel S Foot first Judge of the county of Chautauque, and who resides in the town adjoining the one this deponent lives in, also he knows Joel Jay Reynolds who lives about three miles from this deponent -
Second subscribed this 11 th day of October 1832
James Blonny Clerk
John Woodward
Chautauque County ss I Joel Jay Reynolds residing in the town of Ellington hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Woodward who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I believe him to be seventy five 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 I concur in that opinion, and further that I have been intimately acquainted with him for about thirteen years, and that he sustains a fair moral character and is a man of strict truth & veracity.
Second subscribed the day & year aforesaid James Blonny Clerk
Joel J Reynolds

I Eliel J Foote residing in the town of Elleriate, do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with John Woodward who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I believe him to be seventy five years of age, and that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that I concur in that opinion, and that he sustains a fair character for truth & veracity -
Sworn & subscribed The day & year aforesaid
E. J. Foote
J. B. Young Def t Clerk
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 Eliel J. Foote who has signed the preceding certificate is the first Judge of the county resident in the town of Elleriate, and that Joel Reynolds who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Ellington and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to the fullest credit -
I James B Lawry Clerk of the Court of Common (Pleas)

Pleas for the county of Chautauqua do hereby certify that the fore- going contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Woodward for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12 th day of October A.D. 1832. -
James B. Sonny Clerk
John Woodward
15878
Court order as certified from book

State of New York Chautauqua County } ss.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of the said county, John Woodward, who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, in answer to the 12 th objection in the brief, returned with his declaration made before the Court of Common Pleas of said county on the 11 th day of October 1832, that in the town of Ellington where he resides there are no resident clergymen of any denomination. — That the Methodist clergy who occasionally officiate in that town are circuit preachers & are frequently changing, so that he could has had but little opportunity of seeing them & has formed no acquaintance with any of them, that he is acquainted with several clergymen who reside from 15 to 20 miles from him, but who are not acquainted in his neighborhood, and that he could not obtain the certificate of a clergyman without going to some of the places where he formerly resided, & further this deponent saith not —
JOHN WOODWARD
Sworn & Subscribed }
This 21 st day of June 1833 —
Before me Abner Lewis Justice of the Peace
" I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above named John Woodward and that full faith and credit ought to be given to the above statement. Subscribed by him.
June 21 st 1833.
Abner Lewis J. Peace

State of New York Chautauque County } ss.
I James B Lowry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautauque, do hereby certify, in addition to my former Certificate, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Woodward for a Pension, that no additions or alterations have been made to said proceedings except the last preceding affidavit & certificate, & that they are the same papers & proceedings originally had in said Court - And I do further certify that Honer Lewis before whom the above affidavit was made, is a Justice of the Peace of said County duly elected & sworn, & that I am well acquainted with the signature of the said Justice, & that his signatures to the said affidavit & certificate are genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 28 th day of June 1833 -
James B Lowry Clerk

July-18-1900 N.Y. L. Woodward-Albany N.Y.
July 29-1903 A. Hazelton Jamestown N.Y. lot 2
Reborn
11.862 INVALID.
File No. 11.862
John Woodward Prin. Pub. War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 415-
[Arrangement of 1870.]

A. HAZELTINE, ATTORNEY AT LAW, U. S. COMMISSIONER.
6860
Jamestown N.Y. July 16. 1903.
Hon. Eugene Ware.
Commissioner of Pensions.
My dear Sir.--
I am engaged in obtaining proof of the service of JOHN WOODWARD, as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The John Woodward whose service I am desirous of proving was the great grand father of the Hon. John Woodward one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of this State.
I wrote to Genl. Ainsworth of the Record and Pension office for the proof of his service, to which he replied that there were several John Woodwards who served in the Revolutionary War and that I must distinguish which one was the one of whose service I am seeking to prove, stating the organization in which he served. Judge Woodward informs me his ancestor served during several enlistments but that he is ignorant in what particular organization he served. The John Woodward whose service I am seeking was a pensioner and during the latter period of his life lived and finally died at Clear Creek in the county of Chautauqua N.Y. It has occurred to me that you might be able to determine from that fact to what organization he belonged. I wish you would have an examination made to see if this is possible from the records in your office, and inform me, and of the amount of the bill for the service and certificate.
Yours truly.
A. Hazeltine

2 47 25
20539
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