Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 24,000, Moses Welch, N.H.

SERVICE
N. H.
Welch Moses
NUMBER
$ 24.000
CONTENTS

Dead. See letter to Mr. Fleming P. Lyt. Nov. 28. 1834 -
2 12
New York 2885
Moses Welch - of Rappahannock in the State of Canada - who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Clough of the Regt commanded by Col. Poore in the War of 1812 lived for 14th Mo 2nd day - $49.55
Enrolled on the Roll of New York at the rate of 49 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Duplicate of Pension issued the 28 th day of July 1834 and sent to J. H. Abbott Esq. Champlaine. N.Y.
Arrears to the 14th of March 4. '34 $148.65 Pension allowance ending Sept 1. " 24.77 173.42
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Vincent Luce Clerk, Book C Vol. 4 Page 135

Mora Wilder
26148
on roll of Capt. Websters Company - 1777 & 1778
d c n
Admitted
Private 14 mo & 26 days
$49.55
Sister of Hubbell Esq. Champlain Clinton County

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
August 7. 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the 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. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Homer Walch Marshall Low Cumberland
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     April 1775 From 6 weeks Pro Capt Webster Subsisting at Humphreys 78 years old Traditionary evidence   Nov. " " 1 - - Capt. Clough Col P. Don   about 1777 4 or 5 Weeks no officers Capt. Webster   1 or more  
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 A. B. sworn to 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 (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And 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
There are many officials for persons who find under Col Poor - this claim is inadmissible without proof

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 the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The 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 inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. 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 [j] 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.
in kind of proof

I Hifield Lyford of Cabot in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont - testify and say that Messrs Welch then of Danvers in the State of Massachusetts joined the company of Capt. Jeremiah Buff in Decr 1776 at Winterhill near Boston in the Regiment commanded by Col. Ebenezer Dyer, that he enlisted for the term of one year, that he belonged to the same company and was personally known to his service during the whole term for which he enlisted for and that he was duly discharged from the army Hifield Lyford
State of Vermont Cabot Decr 29 th 1833
Caledonia ss I personally appeared Hifield Lyford and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth Before Joseph Fitch Justice Peace
State of Vermont Cabot Decr 28 th 1833 Caledonia ss
I hereby certify that I have been personally acquainted with the above named Hifield Lyford for more than thirty years, that he has ever been considered a person of strict truth and veracity. Joseph Fitch Justice Peace

State of Vermont } Caledonia County ss } I Amos Paul Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Caledonia aforesaid do hereby certify that Joseph Fisher was on the 21 st day of December A. D. 1833 a Justice of the Peace for said Caledonia County duly commissioned and qualified to take affidavits and depositions - that his commis- sion was dated on the 6 th day of November 1833 and will expire on the 30 th day of November A. D. 1834
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 20 th day of June A. D. 1834
Amos Paul Clerk

Moses Wilkes Benson papers under the act of 1832
Donated to Champlain Clinton County N. York

State of New York Clinton County ss.
On the nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three before me James W. Wood one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Clinton in the State of New York residing at Champlain in said County personally appeared Moses Welch Russell known to me to be the person described in the foregoing Canada aged sixty eight years the eleventh day of last January who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declara- tion in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That in the month of April 1775 he the said Moses resided at Salisbury, Hillsboro County in the State of New Hampshire and news of the battle of Lexington was brought to that Town in the night the next day Capt Ebenezer Webster Captain of Militia living in Salisbury called for volunteers to go to Boston and that he the said Moses joined the company of the said Captain Webster as a volunteer Militia man and the same day marched twenty five Miles with said Company towards Boston marching the following towns viz Roscoeur - Concord. Brought on a detour to Cambridge near Boston when we halted & our Company remained at Cambridge as near as he can recollect 3 or 4 weeks and then returned home to Salisbury & was dis- charged. the whole time that he was gone on this expedition was to the best

1- of his military & chief part of six weeks in the service. And the said Mose further states that some time in the month of December in the same year 1775 & the best of his recollection; he voted for one year into the company of Captain Clough. (whom his name was Kimball) of Canterbury in the said State of New Hampshire. Thomas Dyer, Colonel Jonathan Smith Ensign in the same company Colonel Poor's Regiment. These were called Continental troops. according to the enlistment in the said Mose was to join his company the first of January ensuing. but the time of the six months men was up & he was called on & entered the service & joined his company one month before the time about the first of December 1775 — that he joined the company of the said Capt Clough. (with a sergeant & some men he had with him) at Winter Hill near Boston where they remained till the spring after. when the said company - in the said Mose con- tinuing in it went to New York from there up the Hudson River to Albany from there to Fort Edward. Lake George then Lake Champlain to St Johns & on to Sorel, where we met the American troops returning from Quebec. we were then ordered back to St Johns. we then returned up the lake & the same route we went back to Albany - stopping & remaining a considerable time in different places - until we arrived at Kingstown on the Hudson River at Kingstown in the said Mose remained which was put into the Hospital until the time of his enlistment was out

the first of January 1777 and having finished this year's service and one month besides he was discharged at Kingston after we returned home to New Hampshire. The King gave him a written discharge, which he has since lost. And the said Mose further states that in the summer of 1777 he came to Salisbury where he resided. That the British Troops were advancing towards Bennington and there was another call for Volunteers. And he the said Mose with others again turned out a volunteer Militia Man. The Volunteers marched for the Captain one Matthew Pittsfield, an old Militia Captain in the Town of Salisbury. They marched directly to Bennington Vermont, where he arrived at Bennington. The battle of Bennington was then fought. That he remained at Bennington and marched to Saratoga where Burgoyne was but does not recollect the name of the Place after returning for some weeks returned home to Salisbury in New Hampshire having served in that expedition about 4 or 5 weeks.
That afterwards, there was again a call for Volunteers and he the said Mose again volunteered and joined the company of the same Capt. Ebenezer Webster & went to Rhode Island he does not recollect the year but it was the same year that the French came to Rhode Island & it was expected they would take the British Fleet, but were dispersed in a storm. That after remaining a while in Rhode Island in said Capt. Webster's company returned again home to Salisbury having served in this expedition a month or more.
That the said Mose hereby acknowledges every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.

Sworn to and subscribed
The day & year aforesaid before me
Moses Welch
J. M. Wood Judge Clinton County Pa.
And the said Judge do hereby certify That the foregoing contains the original proceedings before me in the matter of the application of Moses Welch for a pension And I do further certify that an careful ex- amination of the said Moses Welch the above applicant I am satisfied that he cannot appear in Court at Altoona in the County of Clinton aforesaid by reason of bodily infirmity. I have therefore attended him here -
J. M. Wood Judge Clinton County Pa.

J. L. Edwards Esq. Commission Pensions City Washington

Champlain June 27 th 1834
J. H. Edwards Esq m
Dear Sir After a long delay, I have procured a witness that served with old Mr. Welch. Filed before whose affidavit is herunto annexed which establishes our years service. I consider his evidence on the whole to establish 1 1/2 years service. In order to establish of the old man character I enclose some certificates of respectable people his neighbors & do not consider them necessary but he wishes them forwarded & am very respectfully
Yours Affec t Servt Isaac D. Daboll
  14 26  33    46.66  44    2.89  2.89    69.55   

Proclamation
24 000 INVALID.
File No. 24,000
Moses Welch
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 442
[Arrangement of 1870.]