Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14894, Thomas V Wood, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Wood, Thomas V
S. 14894
CONTENTS
carded

Date of death not on file
20.636 New York Thomas F. Wood of Orange Co. in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Wood of the Regt. commanded by Col. Nichols in the New York line for Mt.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York: at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831:
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sept. 1832 and due to him $141.66 New York $1.00
Arrears to the 14th of Sept. 33 $141.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4/12/34 28.33 $169.99
Revolutionary Claim, Asst June 7, 1832. G. C. [unintelligible] Clerk
Recorded by Book E. Vol. 11. Page 39.

State of New York } Personally appeared before me the under Orange County } signed Justice of the peace, in and for the said County of Orange, Thomas V. Wood of Minisink in the said County, an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832.
Who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services; but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods following in the following grades, for five months in the year 1776 for one year in the year 1778, which said services is set forth in my declaration, to which this affidavit is annexed, as for the three other services performed in Capt. David Swezey's Company, Capt. George Thompson's Company & Capt. John Wood's Company, all of the said companies in Col. Durston's Regiment, as at what particular periods of the war they were performed I am not certain, but correctly recollect that it was after the year 1778 and I have the strongest confidence in my belief that I served with the before named Captains as a private for a term not less than eight months, and this deponent further saith he 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, and further this deponent saith not.
Sworn to, and subscribed before me this 4 th day of June 1833 James Finch Justice of the peace
Thomas V. Wood
State of New York Orange County } I Asa Dunning Clerk of the said County do certify that James Finch Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the peace in and

In said County and that I am as given to a with his hand writing and verify before his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his true handwriting Signature
Witness my hand & Seal of office this 14 th day of June 1833
Adams

State of New York Orange County
By copy
On this Third day of December 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County of Orange, now sitting, Thomas V. Wood, a resident of the Town of Minisink, Orange County & State of New York aged seventy nine seventy 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. 1832, that he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated
5 m. and the said Thomas V. Wood deposeth & saith that he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers in the Month of July or August, in the year 1776, as this deponent believes, enlisted in Capt. John Wood's Company, Col. Nicolls's Regiment, in Gen. George Clinton's Division and that he served the term of five months, was stationed a part of the said term at Fort Montgomery on the Hudson river, a part of said term, at Kings bridge near New York, and the residue of the said term at White Plains, where this deponent was discharged and this deponent further saith, that in the Month of March, in the year 1778 (According to his best recollection) that he enlisted in Capt. Moses Hotchfield's Company, which certain Col. commanded the Regiment, for one year, and served to the end of the said term of one year, was stationed a part of the said term on the frontiers in the Settlements of Minisink and Poughkeepsie, in Orange County, and the residue of the said term at the Fortification at West Point, on the Hudson River, where he was discharged, 1. m.

And this deponent further saith, that exclusive of the two campaigns before described, that he served at sundry times during the Revolutionary war, under Capt. David Stacey, Capt. George Thompson, Capt. John Wood and others, on the frontiers of Orange and Ulster Counties, Ramapo, Fort-Montgomery & other places, more than eight months, my services in the whole amounting to more than two years, and this deponent further saith that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State, and he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension, except the present —  Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.  Thomas Wood  Asa Dunning Clerk
The following interrogatories having been propounded to the above named Thomas K. Wood in ————— before the Court   1 st Where and in what year was you born, Answer I was born in the Town of Goshen, Orange County and State of New York, in the year 1753.  2 nd Have you any Record of your age, Answer none that I can obtain.  3 rd Where were you living when called into service Answer I was living in the Town of Goshen, Orange County; I have lived since the Revolutionary war in the Towns of Goshen & Minisink, in Orange County and I now live in the said Town of Minisink.  4 th How were you called into service, Answer in the two first campaigns set forth in my declaration I enlisted & served as principle, the various services which I performed in the Militia as mentioned in my declaration, I was called for the defence of my country, with my fellow soldiers, by the proper Authority. 

5 th State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served in — Answer, I have set forth and mentioned in my declaration, the names of the Captains & Co's under which I have served, as far forth as my recollection serves and the general Circumstances of my services.
6 th did you ever receive a discharge from the service; Answer I never received a written discharge.
7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and the extent of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. Answer James Finch Esq. & Timothy Wood who's affidavits are herunto annexed.
The Above foregoing interrogations were propounded by the Comrs to the before named Thomas K. Wood, and the answers to the said interrogations as recorded was given by the said Thomas K. Wood, the day & year aforesaid.
We James Finch a resident of the Town of Calhoun, and Timothy Wood a resident of the Town of Minisink both of the County of Orange, hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas K. Wood, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, and the deponents further depose & say that the said Thomas K. Wood, is considered to be a man of truth & veracity, and the said deponents further say that there is no clergyman at present residing in the congregation where the said

Ms. A. 1. 1 Wood 2135-4
Ms. A. 1. 1 Wood 2135-4
Thomas V. Wood resides, and further say that we know of no clergyman in the western part of this county, who has any personal knowledge of the Revolutionary war - they being young men, and the said Timothy Wood further deposeth and saith that he lived in the house with the said Thomas V. Wood, during the Revolutionary war and knows that he served in the five months and the year service as mentioned in his declaration, and further saith that the said Thomas V. Wood served much in the militia during the Revolutionary war, he fully believes to the amount of eight months and he believes more.
James Finch Timothy Wood
Sworn, and subscribed, the day in open court and year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Asa Dunning Clerk
And the said court, do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after ruling the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the before named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the court believes that it appears to them that James Finch & Timothy Wood, who has signed the preceding certificate, are residents of the Town of Milford & Minisink in the said county of Orange, are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas V. Wood for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal at office this Third day of December 1832 December 1832 Asa Dunning Clerk
of Thomas V. Wood

Pa. 21. 35-1 Thos A. Wood Orange County New York
Admitted Private 17 months
8 mo since not specified disallowed
James Fairch Agt Finchville P.O. Orange County New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 28 1837
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. 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 Thomas Wood Orange County N. 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.     Enlis 1776 5 Private Capt Wood Col Nicolls Gen Clinton Stationed at Fort Mont-gomery Kings Bridge at White Plains Minisink & Green Park & West Point on Frontiers of Orange & Ulster Co's Ramapo Fort - Montgomery & other places 79 years Orange Co N. York Living Mit rups & Traditionary   " 1778 1 " Capt. Hotfield   more than 8 8 " Captain Suezey G. Thompson John Wood  
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 , 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.
The regulations require the best evidence that can be found should be produced to sustain the allegations of the applicant.
Daniel D. Davidson Exam Clerk

Rev. M...
14.894 ✓ INVALID. am
1932-Sept 26 - List to Walter A. Wood. Corres- pondence in case Geo. Wood - S. 1872-662
File No. 14.894 Thomas K. Wood Prio. Pece War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 416
[Arrangement of 1870.]