Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,412, Stephen Willcox, Conn. R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Conn. P.S.
Willcox, Stephen
S 6412
carded
CONTENTS

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Conn. P. J.
Willcox, Stephen
S 6,412
carded
CONTENTS

16093 14247 New York
Stephen Willcoose
of Madison Co in the State of New York who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt: commanded by Col. Dyer in the R. I. Militia line for 18 mo.
N. S. and Conn. Est. 6/15.
Records completed.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 90 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of May 1833 and sent to J. D. Griswold Hamilton
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $150.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 45.00
$225.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Vol. 4 Page 37

No 16093 Steven Wilcox - Madison Co New York
admitted. 18 mo. Sergeant.
J. B. Eldridge Hamilton Mathews Co N. Y.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
New York
A Statement, shewing the Service of  Oliver Willcox  of  Madison Co
   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.     Defunct 39776 9 6 Sergeant Col Dyer Genl Sullivan 89 years Pick'd Town R. Island 4 Living Witnesses Traditional Evidence  
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 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 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 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 [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.
John E. Stanton

Discontinuation of Stephen Willough
16093
It. requested to be made to J. B. Eldred Hamilton Meriden Co. N.Y.

Declaration of Stephen Willcox
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th
1832
State of New York § On the Eighth day of October 1832 Personally Madison County § appeared in Open Court before the judges of the of Common Pleas of said County now sitting Stephen Willcox a resident of the Town of Lebanon in said County aged eighty nine who being sworn in due form of 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 here in stated.
That at the commencement of the Revolution he lived in Richmond Town in the State of Rhode Island. That in the year 1776 about the first of August he was drafted and put into a Company of Rhode Island Militia commanded by Richard Bailey Captain. Captain Brainerd and Thomas James ensign. That company was then divided into two equal parts and the arrangement then adopted and under which they thereafter acted was that the one part of the company should go on duty for a given length of time and then the part should relieve them. That their principle duty was to guard the shore from the invasion of the enemy and against the appearance of the Tories and Loyalists. That this Department was 3 d sergeant in the company and continued in the said company and did duty there in under the above said arrangement for the term of three years in which time he was in actual service one half of the time or one and a half years. That this company belonged to a Regiment commanded by Colonel Charles Dyer of South Kingston in said State of Rhode Island, the Lieutenant and Colonel and Major not mentioned. That it is now out of the power of this declarant to state the particulars of his service as where they marched each particular time. That they had not any actual engagement with the enemy while this declarant was in the service, though they frequently exchanged fire with the enemy on board their boat when they made attempts to land. That the year that General Sullivan had his Battle on Rhode Island and previous

There to the Section of the Company to which this Defendant belonged was March on to the Island of Rhode Island and were there under the Command of General Sullivan and remained under his command until they were relieved by the other Section of the Company which was but very few days previous to the Battle. That before this Defendant was relieved at that time the American and British Troops kept up a cannonading for eight days at different intervals That Colonel Tyres Regiment at this time was stationed on the North end of the Island near Point Judith That after this Defendant had served three years in the said Company under Captain Bailey upon said he went from Middletown upon said to the Town of Preston in the State of Connecticut and  where he engaged in the manufacture of in the Town of Groton  cloth Not long after there was an alarm and the place where he then was were still out commerce, and this Defendant went, but don't recollect who his Company officers were, they were out but a few days. This was at the time the British burned New London and took Fort Griswold at the time Colonel Ledyard fell.
And this Defendant states further as far as he can say that previous to this his being drafted in Captain Baileys Company as upon said the Militia were so frequently called out at Middletown and Preston upon said that it prevented them from taking proper care of their crops and farms which lead to the arrangement before mentioned by which  one half served at a time leaving the others at home. That an issue of those arms being so frequent, without the British shipping were very frequently stationed in the harbor in sound and were in the habit of running down and taking cattle ships. As from the inhabitants that he knows no written evidence of his services except what is hereto attached that he knows of no other that he can procure to testify to any part of his services. That he hereby renounces ever claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the  any agency of any state. Subscribed and sworn this 8th day of October 1832 Stephen Wilson

And the said Witness Willoy did then and there upon his oath make the following answers to the several interrogatories propounded to him by the Court and by the War Department prescribed.
1 st That he was born in the state of Rhode Island in the Year 1748
2 nd That he has no record of his age.
3 rd That when he was called into service he was living in Richmond Town in the state of Rhode Island before the Revolutionary war closed he moved into the state of Connecticut where he lived a number of years when he moved back into Richmond Town where he remained until 1827 when he moved into the Town of Lebanon where he now resides
4 th That when he was called into service, there had been frequent alarms, and the Militia of the section where he lived were called so often and kept on duty so much that the farming interest of that place was seriously injured, to prevent which there was an arrangement made or entered into by which one half were kept on duty for a given length of time and then the other half relieved them, in which manner they exchanged alternately. That the arrangement was kept up for three years and until the British shipping left the coast of Saugatuck, and Scituate. That he can't say by what authority the arrangement was made, but they were all compelled to serve their time, when well.
5 th That he cannot state the officers under whom nor the Troops with which he served nor the details of his service any further than he has set forth in his declaration.
6 th That he never received a discharge in writing.
7 th That Elder Comfort Burdick of Smyrna and Phebe Willoy of Lebanon have been acquainted with him for a long time and can testify as to his character for veracity and as to its having been reported that he was a soldier in the Revolution, as well as many others of his neighbours.
In 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 certify, that it appears to them that Comfort Burdick who has subscribed and sworn to the certificate here to all subjoined is a clergyman President in Smyrna adjudging the

Town of Lebanon, and that Peleg Willcox, Edward Willcox and Henry Willcox are residents of the Town of Lebanon aforesaid and are credible persons and 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 foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Stephen Willcox 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.

I Comfort Stuart a Clergyman residing in the Town of Smyrna in the County of Chemung in the State of New York and adjoining the Town of Lebanon in the County of Madison do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Stephen Willcox who has named in the declaration which this is attached That I believe him to be rightly now years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion. I do further certify that I have been intimately acquainted with the said Willcox for more than forty five years and that it has always been reputed that he was a soldier in the revolution of which there has never been any evidence to my knowledge, I do further certify that for the same time I have been acquainted with the Christian character of the said Willcox being a member of the same as with him until recently since when he was united with a different order, That the said Willcox has ever sustained a fair and unimpeachable standing in the church and for truth and veracity, I do further certify that from my knowledge of the character of the said Willcox and from what I have discerned from long standing reputa- tion I have full confidence in the facts set forth by in said declaration and that said Willcox lived as then in state
Subscribed and sworn to August 4th 1832 before me James B. Eldredge first judge of Madison Co.
EA Comfort Stuart

State of New York      Regd H Edward Williams being sworn in due Matters in County of St Lawrence of Laws state on his oath depose and say that he is sixty six years of age and that he is Brother to the Stephen Williams described in the declaration to which this is attached. That he this deponent resided in the Town of South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island at the commence- ment of the Revolutionary war, near where his Brother the said Stephen resided. That in the year 1776 while this deponent was a soldier in Company commanded by Captain Bunker and stationed on Boston Neck so called on the shore, the said Stephen Williams was a soldier or sergeant in a Company stationed at the same place command- ed by Captain Bunker that they were stationed there at that time about three months but can't say as to the length of time the said Stephen served at that time, but thinks he was there as long as this deponent. That in the year 1777 this deponent was again in the service as a soldier in a company commanded by John Kent Captain and were stationed on the Island of Rhode Island and that the said Stephen Williams was then a soldier or sergeant in a company commanded by Captain Bunker upon said and was stationed there some part of the time but knowing this deponent can't from common recollection at that time and from what this deponent then knew and learned from family accounts the said Stephen must have been much in the service for several years, though this deponent cannot speak from positive knowledge not knowing him in the service with him but then, since then as before mentioned.
Edward Williams
Subscribed & sworn before me
This 4th day of August 1832
Jamies B. Eldredge first Judge of Mass. Co.

State of New York      Pheg Willcox being sworn in due form of Law Maddox County ss      doth in his oath depose and say that he is 58 years of age
that he resided in the Town of Dekalb in the County of Madison and State of New York that Stephen Willcox named in the declaration to which this is attached is kind to this deponent and that this deponent with him intimately acquainted with the said Stephen from the time he moved from the State of New York  Connecticut into Richman Town in the State of Rhode Island where this deponent then lived which was about forty years ago. That it has ever been reported in the family and talked and understood by the connection and two Neighbours of the said Stephen that he the said Stephen was much in the Army of the Revolution as a soldier or sergeant. That many years past long before any pensions were granted to Revolutionary soldiers this deponent with often heard the said Stephen recount his services in the Army of the Revolution and from the account then and at those times given by the said Stephen of the different times he was in the service and the different places at which he served, the said Stephen must have served as long as as is stated in said declaration.
And that the said Stephen had ever since this deponent has been acquainted with him been a Member and in good standing in the Church and a man of unblamed character for truth and veracity.
And further this deponent says to wit:
Sworn & subscribed before me This 14th day of August 1839
James B. Eldredge first judge of Maddox Co.
Pheg Willcox

State of New York & Henry Willcox being sworn in due form of Madison County ss } Law states before me that he is fifty four years of age that he resided in the town of Lebanon in the County of Madison and State of New York and that he is the son of Stephen Willcox. The person named in the within declaration  affidavit which is attached that he lived with his father and in his family during the Revolution. That this Deponent dist- -tly recalls that his father the said Stephen Willcox used much in the service as a soldier that he recalls that his father the said Stephen warned the men to appear by authority of what office he does not recall, That the said Stephen remained in the service a great part of the time for three or four years, or that he was gone from home and it was talked and understood he was a soldier in the Army. That from the recollection of what took place at that time he has no doubt but the said Stephen must have served as much as long as is stated in said declaration. And that the said Stephen has ever been in the habit of frequently narrating his services as a soldier or speaking of and at least then since that the amount has been given at all the different times he has mentioned them in the recollection of this deponent fully agrees with the facts set forth in his said declaration and further this deponent says not. Subscribed & sworn before me this 4th day of August 1832 James B Eldredge first judge Mad. Co. Henry Willcox

Rev War
6412
INVALID.
Sept. 23, 1905. History to Mrs. J. P. Good, Ottawa, Kans. M.R.
File No. 6412
Stephen Willcocks
Sing Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: Vol. A , Page 408
[Arrangement of 1870.]

DM
Ottawa Kansas
Commissioner of Pensions -
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir -
Will you kindly
send to me, any data regarding the service of Stephen Wilcox of Chautauqua Co. N.Y. Private in Conn. Line, placed on pension Roll June 9 - 1830 U.S Pension Rolls 1835. N.Y page 123.
Also the service of Eliphalet Steward of Basti N.Y. private in N.Y. militia placed on pension Roll 1835. V. 2. N.Y. p. 282.
These soldiers were in the Revolution, any war and it is that service which I desire
The above data I received from our Kansas Historical Society, who referred me to you.
Thanking you in advance I remain
Yours - Resp'y. Mrs. J. P. Good
Ottawa Kans. 634 Poplar St.
7/31/05
Enclose Stamp - Data taken from cards.
Registrar Gen. Edward Hand Chapter D.A.R. Ottawa Kans