Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14834, Amariah Winchester, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Winchester, Amariah
S. 14834
carded
CONTENTS

Sir to Mr. Winchester Feb 10/54
8842
New York @ Amariah Winchester
of America in the State of New York who was a for [?], in the Company, commander by Captain Billings of the Regt, commander by Col. Clinton in the N. York line for 7 mos 21 days 1 " for 3
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 38 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of Apr 1833 and sent to A Torrey Poughkeepsie
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $76.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 19.16 $95.82
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book C Vol. 4 Page 36

13.327
Amariah Winchester
admitted.
7 mo orderly Sergeant. 1 mo Private.
Alex r Talbot Poughkeepsie — N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of Amariah Winchester of America in the State of N. York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79 Years  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. As a Gen.     Spring In 1775 7 orderly Sergeant Col. A. Billings Col. Jas Clinton N. York   Fall of 1777 or 1778. 1 Private Col. Ransom Col. Humberth "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? at the taking of Fort St. Johns  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Poughkeepsie N. York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? they are enrolled 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Gordon Examining Clerk.

13.327
Amariah Winchester
admitted
7 mo Orduly Sergeant 1 mo Private.
Feb 10

south through the Highlands and joined the regiment at Clarkstown near the New Jersey line, stationed there and was out on scouts watching the enemy, until they retired, when the deponent was discharged after serving one month as a private. That the deponent was born in New Lond in Connecticut on the 13. Feb. 1753, and has lived in the town of Amenia in Dutchess County since the Revolutionary war and now resides there. That he has not any direct proof of his said services. He 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. Deponent has a record of his age in a book at his residence in Amenia.
Sworn in open court Sept. 24. 1832.
Amariah Winchester
Henry Bresee Clerk
State of New York
Dutchess County 3d: Henry Swift and Eleazer M. Swift of the said County of Dutchess being duly sworn do severally depose and say that they are well acquainted with Amariah Winchester who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that they believe him to be of age therein stated; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that they concur in that opinion, and also that the said Amariah Winchester is a person of unexceptionable character as to truth and veracity, and that he is entitled to full credit on oath.
Subscribed and sworn in open court Sept. 24. 1832.
H. Swift Eleazer M. Swift
Henry Bresee 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 it appears to them that Henry Swift and Eleazer M. Swift who have signed and sworn to the preceding affidavit are resident in the County of Dutchess, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Henry J. Braver Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Dutchess do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Amariah Winchester for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court this twenty fourth day of September in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Henry J. Braver Clerk

Reserve
14834 INVALID.
File No. 14,834
Emariah Winchester Sergt. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 412
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Memoranda 1854 1855 1856
Amasa Winchester P.O. Salem H. Bly New York
Washington D.C.

W m J C Heath. Commissioner of Pensions
Dr Sir understanding that there is some back arrearages due the Solours of the Revolution and as my Father was a Solour in that war will you have the goodness to inform me whether this is the case and if so what steps is necessary for me to take he was a sergeant and drew a pension for some years before his Death his name was Amariah Winchester ————— Amariah Union Dutchess Co N.Y. Feb 4. 1854 Respectfully yours Milo Winchester

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Amariah Winchester 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? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? None
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?
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? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so 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 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.
†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.