Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,658, James Wilson, Continental (Conn.)

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Conn.)
Wilson, James
R 11,658
CONTENTS
A. Middleton, Conn. Nov. 18, 1764, res there at end. In 1832 res. Whitestown, Oneida Co. N.Y.

17 July 4 lev. 14737
On Potts-Welbs Regt
17 July 80 to 4 lev. '80
4 mo. 13.
1. militia

A
James Wilson a short Levy soldier in the 9 th Connec t . Reg t is hereby discharged the service of the United States -
Highlands 5 th Decem r 1780 — Jn s P. Myllye Maj r Comd g

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832
State of New York } } On this tenth - day of September Oneida County } 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Oneida in the State of New York, now sitting, James Wilson a resident of the Town of Whitesboro in the County of Oneida and State of New York aged sixty seven 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.
That he was born at Middletown in the State of Connecticut on the 18 th day of Nov- ember 1764, That he has no record of his age, That he lived at Middletown afore- said when he entered the service & continued to reside there until 1785 when he removed to the present Town of Whitesboro where he has ever since & still resides.
That in the spring or the heart of the sum- mer of 1780 the month or the day of the month he cannot at this time recollect with any certainty he enlisted at Middletown aforesaid for the term of six months. That the com- pany was commanded by a Lieutenant but his name he can not recollect. The ensign's name he can not recollect but the orderly sergeant name was Bowman.

That he belonged to Colonel Samuel B. Webb's regiment & Col. Huntington was the Lieutenant Col- onel & Major Mylls who signed the was the Major discharge being the 9 th Connecticut regiment. That he marched to Princeton New Jersey & to different parts of New Jersey. That he was a short time at Hightstown & a part of the time at Sobbs Ferry he marched to West Point & was under the command of General Greene, that he was there honorably discharged on the 5 th December 1780 at the Highlands having served the full period of his enlistment his enlistment six months, & received a written discharge on the above date signed by John P. Mylls Major, who commanded the regiment which said discharge is hereto annexed marked 'A' & which has been in my possession ever since
That he was afterwards in the service one month after his term of six months had expired, & immediately thereafter in the same company & regiment as a substitute for one Moses Hatch who was the drummer of the company & re- ceived no written discharge for that term & then returned to Middleton in the winter
That he does not recollect any regular officers & regiments with whom he served other than as above stated
That the whole time he was in the service was seven months
That he has no documentary evidence of his services except the above discharge, that he knows of no persons whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except his brother John Nelson of Whitestown aforesaid Roswell Goodrich of Whitestown aforesaid & a man by the name of Bemus or Beming who he believes is living in the Town of Trenton Oneida County New York but whose given name he does not recollect, the above witnesses

who knew something of his service
That the names of persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood & who can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution are as follows viz, Rev. John Frost Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Whitesboro, Judge Needham Maynard of New Hartford Farmer Lewis Berry Innkeeper, Jeremiah Powell Farmer, Gen. Fortune C. White Councillor at Law.
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
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Geo. Brown Clerk
James Wilson
We John Frost, Claggman residing in the town of Whitestown County of Oneida state of New York & Needham Maynard residing in Newhart/nd same state hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Wilson who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about sixty seven years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion & that he is a man of truth
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Joseph B Read (Deputy Clerk)
John Frost, Claggman Needham Maynard

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion 32 after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Dep- -artment, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Frost who has signed the forego- -ing certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Whitestown County aforesaid and that Nedham Maynard who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court C. Hayden, first judge
I George Brown Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Oneida do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Wilson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this tenth day of September A.D. 1832 Geo. Brown Clerk
State of New York } ss. John Wilson of Whitestown County aforesaid Oneida County } of the age of eighty one years being duly sworn says that he is a brother of the above named James Wilson & has heard the foregoing declaration read & knows the contents thereof that the said James Wilson enlisted in Colonel Webb regiment as a private soldier at Middletown State of Connecticut for the term of six months, that the said James went into the
res Wilson's Pension Papers

Service in pursuance of such enlistment was absent that time, that this deponent went after the said James at the time of the expiration of his enlistment to the Highlands in the State of New York & found the said James there in the service & this deponent staid with him until he was discharged at That place, when the said James returned to Middlestown with this deponent having been in the service the term of six months, this deponent then understood he received a written discharge & believes this deponent then saw it, although at this distance of time he cannot be entirely positive about it, & this deponent always understood & believed & still believes has no doubt but that the annexed discharge is the one the said James received at the time he was discharged, that while the said James was gone in the service as aforesaid this deponent heard from him several times & sent to him on his post dated  at  October 1882. That this deponent well recollects that the said James went in- to the service as a substitute for one Moses Hatch & was in the service one month which was immediately after the expiration of his six months enlistment, that this de- ponent was well acquainted with the said Moses Hatch & he lived in the adjoining town, That the said James lived with this deponent at the times above mentioned & this deponent knows that the said James was in the actual service of the United States the full term of seven months, so far as he can know the same without being in actual

service with him & further saith not. Dated 9 October 1832. Sworn this 9 th day of October 1832 before me & certify that John Hillson the said John Hillson is well known to me to be a man of truth. Erastus Willard Commissioner of Deeds &c
State of New York
Clerk's Office Oneida County ss. I Geo Brown clerk of the said County do hereby certify that Erastus Willard Esq, before whom the within affidavit of John Hillson purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same a Commissioner of Deeds &c in and for the said County duly commissioned and authorized by law to take affidavits, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe the signature " Erastus  Willard " subscribed to said affidavit to be genuine. Witness my hand and Seal of Office at Utica in said County this ninth day of October 1832 Geo Brown clerk Joseph B. Read, Dep. Clk.
State of New York ss. James Roberts of the Town of Milton Herk Co. ss. Oneida County aforesaid being duly sworn deponeth & saith that she is well acquainted with James Wilson, the applicant for a pension, named in the foregoing papers, that he is her sister's husband, having married her mother. That she has lived in his family upwards of thirty years that she frequently heard it mentioned in the family both by him & other members of it that he was a soldier in the war of the revolution & that it was said he was in New Jersey & at West Point & she recollects also that it was said & understood that he had his discharge & she has frequently seen it & knows it to be the one hereto annexed marked 'A' that she recollects to have seen it more than twenty years since in the chest where it was kept. That she knows his age as he was always reputed to be & that he was sixty eight years of age in November last & she has no doubt but what he is the James Wilson described in said discharge. Subscribed & sworn before me this 28 May 1833 & certify that the said James Roberts is well known to me to be a person of truth & verily Ulrich Stevens Justice of the Peace
James Wilson
4737
James Roberts

State of New York } p. Sylvester Goodrich of the Town of Rheida County } Whitestown Rheida County aforesaid being duly sworn - says that he is of the age of thirty nine years & resides in Whitestown & has always resided there, that he is a nephew of James Wilson the Applicant named in the annexed Pension Papers, that his mother who is now deceased was the sister of said James Wilson & that he has always resided in the neighborhood with him & been in- timate in the family, that he frequently heard it said by his mother & the said James & the family & always understood that he was a sol- dier in the war of the revolution, that it was said he was at New Jersey & at West Point & that he went as a substitute for John Wilson his brother, & this deponent has frequently heard it said in the family & he thinks as much as twenty years since that said James had his discharge, & this deponent believes & has no doubt but the one annexed marked 'A' is the one al- ways spoken of, nor has he any doubt from what was always said by his mother & his two uncles & always understood in the family but that he was in the service as he has stated in his declaration
Subscribed & sworn before me this 28 May 1833 & I certify that said Sylvester Goodrich is well known to me & is a man of truth & veracity
Wm Stevens Justice of the Peace
Sylvester Goodrich

State of New York & ss. Roswell Goodrich of White Plains County of Middlesex ) Thereafter being duly sworn says that he is of the age of seventy seven years & was a soldier in the war of the revolution & received a pension that he is well acquainted with James Wilson the applicant for a pension named in the annexed papers, that he has been acquainted with him ever since the said James was a boy & that they then lived in Middletown State of Con- nectedicut, that this deponent married a sister of the said James, who is now deceased, that this deponent never saw said James while in the service because he this deponent was himself absent in the service at the time said James was said to be gone in the service, but this deponent under- stood at the time that said James was in the service as a soldier, & that he went as a substitute for his brother John Wilson, that it was then talked of in the family & neighborhood & generally understood & believed by this deponent then & still believes that he has no doubt whatever but that he was in the service at the time & in the manner he has stated in his decla- ration, that he also recollects that it was said in the family & by the sister of the said James who was the wife of this deponent that he had his discharge & has no doubt but the one hereto annexed is the one he received at the time it bears date. Dated 28 March 1833
Sworn this 28 May 1833 before me & I certify that the said Roswell Goodrich } Roswell Goodrich is well known to me & is a man of truth
Isiah Stevens Justice of the peace

State of New York County of Onond } I George Brown Clerk of the said County do certify that Uriah Stevens before whom the above affidavits of Samson Roberts. Sylvester Goodrich and Russell Goodrich purport to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits to be his proper handwriting and signature
Witness my hand and Seal of Office at the City of Utica County aforesaid this 30 th day of May 1833
Geo Brown Clerk Jos. B. Read Dy Clerk

11,658
P. O. James Wilson
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: The printed list of 1852, gives cause of rejection, as
Re-enlisted: "He did not serve six months"
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

New York
Rev.
Sarah Wilson
Rejected
let. to J. B. Baker
Aug. 6. 1833
11658
Act. 7 June '32

J. C. Baker
11 Aug. '33
EL
Re vob 9
Pa 397.
1833 1833

War Dept
Pension Off
Augt 6 1833
Sir.
Wilson
The claim of James, has been examined & dis allowed - He alleges 1 mo militia & 6 mo. Continental service - By the rolls it is established that he enlisted 17 July 80 & was discharged on 5 Nov 80 making 4 1/2 months. The act of 7. June '32 does not provide for a life term of service than 6 mo. His papers are placed on file -
act 7 June
J. C. Baker esq Whillans

14787 James Wilson
certifying officer, should accompany the paper. In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal or office, the certificate of a member of congress, bearing the official character and signature of the officer, in every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal or office, the certificate of a member of congress, bearing the official character and signature of the officer, should be attached to the certificate. In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the paper is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the original, 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, and so prevent any paper from being improperly substituted for the original. QUERE VII. What is a competent paper? That must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. Must certify to the credibility of the witness, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged. The magistrate who may subscribe the certificate, must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged. The magistrate who may subscribe the certificate, must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged.
QUERE VIII. What is a competent witness? In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must be identified by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth their names and qualifications. QUERE IX. What is a competent officer? That must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged. The magistrate who may subscribe the certificate, must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged. The magistrate who may subscribe the certificate, must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged.
QUERE X. What is a competent applicant? In the first place, he must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged. The magistrate who may subscribe the certificate, must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged. The magistrate who may subscribe the certificate, must be a competent officer, and the official character and signature of the witness, and the time to which he belonged. It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served. It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served. It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Wilson which require further proof or explanation.
1. 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? 4
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
See Lynn Archives for account of S. B. Webb's regt. it agrees with soldier's acct of official
As it was contrary to the regulations of the service to enlist boys for service in the line as young as 14 years, very satisfactory proof that the claimant is the identical person named in the discharge should be produced

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? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? yes
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? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
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? yes
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? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.