Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6260, George Totman, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Totman, George
S 6260
Carded
CONTENTS
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14192 New York
George Totten an of Cortland Co in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Pierce of the 1st Regt. commanded by Col Wells in the 1st Brigade time for 15 mos
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of May 1833 and sent to P.M. at Virgil N Y
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $ 100.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 25.00 $125.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk Book E Vol. 4 Page 32

R.a.
14 469
George T. T. man Courtland 6' NYork
Rolls, July 10, '80, - 9 mo.
admitted.
15 mo. Private
Post Master, Virgil Office N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of George Tolman of Cummington 6 th in the State of New 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? 70 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.     In 1779 - 9 Private Gen. Washington Col. Jackson   20 July 1780 3 " Gen. Putnam Col. Wells   20 July 1781 3 Gen. Putnam Col. Simcoe  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Springfield Mass ts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? In a customary way  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Papers not attested as required 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Catts Examining Clerk.

Admited Robert L.M.
E. G. Smith

POWER OF ATTORNEY — Revolutionary Pension Claims.
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Lorenzo Votman of Laper in the County of Cortland and State of New York do — hereby constitute and appoint Erving Taintor of Harford, county and State aforesaid my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of George Votman for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to Lorenzo Votman Calvin Votman and Sophia Skillingen
to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 8 th day of October
A. D. 1853.
Signed and Sealed in the presence of N P Sompkins Edward J. Everts
L. Votman
STATE OF New York COUNTY OF Cortland } ss.
On this eighth day of October A. D. 1853 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Lorenzo Votman and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, the day and year aforesaid.
N P Sompkins
Justice Peace.

CLAIM OF George Totman ACT OF June 7 th 1832.
STATE OF New York COUNTY of Cortland ss.
Be it known, That on this eighth day of October A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty three , before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Lorenzo Totman a resident of Lapeer in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the son of George Totman late of Lapeer aforesaid deceased
who was a Revolutionary Pensioner
at the rate of fifty Dollars per annum; that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me. N. Tompkins J. Peace.
L. Totman
I, N. Tompkins Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, do hereby certify that Lorenzo Totman who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
N. Tompkins J. Peace.
I, Rufus A. Reed Clerk of the Supreme Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that N. Tompkins Esq. before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed, is his signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal this 13 th day of October A. D. 185 3 .
Rufus A. Reed Clerk.

STATE OF New York } ss. COUNTY OF Cortland }
It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me Lewis Kingsley County Judge of the County of Cortland, State of New York, and Surrogate , that George Potman was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $ 50 per annum and that he died on the 9th day of June eighteen hundred and forty two leaving surviving him, no widow, and the following children, Lorenzo Potman, Calvin Potman, and Sophia Skellinger, wife of  Skellinger and that the said Lorenzo Potman, Calvin Potman and Sophia Skellinger the only surviving child ren of the aforesaid George Potman
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 13th day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty three,
Lewis Kingsley
Cortland Co: Judge Surrogate.

State of New York 3/4 on this 28 day of October County of Cortland 3/4 personally appeared in open Court before the 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting George John = an a Resident of Virgil in the County of Cortland & State of New York aged Seventy years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the Seventh June one thousand eight hundred thirty-two
That she entered the Service of the united States under the following officers and served as herein stated
on the 10th day of July 1779 entered the Service under the Command of Lieut. Story a Company of Regular troops the Regiment was Commanded by Col Jackson and served nine months did the Service at West Point above New York Received a discharge which was signed by said Col Jackson which was dated the 10th of April 1780 entered the Service at Old Springfield in the State of Massachusetts and went direct to West Point and passed through the town of Old Hafford in the State of Connecticut enlisted in the town of Shootsberry in the State of Mass- achusetts in the militia and when he arrived at Springfield was received there by Capt. Coo- per and then marched to West Point and there put into the Company as above stated. on or about the 20th day of July 1780 again entered the Service under Capt. Scarce in the said town of Shootsberry went from there back to West Point and passed through the town of Great Barrington Staid at West Point about one week and then went on to the lines down towards New York to a place called Bed- ford & Round Hill & Middle Station and.

was discharged at Bedford having served three months did not receive a written discharge as the whole Company was discharged having staid the time they entered the Service for the Col that Commanded was a Col Wells who was a Col of Cavalry the object of the party was to keep a kind of Guard on the lines,
and on or about the 25 th of July 1781 again Entered the Service for three months at said Shatsberry in the County of Hampshire in said Massachusetts entered under Capt Fishburn and marched to Albany State of New York & Remained at Albany about a week & then went to Saratoga by the way of what was then called Half Moon went to Saratoga to keep Garrison was in Col Simmans Regiment the troops was under the Command of General Schuyler assisted in building a Block house that was built by Genl Schuyler and was discharged at Saratoga with his Company, there was a man hanged at Saratoga at the same time by the name of Loveless & he further States that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can prove who can testify to his Service
George Totman
he hereby Relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity Except except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. and he further States that he served in all in the Revolutionary war for the term of one year and three months

I was born in Middlebury in Franklin County and State of Massachusetts
I was born in the year 1762
I have no Record of my age except what is in my Recollection as it was given to me when young
I was living in the town of Middlebury County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts when called into my & lived in the same County about 28 years and the Residue of the time in the County of Cortland the State of New York four years in Branton & the last 19 years in Virgil in said County of Cortland
I volunteered each of the three times that I entered the Service which was in the month of July each time
The affixing of it is stated in the body of his affidavit
I Received a discharge for the nine months it was given by Col Jackson I sent it to Boston to receive a bounty of $200 for my nine months' tour and never had it Returned
I am known to the whole of the people of the town of Virgil and as to my Character as a Soldier which Refer the Court to D. L. Allen Esq. Morris Colonel of Henry Hay and Theodore E. Plant D.M. and after the affidavit of Elder William Ames of Branton is  is  the  the  as  as  of  of Virgil and Charles Preston sworn to in open Court before me Oct 2 d 1832 George F. Folsom Samuel Hotchkiss & Clerk
We Richard  William Branton a clergyman residing in the Town of Virgil and Charles Preston residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are were acquainted with George Folsom who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Twenty Years of age that he is reputable and believed in his neighbourhood where he resides to have

been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn to and subscribed the day and Year aforesaid Samuel Hotchkiss Jr. Clerk
Horace Burlingame Charles Preston
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 George Lotman was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Alanson Burlingame who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the Town of Virgil and that Charles Preston who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Virgil and is a creditable person and that their statements are entitled to credit in the Court as further certify that
William Nallery Second Dickson Aaron Brown
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas
Samuel Hotchkiss Jr. Clerk
George Lotman 144 59. Rolls July 10 80 gms
I, Samuel Hotchkiss Junior Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of George Lotman for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of October 1832
Samuel Hotchkiss Jr. Clerk

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of George Totman a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
L. File 6260
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 10. 79 Apr. 10, 80 (Unit 386 N.H. Inf.) Lieut. Story Jackson Mass.   July 20. 80 3 mos. Pearce Wells   July 20. 81 3 mos. Tichnor * Summons  
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Shutesbury, Mass.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 2. 1832 - Allowed.
Residence at date of application, Virgil, Cortland Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, born in 1762 in Middleboro, Mass.
Remarks: Sol. died June 9, 1842 leaving no widow but three children Lorenzo and Calvin Totman and Sophia Skellinger.
(Mass book does not show record of service as alleged by soldier)
*(Mass book - no Tichenor or Tichnor - with various spellings.)

per Enr Los Angeles Cal., Nov. 6, - 19. 177- E-36 th Place.
To Head of Pension Bu- reau Wash., D. C.
Dear Sir:-
My great-great-grand father, Geo. Lotman, who served as a soldier in the revolutionary war from the state of New York Cortland Co., Have you any record of such ser- vice in your Bureau & the capacity in which he served and the time & length of service?
If you can give me any data relating thereto you will confer a great

2
Favor upon me, am,
Yours truly,
Lorenzo T. Preston #177- E 36 th Place Los Angeles, Calif.,

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by W.T. Conboy
Claim No. Nov 16, 89
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier George Potman
Service Rev. War,
Additional Service _____
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 190
No claim, combination records _____, 190
REMARKS:
No claim except d. W. dmr. File 6,260.

1909 Nov. 20. Hist. to Lorenzo T. Preston. P
Reb Mag
6260
INVALID.
File No. 6260
George Totman
Brn Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1862
Index: —Vol. M , Page 376
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Gerse Talmán

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of George Tolman Cutton at 6 th & York which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? at II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? at 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? at 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? at VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? at VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? at VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? at IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? at 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? at

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? ay
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? ay
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? ay
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? ay
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? ay
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.