Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19170, William Wood, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Wood, William
S. 19170
carded
CONTENTS

Vermont, 18. 631
William Wood.
of Rutland co. in the State of Vermont. who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Sawyer. of the Reg t commanded by Col. Dike. in the Mass. Mil ia line for 2 years.
There is a man named Wood in Danby old enough to be a pensioner. but the matches being men of straw there is a false case
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 80 Dollars 25 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept r 1833. and sent to R. Temple Rutland Vt.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept r 33 $ 200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Mar. 34 40.00
$ 240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Elmwood Clerk. Book E. Vol. 3 Page 98
Rate of death not on AG

William Wood
26 1/2 No.
20591
19th Dec

STATE OF VERMONT, } RUTLAND COUNTY, ss. }
On this 19 th day of Nov. A. D. 183 2 personally appear- ed in open Court before the Judge of the Pikestate Court of Rutland  Dis. now sitting, William Wood a resident of the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 73 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. In 1776 he lived at Leicester, Mass. & about the 1. March he enlisted for eight months in Col. Dike's Regt. Lt. Col. or Maj. Upham, Capt. Sawyer, Lt. Harrington, & was stationed at Dorchester where he served out his time & was discharged in building the Fort there, & was discharged there about the 1. Nov. Some time in the summer of 1777 when Burgoyne was invading the country he volunteered & marched in Col. Cushing's Regt. Capt. Nye, to Bennington, & arrived there 2 days after the battle - remained there some time to guard prisoners in the Meeting house - then marched to Stillwater & Saratoga, & was present when Burgoyne surrendered with his army, & marched as guard of prisoners to Rutland, Mass. where he was discharged about the middle of Dec. having served four & a half months. In 1778, about the middle of July he returned, he volunteered & served under Genl. Sullivan at Rhode Island in Capt. Mann's company, Lt. Ballard - was in the battle at R. Island & retreated with the army across Howland's ferry where he was discharged about the 1. Nov. having served 3\frac{1}{2} months. In March 1779 he enlisted for six months & served in Capt. Fish's company, Col. White's Regt. at Providence & Bristol in guarding the lines - was there when the enemy left R. Island, & was discharged at Bristol in Sept. after serving out his 6 months. In the summer of 1780 he volunteered & served three months in Capt. Stearns' company, Lt. French - he does not remember the names of his field officers - served at West Point & Fishkill - was sick at Fishkill when Arnold committed his treason, & was discharged there about a fortnight after his time was out, making 3\frac{1}{2} months. He was frequently called out on alarms at different periods of the war a few days at a time, served in that way he should

think at least one month. From age & loss of memory he recollects the names of but few officers, & is not able to distinguish other Regts with whom he served, but he remembers Genl. Washington, Lincoln, Sullivan, Lafayette, Gates, Stark & the Mentor Regts. He does not think he ever rec d a written discharge; if he did has lost it - he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. He has been looking for testimony but finds none. He was here at Leicester July 19. 1759, but knows of no record of his age except in his Bible. He lived in Leicester until about 20 years ago he moved to Vermont, & has since lived in Langdon Dors & Danby where he now lives. There is no clergymen in the place, but he is known to most of the inhabitants.
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.
Wm Wood
R. Royce Regt
We Benjamin Ford a Clergyman residing in Danby and William Gould residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Wood who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 73 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Benj Ford
Wm Gould
Sworn and subscribed the } day and year aforesaid.
R. Royce Regt
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 Benjamin Ford who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Danby and that William Gould who has also signed the same, is a resident in Danby and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Rodney C. Royce Regt.
Clerk of the Court of Reobate
do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Wood for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 23 rd day of Nov. A. D. 1832
R. Royce

20,591 William Wood
proof rec d
Notified
Services provided
R. Temple
Admit
2 years
$80.
R. Temple
Rutland
Vermont

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 William Wood of Rutland County, Vermont
   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.     Enlisted 1776 8 Pri: Capt's Sawyrs Col's Dike Battle at Rhode Island from Lee- cester to Bennington from thence to Stillwater & Saratoga & back to Rutland Lexington Massa- chusetts aged 73 Traditionary Evidence   Volunt d 1777 4 15 " Cap. Sye Cushing   " 1778 3 15 " Mann Genl. Sullivan   Enlisted 1779 6 " Fish Whitney   Volunt d 1780 3 15 " Stearns no clergyman in the neighbor- hood   as different times.  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
a claim of this extent could not be admitted without it appears that due exertions have been made to procure some proof

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 , 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 [j] 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.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
July 21, 1931
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section AWF
William E. Wood Idlewild Farm Nashua, New Hampshire.
Dear Sir:
You You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 19170, that William Wood was born July 10, 1759 at Leicester, Massachusetts.
While residing in Leicester, Massachusetts, he enlisted and served as a private with the Massachusetts Troops as follows- from March 1, 1776 in Captain Sawyer's Company, Colonel Dike's Regiment, was stationed at Dorchester and assisted in building the fort at that place, and was discharged November 1, 1776; from sometime in the summer of 1777 in Captain Nye's Company, Colonel Cushing's Regiment, was at the surrender of Burgoyne and was discharged about the middle of December 1777; from July 15, 1778 in Captain Mann's Company, was in General Sullivan's Rhode Island Expedition and the battle of Rhode Island, and was discharged November 1, 1778; from in March 1779, six months in Captain Fish's Company, Colonel Whitney's Regiment; from in the summer of 1780, three and one half months in Captain Stearn's Company; he also served at various times on short tours of a few days each, entire length of this service amounting to one month, no officers given for these services.
After the Revolution, he continued to reside at Leicester, until about 1812, when he moved to the state of Vermont, and lived in Landgate, Dorset and Danby.
He was allowed pension on his application executed

November 19, 1832, then a resident of Danby, Vermont. There are no data as to his family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

June 24, 1931
Mr. George M. Wood R.R.# 2 Rockford, Michigan
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section EEL
Dear Sir:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.19170, that William Wood was born July 10, 1759, at Leicester, Massachusetts.
While residing in Leicester, Massachusetts, he enlisted and served as a private with the Massachusetts Troops as follows: from March 1, 1776, in Captain Sawyer's Company, Colonel Dike's Regiment, was stationed at Dorchester and assisted in building the fort at that place, and was discharged November 1, 1776; from sometime in the summer of 1777, in Captain Nye's Company, Colonel Cushing's Regiment, was at the surrender of Burgoyne and was discharged about the middle of December, 1777; from July 15, 1778, in Captain Mann's Company, was in General Sullivan's Rhode Island Expedition and the battle of Rhode Island and was discharged November 1, 1778; from March, 1779, six months in Captain Fish's Company, Colonel Whitney's Regiment; from sometime in the summer of 1780, three and one-half months in Captain Stearns' Company; he also served at various times on short tours of a few days each, entire length of this service amounting to one month in all, no officers names given for these services.
After the Revolution, he continued to reside at Leicester, Massachusetts, until about 1812, when he removed to the State of Vermont, and lived at Landgate, Dorset and Danby, in that state.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 19, 1832, while residing in Danby, Vermont.
There are no data as to his family.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

19170 INVALID.
File No. 19170
William Wood
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 418
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Apr. 9, 1903 - k. to Rufus H. Wood - Balt. md 1931-June 24- Dist. to Leo M. Wood - Settes in case Benj. Wood 840732 1931-July 21 - copied E.E.G.L for William E. Wood - see his letter in Benjamin Wood S. 40 732 cwt.

State of Vermont
Rutland Co - 3
On the 9 th day of May 1833 personally came before the undersigned authority, William Dorr of said County, & a credible witness aged 73, who being duly sworn to the depon & say, that he was a soldier in 1778 at Rhode Island, as a volunteer in Capt Mann's company under Genl. Sullivan in the expedition to Rhode Island - and that William Wood now of Danby was a volunteer in the same company - said Wood served longer than the deponent, - the deponent was discharged soon after the battle of the Island, & left said Wood in service, but he can't say how long he remained afterwards - from before the day of year after?
R. Brattle Jus. Recen
State of Vermont
Rutland Co - 3
On the 10 th day of May 1833, personally came before the undersigned authority, Aaron Smith of said County, aged 74 & a credible witness, who being duly sworn to the depon & say, that in 1778, he served eight months at Dorchester, in Capt Sawyer's company, in Col. Dike's Regt. and that William Wood of Danby was a soldier at the same time in said company for 8 months. The deponent says he believes said Wood enlisted a few days before him, & was consequently discharged a few days sooner, but he is confident he served 8 months. He has not seen him before for several years, but he knows him to be the same person with whom he served as aforesaid - from before the day of year after?
R. Brattle Jus. Recen

State of Vermont
Middlesex p - 3
I Robert Brinsmade Clerk of the said County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing affi- davits were taken in a Justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned and that his name subscribed thereto is in his own hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court this 10 th day of May 1883 R Brinsmade
Wm Wood