Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,334, William Walker, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Walker, William
S. 6334
carded
CONTENTS

14322
18048 New York
William Walker
of Otsego Co in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Wheeler of the Regt commanded by Col Reed in the Mass's militia line for June 21 d.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 22 Dollars 31 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of May 1833 and sent to Henry Hill Burlington
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $44.62 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. 11.15
$55.77
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded W. L. Williams Clerk,
Vol. 4 Page 37
Letter to John Fleming Sept. 3 1831 " " " Pardoners " " " " " 24 " " " " " Henry Hill " March 18, 1835 Letter to Seymour Sept. 1836 Copy of paper sent to do Dec 20 1836 at to H. Hill June 12, 1837

18048
William Walker
admitted
6 mo 21 days. Private
Capt. William Walker admitted to Bunker in Dec 1776 - settled there June 23 d in 1777 Office - See Map Book
Henry Lill Burlington Astoria County A.7

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 subjined 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 Walker Osceola County New York
   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.     Vol June 1774 " " 14 priv Capt Myers Col Concord Concord Sudbury Massachusetts   do June 1775 " " 7 do Major do Reed Bunker Hill do   do " 1776 " 6 " do Idaho age 78 years La autima  
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 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 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.

Declaration of William Walker
End S.C.W.
18048
Henry Sill

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
State of New York 3 County of Otsego ss. On this 15 th day of October 1882 personally appeared in Open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Otsego in the State of New York also sitting
William Walker a resident of the town of New Lisbon in the County of Otsego and State of New York aged 78 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 here in State was born in Portland in the State of Maine He lived in the year 1774 in Sudbury in the State of Massachusetts about the Month of June 1774 he enlisted or volunteered as a minute man in Captain John Nixon's Company of Minute men, and on the 19 th April 1775 was called out on an alarm marched to Concord and was in Concord Battle and in the pursuit of the British to Boston was then stationed in Cambridge two weeks when Capt Nixon's Comp y was discharged & he went home the first night he came to Cambridge he slept in a house that belonged to one Brindly a tory who had for- saken all and joined the British the night before as he was informed when they came out of Boston & the house was taken possession of by our troops - The night be- fore the 17 th June 1775 he was called out on an alarm under Capt Asa Wheeler (Capt Nixon having been promoted) and marched to Bunker Hill and the Battle had just closed as we arrived he remained and served about one week the about the 1 st of June 1776 at Sudbury aforesaid he enlisted in Captain Asa's Whel- er's Company in Colonel Reed's Regiment of Massa- chusetts Troops for the term of six Months was marched to Ticonderoga and remained there during the whole term doing duty on guard and on fatigue. General Gates commanded during said term Arnold destroyed the Am- erican Fleet on the Lake and Crown Point was taken by the British he went from Ticonderoga to Crown Point in a Vessel to assist in removing Families and Stores before it was taken by the British remembers the time when the garrison from Crown Point came to Ticonderoga. That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no
2 wks
1 wks
6 mo

person whom testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service that he had no written discharge. 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
William Walker
Horace Lathrop, Clerk
We Elias Cummings residing in New Lisbon in the County of Otsego aforesaid and Abel P. Porter residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Walker who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Revolutionary Soldier, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Elias Cummings
Horace Lathrop, Clerk
Abel P. Porter

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the questions 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 Elias
Cummings Alahab & Porter are descendants of said person in said county and are credible persons and entitled to full credit in their statements.
J. C. Moon } Judges. E. Foster } S. Page }
I Horace Lathrop clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Otsego do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in said Court in the matter of the application of William Walker for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 19 th day of Oct. 1832
Horace Lathrop By T. K. Cory Deputy

Rev. War
6334
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 6334
William Walker
Re Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. M , Page 391
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mr
Henry Sill Esq. Burlington Otsego County N.Y.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, October 15 th 1834.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the Pay or Muster Roll of Captain Asahel Wheeler's Company, in Col. Jonathan Read's Regt. in 1776, is not found in this Office. William Walker claims for services under Capt. Wheeler in Col. Read's Regt. in 1776. The following Abstract is found in this Office, viz. An Abstract of Capt. Asahel Wheeler's Company, in Col. Jonathan Read's Regt. which was at Secondergo, for their Mileage, from the place of their Discharge, home two hundred & twenty miles. Raised in Sudbury, Lincoln & Stow. on which Eighty one privates are allowed eleven days travel. On the back of said Abstract is the following endorsement, viz.

In Council, March 13 th 1777.
Read and allowed, and ordered that a Warrant be drawn on the Treasury for £160-15-3, in full of this Roll.
Thos Avery, Dpy Secy.
Edward D. Bangs. Secy

Burlington 20 th Oct r 1834. Hon J. L. Edwards Com de .
Sir
I herewith send you the Certificate of E. D. Bangs Secy of State of Massachusetts in support of the claim of William Walker to a Pension for Rev. Services. It would seem that Mr. Walker is entitled to eleven days for travel from Si- more than he at first stated, which he now begs leave to present his claim for, which was paper his recollection when he made his declar- ation. —
I have at several times heretofore referred to the cases of Andrew Sill and Edward Pratt, Master artificers of the Artillery in Capt Anthony Doots Company under General Knox. Whose wages in the service was $30 per Month, according to the condition of their enlistment for two years which service they performed and are received that rate of pay for the whole term of two years - now I would ask why it is that their Pensions are reduced to the rate of $12 per Mo. I have rec d no answer as yet to the above question. They think that they have not received their rights according to the provisions of the act 7 th June 1832. I think

At least that an explanation of this matter is at least due in these cases I would not desire to ask one cent more than the legal right of any claimant. That they do ask, and that I insist upon had ought to be complied with.
I am with respect yours &c
Henry Sill

Wm Walker
Payments to be made at New York by Genl. U. S. B. Bank Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of New York
March 1833
Served in Capt. Wheeler's Comp y  M s . State Troop in Col. Ruds Regt has resided in New Lisbon 16 Yrs knows to that in Gil l Mt.
Recorded in the Pension Of- fice, in Book E Vol. 4 Page 37 by H. L. Williams Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, William Walker of the State of New York who was a Private in the war of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Twenty Two dollars and Thirty One cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United
States, this 18 day of
May one thousand eight hundred and thirty-
Lou. Comp.
Secretary of War.
Examined and } Countersigned. }
J. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

me-at June 12 N. Luce
W. Luce
True
Howe J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

Burlington June 5 1837
Rev. J. G. Edwards Comr. of Pensions
Sir. I have just recd Your letter of 21 st May ult. stating that my object in returning the Pension Papers of W m Goff does not appear from my letter accompanying the same.
The object of returning the papers mentioned was to ascertain if the proof adduced was sufficient to entitle the claim to any allowance. And it was an inadvertent omission in me not to have stated that there is no widow left by the deceased but that there are children who if the claim is sufficiently supported by the proof to entitle it to allowance will make the necessary proof of their relationships. I therefore wish to know if any what amount will be allowed on the claim from the proof adduced I am authorized by the children of said Goff to make the above request on their behalf.
I have also at the same time recd yours of the 1 st inst. accompanied by a copy of a letter to the Hon. Francis Granger it appears to me that this letter to Mr. Granger must be in relation to some other William Walker than the one that I referred to in my letter to you. The William Walker that I would wish to call your attention to, renders in New Lisbon his application for a pension was made in 1832 and allowed and was afterwards suspended for an alleged error as will appear by your letter to him of the 3 rd Sept 1834. he declares that he served 2 Wks at Cambridge in 1775 under Capt Nixon 2 days at Bunker Hill Battle & 6 Mo at Ticonderoga under Capt Wheeler in 1776 since his suspension he has procured Mr Bangs Certificate of near 6 Mo of his service which I forwarded to you and the receipt acknowledged by your letter to me the 18 th March 1835. and I was requested by Mr Walker to call your attention to a reconsideration of his case. It is a well known truth among Mr Walkers neighbours and acquaintances as much so as the fact of any mans revolutionary service is generally known that he served more than 2 Wks in the Rev. war yet 1 1/2 Yr. of it was transfer service which has been altogether rejected it will be found that Mr Bangs Certificate proves nearly 6 Mo his service that Mr Walker is justly entitled to a small Pension can admit of no question.

At least it so appears to me and that his claim rests upon as good if not better proof than a majority of the cases that are now receiving the gratuity this is my view having a perfect knowledge of this case.
Yours with great respect
Mary Hill

Burlington 18 th September 1834 (Days by N.Y.)
J. L. Edwards Esq. Censor of Pensions
Sir Mr William Walker of New Lisbon a Rev. Pensioner has placed his Pension Certificate into my hands to be sent to the Pension Office agreeable to your request of the 3 rd of Sept. inst. Accordingly I herewith enclose the same. I would also beg leave to state by his request in ref- erence to his claim that Mr Walker enlisted in 1777 for the term of 2 years to drive a continental team. That he was married and drove rations and served 189 days - at the time he made his application I advised him that for such service he would not be entitled to a Pension and in his statement of his service as near as I now recollect of the same was left out of his declaration but as some doubts have arisen whether I was correct in my opinion or not at that time or account of the particular nature of his enlistment - as it appears by his statement that he was under martial regulations of service & that kind in any case will entitle a person to a pension he would beg leave to have the privilege of amending his declaration before his Certificate is corrected
I am with respect
de H. H. Sill