Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28,953, Joel Winchip, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Winchip, Joel.
S. 28.953.
CONTENTS

New York N o 24, 1833
Joel Winchip of Warren Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the _____ commanded by Captain Sisson of the Regt. commanded by Col. Gration in the Mass. Troops line for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28. day of March 1834 and sent to Hiram Barker Queensbury, Warren Co. N. Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 79.98 Semi-ant. allowance ending 6 Sep. " 13.33 $93.31
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book E. Vol. 4 Page 129

State of New York 3.18 County of Warren 3
On this Twelfth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared before me William Barker a Judge of Warren County Court, Col Joel Winckip a resident of the Town of Tannsbury in the County of Warren and State of New York, aged Seventy two 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 March 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. I enlisted the tenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and eighty, for eight months service. I paraded Muster on that day at South Hadley Massachusetts and Marched to Old Hartford from there to Litchfield in Connecticut, from there to Olbong & thence to Fishkill New York & from there to West Point. The name of the officer under whom I enlisted I have forgot - after our arrival at West Point we were attached to the continental companies to fill them up - I was attached to Captain Summers Company - Colonel Gratiot's Regiment - The major's name was Oliver - I was employed during the fall to work on the fortifications at West Point - and on the approach of winter we went into winter quarters at a place then called continental village near Fishkill - In the month of February a part of the company I belonged to together with four other companies were sent to White Plains to guard the inhabitants from the aggressions of the Tories, whilst we were there we were under the command of Colonel Thompson - who did not rank as colonel in the Army but whilst there was so called - whilst stationed at White Plains

we had an engagement with a party of British and Tories - we remained at White Plains about three weeks, and were relieved, and marched back to Continental Village, and I remained there until I was discharged at the expiration of the term of my enlistment on the tenth day of April one Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one -
I resided in the town of Pelham County of Hampshire Massachusetts when I entered the service, after being discharged I returned to Pelham where I remained about four months, I then went to New Hampshire where I lived about one year and from there I went to Belchertown Massachusetts & from there to Kingsbury Washington County New York where I lived a short time & from there I moved to Danbury (now in Warren County NY) where I now reside & have for forty eight years - I was born in Lexington Massachusetts on the first day of May one Thousand Seven hundred & sixty one - as I have always been informed. I have no record of my age I entered the service by voluntary enlistment
Whilst stationed at West Point in the fall of 1780 I saw General Washington, who was there then in command, whilst in winter quarters at Continental Village General Nixon, commanded. I knew also Colonel Nixon Colonel Graton Major Oliver adjutants Sprout & Porter. Their given names do not recollect - At the expiration of my term of service I received a written discharge signed either by Captain Sumner or Colonel Graton - by which I do not recollect - and I have lost it.
He has no documentary evidence of his services and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services

He would state the name of Elders William Grant and John Manchester who can testify as to my character for truth and veracity and to my reputation of having been a soldier of the revolution
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 before me William Barber a judge of Warren County Court
Isaac Winchip
We William Grant a Clergyman residing in the town of Bolton County of Warren and John Manchester residing in the town of Manchester in said County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Issac Winchip who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy two 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
Wm Grant John Manchester
Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me William Barber a judge of Warren County Court
And I do hereby certify that it is my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named

applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And I further certify that it appears to me that William Frank who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Bottom Warren County, and that John Manchester who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Quinebaug County of said and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit - And I also further certify that I am well acquainted with the above named applicant, and that from bodily infirmity he is unable to attend the sitting of the court.  Hiram Barber a Judge of Warren County Court
State of New York } County of Warren } p Thomas Archibald Clerk of the said County do certify that Hiram Barber before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same, a Judge of Warren County Courts and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature.  Witness my hand and seal of office This Twentieth day of December A.D. 1833
Thomas Archibald Clerk

29614 Joel Winchip
on rolls of Col. Grattan's reg t
Enl d 10 th Aug 1777
Dis d 10 Apr 1780
Admitted Private 8 months
Hiram Barker Esqr Lewistown Dunbar . Warren Co NY

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjjoined 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. These 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 Joel Winchell N.Y.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Aug 10 th 1780. was attached to 8, " Officers forgotten Capt Summers Col d Gorton 72. born in Leavittown Mass entered in Pelham has no documentary evidence — knows of no one living to prove his service Certificate of clergy and citizen — inform and unable to attend Court — Papers Attached & Authenticated  
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
JAMES 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 days 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 inquiry 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.
☞ 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

28 953 Pay INVALID.
File No. 28,953
Joel Winchell Rev Rev Rev
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 252
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Quincy Ms. December 31 st
From Dear Lewis Secretary of War Washington D.C.
New York. original 26 Mch 1833
Pension Office 614

Pittsburgh November 6th New York December 21 st 1833
Dear Sir
Enclosed I transmit to the Department the papers relating to Joel Winship's appli- cation for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832. Should any communication be deemed proper by return please to direct to your most obedient
Hiram Barker
Hon Lewis Cass Secretary of War