Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16164, for Nathaniel Jenkins, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Jenkins, Nathaniel
S 16164
CONTENTS
Carded

New York N o 24,771
Nathaniel Jenkins of Delaware Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Scribner of the Reg't commanded by Col. Van Cottanett in the New York Troops line for 6 months & 7 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars 77 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Feb'y, 1834 and sent to Matthew Malcott, Malcottsville, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833 51.92 Sem-ant. allowance ending March 31 10.38
$62.30
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book E, Vol. 4 Page 63
Dead Paid at the Treasury under the Act 6. April 1838 from 4 March to 26. Aug 1841. Age Notified 17. Oct 1844

23981 e Nathaniel Jenkins New York 6-
Admitted Private 6 mo. & 7 days
Matthew Kendall Kendallville NY

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 17 th
1833
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 Nathaniel Jenkins Delaware County New York
   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.     Order 1776 time not stated Col Seddington No Officer given Capt Wernbner 45 years resided in Traditionary   Call 1777 3 " " Col Van Cortlandt 45 in Frederickstown Dutchess Evidence   Prop 1778 about 15 2 Leamster Mr. Officers County N York Caught Molivang Astrich no clergyman in his neighborhood. Finger  
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 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 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 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, 1852; 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.

Walthaniel Jenkins for a pension under the act of 1832 —
23981

State of New York - 3 Delaware County - 4 - 3
on this 2 th day of October 1832, personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Delaware now sitting as a Court - Nathaniel Jenkins of the Town of Roxbury in the County of Delaware and State of New York aged 75 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 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated. In the month of December 1816, he joined in the town of Hudson, Hudson Dutchess County, (but what is now the town of Coeymans County of Dutchess) in the State of New York, and the Regiment to which he belonged being assembled in said month of December was ordered and marched onto the lines and was first stationed at Castle  Worth where it laid a short time and was then marched to White Plains and was stationed at Ward's house and from there (the Regiment being placed there to guard the lines) they were moved from place to place as the exigency of the war seemed to require - until sometime in the month of March following when the Regiment was Disbanded this Deponent was with the Regiment all the time from the time it was ordered into Service until it was Discharged except when it first started for North Castle at which time he with about 30 others was ordered to Caney Swamp Prisoners to Fishkill - as soon as they were Discharged at Fishkill they Rejoined the Regiment at North Castle - after his return home he was frequently called out upon alarms and sometimes was out from 7 to 10 Days at a time generally when called out on alarms he went either to Fishkill or its vicinity this Deponent believes that he was out more than one month from the time he returned home to the first of September following

in September 1777 the Militia being called the class to which he belonged was called into the Service of the United States for three months which time he served with his class in the highlands about 4 miles above Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County and a short distance from what was called Gallow's Hill he was attached to a regiment under the command of Colonel John Cautlandt in September 1778 as near as he can recollect he was pressed with his team consisting of a couple of oxen & a span of horses to go to Peekskill in Dutchess County and from that place to Fishkill in the same County at which time he was absent from home about a fortnight for which he never received any compensation - he was in no manner during the revolutionary war at the time he was first called into service on the lines Colonel Livingston commanded the regiment to which this Regiment belonged and Col. John Strickland commanded the Company of which he was a member - he knows now of no officers of the regular army with whom he served except as before mentioned except General Washington who was with the Army at the time he was pressed into the service with his team in 1778, this Regiment is not certain that it was in the year 1778 but believes that it took the year when he was pressed into the service with his team - he was born in the Town of Poughkeepsie County of Dutchess and State of New York he has no record of his age at present it being in his family Bible which was lost in his house some years since he has resided in the towns of Middletown and Poughkeepsie in the County of Dutchess and State of New York for the last 36 years and previous to that time he resided in the place where he was born he never received a written Discharge from the Army nor a Commission neither has he any written or documentary evidence to prove his services as before stated neither does he know of any persons now living in the revolutionary war

as above set forth
he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present one and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State - Sworn and Subscribed the 8th Day of October 1832 C B Sheldon Clerk
NOTARIES PUBLIC
We John C. Keator - residing in the town of Harnady and Matthew Flahatt - residing in the town of Middlesex - County of Delaware & State of New York - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Jenkins who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be 75 years of age that he is respected and beloved 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 9th Day of October 1832 C B Sheldon Clerk
John C. Keator Matthew Flahatt

And the said Court do hereby enter their 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 the said Court further certifies that it appears to them that there is no living man residing in the immediate vicinity of this applicant and that John R. Heaton residing in the town of Harnady and Matthew Hulett residing in the town of Middlesex who have signed the preceding certificate are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
I Crawford B. Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware and State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Perkins for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of said Court this tenth day of October 1832
C. B. Sheldon Clerk

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 23, 1844.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The child n of Nathaniel Jenkins dec d . a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N. York, Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and — — — Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March, to the 26 th Aug. 1841.  Respectfully, yours,
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

16164 INVALID.
File No. _____
Mitchell Jenkins
Pre Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 123
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of New York Delaware County ss - }
Delaware County No. 3 Whereas Nathaniel Senkins of the town of Havre in the County of Delaware and State of New York York Did on the 9 th Day of October 1832 make a Declaration before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June the 7 th 1832 now therefore for the purpose of amending the said Declaration the said Nathaniel Senkins further Deposes and says - that from the time he entered the Service in December 1776 untill he was Discharged in March 1777 he was in the service of the United States not less than three months. He also Districly Recollects that in honest time in the Summer of 1777 he was at Peksikill upon an alarm Seven Days at which time he was under the Command of Colonel Ludington Captain Scribner commanded the Company - and this Deponent further says that in consequence of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot ascertain with certainty the precise length of his Services but here he is positive he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades for Six months and Seven Days as a private soldier and for fifteen Days as a Teamster and for such Service he claims a Pension -
Wathness Jenkins
I certify that Walter Daniel Jenkins the above named Deponent personally appeared before me and of the District of the peace in and for the County of Delaware on the 12 th Day of September 1833 and duly made oath to the facts set forth in the above Deposition
Matthew Haleatt A.P.

State of New York
County of Delaware ss
§
I Crawford B Sheldon clerk of the said County do certify that Matthew Hallock Esquire before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County
and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and that his name subscribed within is genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at office this twelfth day of September 1833.
C B Sheldon Clerk