Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11462, for David Stoel, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. 16.
Stoel, David
S. 11462
carded
CONTENTS

20. 983 New York
Let to H. G. Cropper Sept 28 1834
David Shoel
of Essex Co. in the State of New York who was a Private in the Corp commanded by Captain Weatherby of the Regt commanded by Col. Wymans in the New Hamp. line for 13 months
Imputed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Oct. 1833 and sent to Claimant Schroone
Arrears to the 14th of Ap 33 $104.99 Pension, allowance ending Apr 33 21.66 $126.66
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. Col. Miles
Recorded by Clerk Book E. Vol. 4. Page 87

23307 David Root Application for a Passport.
Clark Kaufman Agent
(Chorom)
Office 60 N.Y.
The best affidavit attached to the application papers is the same as this
Oct. 30. 1832

State of New York County of Essex
On this Twenty-Sixth day of September in the year of our Lord 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Essex, State aforesaid, John Siding (David Noel a witness of the Town of Schoone in the County of Essex and State of New York. Aged Twenty four 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 7th 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as hereinafter stated
1st That the latter part of June in the year 1776 he entered the service in a Company of New Hampshire Militia, as a Substitute for one Andrew Brander. Under Captain Warick of Charleston N.H. in the New Hampshire Line of the Continental Army, of which Company are John Gilburn & Walpole & the whole of Keene town Volunteers he served in (Colonel Mann's Regiment) of June & July he does not recollect the name of the Lieutenant Colonel or Major, he joined the Company at Walpole New Hampshire due March with the Company from Walpole through to Charlestown, Manchester, Nashua & Rutland & then back to Mount Independence. Close to Concordia on Lake Champlain, was stationed here during his whole term of service, in these first forms the Regiment, they were employed most of the time in erecting a Breast work & fortifications near the Lake shore in a point between the mountain & Lake where the town is now. The time they were employed in cutting & carrying timber to establish winter quarters. at the expiration of his four months he was discharged at Mount Independence about the first (July 1776) and returned home. He did not receive a written discharge the Company was paraded & dismissed by the Captain -
2nd In the first part of July in the year 1777 he was drafted for five months & served in a Company of Militia in New Hampshire New Hampshire Under Captain B. & Company of New Hampshire Volunteers does not recollect the Company's name, he joined the Company

at Walpole and marched with his Company from Walpole through Charleston Stockbridge to Manchester to Brimfield Farmdale where he found Colonel Herrick's Regiment of Militia he does not recollect the name of the Lieutenant Colonel or Major of the Regiment. Was stationed at a short distance from Brimfield. Frequently moving their quarters. Once marching through Marlborough towards Cambridge & back again to their quarters. Were there until the Battle of Bunker Hill on the Sixteenth August 1775. Between the New Hampshire & Vermont Militia under General M c R A party of General Bragg's Army under command of Colonel Duns. Was in the first Battle in the Goshen & saw the first Gun fired, he was too sick to bear the fatigues of the day. And after the first engagement was over which was at Cambridge. Captain M c R. to go to the Camp & stay he did return to the Camp being about a mile from the Battle ground & heard all the firing in the engagement in the afternoon which resulted in the defeat of the British. After the Battle he still being unable to do duty he was sent to Brimfield to get quarters in some house. And a few days after Capt M c R. came to see him & finding he was not likely to recover soon and his time of service was a few days at hand he got a Discharge from General M c R and returned home, after the Battle the next day then Colonel Duns and Philip Cushman died of his wounds received in the Battle, he kept his Discharge until about two years since when he gave it to Esq. Gardner Stow of Elizabethton for the purpose of making application for a Pension & finding it is now in the War Office as he has not had it returned to him he was not in any other Battle during this time of service.
3 d The latter part of May or first of June in the year 1780 he again entered the Service in the Company of New Hampshire Militia for the defense of Service for Six Months under Captain Hildreth of Portsmouth and as a Substitute for one Aaron Buttsfield. He does not recollect the Lieutenant's name Ensign. Well of Manchester New Hampshire and Second in Major Whitecomb's Regt. was called Colonel Walter Parsons having taken the Colonel's not taking the Command when under the Command of Major Whitecomb. He joined the Company & Regt at Portsmouth not having started from

as late within a day or two after the Company marched on this Annual at New York they have had Chances to remain in the First & 2d Regt Guard or to go in some of the Detachments or Manga parties that were continually going out in pursuit of the Indians & Tories that Infested the Country. & it seemed allusions being Committed by them. They used to boast of their Conquest over our's toward East Hampton & West through the Wildings to Davis & etc. He chose to remain at the East & West Haman, was Stationed at the Fort. But at the Fall of the year when they marched to Newbury & to New York (at Newbury & Davis) were Alternately as directed by the Committee of Safety of Newbury & Davis until their term had expired at the expiration of his term he was discharged by Captain Oliver at Newbury about the 1st of Decemr 1780 and returned home, the place not being a written discharge was denied by the Captain, was not in Augt Battle during the period of time, a record of Walpole New Hampshire when he entered the Service such period he continued to reside there until the year 1783 removed from there to Plainfield Vermont until the year 1805 when he removed to Johnson Essex County New York & has resided there ever since. Now as far as he was born at Killington Vermont Decr 25th 1755. He is a man of 80 years of age at home in his Bible. And it is also recorded in the town where he was born he has no Documentary Evidence of his birth in his possession. But of his service he has the testimony of the person who served with him. In his service he was a Daniel Bushnell. He was in the Battle of Bennington Every day until he was a prisoner in Germany. Except the present and declared that his service is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of Army State. With the kind Subscription DAVID HAD
The story of your affair in open court - I have thought of the court of our Lord of our own
the County of ... personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of ... order to be heard. Daniel Cashman a husband of ... in the County of ... State of New York ... ... who being duly sworn said that he was.

a soldier in Colonel Root's Regiment, in Captain Sharp's Company of Connecticut Militia. Stationed at Mount Independence in the Town of Schuham or Orwell in the State of Vermont on Lake Champlain in the year 1777. That while stationed there in June David Root who belonged to Colonel Newman Regiment of New Hampshire which Regt was stationed nearby his own. And knows that said Root was a soldier in said Regiment for some time understood from him at the time that he was engaged for nine months service. Thinks he never went to Bennington as much as more than three months.
Given under my hand this 10th day of March A.D. 1840 Edward Root
Edward Root Clerk of Essex County & of the Court of Common Pleas of said County
We Wolcott Tyrrell and Thomas Seland both Residents of the Town of Schuham in the County of Essex and State of New Hampshire do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Root who has submitted an Oath to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be a worthy and true man; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides; that he has been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that statement.
In presence of the undersigned the day & year aforesaid Thomas Seland Wolcott Tyrrell Edward Root Clerk of Essex County
Since the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named defendant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Wolcott Tyrrell & Thomas Seland who have made the foregoing affidavits are both Residents of the Town of Schuham in the County of Essex. And that they are both credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.

Quincy Steele, Cultivation of a Passion

Signed by order of the Court
Leonard Stone- Clerk
I Leonard Stone Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Bucks do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the Application of David Stone for a pension.
The within whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Twenty sixth day of September A D 1832
Leonard Stone- Clerk
From the above in foregoing Declaration, Affidavits & Subpoenas now in my hand and authenticated. Submitted & sworn to before the Court the above Applicant has examined in the Clerk's office & has found the affidavits of David C. Cashman and of Geminia Landford & Molly Stone taken before Wilcott Lyall Esq. a Justice of the Peace in Schuylkill in the year 1829. for the purpose of making an application for a Pension. And also his Discharge from the Service in the year 1777. and the affidavit of Moses Mott taken before Alexander Cook a Justice of the Peace of Berks County - all which papers he believes come in the War Office or else lost. That he has procured a Certificate of the Clerk to the last just mentioned Affidavits. And herewith subjoins & sends them to the Department -
David Stone

Personally appeared before me Gemima Landford and Molly Stoll and being duly sworn deposed and swith that they were well acquainted with David Stoll since the year 1776 in the Month of June or July of the same year he enlisted in to the five Months service to go to Secondarage and he went away and was gone five months and returned with other soldiers that was enlisted at the same time - And in the year 1777 he went in to the American service for two Months (July & August) under General Starks to go to Bennington and was gone for that length of time - In the year 1780 he enlisted for six months to go to the North part of Vermont and and returned the last of November or first of Decem- All the above statement is according to our best recollection and belief - We understand that the said David Stoll served under Maj. Whitehead and was with his rangers from Connecticut river to Lake Champlain and from there to Saratoga Gemma Landford Molly Stoll
The above affidavit was read and approved before me at Johnson this 28 day of December 1829
Wilbur Ferris Justice of the Peace

State of New York Essex County ss
I Leonard H. Clark of the County of Essex and Clerk of the Court of Assizes and Sessions of said County do certify that Wolcott Tyrrell before whom the within affidavit-pretended to have been sworn was on the day when the same day after the date of the same a petition of the Peace in and for said County duly appointed and sworn. And further that I say unto you with the hand writing of the said justice and with the seal of said justice to said affidavit in proof of said affidavit as to his own proper hand writing signature. Witness my hand seal of office this 27 day of September 1832.
Leonard H. Clark
We the undersigned Justices and Judges of the Court of Assizes and Sessions in the Town of Ticonderoga in the County of Essex and State of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jeremiah Langdon and Moses Clark who have sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavits and we know them to be credible witnesses.
Jeremiah Langdon Moses Clark
Sworn and subscribed before me Wolcott Tyrrell Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jeremiah Langdon and Moses Clark who have sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavits and I know them to be credible witnesses.
Wolcott Tyrrell J.P.

Still - New York 14. Sherman-Candy
Be it known that whereas
Atwater Cook in & Justice of the peace in and for the County of Middlesex, formerly of the States With the said Cook in due time was that in the said Middlesex County of the State of New Jersey the said Atwater Cook which said Cook existed both in one day in the month of June or July in the year 1775 for three months and served in a company commanded by Capt. Walker in Colo. Wyman Regiment in the New Hampshire Troops then in the said Department served in said Company until the 10th day of October 1775 and then was discharged on which day said Cook was each in the service of the United States and the Department has no doubt but that said Cook served not only there and further that said Cook did not
name - subscribed this 22 nd day of June 1853
of June 1853
Atwater Cook Justice of the Peace
we Joanna Griswold & Sarah Gales do hereby certify that the said Joanna Griswold and Sarah Gales are the true and lawful daughters of the said Atwater Cook and that the said Joanna Griswold and Sarah Gales are the only daughters of the said Atwater Cook and that the said Joanna Griswold and Sarah Gales are the only daughters of the said Atwater Cook
Joanna Griswold Sarah Gales
Atwater Cook Justice of the Peace

State of New York Franklin County Clerk's Office
I Francis C. Opium Deputy Clerk of the County of Franklin do hereby certify that Walter Cook Jr. before whom the two foregoing affidavits for part have been sworn was at the date of each a justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid & duly qualified & authorized to act as such and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice & believe the signatures of "Walter Cook Jr." to be his own proper hand writing and sig- nature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County & of the County Clerk this twenty second day of June 1888 —
F. C. Opium

State of New York } Herkimer County } ss.
Be it known that before me A Notary Public for a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Moses Witt and made oath in due form of law that he is well acquainted with David Steel & that the said de- ponent & said David Steel enlisted both in One day in June or July Seventeen Hundred & Seventy Six for five Months & served under Captain Weatherby's Union Col. Niman in the New Hampshire Troops that he the said deponent served in said Company till the 18th day of October 1776 & then rec'd an honor discharge signed by H. Gates after which day said David Steel was had continued in the Service of the United States & the deponent has no doubt but that he served out his time that he rec'd Moses Witt Sworn and subscribed this 9th day of December 1829 before me Moses Witt Justice of Peace

103362
David Stahl New York aw
13 miles [?] 13 miles [?]
Admitted
Private 13 months
Wm. Washington City
280 Commonwealth War Department
David Stahl At Court [?] New York
25 Feb with Lower New York aw

Schroon 1 st July
July 6 N.Y.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Pension Affair

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 show 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, showing the Service of Isaac More Essex County State of 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     Sub 1776 3 priv Capt Mather by Col Newman Genl Stark 74 years Walpole { Documentary Evidence and Living Witnesses Affidavit of authenticity Credibility of the Witnesses not certified   Aug 1777 2 Capt Mather Col Mather Capt Mather New Hampshire   Sub 1780 1 sergeant Col Mather  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
J. L. Edwards Esq:
Schoharie Essex County N.Y. July 1 st 1833
As soon as may be an answer to the within claim of David Steel will be thankfully acknowledged, directed to Schoharie P.O. to my care, as in common with others Mr. Steel is anxious & no doubt meritorious & to dispel the error pointed out herein has made him tedious & expensive journey & cause increases his anxiety as to the expiration the enquiry & Respectfully your very obedt. Servt: Clark Ransom

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 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 place 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.

... discharge
David Steel 2000 miles N.H.
... 1890

David Abel is discharged from my Brigade by reason of his infirmities during this camp- aign - By order of Brigadier Genl. Cook
John Croucy V.B.
Wagoner building 20 Mts. D 22nd Btry. Pa. Art. B 23rd July 25 1860
Genl. John C. Croucy

Revised
11462 INVALID.
File No. 11462
David Starr
Prof. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 860
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Yesterday came before me the surgeon David Cushman and said that you left with and said that he was a soldier in 1861 in the Prussian army in the five months service and that the regiment to which he belonged was stationed on Mount  Independence at Richmond  Virginia - and the further said that that the Northampton  Regiment was stationed at the same place for the same time at which time and place he became personally acquainted with David Steel who at that time belonged to the Northampton  Regiment and according to his best recollection and belief said Steel served in that Regiment for the term of five months and further that it is the identical service that was made record in the service of Commonwealth of Massachusetts - and further that he has the discharge of said Steel and I have the same before me this day
Given under my hand this 26th day of March 1882
David Cushman surgeon and commissioned officer in the service of the Commonwealth
Will  Steel  the  same

State of New York County of Essex ss. I Leonard Shaw Clerk of the county of Essex & clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county do hereby certify that Rolland Bryant was before him the within affidavit prepared to him then known to be the person described in the description of the person who is a true bill of the person to him for said county duly elected & sworn clerk of said Court. I am well acquainted with the said Rolland Bryant and know him to be the person described in the said affidavit to be the person who is a true bill of the person to him for said county The foregoing affidavit was sworn to before me this 27 day of September 1832
Leonard Shaw Clerk