Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,906, for Israel Jones, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Jones Israel
S 18906
Carded.
CONTENTS
1. Oct. 11 1761 in Ipswich, Essex Co. Mass. res at enl. Shapleigh, Me. res 1832 Highgate, Franklin Co. Vt.

Vermont. 18.687
Israel Jones.
of Franklin Co. in the State of Vermont. who was a Private in the Compt. Y. commanded by Captain Ray of the Regt. commanded by Col. Code. in the Maine m c line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont. at the rate of 80 Dollars & Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Sept. 1833. and sent to Penson St. Albans. Vt.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 33. $ 200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar. 34 40.00 $ 240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Elmer Clerk Book E Vol. 3. Page 71

Israel Jones
Deposition
Israel Jones Clerk

I Israel Jones of St. Albans County of Franklin and State of Vermont, testify and say that I was born in the town of Ipswich, County of Essex & State of Massa- chusetts, on the 11th day of October 1761; have no record of my age.
When called into service I was a resident of Shapleigh, Province of Maine remained there same years after the war, and removed from thence to Stansbridge and from thence to Highgate and from thence to St. Albans where I now lives. I was called in to service as stated in my declaration, in which I have named my officers. I rec d a discharge when I left the army which was burnt in my house at Shapleigh where I had the misfortune to have my house destroyed by fire.
I am acquainted with the following named gentlemen who can testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my services in the army of the Revolution viz in Stansbridge, Ichabod Cornell, George Vaughan, James Batten, in Highgate Hon Peter Say, Luke Hitchcock Moses Orcutt, Thomas Randall in Franklin James Heath, Samuel Hubbard, D r Pomeroy William Felton Esq -
Sworn to, and subscribed } Israel his Jones This 2 d day of July 1833 } mark
attest Chas. Jones
Before me William Bridges Justice Peace

I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the deponent and know him to be a man of truth and veracity. William Bridges Justice Peace
State of Vermont, I Horace James Clark Franklin County ss. of the County Court, hereby certify that William Bridges who has affixed his name to the within, is a Magistrate duly qualified, and that I believe the same to be his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affix'd the seal of said court, at St. Albans this 3 d day of July (1833)
Horace James Clark
Israel Jones Deposition

Israel Jones's
Declaration
18482

DECLARATION. Revolutionary claim, under an Act of Congress, Passed June 7th, A. D. 1832.
STATE OF VERMONT, } Franklin County Probate Court, September 3 d A. D. 1832. DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, ss. }
Personally appeared in open Court, being the Probate Court for the County of Franklin, and a Court of Record for said County, and State of Vermont, as will appear by the first section of a Statute Law of said State, entitled "An act, constituting Probate Courts Courts of Record,"—passed November 15th, A. D. 1821, [see 1st. section of said act,]
Isaac Jones aged 72 years, resident in Highgate in said County, 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, A. D. 1832.
That he enlisted in to the Army of the United-States in the year 1781, and served in the 1 st Regt of the Massachusetts line, under the following named officers —
In the month of April 1781, at Shapleigh, in the Province of Maine, his place of residence, he enlisted as aforesaid, for three years, mustered at Berwick, by muster Master Godwin, soon after march to Boston Massachusetts, there received his gun & Blanket, stayed there about four or five days, and from thence in company with about 40 Soldiers, under the command of Captain Hewdang, & Lient Hunt, to old
Springfield, there two or three days, from thence to Litchfield, from thence to Peakshill, there joined the army under the command of Capt Pray & Lient Warren, in the 1 st Massachusetts Regt, commanded by Col Joseph Vose, & Lient Col Elijah Vose, stayed at Peakshill, ten or twelve days, from thence to Valentines Hill, there 2 or 3 weeks, during which time doing duty as a soldier, but before the com d left he was detached out of sd company to serve as a Teamster, and served under Nicholas Corndropper, under the charge of M aj Cogswell, from Valentines Hill with a four Horse team to Morris Town (in the Jerseys) there loaded with flour & corn, & from thence across

as a teamster, and served under Nicholas Corn- dropper, under the charge of Majr Cogswell, — from Valentines Hill with a four Horse team to Morris Town (in the Jerseys) there loaded with flour & corn, & from thence across the River at Dobbs Ferry to Verplancks Point. — There exchanged teams, took three yoke of oxen and a waggou, loaded with Settlers Stores to Peachkill, cross d the River at that place, and took on board a flat bottom d Boat, from thence to the head of Elk River, discharged his boat, repair d a short distance, to a place call d Nottingham, or Nottingham Pennsylvania, there stationed till after the capture of Lord Cornwallis, then returned back to West Point, & put up for Winter Quarters. at the Highlands, from thence in the Spring to West Point, there stationed during the Summer, Quartersed the Winter following at New Windsor, in the Spring following (he thinks in the month of June, in the company command of Lieut Warren, (Capt Pray being on command) — marched from New Windsor, to Philadelphia, there stationed, (he thinks) till fall, while these teamen were sentenced to be shot viz Serg t Knagles & one Morris, but were
reprieved; the object of the troops at Philadelphia, was to protect Congress —
In the fall the troops were ordered back to West- Point, and on his return he was severely scald d not able to do duty, carried to Constitution Island, stayed there three or four weeks, then left and went to a place call d the Red House a little

reprieved; the object of the troops at Philadelphia, was to protect Congress -
In the fall the troops were ordered back to West-Point, and on his return he was severely scalded not able to do duty, carried to Constitution Island, stayed there three or four weeks, then left and went to a place called the Ned House a little above West Point, there a short time, from thence to the Barracks on West Point, there stationed till the last of December 1783, and then received an Hon. Discharge (he thinks) from Col Vose, which discharge has since been burnt in his house at Shapleigh which house was destroyed about four years after the close of the war.
He has no documentary evidence whatever.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Israel James mark
Chas B James
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
William Bridges Judge
I, John Gates, jr. Register of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matters of the application of Israel James
for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 6th day of October A. D. 1832.
John Gates Jr. Register.

16.482
Israel Jones District of Georgia Verm.
Found on register of final settlement certificate
2 years $80 -
Pensioner St. Albans Claimant Highgate Vt

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 6. 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 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. 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 Israel Jones
   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.     April 1781 3 Private { detached as a Teutonic Capt Pray Col Vose From Maine New York New Jersey Penns ly 72 years - Highland Maine By Living Witnesses  
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.

P 18906 INVALID.
File No. 18906
Israel Jones
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. / , Page 385
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mr James is now at St. Marks you will therefore direct to that place
1834 1761 73

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.

Asa Poland's Deposition in support of Israel Jones claim

I Asa Poland of Waterbury in the County of Washington State of Vermont aged sixty eight years do certify & say that previous to the year 1780 I was acquainted with Israel Jones who then lived in Shapleigh in the then province of Maine, that the s d Jones in the Month of April 1781 Enlisted into the Service of the United States as a Soldier in the first Reg t of the Massachusetts Line for the term of three years, the Reg t was commanded by Joseph Vose, Colo. & Elijah Vose Lt. Colo. that the s d Jones served in the Company commanded by Capt. Pray, in the same reg t in which the depo- nent served, that the s d Jones served in S d Washing- & Reg t until 1783 when the Reg t was discharged at West Point in the State of N. York & further this deponent saith not.
Asa Poland
Sworn & subscribed this 27 th day of September 1832 before D. S. Camp Just. peace.
I the subscriber hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above deponent & know him to be a man of undoubted truth & veracity D. S. Camp Just. peace.

State of Vermont Washington County ss. 3
Joshua W. Vail Clerk of the county Court within and for the County of Washington aforesaid do hereby certify that Philo G. Camp Esq. was on the 27 th day of September 1832 & now is a Justice of the peace duly appointed & acting under the authority of this State and that his name & the within as such is his own proper hand writing - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 18 th day of October A.D. 1832 Att. J. W. Vail Clerk. -

Francis C. Story's Affidavit in support of Israel James claim —

I Francis C. Story of Swanton county of Franklin and state of Vermont aged 68 years do testify and say that I was born and lived in Ipswich state of Mass- achusetts and there became acquainted with Israel Jones of said Ipswich now of Highgate state of Vermont, that during the Revolutionary War (the year I does not recollect) said Jones enlisted at Shepleigh then in the province of Maine now state of Maine for three years that after he enlisted, and before he joined the army he the said Jones came back to Ipswich aforesaid to visit his friends I then saw him and conversed with him about his enlistment that I afterwards belonged to Col Jackson Regt and S d Jones belonged to Col Vose's Regt I often saw him during his service and after he was discharge he came to Ipswich and I saw him and conversed about the war - am well satisfied that S d Jones served his time out, but do not know where he was discharged
his Francis C. Story mark
Attest W m Bridges
State of Vermont } Stillmans September 11 th 1832 Franklin county } Then personally appeared in open court. Francis C. Story of Swanton in said county a credible witness of the age of who being sworn as the law directs did testify and say that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true according to his best know- ledge information & belief.
Before me William Bridges Judge

State of Vermont } John Gates Jr Register Georgia District } of the court of Probate Hereby certify that William Bridges before whom the within affidavit was taken is Judge of the court of Probate with in and for the District of Georgia and that the signature is his own proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Probate court and sub- scribed my name at Stillmore, in said district this 14th day of September A D 1832
John Gates Jr. Register
Francis C. Henry's Affidavit in support of Israel Jones claim