Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9993, for Joseph Putney, New Hampshire

SERVICE Continental N. V.
NUMBER
Putney, Joseph
S. 9993
carded
CONTENTS

58211. 5841
New Hampshire
Joseph Putney
of Merrimack in the State of N H who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Stark in the N H line for 20 Days.
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of Feb 1833 and sent to Col J. H. Stark (H of Reps)
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $99.99 Semi-annual allowance ending 1 st Mar 33.33
$133.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H M c Blain Clerk Book D Vol. 1 st Page 177.

18,669
Joseph Putney
Pay
1 year & 8 Months
Atkins
$ 6666
J. M. Barker
HR

18,669
BRIEF in the case of  Joseph Putney  of  Merimack Co  in the State of  NH  (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? about  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? no  3. How old is he? 77  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     '75- 1 may 18 — 8 — private Genl. Stark  Baldwin  Levi Stark   first of the year '70 1 — — Capt Hale  Levi Stark  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? (Bunker Hill)  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hopkinton  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W.C. Easton Examining Clerk. 12 Feby 33

Joseph Putney
Dec.
Hopkinton
18669
Mr Harper
NR

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Merrimack
On this 28 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said County , now sitting, Joseph Putney a resident of Hopkinton in the County of Merrimack and State of N. H. aged 77 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated—That he enlisted at Hopkinton in the (now) County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire the first of May A.D. 1775 immediately after Lexington Battle under Lieut. John Hale in Capt. Baldwin's Comp. Col. Stark's Reg't in the New Hampshire line Marched to Medford near Boston Stationed there until the Bunker Hill Battle , was in that Battle after the Battle marched to Winter Hill , during the Battle Capt. Baldwin was killed and Lieut. Hale became Captain for eight months, served out there the full time of eight months and honorably dismissed but did not take a written discharge.
That he enlisted at Winter Hill the first of the year A.D. 1776 under Capt. John Hale aforesaid for one year in the New Hampshire line and marched to New London embarked thence by water to New York City stayed there about one month then by shiping to Albany , thence to Lake George then to Lake Champlain then down the Lake to St. Johns , thence returned to Mount Independence and then served until the expiration of one year and during the above service was under the command of Col. John Stark , was honorably dismissed but did not take a written discharge.
That he actually served in the two above enlistments twenty months. That he has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except the affidavits herunto annexed.
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
Joseph Putney
We, Samuel Bloddel residing in Hopkinton and Richard Straw late of Hopkinton now residing in Warner hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joseph Putney , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 77 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
Samuel Bloddel Richard Straw
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Samuel Bloddel who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the said Hopkinton and that Richard Straw , who has also signed the same is a resident in the Warner N.H. and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Boswell Stevens Judge of Probate
I, H. B. Chase, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Merrimack , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of the said Joseph Putney for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 28 th day of August , A.D. 1832
H. B. Chase, Register of Probate.

Rev has
9993
INVALID.
File No. 9993
Joseph Putney David Putney
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 304
[Arrangement of 1870.]

18669 Joseph Putney
Im Harper HR

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Putney which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? — IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned 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? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service ?  No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ?  No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had ?  ✓
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service ?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses ?  Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct ?  Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service ?  Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ?  Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?  No to 3 d . 
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 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 shewn 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.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
‡ QUERE XVI.  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 paper 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.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

Thomas Eastman for his son Putnam — Affidavit

I Thomas Eastman of Bristol in the County of Grayton and State of New-Hampshire formerly of Hopkinton in the County Hillsborough (now County of Merrimack & State aforesaid) testify and say, that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-five soon after the Battle of Lexington and before the battle of Bunkerhill I enlisted to serve as a private soldier in the continental Army for the term of eight months under Lieut. John Hale; and Joseph Putney of said Hopkinton enlisted at the same time as a soldier into said company to serve in the New-Hampshire Militia, and immediately after the battle of Lexington said Putney and myself marched with said company to Medford in the State of Massachusetts and remained there until the battle of Bunkerhill, and when at Medford Capt. Isaac Baldwin's Company of Hillsborough in said County of Hillsborough, was united to Lieut. Hale's Company, and said Baldwin took the command when we marched to Bunkerhill in Col. John Stark's Regiment, and were in the battle during which Capt. Baldwin was mortally wounded, and was carried from the battle ground to Medford and died the same night, and was then buried; after Capt. Baldwin died they cut out the ball which passed nearly through his said Baldwin's body, which was shown to me by Lieut. Hale, and said Putney and myself continued in said Company (com-

- marched by Lieut. Hale after Capt. Baldwin's death) at Winter Hill during the term of eight months from the time of our enlistment, when we were discharged, and went home to Hopkinton; and in the next year, viz. 1776 in the first part of the year, sometime in the Winter Lieut. Putney and myself enlisted again under Capt. Hale in the New-Hampshire Militia, for one year, and immediately marched to New-London in Connecticut, and then took ship and went by water to New York City where we remained about a month, and then went up the River to Albany. Several Companies belonging to Col. Stark's Regiment were in company with us; We then con- -tinued our route to Lake George and took Batteaux and Boats and then went through Lake Champlain to St. Johns and a part of the Companies went to Montreal, and the Small Pox getting into the Army while we were in Canada, we came back to Champlain point near Crown Point, and staid there until the ensuing fall - a number of the Soldiers had the Smallpox, and myself among the number; our Ensign, Issac Carr, and about twenty of the Soldiers of our Company died: among whom were Nathaniel Putney , John Clemens and , Phinehas Kimball a Sergeant, Dexter Stickney drummer, Nathaniel Griffin, Phinehas Stanley, Daniel Smith and Samuel Smith all of Hopkinton who died of the Small- -pox at that place - We were dismissed in November 1776 after the fall of Snow and returned home to Hopkinton; Lieut. Putney came home about a fortnight

after I did; and Capt. Hale returned home about the same time with several other soldiers. I further testify and say that I shall be seventy seven years old in September next, and said Joseph Putney is, according to the best of my belief and knowledge a few months older than I am. —
Thomas Eastman
State of New Hampshire Grafton To August 14th 1832. —
Then the said Thomas Eastman personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed contains the truth, and nothing but the truth, according to the best of his knowledge & recollection before me Mary Haren Bradley Justice of the Peace
Grafton To August 14th 1832. —
I hereby affirm that Thomas Eastman the signer of the above deposition & affidavit is a credible Witness, and that full credit is due to his testimony. —
State of New Hampshire Secretary's Office Aug. 14. 1832
M. H. Bradley Justice of the Peace
The above named Mary Haren Bradley is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Grafton duly constituted and sworn. Her testimony whereof, I have here set the seal of the State. Her signature is her genuine hand writing.
Nathaniel G. Secretary.