Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,605, for Bill Jarvis, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New York
Javis Bill
S 5605
carded
CONTENTS

22879
New York
4568
Bill Parvis
of Strubins Cr. in the State of N. York who was a Private  in the  Comp y commanded by Captain Gust — of the Regt. commanded by Col. Warr — in the N. York line for Sergeant for 8 mos.
Private 1 " 5 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 43 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of June 1831 and sum of One Hundred Dollars Ithaca
Arrears to the 4th of March '31 $ 87.76 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4th '31 21.94 $ 109.70
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by E. C. Hiles Clerk. Book 6. Vol. 4. Page 22

22873
Bill Jarvis Yonkers County N. York
admitted.
5 mo. Serjeant. 1 mo 5 Private.
Amasa Sand Ithaca, Yonkers Co. N.Y.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the 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 Bell Davis Tomkins County N.Y.
   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.     Vol 1775- 8 Sergt. Capt Lusk N.Y. 79 New Bri tan N.Y. Traditionary   35 Capt New ell Col War ren Lansborough L. H. H. H.   8 35   9 5  
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.
R. Newman lex

In the Matter of Bill Jarvis  3 3
Bill Jarvis Pension Papers
22853
9

State of New York
Tompkins County ss On this twenty ninth day of January, 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Tompkins now sitting Bill Jarvis a resident of Ithaca in the county of Tompkins and State of New York aged seventy nine — — 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 into the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated viz: In the Spring of the year 1775 or 1776 and this declarant thinks it must have been in the former year he collected fifteen men at a place then called New Britain, in Brigs district about twenty miles east of Albany where he then resided and took them to Albany where he enlisted and the said fifteen men also enlisted for the term of Eight months under Captain Stephen Lush & Lieutenant Jerry Staats to guard the United States Stores deposited at Albany. And he this declarant served in the said Company during the said term of Eight months as orderly sergeant thereof. The said Company was raised for the special purpose of guarding the said stores and was not to the knowledge of declarant attached to any regiment. Declarant continued during all the term of eight months at Albany - he was not in any engagement and there were no continental troops with the Company nor did any other officers than the Company officers serve with them. Soon after he was discharged declarant went to the office of Doctor Ruelen Garlick of Lanesborough in the County of Berkshire & State of Massachusetts as a student of Medicine - Directly after the battle of Houbeltown in the State of Vermont in which Col. Seth Warner commanded the Americans but the particular time this declarant cannot recollect declarant volunteered at Lanesborough aforesaid under Capt. Newell and marched from thence to Manchester in Vermont to reinforce Col. Warner and joined Warner

at that place and marched from thence under his command to Allington taking with us a large drove of Cattle - at Allington aforesaid declarant was discharged having been in the service on this occasion more than five weeks but he claims an allowance for only five weeks service at this time as he cannot specify with precision how much longer he was at this time in the service. He at that time saw Col. Warner but does not recollect any other except his Captain (Newell) before mentioned. Declarant made it an invariable rule during the war to volunteer whenever volunteers were wanted and he was out as such volunteer under Captain Newell and under Colonel Smith of Lanesborough aforesaid several times while he resided at Lanesborough engaged in the study of medicine but he cannot specify the times nor how long he was out at each time. During the war declarant removed to Ballston in the County of Saratoga & State of New York and there volunteered a number of times under Major Andrew Mitchell & Captain Stephen White but he cannot state the particular times nor the length of time he was employed - as near as he can recollect he served in all during the war for the term of eighteen months and he is confident he served at least fourteen months but from the infirmities of age which have impaired his memory he is unable to specify the times & particulars of his service other than the two first instances above set forth and the one for eight months and the other for five weeks making in all nine months and one week and for this time he claims an allowance of a pro rata pension, relinquishing his claims for the other instances of service above alluded to. Declarant was born at Danbury in the State of Connecticut in the year 1753 - there is a record of his age in a Bible at Fly Creek in the Town & County of Otsego in the State of New York - when he first entered the service he lived at New Britain as before stated, afterwards at Lanesborough and after that at Ballston as before stated. After the revolutionary war he continued to reside at Ballston aforesaid for upwards of twenty years - then he removed to Fly Creek in the Town of Otsego in the County of Otsego

and State of New York where he resided above twenty years - thence he resided removed to Utica in the County of Oneida & State of New York where and at York Mills about two miles from Utica he resided about four years and removed thence to Ithaca in the County of Tompkins & State of New York on the first day of May 1832 where he still resides - This declarant was never in the service as a substitute but always as a volunteer and by enlistment under Capt. Lusk as aforesaid - He cannot state the names of any other officers than he has already stated except Capt. Lusk nor of the regiments with which he served - he never received any written discharge to his recollection - He has resided so short a time at Ithaca as hardly to have acquired any reputation as a revolutionary soldier but he finds here three persons Jeremiah Tourtellot & knows Aaron Burrall who have formerly known him and know that he has been reputed and believed to be a revolutionary soldier to whom he refers also Adolphus Downer of the same place - He also refers to Daniel Johnson Richard Davidson John Badger, David Marvin, Stephen North and Chester Jarvis (Post Master) at Fly Creek, in Otsego County, New York State all of whom can testify to his reputation for truth and as a revolutionary soldier whatever he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that the his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State.
Subscribed and sworn the day & year as aforesaid
Bill Jarvis Saml. Jones Clk

We the undersigned  the undersigned of the county of  village of Ithaca and  village of Ithaca Arnold Burrell residing in the county of  village of Ithaca  Adolphus Downer hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Bill Jarvis who has subscribed and sworn to the above or foregoing declaration that we believe him to be now ninety 7 years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhoods where he has resided and where he now resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Arnold Burrell
Sworn & subscribed, the day and year aforesaid
Adolphus Downer
Sam. L. South
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Depart- ment 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 Arnold Burrell and Adolphus Downer who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the village of Ithaca in said County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. ; and the said Court further declares their opinion, that it satisfactorily appears to them that the above named Bill Jarvis, is wholly unable to procure a certificate of a Clergyman, to testify to his character for veracity and the belief of his services as a Soldier of the revolution, for the reason, that he has not as yet, become sufficiently acquainted with one where he now resides, I Samuel South Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Bill Jarvis for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office at Ithaca January 29. 1833.
Sam. L. South

State of New York Otsego County ss
I Daniel Johnson of Otsego in said county do, upon oath, depose & say that I have been well acquainted with Doct. Bill Jarvis from the Year 1776 to the present time, that this deponent commenced the study of Physick with Doct. Reuben Gerlick in Lansborough State of Massachusetts, in the Spring of 1776, and that the said Bill Jarvis also commenced the same study with the same Physician the fall after and they both were in the study together some over two years During which time the said Bill Jarvis frequently volunteered and entered the United States Service in times of alarm, and that this deponent cannot form any estimate of the time he was out from the long space of time which has intervened, and this deponent further states that the said Bill Jarvis frequently on the first acquaintance as well as afterwards mentioned of his having been in the service previous to his commencing the study of physick, and thinks at one time quarters at Albany three months or more, and this deponent further states that the said Bill Jarvis is, and always has sustained a good moral character and his statement is entitled to the fullest credit for truth and veracity. Spent the said not.
This may certify Daniel Johnson to me known to be a person entitled to the fullest credit for truth and veracity swore before me this 20 th day of September 1832. and subscribed his name and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit in due form of Law. Eliza Jarvis Justice

State of New York } Orege County } I, Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said County do certify that Chester Davis 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 for said County that am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing In witness whereof my hand & the seal of office this 21 st day of Sept r 1832.
Horace Lathrop By Tho s K. Core Deputy

Rev War
5605
INVALID.
File No. 5605
Will Garrison
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 14 32
Index: Vol. M , Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]