Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,040, for Simeon Ricker, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Ricker, Simeon
S 17040
CONTENTS
carded

Maun 21 521
Simeon Tucker Lebanon in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Woodin of the Regt commanded by Col. Mugglesworth in the War time for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of Sept 1833 and Genl Claimant Lebanon York Co. Maine
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $83.33 Pensant. allowance ending Mar 31 16.67
$100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. H. Drown Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 1st Page 48

8197
Simon Bicker
April 9 th 1833
Obj 11. 18.
8197.
P. 326
Print 10 months
 33 33 2  46 66  16 67  83 33 
Clamant
Sibarar.
E
Yok co me

BRIEF in the case of  Simeon Peckin  of  Lebanon  in the State of  Maine  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Spencer  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years  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.     In 1775 2 Private Gen. Sullivan Col. Scammon   October 1775 1 " Col. Woodman Proprietor's Regt   December 1775 2 " Col. Place Col. Gookin   July 1776 5 " Col. Goodwin Col. Wigglesworth  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Berwick Maine  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  The Papers are not attached to each other as required. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Catts Examining Clerk.

Sumico Acheo.
8197

The names Peston a clergyman residing in the Town of Lebanon and Blawley A. Keny a magistrate residing in said Lebanon in the County of York and State of Maine, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Simon Nichols of said Lebanon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration dated August the 7th A.D. 1892, and to which declaration this certificate is attached; that we believe said Simon Nichols to be seventy eight years of age; that he said Simon is deputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
York ss. April 27. 1893 Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year last above named, before me Increase S. Kimball { Justice of Peace }
James Weston Percy A. May
And I also certify that James Weston who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, residing in the town of Lebanon, and that Blawley A. Keny who has also signed the same is a magistrate as above stated, and a resident in the town of Lebanon, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit - Increase S. Kimball { Justice of Peace }
State of Maine.
York ss. I Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of the Court of Probate for said county, hereby certify that Increase S. Kimball is a Justice of the peace as further above stated and that the signature purporting to be his his is genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this first day of May A.D. 1893.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.
eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.

State of Maine.
COUNTY OF YORK, SS.
ON this Seventh day of August personally appeared in open court, before the Probate now sitting at Kennebec , Simeon Ricker a resident of Lebanon in the county of York and State of Maine aged seventy-eight 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.
In the year A.D. 1775 I the said Simeon Ricker entered the service of the United States under Capt. Ebenezer Sullivan - our first Lieut. was Thomas Buttrick our ensign was Nathan Lord - We were called State Troops from the County of York Dist. of Maine and State of Massachusetts I was a resident of Berwick in the County of York aforesaid In the company that I served in went up to Cambridge in the Spring of the year 1775 - I did not go with the Company - but joined the Company the loss of men in first of July of said year and was a substitute for and took the place of Ezekiel Ricker my older brother I served in his place over two months - About the first of Sept of said year my brother Ezekiel came up and I left the Army and returned home James Scammons of Britton was Col of all Regiment Lieut. Colonel Houlton of York Daniel Root of Berwick in the County of York was Major Genl. Putnam commanded our Brigade I served as a private soldier I was home in said Berwick in the year 1777 I resided in said Berwick till about the year 1780 I moved to Lebanon
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, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of
SWORN TO, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Simeon Ricker
Before said Court Wm. A. Hayes Judge
WE, Ingraham D. Kimball , a clergyman, residing in the town of Lebanon Maine and Thomas Wentworth , residing in the town of Lebanon Maine hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Simeon Ricker , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy eight 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 TO, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Ingraham D. Kimball
Before me Wm. A. Hayes Judge Thomas Wentworth David Jones
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Ingraham D. Kimball , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Lebanon , and that Thomas Wentworth , who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Lebanon and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Wm. A. Hayes Judge
I, Wm. Cutter Allen , Register clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Simeon Ricker for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this Seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.

17040 INVALID.
1910 Dec. 13. Hist. to Mrs Edward Pierce from card catalogue.
File No. 17040
Simon Fisher
Dec 1898
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 313
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Benjamin Gowell of Lebanon in the County of York and State of Maine aged eighty years do testify and say that I well knew Simeon Nickes then of Berwick in the County of York a soldier of the Revolution. I served with said Nickes in the year 1775 at Hitting Point in said County of York one month under Capt. Stephen Bloodgood. Same Grant was Lieut and Gilbert Thaxter was ensign. He enlisted in the month of October of said year, and went to Portsmouth N.H. where we staid 7 or 8 days and then went over to said Hitting Point where we remained till discharged in the month of November after - said Nickes was a militiaman and a private soldier.
I the same Gowell also further testify and say that I well knew said Simeon Nickes a soldier in the War of the Revolution a second time in the year 1775 in the month of December he volunteered to serve under Capt. Daniel Plume. Thos Bloodgood was our first Lieut and Aaron Blaisdell second Lieut. I served with said Nickes two months in the campaign at Cambridge in Massachusetts. At the end of six weeks from our enlistment Capt. Plume and ensign Aaron Blaisdell enlisted for a year to go to the North we then chose Thos. Bloodgood our Capt and Moses Bloodgood our Lieut and served two weeks under the last named officers. They were dismissed at a place called Niter near Cambridge. They were both private soldiers. Benjamin Gowell

York ss August 6 th 1892 The above named Gowell to me is well known to be a reliable witness a man of truth and veracity, and on this day and year above named said Gowell personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above Deposition by his subscribed before me. Increase S. Kimball Justice. Plover
State of Maine.
YORK, ss.
I, WILLIAM CUTTER ALLEN, Register of Probate, for the County of York, hereby certify that Increase S. Kimball is a Justice of the Peace for said County of York as above stated, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal, this Seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm Cutter Allen , Register of Probate.

I Paul Stanton of Poland in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine, upon oath do testify and declare, that I well knew Mr Simeon Nickes a soldier of the War of the Revolution - Said Nickes served in the Company of Stephen Hodsdon Captain at Witten's point one month in the year 1775 and was there discharged. said Nickes served as a private soldier - I the said Paul Stanton further testify and say, that I well knew the said Simeon Nickes a soldier in the War of the Revolution at Cambridge in the last part of the year 1775 and first part of the year 1776. The said Simeon Nickes served as a private soldier in the Company of David Place Captain, two months and was there discharged - And I the said Paul Stanton further testify and declare, that I well knew the said Simeon Nickes a soldier in War of the Revolution in the year 1776 at Ticonderoga near Lake Champlain - Said Nickes served in the Company of Jerediah Goodwin Captain, and Colonel Mylesworth's Regiment of Infantry five months he served as a private soldier, and was discharged at Albany.
I the said Paul Stanton served with said Simeon Nickes during all the above named campaigns Paul Stanton ✓
July 9 th 1832
York July 9 th 1832
The above named Paul Stanton to me is well known to be a credible witness and a man of truth and veracity - he is disinterested in this case - Said Paul Stanton personally appeared the day month and year above named and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
2 nd instance of

The said Paul Stanton served with said Simon Dicker during all the above named campaigns Paul Stanton ✓ July 9 th 1832 } York ss July 9 th 1832 The above named Paul Stanton to me is well known to be a credible witness and a man of truth and veracity - he is disinter- ested in this case. - Said Paul Stanton person- ally appeared the day month and year above named and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed Before me Increase Sumner Justice of the Peace
State of Maine.
ARK, SS. I, WILLIAM CUTTER ALLEN, Register of Probate, for the County of York, hereby certify that Increase Sumner Kennebec is a Justice of the Peace for said County of York, as above stated, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal, this fifteenth day of August , in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutter Allen , Register of Probate.

the year 1775 in the month October I think I volunteered to serve in a Militia Company under Capt Stephen Hodsdon to go to Kittery point and mouth. I was still a resident of Berwick. Samuel Grant was first Lieut I think and Gilbert Thorne was ensign. I was a private soldier - We marched from Berwick-landing to Portsmouth N.H. where we remained 7 or 8 days and then went over to Kittery point in the County of York and were stationed in William Peperill's house where we staid till the month was up for which we enlisted - I was dismissed at Kittery point in the month of Nov I think there was no field officers over us
Soon after my campaign at Kittery point I volunteered in the month December A.D. 1775 to serve two months as a Militia man under Capt Daniel Plove to go to Cambridge in Massachusetts. Thos Hodsdon was first Lieut. Aaron Hanson was second Lieut I served under Capt Plove of course six weeks when he enlisted for a year to go to the North with us and we chose our first Lieut Thos. Lieut Hanson - We then chose our first Lieut Thos. Hodsdon Captain - We made Thos Hodsdon first Lieut and James Goodwin second Lieut, and we remained under these officers two weeks longer, and made up two months Our Colo was named Branton or Grafton I think who the other field officers were I cannot recollect I served as a private soldier in this campaign and we were dismissed at a place near Cambridge called Mystic - I returned home in February 1776
In the year A.D. 1776 in the month of July I volunteered again to serve five months as a Militiaman under Capt Jeremiah Goodwin of said Berwick when I still resided, to go to Tyconderoga near Lake Champlain in New York State - Our Company met at Berwick landing - Our first Lieut was Ichabod Cossell of Lebanon in the County of York - Our second Lieut was Josiah Parsons of York - On the 22 nd day of July 1776 we marched from said Berwick towards Albany and stopped at No 4 one week from there we marched to Tyconderoga, where we joined Colo Ebenezer Dyer's Regiment - Our Lieut Colo was taken sick at No 4 when he died - Then James Roberts took his place Genl Gates was our General We were discharged in the month of December at Albany - I served as a private soldier I have no documentary evidence of it

(4)
Increase S. Wimbald Esq.
Lebanon
Me.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
25 Aug '33
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. 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, shewing the Service of Simon Ricker
   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.      
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of } On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
G. { 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 inquiry 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 fix 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.
One part of a declaration must not be referred to another.

N
Bristol, Conn.
Dec. 7, 1910.
Interior Department. Pension Bureau Commissioner—
Sir:—
Will you forward to me, at your earliest convenience, a certified record of the service of Simeon Ricker of Lebanon, Maine as contained in his pension certificate ("Claim invalid No. 17040 ") I particularly desire that portion in which he refers to his

brother Ezekiel with whom he served alternately in the Revolution. This will serve to separate him from confusion with the other Simeon Ricker who also served in the Revolution.
I desire this information to establish my eligibility to the D. A. R., and do not wish to make use of it in any other way.
Very truly yours
Josephine Pierce
Mrs Edward Pierce
Lake Avenue
Bristol, Connecticut.