Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15994, for Seth Sterling, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
born
Sterling, Seth
S. 15994
carded
CONTENTS
[Dotted lines for writing]
[Dotted lines for writing]

N o 18416 Vermont
Seth Sterling of Windsor Co. in the State of Vermont who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Perkins of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Conn t Militia time for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 20 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27. day of Aug. 1833 and sent to Eliza Luce Hartland Vt.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 40.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending to Sept. 1833 10.00 $50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, 2 Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book E . Vol. 3 Page 91
Roll of on A. B.

4289
Little Sterling
✓
Wm C
6 mo $20.-
Ebene Luce Esq Hartland Vt

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
April 26 183 9
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       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.     1779 .. 6 .. Private Colo. Wells 70 - Lyme Conn no proof      I am, respectfully,    Your obedient servant,    J. L. EDWARDS,    Commissioner of Pensions.    Isabelle Sterling 

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

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or 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 [j] 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.

Seth S. Austin New Declaration -

STATE OF VERMONT, } WINDSOR COUNTY, ss. }
On this 11 th day of June A. D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of Hartford District now sitting, Seth Stearns a resident of the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged Twenty 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 in the year 1779 he resided with his
father in the Town of Lyme County of New London State of Connecticut and belonged to Capt William Perkins company of State Militia in said Lyme that from his best recollection at the first of May 1779 he was drafted from said Perkins company as a private soldier to serve six months as a Militia Man and that as near as he can recollect at the middle of May 1779 he was called and taken by Sargent Ely and Marched direct to New London Connecticut and joined Col. Wells Regiment of the Connecticut State Troops in Capt Lees company and was stationed at said New London till the latter part of November following and was then dismissed during which time at New London he helped finish and complete a Fort and Batteries and mounted the cannon on said Fort. Then returned home, having served six months for which service he claims a Pension -
Question 1 st Where and in what year were you born
Ans r I was born in the Town of Lyme County of New London State of Connecticut - March 14 th 1763
Question 2 have you any Record of your age if so where is it
Ans r - My birth is Recorded in the Town Clerks Office in the aforesaid Town of Lyme and I have a Record of the same in my Bible taken by father from the Town Clerks Office
Question 3 d Where were you living when called into service Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live
Ans r When called into service I lived in Lyme County of New London, Connecticut, and removed to Woodstock Windsor County Vermont in April 1782 where I have resided to this day

Quist. 4 th How were you called into service were you drafted H c
Ans r I was drafted as stated in my declaration
Quist. 5 th State the names of some of your regular officers H c
Ans r I do not recollect the names of any except those mentioned in my declaration
Quist. 6 th did you ever receive a discharge from the service
Ans r No I was dismissed
Quist. 7 th as to the 7 th Interrogatory I answer
Benjamin Swan Jasper Hagen
And the said Seth Sterling doth depose and say that he now knows does not recollect of any person living by whom he can identify his said service
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. }
Seth Sterling
Edwin Hutchinson Register of the Probate Court for the District of Hartford State of Vermont.
We, Jasper Hagen a Clergyman residing in Woodstock, State of Vermont, and Benjamin Swan residing in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Seth Sterling who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood 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. }
Jasper Hagen Benj. Swan
Edwin Hutchinson Register of the Probate Court for the District of Hartford State of Vermont.
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 Jasper Hagen who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Woodstock State of Vermont and that Benjamin Swan who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same Woodstock and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Edwin Hutchinson Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Seth Sterling for a Pension. The erasure in the last blank before the certificate made before signing or sealing.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 18 th day of June
A. D. 1833
Edwin Hutchinson Register

February 11, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS
Elkanah Corbin, S.43384
Seth Sterling, S.15994
Mary Morningstar P.O. Box 799 Orange California
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter of January 26th, requesting the Revolutionary War records of Elkanah Corbin and any Sterling from Lyme, Connecticut.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S.43384, based upon the military service of Elkanah Corbin.
He enlisted in March, 1776, place not given, and served until sometime in December, 1776, as private in Captain Bolton's company in Colonel Calvin Smith's Massachusetts regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 10, 1818, at which time he was living in Charleston, Montgomery County, New York.
In 1821 he was living in Charleston, New York, aged sixty-seven years and referred to his wife, Hannah, as then being sixty-eight years of age.
One Ephraim Corbin was living in 1819 but it was not shown that he was related to the soldier and there are no further data relative to the family of Elkanah Corbin.
*****
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S.15994, based upon the military service of Seth Sterling.
Seth Sterling was born March 18, 1763, at Lyme, Connecticut. The names of his parents were not given.

In 1779, while residing with his father in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, he belonged to Captain William Perkins' company of Connecticut militia and about the first of May, 1779, he was drafted from said company and served six months as private in Captain Lee's company in Colonel Wells' Connecticut regiment and was engaged in building a fort and barracks at New London.
Seth Sterling was allowed pension on his application executed June 11, 1833, at which time he was living at Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont, having moved there from Lyme in April, 1782.
There are no data relative to the family of Seth Sterling.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

P
15994
INVALID.
File No. 15994
Seth Sterling
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index: — Vol. 1 , Page 362
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1915 - Aug. 11 Hist. to Mrs. H. L. Clark.
1937. Feb. 11. Hist. to Mary Morningstar. Rec letter in Rev. ch., Elkanaugh, Corbin. m.c.s.

Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly send me a transcript of the service- record of Seth Sterling of Syene, Conn. and Woodstock, Vermont. His name should be on the ✓ Revolutionary Pension Rolls somewhere about 1833, 9

Church. Davis History of Woodstock, Vt. speaks of his services.
Address.
Mrs H. J. Clark.
Catleton, Vermont.
Rev Sec

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
S15-994
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Seth Sterling a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1779 May 1, 1779 Pvt. William Perkins in militia Vermont.   May 1, 1779 6 mos See ills        
Battles engaged in, _____ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Syme and London Co. Vt. Date of application for pension, June 11, 1823. His ch. was b. 9. 1782 Residence at date of application, Woodstock, Windsor Co. Vt. Age at date of application, born Feb. 18, 1763 at Syme Vt. Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family
Respectfully,
Commissioner.