Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8586, for Gideon Randel, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
NH
Pandel, Eideon
99 8 586
CONTENTS

MS. B. 881.
Gideon Randall.
W.C.
8586
Republca 18 Mch 1833
See letter to J.B.
Copies of papers enclosed to Hon. J. Harrington, Jan. 16. 1838. — Do. to Hon. W. H. Bond Feb. 28. 1838
James Bartlett
Rev.
New Hampshire
Feby 18. 1833.

BRIEF in the case of Gideon Randall of Strafford County in the State of New Hampshire (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71. 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. As a Gen.     In 1777 — 7 11. private capt. Enoch Page   24 Mos 3 days the whole of service  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? —  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Nottingham at New Hampshire  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
R. F. Pleasant
Examining Clerk.

13,881

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. At a Court of Probate held County of Stafford  at Batson in said County
On this thirteenth day of September 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate , now sitting, Gideon Randel a resident of Conway in the County of Stafford and State of N. H. aged 71 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 was born in Lee N.H. December 5 th 1761 and in 1778 moved to Nottingham in said State. That on the first of July 1777 he enlisted as a private soldier in said Nottingham under Capt Enock Page who also belonged to said town. That his first Lieutenant was David Blaindell of Epping in said State, his second Lt was John Hanny of Nottingham and his Ensign was Enock Hoit of Northwood in said State. That soon after he enlisted he marched under said Page from Nottingham through Epping, Wentworth, Haverhill (Mass) Myrick, Cambridge, Roxbury and Providence (R.I.) to Warwick in said Rhode Island. was stationed at said Warwick about one month. There crossed Providence River & Howlands ferry to a place which he thinks was called Seekonk and there was stationed till some time in November following. From thence he was marched back under said Page to said Warwick and there stationed till the first of January 1778 when he was discharged verbally by said Capt Page & returned home, having served six months. That he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service. And that in February 1815 he moved to Conway N.H. where he now resides.
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.
Gideon Randel
Sworn to and subscribed, the in Court
We, James Willey residing in Conway N.H. and John Luce residing in said Conway hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Gideon Randel , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 71 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 James Willey - John Luce  in 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 certifies, that it appears to them that James Willey who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the Conway and that John Luce , who has also signed the same is a resident in the Conway and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Daniel Colbathinson Judge of Probate I, James Basset Reg 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 Gideon Randel for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 13 day of September A.D. 1832
James Basset Reg.

REJECTEL
8586
P. O.
Gideon Randall
Service: Gideon Randel
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Gideon Randall W.H. Reported. Lt. Hon. J. W. Farrington March 17 1838
(4 mo. 3 days)

Jan 9.
Gis. Randall
NH
Mr. Clancy Great
cop.
Wm J. Harrington H.C.
Jas. A. Edwards Esq. Glenns Pensions. Washington D.C.
H. J. Harrington D.C.

Howes Rep d Jan. 8-1888,
Sir,
Will you have the goodness to forward to me all the papers, in relation to the claim of Gideon Randall of Conway Stafford Co. N. Hampshire, for a Pension, which are on file in the Pension Office?
Respectfully, your O bt Servt. James M c Arrington
Col. A. Edwards Esq. Com. Pensions.

Gra Rand all
Sept 4. June 1876
78 1° 4m 3a
Ed Boston Rv
Ca P. P. P.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Gideon Randolph 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 clergyman, but two citizens
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?
Yes.
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? —
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? —
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?
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 2. 4. & 7. are not fully answered. the others are. 
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.