Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9975, for David Mead, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Mead, David
S. 9975-
CONTENTS
carded

New York 28.760
David Mead
of Butchers in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Green of the Reg t commanded by Col Green in the New York line for 8 months 12 days
susp d see letter to Alb P. Agt. 21. Aug. 1840 - do. to same Aug. 29. 1840
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 27 Dollars 98 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of June 1834 and sent to John L. Delony Beckmanville etc.
Arrears to the 4th of March '34 $ 83.94 Semest. allowance ending Sep r 4 '34 - 13.99
$ 97.93
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Sam l H. Page Clerk, Book E Vol. 4 Page 108

In the matter of David Mearns Pension application
Amended
Final answer to John & Delong Beckmanville N.Y.
12 26.66 11 1.32 12 29.98 12 12

① Declaration of David Head in order to obtain the Benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832.
State of New York County of Genesee
ss - On this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the (Judges of) the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Genesee the same being a Court of Record and having a seal now sitting David Head a Resident of the town of Gainesville in the County of Genesee and State of New York aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to ob- tain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated to wit. — He enlisted into the Continental service (New York line) at North Castle in Westchester County in the State of New York, on or about the first of August in the year 1775 (as near as he can now recollect) for the term of five months in a company command- ed by Captain Jonathan Platt Lieutenants David Dunn & — Buff, attached to a Regiment commanded by Colonel James Holmes — the number of said regiment he has forgotten — said Company was formed at North Castle and marched to Tarrytown where they joined one other company commanded by Captain Mills, which said two companies went by water in a Schooner to Albany on the North River — At Albany they tarried a few days and then marched (Colonel Holmes having command) to Fort George on Lake George passing a place called Half Moon where they crossed the River — they drew their blankets on board the Schooner and their Regimentals at Albany — they tarried about a week at Fort George, during which they

were engaged in transporting lumber in a season to Ft.enderoga on Lake Champlain - then five boats loads of Cannon balls were transported from Ft.enderoga to an encampment 2 miles below St Johns and this Declarant went with other soldiers on board of one of the boats & assisted to work the same at the oar - under the Command of Lieutenant Riker of New York - next day after arriving there entered the fort at St Johns and in a day or two after returned to Ft.enderoga with British prisoners, where he remain- ed with the troops, where he remained until about the middle of January 1776, and 2 weeks after said term of five months service had expired, during which time he worked with his mess mate in a Black Smith shop and blew & struck for him - he took no written discharge, but was regularly dismissed by his officers and returned home on foot (through deep snow) to North Castle aforesaid where he arrived about the first of February having been absent about 6 months.
In the fall of the year 1776 the militia of North Castle & the surrounding Country being called into service by reason of the appearance of the British on Long Island he marched in a company Commanded Captain John Greene of Round hill, to New York and joined a Regiment Commanded by Colonel Greene, a Brother of said Captain Greene but whose christian name he does not now recollect. They were stationed near the Grand Battery, where they remained until our troops were driven off Long Island by the British - three times said Regiment marched down to Ferry stairs to cross over to Long Island, and were as often ordered back again, and did not join the Battle there soon after this Declarant accompanied a sick officer (by permission of his Captain) to North Castle the name of said sick officer was Knapp - but his rank this Declarant has forgotten - having

been in the service at this time a little more than a month - Early the next spring this declarant removed from Worth Castle to Fredericktown a distance of 15 or 20 miles easterly of Pekskeill where he resided a little more than two years - In the spring following he marched with a company of militia from Fredericktown under command of Captain Joel Moad to Littlefield in Connecticut to intercept the British on their retreat from Danbury - they united with other companies near at Compo point in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Lutington Littleton where they had a pretty smart skirmish with the British soon after which he & said troops returned home to Fredericktown taking no discharge but a parole one - having been absent only 3 or 4 days - that some time a little before harvest the same summer he thinks in July he again marched with the militia of Fredericktown under Captain Joel Moad and Colonel Lutington to Pekskeill on the Hudson River to prevent the British from landing there, where the said militia troops lay encamped about 2 weeks, during which time the British (shipping) tenders re-passed up the river, when receiving a parole discharge he and said troops returned home - That the next year 1778 some time in the fall, the month he cannot tell but knows that fruit apples &c was just getting ripe he again went with the same militia company commanded by the same officers to a place called Crum Pond a little back from the North River, where they remained about two weeks on guard to keep off the "Cow Boys" and others at the expiration of which time the said troops again returned home with only a parole discharge - In the spring following 1779 he removed to Fishkill near the North River, that some time in the summer he marched with the militia

of Fishkill to Fishkill landing to oppose the landing of the British at that place, his company was commanded by Captain George Brinkerhoff and the Regiment to which it was attached was commanded by Colonel Abraham Brinkerhoff a number of thousands of militia from the surrounding country poured in there at the same time for the purposes aforesaid. he served here about two weeks when he returned home with only a verbal discharge from his officers - That some time the ensuing fall on another alarm he marched under the last mentioned officers in the same company and Regiment to a place called Fishkill hook a little below the Landing for the same purpose as before where they staid about two and a half weeks and having a parol discharge only returned home again to his residence in the town of Fishkill, which was the last time he entered the service, and this declarant further saith that during the period of three years preceding and in which said services were performed he stood ready at all times to go with the aforesaid militia on every alarm and did serve accordingly - and that the said several periods of time in which he was actually on duty in the service together make up the period of nearly a year including a considerable time spent in patrolling the streets nights to watch the "Cow Boys" - He further states that he never at any time took a written discharge from service
And to the special Interrogatories of the Court he saith that he was born in the town of Pekskeel in the County of Westchester (then) and State of New York on the 15 th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and fifty seven - That he has no Record of his age and knows his age from statements made to him by his parents which he believes to be correct & true - which is the only means in his power of telling his age or ascertaining the same. - when he first entered the Service he resided at North Castle in Westchester County and State of New York, subsequently he resided at Frederickstown, and again at Fishkill when he entered on some of the several terms of his service - He first enlisted into the service and subsequently was called into service with the Militia, and once he entered as a substitute for another man named John Griffin - He Recollects Generals George Washington Israel Putnam & Gen. Sullivan at Long Island and General Clinton subsequently up the River - he cannot name any of the Continental Regiments - and that the General circumstances of his services are the same as stated above in this his said Declaration - he never received any written Discharge, but was regularly dismissed by parol at the end of each term of service - That he has no documentary evidence by which he can prove his said services and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service and he further answers that he is acquainted with Ebenezer  Elisha Brainerd Jr. Brainerd a Clergyman and Lewis Beach citizens of his neighbourhood and who can testify as to his character for credibility and their belief of his having been a soldier of the Revolution - and he further answers that, he resided about 2 years after the close of the said war in Fishkill - when he removed again to Frederickstown where he lived about 4 years then removed

again to Fishkill & lived there 2 years more - then removed to Middletown in Delaware County 45 miles from Esopus (now Kingston) where he resided about 2 1/2 years and then moved back again to Fishkill where he resided 6 or 7 years and then removed to the town of Portage in Allegany County where he lived about one year when he moved to his present residence in the town of Gainesville in Genesee County aforesaid where he has since resided and where he now lives. — He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity but the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state.
David Mead
Subscribed & sworn the day and year aforesaid — in open court
Timothy Fitch Clerk
Elisha Brainerd Jr. We the undersigned aforesaid Residing in the town of Gainesville Genesee County and State of New York and Lewis Beach of the same place do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with David Mead who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be seventy five 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. —
Lewis Beach
Elisha Brainerd Jr.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
Timothy Fitch Clerk

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 James Reed who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman Resident in the town of Gainesville in Genesee County and State of New York and that Lewis Beach who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Gainesville and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. —
Isaac Wilson William Mitchell Robert Carrill
I Timothy Fitch Clerk of the court of common Pleas of Genesee County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of David Mead for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 16 th day of October 1832
Timothy Fitch Clerk
State of New York Dutcher County ss. Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of the Town of Belkman in the County of Dutchess and State of New York David Mead who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he can not swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to his best recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned

below and in the following grades. For five months & fourteen days commencing about the first of August 1775 I served as a private in capt. Jonathan Platt's company and Col. James Hollius Regiment. For one month in 1776 I served as a private in captain John Green's company & Col. Green's Regiment. For fourteen days in 1777 I served as a private in captain Joel Meads company and Col. Ludington's Regiment. For twelve days in 1778 I served as a private in captain Meads company & Colonel Henry Ludington Regiment aforesaid. For two weeks in 1779 in the summer I served as a private in captain George Brinkerhoff's company & Col. Abraham Brinkerhoff's Regiment. For 17 days in the fall of 1779 I served as a private in the last mentioned company & Regiment being in all eight months & twelve days during which I was not engaged in any civil pursuit after for such service I claim a pension
Sworn & subscribed the 28 th Day of May 1834 before me James DeLoach Justice of the peace  David Mead
State of New York
Dutchess County ss. Stephen Turner of the Town of Poughkeepsie aged seventy three years and a pensioner of the United States under the act of June 7 th 1832 being duly sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted with David Mead who has made the above application for a pension that he knows that the said David in the year 1778 or 1777 served as a private soldier in
in captain Joel Meads company and in Colonel Henry Ludington's Regiment in the neighborhood of Poughkeepsie but how long this deponent does not recollect but has no doubt it was as long as said David states.
Subscribed & sworn this 29 th day of May before me Joshua White Justice of the peace  Stephen Turner
Declaration of David Mead

I here by certify that I am personally acquainted with Stephen Turner who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavit and that his character for truth and veracity is good and his statement in letter to credit —
Joshua White Justice of the Peace
State of New York
Dutchess County ss Henry D. Trier Clerk of the County of Dutchess do hereby certify that James Deloy & Joshua White before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn to have been sworn to have been sworn were at their respective oaths justices of the peace in & for said County and I am acquainted with their hand writing & verily believe their respective names subscribed to said affidavits are genuine & their own hand writing & ingenuine
Witness my hand & seal of office this fourth day of June 1834
Henry D. Trier Clerk
State of New York
Dutchess County ss Samuel Hawkins of the Town of Kent in the County of Putnam a Revolutionary Pensioner being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is acquainted with David Mead who hath made the above application for a pension that he became acquainted with the said David Mead in 1775 and that he knows that the said David served as a private in the year 1775 in Captain Jonathan Platts Company & Colonel James Holmes Regiment of the New York State Troops that this deponent was with the said David at the Fort at St. Johns that he knew the said David while he performed the duty of a private soldier in Captain Platts Company for some period of time but he is unable to state precisely how long but he has no doubt it was for the period David states and this deponent further states that he saw the said David acting & performing the duties of a soldier several

times afterwards and he particularly recollects that the said David was a private soldier in the years 1778 or 1777 in Captain Joel Moads Company & Colonel Ledington's Regiment in the County of Westchester & Butcher along the Hudson River but how long he served his deponent can not state
Sworn & Subscribed S. Hawkins This 30 th day of May 1834
Before me Warren Townsend Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with Samuel Hawkins who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavit and that his character for truth and veracity is good and his statement entitled to credit
State of New York County of Putnam ss I Jonathan Mouhane Clerk of the said
count do certify that Warren Townsend before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County, and that I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing & signature,
Witness my hand & seal of office this 30 th day of May 1834 J. Mouhane
ad 8 Mo. 12 85 pr
How the Clerk of Court certifies that the foregoing is a true copy of the original

No 16382
David Mease Seneca Co. N. York
b. All
asm d
John L. Belong Agent Mr. R. M. Miller Butcher Co. N.Y.
Mark Straght Perryville Seneca 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, showing the Service of David Meade Gensun C o N.York
   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.     Enlisted 1775 5 14 Private Capt Jon n Plott David Meade Col D r id Holmes M c N o Castle to Tany Town by Water to Albany 75 North Co l the N.Y. For testimony   March 1776 1 as a letter must Dan l Bull J n Riker of motion   " 1777 304 Capt John Green Col Green at the Battle of Ticonderoga St Johns the Rolls   Enlisted " " about 14 Capt Jon n Meade Col H m Luttenon Camp Point Johns to Saratoga with Prisoners Must prove service by 2 Witnesses   March 1778 about 14 Capt Geo Prinkhoff Col. H m Prinkhoff Gen l H m Washington Gen l Putnam Gen l Sullivan Gen l Clinton New York to Ferry Hans Sitchfield Coat Peachy Brown Town Fishkill New York   March 1779 about 14   " " about 17  
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) _____, who has 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 grandeur.
[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.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of David Mead 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.     Aug. 1. 1775 5 mos. 20 days Pvt. Jonathan Platt James Holmes N.Y.   Fall of 1776 1 mo. " John Greene Greene   Spring 1777 3 or 4 das " Joel Mead Henry Luddington   July 1777 2 wks " Joel Mead Henry Luddington   Fall of 1778 12 days " Joel Mead Henry Luddington   April 1779 2 wks " George Brinkerhoff Abraham Brinkerhoff   June 1779 17 days " George Brinkerhoff Abraham Brinkerhoff  
Battles engaged in, near Crooms Point Residence of soldier at enlistment, North Castle Westchester Co. N.Y. Date of application for pension, Oct. 16. 1832  His cl. was allowed Residence at date of application, Gainesville Genesee County N.Y. Age at date of application, born Oct. 13. 1757 at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co. N.Y.
Remarks: Two years after the war he resided in Fishkill then  moved to Fredonia Iowa living there 4 years, then again to  Fishkill, then to Middletown and then again to Fishkill,  thence to Poughkeepsie N.Y. & then to Gainesville.  There is no other data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

1919 Dec 29 Hist. to Kate F. Arnold
Reuben
9975 INVALID.
File No. 9975
David Mead
Phil. Rev. war
Act: June 9th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 254
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Washington June 3 1854
Mr. James L. Edwards
Please direct reply
To John S. Selby Back manville Fitchburg N. York
John S. Selby

Rev. Mr. Cohen
June 24 th 1919 E.A.C.
Leon Iowa Dec 9 th 1919
Pension Dept. Washington D.C.
I would like the Pension records of Samuel DeWese of Carroll County, Ind. lived there in 1840- And of David Mead - Dutchess County, N.Y. Fishkill Township. and Ohio
Kali Farned Regent of Leon Chapter - D.A.R.