Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,568, for Samuel Mather, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Mather, Samuel
S. 17.568
CONTENTS
carded

Connecticut 17526.
Samuel Matthes of Fairfield in the State of Conn. who was a private in the Comp t commanded by Captain Bell of the Reg t commanded by _____ in the Conn. line for
6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn. at the rate of 20. Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Aug. 1832. and delivered J. H. Allen, Stamford - Present
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - 40. 00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept " - 10. 00
$ 50. 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Francis T. Francioni Clerk, Book E. Vol. 3 o Page 28

Henry Ward Sumner Mathew
No 4108
aome 6 mo-pri 20

State of Connecticut, } ss. Stamford Probate District County of Fairfield, }
On this 7 th day of Augt. 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate for said District,
now sitting,
Samuel Morton a resident of Darien in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged Sixty six years, who being first 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: viz. In the month of April 1782 he enlisted into a company of State Troops commanded by Capt. Joseph Bell Lusk. Stephen Bishop for the term of six months & served out his time & was discharged by word of mouth he served this six months under the immediate command of Lieut. Bishop who had charge of a portion of the company which were stationed at Middlesex — That he was born in that part of Stamford which is now Darien on the 19 th day of Decr. 1765 & has lived there ever since his birth he has no record of his age but what he got from the Family Bible of his Father — That he never received a written discharge — That he was living in Stamford when first called into service — Knows not of any other circumstances of his service.

He refers to Rev. Daniel Smith of Stamford & Thad Bell Esq. of Litchfield who will testify as to his character for piety & their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution
The said Samuel Mather 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.
Chas. H. Haskins Judge } Samuel Mather
We, Daniel Smith a clergyman, residing in the town of Stamford and Thaddeus Bell residing in the same  town of Litchfield , hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Mather who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty six 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.
Chas. H. Haskins Judge } Daniel Smith Thaddeus Bell
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 Rev. Daniel Smith who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Stamford in Connecticut and that Thaddeus Bell Esq. who also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Litchfield in said State and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Chas. H. Haskins Judge
I, Samuel Lockwood Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stamford in Connecticut do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Mather for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 10 th day of August 1832.
Sam Lockwood Clk

I Samuel Lockwood Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Stamford in Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the appli- -cation of Samuel Martin for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal of Office this 27 th day of July 1838 -
Sam Lockwood Clk

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
June 3, 1934.
Mrs. J. M. Harris, 529 W. 4 th St. Loveland, Colo.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17568, it appears that Samuel Mather was born December 19, 1765, in that part of Stamford, that was later called Darien, Conn., and while living there enlisted in April 1782, and served for six months as a private in Captain Jesse Bell's Conn., Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 7, 1832, while living in Darien, Conn. There is no data on file as to family.
The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fails to afford any information in regard to a Timothy Mather of Lyme, Conn. If he ever resided elsewhere, and you will so state, also furnishing the approximate dates of his birth and death and the first name of his wife, another search of the records will be made in your behalf.
Your inquiry relative the soldier of the Civil War has been forwarded to the proper authority for a reply.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Must to Record Div.

17.568 INVALID.
File No. 17.568
Simone Mathieu
Pr. San Mar
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 241
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1924 June 3. Hist. to Mrs Jennie Mather Harris b2b W.T. 4" 31. Lovelnd nd. Colo.

4108
Samuel Weather
5.14.16
cond
St. Maria
1925

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Mather which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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? He must state whether he was in constant service during the period alleged VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

 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 ?  XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ?  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 ?  XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? elo Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  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 ? No  XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ? 
 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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

State of Connecticut / Stamford Probate District Fairfield County / Aug. 11 th 1832
Personally appeared before the Court of Probate for said District now sitting in open Court - Stephen Bishop of Stamford in said District who being first duly sworn on his oath says that in the year 1782 he was a Lieut. in a Company of State Troops commanded by Capt. Jesse Bell & he knows that Samuel Martin who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration was an enlisted soldier & served in said Company for the term of six months commencing about the 1 st of April 1782 - Capt. Bell took charge of a portion of the Company which were stationed in Stamford & the Defendant took charge of another portion of the Company which were stationed at Middlesex & the said Martin served under the command of the Defendant -
Stephen Bishop
Sworn to of subscribers to Aug 5 th of year aforesaid I certify the Defendant is well known to me It is a credible person - J. H. Woodbridge Judge