Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7019, for Gideon Mathews, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
born
Mathews, Gideon or Matthews
R 7019
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for entries]
[Blank lined area for entries]

26.266
Julien Matthews
msf D —
W. V. B. Heemance Henry Goslee Esq Lexington Heights County of Greene New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sept. 9 1835 Feb 30. -
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 Justin Matthews
   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.     1775 Vol. June not stated Enlisted Col Lewis Col 1 Harrison 82 years   June 1776 3 "   Apr 1777 4 "   1780 or 81 "  
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.
[c] 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.
[4] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[1] 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. 
 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. 
(4) This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(4) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
 In the supplementary index to the the length of version of the are set forth — see the the more of his affairs the more of his affairs    3 " "  at Boston    3 " "  at Springfield    4 " "  at Haverhill       10 " "    

Gideon Matthews
26. 266.

State of New York Greene County } ss -
On this 29 th day of June 1833 personally appeared before Munson Buel a Judge of the court of Common Pleas of the County of Greene, Gideon Matthews, aged eighty-two, a resident of Broome county, & State of New York, of said Gideon Matthews, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1833.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That on the first of June 1775 he volunteered at the Town of Watertown in the county of Litchfield & State of Connecticut and joined a Company under the command of Capt. Elijah Harkness and Lieut. Benjamin Spence rendered at New Haven and there joined a Regiment under Col Lewis (whether called militia or New Levies does not now recollect) and marched to the neighborhood of Boston and continued to serve in that vicinity until after the enemy evacuated Boston, believes that it was in the forepart of April 1776 when he was discharged, served in the capacity of a private soldier, does not now recollect how long his first engagement was, but well recollects that immediately on the expiration thereof he again entered at the urgent request of the officers and so continued to serve until after the evacuation was stationed some time at Roxbury and on Prospect Hill and at other places in that vicinity during the whole time as aforesaid recollects Genl. Greene & Major Knowlton.
That in the month of June 1776 he was drafted at Watertown State of Connecticut as a private soldier & marched to Stratford on Long Island sound where he was stationed three months & was then discharged.
That on some of the last days of April 1777 he was called out in the militia and proceeded from

Watertown to Danbury (this was directly after the burning of Danbury by the British and was marched from there to Stamford on the sound & from thence to Norwalk, when part of the company were sent home, one company was made up of volunteers of which this declarant was one & served four months along the sound under Capt Spease - remember being under the command of Col. Wooster a short time during one of the preceding tours - That in 1780 or 81 he was again drafted & stationed at Bridgeport & Black Rock in the state of Connecticut as a private in a Company of Militia for the term of four months, but does not now remember who the officers were and further that he was occasionally called out in the militia and served short tours every year from the commencement of the war until the year 1781 and this declarant says that he is confident he served as a soldier considerable more than two years during the revolutionary war and was uniformly stationed on the sound between N-York & N-London except one campaign at Boston - and further that he was born at Watertown in the state of Connecticut in the year 1751 - That he has a record of his age in his family bible, that he lived at Watertown state of Connecticut when called in to service & has since resided at China in Greene County & now resides in the town of Pookeepsie. That he sometime was drafted & at other times volunteered when he entered the service - Remembers Genl. Greene, Col. Wooster & Major Knowlton. Did never receive a written discharge from service as he now remembers. That he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person living who can testify to his service except Moses Beardsley who knows of his services in 1776 - Moses Beardsley Peter L. Stevens & Gershon Stevens are persons known to me residing in my neighbourhood and who can testify as to my character for truth & veracity -
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension

or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any state -
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me - Munson Buel judge as aforesaid
Gideon Matthews
And the said Judge doth hereby declare his 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 said Judge further certifies that it appears to him that Peter S. Stevens & Gershon Stevens who have signed the annexed Certificate are residents of the Town of Porpoise and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit and further that the said Gideon Matthews is unable to attend Court by reason of bodily infirmity
Munson Buel
judge as aforesaid

State of New-York Greene County } ss.
Personally appeared before me Munson Buel a judge of the court of common pleas for said county Gideon Matthews who being first duly sworn according to law says that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, state precisely 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 in the foregoing declaration and as he thinks for considerable more, at least two years - sworn & subscribed to before me this 29 th day of June 1833 } Gideon Matthews
Munson Buel
judge as aforesaid
We, Gershon Stevens and Peter S. Stevens, residing in the town of Broome County of Schoharie hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Gideon Matthews who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; and have been for about thirty years; that we believe him to be eighty-two 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 & further that he is old and infirm and in our opinion has in a great measure lost his memory & that we have always considered him a man of truth and veracity sworn & subscribed this 29 th day of June 1833 - before me - }
Munson Buel
judge as aforesaid
Peter S. Stevens
Gershon Stevens

Greene County, ss.
Moses Beardsley of the town of Brattleville in the county aforesaid being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he has been acquainted with Gideon Matthews who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration for sixty years that he believes him to be eighty-two years of age and that he well remembers of seeing him in the year 1780 or 1781 at Bridgeport and Black-Rock on the sound serving in the militia and thinks that he then served four months & from conversations with him long ago believes him to have been a soldier and served as he states & that he considers him a man of truth & veracity. Moses Beardsley sworn & subscribed this 29 th day of June 1833, before me
Munson Root judge as aforesaid State of New-York
Greene County, ss. Gideon Matthews of Norson being duly sworn says and deposes on his oath that he is the son of Gideon Matthews who has made the foregoing declaration and is now fifty seven years of age that he has many times heard (many years since) his father speak of his services in the revolutionary war and likewise heard his grandfather relate the services of Gideon Matthews and that he believes his father served as he states - and that his father is now old and infirm and has in a great measure lost his memory. Gideon Matthews sworn & subscribed to before me this 29 th day of June 1833
Munson Root
judge as aforesaid
I Munson Root a judge of the court of Common

pleas in & for the county of Greene do hereby certify that Moses Beardsley & David Matthews who have severally subscribed & sworn to the above affidavits are men of truth & veracity & that their statement is entitled to credit
Munson Bond
judge as aforesaid
State of New

State of New York Greene County
I William T. H. Hermance Clerk of the said County do certify that Hanson Puel Esquire before whom the annexed documents were sworn, was at the date of the same, and now is, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid, and that the signature of the said Judge to the said documents, is genuine -
Witness my hand & seal of office this twenty sixth day of July in the year 1833.
William T. H. Hermance Clerk
Gideon Matthews
216. 266.

Recd. New York Suspended not 7/2 '32
letter 6 Jany '34
To Henry Galt 7019

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
7019
P. O.
Gideon Matthews
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

State of New York Greene County } } ss
On this 13 th day of November 1833 personally appeared before me Munson Buel one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County Gideon Matthews of Broome County found who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in addition to that of the 29 th day of June 1833—
That the first term mentioned in said declaration he served ten months, to wit from the first of June 1775 to first of April 1776 well recollects arriving at Boston immediately after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June & served till after the evacuation of Boston by the enemy in March following served under the officers therein mentioned, and in addition thereto now recollects Genl. Ward, & Col. Wister — the first engagement at Boston was for seven months & at the expiration of said term, he engaged at the suggestion of his officers for three months in longer making ten months, first volunteered as stated in said declaration on the first of June 1775 & after serving as therein stated, for seven months volunteered again for three months under the same officers & served till the first of April 1776—
That during the term set forth in said declaration of three months service along Long Island sound he remembers of serving under Capt. Gould, & think now the Col. who had the command was Col. Whiting but will not be positive as to the name of the Col. — served at Stratford, Bridgeport & Stark Rock—
That the service set forth as performed in 1777 after the burning of Danbury he served under Captain Spease as therein stated—
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 13 th day of November 1833
Gideon Matthews
Munson Buel
Judge as aforesaid

State of New-York Greene County ss.
On this 13 th day of November 1833 personally came before me Munson Bullock of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, Moses Beardley of P'ntville in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law says that in the summer of 1776 he saw Gideon Matthews who has signed the foregoing declaration, at the town of Stratford on Long Island and found serving in a company of Militia under Capt. Gould & that he believes that he continued to serve as he states - Sworn & subscribed before me this 13 th day of November 1833 - Moses Beardley
Munson Bullock
judge as aforesaid
I do hereby certify that Moses Beardley who has subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit is a man of truth & veracity & that his statement is entitled to credit - Nov. 13 th 1833 -
Munson Bullock
judge as aforesaid
State of New-York Greene County ss.
I William T. B. Hermance Clerk of the said County do certify that Munson Bullock Esquire before whom the additional declaration of Gideon Matthews on the other side written, and the above affidavit of Moses Beardley, were sworn, was at the date of the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County and that his signature thereto is genuine.
Witness my hand & seal of office this twenty third day of November 1833.
William T. B. Hermance Clerk