Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,583, for Ebenezer Steenrod, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Stenrod, Ebenezer
S 14,583
CONTENTS
carded

New York, N o 28,619
Ebenezer Steenrod of Allegany Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the _____ command by Captain _____ of the Regt. command by Col. Strong in the N. York Troops line for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of April 1834 and sent to Mrs. C. Howell H. B.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 99.99 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4. Sep. " 16.66
$116.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Book E. Vol. 4
Clerk.
Page 123

Ebenezer Stearns left Done alleging 6: N York
23 399
e.v.
Admitted
Paroled 10 months
Hen. E. Howell

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 3 1833
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. These 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 Ebenezer Stearns
   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.     Full 1775- 6 Private Capt Stearns Col Strong 80 years Location up   April 1776 6 " Capt Dillivan Hudson Westchester Co Living witness   1778 1 1 " officers not recd White Plains N York   13   3 months in 1779 negated   10 -  
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, 1852.
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 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 (1) 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, 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.

23399
In the matter of the application of Ebenezer Stearns roads - for a Pension
Declaration - and aff. of service -
Done -
I certify that within papers passed through the hands of the Clerk in the same. State they now are, Jan'y 8 th 1834
J. H. Hall delegates
Wrote to Genl Ward for proof - witness Non Compos

State of New York Albany County - }
vs - Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice
of the peace of the said County of Albany Ebenezer Stearns, 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 - viz - For Six months I served as a private in the year 1775 - for Six months as a private in the year 1776 - for one month as a private in the year 1778 - and for such service I claim a pension -
Sworn & Subscribed this 6 th  August day of June 1833 - before me - }
Jonathan Savage Justice
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Ebenezer Stearns the above Deponent, that he is a respectable old man, and that his statement is entitled to full credit & belief -
Jonathan Savage Justice

Albany County ss. I James W. Shenman Clerk Clerk's office ss. of said County do certify that Jonathan Savage before whom the within Affidavit purports have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County, And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed thereto to be his proper hand writing & signature. Witness my hand & Seal of Office this 9 th day of August 1838 J. W. Shenman Clk
Ebenezer Hemenway

State of New York
Albany County ss. I, Ebenezer Stearns of the town of Friendship in the said county of the age of sixty two being duly sworn deposeth and saith that during the revolutionary war the month and year not recollecting I lived in Salem Ulster County in the State of New York I was intimately acquainted with Ebenezer Stearns and that he left home for the service of his country in a company of Militia commanded by Samuel Betts Captain according to the best of my recollection called the Ranges Regiment not recollecting the time of service nor the place he marched to not recollecting nor the time when the term of service expired. I was then young and may not recollect at this time correctly but of his leaving home I recollect distinctly and have no doubt that the said Ebenezer Stearns was in the service of the United States as a Militia Soldier for term of one year and that he served until the expiration of said term and further this deponent saith not sworn and subscribed this
30th day of October 1832
Ebenezer Stearns
before me
Henry Miller - Justice
I, Henry Miller Justice of the peace aforesaid do hereby certify that the above named Ebenezer Stearns is a man of strict integrity and good moral character and that his testimony where he is known would bear full weight in any cause or in any court
Dated at Albany this 30th day of October 1832
H. Miller J.P.

Allegany County Clerk's Office I, Isaac M. Newman Clerk of said County do, hereby cer- tify that Henry Miller, before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was upon the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County. And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed thereto to be his own proper hand writing & signature. Witness my hand and Seal of Office the 30th day of October 1832. J. M. Newman Clerk

State of New York Albany County - ss.
On this 30 th 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 the said County of Albany now sitting, Ebenezer Stearns a president of the Court of Friends in the said County of Albany, and State of New York aged eighty eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declarations, in order to obtain 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 stated viz -
That he entered the service as a minuteman for the term of six months in the company commanded by Captain Cornelius Stearns, sometime in the fall of the year 1775 - in the under the command of Colonel Fanning - that he assisted in erecting fort minute near Four-gate on the Sound of Long Island in the State of New York - that he continued in the service until the expiration of the six months for which he entered the service - when he was dismissed.
That sometime in the month of April in the year 1776 - he volunteered in the company of rangers commanded by Captain Samuel Drelwan for the term of six months - he was marched to White Plains at which place and its immediate neighborhood he was stationed for the purpose of preventing the enemy from ravaging the country - that he continued in the service until the expiration of the six months, when he was dismissed -
That in the year 1778 he was again in the service as a minute-man, but the names of the officers he cannot recollect - that he was in the service at this time about one month -
That sometime after he hired a man to serve for three years in the Continental line for and paid him forty dollars - which he undertook

would exempt him from being drafted -
He was born in the Town of Salem in the County of Westchester in the State of New York in the year 1744 -
He has the record of his age in his family Bible -
When he was first called into the service he lived in the said Town of Salem - and that he had resided in the said State at a number of places until about fourteen years ago when he removed to the said town of Friendship in the County of Allegany in the said State where he now resides -
He never received a written discharge from the service -
That Col. Samuel King, Doct. Re. Dana, Talbot Gold are his neighbours and have known him a number of years and will testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution -
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 & subscribed the agent & year aforesaid J. W. Shenman Clerk
Ebenezer D. Lawrence

We Josiah Wetten — or  or Ebenezer residing in the Town of Friendship in the said County and Hough Magee residing in the Town of Angelica in the said County  Town of Angelica in the said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ebenezer Stearns who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty eight 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 —
Josiah Wetten H. Magee
Sworn and subscribed to the day & year aforesaid M c Shenman Clk
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 Josiah Wetten who has signed the preceding certificate is a longtime resident in the said Town of and is a credible person Friendship and that Hough Magee — who has also signed the same is a resident in the said Town of Angelica and is a credible person. and that their statement is entitled to credit —
John Griffin } Judge of the Hul Hul } Court of Josiah Wetten } Com Pleas
I Jason W Shenman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Allegany do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ebenezer Stearns for a pension —

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30 th day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
J W Ghenman

Rev. Amos
✓ 14583 INVALID.
File No. 14583
Ebenezer Stenrod Priv Beer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 361
[Arrangement of 1870.]