Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,542, for Richard Straw, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
NH
Straw Richard
5 16 542
carded
CONTENTS

1460
New Hampshire
Richard Snow
Warner in the State of N.H. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg't commanded by Col. Stark in the N.H. line for 8 Mos
Inscribed on the Roll of N.H. at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of [blank] 1832 and [blank] Richard Snow Warner N.H.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $ 39.99 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar - 33 13.33 $ 53.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { also June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. [blank] Clerk. Book D. Vol. 1. Page 184.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss County of Merrimack
Court of Probate now sitting
On this 28 th day of August personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Probate for said County  Richard Straw a resident of Warner in the County of Merrimack and State of New-Hampshire, aged seventy seven 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 A.D. 1775 with Capt. Baldwin and served in the Col. Stark regiment of the New Hampshire line, under the following named officers: That he enlisted at Hopkinton , now County of Merrimack in the State of New Hampshire in the month of May , A.D. 1775 under Capt. Baldwin , Lieut. Hoile , in Col. Stark Regt. in the New Hampshire line, for Eight Months , marched directly to Wadsworth near Boston Mass. from thence to Bunker Hill was there in the Battle of Bunker Hill , from thence to Winter Hill and served eight Months and honorably discharged signed the pay Roll but did not take a written discharge. That he was born in Concord County and State aforesaid in A.D. 1755 was moved by his Father when very young to Hopkinton in the County and State aforesaid lived there about twenty years and since that time lived in Warner in said County and State aforesaid , where he now resides.
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Richard Straw
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Boniface Stevens Judge of Probate
H. B. Chase, Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Merrimack , do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Richard Straw for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty-eighth day of August , A.D. 1832 .
H. B. Chase, Register of Probate

Richd Shaw
Pine Bluffs
No 9302
8 Months
$26.66
From J. C. West Amcord N. H.

BRIEF in the case of of Warner
Rich & Straw in the State of  New Hampshire (Act 7th June, 1882.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Correct  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77 Years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     May In 17 ys " 8 " Private Col. Starker & Capt. Baldwin  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Nine stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hopkinton  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Edward Atkinson Examining Clerk.

Richd Straw No 9303
From J. C. West Concord N.Y.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Richard Shaw which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides ? Yes, II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides ? Yes, III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so ? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served ? Yes, V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled ? Yes, VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations ? Yes, VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832 ? Yes, VIII. Has the Court given their opinion ? Yes, IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate ? Yes, X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed ? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal ? Yes,

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? 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? Yes 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? Yes XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡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.

16. 542 INVALID.
File No. 16. 542
Richard Stann
Pr. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 52
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 369
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Putney for Stane

I Asa Putney of Warner in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose and say, that there was a call for men to go to Medford near in the State of Massachusetts, near the city of Boston in the spring of the year A.D. 1875 and that I went myself and staid eight months it being the time I enlisted for, and that I served in Capt Baldwin's company until he was killed, and after that in Capt Hales company, and in Colonel John Starker's Regiment, and that Richard Straw who now lives in said Warner was then with me and served in the same company and in the same Regiment that I did, and was dismissed at the same time and served the same term of eight months - according to my best knowledge and belief
Asa Putney
State of New Hampshire Merrimack ss; July fourteenth 1882
Personally appearing the above-named Asa Putney made with solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me Benjamin Evans Justice Peace
I hereby certify that the above deponent is entitled to full credit for truth and veracity and as one who sustains a good moral character
Benjamin Evans Justice Peace

State of New Hampshire, Secretary's Office July 14. 1832. I hereby certify that the within named Benjamin Evans is a Justice of the Peace for our County of Merrimack, duly constituted and sworn.
And I have here set the Seal of said State Ralph Menalif. Secretary.