Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7,122, for Aaron Merriam, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Merriam, Aaron.
P. 7122
CONTENTS

Aaron Merriman Rec d Act July 7 th 1832. My
A. H. Markland

State of New York County of Madison
Be it Known, that on this Seventeenth day of December A. D. 185 2 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Cyrus Merriam
resident of Gazania in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the legal heir of the identical Man who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of
that he is directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint SAMUEL M. KNIGHT , of Washington City , my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of Sarah Merriam for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Cyrus Merriam
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Cyrus Merriam to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
Wm Spear Justice of the Peace
State of New York County of Madison
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Supreme County Courts of said County that Cyrus Merriam the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the identical child of the reputed soldier aforesaid . I further certify, that Wm. Spear Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office,
this twenty second day of December 185 2 .
12
George H. Dana, Clerk.
1. Claimant's name or names in full.—2. Post Office address.
3 "That he is the identical man," or, "that she is the widow of the identical man," or, "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c.
4. Leave this line blank.—5. "He is," "she is," or "they are."—6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.—7. Claimant's signature.—8. Claimant's name.—9. Magistrate's signature.
10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of."—11. Magistrate's name.—12. Clerk's signature.
N. B.—Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.

AD July 20 80 dis Dec 2 80
On Hale Cal. Mergers Reg. initiated 20 July 1980 - discharged 2 Dec 1980

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 State of New York } County of Madison } ss. On this ninth day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Madison in the State of New York, now sitting Aaron Mooreham of the town of Cazenovia in the County of said aged Seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following declaration 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 name & Officers & served as herein after stated
In the year 1779. he resided in the town of Wallingford County of New Haven Con. In the last of June or first of July 1779. he was drafted in the Militia & went into service under command of Capt Dan Dwan Lieut Col Buel Berry & Comseqn Strong. - Marched direct ly to New Haven, through Milford Norwalk. Fairfield, Stamford to Horsneck - Lieutenant Col Oliver was taken Prisoner by some low boys at Brians Bridge, where he was on guard - Declarant was on guard at Sherard's Bridge at the time - He remained in the service five weeks for which time he was drafted - was discharged, went home Recd no written discharge -

About the last of June 1780, he enlisted at Wallingford aforesaid, he enlisted Under, Capt or Lieutenant Joseph Shaylor a Recruiting Officer, in the Continental Line of the Army of the United States, in Colonel Gray's Regiment, called the leather capped Regiment - raised by Col. Meiggs of Middletown Conn. - He enlisted for the Summer Campaign & received a bounty of 40 shillings cash money. He joined the Army at Peekskill - on the Hudson River - was placed in Capt. Potter's company - He does not recollect the names of any other officers in the Regiment - He knew Brigadier Genl Parsons - The Army remained a few days at Peekskill then crossed the river to Stoney Point, through Orange town up to New Jersey - But the Regiment in which the declarant was - was detached at Orange town & marched back to Peekskill - remained there till Arnold went on board the British Ship lying in the River & then were ordered in to Fort Putnam - remained at Fort Putnam three or four weeks. & then marched to where the Army lay - were placed in Genl Washington's Life Guard at Tottoway. - & remained there till the Army went into Winter quarters in the month of November 1780, when the Declarant was discharged. He never received a written discharge to his recollection - He was in Service both in Militia & the Continental Line, between Six & Seven months - He was born in Meriden New Haven County Connecticut, 9th June 1762 - Has a Record of his age at home. He lived in Wallingford aforesaid where he enlisted, lived there till 1819, moved

to Coeymansia Madison County New York - I have lived there ever since He hereby relinquishes every claim Notwithstanding to a Pension or an Annuity except the present. I declared that he has no documentary evidence of his services I know of no person whose testimony he can procure. who can testify to his services I that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State - He is known to Tyler Palmlee & Joseph H. Stanley & many others who can testify as required by the War Department Sworn & subscribed the day & year of our Lord A. S. Sloan Clk. Aaron Merriam
We Tyler Palmlee & Joseph H. Stanley - residing in the town of Coeymansia in the County of Madison & State of New York do hereby certify that we are full acquainted well acquainted with Aaron Merriam who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we con- cur in that opinion Tyler Palmlee Sworn & subscribed Joseph H. Stanley the day & year of our Lord A. S. Sloan Clk.

to Coeymans Madison County New York - I have lived there ever since I hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or an annuity except the present. I declared that he has no documentary evidence of his services I know of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services I that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State - It is known to Tyler Palmlee & Joseph H. Stanley & many others who can testify as required by the War Department Sworn & subscribed the day & year of our Lord A. J. Sloan Clk. Aaron Merriam
We Tyler Palmlee & Joseph H. Stanley - residing in the town of Coeymans in the County of Madison & State of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted well acquainted with Aaron Merriam who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we con- cur in that opinion Tyler Palmlee Sworn & subscribed Joseph H. Stanley the day & year of our Lord A. J. Sloan Clk.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as such State And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Tyler Palmer & Joseph H. Stanley who have been examined & sworn to the above reside in the town of Lebanonia aforesaid & that they are credible persons and their statement is entitled to full credit
I Andrew A. Sloan Clerk of the court of common Pleas in and for the county of Madison do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Aaron Merriam for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this ninth day of October, 1832 —
A. A. Sloan Clk.

State of New York } Madison County } ss. Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the Peace in & for the County of Madison aforesaid. Aaron Merriam who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that by reason of old age & consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more positively than he has done in his declaration to the length of his services, or the names of his Officers - but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below & in the following grades. For five weeks. I served as a private in the Militia . For at least five months. I again served as a private in the Continental line making. Six months & five days in all when I certainly served as I do not know of any proof to sustain my declaration - Captain Potters Company in which I served as stated in my declaration, was in Colonel Grays Regiment (Continental Army) mentioned in said declaration as the Scituate Cap. regi- ment. The first service was in 1777 & the last in 1780 Sworn before me this 21 st day of May 1833 Newell Wright J.P.
Aaron Merriam
State of New York } Madison County Clerk's Office } ss. I Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the said county do certify that Newell Wright before whom the above 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 hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature - Witness my hand and seal of Office this 25 th day of May 1833 - A. S. Sloan Clk.

No 14992 Merriam Aaron Havrem Madison Co Ky
ei Ryutut
Coli H. J. Williams Madison Co Ky
28 L Gvt

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. 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, shewing the Service of Leviathan  Admiral  Coast Guard
   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.     July 1779 1 5 private Captain Perry Col Gray N. Haven 70 years Traditional   June 1780 Lieut. Bannet Brig Milford 16 years   Nov 1780 Ensign Col Muzzey Hanford 14 years   Thos Col Hornick N. Haven   Captain Bryant Connecticut   Major Bridge   Capt. Pote Peachfield   1st Lieut Norwich   2nd Lieut N. I.   Parsons Putnam  
In service between 6 & 7 m. in all
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 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 he 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 , 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 [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.
[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.
Where proof is known to sustain the declaration it should be presented.

New York Revs
Aaron Newman
Rejected
let. to H. Williams 17
Oct 1833
7122
Act. June '32

REDACTED
7199.
P. O. Myerian Niron Namam
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
REJECTED
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .