Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30558, for Giles Lyman, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Lyman, Giles
S 30 558
CONTENTS

10561 Massachusetts
Giles Lyman
of Wrentham in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Lyman of the Regt. commanded by Colonel Mayo in the Mass line for 6 months 25 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 22 - Dollars - 77 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of April 1833 and Sept. 6. P. Wrentham Northampton Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 45.54 Semi-ant. allowance ending 11 Sept. " "  11.37 $56.91
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. G. Jackson Clerk, Book C Vol. 5 Page 19
see letter 20 May 1835
to Pension Agent
See letter to J. K. Simpson Esq. April 9. 1834
See letter to G. B. Huntington April 10. 1834 suspense in removal. See letter to P. Agt June 18. 1834
76 Hampshire

2668
Giles Layman Map
The requirements in the 11. 12 & 14 interrogatories have not been complied with
Print 6 mo. & 25 days 100275
C. P. Huntington Northampton Mass

BRIEF in the case of
Giles Lyman  of  Norwich  in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?
Twenty Four 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.     In 17 76 = 5 Private Col. Woodbridge   77 = 0 25 " no Officer   77 1 " Capt. Oliver Lyman Col. Mays Regt.  
5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Northampton Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Witnesses not stated as credible
Witnesses
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. S. Henson Examining Clerk.

Nov 21. 1757. Giles Lyman son of Seth and Katharine Lyman was. born
A true copy of Record. Northampton July. 20. 1832
Chas. Hooker Town Clerk.

No 2668

DECLARATION,
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. }
ON this Eighth day of Aug. 1832 personally appeared in open court, before Samuel H. Wilksly Judge of the court of Probate for S d County now sitting, Giles Lyman a resident of Northfield in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged 74 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the fore part of July he enlisted as a private at Northampton, County of Hampshire, taking the place of his brother Seth, who had been taken prisoner by Tarleton & had enlisted again. He enlisted into Capt Joseph Lyman's Company, Elisha Bascorn & Abner Lyman Lieutenants, in Col Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment. It marched through Worthington Williamstown Bennington Vt. to Skeneateles & there stayed a fortnight or so because the small pox prevailed at Skeneateles. Afterwards stationed at Skeneateles & served 5 months. Fleed an engagement on the lake when Arnold & Waterbury were defeated by Burgoyne. Oliver Bartlett of Northampton & Timothy Edwards of Northampton were in the same service, same company, same length of time. In 1777 at the Bennington alarm he went as a volunteer to Bennington without regular officers, assisted in guarding prisoners to Northampton & served 3 or 4 weeks. Same year very soon after, he entered the service as a volunteer on account of the universal alarm that Burgoyne had excited, in the company of Capt Oliver Lyman & served 4 weeks. He marched to Bemis Heights, stationed within 1/2 a mile of Genl Gates' HQ near the river. Was at the distance of a mile or two at the time of the battle of Bemis Heights. He was in Col May's regiment. He has no record of his birth. He was born in 1757 21 st of Nov. at Northampton. He removed to Northfield when about 24 years of age & has since for the most part resided in Northfield at the distance of 12 miles from Northampton. He never received a written discharge.
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, or (if any,) only on that of the agency in the State of
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before me Samuel H. Wilksly Judge of Probate  Giles Lyman We, Giles Lyman residing in the town of
and residing in _____ 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 neighbor- hood 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 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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that who has signed the preceding certificate, is _____ resident in and that _____ who has also signed the same, is a resident in and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel H. Wilksly Judge of Probate
I, J. S. Lyman  Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Giles Lyman for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth

day of August thirty Two
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
Sam l F. Lyman Register
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss January 9, 1833
We, Samuel Russell
residing in the town of Dorwick and
Stephen Angel
residing in the town of Smithfield hereby certify, that we are
well acquainted with Giles Lyman
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe
him to be 75 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
Samuel Russell Stephen Angel
Hampshire ss January 9, 1833 Then personally appeared the above named Samuel Russell and Stephen Angel both of Dorwick aforesaid and made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate by them subscribed before me and I further certify that it appears to me that said Giles was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and that said Russell and said Angel are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and that said Russell is a clergyman
George Dinsdale Justice of the Peace
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Samuel Russell who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in Norwich and that Stephen Angel who has also signed the same, is a resident in Norwich and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. That they cannot be introduced into open court without too much inconvenience & expense to the applicant
Samuel Hinkley Judge of Probate
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Giles Lyman for a pension. That said George Dinsdale is a Justice of the Peace & that the above is his genuine signature
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office. this twenty eighth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Sam l F. Lyman
Register.
ES
Giles Lyman

File Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.,

Northampton Feb 18 th 1834, Massachusetts
Hon J. L. Edwards.
Sir I write you in behalf of Giles Lyman a pensioner under the Act of 32 residing in Northampton, Massachusetts, who drew his money once & whose pay was stopped by order of the War Department last September because there were 2 of that name. The claim of this Giles Lyman is bona fide & it seems rather hard that his pay should be stopped because there happens to be a person of the name existing some where else. I am told by the Pension Agent that no counter order has been given as yet. May I now request that orders for the pay of arrears be given or that some information & direction be given as to what more is to be done to entitle him to his money - Yours with high respect C. G. Huntington Agent -
I date from Northampton though now in Boston that the answer may be the sooner sent -

30 558
Rev INVALID.
File No 30, 558
Giles Lyman
Pri Rev War
Act: June 1 st 32"
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 257
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Giles Lyman Norwich Mass. No 2668.
Clergyman Q cont. l. 2

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Giles Lyman 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? he did 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? he has V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? he has VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? he has VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? he has VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? they have in his favor IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? he has 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, with an inscription whereby it can be distinguished

 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? he has not  XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no  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? no  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? They are 
EVIDENTIARY 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 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.
† 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 authenticates 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 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.

We the undersigned inhabitants of Norwich Massachusetts, certify, that we are well acquainted with Giles Lyman, a citizen of said town, that some of us have known him for more than thirty years past, and we hereby declare that he is a man of fair reputation, good moral character, and respectable standing in society, and that any assertions, or statements, of his are entitled to entire confidence.
Norwich August 6 1832
Samuel Kirkland Joseph Kirkland Samuel Knight Samuel Dunlap Daniel Axtell Martin Kirkland

Asa French Affidavit - for Giles Lyman.

I, Asa French of Northampton County of Hampshire a now pensioner aged 73 years do testify & say that I have ever since the revolutionary war & before known Giles Lyman of Nashua, Mass. He entered the service of the United States in June or July 1776 in as a private at Northampton, County of Hampshire in Capt. G. Lyman's company, Col. Woodbridge's Regiment & served at Tienderoga & served 5 months & I think 6 months. He came home in December. I was at Bennington at Gen Stark's engagement & afterwards saw said Lyman there in the service but do not know how long he served there. I also know that said Lyman was in the service in Capt Oliver Lyman's company at the Bennington Barn at the Bennington heights, but in the Regiment of Col. May of Goshen, but I do not know how long he served. And further the deponent saith not. July 20 th . 1832.
Witness C. P. Huntington.
Asa French his mark
Hampshire Co. County of Mass. July 20 th . 1832.
Then personally appeared the above named Asa French & made oath to the truth of the foregoing instrument by him subscribed before me Chas. P. Huntington Justice of the Peace
7

Timothy Edwards for Giles Lyman.

I the Subscriber Timothy Edwards of Northampton aged 81 years do testify depose & say that I have known Giles Lyman of Northampton from a school boy, having formerly been a school mate with him though older than he - In June or the fore part of July, I enlisted as a private in the company of Capt Joseph Lyman Col Woodbridge's regiment to go to Concordia for 5 months, & served said period of time. Said Giles enlisted as a private at said time, for the same length of time in the same company & served with me at Concordia in the Massachusetts state service 5 months - And further say not - July 26 th 1832.
Timothy Edwards
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire ss July 26, 1832
Then personally appeared the above named Timothy Edwards & made oath to the truth of the foregoing instrument by him - Subscribed before me
Chas. P. Huntington Justice of the Peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMPSHIRE ss. I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Charles P. Huntington Esquire, before whom the annexed depositions were taken, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Signature annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this tenth day of August A. D. 1832.
Sam F. Lyman Register of Probate.
Hampshire ss Dec 9 th 1832. I hereby certify that these two deponents Timothy Edwards above & Asa French within named are credible persons & that they made oath before me Chas. P. Huntington Justice of the Peace.