Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,921, for John Knowles, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
N.H.
Knowles, John
S 18921
CONTENTS
Carded

Maine 11.514 John Knowles
of Somerset, Co. in the State of Maine who was a old in the Company commanded by Captain Willings of the Regt commanded by Col. Gilman in the Revolutionary war. Revolutionary N.H.
6 Months. Dr — $ 30.00
Inscribed on the Roll of — Maine — at the rate of 21 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of May and dated at — 1833 Wm. Windlewick, Secy.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 — 40.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. 1. 10
50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S. D. Spague Clerk Book E Vol. Page 28 —

John Knowles Maine
Admitted 6 months $20.—
1893
William M. Sumner Norridgewock Me

BRIEF in the case of  John Knowles  60 of Penobscot  in the State of  Maine  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 80  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.     New Hampshire Line In 1776. interspa. 6 As a Gen. Capt Wallingford Col Gilman  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dorchester N.H.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary and documentary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attached agreeably to the regulations 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George D. Dyer
Examining Clerk.

State of Maine.
THE Jonathan Robinson a Clergyman, residing in the town of Harmony in the County of Somerset and Jonathan Hamilton a Clergyman residing in the same  of Ripley with adjoining Wellington town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Knowles who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty 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.
Jonathan Hamilton Jonathan Robinson
State of Maine.
Somerset ss.—Sworn and subscribed this sixth  seventh day of November , A. D. 1832, in open Court by the above named Jonathan Hamilton and Jonathan Robinson who are credible witnesses — Before me,
Ebenezer Whitman { Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for said State

John Knowles Declaration for obtaining a pension
18989

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
Somerset  STATE OF MAINE, } ss. BERNEDDE COUNTY,
ssued
ON this Sixth day of November A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Stephen White  Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court , of Common Pleas State, John Andrews a resident of Wallingford in the County of Somerset and State of Maine, aged Eighty 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 enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1776 with Captain Sam Wallingford and served in Col. David Gilman's regiment of the New Hampshire line of troops  the militia under the following named officers: Capt. Wallingford
Major Cajo, Lt. Col. Bartlett . Col. Gilman : That he has not a distinct recollection of the time of his enlistment but does recollect he thinks distinctly that he was paid forty dollars being the full compensation for his services as a private for the term of six months; that he marched with Col. Gilman's Regt. from Rochester in New Hampshire to Pickskill in New York and served on the guard on the barracks at that place over prisoners until Feb 5. 1777 and was then discharged and that his original discharge marked A, signed by David Gilman Col. is hereunto annexed: That he was then at the time he was discharged and purchased a horse with his wages on which he rode home that he was able  able to pay for his horse  horse returning from a distance of 100 miles And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the war department, he answers: That he was born in Rochester in New Hampshire in May 1752 That he has no record of his age; that he was living in Maine when he was called into the service and that

May 8
1007
And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the war department, he answers:
That he was born in Rochester in New Hampshire in May 1752. That he has no record of his age; that he was living in Rochester when he was called into the service and that more than twenty years ago removed to a place in Maine which is now incorporated into a town by the name of Wellington where he now lives; that he was not drafted but enlisted as a volunteer in Capt Wallingford's company in Col. Gilmans Regiment & shortly after the place of a former detachment whose term of service had expired; that he had a family and had to hire a man to take care of his business at home during his absence; that he was afterwards in Oct. 1777 detached and hired a substitute for one month at the capture of Burgoyne — That Genl Washington & Genl Sullivan had command of the Continental troops on the opposite side of Hudson river at the time he was stationed at Poughkeepsie; that eleven hundred prisoners were taken at one time and sent to Poughkeepsie while he was there & that one hundred at another time; that his original discharge is herunto annexed; that all his neighbors will testify to their belief of his having served as above stated and that he names his son Jonathan Robinson as witness.
J. Ecker son & Hamilton as witness
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.
That it is not in his power to procure living witnesses of his service being very infirm and poor; depending partly on his town for support; being unable to recollect dates; refers particularly to the pay roll and the roll of pay enlistment for dates.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
before David Whitman judge of P. Calais
JOHN KNOWLES
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
David Whitman

State of Maine.
Somerset
KENNEBEC, ss.—I, John A. Chandler  Elias Cobb , Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec  Somerset hereby certify that the Hon. Ebenezer D. Dyer  Ebenezer Dyer , before whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial  Common Pleas Court of said State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge  Court in the matter of the application of John Knowles for a pension.
Common Pleas of said
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this tenth day of November 1832 .
A. D. 1832
Elias Cobb Clerk
Ms. A. 9. 2. 20 p. 10

Windsor, Vt. 13 Nov 1821
Free
Revolutionary Claim
Mod. 19 Ms. A. 1. 15928 Dear Lewis Cass Secy of War Washington

Vernoygewook Nov 12, 1832 Hon Louis Camp Sec of War Sir
The enclosed declaration and accompanying papers of John Knowles are forwarded to you for examination. If his claim for a pension is sufficiently made out, you will please to send him a certificate directed to my care at this place — If there should be wanting any further evidence please to let me know it
Mr Knowles is very infirm and deaf so that it is with difficulty that he can communicate his history. His discharge is genuine and there is no doubt of the identity of his person and he is very positive that he rec d forty dollars for his wages and that he purchased a horse with the same money to ride home and that he gave $40 for the horse, of course he must have served six months.
Yours respectfully William Allen

State of Maine
We Ephraim Johnson a Clergyman residing in the Town of Wellington in the County of Somerset and Nathaniel Smith one of the Selectmen of Wellington residing in the same town and Thomas Herrick one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Somerset dwelling in Harmony who have subscribed hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Knowles who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed Declaration that we believe him to be eighty 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
Ephraim Johnson
Thos Herrick

"A"
It is my opinion that John Knowls belonging to Capt. Wallensford Company is not fit for duty and by reason of a disorder in his breast is not likely to be fit till his time is out
Peterkill
Joseph Barnes Surgeon
February 25 th 1877 By & with the consent of Brigadier General M c Dougall Commanding officer at this Place the above named John Knowls, by reason of indisposition of body and his own request is Discharged from the Service
David Gilman Col l .

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Snowdy which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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? yes 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? yes XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? 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 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 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.
†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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

P 18921
INVALID.
File No. 18921
John H. ... ...
Act: ...
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 211
[Arrangement of 1870.]