Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,025, for Jacob Tinkey, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Tinkey, Jacob or Tinckey
S 23025
CONTENTS

28878 New York
Jacob Tinkley
of Ramapo in the State of N. Y. who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Tamm of the Reg t commanded by Col. Hays in the N. Y. line for 14 1/2 mos private $48.32
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Y. at the rate of 48 Dollars 32 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of Aug y 1834 and put Harriett Ward Mount Pleasant N. Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March '36 - $144.96 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 24.16 $169.12
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Virial Luce Clerk. Book E Vol. 4 Page 82

18388 Declaration 1 of Jacob Tinkey

State of New York, } Rockland County. }
On this twenty Ninth - Day of October - - in the year A.D. 1832, personally appeared before me Peter D r Smith, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County, Jacob Tinkay, a resident of the town of Ramapo, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, aged eighty eight years, the fourth day of April 1832, who, by reason of bodily infirmity, is unable to appear in court, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the Uni- ted States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated. That in the latter part of the year 1775 or the beginning of the year 1776, he with many other of the Citizens of the then Present of Haverstraw, in the County of Orange, now town of Clarkstown and County of Rockland aforesaid, assembled themselves together and signed articles of confederacy, mutually pledging their effort to obtain the Indepen- dence of the United States of America. That he then belonged to a compa- ny of Militia whereof Hendrick Tenure was Capt. and Walter Van Orden and Thomas Blanvelt were Lieutenants, in a Regiment commanded by Col n A. Hughes Hay, and early in the summer of the year 1776 the said company was ordered out on actual duty to guard along the west shore of the Hudson River, and was stationed at different places along the same in which company he served a great part of his time until the next year, when, in order that the duty of defending the county might more equally be born by all and that those that was the most willing might have some little rest, the Militia was divided in- classes of four men to a class, and that each class should furnish one one man to be continually out on duty, and it was usually the case that the class would relieve each other once a week, in which manner I served in the aforesaid company until the close of the Revolutionary War. and during the the aforesaid services they was stationed as a guard at different places from Snedens to Haverstraw, along the river, and a scouting through different parts of the new County of Rockland and the County of Bergen in the state of New Jersey to protect the inhabitants from the enemy, who were almost continually either landing from the ship- ping which lay in the Hudson River or Marching out of New York, plun- dering the inhabitants of every thing that was of value, and burning and destroying what they could not take with them, and taking the inhabitants prisoners, in which route we had many small engagements with them. And exclusive of his doing his duty in the said company as aforesaid he had to hold himself in readiness (when at home) to march

immediately, whenever there was an alarm, notice of which was generally made by firing guns which was repeated from one guard to and other, by which means it was general known in a short space of time, and these alarms was very frequent during the years 76. 77. 78. & 79. in the years 80. 81. & 82. there was considerable more rest and they had to take their arms with them to their daily labour and to their religious meeting on the Sabbath, that the first four years was little else than one continued scene of service. That positively to state the exact time he served during the said war is not now in his power, but he can confidently declare that it exceeds two years. That he has no documentary evidence of his services, and all the positive testimony he can offer of his services is some of the soldiers that served with him in the said war. That he resided during the war and long after the end thereof, in the now town of Clarkstown then removed to New York, then back to Clarkstown and from thence to his present residence. 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 and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Sworn before me Peter D. Smith Judge
his Jacob Finchey Mark
State of New York } ss On the 29 of October 1832 Rockland County } Before me Peter D. Smith one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County came John Atkinson a resident of the Town of Clarkstown said County aged thirty one years who being duly first sworn according to Law doth depose and say that he was well acquaint- ed with Jacob Finchey during the Revolutionary war that he knows him faithfully to have served in a Company under Capt. Hendrick Tenbroe from the commencement of the to the close of the Revolution- ary War that he the deponent acted as Sergeant in the said Company and believes the above declaration of the said Jacob Finchey to be substantially correct and further that the said Jacob Finchey has held an unblemished reputation and that his right is entitled to credit. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Sworn before me
John X Ackerson
Peter D. Smith Judge
Mark
State of New York, On the 29 th of October 1832 - Before me Peter Rockland County } D. Smith one of the Judges of the Court of Comm - on pleas in and for said County came John T Blawvelt a resident of the Town of Clarkstown, said County aged Eighty Years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth depose and say th that he was well acquainted with Jacob Tinskey during the Revolution- ary War that he knows him faithfully to have served in a - Company under the Capt. Hindrick Tinskey from the Comm- encement to the close of the Revolutionary War, that he the depo- nant served in the said Company, and believes the above declarat- ion of the said Jacob Tinskey to be substantially correct and that the said Jacob Tinskey is deponent is eighty years old Jacob Tinskey is to the best of his believe eighty-eight years old and furth- -er that the said Jacob Tinskey has held an unblemished reputation and that his oath is entitled to credit, Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sworn before me.
Peter D. Smith Judge
John T Blawvelt
And I the said Judge do hereby declare that 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 as stated as he states, and I the said Judge further certify the said John T. Blawvelt & John Ackerson who has signed the preceding affidavits are residents of the Town of Clarkstown and they are persons with whome I am acquainted and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Peter D. Smith Judge
A

I David Pye, Clerk of the county, of Rockland. Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Judge, in the matter of the application of Jacob Tinkey, for a pension. And further, that Peter D r Smith Esq r . before whom the foregoing Declaration and affidavit was made, and who has subscribed his name to the same, was on the day of the date thereof one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas, in and for the county aforesaid, commissioned and sworn, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and verily believe that the signature of Peter D r Smith, subscribed to the same, is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said county, the thirty-first day of October, 1832.
David Pye

never will see of all the men whom they say of February. 1834.
David Dyer
Admitted Pirata 14 1/2 mo
4. 1834

State of New York
Rockland County on this Eighth — day of July, 1833, personally appeared before me Daniel Johnson, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County, Jacob Tinkey a resident of the town of Ramapo, in said County, who had subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration, who by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend court, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth make the following amendment to the annexed declaration, that he was born on Long Island, in the year 1744 on the fourth day of April, as appears by the record of his age as was taken from his father's family Bible, that he always volunteered his services in the Revolutionary war in the said Company commanded by Capt. Tenure That Gen d Washing, and Col ls Dye & Col ls of the Jersey troops have been in company with the company in which he served, that he did not receive a discharge from the service, that he is known to John S. Blauvelt — Andries Onderdonk, Jacob Eckerson, and many other citizens of the County who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution, that there is no clergyman in his neighbourhood that he can now procure to offer in support of his claims — And 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 period mentioned below, and in the following grades; For two years I served as a private, in a company commanded by Capt Hendrick Tenure in Col n A. Hawkes Hays Regiment, and for such service I claim a Pension and during which service I was not employed in any civil pursuit as the only claims for the time he was actually out on duty Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me —
Jacob his Tinkey mark
Daniel Johnson Judge
We Andries Onderdonk of the town of Ramapo, and Jacob Eckerson of the town of Clarkstown, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Jacob Tinkey, who has subscribed and sworn to the above and annexed declaration, that we believe him to be eighty eight years of age that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Andries Onderdonk before me —
Daniel Johnson Judge
Jacob Eckerson

And I the said judge do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department which was satisfactorily answered, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And I further state that it appears to me that Andris Anderdonk who has signed the preceding certificate resident in the town of Ramapo and that Jacob Ackerson who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Clarkstown both in the county of Rockland and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit being both to me personally known.
Daniel Johnson judge
I, David Pyle, Clerk of the County of Rockland, Do hereby certify. That Daniel Johnson Esq. whose name is subscribed to the preceding affidavits, was on the day of the date thereof one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Rockland—commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said judge, and verily believe that the signature of Daniel Johnson subscribed to the same is genuine—
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office, this Ninth day of July, 1833.
DAVID PYLE

State of New York } Rockland County } ss.
On this eleventh day of February, 1834, personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for the county of Rockland and State aforesaid, Jacob Tinkey of the town of Haverstraw in said county, now aged eighty six years, and is a person well known in the said county and to me the subscriber as a man of truth and veracity and good standing, who being duly sworn saith, that he is the same Jacob Tinkey, who on the ninth day of October 1832, made a declaration before Peter B. Smith one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in said County, and also that made an amendment to the said declaration on the eighth day of July 1833 before Daniel Johnson Esq. also one of the judges of the said County whose declaration has been returned defective as to its specifications.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That on the first of August  July 1776, the British Shipping having sailed up the North River and Anchored in the Haverstraw and Tappan Bays the inhabitants became alarmed for their safety, and many of the Militia that were willing to take up arms in defence of their country enlisted in the five months service, it became necessary for the Militia that did not enlist to all go to guard the Shoars and landing places along the North River from Sneeding's to Stony Point, he was ordered out in a company whereof Hendrick Tenbroe was Capt and in a Regiment commanded by Col. A. Hawkes Bay, and was station'd doing guard duty along the North River from the Hook to Sneeding's Landing, as the war vessels moved up or down the River, and served not less than one month and a half, when he was dismissed for a short time, that again in the month of September he was ordered out in the said company, to guard along the river as aforesaid, and served until late in the fall or beginning of the winter until the British war vessels sailed for New York, and that in his last recited services he served not less than two months, when he was dismissed at Nyack.

Than in the month of March 1777. The the Militia was divided into classes of four men in a class, it being necessary that a continual guard should be kept along the North River and at many other places, and that they might be left at home to attend to their domestic concerns at time, it was agreed between them that one man of each class should go on guard for one week and then be relieved by other of the class and so continue during the season that guards was necessary, that each might be obliged to do his equal share of duty as well as to attend to his domestic concerns in which capacity he this deponent served from the month of March 1777. until the last of December or first of January following doing guard duty along the Hudson River from Stony Point to Sneekens landing, but principally along the river at Nyack, and also guarding at Tappan, Clarkstown, the long and short cove in which capacity he served one week in each and every four weeks, and served not less than two months.
That early in the Spring of the year 1778 he entered the service in the aforesaid, and served one week in each and every four weeks, guarding at many of the different places above set forth and served until the last of December, and served not less than two months in weekly tours.
That in the year 1779, he again entered the service in the aforesaid Company and served from early in the Spring until in the month of December, duty and service as aforesaid and served not less than two months in weekly tours as aforesaid.
That in the year 1780, he again was called out to perform his regular tours of duty in the aforesaid and served from early in the Spring until late in the fall or beginning of the winter service and duty as aforesaid and served not less than two months, in weekly tours as aforesaid.

That in the year 1781. he early in the Spring entered the service in the aforesaid company. and served until sometime in December following performing his weekly tours of guard duty as aforesaid, and served not less than two months -
That in the month of April 1782. he was called into the service to perform his regular tours of weekly duty a guarding as aforesaid and served until the month of September following, and served not less than one month -
That exclusive of the above recited services he did serve a considerable part of his time on alarms during the whole revolutionary war especially during the years 1777. 1778. 1779. & 1780. and was out on scouting parties through different parts of the County of Bergen in the State of New Jersey. to Closter. Schraalenberg. Liberty Pole and to Bergen Woods which tours were from two to ten days. but after the lapse of so many years he is now unable to state the times or periods thereof, with any degree of certainty. but feels confident that they being put together would at least make six months and do live that part of his services to the decision of the Commissioner of Pensions to allow or not as he shall think the justice of his claim does merit and also he has often been obliged to guard longer than his weekly tour by reason of his relief being out on a scouting party and did not attend to relieve him when his week had expired -
he has narrated his services with as much precision as his memory at so advanced an age will permit him to do, and for his services and weekly tours amounting to Fourteen Months and a half. and so much of his duty as the on alarms and scouting as the Commissioner of Pensions will please to allow. he prays a Pension. during which time he was in actual duty in the field, and not employed in any civil pursuit
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Before me
John T Blanch & Justice
Jacob his X Finkley mark

State of New York } Rockland County }
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County John J Blauvelt Esq. Aged 82 years a resident of the town of Clarkstown in said County who being first duly sworn doth Depose and say that he was well acquainted with Jacob Tin- key of the town of Ramapo in said County during the Revolu- tionary war and was a very near neighbour of him and that they served together during said war and perfectly Recollects that the said Jacob Tinkey did serve in a company commanded By Capt Hendrick Tenure in a Regiment commanded by Col- A. Hawks say that the said Company or the part thereof that had not intisted in the five month Service was Ordered out on the first of July 1776 to guard along the Hudson River the British Vessels having sailed up and down the north or said river and lay opposite Nyack and Haverstraw that the said Tinkey did serve doing guard duty along said river from the hook to Snedens Landing as a private and served nearly all thime from the first of July of that year untill late in the fall of the same year and Verily believes that the said Tinkey did not serve Less than three and a half Months during that year in two different engagements and this deponent further Saith that early in the Spring of the year 1777 the comp- any was put into classes of four men in a class so that each man had to serve every fourth week in which the said Tinkey did serve doing his regular tours of duty in the field from early in the Spring untill the Winter during the years 1777 - 78 - 79 - 80 & 81 and from Spring and from from Spring to September 1782 and that the said Jacob Tinkey did not serve less than two months in each year (that is to say) in the year 1777 - 78 - 79 - 80 - and 81 - and not less than one month in the 1782 doing guard duty along the Hudson River from Stony point to Snedens Landing at the different Stations what- ever the motions of the (enemy the British Vessels) where where moving up and down the said River as the Vessels moved and further that the said Tinkey did consider- able duty on alarms on scouting parties during the said year but how long he is unable to say But does not hesitate to say that any thing else but that the said Jacob Tinkey always did do his duty

faithfull during said war and was counted an excellent and a faithful wig and further saith Not
Subscribed & Sworn before me this 15 th day of February 1834 }
John T Blanch Justice
John T Blanch
I Do hereby certify that John T Blanchett is a man who I am personally acquainted with and he is a man of veracity his statements are intitled to credit
John T Blanch Justice

State of New York. Rockland County.
Personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the Peace in and for said county. John House, a resi- dent of the town of Clarkstown in said county, w who has aged years, who being duly sworn, saith, that he was well acquainted with Jacob Tinkley, who has sworn to and subscribed the annexed declarations, now a resident of the town of Ramapo, in said county, during the revolutionary war, and knows that the said Jacob Tinkley did serve in a company commanded by Capt Hendrick Tenare, in a Regiment commanded by Col d A. Hawkes Hay, during the said war, knows that he was called out in the service in the month of July 1776, and was stationed doing guard duty along the Hudson River at Nyack and from the Hook to Snedens land- ing and occasionally at Haverstraw, a great part of that year from the time of his commencement until late in the fall, watching the British war vessels which then lay in the Tappan and Haverstraw Bays, and verily believe that the said Tinkley served not less than three and a half months, and this deponent further saith that in the spring of the year 1777, the said company was blassed in classes of four men each, and an arrangement was made that one man in each class should serve one week and then an other man to serve and so in succession so that each man had to serve one week in each and every four weeks, in which manner the said Tinkley served until the close of the war or fall of the year 1782, performing his tours of duty from early in the spring of each year until winter and often in the winter, a doing guard duty along said river from Stony point to Snedens Landing, (but principally along the river at Nyack, and on guard at the long and short cove, at Clarkstown Tappan town, Sickle town, and Mannusit Meadow, and is confident that the said Tinkley did not serve less than two months in each and every of the years of 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, & 1781, and not less than one month in the year 1782. That this deponent was a fellow soldier

with the said Tinkey during the said war excepting three months in the fall of the year 1777. when this deponent served under Gunner Capt. n and nine months in the year 1778 when he served under Capt John Bell. that the said Tinkey was a faithful soldier and a good drig during the whole war— Sworn and subscribed this 28 th day } John House of February. 1834. before me —
John T Blanch } Justice
I Do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with John House who subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit Is a man of veracity his statements is intitled to credit
John T Blanch } Justice
State of New York }
Rockland County }
I. David Pyle, Clerk of the said County. Do hereby certify, that John T Blanch, before whom the amended Declaration of Jacob Tinkey was sworn and before whom the foregoing affidavits of John House and John T Blanch was sworn, and whose name is subscribed to the Certificate thereto, is a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commis- ioned and sworn, and that his name subscribed to the said affidavits and Certificate is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this twentieth day of February. 1834.
DAVID PYLE

NO. 16388
Jacob Sinkay Rockland Co. N.Y.
Admitted
b. All on
c. Specification
Oct 18 1834
Susp?
Mr Ward
David P. G. 6/16 Clarkstown Rockland Co. N.Y.

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 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, shewing the Service of Jacob Linker
   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.     1775-6 Private Capt. Linker Maj. Linker Capt. Linker Col. A. Hawks Idaho New Jersey New York as a Quarters 181 or 88 Clarkstown Rockland 60 N.Y. Mr. J. Bland Mr. A. A. A. A.   1778   1779   1780-81 and 82  
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.
Witness required to state in detail what they may know of the services of the applicant

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 , 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.

Revolution
23025 INVALID.
File No. 23,025
Isaac Tinkley Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 92 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 419
[Arrangement of 1870.]