Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13915, for Jonathan Melvin, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Melvin, Jonathan
813915-
carded
CONTENTS

On At Albany Mar 29, 1831
14870
New York
Jonathan Melvin
Manchester in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt. [blank] by Col Woodbridge in the Massachusetts line for 6 months & 5 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars 55 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of July 1833 and sent to Beals Canandaigua NY
Arrears to the 14th of Mar '33 41.10 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 10.27 $ 51.37
{ Revolutionary Claim { Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Geo Cromwell Clerk Book E q Vol. 4 Page 68

N o 9231 Jonathan Melvin
around
11.17.13.17
9/21.
Thos Beals Cunandaigua N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of Jonathan Melvin of Manchester in the State of N. York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? in open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Eighty years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
633
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     In 1776 5 Private Col. Woodbridge Mass s   Fall of 1777 1 5 " Capt. Wells  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Conway — Mass s  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are correct in form and authentication 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Wm Gordon Examining Clerk.

9231 Jonathan Melvin
Thomas Beals Agent Canandaigua
adm 2 6 mo. 5.00 pri $20.55

State of New York Ontario County ss.
On this twenty eighth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the County Court now sitting.
Jonathan Melvin a resident of the town of Manchester County and State aforesaid, 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 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.
1st On or about the first day of June 1776 at Conway in the State of Massachusetts where he then lived he enlisted in Captain Child's Company in Colonel Woodbridges Regiment for five months and was first marched to Windsor in Vermont, and then over to Fort Independence, and then on the floating Bridge to Ticonderoga, and there done Garrison duty until his time expired, at which time he was sick and was not able to reach home until January 1777, he got to Rutland and was more than a month at that place, and was not able to get home until his friends at Conway came after him and carried him home. Isaac Amadon of Seneca was in the same Campaign with him.
2 d In the fall of 1777 he was a volunteer and went to Bennington and joined Captain Wells Company, does not remember who was Colonel, was marched to Cambridge then to Fort Edward and was at Fort Edward when Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga. Was also at Fort Miller. Jesse Warner was there at the same time, and he served five weeks and then returned home.

He has no documentary evidence. Was born in Heffers State of New Hampshire the 14th January (O.S.) 1752. He has no record of his age. After the peace moved to Grafton and two years after returned to Conway and about 1792 moved to Phelps in the County of Ontario and has resided there until lately, but now resides with his son Jonathan in the town of Manchester County of Ontario and State of New York.
He knows Benjamin Tuttle of the town of Seneca also Isaac Amsden of the same town.
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 and subscribed the day of Jonathan Melvin and year aforesaid in open court.
We Benjamin Tuttle of the town of Seneca and Isaac Amsden of the County of of Ontario and State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Melvin who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid in open court.
Benjamin Tuttle Isaac Amsden
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 Benjamin Tuttle and Isaac Amadon, who have signed the preceding certificate, are both residents of the town of Seneca, are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Charles Crane, Clerk of said court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Melvin for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this first day of September A. D. 1832.
Charles Crane

September 23, 1914.
Mr. L. L. Rowan, 85 Home Life Building, Washington, D. C.
Sir:
In response to your personal inquiry of the 19 th instant, you are advised that from the papers on file in claim Sur. File No. 13,915, Rev. War, it appears that Jonathan Melvin (Melven) applied for pension August 8, 1832, at which time he resided with his son Jonathan at Manchester, Ontario County, New York, whence he had "lately moved".
He stated that he was born January 14, 1752, (old style) at Hollis, New Hampshire, and resided at Conway, Massachusetts, when he enlisted for five months, June 1, 1776, as Private in Captain Childs' company, Colonel Woodbridge's regiment; marched to Windsor, Vermont, to Fort Independence and to Ticonderoga, where he continued until his term of enlistment expired.
Volunteered in the Fall of 1777, as Private in Captain Wells' company, Colonel Wells. regiment, was stationed at Fort Edward and Fort Miller, and served five weeks.
After peace was declared he removed to Groton for two years, then returned to live at Conway until 1792, when he moved to Phelps, Ontario County, New York, and remained there

until he went to Manchester.
His claim was allowed. There is no other family data on file.
The papers in claim, W. File No. 707, Rev. War, show that Paten Brown enlisted in the State of Virginia, in Captain John Mazaret's company, Colonel Edmund's regiment, Virginia line, and served three years, at the expiration of which he was discharged at Richmond, Virginia; there are no dates or particulars of service given.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 12, 1818, in Butler County, Kentucky.
He married in Logan County, Kentucky, October 12, 1806. Sally Buckner. In 1824 he claimed to be in the sixtieth year of his age, and referred to his wife forty years of age, and nine children living with him: two over twenty-one years of age; two girls the next oldest; and five small boys and girls: no names stated.
Soldier died September 19, 1833, in Butler County, Kentucky, and his widow Sally was allowed pension on her application executed March 14, 1853, while sixty-nine years of age and a resident of Butler County aforesaid.
It is stated that Paton and Sally Brown had five children but their names are not given. Soldier signed his name Paten, but it also appears Paton and Peyton in the papers on file.
Very respectfully,
G. M. Saltzgaber. Commissioner.

Rev. Man
13915 INVALID.
1907 July 26. Hist. to Alfred S. Roe 1914 Sept. 23. " " L. L. Rowan
File No. 13.915
Jonathan Melvin Rev. Boer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 254
[Arrangement of 1870.]

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

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Has not obtained the evidence of a clergyman but has that of two credible persons XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? None 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? He states that he has no documentary evidence — He has furnished the testimony of one living witness NO 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? The Court has Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? The Court certify that the interrogatories were put to the Applicant — not all embodied?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the 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 authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Mch! & Farniss Bank Albany Pension agency March 24. 1837.
James L. Edwards Esq., Commissioner of Pensions, Sir,
Jonathan Melvin, a Pensioner under the act of June 7. 1832, claims pay on the enclosed Vouchers from 4 th Sept. 1835 to 4 March 1837 - and John Watson, a Pensioner under the same act, claims three years pay on his Vouchers herewith also sent -
Very Respectfully Your obed Servt.
Thos M c Clusky Prodt & Pres. agt

State of New York Ontario County
In the matter of Jonathan Atkinson application for a pension
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Notary Public in and for said County Jonathan Atkinson who being duly sworn according to law deponeth and saith that when he made his declaration before the County Court on the 28 th day of August 1832 under the act of 7 th June 1832 to which this is an amendment, he supposed he had complied with the rule of the War Department, in that case made and provided. He now says that the reason he had no clergymen to support his application then made was, that there was no settled minister in the parish where he lives. He is required to answer the 7 interrogatories, propounded by the War Department. He has answered all but the 5 th and 6 th in his original declaration, and he now says that when he served as under his 1 st head there were some Jersey Troops, and some from New England, but he cannot give the names of the Regiments. When he served as under his 2 nd head, he says there were many thousands of Troops there, but he does not remember the names of any other Regiments. He now remembers that he served in Colonel Wells Regiment. He knew Generals Gates and Arnold, and saw them at Saratoga. He believes he had a discharge signed by Captain Wells when he served under him, but he cannot tell what has become of it. He served as under his first head no less than five months, and under his second head no less than one and a quarter months, in all six months, and a quarter as a private soldier, for which he claims a pension.
Sworn to and subscribed to this 18 th April 1833 before me M c Naughton Not. Pub

State of New-York,
Ontario County ss. } I, Charles Crane, Clerk of said county do hereby certify that Thomas Beals, whose name is subscribed to the within cer- tificate, was, at the date thereof, a Notary Public, in and for said county; and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe the said signature to be his proper act and deed. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighteenth day of April A. D. 1833.
Charles Crane

Please send hist. of service of Jonathan Melvin S. 13,915 and Paton Brown N. 707
to Mr. L. L. Rowan 85 Home Life Bldg., Washington, D.C.
REV. WAR SECTION
Personal request SEP 19 1914
PENSION BUREAU

In order to ascertain the date of last payment of pension and to whom paid, this paper should be forwarded to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U. S. Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
Jonathan Melvin, Ctf. No. 14,870, issued July 23, 1833, for $20.55 per annum, from March 4, 1831, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the Albany, New York Agency.

Worcester, Mass. . July 23, 1907
To the Pension Commissioner,
My dear Sir,
For historical purposes I am desirous of securing the Revolutionary record of Jonathan Melvin of Conway, Mass. who, according to the Rolls of this State, enlisted from Shelburne, Mass. He was the very first settler in Wolcott, N. Y. though his later years were spent in Phelps, Ontario Co. N. Y.
A transcript of what the Pension Office has bearing on his story will greatly oblige
Yours respectfully,
Alfred S. Roe

In reply to your request of _____, received for a statement of the military history of Jonathan Melvin , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. file 13.915
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1, 76 5 mos.* Pri. Child Woodbridge Mass.   Fall 77 5 wks. Wells Wells  
* Sick at Ticonderoga when time of service did not reach home till Jan'y 1777.
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Conway Mass. 1792 Phelps, N.Y.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 28, 1832 His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Manchester, Ontario Co., N.Y. with son Jonathan
Age at date of application, b. Hollis, N.H. Jan'y. 14, 1752 (O.S.)
Remarks: _____
no further data as to family
Very respectfully

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Melvin Peter GRADE Private LINE Maryland
WARRANT NUMBER 11532 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 26, 1797 To James De Baufre, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.