Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7743, for Phinehas Tomkins, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Tompkins, Phinehas or Tompkins, Phineas
S 7743
Carded
CONTENTS

Chic = Pittsburgh *26,105
Phineas * Tompkins Richland Co in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded by Col Wauthin in the New York line for [blank] *26,105
25 Private p 80.00 Phineas * Tompkins Suppl Records corrected
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio P.A.T. the rate of 80 Dollars per annum, commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of March and 1831 No. 11 , Patterson , H.R.
Emeas to the 14th of March 240.00 Emi-ant. allowance ending April 40.00 p 280.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. D. [blank] Clerk. Book C Vol. 8 Page 129
Reported to agent & letter to Samuel Watson 11 July 1831.

The Honorable Lewis Cass Secretary of War Washington City

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832
The State of Ohio } ss Richland County }
On this 20 th day of January 1834 personally appeared before me William Riddle one of the Appo- ciate Judges in and for said county Phineas Tompkins aged Eighty years who being 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 the 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the fol- lowing officers and served as herein stated
Declarant states that he was born in the Town of Newark in state of New Jersey on the 28 th day of July 1753 at which said place he resided till he was about 16 years of Age & then moved to Florida in Orange County in the State of New York was called into the service in the militia and served under Colonel Hawthorn at Minisink in 1775 or 1776 & had been in the service against the Tories at Warwick mountain & declarant further states that he stood as a minute man and was called into the service every year (as he believes) during the war and often on short tours once he went to Easttown to guard the baggage wagons besides he was called some doz- en or fifteen times to Minisink several of which tours he served in Captain Sears' company under Major Poppono - he has also served against the Indians at Coshetton and Mungop & other places not perfectly recollected and one of the years he served nearly half the time and declarant further states that according to his best recollection putting all the several tours together that he served in the service service against the Indians that it would amount to about two years and a half declarant further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose own testimony he can procure who can testify to his service He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annu- ity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Wm Riddle Associate Judge Phineas Tompkins

Where and in what year were you born
I was born in the Town of Newark in the State of New Jersey on the 28 th day of July 1753
2 nd have you any record of your age and if so where is it
Ans r my age is recorded in my family bible which is left in my desk in the State of New York
3 rd Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live
Ans r I lived when called into the service in Florida in Orange County in York State and have resided in that County ever since till till about 5 years ago then I moved to Lexington in Richland County & State of Ohio where I have since resided
4 th How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute
Ans r I was called as a militia man & stood through the war ready at any call.
5 th 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 service
Ans r the names of the militia officers (now recollected) who were with the troops where I served were Colonel Hawthorn Major Poppo Major Tuston Major Wood Captain Sears & Capt. Jones I served as is stated in my declaration
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service: and if so and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Ans r I do not recollect to have received any written discharge
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for truth and veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution. Ans r I will name Adna Coleman George Coleman Asher A Davis Amariah Watson & Samuel Watson

We Asker A Davis a Clergyman residing in in the County of Richland Ohio; And Adna Coleman and Samuel Watson residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Phineas Tompkins who has subscribed and sworn to the above 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 of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
W m Riddle Associate Judge
Asker A Davis Adna Coleman Samuel Watson
And I do hereby declare my opinion after the investiga- tion 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 I do further certify that it appears to me that Asker A Davis who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County Richland and Adna Coleman and Samuel Watson who have signed the same are residents of Richland County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
W m Riddle Associate Judge
And I do further certify that the applicant Phineas Tompkins cannot from bodily infirmity attend the Court his mind and memory is much impaired
W m Riddle
I William Riddle Associate Judge of Richland County Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings had before me in the matter of the application of Phineas Tompkins for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20 th day of January 1854
W m Riddle Associate Judge

The State of Ohio, Richland County,
ss. I Ely Hays Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of State aforesaid do hereby certify that William Maude Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration was made & whose signature thereto subscribed is genu- ine now is & was at the time of taking the same An Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County State, duly com- missioned & qualified to all of whom official acts as such full faith & credit is & ought to be given as well in testimony of record as else where In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Mans- field this 21 st day of Jan'y. 1834
Ely Hays Clerk

An additional declaration of Phineas Tompkins in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832.
Declarant States that from his age his much Infirmary And consequent loss of memory: That he is unable to state the names of officers or the particular tours which he served otherwise than he has done in his former declaration except that he might be more definite as it respects the time he served declarant is positive he served five months in one year, under Col. Hovey, Thompson and Overton and that putting all the time of the several tours together in which he served without following any civil occupation it amounts to two years and three months And that he never served in any other capacity than as a private
State of Ohio } Richland County } ss
Phineas Tompkins
Personally came before me Capus Langworthy an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county who being first sworn, deposes and says that the above de- claration made upon his solemn oath did say that the above declaration is true to the best of his knowledge and further this deponent subscribes that given under my hand & seal of office this 20 th day of Feb A.D. 1834 Capus Langworthy S.P. (Seal)

The State of Ohio Richland County
I hereby certify that the board of commissioners of the county of Richland Ohio do hereby certify that Cyrus Sargent Esq before whom the within decla- ration of Phoebe Sampson appears to have been taken & whose signature thereto subscribed is genuine now is & was at the time of taking the same an acting Justice of the peace for said county duly commissioned & quali- fied to whom official acts as such full faith hereby is & ought to be given as well in courts as of record as elsewhere - In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county at Mansfield this 20th day of July 1834
Cyrus Sargent

29. 846. Phineas Tompkins Oliver
Adm 2 years
Hon W. Patterson Ho of Reps

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
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES 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 days 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 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 inquiry 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.

Van Nostrand Patterson says the claimant is a man in whose veracity and honesty every reliance may be placed.

Rev. War
S.F. 7,743
Correct the Record and Cert. Jacket to show - Phineas Tom k ins; also File Jacket, to show - Phineas (not Thomas ) Tom k ins.
ATM
Sept. 7/04.

Revtran
7743
INVALID.
File No. 7743
★ Thomas Tompkins
Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1, ch, Page 377
[Arrangement of 1870.]
★ Phinehas Tomkins. Sept 16/04. Records corrected. R.