Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9368, for John Kidder, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Hidder, John
S. 9368
carded
CONTENTS

14262 New York
John Hilder
of Senesee in the State of NY who was a private in the Com dy commands by Captain Soules of the Reg t commands by Col Telford in the Chap line for 8 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th day of May 1833 and sent to James Crocker - Nassau NY
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 . . 59.32
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sep 1833 . . 13.33
$66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk Book E, Vol. 4, Page 23.

18412 John Kidder's
Declaration
[Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]
of the entitlements there. The form  stated at Harburg were under the command of General Stornal when he frequently saw General Washington in the same

State of New York
Genesee County Sss: On this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable Isaac Wilson William Mitchell. Robert Carr Junior and Simson Cummings. Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Genesee now sitting. John Riddell a resident of the Town of Gainesville in said County of Genesee in the State of New York aged Eighty two years on the fifteenth day of June last 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 7th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated
That he was called out with the Company of Artillery to which he belonged in New Marlborough, Massa- chusetts where he then resided soon after the first engagement at Lexington in April 1775 and on occa- sion of the Alarm at that time, and about the first of May in the same year marched to Roxbury under the command of Captain Bowles in Colonel Fellow's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia and served at that place for the term of eight months and was then dismissed with said Company He was in no engagement during that service He was within view of the battle fought at Bunker Hill but the Officers were expecting an attack from the British at Roxbury, and did not withdraw their forces from that place. They were employed a part of the time in the building of a fort at Roxbury, and he was stationed a part of the time at Dorchester Heights as one of the Guard of the entrenchments there. The forces stationed at Roxbury were under the command of General Thomas whom he frequently saw - General Washington came there some

time in the summer, or autumn and he some times saw him - He had no written discharge but was dismissed with the company on or about the first of January 1776. He has no documentary evidence of his service and he knows of no person whose testi- mony he can procure that can testify to his service He was born at Milne plantation in Dutchess County New York He removed from Massachusetts to Delhi in Delaware county New York about the year 1786 according to his best recollection - and resided there till about the year 1804 when he removed to Gainesville, Genesee County where he has resided ever since - He is acquainted with Mr Nelson Burdick and Mr Elisha Brain- -erd who reside in Gainesville and who can testify to their belief of his service - He is not acquainted with any clergyman who now resides there whose testimony he can procure - Deacon Fainter of Gainesville can certify to his character - He has no record of his age He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not in the pension Roll of the Agency of any State - Subscribed and sworn in Open Court the day and year aforesaid in Open Court Timothy Fitch Clerk John his Kidders Mark
We Deacon Stephen Fainter and Nelson Burdick and Elisha Brainard of Gainesville in said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Kiddes who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be of the age of Eighty two years - That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution and

We concur in that opinion, and we further certify that he sustains a fair reputation for truth — Subscribed and sworn in open Court the day and year aforesaid — Stephen Tainter in open Court Nelson Benedict Timothy Fitch Clerk Elisha Brainerd Jr
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrog- atories 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 Deacon Stephen Tainter and Nelson Benedict and Elisha Brainerd Jun who signed the foregoing certificate are residents of the said Town of Spencer- ville and are Credible Persons and their statement is entitled to Credit Isaac Wilson I Tainter Robert Carr Jr James Taggart William Mitchell
I Timothy Fitch Clerk of the County Court of Common Pleas of the County of Genesee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of John Riddell for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 16 th day of October 1832 Timothy Fitch Clerk

no 16412
John Bidwell Kenosha N.York
James Breckner Esq. Waisau N.York

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 subjunctive 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. Those 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 John Steele Genesee Co. N. York
   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.     Callant 775 8 Private Capt. Lander Col. Tilton Brig. Gen. Thomas Gen. Washington Peru 82 New York through Mass. Traditionary  
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

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 [j] 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.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

va. el.
Reckony
9368 INVALID.
✓
Ind. 21/93 Ind. Hist. 6th Thos. M'Clurgoff, House of Reps.
File No. 9368
John Kidder Br. Rev. war
Act: June 7 th 33
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 207
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Note the words the her in England about 8 opportunity before execution R. H. Phillips J.
State of New Jersey County of Middlesex } On this twenty third day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace, within and for the County, and State aforesaid, Ellen Applegate, aged sixty two years, a resident of the City of New Brunswick in the County of Middlesex, and State of New Jersey who being duly sworn according to law, upon her oath, doth depose and say that she is the daughter of Olive Bowers deceased formerly widow of John Kelly deceased, who was at the time of her death, understood to have an Invalid pension of Revolution, that her mother the said Olive Bowers, resided in Metuchen, in the County of Somerset, and State of New Jersey and kept a "cake and beer shop", as long ago as this deponent can remember, that while the said Kelly, husband of the said Olive, as she the said Olive stated to this deponent, She the said Olive kept the said "cake and beer shop", at Metuchen, aforesaid, at the time when the said John Kelly, her husband, was in the army at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, that while there, he, her said husband, was taken sick, and sent for the said Olive to come and see him, her said husband, that she, the said Olive did go to Philadelphia, to see her said husband, the said John Kelly, when her oldest child named Lovinia, Kelly, was about one year old or a little more, and that she her said mother the said Olive, did take the said

child Lovince, with her to see her father, that after he the said John Kelly, her said husband, after he got well, came to see her, that said Olive that he obtained a furlough, for that purpose and after visiting her, he returned again to the army at Philadelphia, that she her mother the said Olive, very often talked of the hardships and privations, which she suffered during the war, and that she frequently repeated the history above related, in the hearing of this deponent and other members of the family, that the said Lovince her sister whom her mother said she took with her to Philadelphia, was born in the month of May A D 1780 as this deponent knows from the family record.
Sworn and subscribed      Ellen Applegate before me on the day, and year above written, And I do certify, that I have been acquainted with the affiant for some twenty years and that she is a credible person. Peter P. H. H. H. Justice of the Peace
At the same time personally appeared before me, Jane Hoagland, aged sixty eight years, also a resident of Streetown, with aforesaid who being duly sworn according to laws upon her oath says that the foregoing affidavit was read to her that she has often heard her mother the said Olive Bowers accused repeat the same things therein stated, in her hearing as well as many other incidents of the war, that she this deponent is the daughter of the said Olive Bowers, accused

That she remembers perfectly well that she kept a "cake and beer shop" from this community earliest recollection. of  of  of
I was and subsisted before me, the, any and aforesaid, and I certify that I am acquainted with the applicant, and that she is a credible person and that I have no reason to doubt in this claim - Duluth P. O. May
State of New Jersey County of Middlesex ss I Nicholas Boorman Clerk of the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that the County of Middlesex aforesaid do hereby certify that Peter P. Boorman whom genuine signature appears above is and was at the time of sign- ing the same a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Middlesex duly commissioned therein to all intents and purposes full power and general is given that the aforesaid being before me a Justice of the Peace duly qualified herein and there
Given under my hand this 24th day of July AD 1855 Nicholas Boorman