Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6238, for Gideon Thayer, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass. R.I.
Thayer, Gideon
S. 6238
carded
CONTENTS

1424 1/2 15958 New York
Set F.F.6. Inplate July 25/53
Gideon Thayer of Tioga Co in the State of New York who was a privat in the Company commanded by Captain Benson of the Left commanded by Col Kitchener in the Sham  line for Wm  for 2  comp
R. T. Mass. Jan. 1834. Recorded completed
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 40 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of May 1833 and sent to York Livingston A. G. Hurner
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $81.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 11 Sept. 20.33
$101.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk. Book C Vol. 4 Page 80

Power of attorney Sylvia Bates for Gideon Thayer
Ex - Sep 17 - 1852 by J. E. Hasler Present

POWER OF ATTORNEY
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.*
State of New York
County of Livingston
Be it known that before me Jonathan P. Briggs a Justice of the peace personally appeared Sylvia Bates aged 76 years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that she is the Daughter of Gideon Thayer who was a Revolutionary Soldier, or Pensioner of the State of Massachusetts and that he died on the 25th day of February 18 36 and that her mother named Mercabah Wilcox died on the 25th day of March 18 16 and that they were married on the 14th day of May in the year 17 77 and that they were residents of Worcester County in the State of Mass and that they resided there 14 years, and that he died in Wymoming and that furthermore she BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints and fully empowers and authorizes irrevocably and with powers of substitution—F. E. Hassler, of Washington City, D. C., as her true and lawful Attorney for her and in her name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U. S. Government Officers her rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land, that may be due her as Daughter in right of law, custom, or equity She is or may be entitled. and for his services he shall have one half of all collected by her
IN WITNESS WHEREOF She has on this 26th day of July 1852, hereunto signed her name and affixed her seal.
Witness: W. C. Potter Witness: Will Ross
Sylvia Bates (L. S.)
Signed, sealed, acknowledged and sworn to before me, on this 26th day of July 1852
Jonathan P. Briggs J. P. (L. S.)
At the same time personally appeared before me Joel Ross and Sally Potter two credible and disinterested witnesses named above and residents of the aforesaid County and State, who having been by me cautioned and then duly sworn according to law, do depose and say each for himself, that they have always heard it said and it is generally believed by the community that Gideon Thayer was a Revolutionary Soldier, and that Sylvia Bates was by him always treated as and is by the witnesses believed to be the Daughter of the said Revolutionary Soldier.
Joel Ross Sally Potter
Sworn to before me the day and year first above written. Jonathan P. Briggs J. P. State of New York County of Livingston to wit:
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That Jonathan P. Briggs Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgment were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Livingston County Court, this 3rd day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifty two J. D. Root Clerk.
* If a Widow applies state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband."

Application for a Pension Gideon Wagon of Lima County of Livingston State of New York —
15958

State of New York County of Livingston 3-10
On this twenty eighth day of September A.D. Eighteen hundred thirty-two Personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas Ephraim Maser a resident of the town of Lima in the County of Livingston aforesaid and being first duly sworn 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 Officer & served as herein stated
In the Month of August  May A.D. 1845. He enlisted in Gen Greene Brigade Col in the 14 Regiment Commanded by Col Brattlecock in Capt William Adams  the vicinity of Company - 2 Marched to Boston at the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill He was on Roxbury Hill opposite Boston - After the said battle He Marched to Prospect Hill where he remained until the expiriation of eight months from the time of his enlistment was disclosed to Major Tracy  Tracy with transmitted In the Month of August 1846 he was drafted & Marched under Lieut Benson to Providence Rhode Island & remained in that

Place on Month
In the Month of April A.D. 1777 he volunteered his services & Marched from the Town of Mendon County of Worcester State of Massachusetts to Providence under the command of Capt Read - & remained there one Month
In the Month of fall of the Year 1777 he was a Corporal in the Militia - He was drafted & Marched under the command of Capt Read to Newport Rhode Island where he remained in the service one Month & was discharged by Capt Read
In the Spring of the Year 1778 the Regiment to which he belonged was ordered out by Col Tyler & he Marched with his Regiment under the command of Capt Read to Yarmouth Massachusetts where he remained in the service a little more than one Month & was discharged by Col Tyler - He has the documentary Evidence to substantiate his claim & he knows of no person whose testimony he can obtain to testify his service
He was born in A.D. Seventeen hundred & fifty four 1754 in the town of Mendon County of Worcester State of Massachusetts

I resided there until he was thirty six years of age - He resided here through the Revolution and war & while he performed all the service above stated - He removed from there to the town of Herga on the Susquehanna in the State of New York - where he resided five years - from thence he removed to the town of Lennox County of Livingston State of New York where he has resided thirty six (36) years & which is still his residence He has a record of his age which he took from the Town Clerks Book in the town of Mendon aforesaid - He would refer to the Hon Matthew Warner one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Livingston County John Chan Fossin whose certificate accompanies this his Declaration - I do hereby declare that his claim to the John Warner his relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or Annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State - the whole amount of service which he rendered during the war is one year
Govern Thayer
Subscribed and sworn to in open court J. G. Haver Deputy Clerk

We Matthew Warner of the town of Lima aforesaid & John Van Gasson of Swonia  residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Gideon Thayer who has subscribed to & sworn to the above Declaration - that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age - that he is reputed a believer in the Neighbourhood where he resides & have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion - & that there is not that known & has not at any time since his residence in Lima aforesaid existed any doubts of his being a soldier of the Revolution Subscribed and sworn in open court J. P. Hance Deputy Clerk Matthew Warner John Van Gasson
And the said Court do hereby certify & declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Applicant was a Matthew Warner

Revolutionary Soldier a Second as per Statute and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Matthew Warner & John Han Fossen who have signed the above certificate are both residents of the town of Lerica aforesaid & that they are both credible Persons & that their certificate is entitled to full credit
I Chauncy Bond Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Livingston aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gideon Warner for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Livingston this 28th day of September A.D. 1832.
Chauncy R. Bond Clerk By S. G. Haven Deputy Clerk

15 958
Glaciar Thayer Livingston Co. New York
admitted
2 mo. Corporal 10 mo. Private
44 22 7 3 3 3 0 0 3 0 3 4 0 0 40
A. G. Skinner Livingston York Livingston Co. N.Y.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show 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, showing the Service of Giacem Thayer
   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.     May 1775 8 Private Capt. Alanson Col. Pitkin March to the vicinity of Boston 77 years Minden Mass. The Discharge & Fraditing witness   Aug 1776 1 " Lt. Benton Col. Green   April 1777 1 " Capt. Reed T. Purdie   July 1777 1 Corp. Capt. Reed T. Purdie   Spring 1778 1 Capt. Reed Col. Tyler T. Purdie   12   2   28  
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 he 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.

Reorgan
6238 INVALID.
1924, Aug 27 - Mrs. W. J. Byrnes referred to Gen. Acct. Off. for (u.m.) date of death.
File No. 6238
Gideon Thayer Corpl. # Rev War
Act: June 7th '32
Index: Vol. M , Page 373
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Camp Perfect Hill Fayer a Soldier in the Lost - Discharged from Hazel Mays

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