Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10526, for Caleb Thompson, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Thompson, Caleb
R. 10526
CONTENTS
..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

14.334 Caleb Thompson
3-6 12-13 86 May 4-1833 P 373
A W Maynard Sherburn Chenango N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of Caleb Thompson County of Chenango in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 74.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     "Drafted in 17 not recollected" about 2 months Private. Gen. —   do. " 2 — private. Capt. Humphrey   do. " not stated. private. none mentioned.   "After this Drafted and Vol. Several times." not stated. private. none mentioned.   Capt. Hustat, Col. Hopkins  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dutchess Cty. N.Y.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
* I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
He says "He verily believes he served 9 months in all during the Revolutionary War ."  J. S. Waugh Examining Clerk. March 7. 1833.

Caleb Thompson Declaration
14334

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of Chenango County Caleb Thompson who being duly sworn deponeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he can not 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 grade - For nine months I served as a private soldier in the ranks and for such service I claim a pension - This Deponent further says that he can not recollect the periods of the war when he served - Nor does he recollect the names of the officers any further than the same are set forth in his original affidavit - Nor does he know of any living witness whose testimony he can obtain as to his service
Subscribed and sworn to this 27. day of June 1833 before me Milo Hunt J.P.
Caleb Thompson
I certify that I am acquainted with Caleb Thompson who subscribed the above affidavit and that I believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and entitled to credit
June 27. 1833
Milo Hunt J.P.
State of New York
Chenango County ss - I Savis H. Pike Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Milo Hunt is a magistrate as above and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are both genuine

Witness my hand and seal of office this 29th day of June 1833
P. B. Pundale State Clerk
[Faint, mirrored text bleed-through from the reverse side of the page, mostly illegible.]

State of New York Chautauqua County ss:
On this sixth day of September 1832, personally appeared in open Court before Robert Morell Vice Chancellor of the Sixth district in the State of New York at a Court of Chancery now sitting in the town of Sheburn - County and State aforesaid Caleb Thompson a resident of the town of Norwich County and State aforesaid, aged seventy four 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 here in states.
He was born in the town of Charlotte - Dutchy County - State of New York in the year 1758. and resided there about thirty five years then moved to P'keepsie then Albany City now Schenectady City - lived there about eight years - then moved to the town of Schoharie County of Schoharie - lived there about twenty four years - then moved to Norwich Chautauqua County where he now resides which was seven years ago.
He lived in P'keepsie City during the whole of the War. Ex'cept the time he was in the service -
His first service he was drafted - does not recollect what year - and went under Capt Murphy down near New York, to keep the British back, who had possession of New York at this time - while our people could go down and bring away the forage before the British

Should get it - down near Kings Bridge - was out about two months this trip -
His next service he was drafted for two months does not recollect the year - went under Capt Humphrey - marched first to the Delaware River to a place called - Pim Paxon - to guard against the Indians - but the Indians had left, before they arrived there - Staid at Pim Paxon until his time was out and dismissed -
His next service he was drafted again - to go and guard Schoharie, but before they got there Schoharie was burnt - went from Schoharie to Schenectady - from there to Saratoga - from there to Saratoga, now White Hall - then back to Albany - from there to Fort Stoney to guard a brood of Cattle - then dismissed - does not recollect what year this was -
He was several times drafted after this in Charlotte - now Saugord - Dutchess Co. for fifteen and twenty days at a time - and often Volunteered for two and three weeks at a time, to go down the Hudson River to Peekskill and Fishkill to prevent the British from doing damage when they come up the River - to prevent them from driving off Cattle and destroying Villages - Buildings - and Crops etc - he sincerely believes he served at least nine months in all during the Revolutionary War - He has no documentary Evidence of his service
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State;
Sworn and Subscribed the day Caleb Thompson and year aforesaid Robt. Merrill Lieut. Chancellor -

We Jeremiah Purdy Jr - and Jeremiah Purdy Jnr - residents of the town of Sherburn in the County of Chenango State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Caleb Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be twenty four years of age that is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Given and subscribed this day Jeremiah Purdy Jr - said Jeremiah Purdy Jr in presence of us Caleb Thompson
Interrogatories put by the court
First He was born in Charlotte - now Stamford Dutchess County in the year 1758
Second - He has no record of his age
Third He was living in Charlotte aforesaid when called into the service - has lived in Schenectady Albany Schoharie and Chenango Counties since the war, and now lives in Norwich Chenango County
Fourth He was drafted and Volunteered -
Fifth Capt. Humphrey - Capt. Husted - two or three times each at different times does not recollect the other officers
Sixth - He never received a written discharge
Seventh Jeremiah Purdy Senior - Jeremiah Purdy Jr.

Abel Hunt Esq - Thomas Merrill Esq - Joel Thompson Esq -
And the said Court does hereby declare his 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 Certified that Jeremiah Purdy Esq - and Jeremiah Purdy Jr - are Residents of Pherburn aforesaid and credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit Robb Moore Lieu Colonel
I, Jonathan L. Woods, Clerk of the Court of Chancery of the Sixth Circuit of the State of New York do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of Caleb Thompson for a pension
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 6. day of September 1832
Joseph D. P. Freer Deputy Clerk

REJECTED
10526
P. O. Caleb Thompson Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for suspension.
Alleges: "Suspended for specification of the several details of services thereby elicit proof if to be had from the Comptroller at Albany"
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

New York
Rev.
Suspended
Suspended
per. to not found A. H. Maynard
29 Oct. 1833
to H. B. Stagg at 28 May 1841
10526
Act. 7 June 32

Oxford. Chenango Co. NY. May 20. 1841,
Sir,
I am informed by Caleb Thompson of Norwich in this County, that several years since he applied for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832, and that he employed Abia H. Maynard then of Sherburne to attend to the same for him. Mr Maynard has removed from Sherburne and Mr Thompson has requested me to give attention to his claim,
Will you please inform what is the condition of his claim and for what amount of service a pension was claimed and what action has been had thereon,
I have the honor to be Your obt. Servt
Henry R. Mygatt
J. L. Edwards Esq Comm r of Pensions War Department Washington City DC.

H. R. Mygatt 28. May 1841
OL
2 1841 May 28 H. R. Mygatt

Pension Office May 28. 1841
3741
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 20th inst, upon the subject of the claim of Caleb Thompson for a pension under the act of June 7 1832, whose papers are now upon our files, I have to state that, in the year 1833, his Agent, Mr Maynard was informed that it would be necessary that Mr Thompson should more particularly specify his services; and state the names of all the Officers under whom he had served.
This requisition has never been complied with. In addition, I would suggest the propriety of his calling for proof of his services at the Office of the Comptroller at Albany and forwarding the result to this Office. Henry R. Mygatt Esq. Oxford Chenango Co. N. York June 7 1832 14334

Calib. Thompson N.Y.
5. 6-12-13-
A. H. Maynard Sherburne Chenango N.Y.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Caleb Thompson 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? no VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? no 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? Two Citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
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? no
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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? yes
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 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 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.
†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 authenticates 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 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.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.