Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14448, for Henry Shepard, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Shepard, Henry
S. 14448
leaded
CONTENTS

20.886 New York
Henry Shepard
Enlisted in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Block of the Regt commanded by Col. Sage in the New York line for 20 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Oct. 1833 and due to Lake Springsville
Arrears to the 14th of Oct. $166.66 Semest. allowance ending 14th 33.33
$199.99
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S. C. Steele Clerk Book E Vol. 1, Page 89

14681 Henry Shepherd Cattaraugus co N.Y.
Admitted Privately 21 mo
12 11-17 May 9 th 1833
P. 385
Samuel Lake Springville N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of Henry Shepherd of Cattaraugus county in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 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? 84  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.     Enlisted In 1776 9 Private Gen. Wadsworth Capt. Clark, Col. Sage   The year G. John was St. Johns served 3 do Capt. Tyler, Col. Ledyard   Volunteer 1781 or 1782 About 9 Capt. Malt, Lieut. Hunsdale  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Coventry, Connecticut  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witnesses and tradition  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not corrected as required 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
T. G. Bradburn Examining Clerk.

14581 Henry Shepard application
Milwaukee
Samuel Lake agent Springville

State of New York Cattaraugus County, ss. On this 18 th day of June 1833. personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Cattaraugus now sitting Henry Shepard who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say that he was born in Brooklin in Connecticut. That he has always lived in the United States. That by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more positively to his services than as stated and set forth in his declaration hereto annexed dated the 3 rd day of October 1832. only he can state that his services in the last campaign in the year 1781 or 1782 was for the full period of nine months and altho' he does not recollect the date of the commencement of said service will recollect it was early in the Spring. Thinks it must have been as early as the first of April and was discharged at Saratoga the last of December following. When he returned home, that he never had any Commission and served as a private soldier
That the Reverend Mr. Vining who resides in this Town was absent at the time of making his declaration in October last, as the Deponent has been informed and believes, and that there was then no Clergyman then living in the town to testify as to his belief of his said services
That at the time of his entering the services as stated in his declaration he resided in the Town of Brooklin in the State of Connecticut
Sworn & Subscribed the 18 th day of June 1833 before me in open Court Grant Day a Judge of Cattaraugus Common Pleas
Henry Shepard

on section of the Cattaraugus County Pa. I Obadiah Vining residing in the Town of Elliottville in said County Certify that I am well acquainted with Henry Shepard who subscribed & sworn to the annexed declaration and the foregoing affidavits, that I believe him to be eighty four years of age that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbour- hood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that I concur in that opinion - George Vining
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigating 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 Obadiah Vining who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman residing in the Town of Elliottville, and that his statement is entitled to full credit, Isaac Dagsdell Judge I John W Stanton Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Cattaraugus. Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the appli- cation of Henry Shepard for a pension
And that the annexed declaration & proceedings of the said Court of the Arbi- trary are the original proceedings of said Court -

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court & after the 19th. day of Jan 1833
John M. Staunton clerk

State of New York. Seneca County ss.
Charles Watley of Norwich in said County being duly sworn deponeth & saith that he is acquainted with Henry Shepard. — That in the year 1776 this deponent and said Henry Shepard, were soldiers in the Company of Connecticut State Troops Commanded by Captain Aaron Clark, in Colonel Connor Sage's Regiment, and Brigadier General James Wadsworth's Brigade. — That this deponent and the said Henry Shepard joined the Army in the City of New York at the same time, being about the Fifteenth day of July 1776. — That this deponent & the said Henry Shepard remained in the service together, for the space of six months, & performed various military services, at New York, Governor's Island, White Plains & elsewhere. — And this deponent further saith, that the said Henry Shepard & this deponent were discharged from the service together, on on about the Twenty fifth day of December in the year above mentioned. — Chattels & slaves Sworn & subscribed this 19 th day of July 1832. before me
Ralph Johnson, Commissioner of Deeds in Commandery

I certify that the within named Charles Matthas has been for ten years personally known to me, and I know him to be a person of the best respectability, and whose creditability cannot be questioned.
Chemung County      Ralph Johnson, Commissioner of Aug. 14. 1882      Deeds
State of New York Chemung County      I, Francis K. Lake Clerk of said County do Certify that Ralph Johnson Esq. before whom the within affidavit was sworn to have been sworn, was at the date of the same, a Commis- sioner of Deeds in and for said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and really believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit and to the foregoing recommendation to be his proper hand writing and signature.
Witness my hand and seal of Office this 14 th day of August 1882
P. B. P. Middle Deputy Clerk

State of New York Cattaraugus County ss. On this 5 th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, of Cattaraugus now sitting Henry Shepard a resident of the Town of Ellicottville in said County of Cattaraugus and State of New York. aged eighty four years on the 5 th day of September last past, that he was born in Brookline in the State of Con- necticut 1748 as appears from his family records, 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 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That he enlisted into the service for nine months in the Spring of the year 1776 thinks it was in the month of April, at Coventry in Connecticut under Captain James Clark of Lebanon in Connecticut in a regiment of Connecticut Troops commanded by Col. Sage who lived at Middletown in Connecticut, that afterwards in June (or July as appears from the affidavit of Charles Wattles hereto annexed) but the deponent thinks it was at an earlier date, the regiment went to New York that he served in the same Company under Capt. Clarke, at New York, and in that vicinity until late in December following when he was discharged at New York Kingsbridge The British took New York during this campaign that the retreat from New York to Whiteplains and Harlem heights was on Sabbath day, and he and the troops suffered greatly from the excessive heat that it was a hard campaign attended with frequent skirmishes, and but there were no general battles fought after the retreat. That Genl. Wadsworth was his Commanding General. Genl. Washington was with

Army at the time and the deponent frequently saw him - The deponent recollects that in the retreat there were a great many of our troops killed, and he knows of several who died suddenly from drinking cold water - That in the year that the British took fort Griston and killed Col: Ledyard he was in the service three months. Served under Capt. James Tyler of Brookline, under the command of Col: Ledyard. That he served in the town of Griston and helped build the fort, but at the time the fort was taken he was about 6 miles distant at Norwich on board of a sloop, which circumstanced probably saved his life - He does not recollect the date of the commencement of this service or the year, except as above stated, but recollects that he served three months and was discharged and returned home with Capt. Tyler who resided in the same neighbourhood of this deponent, in the town of Brookline -
That in the last part of the Revolutionary war 1781 or 1782 he served nine months, volunteered in the Spring of the year under Capt. Welp and Lieutenant John Hunsdale of Washington County who lived at a place now called Salem. (Then called Washington) he does not know to what regiment the company was attached. That they were stationed at Saratoga, when there were some troops of the New Hampshire line, that there were no regular troops at that place, they were stationed as a guard. There was no fighting in that vicinity and that he recollects of hearing that peace was made while he was in service at that place but he cannot state what time of the year or more positively than above stated. That he was discharged and returned home late in the fall after serving about nine months. That he has no documentary evidence of his service except the affidavit

and knows of no other person whose testimony he can procure, of his said services - nor had any military discharge. - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state - Sworn to and Subscribed Henry Shepard The day and year aforesaid Second Day of June as written
We John Fellows and Samuel Woodford residing in the town of Elliottville hereby Certify That we are well acquainted with Henry Shepard who has Subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration That we believe him to be Eighty four years of age That he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides To have been a Soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion - Sworn & Subscribed the 3 rd day of October 1832 - before me John Fellows Samuel Woodford
And the 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 that the court further Certify That the above named John Fellows and Samuel Woodford are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit

And the 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 that the court further certify that the above named John Telford and Samuel Woodford are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Sam Allen Brad Day Alson Leavenworth
Spies of the Court on the mentioned

I John W. Staunton Clerk of the Common Pleas in & for the said County of Cattaraugus do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Henry Shepard for a pension. In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and seal of Office the 3 d day of October 1832 — — — — —
John W. Staunton C.P.

Rev man
✓ 14448 INVALID. ✓
File No. 14.448
Henry Shipman Phil. Rab. wa Conn.
Act: June 1 st 1832.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 340
[Arrangement of 1870.]

14681
Henry Shepherd N.Y.
12 14. 17
Affidavit & Certificate of Clergymen annexed S. Lake
Samuel Lake Springville 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 Henry Shepherd of Cattaraugus county, N.Y. which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? 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?
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? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
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? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No  -X-
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
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.
Affidavit annexed