Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,213, for Martin Porter, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn
Porter, Martin
S 14,213
Carded
CONTENTS

22 nd  Wheep 14.508 New York
Martin Porter
of Oneida Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Campy commanded by Captain H. O. H. of the Regt. — commanded by Col. Mott — in the Cont. time for 14 Mns 21 days —
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 48 Dollars 98 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May 1852 — and sum No. J. H. H. N. H. H.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar: '31 $ 87.96 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 th Sep: '31 24.49 $112.45
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by G. H. H. Clerk, Book E. Vol. 4. Page 71.

Martin Porter of Kirkland Declaration.
22202
adm d
14 mo. 21 ds pri
14 46.66 2.31 11 28.98 251

State of New York
Oniscida County ss On this fifth - day of February in the year 1833 Personally appear in Open Court before the Hon or Nathan Williams Esqr Vice Chancellor of the fifth circuit now sitting in the City of Utica as a county and state aforesaid Martin Porter a resident of the Town of Kirkland in the County of Oniscida & State of New York aged seventy three years who first being duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 18th 1832. This deponent declares that according to his best knowledge and belief he was born in the year 1759 on the twenty fourth day of February in the town of Farmington Hartford County State of Connecticut This deponent further declares that he first entered the service of the united states in the Revolutionary war by voluntary enlistment for two months a private and served in Capt Noahich Hookers Company and Col John Charters Regiment of Connecticut State Troops or militia This deponent then living in Farmington County and state aforesaid and this deponent further declares that on the first of February 1776 this deponent marched and joined Capt Hookers Company at Roxbury Norfolk County and state of Mass. and said Company  there joined Col. Charters Regiment at that place and this deponent further saith that Col Charters Regiment belonged to Gen l Salah Harts Brigade This deponent further declares that he was called out every other day on fatigue while Dorchester Hill was fortifying and this deponent further declares that he was on duty and performed the service of a soldier for and during the time for which he entered war for two months (this deponent saith this service was performed under his first enlistment) and at the expiration of said time this deponent saith he was discharged by Capt Hooker and this deponent returned home to Farmington and this deponent further declares that on the first of June 1776 as this deponent verily believes that to be the time, he again entered the service of the united states in the revolutionary war and again enlisted into Capt Noahich Hookers Company for six months a private and Col Motts Regiment this deponent then residing in Farmington aforesaid This deponent further declares that he marched with Capt Hookers Company through Canan in Connecticut thence through Great Barrington Mass Bennington in Vermont and thence to Shesborough now White Hall where Capt Hookers Company joined Col Motts Regiment (Said Col Worthington belonged to said Regiment) where the Regiment were stationed or made head quarters for three months while at this place This deponent declares that he went in a boat to fort Ann to get boards to build huts for

The troops to quarter in and this deponent further saith that there was a guard constantly kept out and in September the same year he was detached with twenty five other soldiers and manned five boats and took cattle on board and carried them to Tyenderoga Serjeant Albert Supt David Bick with Corporal William Bae Corporal Cook had the command of the boats on our arrival at Tyenderoga we deliver the cattle to some officer or such person as they were order to be left with and then returned back to Shesborough with the boats soon after our return this deponent saith that Col. Mott's Regiment marched to Tyenderoga and this deponent saith that himself with other soldiers were employed eight days in making gabions &c then this deponent returned and performed duty regularly in said Company until the last day of November same year and on that day Col. Mott's Regiment and Capt. Hooker's Company were both discharged and this deponent saith he was verbally discharged having served on this enlistment six months this deponent saith there was no continental officer at Shesborough while this deponent was there to his knowledge and this deponent further declares that on the first day of December 1776 he again entered the service in the Revolutionary as a substitute for a soldier whose name he cannot recollect and joined Capt. Pownall's Company of Militia and served as a waiter for Lieut. Fox for two months then at Tyenderoga. Col. Wayne a Continental officer called out the Regiment or troops then at that place for the purpose of proving on them to continue a longer time in the service after their time of service for which they had enlisted for had expired but as the soldiers had been in service a long time and their clothes much worn they could not be prevailed on to comply with Col. Wayne's request and this deponent declares that he continued in the service on this enlistment two months and was then discharged by Capt. Pownall on the last of January 1777, and returned home to Farmington. This deponent further declares that on the first of October 1777 there was an alarm and this deponent turned out as a volunteer at which time there was a company volunteer march from Farmington this deponent further declares that Major Ichobad Norton took the command of the company and William Wadsworth acted as Lieut for that company the company immediately marched for Albany then to Stillwater and this Capt. Norton's Company with other militia which had come in joined General Gates Continental Army this deponent further declares he was in the engagement or battle that was fought between the American and British Armies before Genl. Burgoyne surrendered his army to Genl. Gates on the 19th October 1777. in the action this deponent saith that Capt. Norton's Company with the other militia which had come

in at this time were detached and put on the left wing of Genl Gates Army and did duty untill the surrender of Genl Burgoyne's Army on the 17 day of October 1777 and this deponent saith that immediately after the surrender of Burgoyne this depon- -ant with the other volunteers of which Copt Merton's Company cons- -isted were discharged and this deponent returned home to Farm- -ington having served in the expectation three weeks. This deponent further declares that on the first of September 1778 he entered the service of the united States in the Revolutionary war as a substitute for Gad Porter and did the duty of a private in Copt Asa Broy's Company and Col Eno's Regiment of the Connecticut State troops or militia this deponent declares that he joined Copt Broy's Company at West Point and being a substitute for Gad Porter who was sick at that time and went home and this deponent further saith that himself with the other troops at that place were employed in fortifying and building a bomb proof magazine. After completing this work this de- -ponent together with Copt Broy's Company were all discharged and this deponent declares that he served two months which time the said Gad Porter's term of service expired and this de- -ponent returned home; this deponent further declares that on the first of September 1779 he volunteered and served a private in Copt Sedrick Hotchkiss Company and Major Ichabod Merton's Battalion of Connecticut Militia  State troops and moved from Farmington to Norwalk Connecticut and this deponent saith that he did duty regularly and continued in the service until the last of October 1779 having served two months this deponent saith he was discharged by Copt Hotchkiss and re- turned home to Farmington. This deponent further declares that on his voluntary enlistments he served ten months and twenty days and served as a substitute four months making the whole time of his service one year two months and twenty days. Service in the Revolutionary war and for such service claim a pension this deponent further declares that he resided in Farmington Hartford County State of Connecticut during the time of the several Peri- -ods of service in the Revolutionary war and continued to reside in said town nine years after the close of the Revolutionary war and moved from the aforesaid town to the town of Paris now Richland Oneida County where he has resided forty one years past this deponent saith he never had any written discharge but was dis- -charged by the commanding officer of the Company this deponent saith he has named such Continental officers as he now recollects who were present and I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to any pen- -sion or annuity excepting the present and I do declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state, and this deponent saith that he doth not know of any person now living who was in the service in the Revolutionary war at the time this deponent was excepting Samuel Beebe where affidavit is herewith herewith
Subscribed before me the 5 th day of February 1833. before me.
Martin Porter
J. W. Williams Vice Chan.

We Noah Coe a Clergyman of the Town of de New Bedford and James Adams of the New Bedford do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Martin Porter who has sub- scribed and sworn to the foregoing or within declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Subscribed and sworn this 5 th day of February, 1833. before me.
N. Williams Min. Chas.
Noah Coe James Adams
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 him that Noah Coe who has signed the preceding certifi- cate is a clergyman and resident of the Town of New Bedford and James Adams who has signed the same is a resident of the Town of New Bedford and a credible person and their statement is entitled to full credit.
N. Williams Min. Chas.
I, James Watson Williams, Clerk of the Court of Pensions of the State of New York, for the Fifth Circuit thereof, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Martin Porter for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal of Office this fifth day of February A.D. 1833.
J. Watson Williams Clerk in Pensions, 5 th Circuit N.Y.

State of New York Onondaga County
Samuel Hecox of the town of New Hartford County and State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Martin Porter of the town of Kirkland County and State aforesaid this deponent further saith that the said Martin Porter and himself both resided in the Town of Farmington Hartford County and State of Connecticut and this deponent further saith that there was a company raised in the Town of Farmington and the soldiers of which this company was composed in October in January 1776 - and this deponent saith that the conditions in which this company was raised was that each and every soldier should be officer at Roxbury and there from the company on the first day of February 1776 and this deponent further saith that from the said Martin Porter and himself both marched from Farmington and on the first of February 1776 they both joined Capt. Noble Hooker's Company and Col. John Cushing's Regiment of Middlesex or State troops. This deponent further saith that the said Martin Porter did duty regularly as a soldier in Capt. Noble Hooker's Company until the last of March 1776 according to this deponent's best knowledge and belief and this deponent further saith that he was well acquainted with the said Martin before and after the said Martin's enlistment and has been well acquainted with the said Martin since the above that time. This deponent further saith that he verily believes the said Martin did assist in fortifying Dorchester Hill near Roxbury and did duty two months in said company at Roxbury, Dorchester, Norfolk County Mass and this deponent further saith that he continued at Roxbury after the said Martin's time of enlistment had expired. This deponent having enlisted into the Continental Service and this deponent further saith that according to his best knowledge the said Martin did enlist in January 1776 and joined the Capt. Hooker's Company & Col. Cushing's Regiment on the first of February 1776 and was discharged on the last March 1776 after two months service in the Revolutionary war and this deponent saith that the said Martin Porter is a person of great  truth  and  honor . This deponent further saith is in the English language and further this deponent saith not.
Subscribed and sworn this first day of February 1833 before me Jonathan Richardson Justice of Peace
Samuel Hecox
I do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Samuel Hecox who subscribed and made the foregoing affidavit he is a credible person and of truth and his affidavit is entitled to credit. New Hartford February the 1st 1833. Jonathan Richardson Justice of Peace

Clerks Office
Oneida County
I George T. Brown clerk of the said County do hereby certify that Jonathan Richardson Esquire before whom the within draft of Attorney  Affidavit purports to have been acknowledged Sworn was on the day of the date of the same a Justice of the peace in and for said County duly authorized by law to act as such; and further that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe the Signature "Jonathan Richardson" subscribed to be genuine Witness my hand and seal of office this fifth day of February 1833
Geo. Brown Clerk
Jos B. Read Deputy Clerk

22362
Martin Porter (of Skaneateles)
adm d)
Jonathan Richardson New Hartford Oneida County New 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 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 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 Martin Porter Oneida County New 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.     en listment " 2 " Private Capt Hooke Col Chester Roxbury Tamington   July 1776 " 6 " do do Gen Hart Canan Hartford   June 1776 " 6 " do do Col Mott Connecticut Connecticut   Dec 1776 " 2 " Water at the Mouth of Barnington   Subsequent " 2 " to Massachusetts   Oct 1777 " " 21 Re at Maasw Col Wayne Barnington   Vol North Major Norton in a battle Albany   Sept 1778 " 2 " do Capt Ray Col Ennis numerous Dale   Sub to New York Water   Apr 1779 3 do Detachment Major Norton under West   Vol 14 11 Norwich  
aged 73 years
Living Witness
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.

Rev. Wm
✓ 14213 INVALID
File No. 14.213 Martin Porter Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 305
[Arrangement of 1870.]