Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7274, for Ozias Palmer, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. Mass.
Palmer, Osias or Osias
S 7294
Carded
CONTENTS

12 New York.
Asias Palmer
of Oneida in the State of N.Y. who was a private in the Com'y - commanded by Captain Smith of the Reg't. commanded by Col Baldwin in the X-batt, line for 21 Months
died Aug 30 1839 Asias Palmer July 19/04. Mass. Conn. Records corrected. B.
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 70 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of May 1833. and sent to B.P. Johnson Rome N.Y.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833. 140 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833. 35
$175
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book G. Vol. 4 Page 71.

State of New York Oneida County B
On this 9 th day of March 1833 personally appeared Oziel Palmer before me, a Notary Public of the Court of Common Pleas of Oneida County, a resident of said County and State, aged 75 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 th 1832.
That he was born at Winsted , Conn. in 1757 - That he has no record of his age - Lived at Tuffield , Conn. - when he entered the Service - and since the Revolutionary War has lived at Winsted , Conn. Ballston , N.Y. Now Rome Oneida Co New York

Ozias Palmer. Oswa County. N.Y.
23328
W.P. Johnson
Asst.
Rome. N.Y.
Pension payable at the U.S. Branch Bank. Utica.
N.Y.
Amount
21. mo per
70$

Lucas Palmer 23328-

That he first volunteered his services in Suffield et to go to Lexington, so soon as the News of that Battle reached Suffield, Capt. Peterson from Summers, or near that Place, & Lieut. Seth Smith of said Suffield, took the command of the Volunteers who then turned out, that Col. Denniston of Brimfield & Shephard of Westfield commanded the Regiment to which this Deponent was attached, that he often stood sentinel at the Door of these Colonels during the Campaign of 1775, that they both Mustered in the same House at Roxbury - That he was a Spectator of Bunkerhill Battle during the whole of the Action - That in the forepart of July he was taken sick, that Col. Shephard came to see him and offered him a Discharge for the Campaign That this Deponent refused it saying if he died that would be Discharge enough, & if he got well he should return again to the Army - That his friends furnished him a Horse & he went home to Suffield, that he regained his health very soon - That he saw Gen. Washington at Suffield on his way to take the Command of the Army - This Deponent immediately followed the General and joined his Regt. at Roxbury, that as as he came near to Roxbury he met Col. Shephard , who accosted him in the following words - My Lad are you alive, and have you any Money left here take this half Dollar & drink my health with your Comrades - That in the November following, He enlisted into the Company of a Capt. Smith of New Hampshire as he thinks for the term of one year, and remained in

the army near Boston until January 1776 when he received a short furlough & returned to Suffield barely in time to attend his Father's Funeral, and then returned & joined the army again at Roxbury, where he continued until the first part of March 1776 that he assisted in making the Fortification on Dorchester Heights , and about that time was detached & placed under the command of a Capt Robbins to go & cut a Road through the woods from the Cohos near the head of Connecticut River to St Johns in Canada, that he spent three or four Months in that service & in scouting & looking out for the Enemy, that when they had finished the Road they returned to New Ipswich & joined the same company into which he had enlisted the fall before - which company remained in New Ipswich for some time, & were recruiting - that from thence they Marched for White Plains with that part of the Army which was left near Boston, and arrived at White- Plains about two weeks before the Battle at that place, that Col. Baldwin commanded that part of the Army to which he belonged on their March, and after they arrived at White Plains - that he this Deponent assisted in forming a breastwork a little to the South of the Court house in that place, that he was engaged in that Battle, & that Col. Baldwin's Regt was driven from the Breastwork, & retreated to North Castle , where they made a bold stand - that Gen. Lee & Sullivan were both there -

that he remained there until his year expired, which was in November of 1776 when he was discharged & returned home to Suffield, had no written discharge —
In April 1777 when the News reached Suffield that Danbury was burnt by the British, he again volunteered, and arrived at Danbury the third or fourth day after the same was burnt whilst the fat of the meat which fried a pan from the burning stores was yet standing in some places on the ground two inches deep — From Danbury they marched to Horse Neck where he continued three months and he thinks Lieut Nathaniel Remington of Suffield had the command of the volunteers & that Isaac Pinney of Windsor was Orderly Sergeant - and was there discharged but had no written discharge, & returned home — the That in July 1779 there was an other alarm, that the red coats were plundering Red Haven, that he with many others then turned out as volunteers, and marched to Red Haven, that he continued there & at East Haven for the term of three months or more, but cannot recollect the names of any of the officers
Ozias Palmer

6. That he never rec d any written discharges from service —
That he was acquainted with Gen Washington, 5. Gen Lee, Gen Saltonstall and other United States officers —
7. He refers to Joshua Hathaway, Jay Hathaway, John Prigg, Lorenzo Duggs, residents of Rome Onondaga County, who can testify to his character and reputation
He knows of no living witness who can testify as to his services except the son Joshua Hathaway, whose statement is hereto annexed —
That his name is not on the pension roll of any State and he hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension except the present pension and subscribed Officers Deeds before me the day and year aforesaid — Amos Canstock Judge of Probate Court, Platts

We Lorenzo Edgerton Cheyenne and Joshua Hattaway Postmaster Rome - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elias Palmer who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration - that we believe him to be about thirty years of age, that he is upright and believed in the neighborhood (when he resided) to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that We concur in that opinion - and that he is a man of truth and veracity - Joshua Hattaway Lorenzo Edgerton Given and subscribed before me - this day and year aforesaid -
Simon Cowen Clerk of Oneida Co., N.Y.
And I the said Clerk do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Elias Palmer was a Revolutionary Soldier and served in the States - And the said Clerk further certifies that it appears to him that Lorenzo Edgerton who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of Rome and is a clergyman and

that Joshua Hathaway also who has signed the same is a resident of Rome and that they are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit - and that the said Oziar Salmeo from bodily infirmary is not in a situation to attend Court
Amos Cookstock a judge of America Court, Hous
strong D ove
year 1782 e, in Enfield
he went to enough  enough that he often visited the latter adjoining Suffield that he always understood that Place. & saw the said Oziar, & always understood that he had been in the Army at various times. During the Revolutionary war. that he now lives in the same Town with him & has for more than thirty years. & has often conversed with him relative to

Joshua Hattaway of Home New York very near sworn deposeth & saith that he is now in his seventy second year, that he was born in Suffield & that he resided there until February 1776, that he was well acquainted with the Family to which the within named Orias Palmer belonged, that he knew he belonged to the Army of the Revolution, & that Deponent lived near to Lieut Seth Smith at the commencement of the war, that said Lieut Smith (afterward Capt) was one of the first who turned out in the alarm to go to Lexington, & that the said Orias as this Deponent always understood went with him - This Deponent further says that late in the fall of 1777 he was drafted to guard with Lieut. Belknap & others a number of prisoners from the Northern Frontier to Hartford in Ct, that he returned by the way of Suffield & continued there until the following May, that in the course of the winter he saw the said Orias in Suffield, & understood that he either then belonged to the Army, or had been in actual service almost the whole of the time from & after Lexington Battle, that he has a strong impression on his mind that he saw the said Orias with a coat, the buttons of which were marked, & had on them the letters U. S. A. This Deponent further testifies that in the year 1782 he went to school preparatory for college, in Enfield adjoining Suffield that he often visited the latter place, & saw the said Orias, & always understood that he had been in the Army at various times, during the Revolutionary war. That he now lives in the same town with him & has for more than thirty years, & has often conversed with him relative to

his various campaigns in that War & he has always mentioned that he served therein more than three years. This Deponent further says that the said Amias, by reason of his often infirmities and his great age, seems to be broken in his mind & recollection - that he remembers nothing but the great events of the war. J. Hathaway
Sworn & subscribed this 11 th day of March 1839 before me
Simon Comstock Judge of Amherst Co. N.H.
I George Brown Clerk of Oneida Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of Ozias Palmer a Revolutionary Soldier, before the Hon Simon Comstock a Magistrate County and I certify that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and believe the foregoing signature to be his.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at office, this 15 th day of March 1839. George Brown Clerk Jos. B. Read Dep. Clerk

23328
Asias Palmer
Oneida co
New York
some
B. M. Johnson Rome 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 subjjoined 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 Elias Elmer, 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.     Volunteer Apr 1775 3 Capt. Peters Capt. Smith Col. Derriston Lt. Shepard Roxbury 75 Suffield Conn. Tradition   1776 1 Capt. Robbins Col. Baldwin White Plains Dorchester White Plains   1777 3 1st Pennington North Castle Horse Neck Witnesses prove the service of the applicant   1779 3  
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.
J. E. Brandt

aug 28th age A. G. Edgerton Dianxdale S.D.
Rev May
7294
INVALID.
1894 To Jr
File No. 7294
Ozias Palmer
Prv Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 15 , Page 288
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Ozias Palmer Records corrected July 29/02