Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22427, for Caleb Nurss, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass H
Nurss, Caleb
S. 22 427
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for contents]
[Blank lined area for contents]

Pennsylvania 20. 1858
Attest
Caleb MERS
of Monroe Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Reed of the Reg. commanded by Col. Hedges in the No. 18 Vt line for 1 Year
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 10 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of Aug. 1833 and sent to J. B. Clark Nantucket
Arrears to the 14th of Mar. 80 Semi-ant. allowance ending 14 Sep. 20 $100
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by G. Estlin Clerk Book 50 Vol. 1 Page 26
Can to Penn Agt 25 th April 1839. From Albany New York from 4 Sept 1838. 2 nd May 1839. Anti- -secession sent to Jonathan Stearns, Standing Stone, Penn a

In Matter of Calib. Varp.
Pension Application.
15894
✓
adm a
12 mo. per
40 $
4755 9.10

State of New-York } County of Broome } ss.
On this thirtieth day of Au- gust, the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty two personally appeared before me, a Notary Public of the County of Broome, now sitting, Caleb Murs resident of Hobackville in the County of Broome and State of New York, aged seventy two 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 provisions made by the act of Congress passed the sec- ond of June in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two, —
That he entered the service of the United States under the following circumstances and while residing in the Town of Old Rutland, in the Coun- ty of Worcester, State of Massachusetts. In the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five, in the month of November, he volunteered as a militia man into the Regiment command- ed by Col. Holden of Princeton Massachusetts and served in the Company commanded by Capt. Thomas Reed of Rutland Mass. The names of the other field and company officers are not within his recollection. From Old Rutland he marched to Head Quarters at Roxbury Mass. where he continued in service till the last of December in the same year, when he was dis- charged, having served during seven weeks. Of this seven weeks service he has no witness or documentary evidence.
While residing in the Town of Old Rutland in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, and in the month of August, he was drafted into a Regiment of militia commanded by Col. Joseph Cushman of Shrew- bury. The names of the officers of the Company to which he belonged, were as follows, Capt. John Boynton of Winchendon, Lieut. John Stone of Old Rutland, and — the others are forgotten. —

He marched from Old Rutland to Burlington Vermont, where he was engaged in the battle of Burlington, during which Gen. Stark commanded, He was discharged at Burlington the last of the month of September, in the same year, having been, at this time, in the service during six weeks. Of this six weeks service he has no witness or documentary evidence.
In the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, and in the month of April, while residing in the Town of Guilford, in the County of Windham & State of Vermont, he commenced his third term of service by enlisting for the period of nine months into the State Troops. The Regiment to which he belonged was commanded by Col. Samuel Fletcher; Isaac Teichner was a Major of the same Regiment the other field officers are not within his recollection, except Gen. Enos, who was occasionally present. The names and rank of the company officers, which he now recollects, were Capt. James Blacklee, Lieut. Jonas Rice, and Ensign John Coffin. He marched from Guilford to Burlington, from thence to Headquarters at Fort Castleton, at which place he was discharged on the last of December in the same year, having served out his term of nine months enlistment. Of this third term of service he has no documentary evidence.
He was born at Rutland March 10th 1758 and died at Danby March 10th 1842
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year afore said.
T. B. Marvin Clerk
Caleb N. Voss
We Thomas Maheshu Sndg of Montpelier residing in the town of Colchester, and Isaac Perry residing in the same town, hereby certify that

we are well acquainted with Caleb Karp who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion.
Thos. Blakeslee Isaac Perry
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid.
V. Marvin Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Hon. Thos.
Blakeslee — who has signed the preceding certificate, is a _____ resident in the town of Coburn and that Isaac Perry who has signed the same is a resident in the same town of Coburn and is a creditable person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I B. Marvin, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Broome County, do hereby certify that this contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Caleb Karp for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30th day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred & thirty two. —
V. Marvin Clerk of Broome Com. Pleas

Caleb Murs
S 20° E
Jon a Stevens Standing Stone Penn a apl. 11 th .

State of Pennsylvania } S
Bradford County
On this 19 th day of March 1839 Before the Subscriber an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Bradford Personally appeared Caleb Nuffs who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company of Captain James Blakesly in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Fletcher in the service of the United States, that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of New York from whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State of Pennsylvania where he intends to remain and wishes his Pension to be there payable in future. The following are the reasons for removing from the State of New York to the State of Pennsylvania. He is now aged and of course infirm or debilitated and wishes to reside with or near Jonah Nuffs his son who about six or seven months since removed into the said State of Pennsylvania that he might receive from him occasionally that aid his situation requires him to stand in need of.
Caleb Nuffs
Sworn and Subscribed before me } the day & year aforesaid
Jonathan Stevens Associate Judge
Ten th Bradford County S
On this 19 th day of March 1839 before the Subscriber Judge as aforesaid of the said County of Bradford Personally appeared Jonah Nuffs who being sworn in due form of Law declares that he is well acquainted with the above named Caleb Nuffs the person who has sworn to the foregoing affidavit and that he is the identical person named therein
Jonah Nuffs
sworn and subscribed before me } the day and year aforesaid
Jonathan Stevens Associate Judge
I Jonathan Stevens Judge aforesaid do hereby certify that Jonah Nuffs to me known is reputed as a person of veracity, and is entitled to belief. (Note the Name Jonah Nuffs Interlined before sworn)
Jonathan Stevens A L
(Direct to Jonathan Nuffs Standing then Bradford Co. P.)

State of Pennsylvania } Bradford County ss }
I David Cash the Prothonotary of the Court of common pleas of the County aforesaid do certify that Jonathan Stevens is an associate Judge of the aforesaid Court of common pleas in and for the said County duly qualified - Commissioned on the 22 d day of May 1818 to continue during good behavior - And the within signatures purporting to be his are genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court this 2 a day of April A.D. 1839
David Cash Prothonotary J. M. Wattles (Dpy)

15894
Calib Nuss Bronx county New York
acmd
12 14 86 86 May 11 th 1839
P. 391
John L. Clark Bainbridge Chenango county N. York

BRIEF in the case of  Caleb Nurse  of  Broome co.  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? 72  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.     Volunteered In 1775 1 19 Private Capt. Reed, Col. Holden   Drafted 1777 1 12 Capt. Boynton,   do 1781 9 Capt. Blackwell, Col. Fletcher  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bemington  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worcester county, Mass. Windham, Vermont.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witnesses & traditional  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.
J. Madford Examining Clerk.

Caleb Nurse
12. 11
John C Black 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 Calib Burns of Broome 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? yes 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  yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? all answered
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 shewn 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.

May 2 nd No way

MECHANICS' & FARMERS' BANK,
Albany Pension Agency,
April 29. 1839.
JAMES L. EDWARDS, Esquire,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 25 th inst. I have to state, that Caleb Nourse a Pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832 — at — 40 — Dollars per annum was last paid to the 4 day of April. 1838.
I am, Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't,
PRES'T AND PENSION AGENT.

State of New-York Chenango County
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a judge of Chenango Common Pleas, Caleb Varns, who being duly sworn upon and with that that there is no Chen- ango man residing in the vicinity of this deponent whose affidavit he could prove pursuant to the regulations of the War Department in regard to pensions.
Subscribed and sworn to The 22 d day of May 1833, before me
Alvin Pigeon
State of New-York Chenango County: I, Harris N. Pigeon Clerk of said County certify that in my presence before me the preceding affidavit of Caleb Varns was sworn to before me the day and year first above written. I am the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County and that I am acquainted with his handwriting

State of New York Chenango County ss. Eleazar Church of Paine bro d of State & County of or said being duly sworn according to Law on his o ath doth depose and say that he is seventy two years of age on the 13 th day of October last past. That he has personally known Caleb Hurlburt the person described in the annexed declaration since 1780 to the pres- ent time - That he this deponent knows that said Hurlburt was a private soldier in Captain James Blakesley's Company of State Troops in Colonel Fletcher's regiment, that he enlisted therein for nine months, That he enlisted in March 1780 & was discharged in December of the same year at the expiration of his term of service - This deponent was a private in the said Blakesley's Com- pany at the same time said Hurlburt was a private in the same - That said Hurlburt & this deponent were station- ed at Castleton in Vermont, where he remained until discharged in December aforesaid. No written dis- charges were given - The regiment was dismissed by the Colonel, with his thanks.
Eleazar Church
Sworn & Subscribed This 11 th day of August 1832 before me

State of New York Onondago County ss. Samuel Nichols of Rainbridge in said County State being duly sworn according to Law on his oath doth depose & say that he was sixty six years of age on the 13 th day of June last past. That he is personally acquainted with Caleb Knapp the person who on oath in the annexed Declaration That he has known him since the year 1780. He first knew him at Castleton, in the State of Virginia - At the time Knapp was then a soldier in Captain James Blakeley's Com- pany of State Troops in the service of the United States - This deponent was a soldier in Capt. Knapp's Company in the same Regiment with said Blakeley's company - This deponent arrived at Castleton about the 1 st of April, at which time the said Knapp was there - And this deponent further saith that said Knapp con- tinued at Castleton in said Province until the period of his enlistment (nine months) expired when he with the whole regiment were dis- charged by the Colonel orally, no written discharges were given.
Sworn & subscribed this 11 th day of August 1832 before me Dwight D. Dyer Chenango Common Pleas
Sam d Nichols

State of New York
Chenango County ss. I Levi Bigelow a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do hereby certify that on the Eleventh day of August 1832 personally appeared before me the above named Eleazar Church & Samuel Nichols the persons who subscri- bed the foregoing affidavits & acknowledged were by me duly sworn according to law to the truth of said affidavits. Respectfully and I certify that said Eleazar Church and Samuel Nichols are to me well known to be the persons described in & who executed the foregoing affidavits.
Levi Bigelow J
State of New York
Chenango County Clerk's office ss. The undersigned Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do cer- tify that Levi Bigelow the person before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken, & who signed the above certificate is a Judge of the said Court duly qualified & commissioned and that his signature thereon is his true & genuine & proper handwriting. Witness my hand this Ninth day of October 1832. P. B. Noble Dep. Clerk