Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11168, for Samuel Owen, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Owen, Samuel
S. 11168
Continental
Mass. & Vt.
carded
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for entries]
[Blank lined area for entries]

Vermont 18.921
Samuel Owen
of Rutland Co in the State of Vermont who was a Corporal in the Company commanded by Captain Powell of the 1st Regt commanded by Col. Bliss in the Vermont Militia.
4 Mo Corporal 14.55 3/4 20 " Piquet 73.33 3/4 $ 88.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 88 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of Oct 1833 and sent to H. Temple, Rutland, Vt.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833. 220.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept " 44 $ 264.00
Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. S. Sprague Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 3 Page 82
* Mass. & Continental Vt. & Conn. Records completed Apr. 3, 1905. R.

Sam. O'Connell
29 Mo. Corporal & Musician
20593
4th Inf. Battery
Mr. O'Connell said that the person by whom he was lifted to prove part of his service is dead. His declaration is therefore true without testimony. R.C.

STATE OF VERMONT, RUTLAND COUNTY, ss.
On this 20 day of July A. D. 1832 personally appear- ed in open Court before the Judge of the Prostate Court of the  Albany  Dis. Ct. now sitting, Samuel Drown a resident of the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. In 1776 he lived in Concord, Vt. & about the middle of Sept. of that year he enlisted for six months as Fifer & served as such in Capt. Tull's company. St. Helens in Col. Mather's Regt. he marched through Connecticut to Poughkeepsie, then to New Jersey, & was discharged at a place called Drowney in St. Jersey about the middle of March 1777. He then went to Paterkill, New York, & about the middle of May 1777 he engaged as a private for one William Cook of the 1 st Connecticut Regt. which he went home to visit his friend, and served as Fifer in Col. Miley's Regt. of Conn. Light Inf'ty and served as Fifer in Capt. Blackman's company & part of the time in Capt. Ten Eyke's company 6 months, & was discharged on the return of said Cook about the 20. Nov. In the spring of 1778, in May he thinks, he enlisted for 6 months into Capt. Bottenhop's company Col. Jacob's Regt. & marched to R. Island & joined the Army under Genl. Sullivan. was in the battle of Rhode Island & retreated with the Army over Bristol ferry, & was discharged at Providence after serving six months as Fifer. The latter part of the winter of 1778-1779 he enlisted 6 months as Fifer in Col. Whitney's Regt. Capt. Fish at Providence, R.I. & served there & at Bristol during said time in guarding lines & was there when the enemy evacuated Rhode Island & was discharged at Bristol about the first of Sept. In the following winter he came to Vermont & in May 1780 he volunteered for four months & served at Castleton & in scouting was appointed Corporal in Capt. Hutchinson's company St. Povers, in which capacity he served out his time & was discharged at Castleton in Sept. He was afterwards called out several times on alarms, & served a few days at a time to the amount he thinks of at least a month. He never received any written discharge to his recollection, & has no documentary

evidence, but he thinks he can prove a part of his claims. His memory has failed some, so that he cannot remember other Regiments with whom he served, & as he can't write, he may have mistaken dates, but he remembers Genl. Washington, Putnam, Lincoln, Sullivan, Lafayette, & Col. Warner, continental officers. He was born in Concord, Mass. Sept. 4. 1759, but knows of no record of his age. Since the revolution he has lived in Clarendon, Windsor, Randolph, Shelburne & Orwell, & now lives in Clarendon. There is no clergyman living in the neighborhood to whom he is known, but he is known to most of the inhabitants.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the { day and year aforesaid.
At. Royce Aug 7
his Samuel Dusen mark
We Zimri Pond a Clergyman residing in Clarendon and William Pond residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Dusen who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood 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.
At. Royce Aug 7
Zimri Pond Wm. Pond
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 Zimri Pond who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Clarendon and that William Pond who has also signed the same, is a resident in Clarendon and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Rodney C. Royce Clerk of the Court of Protections do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Dusen for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 9 th day of Oct. A. D. 183 2
At. Royce

20,593
Samuel Owen
c. j. -
[Faint, illegible handwriting]
Admit - 4 Mos Gop 20 " Musician
R. Temple Rutland Vermont

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 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, showing the Service of Samuel Owen of Rutland County, Vermont
   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.     enl d 1776 6 Infan y Capt s Trull Col s  Hotchkiss Battle of Rhode Island from Conn tho to Poughkeepsie then to N. Jersey Concord Mass a Traditionary Evidence   subst. 1777 6 " Blackman Gen l Eyke Meigs Chusett,   enl d 1778 6 " Belknap Jacobs aged 72 years   " 1779 6 " Fish Whitney   dis d 1780 4 Corp t Hutchins   afterwards 1 no Clergyman in the neighborhood  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
"a very full account of service is indispensable to a favorable action" upon cases supported alone by the traditionary certificate -

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 the 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, 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 [j] 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.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
as his service in Hays' regiment is not supported by the rolls, he must produce another witness

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Samuel Dyer a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Oct 1776 1 yr 1 mo Infantry Brill Hatchers   May 1777 6 mos Blackman Meigs Conn   Van Hook   May 1778 6 mos Infantry Redman Jacobs Mass   May 1779 1 yr 1 mo Foss Whitney Vt   May 1780 1 yr 1 mo Infantry Hatchers   on alms no officers stated  
Battles engaged in, Plains Island Residence of soldier at enlistment, Concord Mass. Date of application for pension, July 3 1882 Residence at date of application, Concord Vt. Age at date of application, 75
Remarks: He is the Rev. Samuel Dyer, son of Rev. Samuel Dyer, of Randolph, Rutland Co. Vt. There is no family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev War
11168
INVALID.
1916 July 13 Strat. Co Harriet Fouch Letter in P. 43.763 Jonathan Owen
File No. 11168
Samuel Owen & Wife Coupl. Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. A, Page 282
[Arrangement of 1870.]

St. Ouen
Additional declaration & proof

State of Vermont Rutland Co. — 3
On the 14 th day of May 1833, personally came before the undersigned authority, Samuel Owen, an applicant for a pension, who being duly sworn doth depose & say, in explanation & addition to his declaration of the 20 th July 1832 — That by reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot mean positively as to the precise length of his several services; but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below, & in the following grades: — For two years he served as Fifer — For four months he served as Corporal — For one month he served as private — and for such services he claims a pension drawn before me the day & year aforesaid
R. Temple Jus. Recd
State of Vermont Rutland Co. — 3
On the 14 th day of May 1833, personally came before the undersigned authority, Allen Green, to me known to be a credible witness, who being duly sworn doth depose & say, that in the spring & summer of 1780, he was a sergeant in Capt. Hutchinson's company of Vermont Troops, & was stationed at Castleton — and that during said period the above named Allen Green  Samuel Owen joined said company & was appointed corporal, & served as such, the deponent believes, four months — was honorably discharged — The deponent has not seen him before to-day for several years, but he knows him to be the same person who served as aforesaid — known before me the day & year aforesaid
R. Temple Jus. Recd

State of Vermont Rutland Co. — 3
On the 15 th day of May 1833, personally came before the undersigned authority, Joseph Hartland of said County, to me known to be a credible witness, who being duly sworn, doth depose & say, that he knew Samuel Drown at West Point, in the summer & fall of 1777. — The said Samuel was a Fifer in Col. Allen's Reg. t of Connecticut — The deponent cannot say how long he served as Fifer as aforesaid, but he thinks it must have been as much as six months. The deponent was in service at the same time — how before the said day of aforesaid.
Robert P. Peeples
State of Vermont Rutland Co. — 3
I Robert Peeples Clerk of Rutland County Court do certify that Robert Peeples before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken, is a Justice of Peace for said County, duly commissioned and that his name thereunto, is in his own hand writing.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of said Court this 16 th day of May 1833
R. P. Peeples

State of Vermont Rutland /s- 3
On the 21. st day of Oct. 1883 personally came before the undersigned authority, Levi Buell of said county, aged 73 & a credible witness, who being duly sworn doth depose & say, that in the year 1777 he was in service in the Connecticut State Troops at the Highlands in the State of New York - and that he knew Samuel Dyer now of Clarendon, who was a Fifer in Col. Hovey's Reg't of the Connecticut line - The deponent cannot say precisely how long said Dyer served as such, but he thinks it could not be less than six months - known before me this day by me as mine
R. Brown Clk. Gen. Pleas
The County Clk is absent so that I cannot get his cert. but I presume the preceding one will be satisfactory
R.T.