Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7911, for William Palmer, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Palmer, William
R 7911
CONTENTS

In the matter of William Palmer
Application for a pension
239,533

State of New York.
Albany County Ss: On this 15 th day of February 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of General Sessions in and for the County of Albany now sitting William Palmer a resident of the town of Albany in the County of Albany and State of New York aged according to his best knowledge eighty six 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
That during the first years of the Revolutionary war but at what time is unable to state his recollection having failed on account of his age he enlisted as a soldier for the period of six months that he then lived in the town of Sharon in the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut that he was under the Command of Captain Parish and Colonel Elmer or Elmore that he marched from Litchfield to Crown Point that he was waiting to Colonel Elmer the greater part of the said six months that he served his time out and went home that while he was with Colonel Elmer his Captain Parish was with some teams and was killed by the Indians
That during the war aforesaid but at what time recollect he was drafted at the town of Coventry in the State of Connecticut for the term of three months and marched to Groton Fort that he was there when the British fleet first came in & went out again that he served under Captain Amaziah Puff and remained there his time out and went home - that shortly after that time New London was burnt by Arnold & alarm was given and this deponent was called out and marched to Norwich when it was expected the British would go and burn that also that he was gone to his best recollection about eight or ten days that Major Sedgwick was killed at the time New London was burnt
And this deponent further says that he is not able to state but few of the particulars that he does not now know or recollect any person who can testify to his service that he has no documentary evidence

That he was born in Coventry in the State of Connecticut in the year 1746 to the best of their deponent's knowledge but is not able to state with any degree of certainty -
That he has not got any record of his age
That he lived at Sharon in the State of Connecticut when he first went into the service
That he enlisted the first time and the second time was drafted that he cannot state the names of any officers except such as he has already mentioned
That he never received any discharge nor any commission
That he is acquainted with Joseph Knight & William Sotore who live in the immediate neighborhood of this deponent who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution that there is no Clugman living in the vicinity of this deponent with any one near with whom he is acquainted
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 18 th day of February 1833
William Palmer
W. Chenman Clerk
We Joseph Knight of Seis and John Simons Esquire who live in the town of Arny in the said County of Allegany hereby certify that we are acquainted with William Palmer who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty six years of age that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Joseph Knight John Simons
W. Chenman Clerk

22953
William Palmer New York
S. a. All
MC
Ransom Lloyd Angelica NY.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 17 th 1833
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 subjunct 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. These 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 William Palmer Albany County State of New York
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlisted " 6 " Private Capt Parish 81 years   to Col Elmore Town of Sharon Traditionary   Drafted " 3 " Capt Russ Litchfield County Evidenced   Mr Colonel Connecticut Papers not authenticated   8 or 10 days no officers Periods of service not stated   Can get no living witness   Certificate of 2 Clergy  
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 A. B. Sworn to 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 (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 days 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 , 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 place, 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.

William Palmer
Suspended
See Let. to R. Lloyd 29. Sept 34
7911
Act. T. June

7911 P. O. William Palmer
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

Amended declaration

State of New York Albany County ss: Personally appeared before me the undersigned a commissioner to take affidavits & the acknowledgment of deeds, William Palmer who being duly sworn deposes and says that as an amendment to the foregoing declaration that he thinks it was in the spring of the year 1776 when he listed as a soldier in the service of the United States, but by reason of age & the con- sequent loss of memory he is not able to state with any degree of certainty that he served six months under Captain Parish Lieutenant Perkins & Ensign Gibbs that Samuel Elmer was his Colonel that Cotton Matthew Smith was chaplain & preached to the army at the time.
And further says that he thinks it was in the year 1778 when he was drafted at Coeymans and was under the command of Captain Amariah Rusp, that Elias Buel was his Lieutenant, thinks the name of the Ensign was Robinson that the name of the division major was Hibbard that Major Sedgwick had the command of Groton Fort, that a Captain Lathan commanded the Artillery that he does not know and has not been able to find any surviving witness to state the personal services of this deponent.
Sworn & Subscribed before me the 11 th day of September 1834
W. Hays. Tamar
Ransom Lloyd Commissioner of deeds &c in Albany County

We the undersigned inhabitants of the town of Amity in the County of Allegany do hereby certify that we have been acquainted with William Palmer of said town for many years, that he has always reputed to have been & that we believe him to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary war & that his statement so far as he can recollect is entitled to full credit and belief. Dated September 11. 1834
Robert Reed Asmol Hill
Watman Fitz Simmons
Samuel Van Campen B.M.
John Van Vaux
Nathaniel Luther
William Knapp
Hubbard E. of Ransom
Alfred Johnson
William McCutcheon
Amasa Hall
Harry Davis
Wm S. S. S. S.
Jacob Feathers
William Abbott
Alvan E. Parker
H. H. May

J. L. Edwards Esq.

Angelica Sept 20 th 1834
Dr Sir
Enclosed is an amended declaration in the case of William Palmer whose papers were returned. I have now sent all that he can possibly recollect he is so near the grave that his recollection is very indistinct His age is stated at 86 years but it is thought in his neighborhood that he is one ninety. In addition to his amended declaration I have obtained the signatures of some of the oldest men in the town as to the fact of his having  being a soldier no doubt exist in the town where he lives it is even proverbial among the names are the P. Martin an aged man the Supervisor and all the select men in town that are aged people two Justices of the peace. The declaration is noted as not being properly authenticated you will see that the Clerks Certificate is on the same sheet of paper by looking at the top you will see that it has never been separated
I would add my name to the Catalogue as to my belief of his having been a soldier & I think that in such cases if there was not much room for doubt in such extreme old age the application would be granted
I am Sir
Yours Respectfully
Ransom Lloyd
J. S. Edwards Esq Clerk of Pensions