Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23841, for Thomas Peck, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Dear Sir,
Peck, Thomas
S. 23841
CONTENTS

New York
Thomas Beck of Westchester in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Howe of the Reg't commanded by Col Mear in the C. Arm- y for 18mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 100 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Decr. 1833 and sent to Hon A.W. Ward. H Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833. $150.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending March 34. 30.00 $180.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book E Vol. 4 Page 113

application of Thomas Peck for a 28.898 pension
21 mo. specific 3 mo. general arrears
adm'd 18 mo. per 60¢
Ward

State of New York } Wethersfield County } ss
on this Sixth Day
of December one Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Three personally appeared before me Ezra Lockwood one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Wethersfield aforesaid
Thomas Peck a resident of the town of Pomfret and County aforesaid aged Seventy Two years on the Sixth Day of July last past who being first duly sworn according to law both on his oath made the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States as a private Soldier in the Revolutionary War under the following named Officers and served as herein stated That is to say on or about the Month of December one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six this Bulwark was Drafted for Three Months and
3 mo
Joined a Company commanded by Captain Isaac Hove and was attached to Colonel John Mead Regiment and served his term out faithfully in actual service and was Honorably Discharged by his said Captain In the Month of April One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Seven this Bulwark was again
3 mo
Drafted for Three Months and Joined the afore- said Company and was attached to the Regiment aforesaid and served out the said term of Three Months faithfully in actual service and was Honorably Discharged by his said Captain This Bulwark entered the service as a a volunteer soon after the aforesaid term had expired which was in the Month of August following and Joined the aforesaid Company & Regiment and served
6 mo
faithfully in actual service for Six Months In the year one Thousand Seven Hundred and

3 - mo
Seventy Eight and on or about the Month of June of said year this Debutant was again Drafted for  Three Months and joined the aforesaid Company Commanded by Captain Isaac Howe and was attached to the aforesaid Regiment and served his time out faithfully and was Honorably Discharged by his said Captain This Debutant volunteered his services again soon after this last mentioned Draft had expired but cannot state with certainty how long but very likely believes it was not less than Two Months and very likely more This Debutant volunteered his services at several times During the Summer of one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Nine was out in Central Iowa as a volunteer at the time that Ponds ridge Meeting House was burnt and Elmer Sedgewood House was burnt at the same time was acquainted with Colonel Sheldon who commanded a Regiment of Dragoons at that place but how long this Debutant cannot with certainty say but very likely believes it was Three Months or more This Debutant soon thereafter in the Month of November one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Nine was again Drafted for  Three Months and joined the aforesaid Company Commanded by Captain Isaac Howe and was attached to Colonel John Mead Regiment and served his time out faithfully in Central Iowa and was Honorably Discharged by his said Captain This Debutant in the year one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty and in the Summer and fall of said year volun- teered his services and served faithfully Three Months in
37
3 mo

Actual Service and this Declarant served as a volunteer several other times during said war in which he cannot state with certainty the exact time but surely believes it was more than six Months after the aforesaid service the first took place the above service was all performed in Colonel John Mead Regiment and this Declarant was under Captain How aforesaid Peter Mead & Tabor Fitch sometimes had the Command and was sometimes marched to different parts of Washington County in the State of New York and sometimes in Fairfield County & State of Connecticut That this Declarant was always a faithful Soldier and a true friend to the Independence that the aforesaid service was faithfully done both as to the Draft and as a volunteer That this Declarant was born in the Town of Greenwich Fairfield County & State of Connecticut on the Sixth day of July one Thousand Seven Hundred & Sixty one and lived in said town til he was Twenty Seven years of age and then removed to Washington County & State of New York where he has resided ever since That this Declarant has no written record of his age That this Declarant was living in the Town of Greenwich aforesaid when called into service as aforesaid that he always volunteered except four times was drafted for Three Months each time and always served for himself but never as a substitute That this Declarant recalls Colonel Sheldon Colonel Mead General Putnam General Washington and many officers whose names this Declarant does not now recall That this Declarant never received any written discharge but always received a verbal one from his Commander That this Declarant is

Known in his present Neighborhood to the friends R. G. Thompson and Solomon Lockwood both residing in the town of Pomfret Connecticut County & State aforesaid who can testify to their beliefs, Character for veracity their belief of his age and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the revolution and he hereby relin- quishes 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Ezra Lockwood One of the Judges in for said County.
Thomas Peck

State of New York Westchester County Is We Solomon Lockwood and Horatio Lockwood residing in the Town of Poundridge Westchester County & State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Peck who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be Seventy Two 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 Solomon Lockwood Horatio Lockwood 6 th day of December 1833 before me Ezra Lockwood One of the Judges of the Court of Com. Pleas in & for Westchester County.
And I the said Judge do hereby declare my Opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Applicant was a Soldier Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I do further cer- tify that it appears to me that Solomon Lockwood and Horatio Lockwood who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents in the Town of Poundridge in in the said County of Westchester and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to Credit. Ezra Lockwood
And I do also further certify that the above named Applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend Court for the purpose of making his said Application. Ezra Lockwood

I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of West- chester, State of New York, do hereby certify the Hon Ezra Lockwood before whom the foregoing affidavit or Declaration of Thomas Peck was made and sworn to was on the day of the date thereof a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge and believe the signatures subscribed to the foregoing as his are genuine
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office and subscribed my name this 7 th day of December 1833
N Bayles Clk

State of New York } } Westchester County } on this Twentieth day of August one Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Three Personally appeared before me William Lockwood Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Westchester Solomon Peck of the Town of Greenwich Fairfield County & State of Connecticut who being Duly sworn according to law Dath on his oath say that he is well acquainted with Thomas Peck of the Town of Poundridge County of Westchester and State of New York and well knew the said Thomas Peck in the Revolutionary War and this Depo- nent saith that the said Thomas Peck was called out as a Soldier in said War four different times Three Months at a time making one year that the said Thomas Peck was Drafted each time this deponent saw the said Thomas Peck march with his musket or gun from home which was in the Town of Greenwich aforesaid This was soon after the British took Possession of the City of New York but this deponent cannot state with certainty the exact time and was reputed to be a good Soldier and a true friend to his Country that the said Thomas Peck joined the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Mead
Sworn and subscribed this 20 th
Solomon Peck
Day of August 1833 before me
William Lockwood Justice of Peace
I certify that the above named Solomon Peck is entitled to full credit William Lockwood Justice of Peace

State of New York } Wirt County } ss on this Twentieth day of August one Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Three. Personally came before me William Lockwood Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Wirt County David Peak of the town of Greenfield Fairfield County and State of Connecticut aged Seventy Eight years who being duly sworn according to law both on his oath say that he is well acquainted with Thomas Peak of Pendleton County of Wirt County & State of New York and this Deponent saith that he was well acquainted with the said Thomas Peak in the Revolutionary War and that the said Thomas Peak resided at Green- field aforesaid during said War and this Deponent saw the said Thomas Peak in actual Service under arms in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Nutt the said Thomas Peak was a Soldier and this Deponent knows that the said Thomas Peak was out as a Soldier a considerable time during the Revolutionary War but cannot state how long but from what he this Deponent believes the said Thomas Peak was in actual Service for more than two years this Deponent further saith that the said Thomas Peak was reputed to be a good Soldier and a true friend to his Country This Deponent was in the

6. City of New York as a Soldier at the time the British Troops took possession of said City of New York and soon after this Department returned to the Town of Greenwich aforesaid and about that time the said Thomas Perk entered the Service in said Revolutionary War
Sworn & Subscribed this 20 th Day of August 1833 before me William Lockwood Justice of Peace
David Peck
I certify that the above named David Peck is entitled to full credit William Lockwood Justice of Peace
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of West- Chester State of New York do hereby certify that William Lockwood Esq r before whom the foregoing and annexed affidavit was sworn to was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County. Duly elected & sworn and I that I believe the signature subscribed to the Sworn & certificate thereof as his are genuine
In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and set my hand this 14 th day of December 1833
N Bayles Clerk

I hereby relinquish all claim beyond 1870 which the Dept. is willing to allow upon the evidence.
Nov. 17. 1883 -
Horatio Lockwood Atty for Claimant
Application of Thomas Cook for a 28.888 Pension
21 mo. 1870-1872 3 mo. 1872-1875
com d 18 mo. per 60.00
Ward

o.
Adm L

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Thomas Deak.
   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.     Nov 76 3 pen Capt House Co. Mass. 72 Traditionary   Apr 77 3 " same officers Greenwich 1 witness - says 4 terms   - 77 6 " same officers Con't of 3 mo. ea.   June 78 3 " " same officers another that he was out   soon after 2 " same officers considerable time &   79 was out several times and claiming 3 " same officers thinks it more than   Nov 79 3 " " same officers 2 years   - 80 3 " " no officers -   other times was out & claiming 6 "  
{ was drafted or volunteered each time I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Some explanation is required respecting the unusual number of drafts made upon Capt Howe's Compy.

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 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 inquiry 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.
☞ 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] 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.

Revolution
23841. INVALID.
File No. 23,841
Thomas Beck
His Rev. W.W.
Act: June 1 st 1885
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 318
[Arrangement of 1870.]