Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,242, for Simeon Rawlings, New Hampshire

SERVICE
N.H.
Rawlings, Simeon
NUMBER
S. 14242
carded
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

4909.
New Hampshire
Simeon Rawlings
of Spencer in the State of N H who was a Sergt in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Burnham in the N H line for 1 year Sergt 8 mos (Vols)
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 86 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th day of Aug 1833 and sent George W/Resident Franklin Merriam to Mrs.
  Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  $129.99    Semi-ant. allowance ending 11/11/33  43.33     $173.32  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S F  Sp Blair Clerk Book D Vol. 1 Page 180.

69.07 Vineon Rawlings,
Pay Mr. Roll Capt Perkins less Col Longs Regt Sept 15 Sep 1776. do on Pay Roll for 7 Dec 1776. to 7 Jan'y 1777 do for 7 Jan'y 1777 to 7 Feb'y 1777
1 year Sigs 8 Month Picket
amt $86.66
Return to Geo W Nesmith Franklin - Merrimack Co
A. H.

6921
BRIEF in the case of  Simon Rawlings of Andover County of Merrimack in the State of New Hampshire (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? 79  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.     Nov 1775 — 4 — Private Gen. Elkins. Col Burnham   1st 3 Ap 1776 — 4 — " " Perkins. " Pierce Long   4 Aug " 1 00 3 Sergeant Same Officers   in all 1 Year 8 Mo  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? New Britain now Andover  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
A. C. Easton Examining Clerk.

John Starbird's Affidavit

I John Starbird of Durham in the State of New Hampshire aged seventy seven years, depose and say that on the seventh day of August 1776, at Newcastle in said State, Simeon Rawlings enlisted in the service of the United States in the Continental line for one year, in the company commanded by Capt. Abraham Perkins, In which company I was Ensign, in the Regiment commanded by Col Pierce Long in the N.H. line. Said Rawlings was appointed a sergeant in said company & served in that capacity during said term, and at the end of the year he was regularly dismissed, having fully served his term of enlistment of one year as aforesaid --
I further depose and say that the same identical Simeon Rawlings above named is now present before me while making this affidavit. — John Starbird
State of New Hampshire } County of Strafford ss }
On this 23 d day of August, 1832.
Personally appeared the above named
John Starbird and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true before me
Valentine Smith Justice Peace
I hereby certify that the above named John Starbird is a credible witness, and has for several years received a pension from the United States for services in the Revolutionary War. Valentine Smith Jus. Peace

State of New Hampshire, Secretary's Office Aug. 28. 1862.
I hereby certify that the within named Valentine Smith is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Strafford, duly constituted and sworn, and his signature as such his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set the seal of the State.
Ralph Metcalf Secretary.

1901. Declaration of Simeon Rawlings.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Merrimack } ss.
On this twenty eighth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate now sitting, in Concord in said County  Simon Rawlings a resident of Andover in the County of Merrimack and State of N. H. aged 79 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 sometime in the Month of November in the Year of our Lord 1775, being then a resident in the Town of New Britain, now Andover in the County of Merrimack I enlisted as a private into a company of the New Hampshire Militia, commanded by Capt Elkins of Hampton in the County of Rockingham. Jonathan Scott of the town of Hampton Falls 1 st Lieutenant and the Eaton of Seabrook 2 nd Lieutenant in the same Company - The Regimental officers were Col. Jonathan Burnham of Hampton Falls - William Prescott of the same Hampton Falls was our Major - Our Regiment was stationed at Medford Mass for a short time, afterwards at Cambridge & Winter Hill the remaining portion of time - Gen Washington had the command of us - Gen Sullivan was in command under him, and occasionally drilled us - I remained on duty until about the middle of March 1776, when I was discharged - received no written discharge - On the fourth of April 1776 I again enlisted as a private into a company of New Hampshire Militia for the term of nine months or one year, which Company was commanded by Capt Abraham Perkins then of Exeter, Tobias Leighton of Durham N.H. 1 st Lieut. Samuel Starkpole of Dover N.H. 2 nd Lieut. I belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col. Pierce Long of Portsmouth, Mooney Lt. Colonel, and Hodgdon Major - I served from April to August 1776
- was stationed during said period at Great Island now called  near Portsmouth New Hampshire, on the 7 th of August 1776 the old enlistment as a private in the Militia, being abolished, pursuant to the request of Congress, & my officers I enlisted again into the continental Line into the same Company commanded by Abraham Perkins aforesaid - John Starbird then of Durham N. Hampshire was Ensign in my Company under the second enlistment, still resides in and Durham will certify to my service for & during my last enlistment - Starkpole resigned - My Regimental Officers were the same viz Col Long, Lt Col. Mooney, Maj Hodgdon - I enlisted at Portsmouth  New Castle N.H. and served until the seventh day of August 1777 when I was discharged at a place called White Water  White Water in New York

in said Durham will certify to my service for & during my last enlistment - Starkpole resigned - My Regimental Officers were the same viz Col Long, Lt Col Mooney, Maj Haddon - I enlisted at Starkpole  Newcastle N.H. and served until the seventh day of August 1777 when I was discharged at a place called Stillwater  Stillwater New York in New York - I was Third Sergeant in my company during the last aforesaid enlistment - I was stationed at Fort  Fort Castle New Hampshire until the last of February 1777, when we marched to Scituate, arrived there the first of March 1777 - Gen. Scully was in command and when we first went to Scituate Gen. St. Clair afterwards commanded us there on the sixth day of July we evacuated that place - We retreated by way of Skeenesborough I afterwards repaired to Stillwater N.Y. where I was discharged - received no written discharge I have resided in Fullerton ever since I served as aforesaid - I know of no surviving Fellow soldier or officer who has knowledge of my service except the aforesaid Starkpole, who testifies for the last year of my service
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
Simeon Rawlings
We, Ots Robinson residing in Salisbury and Edward Blodgett residing in Franklin hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Simeon Rawlings, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be over 79 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a sol- dier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the
Ots Robinson Edward Blodgett
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Ots Robinson who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the Town of Salisbury, and that Edward Blodgett, who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Franklin and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. B. Chase, Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Merrimack do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of the said Simeon Rawlings for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 28th day of August A.D. 1832.
H. B. Chase, Register of Probate

old lens
of Calif. Brown
taken out.

Rev. Mr. ...
✓ 14242 INVALID.
File No. 14 242
Simon Rowland Prox. Supt. Rail. way
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 359
[Arrangement of 1870.]

6901
Vernon Rawlings
Return To
Geo. W. Nesmith Co Franklin - Manufacturer
No 14

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Simon Rawlings 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? Yes 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?  Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  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?  Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  Yes 
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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

Franklin Ill 3 Augst 30-1832 3
To Hon. Lewis Cass
HN
1069
6901
18 1/2
Papers of Caleb Brown 3 Simon Rawlings, 3 for the Pension Office 3
Set of War
Washington City

Franklin N.H. Aug 30. 1832
To the Secy of War. Dear Sir,
Enclosed are the original papers Declaration etc of Simon Rawlings of Andover N.H.-
First 4 months Service under Col. Baruham as Sustained by his Statement - for Entertainment In 1775 & 1776-
Also next 4 months Sustained by his Statement alone in Regiment of Col. Long - In 1776
last 12 Months Service in the Continental Line as a Sergeant Sustained by the Depo. of John Starbird of Durham the surviving Ensign of his company - In 1776 & 1777 -
Also the Declaration etc of Caleb Brown of Franklin N.H. -
First 8 months Service under Capt Parsons proved by Depots of Thos. Kelsoe and Benj Swaine - In 1777 & 78 -

1 month \frac{1}{2} at Rhode Island in 1778 — Sustained by his own Staten cuts alone
2. Months in 1779. at Hudson Albany as proved by Deposition of Bayan in Swain in Comp of Capt Jenkins of Map line —
8 Months in the Continental Line in 1780 proved by said Benjamin Swain — and by a copy of his original discharge from Col. Reid etc —
4 Months at Portsmouth under Capt Seth Salton — his own statement —
\frac{1}{2} 1 \frac{1}{2} 3 8 4 24 \frac{1}{2} Months entire service —

After a decision had upon the within Cases, any communication in relation thereto may be addressed to me at Franklin County of Merrimack, N H.
Respectfully Your obedt servt. Geo. W. Nesmith
Hon Lewis Cope