Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8268, for Thomas Piper, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Piper, Thomas
NUMBER
R 8268
CONTENTS

1829 Thomas Pipers
Pension Papers
Callahan
A. Wood Nets Harbor

State of New York
Jefferson County ss. On the first day of May 1833 personally appeared Thomas Piper aged seventy two years before me Zeno Allen a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Jefferson being a Court of Record 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 th 1832 that he was born in Brighton in Massachusetts in the year 1761. and this he swears from recollection as he has no record of his age - That he was first drafted into the service of the United States in the Month of May 1775. in a Company commanded by Capt. Samuel Read in Col. Prescott's Regiment that this Defendant believes this Regiment belonged to the Massachusetts State Troops and that he continued to serve in the said Company till the Month of June 1776. that he was stationed most of the time at Cambridge and in the neighborhood of Boston.
And this Defendant further says that afterwards in the Month of September 1779. he enlisted in a Company commanded by Capt. Dakin in Col. Jacob's Regiment that this was after Gen Sullivan's retreat from the Island of Rhode Island and according to this Defendant's belief he was then gone to the West against the Indians. That he believes that Col. Jacob's Regiment to which he was attached was one of the Continental Regiments in the service of the United States. That this Defendant went with the said Company and Regiment to Rhode Island and was stationed occasionally at Bristol, Tiverton and on the Island of Rhode Island and was finally discharged at Newport from the service in the Month of December of the same year and that he was in the service of the United States about one year and four months . That he had a written Discharge from Capt. Dakin, but does not know what has become of it - And this Defendant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll

of the agency of any State - Since the Revolutionary war I have resided part of the time in Massachusetts, at Groton in New Hampshire, at Wakefield in Vermont and am now residing, in the town of Haverfield Jefferson County and State of New York, where I have lived about fourteen years. That among others in my neighborhood, I am acquainted with Charles Philips and Abraham Small who can testify to my character for veracity and to their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution.
Sworn and subscribed Thomas Piper to before me this 24 th day of May 1833 -
Zeno Allen Judge of Probate Court Plus
Jefferson County ss: Charles Philips being duly sworn to the depose and say that he is personally acquainted with Thomas Piper above named, and has been for about fourteen years, that he should think that said Piper was about seventy years of age - that he has frequently conversed with said Piper about his being in the Revolutionary service and that said Piper has often told him about his being in the service on the Island of Rhode Island in the time of the Revolutionary war - that he believes said Piper is generally reputed to have been a Revolutionary soldier in his neighborhood that this deponent considers him an honest upright man and that such is his general reputation.
Sworn this 24 th day of May 1833 before me
Charles Philips
Zeno Allen Judge of Probate Court Plus

State of New York
Jefferson County ss: I Geno Allen a Judge of the Jefferson Common Pleas being a Court of Records do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Thomas Piper within names and that I am satisfied he is unable to attend Court by reason of his infirmities and that there is no clergyman with whom he is acquainted who could make the necessary affidavit in his case
Geno Allen Judge of Jff. Com. Pleas
State of New York
Jefferson County ss: I Abraham Seward of the Town of Henderson in the County of Jefferson and State of New York being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with Thomas Piper within names and has been acquainted with him about forty years that he was acquainted with him in New Hampshire and he has lived by him in this State for about fourteen years that he has heard him often speak of his having been a soldier in the Revolutionary war that he recollects very distinctly a conversation that took place in a shoe maker's shop in the Town of Windham in New Hampshire, where in company with several others who had been in the continental service, he heard the said Piper relate his services in the Revolution and that this conversation took place about thirty three years ago -
That the said Piper is a man of truth and veracity as far as he knows and he believes his general reputation is good -
Sworn this 17 th
A Seward
day of August 1873
before me
Geno Allen Judge of Jff Com Pleas

State of New York
Jefferson County ss I, Clerk of the said Court do hereby certify that John Allen Esq. Esquire whose name is subscribed to the within affidavit, is a person qualified to have been sworn as a Judge of the same and of the Superior Court of the said County and further that I am acquainted with his handwriting and that his name subscribed to the said affidavit is his proper handwriting and signature.
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Court this 14th day of February 1855. Geo. Burchard Clerk By David Tracy A.G.

Capt. Reed had in Littleton Read was a ranch
was in Littleton from the north of the Ranch
Capt. Reed had in Littleton Read was a ranch
Thomas Phipps
Concord, Mass.
Good
Sett. Harbor

30. 428
Thomas. Piper New York
Return of —
A. Hood Sackets Harbour New York.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
17 th April 1834
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 subjjoined 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 Piper
   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.     May 1775. 1. Forw. Col. Read Col. Prescott 72 years.   Sept. 1779. 1. Col. Sabin Col. Jacobs. 76 years. Living of Mituapas  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Further proof required — See Note f.

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 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.

New York Thomas Piper Rev. J. Suspended
See let to A. Ford Esq Apr 19. 1834 to A. Ely March 26. 47
8268 Act J. June '32

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1879.
REJECTED
8268
P. O. Thomas Piper
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
January 25 th 1847
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the service of Thomas Pepper as borne upon the Pay Roll of Capt. Mathew Dake's Company Col. Dake's Infantry Regt. at Rhode Island in April from September 25 to November 26 1781, including allowances of 14 days for travel, is worth 18 days.
Not upon Roll of Capt. Samuel Root Col. Russell, for 14 days.
The roll of said Capt. Root Col. Russell subsequent to April 1781.
The foregoing is all the evidence of service of any one of the names shown by the military records in the Office.
S

2636 And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Phipps Secretary of the Commonwealth.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is respectfully requested to furnish evidence from the records in his office of my services in the war of the Rebellion - I was born in Brighton Massachusetts and at the age of four years having lost my father went to live with my uncle Capt Samuel Read in the town of Littleton Massachusetts and in the month of May 1775 my uncle the said Capt Samuel Read was called into the service of the United States and I went into the service with him as his waiter; the said Capt Read's Company belonged to Col Prescott's Regiment and was stationed at Cambridge & in the neighborhood of Boston. I served in this Campaign until June 1776 - In the year 1779 in the month of September I enlisted at Littleton for the Rhode Island service in Capt Lakin's Company Col Jacob's Regt - Capt Lakin was from the town of Poffenbiller I served at Rhode Island until December & was honorably discharged - I served in this Campaign four months - I am now 85 years of age & I do not remember any thing further which is material to the search requested - I have appointed Adeline Ely of Watertown New York my attorney - Watertown December 22 nd 1846 Submitted by the said Thomas Piper this 22 nd Dec. 1846 Thomas L Piper mark E Sabine Justice

Watertown, Litch Co. N.Y. -
Feby. 10 1847
Sir
Thomas Piper, it appears by the paper herewith applied for a Pension in May 1833. The Hon. Abd. Ford of Litchfield Harbor was his Attorney to whom the old man's declaration with objections was returned. It appears that no effort from that time has been made to ascertain the old man's right to a pension. He now lives in this town & has applied to you - I called on Mr Ford & obtained the original papers. On enquiring at the Pension Office at Boston it appears that there was a Capt Reed & a Col Prescott but no Roll of that company subsequent to April 1775. You will perceive that the old man says that he enlisted or was drafted into the Col. of Capt Samuel Reed in May 1775. I hope you have the records of this Regt for I have no doubt of the truth of the old man's statement. His second service which was in Rhode Island it appears that he truly set forth, with the exception that he states his discharge to have been

in Danvers, which was probably the cause of his getting home - He says that he enlisted in Sept 1779 & was discharged in Dec 1779 - The record shows that he enlisted in Sept & was discharged 16 Nov 1779 The old man lived in Littleton Massachusetts - city & was discharged in Rhode Island This may account for incorrectness of memory in regard to the period of his discharge
At the old man's request I went out to see him & have not the least doubt, but that he is entitled to a pension. I would in his behalf beg for an examination into his case - A proof of identity is required & will furnish it at once -
Respectfully Yr Obs servt
Admiral Ely
Col. S. L. Edwards, Comd of Pension Washington

28. 221.
Thomas Piper
New York
Return f. —
Dec 26 1866 with 28 Pals to New York
A. Ward
Sachets Harbaur New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
18 th Nov. 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 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
   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.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Notes for note certifying to her credit taken. — See notes for the claimant should be specific as to the services — he alleges for about one year & 4 months.

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.
[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.

New York original 20. Feb 1884
free
Wm Lloyd for the new at the for the

Leicester August 10, 1834.
ii,
Enclosed you will receive the application form with the printing, which to his said application attached. Please inform me of the result of the application.
Yours sincerely
A. T. ...
E. L. Edwards Esq.

Thomas Phipps Pension papers.
30. 428

State of New York
Jefferson County ss. On the twentieth day of January 1834 personally appeared Thomas Phe aged seventy two years before me Gen. Allen a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Jefferson being a Court of Record, 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 4. 1832 - that he was born in Brighton in Massachusetts in the year 1761 and this he means from recollection as he has no record of his age. That he was first drafted into the service of the United States in the month of May 1775 in a Company commanded by Capt. Samuel Read in Col. Prescott's Regiment - that this deponent believes this Regiment belonged to the Massachusetts State Troops and that he continued to serve in the said Company till the month of June 1776, that he was stationed most of the time at Cambridge and in the neighborhood of Boston.
And this deponent further says that afterwards in the month of September 1777 he enlisted in a Company commanded by Capt. Sabin in Col. Sabin's Regiment that this was after Gen. Sullivan's retreat from the Island of Rhode Island and according to the deponent's belief he was then gone to the west against the Indians. That he believes that Col. Sabin's Regiment to which he was attached was one of the Continental Regiments in the service of the United States. That this deponent went with the said Company Regiment to Rhode Island and was stationed occasionally at Bristol and in the Island of Rhode Island and was finally discharged at New Port from the service in the month of December of the same year and that he was in the service of the United States one year and 7 months. That he has a written discharge from Capt. Sabin but does not know what has become of it. And this deponent hereby renounces every claim whatever to compensation or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the service of any State. Since the Revolutionary war I have resided part of the time in Massachusetts at Newton in Hampshire at Groton in Vermont, and am now residing in the Town of Adams Jefferson County and State of New York, where I have lived about nineteen

years. That among others in my neighborhood, I am acquainted with Stephen Douglass and Abraham Sweett who can testify to my character for veracity and to their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution.
Thomas Piper
Sworn and subscribed before me this 30 day of June 1834 Gers Allen Judge of Probate Court
State of New York Jefferson County ss. I, Abraham Sweett of the town of Beaufield in the County of Jefferson and State of New York being duly sworn do hereby depose and say that he is well acquainted with Thomas Piper within named and has been acquainted with him forty years, that he was acquainted with him in New Hampshire and he has lived by him in this state for about fourteen years. that he has heard him often speak of his having been a soldier in the Revolutionary war - that he recollects very distinctly a conversation that took place in a Shoemakers Shop in the town of Haverhill in New Hampshire, when in company with several others who had been in the continental service, he heard the said Piper relate his services in the revolution and that this conversation took place about thirty three years ago.
That the said Piper is a man of truth and veracity and that his general reputation is good. And further, that it is the general belief that
from the fifth day of January 1834 before me
Abraham Sweett
Gers Allen Judge of Probate Court

July 16 New York
17th Dec 1834. My friend Douglas, of the town of ... in the ... of Jefferson Co. State of New York, during my ... do hereby depose and say that he is well acquainted with Thomas Paine ... named ... in the ... years past. That he has frequently heard ... Paine ... in the ... and that he has a ... belief that said Paine was a ... of the ... and it is the general reputation for truth and veracity is good.
Douglas
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 6th Day of 1834 Thos Allen Judge of N.Y. Com. Pleas
State of New York Jefferson County p: I Thos Allen a Judge of the ... Common Pleas being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Thomas Paine ... named and I am satisfied he is unable to attend ... by reason of his infirmity and that he is not acquainted with any clergyman who could make the necessary certificate. And further, that I am acquainted with Abraham Lissett and Alexander Douglas rather named and know them to be men of truth & veracity and good general reputation.
Thos Allen Judge of N.Y. Com. Pleas

General Office Pardon Papers
30. 428
State of New York
Jefferson County ss. I, Peter Burchard Clerk of the said County do certify that your Allen Esq.
before whom the within affidavits and certificate purport to have been taken.
more as at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court said County - And
further that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits and certificate to be his proper hand writing & signature.
Witness my hand and the seal of the said County this eighth day of February 1831
Peter Burchard Clerk