Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11148, for Oliver Noble, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Noble, Oliver
NUMBER
S. 11148
CONTENTS
leaded

New York 20463.
Oliver Noble Gates in the State of N. Y. who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Williams of the Reg t commanded by Col. Sproat in the *State Troops line for
9 months
Mass. Line.
Records completed Apr. 3/45.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 30. Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13. day of Sept r 1833. and sent to Lt Whittlesey - Rochester, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept r 33. 75. 00 Pension allowance ending Letter: 34- 15 00
$ 90. 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Francis Clerk. Book E. Vol. 4. Page 26.

State of New York
Mormon County } 88 On this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas held in and for the County of Mormon now sitting Oliver Noble a resident of the Town of Gates in the County of Monroe and State of New York aged Sixty 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 Enlisted as herein stated - He first enlisted at the Town of Sheffield in the State of Massachusetts he thinks in the month of June in the year 1780 together with about Twenty other persons from the same Town - that shortly after the deponent with the others went to Fishkill in the State of New York where we were put under the command of Continental Officers & drilled for about three weeks. During which time we remained at the barracks - he recollects the names of none of the Officers then but Adjutant English & Sergeant Peasey which last was the drilling Officer This deponent was soon after ordered to Red Bank where he joined the Regiment in which he was mustered - this Regiment was the Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment . (Mixon's Brigade) commanded by Col Sprout - the Company in which this deponent was mustered was commanded by Capt John Williams and he thinks the Lieutenants names were Mason - Capt Sewall, Capt Abraham Williams, Capt Maines. Capt Remick & Capt Hitecock were Captains in the same Regiment - The Regiment soon after crossed the North River & this deponent with them to a place called Robinson's farm & soon after marched down the River & encamped at

220 Rings Ferry at Haastras Bay - afterwards marched to Orange Town when the Regiment Encamped for something like three or four weeks - afterwards removed and Encamped at Sturdivant in New Jersey. The Regiment in which this deponent was preferred many marches and Encamped at several different places during the summer the name of which he cannot recollect until it finally Encamped but principally if not wholly in the State of New Jersey until it finally Encamped at Tottenburgh near the Paspae Falls when it remained for nearly or about six weeks from which place they went into winter quarters at Ulster Point. This deponent continued with the Regiment during the whole summer until after it went into winter quarters when this deponent was discharged the last of December or early in January & went home having been engaged in the service for six months
This deponent was enlisted at Sheffield in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1781 about the month of August for three months under Capt Jeremiah Hatch  Hatch and soon after went to Saratoga in the State of New York where the Regiment in which this deponent was mustered collected. The Regiment was commanded by Col Rorley - or Mr Tracy acted as Adjutant who was Ensign of this deponents Company - Gen Rofiter commanded the Brigade - and Caleb Noble was Lieutenant of this deponents Company. The Regiment to which this deponent belonged was stationed at Saratoga during the whole period of his enlistment - when the three months of service expired the whole Regiment was discharged at one time and this deponent went home without necessity any other discharge

This Deponent has no discharge at present having lost it and he has no documentary evidence of any thing here to prove his services. The witnesses of his services, living who can prove his services. but it is probable that some living witnesses may now remain at Sheffield in Massachusetts or near there but the distance to that place is about three hundred miles. 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.  2. The questions proposed by the War Department this Deponent answers.
 1 st That he was born at Sheffield in Massachusetts on the 29 th day of September 1762.  2 nd This Deponent has no record of his age but there is a record of it in the Town Clerk's Office in Sheffield.  3 rd He lived at Sheffield when called into the service & resided there until 1812. He removed to Bloomfield Ontario County New York from there to Lima then to Mendon then to Brighton then to Gates in the same State where he now resides.  4 th He came into the service by Enlistment.  5 th His foregoing declaration contains the substance of all the facts he knows.  6 th He received a discharge from his first enlistment but he cannot recall from whom which discharge he has lost.  7 th There is no Druggman living near this Deponent but he is known to General Whittsey and Ephraim Moore of the village of Rochester in the same town who can testify to his character for veracity & belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
Sworn to & subscribed the 5 th day of Oct 1832 J. Butler Dep. Clerk
Bliss Noble

We Francis Whittsey and Ephraim Moore residing in the village of Rochester Monroe County State of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Oliver Noble who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to & subscribed this 5th day of October 1832 (affirmed) J. Butler Dep. clerk
Francis Whittsey Ephraim Moore
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and sworn as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Francis Whittsey and Ephraim Moore are residents of the village of Rochester (having signed the preceding certificates) and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Leonard Adams Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monroe do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Oliver Noble for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the said County of Monroe & said Court this fifth day of October — the year 1832 L. Adams Clerk

Monroe Common Pleas 9 June Term 1833
State of New York Monroe County } vs
On this Eleventh day of June 1833 Com vs the Court Oliver Noble the applicant for a pension mentioned in the annexed papers who being duly sworn deposes and saith that the facts set forth in the annexed Statement are substantially true, that his memory is good and he is satisfied he can state positively and truly that he served for as a private for six months in the year 1780, and that he served as a private for ten months in the year 1781, for which service he claims a pension - he further says that he knows of no persons now living who can prove his services
Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 11 th day of June 1833
Oliver Noble
J. Cutter Dep. Clerk
I Francis Whittelsey, Member of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States do certify that the papers hereto annexed and before this Court were drawn by me and they are the original papers containing the original proceedings before the Court of Common Pleas for Monroe County in October last in the matter of the application of Oliver Noble for a pension and that said papers have not since been altered
Rochester June 11. 1833
F. Whittelsey

I Leonard Adams Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Monroe County & State of New York do certify that Oliver Noble came into Court & made oath to the affidavit on this sheet and that at the same time the previous sheets hereto attached were then connected therewith
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said Court of Common Pleas this Eleventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
L. Adams Clerk

13591
Oliver Noble
Oliver Noble
5. 14. 16
P 384
Admitted
Private my  gms notes
on rolls my  gms in the
Col. gms
F. Whittieray Esq. Rochester New York
L Adams Rochester NY

13.891
BRIEF in the case of Oliver Noble Town of Gates in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70 years  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.     thinks June In 1780 — Discharged last of Dec r or early in Jan y for August 1781 — — — Private Gen. Nixon, Brig e — } 12 th Regt. Col e Sproat, Regt. } Cont n Capt. J n Williams Co y } enlisted Ma p o 5 line   — 3 — do Capt. J n Hancock's Co y } Col e Rowley's Regt. } Genl. Ropesher Brig e } do  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Town of Sheffield Ma p o 5  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? only the traditional evidence of two witnesses — Permitted by the Court to be credible  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? not attached according to the regulations 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
On rolls 6 pages
E. Stephens
Examining Clerk.

Reformed
11148 INVALID.
File No. 11,148
Oliver Noble
Brn. Rev. War.
Act: June 9 th 1832
Index:—Vol. a , Page 277
[Arrangement of 1870.]

13.591
B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Oliver Noble which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 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? — no VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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? no Clergyman but others
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? "no Clergyman lives near this deponent"
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? no
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? none
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 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 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 shewn 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.
†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 authenticates 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 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

Rochester N.Y. June 11. 1835.
Sir
I return the papers of Oliver Noble for a Pension with sundry Amendments
Yours m. respectfully
F. Whiteley
James L. Edwards Esq.