Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19079, for Jonathan Sheldon, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Sheldon, Jonathan
S. 19079
CONTENTS
loaded

No. 18470 Vermont
Jonathan Sheldon
of Colchester Co. in the State of Vermont who was a Priv. Corp. in the company commanded by Captain Prince of the Reg't. Vermont by Col. Putnam in the Mass. Troops time for 3 months Corp. - 11.00
9 " " 30.00 $41.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont in the rate of 41 Dollars per per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24th day of Sept. 1833 and sent to Amos Paul. Danville Vt.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 82.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 14th Sept. 1833 20.50
$102.50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown
Clerk
Book E.
Vol. 3
Page 91

5337
Small Snail
Small Snail

State of Vermont } ss. District & County of Caledonia }
On this 16 th day of July A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Benjamin T. Dunning Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Caledonia aforesaid now sitting Jonathan Sheldon a resident of Danville in the County and District aforesaid aged seventy seven years wh. being first duly sworn according to law with an oath to make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions 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 at Danvers in the State of Massachusetts his then place of residence in the month of November or about the time 1775 he enlisted in the Massachusetts troops in the Reg t of Col. Enoch Putnam - the Captains name not recollected - was stationed at Brookline near Boston to guard the Neck and there served the full term of said engagement.
That at said Danvers in the month of December 1776 he enlisted in the Massachusetts troops for the term of three months - marched to Providence R.I. supposing they were going to New York - thence were ordered to Trenton R.I. to which place he marched and was stationed for the said term in the Company of Capt. Prince - Col's name not recollected.
That at said Danvers in the spring of the year 1777 he enlisted in the Mass. troops for the term of three months - marched to Providence and from thence to Bristol R.I. where he was stationed until the close of said term but he does not recollect the name of any commissioned officer. served as a corporal.
That in the month of Sep r 1777 at said Danvers he

enlisted in the Mass. troops for the term of three months in the company of Capt Samuel Flint and in the Regt of Col Johnson were joined by their Captain at Bennington Vermont marched from thence to Stillwater N. York was at the taking of Burgayne and in the engagement a few days preceding in which engagement Flint his Captain and Herrick his Lieut. were both killed After the surrender of Burgayne marched down North river as far as New Rochelle and from thence returned to White Plains where he was discharged as he thinks in the month of December having served the term of his enlistment Recollects the fall of snow before he was discharged
He has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose evidence he can procure except what is hereto annexed
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state Jonathan Sheldon
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year afore.
Before Benj H. Deming Judge of Probate
I Eleazar Pope of Danville in the County of Caledon and State of Vermont aged seventy four years do depose and say that I was acquainted with Jonathan Sheldon who has made the foregoing declaration in the time of the revolutionary war - lived in the same town about half a mile distant. I am knowing that he was in the service for three months at Tiverton Rhode Island. I was myself in the same company (Capt Prince's) at the same time. Our time was out in March and I think in the year 1777.
I further depose and say that I recollect that the said Sheldon was in the service several other times and

although not with him I understood he enlisted, know he was absent, and have always understood and now believe that he was in the service once down near Boston once at Rhode Island and at the State of New York at the time Burgoyne was taken the particular length of service I cannot state but have no doubt that he served as he states, Ebenezer Dyer
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid (Defer) Dyer D. Denning Judge of Probate
I Nathaniel Hayward of Danville in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont depose and say that I am eighty three years of age that I was acquainted with Jonathan Sheldon who has made the foregoing declaration in the time of the revolutionary war resided in the same vicinity I distinctly recollect that the said Sheldon was not in the service the year of the taking of Burgoyne being absent in that direction I was not with him but well recollect his absence in that service I do not distinctly recollect the other services stated by him but I have no doubt that he served as he states
Nathl Hayward
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
(Defer) Dyer D. Denning Judge of Probate

We Samuel Seas and Augustine Clarke residing in the town of Danville in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Sheldon who has made the foregoing declaration and have known him for more than twenty years - that he is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides a man of truth and veracity and we believe that reliance may be placed in his statements relative to his revolutionary services.
Samuel Seas A. Clarke
Sworn to and Subscribed July 30. 1832
Before me J. D. Dunning Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certify that Ebenezer Pope and Nathaniel Hayward who have made the foregoing affidavits are known to the Court to be credible persons whose statements are entitled to credit. And that Samuel Seas and Augustine Clarke who have subscribed the above certificate are well known to the Court as residents of S d Danville and gentlemen of the first respectability.
I Amos Paul Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Caledonia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Sheldon for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this first day of August A. D. 1832
Amos Paul Register

State of the world
1833 personally appeared before me the undersigned authority, to me known to be the person described in and who is known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed. Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of May 1833. I, 23 personally appeared before me the undersigned authority, to me known to be the person described in and who is known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed. Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of May 1833. He is a resident of Bristol in said District who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following additional and explanatory declaration: That at the first term of service... that at the time of making said declaration, he was under no duress or undue influence in making the same.
At his second term of service the whole Regt except Cap t ... Bristol and one company from Marlborough went to New York. He cannot recollect the Col's name. His Lieut was Ensign... He cannot recollect the name of any commissioned officer at his third term of service at Bristol. Recollects that while he was at Bristol a British man-of-war lay in the channel westerly of Bristol and that a guard was kept on an island near Bristol called Lopham (say so) and that he sometimes served there on guard. He also recollects that several men on board a boat belonging to the above mentioned man-of-war were taken while he was at Bristol. Matthew Holden
Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day of May A.D. 1833
Before me Reg d H. Denning Judge of Probate

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I do hereby certify that I have known him more than twenty years last past - that I believe him to be some twenty years of age - that he is up town and believe in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution - and I am of the opinion that he sustains a good character in the neighborhood for where he resides for truth and veracity and from inquiry made by me in the neighborhood and from my acquaintance with him I have no doubt but that he has stated the foregoing declaration.
Archibald S. Sears
Before me, Nathaniel D. Denny, Judge of Probate
and of the County of Franklin, State of Maine, do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration was made before me this day personally by Archibald S. Sears, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing declaration, and that he acknowledged to me that he executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed. Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 22nd day of June A.D. 1893. Nathaniel D. Denny, Judge.

P 19079
INVALID.
File No. 1434
Jonathan Sheldon Colt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 321
[Arrangement of 1870.]

✓
Admitted
3 mos Corporal 9 " Private

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 Isaac G. ... 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? ... 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 ? 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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service ? 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 ? 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.
QUERÉ 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 affidavits of the witnesses must be certified to the credence of the magistrate who may administer the oaths. The official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer.
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.