Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,037, Ahira Brooks, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Brooks, Ahira
S 29,037
B.L.M. 26/100-160-56
CONTENTS

1859. June 27 th Special order to pay
31.720
Michigan Alira Brooks of St. Joseph in the State of Mich n , who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Wilson of the Reg t commanded by Col in the Comp y time for 20 months
Geo. Thompson Inscribed on the Roll of Detroit at the rate of 160 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of July 1852 and United G. M. Phillips Ayears to the 4th of Present Semi-ant. allowance ending
Reg 20m-55-40 342 50
Revolutionary Claim, (Act June 7, 1832.) Recorded by Wightman Clerk. Book E. 2 Vol. 9. Page 91
91.

Am. Wm Allman Aug 18/55 Ser 8074 Sept 10/55 ad 1832 - no 31720
34250 March 3/53
Feb 3/53
Alesia Brooks. sub for Thomas
Seamster
Capt
Gene
Gaylord Huntington Nov. 1852
Entd May 17/52
Dis " 17/53
Col. U.S.M.C.
Mch ad 32-31720
Beynton
W: 160 ac, May 16/56
Bryant
Mr
Vol. B2-69-2
Wm Allman Sturgis, Mich

Declaration to obtain a Pension by act of Congress of June 7 th 1832. Michigan Territory St Joseph County ss
On this twenty ninth day of April in the year Eighteen hundred & thirty six Personally appeared before the Judges of the Circuit Court of Michigan Territory of the County of St Joseph Ahira Brooks a resident of the town of Huron in said County aged seventy six years on the tenth day of February last past who being first duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith and on oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. —
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officer and served as herein stated. In the month of September of the year 1778 the said deponent joined the troops of the United States then stationed at Peekskill in the State of New York as a substitute for his father Thomas Brooks who had enlisted into the service of the United States on or about the first of June 1777 for the term of three years or during the war. Deponent cannot state with certainty to what regiment his father was attached but thinks it to have been General Huntington's Brigade. Deponent saith that the name of the officer by whom his father was so enlisted was Colonel Gullford according to his (deponent's) recollection but is not confident that he is correct in regard to his last named. Deponent further says that when he joined the army at Peekskill as aforesaid as a substitute for his father he was assigned as a writer to Major John Skidmore Deputy Quartermaster General. — That he remained stationed at Peekskill till the month of January following when he was sent to Simsbury in Connecticut with a considerable number of horses belonging to the United States Army & took care of and guarded said horses till May following when he returned with them to Peekskill. About a month after said return to Peekskill Deponent and about thirty others under the command of Simon Galtie were ordered to Morristown in New Jersey to receive terms for the service of the Army and twenty nine wagons loaded with provisions were removed & brought to Fishkill. Deponent was then stationed at Fishkill & lived under the command of Capt. Willson and was employed in procuring forage for the Army till the expiration of the term of service of his father for which he was a substitute as aforesaid.

Deponent says that he rendered service as a private in the place of his father Thomas Brooks and as his substitute from sometime in the month of September 1778 till the month of June 1780 at which time he was regularly discharged. Deponent further saith that he was born at Farmington in the State of Connecticut on the 10th day of February 1760. That he has a record of his age in his family Bible and does not know that it is recorded in any other place.
That he resided at Farmington when he entered the service as above stated and continued to reside at the same place for nearly twenty years after the close of the Revolutionary war. That he then removed to Barkhamsted in the same State where he resided about four  twelve years since when he removed to Auburn in New York where he resided one and a half years. Then to Goshen in Orange County, New York & resided there till about three  three years past when he removed to Sherman in this county where he now resides.
That he was a substitute for Thomas Brooks. — General Huntington Col. Samuel B. Webb Col. Meigs Major Shidmore were officers of the regular Army with the troops when Deponent served & who are unrecalled by him. Also attached to the Waggons department of Genl. Huntington's Brigade was Major Shidmore's Capt. Pearsall Capt. Lattimer Capt. Black Capt. Ayers so called among the soldiers but whether said persons held commissions as such officers he cannot say.
That he received a discharge signed by the commander in name of Pearsall or some similar name. Said discharge has been lost many years since but how or in what manner he is ignorant.
That he knows of no person now living by whom he can prove his service.
Deponent proposes the Rev. Erasmus Kellogg as a clergyman and Elias B. Smith as a person of veracity to whom he is known in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. — Signed & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court. Mira Brooks

We Erastus Kellogg a clergyman residing in St Joseph County and Elias B. Smith residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ahira Brooks who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be twenty six years of age that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion
In witness whereof the said Erastus Kellogg Elias B. Smith John Marshall Clerk of St Joseph Co M.T.
Erastus Kellogg Elias B. Smith " "
And the said board do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. And the board further certify that it appears to them that Eras- tus Kellogg who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the County of St Joseph And the said Elias B. Smith who has also signed the same is a resident in the neighborhood where said Ahira Brooks resides in the County of St Joseph aforesaid & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
Wm A. Hutton Circuit Judge Henry Root Associate Judge
I S. W. Freeland Clerk of the Circuit Court of Michigan sitting in and for the said do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said board in the matter of the application of Ahira Brooks for a Pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 29th day April 1836. — John Marshall Clerk

Alvin Brooks Declaration
19889 Michigan —
Laoni, Agent Rushville N.Y.

State of Connecticut Hartford County ss Burlington October 3rd 1832
We Thomas Brooks and Lucina Brooks residing in Hartford County aforesaid being duly sworn according to law. do severally depose and say that during the war of the Revolution they resided at Farmington in the State of Connecticut aforesaid that sometime in the year 1777 or during said war Lucina Brooks one of said deponents well recollects that Thomas Brooks her Father enlisted as a Soldier in the service of the United States for the term of three years or during the war that in the year following said Thomas Brooks's enlistment and entering into said service he returned home on account of ill health and Abira Brooks his Son and Brother to the deponents at the same time became his substitute in service as a Soldier and said Lucina one of said deponents distinctly recollects that it was then un- derstood that the said Abira Brooks who now resides in the town of Gorham in the County of Onondaga and State of New York did become such substitute in said service and that he continued so to serve in the place of said Thomas Brooks till the expiration of his said Thomas Brooks enlistment aforesaid and the said Thomas Brooks the deponent says that he distinctly recollects of having been informed by his Father who enlisted and his Brother Abira who substituted as a soldier in said service and others soon after the expiration of said term of enlistment of the facts as above stated by his Sister Lucina and the said Thomas Brooks and Lucina Brooks the deponents both distinctly recollect

recollect the return of the said Abner Brooks from the service of the United States as a soldier in the Army of the American Revolution after the expiration of the term of said Thomas Brooks enlistment as aforesaid said Abner has since as we the deponents understood at that time and ever since served the term of enlistment out should think he returned in the fall of the year after having been gone a long time but do not distinctly recollect how long should think one year or more And further the said Deponents say not
Thomas Brooks Lucina Brooks her X Mark
Hartford County State of Connecticut ss Burlington October 3 rd 1832
Personally appeared the above named Thomas Brooks and Lucina Brooks to me well known as credible witnesses and made solemn oath to the truth of the within and above affidavit before me subscribed before me
William Marks Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut County of Hartford } p.
I, Sand Griswold, Clerk of the County Court for said County, do hereby certify, that William Marks, before whom the foregoing affidavit of Thomas Brooks & Lucina Brooks, was taken, was on the 3 rd day of October 1832, a Justice of the Peace for the Hartford County, duly commissioned & sworn ac- cording to Law, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the Marks, & verily believe the signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have set my hand & seal of Office this seventeenth day of Octo- ber in the Year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred & thirty two.
Sand Griswold Clerk

Application of Abia Brooks Revolutionary War 341250

State of Michigan (County of St. Joseph)
On this twenty first day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me William H. Allen a Justice of the peace duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the County of St. Joseph and State aforesaid Alvin Brooks aged ninety five years, a resident of the township of Sturgis in the County of St. Joseph and State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law, declared that he is the identical Alvin Brooks who was a teamster in the Revolutionary War, that his father Thomas Brooks enlisted as a teamster in the Company commanded by Captain Gaylord in General Huntington's brigade in the Revolutionary War, that he Thomas Brooks enlisted at Farmington in the State of Connecticut in the latter part of May A.D. 1777 for the term of three years, that he the said Alvin Brooks took his father's place as a substitute on or about the first day of September A.D. 1778 and continued in actual service in said war for the term of twenty months until the month of May 1780 and was honorably discharged at Fishkill Barracks State of New York on account of the expiration of his said term of service, that he has lost his Certificate of discharge.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the Act of Congress" Approved March 3 rd 1855.
He further declares that he has not received any payment for bounty land under any Act of Congress nor made any application therefore, and that he refers for further proof of service and identity to the evidence now on file in the Pension Office on which he received a pension under the Act of Congress of 1851.
Alvin Brooks
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with the said Alvin Brooks for upwards of sixteen years and that I believe the said Alvin Brooks who signed and acknowledged the above declaration, and is now present, to be the identical man who served as aforesaid, and that he is of the age above stated, and that I have no interest in said claim.
William H. Allen Justice of the Peace

State of Michigan ) Personally appeared Gilbert Brooks County of St Joseph ) who being duly sworn according to law says that he is right now years of age a resident of the County of St Joseph and State of Michigan and that he is the brother of the man named Alvin Brooks and that it was the identical Alvin Brooks who served as as stated a witness in the above declaration and that he knows the facts above stated by Alvin Brooks to be true.
Gilbert Brooks
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 21 st day of March 1855
William Allman Justice of the peace
State of Michigan ) Personally appeared Josiah Bacon a County of St Joseph ) citizen of said County in State, who being duly sworn says that he is personally acquainted with Alvin Brooks and that he is the person now present who signs and executes the above declaration and that he has been personally acquainted with him for a period of twenty years.
Josiah Bacon
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21 st day of March 1855 and I certify the said Gilbert Brooks and Josiah Bacon are credible and respectable citizens of said County of St Joseph State of Michigan } William Allman Justice of the peace St. Joseph County } Hiram Lindley County Clerk and Clerk of the Circuit Court opened for said County hereby certify that William Allman was at the date of the above instruments a Justice of the peace in and for said County of St Joseph duly elected qualified & authorized to administer oaths and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and that the signature to the above certificates are genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at office this 27 th day of March A.D. 1855 Hiram Lindley Clerk

State of New York
Cayuga County ss Gilbert Brooks of the Town of Pawtux in said County aged sixty years the sixteenth day of January last past, being duly sworn deponeth and saith, that he is well acquainted with Ahira Brooks, brother of this deponent, formerly of Farmington in the State of Connecticut, and now of the Town of Goshen in the County of Ontario & State of New York, and son of Thomas Brooks; that the said Thomas Brooks enlisted into the Continental Service at the said Town of Farmington, in the revolutionary war for the term of three years; that he the said Thomas went into the service of his Country and before the expiration of said term, came home sick, whereupon the said Ahira Brooks, at the solicitation of the said Thomas Brooks, as this deponent believes, took his place, and continued in said service eighteen months or two years, and finally took his discharge at Fishkill as this deponent has about that time informed, and believes to be true; that after which the said Ahira was drafted at Farmington aforesaid, now called Burlington, into the service of his Country for the term of three months, and hired a man by the name of Josiah Roberts as a substitute, who served out the said three months and was duly discharged. And this deponent further saith, that he does not recollect the names of the Commanding Officers of the Regiments to which the said Ahira Brooks and his substitute aforesaid belonged, and cannot be more particular, as he this deponent was at that time very young. And further this deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed
this 23 d day of August
Gilbert Brooks
1832, before me, and certify that the said Gilbert Brooks is a competent witness J. W. Willey, Justice of the Peace

State of New York Cayuga County, ss
I, Michael S. Myers Clerk of said county, do certify that Henry R. Pitney Esquire, before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said county such that I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper handwriting and signature. Witness my hand and seal of office. This Twenty Third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two.
M. S. Myers Clerk for P. M. Myers De Clerk
Alma Brooks Declaration
Passed

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Abiah Brooks a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Sept. 1778 waite to Deputy Paymaster General John S. Skidmore   Jan. 1779 waite Gen. H. H. Schuyler   W. H. in Forage Dept.   June 1780  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Farmington Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 27, 1826.
Residence at date of application, Adrian, Ontario Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, Feb. 10, 1826.
Remarks:
In 1850 he lived in Seneca Falls, N.Y. Joseph L. Merrill  it is not stated whether he was married.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Reg. 10 March 1840. Reported March 11, 1840.
Michigan - 31,720.
Shira Brooks , of St. Joseph's in the State of Michigan who was a Wagoner in the camp commanded by Captain Gaylord of the Regt commanded by Col. Hildreth in the Connecticut line for 20 months. Wagoners.
Inscribed on the Roll of Michigan at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of March 1840 and sent to Hon. Isaac E. Crary , H. of R.
Arrears to the 4th of March, 1840 - $549.94 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 40 - 33.33
$633.27
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk Book 82 Vol. 9 Page 91.

ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
PENSION OFFICE,
Augt 28 th
1855.
Sir:
The claim of Abira Brooks for bounty land under the act of the 3d of March, 1855, No. 3H. 250 has been examined and suspended.
The revolutionary service of Thomas Brooks the husband of the applicant, does not appear of record in this office.
The 3d section of said act requires a service of "FOURTEEN DAYS" to be established by "RECORD EVIDENCE."
Upon the production of such evidence of service, the claim will be favorably considered.
Very respectfully,
for J. MINOT, Commissioner.
Wm Allman Esq Sturgis Mich.

on list in the series of as Wagons master returns, for 3 yrs from June 1777
March 11. 1840

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 -
I, Charles Crane, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Abner Brooks for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this first day of September A.D. 1832.
Charles Crane

Suspended Oct 28 May 1836 A. McGaffey

26.708
160 acres

Sturgis Mich Sep 4 1855
Hon J Minot
Sir Enclosed please find a letter received this day from the department I do not understand what the term, ' Thomas Brooks husband of the applicant ' means, Abia Brooks never had any husband nor is it for the service of Thomas Brooks that he makes his application, it is for his own service performed by himself in the revolutionary war, nor is it possible for him to prove that service by record evidence, because the records at Washington were all burnt in August 1814 by the British it cannot be possible that Congress meant to insult that small , class of men that now remain of revolutionary memory by requiring them to bring record evidence when they knew well that the records were not in existence, Mr Brooks has long been a Pensioner and is now tottering on the verge of the grave, and is but a relic of the past, all he asks, is, that if his claim is not worthy, for the Department to say so, and not hurt his feelings by demanding of him evidence not in his existence, and that by the fault of others and not his
Yours Resp y
W m Hemen

Rushville N.Y. July 26 th 1835
Sir Sir
Your letter of the 17 th inst has been duly received. In relation to your application for a pension I have to state that all the papers except that therein enclosed, is now on file in the War Department.
Your claim was suspended at the Department for the want of additional testimony of the service you claim to have rendered. A particular specification of the time, when such service commenced and when it ended, as well as where rendered, was required.
I had expected both of the two last years to have been in Michigan and to have seen you - But my public duties as a member of our State Legislature requires me to spend at least half of the year in New York and Albany, and I have been unable to go to the West -
Very Truly Yours Abt. Servt -
Mr Alira Brooks -
Charles Loomis

War Department Pension Office May 28, 1836
Sir,
The amended declaration of Ahira Brooks formerly of the State of New York has been examined and with his other papers filed with suspended cases in this office. He alleges to have entered the service as a substitute for his father Thomas Brooks who enlisted in Connecticut in 1777 for three years. The rolls in this office of those who belonged to the Connecticut line are complete for the time of the alleged service and neither the name of the applicant or of his father are found as having enlisted for three years. It would appear that when the applicant joined the army he acted as a waiter, then was sent from Poughkeepsie to Connecticut in charge of some horses, and

afterwards was employed in procuring forage for the army, and that he never performed any military service. From these circumstances it is doubtful whether he was ever regularly enrolled, and subject to military discipline. Some more satisfactory proof should therefore be exhibited in order to a favorable decision.
I am, respectfully Your Obedt. Servt. J. L. Edwards
N. McGaffey Esq. White Pigeon, Michigan.

May 13 Mch. n.
White Pigeon May 3rd Mch. n.
L
G. Edwards
Orde
Commissioner of Pension Office War Department Washington City
to take benefit of the I have no waste of to write
the return march

White Pigeon Michr April 2 nd 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir Inclosed I send you the amended declaration of Abiah Brooks to obtain a Pension or rather a new one. The time that had elapsed since he first applied had put it beyond his reach to obtain the necessary proof of service by living witnesses as you pointed out to me in your letter when you sent me his old declaration. I have therefore drawn a new declaration & taken the other course of proving the service. I still thought it might be better to return to you all the papers that had been in your office.
We do not however rely on the affidavits as circumstances prevent making them any more perfect than before.
The old Gentleman is needy & as must be the case with all of those living entitled to the benefits of the act, is getting quite infirm. I have no doubt of his being justly & legally entitled to it.
Very Respectfully your Obedt Servant
A. W. Gagey

Michigan Ahuva Brooks
6 P
Act 7 June 32
www
Increase allowed
from $166.66
to $160.00
deducting former payments 20 mo Leamster
Ahuva Brooks
Gm Phillips Washington D.C.

Washington March 5 th 1846
Sir
I have the honor here with to transmit certain papers in support of the application of Abia Brooks for a pension.
From a letter of the Department it appears that there a certain papers now on file in support of the application.
I have the honor to be
Be Yours to Obey
J. L. Edwards Esq.

19. 889 Almira Brooks Michigan
admitted Wagman 20 m th 66.66 Capt. Gaylord & C. H. Kidner Count.
Act 7 June 1832
Hon. Isaac D. Crary P. R.

Brief in the case of Shira Brooks St Joseph's County and State of Michigan act June 7. 32
Claim, ( "original," or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
The increase is in the allowance of pay, to wit, $10 per month at present allowed instead of
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
The increase is in the allowance of pay, a Teamster now being allowed $8. per month pension instead of $3.33 as for merly.
Name and residence of Agent.
George Mc Phillips Washington
J. H. Dardge
Examining Clerk.

Washington, Oct. 31. 1851
Sir
Enclosed I send you a Power of Attorney from Alira Brooks, a Pensioner (I presume on Michigan roll) under the Act of 7 th June 1832, authorizing me to prosecute an alleged claim for Increase of his Pension
I have, respectfully, to ask, that a re-examination of his case may be had
I am,
Very Respectfully
(If oblige sent
Geo. M. Phillips
J. L. Heath Esq Board of Pensions

RECORD MAY 20 1921 DIVISION

Put 1921
May 16 - 1921
Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Sir
I would like to get information of one. Ahira Brooks, who served in the revolutionary war.
He lived to the age of 98 years and drew a pension. Died in Sturges Michigan about the year 1855 or 56. or 57
any information will be greatfully rec'd by his Grand Daughter, Add. Mrs Emma A Shea.
Wessington, South Dakota.

REGENT, MRS. RAY E. DEAN VICE REGENT, MRS. HELEN K. ANDREWS VICE REGENT, MRS. JOSEPHINE BOUTON SECRETARY, MISS SUE I. SILLIMAN
TREASURER, MRS. E. B. WILCOX REGISTRAR, MRS. JOHN DIFENDERFER HISTORIAN, MRS. ELI CUPP
Abiel Fellows Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Michigan
Thru Rivers Mich. Feb 22 nd 1920
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Through accident the service of Abigail Brooks which you so kindly furnished, was destroyed, before we had made use of the data, would be very gratefull if you will send same again. Also service of Daniel Bolter Rev. Soldier and Arrunah Tibbard - - - -
Thanking you in advance I am yours very truly, Mrs Eli Cupp.
5-14 Portage Ave Thru River Mich.

REGENT, MRS. RAY E. DEAN VICE REGENT, MRS. HELEN K. ANDREWS VICE REGENT, MRS. JOSEPHINE BOUTON SECRETARY, MISS SUE I. SILLIMAN
TREASURER, MRS. E. B. WILCOX REGISTRAR, MRS. JOHN DIFENDERFER HISTORIAN, MRS. ELI CUPP
Abiel Fellows Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
of Michigan
Thru Rivers Jan 5 th 1920
Commissioner of pensions Washington D.C. Dear Sir; -
Will you please send at your earliest convenience, the service of Ahira Brooks, as I wish to give official proof at our next meeting Jan 15 th . The inscription on his monument says he was a Revolutionary Soldier, but I am unable to find any of his descendants to verify this.
Ahira Brooks died April 20 th 1858
Aged 98 years
his wife Sarah died Aug 26 th 1848 Aged 77 years
Thanking you in advance I am, Yours very truly
Mrs Eli Cupp 514 Portage Ave Thru Rivers Mich

29037 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,037
Miss Brooks
Deceased Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 55
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1920 Jan. 19. Heir. to Mrs. Klubb. and 1920, Mar. 15. Heir. to Mrs. Klubb. Ex. 1921, June 3 heir. to Mrs. Emma A. Shea. Ex.

State of New York Ontario County ss
On this twenty-seventh day of August in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Judges of the County Courts of the County of Ontario aforesaid, now holding the Court of Common Pleas, of the term of August, of the said year for the said County, Almira Brooks a resident of the town of Gorham in the said County aged seventy-two years, on the tenth day of February last past 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 7. 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated—
In the month of September of the year 1778 the said deponent joined the troops of the United States then stationed at Peks kill in the state of New York, as a substitute for his father Thomas Brooks who had enlisted into the service of the United States on or about the first of June in the year 1777 for the term of three years, or during the war. Deponent cannot state with certainty to what regiment his father was attached but thinks it to have been to General Huntington's Brigade
The said deponent saith that the name of the officer by whom his father was so enlisted was Giles Gaylord according to his (deponent's) recollection, but that he is not confident that he is correct as to his first name.
The said deponent further saith that when he joined

the army at Peekskill as aforesaid, as a substitute in place of his father as aforesaid he was assigned as a waiter to Major John L. Skidmore, Deputy Waggon Master General. He remained stationed at Peekskill till the month of January following when he was sent to Simsbury in Connecticut with a considerable number of horses belonging to the United States Army - and took care of, and guarded the said horses, till the month of May following when he returned with them to Peekskill aforesaid. About a month after such return deponent and about thirty others under the Command of Simon Calkin were ordered to Morristown New Jersey to receive teams procured for the service of the Army and twenty-nine Waggons loaded with provisions were received and brought to Fishkill in New York. Deponent was then stationed at Fishkill and was placed under the Command of Capt - Willson, and employed in procuring Forage for the army till the expiration of the term of enlistment, of his father for whom he was a substitute as aforesaid. The said deponent saith that he rendered service as aforesaid in place of his father Thomas Brooks and as his substitute, from some time in the month of September 1778 till the month of June 1780 - at which time he was regularly discharged.
The said deponent further saith
1 st . That he was born at Farmington in the State of Connecticut on the 10 th day of February in the year 1760 -

2 nd That he has no record of his age except a memorandum thereof in his family bible - 3 rd That he resided at Farmington in the state of Connecticut when he first entered the Service as above stated, and that he continued to reside at the same place nearly twenty years after the close of the revolutionary War - He then removed to Barkhamstead in the same state, where he lived till near four years since - When he removed to Auburn in the state of New York and resided there one and a half year - then removed to Geneva in the same state and resided at that place a like period of one and a half year - and then removed to Gorham in the County of Ontario in the same state where he has resided more than a year last past and now resides. 4 th That he was a substitute for Thomas Brooks - 5 General Huntington, Col. Samuel B. Webb - Col. Meigs & Major Skidmore were officers of the regular Army with the troops where deponent served and who are recollected by him - also attached to the waggon Department of Gen. Huntington's Brigade were Maj. Skidmore, Capt. Parsons, Capt. Catlin - Capt. Black - Capt. Ayres - so called among the soldiers, but whether the said persons held commissions as such officers he cannot say - 6 He received a discharge - signed by the Commandant - named Cogswell or some similar name - The said discharge was lost by deponent more than forty years since - but

how or in what manner he is ignorant —
7 th That he knows of no person now living by whom he can prove his said services — except his brother Gilbert Brooks of Weedsport in the County of Cayuga and State of New York —
Sworn & subscribed this 27 th day of August 1832. in open Court.
Almira Brooks
Charles Crane
State
I, Jonathan Pratt residing in the town of Granham in the County of Ontario and State of New York hereby certify that I am acquainted with Almira Brooks who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration — that I believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion
Subscribed and sworn to The 25 th day of September 1832.
Jonathan Pratt
Before me Chester Loomis
A Judge of the County Court of Ontario County aforesaid

POWER OF ATTORNEY—Revolutionary Pension Claims.
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Almira Brooks , of Sturgis township, St. Joseph's County, State of Michigan , do hereby constitute and appoint George M. Phelps , of Washington City my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of myself for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to myself ; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Witness my hand and Seal this 8th day of October A. D., 1851.
Almira Brooks } Seal
Two Witnesses
Signed and Sealed in the presence of
Jacob Parker George Parker
STATE OF Michigan } ss: COUNTY OF St. Joseph's }
On this eighth day of October A. D. 1851 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Almira Brooks and acknowledged the foregoing Power, of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, } the day and year aforesaid. }
Orange Judson J. Peace.

Claim of Shira Brooks , Act of 7 th June, 1832
STATE OF Michigan } ss. COUNTY of St. Joseph's }
Be it known, That on this eighth day of October A. D., eighteen hundred and fifty- one , before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Shira Brooks , a resident of Sturgis Township , in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the identical Shira Brooks ,
who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States ,
at the rate of Sixty-six 66/100 Dollars per annum; that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me.
Orange Jacobs J. Peace.
Shira Brooks { Seal }
I, Orange Jacobs a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County do hereby certify that Shira Brooks who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
Orange Jacobs J. Peace.
I, C. D. Brunel Clerk of the County Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Orange Jacobs before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed, is his signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this fifteenth day of October A. D. 1851.
C. D. Brunel Clerk.