Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,546, Moses Bouton, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Bouton, Moses
S 23,546
CONTENTS

24. 4. 15
New York
Moses Benton of Westerlo in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Brundage of the N.Y. Cavalry by _____ in the N.Y. on a time for _____.
Inscribed on the Roll of _____ at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the _____ day of Decr 1833 and _____
Given under my hand this _____ day of _____
Annuity to the last of Sept 1833 - $20. Semester allowance ending July 1834 $40
Revolutionary Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by W. L. Williams Cl Book C Vol. 4. Page 21

State of New York Westchester County } ss On this twenty fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two personally appeared in open Court before The Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Westchester now sitting at Bedford in the said County Moses Bontown a resident of the Town of South Salem in the said County of West- chester aged seventy five years (on the second day of April last,) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Decla- -ration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers served as herein stated. That on or about the first day of August in the year of our Lord one thou- -sand seven hundred seventy five, he this deponent enlisted at now known as South Salem in the said County of Westchester (now South Salem) in a Company of Volunteers raised by Capt a Joseph Benedict for the period of five months and served, during the whole of his aforesaid term of enlist-

-ment. That the other officers of said Company were, Samuel Backett first Lieutenant and Edward Boulton Second Lieutenant That said Company belonged and was attached to a Regiment Commanded by Col James Holmes of Bedford in said County. That shortly (after) said enlistment this Deponent with his Company shortly after their enlistment marched from Salem aforesaid to Peekskill in said County where they embarked on board a sloop & sailed to Albany where they landed and marched from there to Half Moon Point now Lansinburgh on the Hudson River, where Deponent with his Company drew each a Regimental Coat, & arms - they then marched to Fort George and from thence to Tienderoga thence to Fort St Johns by water which Fort was taken by the American Troops of which the Company to which Deponent belonged was a part. Fort St Johns capitulated to the American Army then under the command of Genl Montgomery - from thence this Deponent went with his Company to Saguine in Canada That Capt Joseph Benedict of this Deponent's Company with one Major Fletcher who (after the British had evacuated Montreal) returned

after we had evacuated (Montreal) returned
to Ticonderoga, and this Deponent with Lewis Stebbins a private in the same Company with this Deponent, (now of New Canaan in the State of Connect- -cut,) and several others moved them down to Ticonderoga - after staying some days at Ticonderoga this Deponent, with a Sergeant & file of men were ordered and did, convey the Sick from Ticonderoga up Lake George to Fort George to the Hospital there, when this Deponent's aforesaid Enlistment having expired all but a few days the Commanding officer at Fort George gave this Deponent written permission (in conse- -quence of his feeble situation) to return home, but this Deponent did not receive any written Discharge neither can this Deponent now find his aforesaid permission. That this Deponent afterwards drew his full pay as a private in the aforesaid Company for his said five months enlistment. That about the Month of May in 1776, this Deponent enlisted as a private for six months in a Company of Volunteers (at Salem in said County) com- -manded by Captain Henry Hawson of Salem aforesaid and this Deponent faithfully

6 served as a private in said last mentioned (Company) during his last enlistment for six months, and was discharged at the expiration of his said enlistment at Peekskill in the said County of Westchester under the following circumstances. vir About a week before his said six months expired he was sick with a fever sore on his leg so that he could only act as a Cook when the Regiment to which this Deponent the cause of was ordered over the Hudson River and his Captain gave him verbal permission to return home, where he was under the hands of a Physician during the winter following. That said last mentioned Company to which this Deponent belonged in which he served as was attached to a Regiment commanded by Col Samuel Drake That the services rendered by said Company last mentioned during the said six months were as follows. vir They were at New York when the British took New York & were in the engagement on Long Island and came out with the American Army to Kings Bridge & from there to White Plains & from there to Peekskill and was with Genl Washington

9 Army till this Deponent was permitted to return home as afore said. And this Deponent further saith That before the Taking of Burgoyne and as this Deponent believes in April AD 1777. (but he cannot precisely recollect) he enlisted as a private at Salem in said County for nine months in a Company of Volunteers Commanded by Capt r Richard Sackett, of Bedford in the said County of Westchester and this Deponent faithfully served as a private in said last mentioned Company during the whole of his said enlistment of nine months last mentioned and was discharged verbally by expiration of enlistment at or near Tarry Town in the said County of Westchester That the said last mentioned Company belonged to a Regiment commanded by Col c Graham & this Deponent with his said last mentioned Company were stationed at White Plains in the said County when Genl Gates came there with his army after the taking of Burgoyne And this Deponent further saith That afterwards but in what year this Deponent cannot now state he en- -listed at Salem aforesaid

as a private for three months in a Company of Volunteers Commanded by Capt n Rensh n Stevens & this Deponent served faithfully as a private in said Company for his said last enlistment of three months. That said last mentioned Company served the whole of said three months as a Guard on the Lines in the said County of Westchester, but at which Regiment it belonged this Deponent is unable to State as the Rest of the Regiment were on the Hudson River.
And this Deponent further saith That after wards but at what particular time this Deponent cannot state he this Deponent with Valentine Wilson now of the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County in the State of New York was ordered by Capt n David Pardee of the Milition to whose Company this Deponent belonged to go & join a Major's Command of Infantry of about 300 men stationed at Tarry Town in said County of Westchester That this Deponent with the said Valentine Wilson, did accordingly join them

1 - select to the said Command in a Company Commanded by one Captain Stuts. and there under the Command of said Captain and one Major Steele. This Deponent as a private with said Wilson served and did duty there for one month the time they were ordered to serve and then left with the verbal permission of the Commanding officer. That this Deponent served during said month principally as a Guard over the Com- missary stores - That this Deponent received full pay for all of his afore- said services excepting the month last mentioned. That the aforesaid Lewis Stebbins (then of Salem in said County) but now of New Canaan in Connecti- cut. served during the whole time of this Deponent four first Enlistments (of five months, six months nine months & three months) as a private in the same Company with this Depo- nent - That the aforesaid Valentine Wilson served with this Deponent in the same Company during the whole of this Deponent's aforesaid one month service

and can testify to the same facts this Deponent has above stated. That this Deponent has a Record of his age at home in his Bible. That this Deponent was born at Cornwall in the State of Connecticut, and moved from there to Salem in said County of Westchester when he was seven years old - where this Deponent has resided ever since, except his occasional absence only during the Revolutionary war - and always enlisted at Salem aforesaid - That this Deponent never received any miltion Discharge neither has he any, miltion in relation to his aforesaid enlistments or services. That this Deponent is known in his present neighbourhood to. The Hon Ezra Lockwood of Poundridge and one of the Judges of the aforesaid Court, and to Col l Joseph Benedict of South Salem in the said County of Westchester who can testify as to this Deponent's age his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a Soldier by the Revolution. He hereby Relinquishes sworn to subscribed the day & year - as even claim in relation to aforesaid in open Court { a pension or an annuity Except the present and declared that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency  N Bayles CLK

of any State -
Moses Boulton
State of New York
Westchester County } ss. Lewis Stebbins of the State of Connecticut and Valentine Wilson of the Town of Thompson in the County of Sullivan personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County now sitting at
Bedford in said County and being each duly sworn according to law. Several make oath. and say that Moses Boulton who has made and signed the preceding Declaration is well known to them & has been so known to them during the Revolution - any war and ever since and the said Lewis Stebbins for himself saith that he has heard the preceding Declaration of the said Moses Boulton read and understands the contents thereof. That the statements therein given by him of his four first enlistments & services for five months six months nine months & three months (in all twenty three months) is to this Deponent's knowledge correct as he this Deponent served during all of said Enlistments in the same Regi

ments and for the same periods with said Moses and during all of said enlistments (except the one for nine months) in the same Company with the said Moses Bon ton and knows the same to be true. And the said Valentine Wilson for himself saith that he has heard the preceding statement and declaration made and signed by said Moses Bon ton and understands the contents thereof, that the said Moses Bon ton did to the best of his knowledge serve the one month as he has therein stated as he this deponent served with him the same time in the same Company.
Sworn & subscribed this 24 th day of September 1832 in open Court
Sewit at  his Valentine Wilson mark
State of New York, Westchester County ss. I Nathan C. Bayle, Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing statement of Moses Bon ton & Valentine Wilson was sworn to and subscribed before me this day and that said Moses Bon ton & Valentine Wilson are credible persons & their statement is entitled to credit.
N. Bayle Clerk
We Ezra Lockwood residing in the Town of Poundridge in the County of Westchester & State of New York one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County and Joseph Benedict residing in the Town of South Salem in the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that

We are well acquainted with Moses Poulton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That We believe him to be seventy five years of age. That he is Reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and That We concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed in open Court this 24 th day of September 1832
N o Bayles Clk
Ezra Lockwood
Joseph Benedict
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 to them that it appears to them That Ezra Lockwood and Joseph Benedict who have signed the preceding certificate are residents the former of the Town of Poundridge and the latter of the Town of

South Salem in the said County of Westchester and State of New York and are Credible persons and That their Statement is entitled to Credit.
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Westchester in the State of New York do hereby certify, That the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of Moses Boulton for a Pension. In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of Office this twenty fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
N Bayles Clk
State of New York Westchester County ss. I Stephen Saunders a Clergyman residing in the Town of South Salem in the said County of Westchester, hereby certify That I am well acquainted with Moses Boulton who has subscribed and sworn to the above de- claration. That I believe him to be seventy five years of age on the second day of April A.D. 1832. That he is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and That I concur in that opinion. And I do hereby further certify That the said Moses Boulton is a man of good character and well known to me as a man of truth and veracity. Sworn and subscribed in open court this 29 th of May 1833
N Bayles Clk. Stephen Saunders
And the said Court certify That it appears to them That Stephen Saunders who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergy- man resident in the Town of South Salem in the County of Westchester and is a credible person and That his statement is entitled to credit.
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Westchester do hereby certify That the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of supplying the Certificate of a clergy- man to the within application of Moses Boulton for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29 th day of May 1833.
N Bayles Clk
application of 14029 Moses Boulton for a Pension

Revolution
23546 INVALID.
File No. 23546
Moses Benton
Pris Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 44
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Alonso Poulton
admd
24 mo pri
80 00
Tape & new Seal in front —
Clerk's name & seal at the end —
Mr Ward

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Moses Branton further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? Yes IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? 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? Yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which 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.