Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,137, Phinehas Brunson, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Brunson, Phinehas
S. 32,137
n Bronson, Pheneas
CONTENTS

CW to Pen Aug 31 July 183
To Richm and Indiana from 4 th Sept 1837. 13 th August 1838 Modification sent to J. B. Ray Carrollville Indiana
CW to Pen Aug 30 th March 1839
To Illinois from 4 th Sept 1837. 17 April 1839. - Modification to Mrs Nichelle Peoria, Illinois
Letter to Hon. R. M. Young 8 th March 4 th Feb. 1840
Paid as above from 4 th Sept 1837 to 4 th March 1839. Aug Modification 2 nd March 1840
✓
Indiana  Pitts Richmond  Illinois  13 194
Phineas Bronson of Medina in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Parson of the Reg t commanded by Col Hoyst in the Connecticut line for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May 1833 and sent to Mrs. Phoebe Bron. Medina Co Ohio Arrears to the 4 th of May 1833 $40.00 Home-ens. allowance ending 4 th Sept - 10.00
$50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
McLagett Clerk
Recorded by Book E Vol. 8 Page 2 106

Declaration of Phineas Brown a Revolutionary Soldier in order to obtain the benefit - of the act congress passed June 7 th 1832 - for a Pension -
24932

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
(1)
The State of Ohio Medina County ss -
On the ninth day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared an open Court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting Phineas Bronson a resident of Coeymans Township in said County of Medina State of Ohio aged Sixty eight years on the ninth of November 1832 who being first duly sworn according to Law oaths in this oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -
That I entered the service of the United States under the following named officers who served as herein stated
- That I was born as I have been informed by my Parents at a place called Hony in the State of Connecticut (the County I do not know) on the ninth day of November 1764. That there is a Record of my age on the Books of the Town Clerk in Farmington Hartford County Connecticut of which I have a copy - When called into service I was living at Farmington Hartford County Connecticut
- That after I was discharged from the army I lived in Farmington eight or nine years - then I lived in Southington in the same County six or seven years - then I lived again in Farmington some or five years - then moved to West Britton in the same County - where I lived until the year 1817 - when I removed to Norton Medina County Ohio where I have lived until about three months since when I moved into Coeymans adjoining Norton in the same County - where I now reside
Early in the Spring of the year in which I made this the Army was forming I was as a substitute for my brother Silas Bronson drafted at the town of Farmington in Hartford County Connecticut into the service of the United States as a soldier for the term of six months - went to West Point on the Hudson River and joined a company under the command of in a Regiment Lieutenant Strong I remained at West Point a short time - In the same Regiment was Captain Parsons - and Quarter Master Keele - - From West Point the Army marched first to Kings Ferry - then to

Lotusburg in Jersey and remained there during the summer and late in the fall of the same year the regiment returned to West Point & South's Knits - and I was discharged after having served, a little more than six months
I never had any written discharge - I have no documentary evidence of my service - I do not know of any person living by whom I can prove my service. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of Long State and I further declare that there is no clergyman living in the town where I now reside - I refer to Ambrose Palmer & William C Richards to testify as to my character for truth & veracity & their belief of my service as a soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Timothy Hudson Clerk.
We Ambrose Palmer & William C Richards and in the Township of Norton in Medina County Ohio hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Phineas Brown who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be sixty eight years of age that he is a man of truth & veracity and is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Wm C Richards Ambrose Palmer
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Timothy Hudson Clerk.
And the said Court 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 and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Ambrose Palmer and William C Richards who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the Township of Norton and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Timothy Hudson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Medina County Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of

(v) of the Application of Phineas Bronson for a Pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 9th day of June A D-1833- Timothy Hudson Clerk.

No 24.932 Phineas Bronson Medinabo Ohio
Adm for 6. months $20.
Woolsey Wells. Akron Medinabo. Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
(3)
Pension Office,
183
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 Ohio  Phileas Bronson Medina
   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.      Subscribed at State  and Falls some year   Private  on a mtn   Col Hooyt  Capt Parson   68 years  Hartford  County  Connect  cts   Traditional evidence   
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1852.
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
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:
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 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) _____, 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 [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] 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, (1) 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 enquiry 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.
John R. Ashton

1881 July 28 B.B.
Prison Office
W.W.
For the Hon. The Secretary of War, Washington City, Dist. of Columbia
(Ind.)

The State of Indiana ss Wayne County ss
I David Strattan a justice of the peace within and for the said County of Wayne Indiana, do hereby certify, that Amos W. Bronson who as af d took the above or within Oath of identity, is a person of veracity, and further saith not. David Strattan
Justice of the peace W. C. C.
The State of Indiana ss Wayne County ss
I John Hinley Clerk of the Court of the County of Wayne, State of Indiana, do hereby certify, that Daniel Strattan Esquire, who administered said Oaths, is and was at the time of administering the same, an acting Justice of the peace within and for the County of Wayne, State of Indiana, that said signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof I John Hinley Clerk of the Wayne County Circuit Court of the State of Indiana, have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court & County, this 21 st day of July A. D. 1838.
John Hinley, Clerk, W. C. C.

Centerville, Ma Co. Ind. 3 21 st July 1838.
Hon. Secretary of War,
The object of this paper is to obtain the transfer of a pension from Ohio to this cause.
Please forward to the un- derigned, at Centerville.
Yrs. resp y , &c.
B. B. Ray

32 137 Rev INVALID.  ew
File No. 32, 137
Phineas Branson
Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1827
Index: Vol. 9 , Page 55
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Aug - 13 - 86 to J. H. Hopkins A Logan Land Warrants issued prior to 1800 were destroyed by the War Dept building burning. Orson Brown should state the name of Capt. what State etc.
1912 Jan. 23. Tombstone data to Mrs. C. K. Woolf letter in S. File 37196 Wm Crow. C
(11)

sur. File No. 32.137. Phinehas Brunson or Bronson, private con- necticut troops, born November 9, 1764, at Oblong, Connecticut. In 1839 he resided in Peoria County, Il- linois. Date of death not shown.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
February 6 th 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Phineas Bronson, — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Illinois Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and _____ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1837. to the 4 th March, 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Lane Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

State of Illinois County of Peoria ss
On this 4 th day of March AD 1839 before me the subscriber a justice of the peace for the said County of Peoria, personally appeared
Phenias Brunson who, on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Levi Strong in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hoit in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Indiana from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State of Illinois, where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable in future. The following are his reasons for removing from Indiana to Illinois
Phenias his Brunson mark
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid William J. Blanchard J. P.
And on the same day to wit on the 4 th day of March AD 1839 before me the subscriber a justice of Peace for said County of Peoria also personally appeared Amos Brunson who, on his oath deposeth and saith that Phenias Brunson whose name appears to and who is described in the foregoing affidavit is the same person as is therein represented, that I was well and intimately acquainted with him in the State of Indiana from whence he has lately removed and that he is now living in the County of

Peoria, in the State of Illinois
Amos W. Brunson
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid William P. Blanchard J.P.
I William P. Blanchard an acting justice of the Peace within and for the County of Peoria and State of Illinois do hereby certify that Amos W. Brunson who subscribed and swore to the foregoing affidavit is personally known to me to be the identical person who executed the same, and that I justly believe him to be a man of credibility and veracity and that full faith and credit may be given to his statements on oath. Given under my hand this fourth day of March A.D. 1839
William P. Blanchard J.P.
State of Illinois, William Mitchell clerk of the Peoria County & County Commissioners Court within and for said County do hereby certify that William P. Blanchard whose name appears subscribed to the foregoing certificate was at the time the same were made an acting justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified that as such full faith and credit are due his official acts, and that the signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court at Peoria this fourteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight Hundred & Thirty nine William Mitchell Clerk

W Aug 8.
W Swan
[Faint, mirrored handwriting, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the paper]

Mar 29 NEW YORK MAR 11
Rev. J. S. Church Borough of Fulton Washington City D.C.
FREE

Peru Ill. March 24 th 1839
Dear Sir Edward Sir
Enclosed is application for transfer of Phoebe Branson from Indiana to the State of Illinois - You will please inform me the result of this application and whether or not all the back pension now due will be payable at the Agency in this State
I am With respect Sir
Your mo: obedt Servt William Mitchell

W. Evans, ap. 12
J. L. Schwenk On offensive Washington D.C.

Indiana Pension Agency Madison Ap. 6 1839.
J. L. Edwards Esq Com. of Pensions in
Yours of the 30 March is recd. The last payment to Shinehas Bureau May 4 Sept. 1837 - I will note him as transferred to Illinois
Very resp J. H. Davis agent