Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,989, John C Brower, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Brower, John C.
S. 14,989
carded
CONTENTS

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Brower, John C.
S. 14,989
carded
CONTENTS

No. 791 New York John C. Brower Dutchess Co. in the State of New York who was a Private in the Corps commanded by Captain Waitout of the Regt. commanded by Col. Freer in the New York line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 30 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Dec. 1833 and to Mrs. H. Hoffman Hudson valley
Arrears to the 14th of Sep'31 $ 75 Per diem allowance ending Nov 30 15 $90
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. John C. Brower Clerk. Recorded by Book E. Vol. 1, Page 48

State of New York Dutchess County } ss
On this twenty seventh day, of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Dutchess now sitting, John L. Brewer a resident of the town of Poughkeepsie in the County of Dutchess and State of New York age seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832 was born at the White Plains in the County of Westchester & State of New York in the year one thousand seven hundred & fifty nine and that his father removed to Poughkeepsie as he this deponent was in- formed when he was a child at which said place he has resided since the revolutionary war and still resides at Poughkeepsie aforesaid and was volunteered as a soldier in the revolutionary war at Poughkeepsie, in the year 1776 for the term of three months and went to Fort Clinton on the east side of the Hudson River and there remained & was duly discharged, but has not an written discharge nor never had. And this deponent further saith that he again volunteered as a soldier in the year 1780 for the term of three months at Poughkeepsie aforesaid and went from Poughkeepsie to West Point, and from thence to Stony Point, and from thence to Newburgh, and from thence to Dobbs Ferry, and from thence he returned to Fishkill and from thence he went to Albany by water, and from thence to Schenectady & from thence up the Mohawk river to Fort Plain & from thence to Fort Herkimer and from thence to Fort Stanwix, & from thence returned to Fort Herkimer and there remained until the expiration of the said three months, and returned to Albany & from thence returned with prisoners to Poughkeepsie with Major

Elias Van Benschoten and then was discharged but had not any written discharge - And this de- ponent further saith that in the year 1777 at the time of alarm in the taking of Fort Montgomery he was called from Poughkeepsie and was in the service of one month and lay at Galloway Hill under the command of General Putnam, Colonel John Trues, Captain Barnabas Swiftout, and returned and was discharged but has not any written discharge nor never had - And this deponent further saith that in the year 1777 he was drafted as a soldier for the term of three months at Poughkeepsie and went from there to the Plank's Point and remained there for the under Secret and Laws are one month on duty as a soldier and was then discharged but had not any written discharge - And this deponent further saith that in the year 1779 he volunteered as a soldier for the term of one half month and went to West Point from Poughkeepsie and from there he returned and was discharged but not any written discharge - And this deponent saith that in the last year aforesaid he went as a substitute for one John Bell to West Point and then remained soldier for the term of one half month under the command of General  Colonel as a Colonel and was then discharged & returned home to Poughkeepsie but had not any written discharge - And this deponent further saith that the names of the field officers were Colonel Bratbois, Major Elias Van Benschoten, and Lieutenant Letley were the principal officers and that he belonged to the State Troops in the State of New York, and I would name John S. Myles Esquire & Isaac B. Hook of the town of Poughkeepsie in said County as persons in his knowledge who are acquainted with me and will

name John L. Myles Esquire & Isaac B. Hood of the town of Poughkeepsie in said County as persons in my his acquaintance with me and will testify to my character for truth & veracity and belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution - and that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no other persons that he can prove who can testify to his services except the 61 early 83 were  affidavit of Isaac B. Hood whose affidavits in herunto annexed - and that he dis- quishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present one and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the beginning of any state - and that he has a record of his age in his common prayer book of the Episcopal Church form of service - and that he does not recollect any other affidavit except that above mentioned.
Given September 27 th 1832 and subscribed in New York John C. Brown Henry Frazer Clerk
State of New York Dutchess County ss: Isaac B. Hood of the town of Poughkeepsie being duly sworn deposes & states that he has been acquainted with the above named John C. Brown and that he this deponent served with him for the term of three months under the command of Colonel Dubois in a regiment in the militia of the state troops of the state of New York in the revolutionary war - his Isaac B. Hood Mark Given to and subscribed September 27 th 1832 Henry Frazer Clerk
the John L. Myles and Isaac B. Hood of the town of Poughkeepsie County of Dutchess & State of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John C. Brown who has subscribed & sworn to

name John L. Myles 6/early 83 yrs Isaac B. Hood of the town of Poughkeepsie in said county as persons in his my acquaintance who are acquainted with me and will
testify to my character for truth & veracity and belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution - and that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no other persons that he can produce who can testify to his services except the 6/early 83 yrs  affidavit of Isaac B. Hood whose affidavit is herunto annexed - and that he dis- qualifies every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the pension to which he claims his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state - and that he has a record of his age in the common prayer book of the Episcopal Church form of service - small that he does not recollect any other officer except those above mentioned
Given September 27 th 1838 and subscribed in presence of John C. Brown Henry B. Brown Clerk
State of New York Dutchess County ss: Isaac B. Hood of the town of Poughkeepsie being duly sworn, deposes & states that he has been acquainted with the above named John C. Brown and that he this deponent served with him for the term of three months under the command of Colonel Dubois and Malvern in the militia of the state troops of the state of New York in the revolutionary war -
sworn to and subscribed September 27 th 1838 Isaac B. Hood Mark Henry B. Brown Clerk
We John L. Myles and Isaac B. Hood of the town of Poughkeepsie county of Dutchess & state of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John C. Brown who has subscribed & sworn to

to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is upstate and believed in the neighborhood where he used to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn to and subscribed
September 27 th 1832
John S. Myers
his
Henry C. Brown Isaac B. Hovey
+ mark
State of New York
Dutchess County ss 3 Charles Brown of the town of Poughkeepsie in the County of Dutchess being duly sworn deposes & saith that he saw the said John C. Brown when he started to go to Fort Constitution as a soldier in the revolutionary war and that he remains there to the best of his knowledge at the time as set forth in the said declaration of said John C. Brown as this deponent believes -
Charles L. Brown
Sworn to and subscribed September 27 th 1832 Henry C. Brown
State of New York
Dutchess County ss 3 Henry C. Brown Clerk of the Court of Common
Plaintiffs of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John C. Brown for a pension

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 mentioned applicant was a Revo- lutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John S Myers and Isaac B Wood who have signed and testified to the preceding certificate reside in the Town of Poughkeepsie and are cre- ditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit as as as as as as as as
State of New York Dutchess County ss
I Henry J Braver Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the appli- cation of John C Brewer for a pension as as as as
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office the Twenty Seventh day of September one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty two as as as as as as as as
Henry J Braver Clerk

State of New York Dutchess County
3 months 3 months 1 month 1 month 1/2 month 1/2 month ss. Personally appeared before me Samuel B. Dutton a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, John C. Brower to me known to be the same person named in the declaration hereto annexed who being duly sworn deposed, in addition to and explanation of his said declaration and saith, that he entered the service as a volunteer in Captain Barnardus Swartwouts Company of Militia, in the month of December 1776, for three months ; that he joined the company and went to fort Constitution, and continued and served there with the company as a garrison to the fort, for the full term of three months in the winter of 1776 and 1777, part of the regular troops having been sent to the south and their place as a garrison being supplied by the militia company aforesaid. That in the summer of 1780, he was one of a class, and volunteered for the class, receiving the bounty, in Captain McKinstler, Company of militia, in a regiment then commanded by Colonel Dubois for three months and went to West point and to the north as stated in his said declaration and was discharged in the fall of the year, it being cool weather as he recollects, after having served the full term of three months . That in 1777 on the alarm occasioned by the taking of Fort Montgomery by the enemy, deponent with the company of militia commanded by Captain Barnardus Swartwout was ordered into service, and served as stated in his declaration the full term of One month . that in the same year 1777, late in the fall the deponent was drafted as a militia man for three months , went to Verplank's point under command of Lieutenant Lawson, the only officer there to deponent's recollection, and after serving One month , was discharged. That in 1779, deponent resided in Poughkeepsie and belonged to a militia company which was divided into four classes, and was sent by classes by turns to serve at West point for a fortnight each. deponent served one such tour of a half month as such class man aforesaid on his own account; that in the same year and under the same arrangement of classes of said company deponent served another tour of half a month as a substitute for John Bell. And the deponent further saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory, and being without any memoranda thereof, he is unable to state
these references with precision to Poughkeepsie etc.

the days, or months, of his entries or discharges from, his said several services, but he is certain that he served at least for the length of time mentioned in the preceding affidavit, amounting to nine months in the whole — and further saith not.
Subscribed and sworn the 27 th day of June 1833 before me
John C. Brower
"part of" interlined J B Dutton Justice of the Peace
State of New York
Dutchess County
ss. William Brower being sworn deposes and says that he resides in the town of Fishkill in the County of Dutchess, is eighty years of age, that he knows John C. Brower now here present and that he knew him during the revolutionary war, that the deponent knows that the said John C. Brower served for three months in the winter of 1776 and 1777 at Fort Constitution as stated in the foregoing affidavit of the said John C. Brower, this deponent belonged to the same company and served for the same time with the said John C. Brower at the said fort, and further the deponent saith not.
Subscribed & sworn the 27 th
William Brower
day of June 1833 before me
J B Dutton Justice of the Peace
And the said Samuel B. Dutton Justice of the peace as aforesaid do hereby certify that the said William Brower is a credible person and is entitled to full credit as a witness. Dated June 27. 1833.
J B Dutton Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Dutchess County ss. I Henry J. Praver Clerk of the said County of Dutchess do hereby certify that Samuel B. Dutton whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavits and certificate is now a Justice of the peace in and for the said County duly commissioned and sworn. And further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that the signatures "S. B. Dutton" to the affidavits and certificate aforesaid, are in his proper hand writing and genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County the twenty seventh day of June in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Henry J. Praver Clerk
of the said three months, and returned as many of them returned with prisoners to Poughkeepsie

14.359. John C. Brower
Admitted Private 9 months
5. 14. 06. May 3 rd 1883
S. 373
H. S. Hoffman Pleasant Valley Duluth N.Y.

14.359
BRIEF in the case of  John C. Brower  County of Dutchess  in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 73.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Vol. In 1776 not stated. Private. None mentioned   do. 1780 — 3 — Private. not stated   — 1777 — 1 — Private. Capt. Swartout Col. Frere   Infy. 1777 — 1 — Private. Lieut. Lawson   Col. 1779 not stated clearly "1/2 a month." Private. —  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dutchess Cty. N.Y.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk. March 7. 1833.

June 15, 1925
Honorable Samuel M. Ralston United States Senate
My dear Senator:
In response to your letter of the 13th instant, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 14989 it appears that John C. Brower was born in 1759 in White Plains, Westchester County, New York and while a child, removed with his father to Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York. The name of his father is not given.
While living in said Poughkeepsie he enlisted in December 1776 and served three months in Captain Bernardus Swarthout's New York Company.
He enlisted in 1777 and served one month in Captain Bernardus Swarthout's Company, and again in the fall of the same year and served one month under Lieutenant Lawson in the New York Troops.
In 1779 he served two tours of two weeks each, at West Point.
He enlisted in the summer of 1780 and served three

months in Captain McKinstry's Company, Colonel DuBoys' New York Regiment. All of the above named service as a private.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 27, 1832 while a resident of Poughkeepsie, New York.
There is no data on file as to his family, except the reference to his father. It is not stated that he ever lived in Kentucky.
The above noted is the only soldier John Brower of Dutchess County, New York found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Very truly yours,
Date of death not on AB
Acting Commissioner.

June 9, 1936.
Mr. Joseph B. Lutz Box 857 Cheyenne, Wyoming.
BA-3/ILL Noah Barnum S. 37722 John C. Brewer S. 14889
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request, for Lieutenant Colonel George W. Brewer of Fort Warren, Wyoming, the Revolutionary War records of his ancestors, Johannes Brewer of New York or Connecticut, his son, John Brewer who died in New Canaan, Connecticut, Noah Barnum who, he thinks, enlisted in New York State, and of soldiers with the surnames Meacham of Connecticut, and Wyatt and Bradley of New York.
The pension record has been found of only one Noah Barnum and a pension record of John C. Brewer, born in Westchester, New York. Their records are given herein as found in pension claims, S. 37722 and S. 14889, respectively, based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.
In order to identify the records of soldiers with surnames Meacham, Wyatt and Bradley, their full names are essential and as much as possible of the following data: approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service, and given names of widows.
NOAH BARNUM -S. 37722
Noah Barnum, of Danbury, Fairfield County, Connecticut, enlisted about May 1, 1776 and served one year as private in Captain Eli Leavenworth's company, Colonel Charles Webb's Connecticut regiment, then re-enlisted, served as private in Captain Heart's company, and in Captain Roger Welles' light-horse company, Colonel Samuel Webb's Connecticut Regiment and continued in service until after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, when he was discharged.

Noah Barum was allowed pension on his application executed March 31, 1818, at which time he resided in Danbury, Fairfield County, Connecticut. In 1820, he gave his age as sixty-one years, and that of his wife, Katy, as fifty-seven years, but he did not state the dates or places of their births, names of their parents, or give the date and place of their marriage.
In 1828, the soldier had moved from Connecticut to Putnam County, New York, in order to live with his daughter, whose name and age were not given. In May 1831, he had returned to live in Fairfield County, Connecticut; he stated then that he had no wife, and that his children all lived then in Connecticut.
Reference was made to one Lacey Barum in 1820, but no relationship to the soldier's family was stated.
Noah Barum died February 18, 1834.
JOHN C. BROWER-S. 14989.
John C. Brower was born in the year 1788, in White Plains, Westchester County, New York, and moved, when a child, with his father to Poughkeepsie, New York. The names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, he enlisted and served as a private in the New York troops on tours, shown as follows: from sometime in December 1776, three months in Captain Bernardus Swarthout's company; in 1777, one month in Captain Bernardus Swarthout's company, and in the fall of that year, one month under Lieutenant Lawson; in 1779, two tours of two weeks each, at West Point; from sometime in the summer of 1780, three months in Captain McKinstry's company, Colonel Dubois' regiment.
John C. Brower was allowed pension on his application executed September 27, 1832, at which time he resided in Poughkeepsie, New

York.
In 1833, Charles Brewer, a resident of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, stated that he was acquainted with John C. Brewer at the time he served in the early part of the Revolutionary War in 1833, one William Brewer, a resident of Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York, aged eighty years, stated that he served in the same company with John C. Brewer in 1776, and 1777. No relationship between these persons and the soldier, John C. Brewer, was stated.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the followings:
John C. Brewer Certificate 20791 Issued October 8, 1833 Rate $30 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832. New York Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. MILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Wyoming Society
PRESIDENT EDWIN E. FITCH, LARAMIE
Lt.-Col. VICE-PRESIDENT MAJ. GEO. W. BROWER, FT. WARREN
SECRETARY JOSEPH B. LUTZ, CHEYENNE
TREASURER EDWARD H. RAWSON, LARAMIE
REGISTRAR AND HISTORIAN JOHN C. BLACKMAN, CHEYENNE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS CLYDE L. TITUS, CHEYENNE CLARENCE B. RICHARDSON, CHEYENNE JAMES H. WALTON, CHEYENNE
Sons of the American Revolution
Organized May 18, 1908
Cheyenne, Wyoming May 18th, 1936
Veterans' Administration Washington, D. C.
Sirs:
Lt.-Col. Geo. W. Brower, Fort Warren, Wyoming, has requested me to ask for the revolutionary records of the following ancestors:
1. BROWER , JOHANNUS, who may have enlisted from New York or Connecticut. His son John Brower died at New Canaan, Ct., which he states is on the line between the two states. 2. BARNUM , NOAH, who he understands enlisted from the State of New York. He thinks that the given name, Noah, would quite likely identify his ancestor. 3. MEACHAM , ? . Father of Tabitha Meacham, of Connecticut. If the pension records show this daughter Tabitha, it will identify his ancestor. 4. WYATT , ? . Father of Joseph Wyatt of Putnam County, N. Y. 5. BRADLEY , ? . Father of Sarah Bradley of New York.
only one none found We are not making request of the War Department at this time because the information I am passing here I know is insufficient for any intelligent search, but Col. Brower felt that if I could locate the men whose children answered to the names here given, they would identify his families.
Sincerely yours,
J. B. Lutz JOSEPH B. LUTZ Secretary, Wyoming Society, S.A.R. Box 857.

GEORGE W. NORRIS, NEBR., CHAIRMAN CHARLES L. MCNARY, OREG. ELLISON D. SMITH, S. C. ARTHUR CAPPER, KANS. JOSEPH E. RANDALL, LA. HENRY W. KEYES, N. H. JOHN B. KENDRICK, WYO. FRANK R. GOODING, IDAHO PAT HARRISON, MISS. EDWIN F. LADD, N. DAK. J. THOMAS HEFLIN, ALA. PETER NORBECK, S. DAK. THADDEUS H. CARAWAY, ARK. J. W. HARRELD, OKLA. SAMUEL M. RALSTON, IND. WILLIAM B. MC KINLEY, ILL. MAGNUS JOHNSON, MINN.
MABELLE J. TALBERT, CLERK
United States Senate
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
June 13, 1925
Hon. Wilder S. Metcalf, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Commissioner:
I shall be greatly obliged to you for information as to whether Daniel Brower (or Brouwer) and John Brower (or Brouwer) both of whom served in the Revolutionary War, drew pensions.
Daniel Brower served in the Dutchess County, New York, militia, 2nd Regiment under Colonel Abraham Brinkerhoff. It is supposed that after the Revolutionary War he moved to Kentucky, Mercer County.
John Brower served in the Dutchess County militia in the 4th Regiment. It is supposed that he also moved to Kentucky.
Any information bearing on this inquiry and on the question of whether John was the son of Daniel, will be greatly appreciated.
Yours very truly,
Samuel M. Ralston
SMR:b:f

Rev. War
14989 INVALID.
File No. 14989
John C. Brewer Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 48
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Oct. 30-1900- Mrs. M. E. Bird Brooklyn N.Y.
1925-June 15-Hist. to Hon. S. M. Bals- kin from N.Y.
1936-June 9-Hist. to Joseph B. Lutz- D.L.L.

John C Brower N.Y.
5. 11
- T. S. Hoffman Pleasant Valley Duluth N.Y.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John C. Brower which require 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?
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? No.
amount of pension cannot be ascertained without a more specific statement of time
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, 1882?
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? 2 Citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
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? No
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? 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."
He is certified to see certificate of clerk of declaration of court

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.