Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,034, Nathaniel Skiff Calkin, Conn. Conn. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. Conn Sea Service
Calkin, Nathaniel Skiff
S. 15034
carded
CONTENTS

21.827
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Skiffbalkin
of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts who was a Sergt. Vols. in the Camp, commanded by Captain Dana of the Regt. commanded by Col. Storrs in the Massachusetts
time for 4 months Seaman $16 2 " Sergeant 10 7 " Private 23.33 $49.33 Conn and Conn Sea Service
aw Aug 19 88
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 19 Dollars 33 Cents per annum. to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of Nov. 1833 and sent to Claimant Norwich
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33 $123.33 Semi-ant. allowance ending Apr. '34 24.66 $147.99
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. C. Stiles Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 14
8 Hampshire

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss. On this fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the court of Probate now sitting at Northampton in said County Nathaniel Ship Lakin a Resident of Norwich in the (said) County of Hampshire & Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy nine 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. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated, to wit In the summer of 1775. I enlisted on board the ship Oliver Cromwell & served a four months cruise under the command of William Coot who commanded the ship, he was a one eyed man, Luther Eldkin was sailing master, I enlisted under Bela Eldkin who belonged to said ship. The captain of marines was Roberts, who belonged in Hartford in Connecticut, when I entered the service I lived in Windham in said Connecticut, I have no documentary evidence, & know of no person by whose testimony I can prove this service. In December of the same year, I enlisted in a company of Connecticut State Troops under the command of Capt. Dana, Nathaniel Wales of said Windham was my ensign, one of my lieutenants, was Wright of Mansfield, & the other Tinker of Windham, under my said last enlistment, I served during the winter
4.
fact,

Three months
3. following at Cambridge and Massachusetts till the British left Boston which I think was in March 1776 - Col. Storer of Mansfield was my Colonel, the Lieut. Col. name I am not now able to recollect, or the name of my Major - my only Surgeant name was Clark, he lived in Mansfield -
2 In the Autumn of 1776 I volunteered and served in the Connecticut Militia for the period of two months at Providence in Rhode Island, in the Regt commanded by Col. Thomas Brown of Coventry, my Major was Hezekiah Bissell of Windham, my Capt. name was Nehemiah Tinker -
2 In 1777 in the summer and I think in June I was drafted & served in the Connecticut Militia a further period of two months in Groton across the River from New London at this time Col. Storer was my Colonel & Nehemiah Tinker was my Captain, during this period I was engaged principally in repairing Fort Griswold, there were several alarms, during this period, had no battle -
2 In the summer of 1779 I was drafted again & served two months in the Connecticut Militia, partly in New London & partly in Groton, under the command of Col. Experience Storer of Mansfield - Capt. Nehemiah Tinker was my Captain, during this last period I was a Sergt. in said company. I was born in Lebanon in Connecticut in the year 1753 on the 30. day of Sept. -
my age is recorded in the Town Records of said Lebanon, & on my Bick at home - when called into service I lived in said Windham as appears above - since then, I have lived a part of the time in said Windham, I have also

who lived in Pottsville, & Burlington in Vermont, I have also lived in Solon in New York about twelve years, then I went to live among my children, a part of the time in Connecticut, a part in New York & a part in Massachusetts and I now live in said Norwich in Mass. The manner of my being called into the service appears above - I never had any discharge, I always owed my time and was never dismissed - I have lived in said Norwich but a few days, but am well acquainted with John Lewis of said Norwich in the adjoining Town of Mansfield where I have lived several years nearly two years I was known to David Brins Esq. Rufus Bland Esq. & Samuel C. Bland - & Genl. Rugg
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Nathl. Skiff Calkins
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 in the foregoing declaration which was sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid -
Before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
Samuel F. Lyman Register of the Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Skiff Calkins for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & set the seal of said Court this day adopted this first day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred thirty three -
Sam. F. Lyman Register

Nathl. Skiff Calkins application for Pension
We Samuel Russell a clergyman residing in the Town of Norwich in the County of Hampshire and John Lewis of said Norwich hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Skiff Calkins who has subscribed and sworn to the within declaration that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age - that he is respected and beloved there in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
February 12th
I swear and subscribe the day and year aforesaid.
Before me
George D. Dinsmore Justice Peace
Samuel Russell
John Lewis
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss. I Samuel F. Lyman Register of the Court of Probate within & for said County do hereby certify that the above named George Dinsmore is one of the Justices of the Peace for said County duly qualified & that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this nineteenth day of February A. D. 1833 -
Sam F. Lyman Register

230 67
Nathan Skiff Calkins Norwich Mass
Seaman 4 Math
Asst 2
Asst 1
13 H H 06
June 26 1833
P 422
Apphoul Norwich
Mass Lyman Warwick Mass

WAR DEPARTMENT,
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 Nathaniel Swift Calkin Hampshire Co Mass
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlist 1775 4 (shp. Olonewell) Capt. Col Col Sea 79 years Traditionary   " 1776 3 privt Col Dana Col Stone Massa Wendham Evidence   " 1776 2 Junkeer Brown Providence Connecticut Evidence   " 1777 2 Same Col Col Groton Living   " 1779 2 sergt Same Stone Fort Sullivan (Witness)  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

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.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
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 considered a Court of Record.
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:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
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 declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of 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) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , 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 day 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 and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the 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 (l) 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

15.034 INVALID.  See
File No. 15.034
Nathaniel Skiff Galkin Sergt. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 62
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Deposition of Benj. Miller to Arch. Ripley

The Deposition of Nehemiah Ripley of Windham in Windham County State of Connecticut aged 71. years is as follows. Airt.
That in the summer of the year 1777, I should think, in the month of June I was at New London in this State, I went to see my brother Jeremiah Ripley who was a soldier stationed at New London at that time, and I well remember that Nathaniel Staff Calkins then of Windham was there, I was in Capt. Nehemiah Tinker Company — Mr. Calkins was well known to me having been brought up in the same town with me — — — — — I am & subscribed, the 11 th day of August AD 1832
Nehemiah Ripley
State of Connecticut } County of Windham } P s Windham August 11. 1832
Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for County of Windham Mr. Nehemiah Ripley a resident of Windham and by me well known to be a credible person & made solemn oath to the truth of the facts stated in the above deposition by him subscribed in my presence, & I hereby certify that the said Ripley's statement is entitled to full credit
Thomas Gray Justice of the Peace

The deposition of Benjamin Miller of Windham in Windham County State of Connecticut is as follows. Viz. In the month of December 1775 I was a soldier in Capt. Thomas Dyer Company & Col. Durkee's Regiment in the Continental Army, since stationed at Cambridge in Massachusetts (tho' the writer, until the British left Boston in March 1776. and when there, was personally acquainted with, & knew Mr. Nathaniel Skiff Calkins then of said Windham & knew that he belonged to & served in Capt. Dana's Company of State troops from Connecticut in which company Nathaniel Wales of S d Windham was Ensign; & though I do not recollect the day in December when that Company came to Cambridge yet I well remember, that they were there, when the enemy left Boston & I was personally knowing to said Calkins serving in said company at said Cambridge until that time, which was I think on or about the 17 th day of March 1776. Given & subscribed this 10 th day of August A.D. 1832. Benjamin Miller.
State of Connecticut, County of Windham sp. Windham August 10 th A.D. 1832. Personally came before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County of Windham, Benjamin Miller a resident of S d Windham to me well known to be a credible person, & made solemn oath to the truth of the facts stated in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed in my presence, the S d Miller being a pensioner under the act of March 18. 1818. Thomas Gray Justice of the Peace

The deposition of Zacharias Waldo of Windham in Windham County & State of Connecticut is as follows viz.
That in the summer of the year 1779 I served a militia tour out of two months at New London and Groton in Connecticut in the Regiment commanded by Col. Experience Storrs of Mansfield Company of Capt. Icheneah Tinker of Windham and that I then knew Nathaniel Skiff Calkins then of said Windham and that he served in the same Regiment and Company and the same term of time with me and furthermore I did the duty of orderly sergeant in said company and have the roll of the same now by me and find the said Calkins name on the same Sworn and subscribed the 16 th day of August 1832
Zacharias Waldo
State of Connecticut } ss. Windham August 16 th 1832 Windham County }
Personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the Peace for the County of Windham Mr. Zacharias Waldo a resident of said Windham and by me personally known and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts stated in the above deposition by him subscribed in my presence and I hereby certify that the whole testimony of the said Waldo is entitled to full credit
Abner Robinson Justice of the Peace

The deposition of John Webb of Windham in Windham County and State of Connecticut is as follows viz.
That in the fall of the year 1776 I served a militia tour of two months at Providence Rhode Island in the Regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Brown of Coventry. Elezeiah Bissel of Windham was Major of the same in the Company of Capt. Jonathan Rudd and that a company from Windham commanded by Capt. Nehemiah Tinker of which William Young was lieutenant was then there and belonged to the same Regiment. Sworn and subscribed the 16 th day of August 1832
John Webb's X Mark
State of Connecticut } ss. Windham August 16 th 1832 Windham County }
Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County of Windham Mr. John Webb a resident of said Windham and by me personally known and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts stated in the above deposition by him subscribed in my presence and I hereby certify that the testimony of the said Webb is entitled to full credit
Abner Robinson Justice of the Peace

United States of America State of Connecticut County of Windham ss Windham Feb'y 2 d 1883
I Joel M White Notary Public for the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Almon Robinson Esq r before whom the Deposition of Zacharias Waldo & John Webb purports to have been and Thomas Gray Esq r before whom the Deposition of Nehemiah Ashley and Benjamin Miller purports to have been taken are each of them Justices of the Peace within & for the County of Windham & have been for several years last past also I am well acquainted with each of their hand writing and believe their signature to be their original hand writing in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Name in my official capacity and affixed my Seal of office
Joel M White Notary Public