Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29032, Church Brainerd, Conn Navy N. H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Comm
Brainerd Church
S. 29032
Navy
Brainerd or
W.H.
CONTENTS
[Ruled lines for entry]
[Ruled lines for entry]

Maine
11.567
Church Brainard
of Kennebec Co, in the State of Maine, who was a Mariner & P in the Company commanded by Captain Brainard of the Regt commanded by Col Mearns in the Conty Vols. here for the P's
  3 Mo  Mariner  12.00    9 "  Pirate  30      $42.00  
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 42 Dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of May and sent to 1833 R. C. Dose, Augusta. Me
  Arrears to the 4th of March 1833-  84.00    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept "  21.00  
$105.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk, Book E Vol. 1 Page 3

Church Brainard Private
Capt. Brainard's Co - Meigs Connelt Regt August 1876 - 1 month - 1 - October 1877 - 1 1/2 " - 1 1/2 Spring of 1878 - 1/2 " - 1/2 Dec 1879 to March 1880 on board ship } 3 - Trumbull - Salt Lake - 3 mo } May to Nov. 1880 - capt. Webber Co } 6 Col. Nichols V. H. Troops - 6 mo } 12 mo as private & Marine -
Prof Certificate Nathan Baldwin Esq a Magistrate knew the claimant in the service & also all receipt of pay etc
265.30
Delegat...
R. L. Rose, Augusta, Me.

State of Maine.
KENNEBEC, ss.—I, JOHN A. CHANDLER, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the HON. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, before whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge, in the matter of the application of Church Brainard for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this 15 th day of October
A. D. 1832, —
J. A. Chandler

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. KENNEBEC COUNTY, }
On this sixth day of September A. D. 1832 personally appeared before the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said State, Church Brainerd a resident of New Sharon in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, aged seventy five years in Dec 1832 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 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1776 with Captain Daniel Brainerd and served in Col. Meigs' regiment of the Connecticut line or troops under the following named officers: Brainerd Captain Meigs Colonel. That in August 1776 he entered and served as a private one month in that company and regiment at Long Island at Long Island. He thinks, but is not positive, that his Colonel's name was Meigs . That in October 1777 he entered as a private and one month and an half in the same Capt Daniel Brainerd's company and he thinks Col. Meigs's regiment of the Connecticut militia. That in the Spring of 1779 he entered and served half a month as a private in Capt Daniel Brainerd's company, and he thinks Col. Meigs's regiment of the Connecticut militia. That the first of December 1779 he entered as a private on board the ship Trenton of twenty two guns commanded by Capt Salters , the vessel commanded in the expedition against Burgoyne . That he continued to serve on board this ship, she laying at Seabrook , three months, and was finally discharged there the first of March 1780. That in May 1780, he was drafted as a private for six months, in Christopher Webb's (afterwards Major) company and Col. Nichols's regiment of the New Hampshire troops. That he served out this period and was discharged near West Point in November 1780.
And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the War Department, he answers: That he was born in Haddam, Connecticut where he supposes his age is recorded, and where his home was during his revolutionary service. That in 1802 he removed to Farmington, Maine , and in 1831 removed to New Sharon, Maine , where he now lives. That he never took out one written discharge from his service in 1780, which is now lost. That he entered, volunteered and was drafted as before stated. That his first service was at Long Island . His second in stopping Genl Vaughan , after the battle Ebenezer , from relieving Burgoyne . That on board the ship Trenton he did good duty. That in the half month he served at New Hampshire . That happening to be in N. Hampshire , where his father had given him land, he was drafted into Capt Webb's company, and served near West Point at Crown Point , and was detached principally to guard cattle under Fort an army commissary.
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Church Brainerd
Sept 6
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, before
Nathan Weston Jun Not S.P.C.
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
Nathan Weston Jun

24830 Church Brier and Co State of Maine
Admitted
3 mos Maine 12.00
1 " minute 30. —
$ 42.00
R C Vose Augusta Maine

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 show what is necessary to be done. These 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, showing the Service of Church Brainard  Kennecott Co. Maine
   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.     Enl. 1776 " 1 " pro. Captl Brainard Col M c gregor 35 yrs Lebanon Documentary   " 1777 " 1 15 " Same Officers Connecticut Living Witness for the last 60 yrs Service   " 1778 " " 15 " d — d   " 1779 " 3 { priv Seaman Ship Humboldt Capt Salters   Disch 1780 " 6 " priv Capt Aldins Col Nichols  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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)                      , who has 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 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                      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 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.
☞ 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

To Mr Church Brainerd C for your Wages was light Nine Shillings 6 d My Tax and what I paid to Mr Story two pound Eight Shillings 8 d paid to Mr Frink for Rates Three pounds one Shilling paid to Mr Willey for Rates One pound Seven Shillings 2 d
Church Brainerd W 8 = 9 = 6 6 = 16 = 11 The Whole of your Rates = 11 = 12 = 7
Remains Due to you
be pleased to send an Order by Nath l Brainerd on me for the Balance Due to you and be pleased to write in your Order that my paying the Balance it shall be my my Discharge in full from you friend W. Lang

Church Francis J. M. L.
BRAINARD, CHURCH

29032 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,032
Church Binal
Rev Rev Van
Act: June 7 th 1894
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 53
[Arrangement of 1870.]

STATE OF MAINE.
Kennebec County, ss.
AT the Supreme Judicial Court, begun and holden at Augusta, within and for the County of Kennebec, on the first Tuesday of October, A. D. 1832, and thence by adjournment on the 26 th day of March A. D. 1833.
PERSONALLY appears in open Court Church Brainard by whom the annexed declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7th, 1832, was made before the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jr. on the 1 st day of September A. D. 1832, and makes oath, in due form of law, that the annexed declaration, by him made and signed, is true.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
Nathan Weston Just. S. J. C.
I, JOHN ALPHONSO CHANDLER, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the applica- tion of Church Brainard for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix the seal of said Supreme Judicial Court, and subscribe my name this 26 th day of March A. D. 1833.
J. A. Chandler

N Baldwin
Affidavit for Kurt Brumir
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Mercer August 21, 1832.
To whom it may concern
The bearer hereof Deacon Church Brainerd wishes to avail himself of the benefit of the United States Law providing for the payment of pensions to those who were in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war — I first became acquainted with Mr Brainerd at Crumpond in New York in the year 1780 I belonged to Colo. Nichols' regiment and Capt Barm's company. I was detached from the company to which I belonged at Robinson's Farm and sent to Crumpond to guard cattle. Mr Foot was the receiver of cattle and Mr Brainerd at that time with Mr Foot and acting as a clerk for him. I did not to my knowledge see Mr Brainerd before that time; but he continued with Mr Foot during the time I was there and told me he also belonged to Nichols regiment and Capt Webber's company. The time I served was three months; but Mr Brainerd says he continued with Mr Foot longer so that he was actually in the service at that time six months. I know of no reason why Mr Brainerd's testimony should be doubted as he is a man of an established character in the church to which he belongs, and in in town of Farmington where has lived for many years — Nathan Baldwin
Nathan Baldwin Esq above named is well known to me as a respectable citizen and magistrate. Nathan Weston