Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12357, Stephen Bush, Conn. Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Bush, Stephen
S. 12357
Mass
CONTENTS
carded

20.136 New York
Stephen Bush
of Ulster Co. in the State of New York who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Robinson of the Reg. commanded by Col. Waterbury in the New York line for 12 Months
★ Comm. Mass.
Records completed. Oct. 17/1832.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 12 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Aug. 1833 and Sutto Abulitt Strau Fredonia
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1831 $146.66 Sem-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep 31 36.66
$183.33
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by G. C. Gales Clerk, Book 6. Vol. 1. Page 47

14831
In the Matter of the Application of Stephen Bush for a Pension under the Act of June 7 th 1832,
Mehitt Crane, Ludonia Chautauqua Co. N.Y. Agents -
Allowed

State of New York 3 Chautauqua County 3 p:
On this twelfth day of October in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, held at the Court house in the village of Mayville in & for the County of Chautauqua aforesaid now sitting Stephen Bush of the town of Sheridan in the County of Chautauqua aforesaid, aged three or seventy four 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 as a Private in the Revolutionary war under the following named officers & served as herein stated, viz:
That at Stafford, Connecticut in the summer of 1776 he volunteered and enlisted as a Private in the Revolutionary war into a company commanded by Captain Elijah Robinson in the Regiment commanded (as he believes) by Colonel Waterbury in the Connecticut State troops for seven months - that he enlisted to go to Quebec and marched with his company to a place called Southbury on Lake Champlain with the intention of taking water from thence & going to Quebec, but after setting sail were driven back to Ticonderoga by the British & compelled to abandon the contemplated expedition - That he was discharged from service same time in December 1776, as he believes, between Lake George & Fort Edward on the north River in the state of New York, & that he resided at Munson in the County of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts at the time of his enlistment & served out more than the term of his enlistment, & as he verily believes, about eight months. -
That in January 1777 he enlisted the second time at Stafford in Connecticut for three months into the Connecticut State troops in Captain Scotts company in the Regiment commanded by Colo. Enos, and marched from thence to Hartford Ct. & thence to near New York where he spent the winter - that the British were then in possession of New York - and that he was discharged at Rye Westchester County, New York in the month of April or May 1777.
That in the summer of 1777, he volunteered & went out in the Connecticut Militia at Stafford in the County of Tolland, Connecticut for three months - that he joined the company commanded by Capt. Lawson, but in whose Regiment he does not recollect. -
That he marched to Bemus' Heights Saratoga Co. N.York, and was in Burgoyne's battle so called, and after said battle marched to Albany & thence down the north River - that at the said battle, the company to which he belonged was in General Poor's Brigade, and in Arnolds Division; and that he was discharged at some place on the north River, in state of N.York late in the Fall of 1777.

That sometime in the fall of 1778, he enlisted at Munson in the County of Hampshire, Massachusetts, & went out in the Massachusetts Militia in the Company commanded by Captain Phineas Stabins but in what Regiment he does not recollect. — That he enlisted for three months & marched directly to Boston — that he remained at Boston, Dorchester Point & Castle Island until his period of enlistment expired, and was discharged at Dorchester Point in the winter of 1778 and 1779. —
That in the summer of 1780 he enlisted for six months at Munson aforesaid into the first Massachusetts Regiment to fill up the Continental Regiments and joined the Company commanded by Captain Stodard in Colonel Vose's Regiment & Gen. Islovans Brigade — That his company marched from thence to Springfield (Mass.) where were Continental officers to command them who conducted & marched them to Kings Ferry where they crossed the North River and marched to Orange town, New Jersey where they joined the Grand Army under the command of Gen. Washington — From thence he marched to Paramus & several other places in New Jersey and finally to West Point on the North River for winter Quarters where he was discharged about the last of January in the year 1781.
That in the services abovementioned he was a Private in the Revolutionary war —
That he knows of no persons living whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, and that he has no documentary evidence except the discharge hereunto annexed.
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 or Territory to his knowledge.
And to interrogatories propounded by the said Court of Common Pleas, the said Stephen Bush says, that he was born in the town of Somers in the County of Tolland in the State of Connecticut on the ninth day of August in the year 1759 — that he has now no record of his age, having lost his family bible in which his age was recorded.
That when he entered the said Revolutionary service he resided in Munson in the County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts. That after the Revolutionary war, he moved from Munson aforesaid to Sheridan aforesaid, where he now resides & has resided for more than twenty years past.
That he was called into the Revolutionary service & served in the manner above particularly stated, and that he was acquainted with Generals Washington, Putnam, Howe, & Greene, Major Wallbridge & many others, & knew a great many Continental & Militia Regiments that he is not now able to designate.
That he received the annexed discharge from Colonel Joseph Vose, which is the only written discharge he can receive.

He is personally acquainted with many of the inhabitants of the town of Sheridan aforesaid having resided there for more than twenty years past, among which are, Seth Snow & Lyseum mixer Esquires, now & formerly Justices of the peace, Enoch Haskin Post Master, Rev. Griffin Sweet & Otis Ensign
to whom he refers as to his character for veracity, & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court before the judges thereof the day and year first above mentioned.
Stephen Bush
James B. Lowry Clerk
We Griffin Sweet —
— residing in the town of Sheridan in the County of Chautauqua and State of New York and Otis Ensign residing in the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Stephen Bush, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; That we believe him to be seventy four years of age; That he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid.
Griffin Sweet
Otis Ensign
James B. Lowry Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that Stephen Bush, the above named Applicant, was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. — And the said Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Griffin Sweet — who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said town of Sheridan and that Otis Ensign — who has also signed the same certificate is a resident in the same town, and that they both are credible persons, & that their statements are entitled to credit.
I James B. Lowry, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautauqua aforesaid do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Bush for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, being the seal of the said Court, at Mayville in the County of Chautauqua aforesaid this twelfth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
James B. Lowry Clerk

14,831
Stephen Bush
Mode of authentication
on rolls 6ms
Admitted
Private 22 months
Moulton & Crane
Tadoussac
Chautauqua County N.Y.

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. 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 Stephen Bush of Sheridan in the County of Chautauqua New York
   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.     Vol d 1776 7 Private Capt s Robinson Col s Waterbury Battle of Saratoga from Stafford Connec. Munson Hampshire Documentary Evidence   " Jan 1777 3 " Cleatt Enas to Southbury on Lake Champlain County   " 1777 3 " Pawson then to Hartford Connec. Mass   " 1778 3 " Hettrick Gen l Glover then to New York from Munson to Boston aged 73 or 74 years   " 1780 6 " Stradard Col s (V. sec) to Orange town near Eusey  
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 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

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 he 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 [j] 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.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
17. 1235-7 See  In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Stephen Bush a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Summer 1776 8 mos. Pvt. Elijah Robinson Waterbury Conn.   Early 1777 Apr to May 1777 " O'Call Ebenezer   Summer 1777 Fall of 1777 " Lawson ✓   Fall of 1778 3 mos. " Phineas Stetson ✓ Mass.   Summer 1780 Early 1781 " Stoddard Joseph Vose  
Battles engaged in, Burnside Heights
Residence of soldier at enlistment, * Monson Mass.
Date of application for pension, Oct 12 1832 His d. was ab.
Residence at date of application, Sheridan Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, to Aug 9 1759 at Somers Tolland Co. Conn.
Remarks: No data as to family
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
* Mass. Book quotes this man as a resident of Monson, Mass.

Stephen Bish of the T th Massch ts Regiment and from the town of Munson is discharged the Service he having served six Months
Issuing Commiss on on the road and directed to furnish him with Provision sufficient to land him
West Point 30 th Jan y 1865 Joseph Vose Col o

1914 Gov. B. Hist. Soc. Hatties B. Tompkins Letter in W.P. 9428 Rtes Ensign.
Reuben
12357 INVALID.
File No. 12,357
Stephen Bush
Prim. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 37
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of New York } Chautauqua County } ss:
I James B. Lowry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautauqua in the State of New York do hereby certify that the papers herewith annexed, contain the genuine, original proceedings of the said Court at the last October term thereof in the matter of the application of Stephen
Bush for a Pension, and that my certificate under the seal of the said Court, annexed thereto, is genuine & was affixed to the said proceedings by me.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, using the seal of the said Court, at Mayville in the County of Chautauqua aforesaid this twenty third day of May — in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three.
James B. Lowry Clerk