Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,310, Jonas Bemiss, New York

SERVICE
New York
Berniss Jonas
NUMBER
5.18,310
carded
CONTENTS

13. 1336. Ohio Pittsburgh Jonas Bennis.
of Huron Co. in the State of Ohio, who was a Private in the Co. — commanded by Captin Livingston of the Regt. commanded by Col. Co. — in the New York line for 10 months.
$ 33 33 / 100
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburgh at the rate of 33. Dollars 33. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of July 1833 and sent to Gibbs. Esq. Newark. Ohio.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 66.66 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 33. 16.67
$ 83.33
Recorded by { Revolutionary Claim, } W. H. Palmer Clerk, { July June 7, 1832. } Book E. Vol. 8. Page 106.

STATE OF NEW-YORK, Cayuga County, } ss.
ON this 29th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Cayuga in said state, personally appears Jonas Bemis aged 53 years, resident in the town of Cato in the county of Cayuga and state aforesaid, who being by me first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War:"
That the said Jonas Bemis enlisted in the town of Granville in the state of New York in the Company commanded by Captain Livingston about the first of April 1782; that his Company was stationed at Saratoga under the command of Genl. Gates and that he continued to serve in the said Corps, or in the service of the United States, until about the first of January 1783
when he was discharged from service in Schenectady state of New York that he was in the battles of
and is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support, and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services, on account of being discharged verbally
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year first aforesaid.
John Geer Judge Jonas Bemis Cayuga Com. Pleas
I, John Geer Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Cayuga as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Jonas Bemis did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. Dated this 30th day of April - 1818
John Geer Judge
STATE OF NEW-YORK, Cayuga County, } ss.
I certify that the Hon. John Geer before whom the foregoing declarations under oath were made, and by whom the foregoing certificate was made, was on the day of the date thereof, and still is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Cayuga duly commissioned and sworn as such Judge, and that full faith and credit are to be given to his acts in that capacity. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and know the foregoing signature to be his.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court, and my name subscribed. this
thirtieth day of April Eighteen hundred and eighteen
E. J. Throop Clk

Questions propounded by the Court
Question First Where and in what year were you born?
Second Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Third When were you living, when called into service - Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Fourth How were you called into service - were you drafted - did you volunteer - were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Fifth State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served - such Continental, Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services?
Sixth Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?

State of Ohio
Huron County
State of Ohio Huron County } To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: We, the undersigned, of the County of Huron, and State of Ohio, do hereby certify that the within copy is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in our office, and of the whole thereof.
1875 and before the Supreme Court for said State within and a for said County.
Yours sincerely Thomas B. Smith
whereby I promise to the day of your aforesaid
Attest D. G. Gilby Clerk to Suprs. C.

18310 INVALID.
File No. 18310
Jonas Benn's Pris New War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 428
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Ohio, Franklin County ss We the subscribers
2 d Dec 1832.
being first duly sworn, do on oath declare that they have been well acquainted with Jonas Benipe G. Adams in said County. That we have always considered him a man of veracity and that the reputation in his neighborhood is that he is a man of veracity in behalf of the United States during the revolutionary war.
Old Case x 1 Jonas Benipe G. Adams Pension papers Ohio
David B. Sturgis Agt Norwalk Huron County Ohio
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2 d day of Dec 1832

State of Ohio Huron County } Ss
Milan July — — AD 1832
We the undersigned do certify & declare that we are well acquainted with Jonas Benj. of the Town of Milan formerly of the State of New York that he is a wholesome, good Citizen an Honest Man and of undoubted veracity & that without hesitation should ever give full credence to his reports perfect confidence in any declarations of his on oath or otherwise
Isaac Hill
Joseph
Morris J. Burnham
Ebenezer Burnham
Nathan Harris
David Coulter
Jonathan Peters
Ebenezer Hovey
Lyman Fols
Ebenezer Andrews
not Clear

with, state the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighborhood at present who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
The undersigned makes every claim who swears to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn and subscribed the day Jonas Bemis and year aforesaid Attest D. Gibbs Clerk Sup. Ct.
We Joshua Phillips Clergyman residing in the Town of Berlin and John Brooks, residing in Florence , at  Hampden's County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonas Bemis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and believe him to be about sixty years of age, that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion & also that we consider him as a man of veracity Joshua Phillips John Brooks Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Attest D. Gibbs Clerk Sup. Ct.
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 Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he has stated and further certify that it further appears that Joshua Phillips - who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in Berlin in F County and that John Brooks who has signed the same is a Resident in Florence County and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit Attest D. Gibbs Clerk Sup. Ct.
I D. Gibbs Clerk of the court Supreme Court in said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jonas Bemis for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 27 day of July A.D. 1832 D. Gibbs Clerk Sup. Ct.

State of Ohio, Lucas County ss We the subscribers
Oct 21/1832.
being first duly sworn, do on oath declare & testify that we are well acquainted with Jonas Bonif's of Milan, in said County, that we have always considered as a man of veracity & that the reputation in his neighborhood is, that he served as a soldier in behalf of the United States during the revolutionary war.
Subscribed & sworn to this day personally before me
Ed. Egan Jonas Bonif's P. O. Milan Lucas County Ohio G. J. Jonas Bonif's Agt Kenneth Stewart County Ohio

Lucas Benisp. Huron Co. Ohio. 13.4.36
Adm 10 months
D. Gibbs C.B. Nassau Co. Huron Co. Ohio.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Knight Sen. 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? Yes 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, 1832? 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? No

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? Yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? Yes 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? 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? XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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."

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.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Bemus, Jotham GRADE Corporal LINE Rhode Island
WARRANT NUMBER 2953 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED June 15, 1789 to Jotham Bemus
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.