Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9151, Joseph Caldwell, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
baldwell, Joseph
S 9151
CONTENTS
Carded

14269
New York
Joseph Caldwell
of Oswego in the State of N.Y. who was a private in the Com'y. commanded by Captain Morgan of the Arty ry commanded by Col Meade - in the Mass s ★ time for 15 Months
★ Mass s and Continental Dec. 12, 1904. Records completed.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 50- Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of May, 1833 — and sent to Fisher Wallin Oswego. N York
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. $ 100 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep 1833. . . 25 $125
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Payson Clerk, Book C Vol. II Page 50

State of New York Oswego County ss.
On this nineteenth day of February in the year 1833 personally appeared in open court before Lowell Johnson John Reynolds & Samuel Freeman Judges of the court of Common Pleas now sitting at Richland in & for said county Joseph Caldwell a resident of the village of Oswego in said county of Oswego & state of New York aged sixty nine years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on oath make the following declaration in order to take the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated, that is to say,
In the month of February 1778 he enlisted as a soldier at Sutton in the County of Worcester & state of Massachusetts in a company under Captain Morgan of West Springfield for the term of Three months; was stationed at East Springfield, during said term, on the duty of guarding publick stores deposited there. His commanding officer was Capt. Morgan, his lieutenant's name was Lamb, first name is not recollected. No other troops were stationed at Springfield during that term. Second out his time of enlistment; does not recollect whether he received a written discharge or not; if he did, it has been lost many years since. This company he understood & believes was part of what was called the state troops. The publick stores at Springfield were called Continental stores.
Sometime in the month of June 1778 he enlisted again at Sutton under Capt. Hammond or Harmon for the term of six months, was marched to Providence & mustered there about 20. th of June 1778; Hammond or Harmon was his Capt. does not recollect the names of the other officers of the company. Colonel Meade commanded the Regiment, the Lieut.

- Colonel's name was Wood. Was soon after marched from Providence (Rhode-Island) to Barington-point near the town of Warren (R. Island), lay there some weeks, & was next marched to Tiverton, & from thence, he marched with the army commanded by General Sullivan on to Rhode Island to attack the British troops at Newport & other places on said Island. After the retreat from Rhode Island he was taken to Greenwich on the west side of Narragansett Bay, & from thence to Warwick in said state of Rhode Island. Here the six months term of enlistment expired & he was discharged. After the retreat & before the discharge the troops had undergone a new arrangement, & at the time of his discharge at Warwick Capt. Lamb was Capt. & Lieut. Mattson was Lieut. of the company to which he belonged. He believes the company to which he belonged during this last term of enlistment was part of what was called the "State Troops" of the state of Massachusetts. He has no written discharge for this term of enlistment Does not recollect whether he received any. The brigade to which he was  belonged attached in the expedition upon Rhode Island was commanded by General Greene, & one of the regiments in the brigade was composed chiefly of blacks. He was for some short time in the line before Ducker hill upon which the British troops were formed; he recollects La Fayette was there, but the names of other officers there (except those already named) he does not remember
In June 1780 at Sutton aforesaid he enlisted again under the authority or by the procurement of the Selectmen of said town of Sutton for the term of six months, and immediately after enlisting was directed to go to Springfield, to which place he went & reported himself to Col.

Peters a continental officer who took the measure & description of defunct & of others who had enlisted like himself. After which defunct & others were marched to West Point by a Lieut. or Capt. in the continental service, his name not recollected. He was placed first in Capt. Reddington's Company (he thinks this was the last name) Bradford Regiment, Patterson's Brigade, on the Continental establishment. Within a few days after defunct was transferred to the light infantry under the command of the Marquis De La Fayette, the Col. of the regiment was Col. Griswold or Duncant, a French officer, does not know the correct spelling of the name. Major Heath belonged to the same regiment, Capt. Bates commanded the company & Lieut. Mills belonged to the company, from West Point marched to Kings or Dobbs Ferry, he is not certain that Fayette took command of the corps before he was marched to Kings Ferry Dobbs Ferry, crossed over the north river to Tappan. From Tappan defunct went to several other places, in detachment at various times, first to a place called "English Neighborhood" near to Bergen, again to Hackensack, was at Tappan at the time Arnold deserted to the British & at the time Major Andre was executed. Afterward marched to a place called Tottoway, was in another expedition to Elizabeth Town & finally returned to West Point. From thence he went with the Capt. name he did not recollect , his Lieut. name was Mills, a company down to Croton River, remained there three or four weeks on the line, & then returned to West Point. Soon was ordered to Patterson's Mt., where he rejoined his regiment, his term of service six months expired there & there he was discharged. At the time of his discharge he was in Capt. Bates' Company, is not certain who then commanded the Regiment, had no written discharge & does not recollect whether he received any; he had a draft to draw provision but
unclear - mentioned the Regiment, the Lieut.

has no such draft or other writing in his possession now nor has had any for many years; believe he received a written discharge but has not found any. He has not any written document or evi- -dence of his services & knows of no person who can testify to his services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state whatever. His last enlistment was on the continental establishment in the Massachusetts line but by the arrangement or transfer which he has already stated he does not know that the corps in which he served a good portion of the term was considered as part of the Massachusetts line. He was discharged in December 1780.
Given this 19 th day of February
A.D. 1833 before me
D. McPherson Dep. Clerk of Joseph Cabellville Osage County.
Joseph Cabellville retirement for pension 1833

We John W. Carty a Chrygman residing in the village of Oswego in the county of Oswego & State of New York and Eric Poor Clerk of said county, & Daniel Huggins all of said village of Oswego do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Caldwell a resident of said village & who has subscribed the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be sixty nine 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
Subscribed & sworn this 15 th day of February 1833 before me Jacob P. Fort J. P.
John W. Carty Eric Poor D. Huggins
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 Joseph Caldwell the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that John W. Carty who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident at Oswego village, & that Eric Poor, the clerk of this court, who has also signed the same is a resident of said village, & that D. Huggins who has also signed the same is also a resident of said village & that they are all credible persons & their statement is entitled to full credit. James Wilson } Judge J. Reynolds } Sam Freeman } J. P. Fort } Clerk
Heave Commanded the Regiment, the Lieut.

State of New York
County of Oswego ss
I Erie Poor Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Caldwell for a Pension; And I do also certify that Jacob J. Fort Esq r before whom the foregoing certificate or affidavit of John McCarly, Erie Poor & Daniel Hengunin reports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County; And that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said certificate or affidavit to be his genuine signature - In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this nineteenth day of February A.D. 1833 -
Erie Poor Clerk
By D. M c Pherson
Dep. Clk.
23959
Joseph Caldwell

23959 Joseph Caldwell State of New York
16
Fisher & Allen New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 Joseph Caldwell  Essex County N.H.
   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.     Enlisted 1778 " 3 " Priv. Capt Bellorgan Col Mead ~ at Springfield 69 years Traditional   in 1778 " 6 " " Hammond Col Sullivan ~ Rhode Island State of Mass Evidence   1780 " 6 " Sergt Reddington Gen Lafayette { Can get no witness No Colonel given in the first Tour of Service  
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 or 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

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 [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.

Rev War
9151
INVALID.
Rev War
File No. 9151
Joseph Caldwell Dr Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: Vol. 102 , Page 59
[Arrangement of 1870.]