Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S, 12,260, James Boyd, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Boyd, James
S 12260
CONTENTS
Carded

SERVICE
New York
Boyd, James
NUMBER
S 12260
CONTENTS
carded

20.834
New York
James Boyd of Orange Co. in the State of New York who was a Private in the Cond. Co., commanded by Captain Telford of the Regt. commanded by Col. McKim in the New York line for 11 months and 12 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 37 Dollars 98 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Feb. 1833 and to M c Case Newburgh
Arrears to the 4th of Apr. '33 $94.95 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4th M c '34 18.99 $113.94
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Collettia Clerk, Book E. Vol. 1. Page 89

State of New-York } Orange County }
On this third day of September in the year 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange aforesaid now sitting at the Academy in the Village of Newburgh it being a Court of Record James Boyd Resident of the Town of New Windsor in the County aforesaid aged seventy two 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 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
That in the month of August in the year 1776 Deponent joined the company of Militia commanded by Captain William Tellford of the Regiment of Colonel James McLaughry of the Town of New Windsor in the County of Orange aforesaid and continued to serve either with said Company or detachments of it from that time until the termination of the Revolutionary War In the month and year last aforesaid said Company was ordered down to Fort Montgomery on a general alarm under the command of the said William Tellford James Faulkner and Alexander Beatty were Lieutenants we marched down through the Mountains leaving West Point on the hand remained at that Fort eight days and were then discharged Captain John Belknap's Company of Infantry was there and part of Duboses Regiment and Clintons Regiment of Continental Troops & McLaughrys Regiment of Militia Deponent belonged. Captain Moores Company of Artillery was also stationed there we returned back the same way we went In the month of September thereafter we were again ordered down to Fort Montgomery aforesaid under the command of the officers aforesaid In going and returning we pursued the same route as

before mentioned and remained there one half month the same continental Troops were there and a great many Militia but what Regiments deponent cannot now recollect December thirteenth in the year last aforesaid Deponent was ordered with said Company and officers aforesaid Pyroasius in the State of New Jersey and remained there one month to guard the pass through the highlands immediately thereafter depon- ent was ordered with a detachment to Peekskill in the County of Westchester and was stationed at Fort Independence under the command of an officer whose name deponent cannot recollect and served there one fortnight we went down by water from New Win- dsor there were there of four companies of Militia— Stationed there In the latter part of the month of March in the year 1777 said company was again ordered to march to said Fort under the command of the off- icers aforesaid we proceeded by land to New Windsor there embarked on board a Sloop and arrived at that place the same evening We remained there eight days expecting an attack from the British who then occupi- ed New York and threatened to seize the Military Posts in the Mountains for the purpose of cutting off the supplies communication between the Eastern States and the west side of said River that dur- ing the time aforesaid deponent was stationed with said Company at Fort Clinton directly opposite to Fort Montgomery on the same side of the River but on the South side of Popelosi Hill under the command of Colonel O'Laughry Brigadier General James Clinton commanded Fort Clinton & Major General George Clinton was commander in chief that at the expiration of said term said alarm having subsided said Compa- ny returned home and remained at home in said Town of New Windsor until the month of April in the same year in which month according to deponents recollection Danbury in the State of Connecticut was

and said British troops immediately after which this deponent marched with said company to Fort Clinton and alarm having been given and the enemy being again expected to attempt a landing in the Highlands said company proceeded by West Point to said Fort Clinton and this deponent and said company served in said fort under the officers before named eight days when said company again returned home in the month of May following this deponent with ten other men belonging to said company were detached for one month to serve at the fort last named under the same officers before mentioned which he did at the expiration whereof deponent with said Detachment returned home in the month of August thereafter said company was ordered again to proceed to said fort in consequence of another alarm which they did by land and this deponent remained at the same under the command of the same officers ten days and then returned home in the month of September next thereafter this deponent together with a part of said company were detached to garrison said fort and remained there one half month under the immediate command of Captain Vail said detachment proceeded to said fort by land on the fifteenth day of October in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven there was another alarm at said fort and this deponent together with all the men belonging to said company were again ordered to repair to said fort which they did by water to West Point and from there by land under the command of the same officers that on the sixth day of October said fort was attacked as well as Fort Clinton by a detachment of the British Army under the command of General Henry Clinton & Colonel Campbell the former led on the detachment against Fort Clinton and the latter that which attacked Fort Montgomery Colonel Campbell was severely

then and thereby the British troops imm- ediately after which this deponent marched with said company to Fort Clinton and alarm having been given and the enemy being again expected to attempt a landing in the Highlands said company proceeded by West Point to said Fort Clinton and this deponent and said company served in said fort under the officers before named eight days when said company again returned home in the month of May following this deponent with ten other men belong- ing to said company were detached for one month to serve at the fort last named under the same off- icers before mentioned which he did at the expira- tion whereof deponent with said Detachment retur- ned home in the month of August thereafter said company was ordered again to proceed to said fort in consequence of another alarm which they did by land and this deponent remained at the same under the command of the same officers ten days and then returned home in the month of Septem- ber next thereafter this deponent together with a part of said company were detached to garrison said fort and remained there one half month under the im- mediate command of Captain Vail said detach- ment proceeded to said fort by land on the fif- teenth day of October in the year one thousand seven hun- dred and seventy seven there was another alarm at said fort and this deponent together with all the men belonging to said company were again ordered to repair to said fort which they did by wa- ter to West Point and from there by land under the command of the same officers that on the sixth day of October said fort was attacked as well as Fort Eli- nton by a detachment of the British Army under the command of General Henry Clinton & Colonel Camp- bell the former led on the detachment against Fort Clinton and the latter that which attacked Fort Montgomery Colonel Campbell was severely

wounded and died about midnight Colonie old Langhry who commanded fort Clinton was also severely wounded next day after said battle the deponent was ordered with said company to New Windsor to prevent the Enemy from landing on their way to Kingston to which they proceeded and burnt the said Town about the same time of the capture of Burgoyne after having served three weeks said company was again discharged and returned home about the first of November thereafter this deponent together with said company under the command of the officers aforesaid were again ordered into actual service for the purpose of erecting a fortification at Nicholls Point near New Windsor and continued in actual service one month and an half at the expiration of said term said company was again discharged and each man returned to his respective home it being the end of that campaign in the month of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight this deponent was again detached with a part of said company under the command of Captain Fetter to keep guard and erect fortifications to which place they repaired by water from New Windsor that said deponent served at West Point one half month during which time General Warner commanded the Militia and General Pattison the continental troops General Kosciusko was chief Engineer according to the best of this deponents recollection after said one half months service as aforesaid this deponent together with said detachment were honorably discharged on the month of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight deponent was detached with a part of said company under the command of Captain Fetter against the Indians at Nepony on the West side of Shawangunk Mountain it then being an Indian frontier and continued in service under said Fetter one half month that in December thereafter this

Spencer was again detached from said company under the command of Colonel Newkirk Lieutenant Rose being second in command and served at that time one half month on the Indian frontier In the spring of the year 1779 this deponent was again detached from said company under the command of the said Lieutenant Beatty against the Indians at Kishenoy aforesaid and continued in said service one fortnight and was then discharged in June in the year last aforesaid this deponent together with the whole of said company was ordered to West Point there being a General Alarm and an expectation that the British intended to make an attack on that Fort that said company with this deponent proceeded to that fort by water that General Patterson then commanded that fort according to the best of Deponents recollection and belief this deponent served at West Point as aforesaid eight days and was then discharged and then returned home In August in the year last aforesaid deponent was drafted from said company to go against the Indians deponent went accordingly under the command of Lieutenant David O'Connell Major Philips Major against the Indians at at Peenpack on the Neversink River in the County of Ulster at that time and then an Indian frontier and served as aforesaid one month that in the month of September thereafter this deponent was detached under the command of the said Captain William Tellford against the Indians at Kishenoy aforesaid one half month and served during said term in the month of October thereafter there was a general Alarm at Peenpack aforesaid from the Indians at which time this deponent was again ordered out together with the whole of said company under the command of the said Captain Tellford said company remained at Peenpack one week until said alarm had subsided and was then discharged and returned home

In the month of April thereafter said company was again ordered against the Indians at Harnahatt- ing in the county of Ulster aforesaid where deponent went with said company and remained one half month at that place and was then discharged and deponent also saith that in the month of June in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty said company with deponent was ordered to West Point upon an alarm that they went by water from New Windsor and remained there eight days under the command of the aforesaid officers and General Arnold General Arnold commanded West Point at that time he well recollects seeing Horishio & Putnam there, In October thereafter deponent as one of said company was ordered to Pechskill aforesaid against the Indians under the command of the officers aforesaid upon a general alarm and remained there one week and was then discharged And deponent also saith that said company volunteered to serve dur- ing the War and held themselves in readiness to mar- ch at a minutes warning that the officers of said Company are all dead and that but very few of the men who served with this deponent now sur- vive most of whom are superannuated That the Coun- ty of Orange for a considerable part of the War was surrounded by the Enemy having the British on the South and the Indians on the West and North West That in consequence of its peculiar position with respect to the enemy the company to which he be- longed was always on the alert and almost con- tinually in active service in protecting the fron- tiers against hostile incursions That the said county was greatly infested by Tories who took refuge in the surrounding Mountains That these dif- ferent periods of service were generally short and at the expiration they were relieved by other Troops who in their turn were relieved by others That in —

in consequence of being sometimes detached to serve under officers with whom he was not ac- quainted he cannot in some instances recollect their names and in consequence of serving with men detached from different parts of the Country with whom he was not acquainted he cannot at this distance of time and at his advanced age be more particular That he well recollects That at the Battle of Fort Montgomery Captain Moo- dy commanded a company of Artillery Captain John Belknap now deceased commanded a com- pany of Infantry and that Colonel Dubois af- terwards General Dubois was at the Battle and also Colonel Livingston who he understood happened there accidentally and hearing that a battle was to be expected staid to see the result deponent also saith that said Captain John Belknap was afterwards a pensioner of the United States under the law of 1818 — as deponent has been informed and believes to be true. That the respective periods of service were so frequent and the intervals so short and uncertain that written discharges for those short periods of service were never given and as the company had vol- unteered to serve for during the War they were discharged by the by the peace as a matter of course And deponent ca- nnot recollect nor does he believe that a written disch- arge was ever given to any man belonging to said Com- pany and Deponent also saith That Joseph Beatty William Sly William Beatty and whose affidavits are annexed served in the same Company with deponent and are known to his ser- vices as stated in their respective affidavits James McMichael whose affidavit is also annexed is acquainted with the residue of said service of this Deponent. And in answer to the inter- rogatories of the Court Deponent saith That he was born in the Town of New Windsor Orange Co. Orange aforesaid in the year 1759 has a record

of his age in his family bible at home That he was living when called into service in the Town of New Windsor aforesaid That he has lived there since the Revolutionary War and that he now lives in that Town That he was enrolled in said company and ordered to hold himself in readiness to march at a minutes warning throughout the War and that he did march accordingly when called on That the names of the Regular officers who served with the troops when he served were General George Clinton General James Clinton Colonel Lewis Dubois Colonel James Livingston Captain Moody Captain Machin and Captain John Belknap That He Recollects serving with a part of Dubois & Clintons Continental Regiment at Mor- ris and Machins Company of Artillery and the Mi- litia Regiments of Colonel McLaughlin & Colonel Ha- worth and that he served in Fort Montgomery Fort Clinton Fort Independence West Point & Nicholls Point and on the Mohican frontier as stated in his affidavit That he never received a written discharge That he is acquainted with William Sly and William in Beatty who can testify to his character and their belief of his services
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
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Asa Dunning Clerk
James Boyd
James Boyd

State of New York } Orange County - } ss.
William Beatty being duly sworn doth depose and say that he served in the said company with James Boyd whose affidavit is here unto annexed throughout the Revolu- tionary war - that he has heard the said affidavit read and that all that part of said affidavit which relates to the service of the said James in said war is true to the best of his recol- lection and belief.
W m Beatty
Sworn this 31 st day of - } August 1832 before me

Gilbert Redden Fowler One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Orange County.
I certify that I am personally well acquainted with William Beatty the within named deponent, and believe him to be a credible Witness.
August 21 st 1882.
Gilbert Redden Fowler One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Orange County.
William Beatty Deponent

Orange County ss - Joseph Beatz being duly sworn doth depose and say that he served in said company with said James Boyd named in the foregoing affidavits & that the facts set forth in said affida- vits are true -
Sworn this 31 st day of { Joseph * Beatz August 1832 before me } sworn (Gilbert Ogden Fowler One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for Orange County)
I Gilbert Ogden Fowler hereby certify that Joseph Beatz who signed the Preceding affidavit is a credible witness dated June 8 th 1833. Gilbert Ogden Fowler First Judge of Orange County.

I Asa Dunning Clerk of the County of Orange and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Orange do hereby certi- fy that Gilbert Ogden Fowler before whom the proceeding affidavits of William Beatz and Joseph Beatz were sworn was at the time a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Orange which is a Court of Record and that the signature of Gil- bert Ogden Fowler subscribed to the said affidavits is his genuine signature.
In Testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and seal of office the third day of September 1832. — Asa Dunning
Asa Dunning Clerk

14877 James Boyd
mode of authentication
acord
M. 1 C
3660 132 3798 7596 18.99 94.95
Walter base
Ned Burgh
agent
claimant
Newburgh
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 subjjoined 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 James Boyd of Orange County - 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.     Aug 1776 8 Private Capt. Hellford Cols. Langhorne None thru the State of New York New Windsor Orange County New York Living Witnesses   Apr " " 15 " same same   Dec " " 1 14 " " "   " " 8 " " "   Apr 1777 8 " " "   May " 1 " " "   Aug " 10 " " "   Sep " 15 " " "   Oct " 21 " " "   Nov. " 1 15 " " "   Mar 1778 15 " " "   Sep. " 15 " " "   Dec. " 15 " " "   1779 14 " " "   June " 8 " " "   Aug - " 1 15 " " "   Sep - " 7 " " "   Apr 1780 14 " " "   June " 8 " " "   Oct " 7 " " "    I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.  11. 222 742

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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 , 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.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., Feb. 1, 1921
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Jas. Boyd 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. 812260
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Aug. 1776 to end of War Col. Wm. Sillford Vail Selter Jas. McClaghry Newkirk Hawthorn NY        
Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, New Windsor, Orange Co. NY
Date of application for pension, Sept 3 1832
Residence at date of application, New Windsor, NY
Age at date of application, in New Windsor, NY in 1759
Remarks: No fam data
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

14877 James Boyd
11
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after further the Interrog- atories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as a State
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of Com- mon Pleas in and for the County of Orange do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Bodd for a Pension
In Testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and seal of office This Third day of September 1832
Asa Dunning

James Boyd
affidavit
Certificate of
admiral 11. mo 20 die
Butler Case - Newburgh - Agent
for 35

State of New York Orange County - } p
Personally appeared before me Gilbert Ogden Fowler first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Orange County June 8 th 1833 who subscribed and swore to the preceding affi- davit who having been duly sworn to the disose and say that the clergymen who officiated in that part of the country in which he lived in the time of the Revolution ary war and in which he now lives have long since been dead that the clergymen who now officiates there has lived in that neigh- bourhood but about six years and is a young man Deponent is an elder in his Church yet by reason of the generation with whom deponent served in the Re- volutionary war having either migrated or died and this deponent for many years past not having mixed in Society as he had been accustomed to do the clergymen of said neighbourhood could not certify to a knowledge of deponent's services in said war from fact common report or otherwise known to & subscribed this & } James I Boyd eighth day of June 1833 } before me — }
Gilbert Ogden Fowler } First Judge of Orange County }
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of Common Common Pleas of Orange County do hereby certify that Gilbert Ogden Fowler who signed the preceding certificate of June eighth and before whom the pre- ceding affidavit of James Boyd was sworn to & subscribed was on the respective days when the

That of said certificate and affidavit was voluntarily subscribed and sworn to first judge of the court of common pleas aforesaid
In Testimony whereof I have here unto subscribed my name and set my seal of office this 26 th day of June 1833 Abel D. Manning Clerk

THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT REV. LYMAN WHITNEY ALLEN, D.D. 881 South 17th Street, Newark, N. J. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT HON. ADRIAN LYON SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT HARRY FRANK BREWER SECRETARY DAVID LAWRENCE PIERSON TREASURER EARLE ANDERSON MILLER REGISTRAR WILLIAM JOHNSON CONKLING GENEALOGIST SAMUEL COPP WORTHEN HISTORIAN REV. MASHEIM STECK WATERS CHAPLAIN RT. REV. WILSON REIFF STEARLEY, D.D. CHANCELLOR RAYMOND TOWNLEY PAROT VICE-PRESIDENT GENERAL THOMAS WRIGHT WILLIAMS TRUSTEE OF NATIONAL SOCIETY CHARLES SYMMES KIGGINS
Headquarters
44 HARRISON STREET, EAST ORANGE, N. J.
Telephone Orange
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
Sylvester H. M. Agens Alfred William Alesbury Bridgewater Meredith Arnold Frederick B. Bassett Frederick Z. Board Herbert Royal Crane Edward O. Cyphers, M.D. S. Carl Downs William Simonson Eddy William C. Gallagher J. Stewart Gibson Frederic D. Hahn Ray Henry Hart Frederick Hoadley H. Donald Holmes Henry R. Kent Hon. Joshua R. Salmon Rev. Frank Austin Smith Bert Elias Underwood John Brewer Wight Thomas Wright Williams
PAST PRESIDENTS
Hon. John Franklin Fort Major W. I. Lincoln Adams John Lenord Merrill Chester Neville Jones Carl Montaigne Vail
December 30, 1920.
Hon. F. D. Byington, Commissioner of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly furnish certificate of military history of JAMES BOYD, private in New York Militia during REVOLUTIONARY WAR. His name appears under ORANGE COUNTY, N. Y., list of pensioners.
He was placed on roll October 9, 1833; commencement of pension March 4, 1920.
The information is desired for the purpose of proving an applicant's eligibility to membership in this Society.
Your courtesy in aiding us to this end will be greatly appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Wm J. Conkling Registrar N. J. S. A. R.

Rehan
12,260 ✓ INVALID.
1921, Feb. 1. Hist to Wm J. Konkling - Eu.
File No. 12,260
James Boyd Pris New Nat.
Act: June 1 st 82
Index: — Vol. A , Page 89
[Arrangement of 1870.]