Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,141, Joseph Bulkley, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Bulkley, Joseph
S. 23,141.
CONTENTS

1425
190- Connecticut
Joseph Bulkley
of Springfield in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Conn. comm'd by Captain Nash of the Regt comm'd by Col Stratford in the Conn. line for Militia No 17.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of $5 Dollars 53 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of July 1833 and sent Claimant Fairfield, Connecticut Arrears to the 4th of March: $347.06 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 11 192.60 $539.66
+ G. Tomlinson Fairfield { Revolutionary Claim, } set { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Bullock Clerk Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 5

State of Connecticut ( District of Fairfield June the 1 st 1833 County of Fairfield ) on this 1 st day of June. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid. now sitting Joseph Bulkley as present assisting in said District of Fairfield aged Seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. The declarant says that he was born in the Town of Fairfield and County and State aforesaid the 21 st day of August 1759 and that he resided in the said Town until he was about Fifty years of age. when he removed to the State of New York. where he has resided most of the time since. that he at present resides in the said Town of Fairfield. That in the latter part of July or the 1 st of August 1776. he with the militia Company to which he then belonged in Fairfield under the Command of Capt. George Burr of said Fairfield was ordered to New York. then threatened by the British. where he staid and did military duty until about the middle of September according to the best of his recollection and belief. when he was taken sick with the Camp distemper as it was then called the Dysentery was then called. and with which he continued sick and a part of the time very dangerously until the Christmas following before he recovered. The Company to which he belonged was annexed or attached to a Regiment according to the best of his recollection. which was commanded by a Col Lewis of Stratford. General Washington was the Commander in chief of the American Forces. General then and General Putnam of Connecticut. and he says he was stationed as Continel several times at the door of General Putnam. The Company to which he belonged according to the best of his recollection was ordered upon this form of duty for no definite Period. The time of his actual service the declarant says was one month and a half. and the time of his actual service. including
1833

the time of his sickness which was the severest part of it, and which he caught in New York and which he probably would not have had, had he not gone there. was four months and twenty five days - He had no written discharge and it was not customary in those days to give the militia written discharges - He served in the Four of duty above stated as a private soldier - And the declarant also says that he was drafted according to the best of his recollection about the middle of April 1777
to serve on guard at Black Rock (so called), a small sea port on Long Island situated in the Town of Fairfield, exposed to the occasional attacks of the enemy, and he thinks the officer who commanded the guard was a Lieut.
Greenbridge - Genl. Sillab Silliman, who in the course of the revolutionary War was a militia General, occasionally visited the guard - that he staid here and did military duty until the last of September of that year, when he caught the small Pox and was removed about the 1 st of October to the Hospital or Park House in Fairfield, where he lay sick with the small Pox until the last of October - The declarant says that the time of his actual Service in this case was five months and a half, and that the time of his actual Service including the time of his sickness with the small Pox was six months and a half - While in this Four of duty he says it was his whole business to the exclusion of his usual pursuits & he also says that he served as a private soldier - And the applicant further says that in addition to several other inclusions of the time of which he was always ready to meet & repel the enemy which in July 1779 when Fairfield and Norwalk were burnt by the British and under Capt. Thomas Clarke of Fairfield a brave Officer, he fought and did his endeavor to repel the enemy. He was in this Four of Service one Week - and served as a private - He says that he has a Friend of his age at home in the

family Bible - And he also says that he is acquainted with the Rev Nathaniel Freeman lately of Weston now of Fairfield with the Hon d Gilead T. Jenison with Joseph Gerhann & Jesse Bous of Fairfield the two last of whom are he says a little older than himself & were brought up in his immediate neighborhood who can testify respecting his character - And finally the declarant says that so far as he knows he has found the best evidence in his friends in support of his claim and from the lapse of time since the revolution the surprise rather is that he should be able to procure so much than than that he should be able to procure no more testimony than that he should be able to procure no more testimony sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before Daniel Hill Judge of Probate for the district aforesaid -
Joseph Bulkley
State of Connecticut ss District of Fairfield June the 1 st - 1833 I Nathaniel Freeman a clergyman at present residing in the town of Fairfield & State aforesaid having lately removed from Weston in said State my former place of residence do hereby certify that I am acquainted with Joseph Bulkley who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that I believe him to be twenty three years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion and I also believe him to be a man of truth - Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid before - Daniel Hill Judge of Probate for the district aforesaid -
Nathaniel Freeman

State
State of Connecticut ss District of Fairfield June the 1 st 1833 County of Fairfield - ss And the said Joseph Bulkley who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration hereby acknowledges 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 treasury and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before - David Hill Judge Joseph Bulkley of probate for the district aforesaid
And the said Court hereby declares its opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories inscribed by the war department. That the above named applicant Joseph Bulkley was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. and the Court further certifies that the Rev. Nathaniel Freeman is the  clergyman who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman of good standing and that his testimony is entitled to full credit - David Hill Judge of Probate
I David Hill Esq. Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Fairfield aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Bulkley for a pension - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of Office at Fairfield aforesaid. this 1 st day of June 1833 - (David Hill Jr. Clerk.

25,820
Joseph Butkay
Return this i
Admitted
Private 11 mo 17 days
$38.53
//
Claimant Fairfield Court
Bu

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 14 1833
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
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Aug 1776 4 25 One Cop. Harnfield 73-   April 1777 6 15 Col. Stratford   1779- 7 Genl. Silliman   Cop. Nash   11 17  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

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

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____; 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.

Proclamation
23141. INVALID.
Oct. 28-1901 Esther L. Putchun Milton N.Y.
File No. 23,141
Joseph Berkeley Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 57
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Connecticut p. District of Fairfield June the 1 st 1833 I Joseph Gorham a resident of the District and State aforesaid aged Seventy Seven years being duly sworn according to Law do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Joseph Bulkeley who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration having been born and brought up in the same neighborhood with him. That I believe him to be seventy three years of age. I also testify that I was knowing to his marching to New York in the summer of 1776 as a private soldier in the militia. I was then myself, and saw him there, before and at the time the City was taken by the British. He was taken sick while there at New York with the Army, with the Camp distemper as it was then called and he remained sick until about Christmas following - I also testify and say that I was knowing to the said Bulkeley being drafted to do military duty at Plain Beck in Fairfield in the month of April 1777 and that he did duty as a private soldier until about the last of September following, when he was taken sick with the small Pox, and was sent to the Hospital in Park Street, where he lay sick until about the last of October following - And I also depose and say that said Bulkeley was in the course of the Revolutionary War, engaged in several skirmishes with the Enemy particularly at the burning of Fairfield and Norwalk in July 1779 - and I also certify that the said Bulkeley is a man of truth - Joseph Gorham Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before David Hill Judge of probate for the District aforesaid -

State of Connecticut to District of Fairfield June the 1 st 1833
I Jesse Burr a resident of the district and State aforesaid aged Twenty Seven years, being duly sworn according to Law. Do depose and say that I am well acquainted with Joseph Bulkley has having been born and brought up in the same neighborhood, and I believe him to be seventy three years of age, and I know that he went to Annoy with the militia in the summer of 1776 as a private soldier the time he served I do not now recollect the length of time he served . I also testify that the said Joseph Bulkley served as a soldier in Guard at Blank Rock in the town of Fairfield in the year 1777 the length of time he served I do not now recollect and remember his having the small Pox. And I also know that he was with militia when Fairfield was burnt in 1779 aiding and assisting in repelling the enemy. I also know him to be a man of Truth and that his testimony is entitled to full Credit herein to and submitted in the day of year aforesaid before David Hill Judge of Probate for the district aforesaid -
Jesse Burr

State of Connecticut ss District of Fairfield June the 1 st 1833 I David Hill Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid. do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Goshorn and Jesse Burr the persons who have subscribed and sworn to the two immedia- -ately preceding depositions, having always lived in their immediate neighborhood. that they are men of the strictest veracity and that their testimony is entitled to entire credit. David Hill Judge of Probate for the district aforesaid.
State of Connecticut ss District of Fairfield June the 1 st 1833 I David Hill Jr Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid. do hereby certify that David Hill who has subscribed the preceding Certificate is Judge of Probate for the District of Fairfield in Connecticut and that the signature of his name is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of office. David Hill Jr Clerk

Find admitted case 17.023-
Fairfield Aug. 10. 1833.
Sir, On yesterday, Capt. Joseph Mulkleys desired me to write you respecting his pension application, which I returned to you early, in the last month. One of the witnesses, in support of his claim, being afflicted with a dangerous chronic disease, he is the more desirous to know that the papers have been received by you as, in the event of their loss, he would immediately endeavor again to take the affidavit of that individual for the purpose of perpetuating his testimony. Capt. Mulkleys papers being duly authenticated, by a seal being used, and undoubtedly genuine,

if they are, in the pension office, I take the liberty of requesting that his case may be decided without further delay, so that his great solicitude, on the subject, may be quieted.
With much respect, I am your obedient servt.
G. Pomfret
J. L. Edwards Esq.