Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,387, David Colvin, Mass. R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass R.D.
Colvin, David
S15-387
CONTENTS
carded

He died July 12. 1836 from a young person
Connecticut. 22.5744.
David Holvin.
of Farmington in the State of Conn. who was a Private in the Co. commanded by Captain Albro of the R y commanded by Col d Potter in the R y Field * time for Grus.
* R. L. + Mass.
W. R. Oct. 23, 1908.
13.407.
Inscribed in the Roll of Connect. at the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of Oct. 1832 and sent to L. Whit. Inae. Farmington. Conn.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833. 75. Semi-ant. allowance ending Dec r 31, 15.
$90.
Recorded by { Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. } M c Palmer Clerk, Book Vol. Other Page 30,

13.407 David Collins Claim for Pension -

State of Connecticut Hartford County
St. Farmington September 11. 1832
On this 11 th day of September 1832. personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for Farmington District in Hartford County, now sitting. David Colvin a resident of Farmington in the County and State aforesaid, aged 72 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 "enr. rep. p. 75" June 7. 1832 —
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officer, and served as herein stated — viz —
1 st About the 5 th day of October 1776, he enlisted for a term of five months into a company of Rhode Island State Troops, commanded by Capt James Colbro of North Kingston and Lieut. Thomas Cole, he joined a regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Potter and Maj Sperry, and served during the said term of five months at and near Newport in Rhode Island, and was discharged at Quonquonett, near East Greenwich —
2 d About the 1 st day of May 1777, he was drafted and served two months near Newport in Rhode Island, in a company commanded by Capt. Reed of Bridgewater Mass — and Lieut. Kneeland — and was attached to a regiment commanded by Col. Jacobs of Massachusetts, and was dismissed at the end of 2 months, near East Greenwich, Rhode Island —
3 d About the 1 st day of September 1778, he was drafted and served one month in a company commanded by Capt Thomas Potter of Coventry R.I. attached to a regiment commanded by Col. Daniel Brown of Hartford R.I. and was stationed near Bristol R.I. and was dismissed at the end of the term at said Bristol —
4 th In the year 1779, he was again drafted and served one month in the company of the aforesaid Capt Thomas Potter, in Col. Brown's regiment and was then stationed during the term on the island near Newport, and was discharged at the close of the term at Tiverton —
He has no documentary evidence of his service, and knows of no person living, whose testimony he can procure, without great inconvenience, who can testify to his service —
In answer to the interrogatories propounded — he says — to the — 1 st He was born in the town of Coventry in the State of Rhode Island on the 25 th day of March 1760 —

2 d He has no record of his age —
3 d When called in service he was living in the town of North Kingston in the state of Rhode Island — soon after the war, he went to Pomfret in the state of Connecticut state of Connecticut, and lived there, about three years, in the family of Gen. Putnam — he has since lived in various towns in said state but principally in Hartford and Farmington, and now resides in Farmington —
4 th already answered —
5 th Gen. Sullivan commanded the militia in Rhode Island while he was in service in 1778. and Gen. Green commanded the continental troops, and he recollects a Col. Langel who commanded a regiment while he was in service —
6 th He never received a written discharge —
7 th He is generally known in the towns of Hartford and Farmington and is well acquainted with the Hon. Timothy Pitkin and Rev. Noah Porter of Farmington and many others —
He hereby acknowledges every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present — and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state —
David his X Colvin mark —
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid —
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District —
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 Noah Porter who has signed the accompanying certificate is a clergyman, residing in the town of Farmington, and that Timothy Pitkin who has also signed the same is a resident of the same town, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit —
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District —

I, Henry Nash, Clerk of the Court of Probate for Farmington District, do hereby certify that the foregoing contained the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Calvin for a Pension — And I also certify that Samuel Whitman, who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing, as above, is Judge of Probate for the District of Farmington —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 11 th day of September 1832
Henry Nash, Clerk
On the 17 th day of August 1833, personally appeared in open court before the court of Probate for Farmington District the aforesaid David Calvin and being duly sworn declares in addition and supplementary to his preceding declarations, that he has made diligent inquiry for persons who were acquainted with him during the time of the revolution and that he can hear of no person living, who has personal knowledge of his services or can testify respecting the same
David Calvin
Subscribed and sworn to this 17 th day of August 1833
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District —
I, Henry Nash, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Farmington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the supplementary proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Calvin for a Pension And I also certify that Samuel Whitman who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing, as above, is Judge of Probate of said District
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 17 th day of August 1833
Henry Nash Clerk

13407 22.544
David Colvin 6 t
Adm 9. Months poor
$30
L. Whitmore Farmington Can

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 David Colvin C V
   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.     State troops Oct 1776 - 5 Private Albro Col Potter Served at Newport R.I. 72 born in R.I. on the service in State now lives in Hartford C.T.   May 1777 - 2 " Need Col Jacobs "   Sept 1778 - 1 " Col Potter Col Brown Stationed on the N. Port   1779 - 1 " "  
I know of no one living who can prove his service Certificate of clergyman and citizen
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops. 2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
 [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
-Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court of the application of said Court in the matter 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) _____ subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____, who has 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
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. proof in his power. This is the _____
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 (1) 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.
If there are living witnesses of the services of the declarant they should be produced

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with David Collins, who is now applying for a pension under the acts passed by the United States, that he is about seventy-two years of age, that he has always sustained a fair character for truth & veracity, so that full confidence may be placed in his statements, relating to his services and the as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
Witness my hand, at Farmington this 11 th day of September 1832.
James Pitkin
I concur in the above Noah Porter.

✓ 15387 INVALID.
File No. 15387
David Collins
Pr. Rev. Mass
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 439
[Arrangement of 1870.]