Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,346, Rufus Conant, Mass. N.H.

SERVICE
Mass. N.H.
Conant, Rufus
NUMBER
S. 16.346
CONTENTS
carded
[Blank lined area for contents]
[Blank lined area for contents]

1420.
New Hampshire
Rufus Colhart
of Lynn in the State of N H who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded by Col Bailey in the N H & Mass. done for 10 Mths from 1775
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 32 nd day of Nov r 1832 and sent to D.C. Churchill Lynn N H
  Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  $ 49.99    Pension allowance ending 4th Mar 33  16 66     $ 66.65  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk Book D Vol. 1 st Page 147.

Paper Warrant
W9332
  1. Where did he reside when he entered the service?     2. In what position was he engaged?     3. When did he enter the service?     4. How old is he?     5. If he was a judge, does it appear that the applicant is entitled to a pension?     6. When the application was made before a Court or a Judge?   
Yours D. C. Church Lynn  Mass N. Hampshire
1. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  2. In what position was he engaged?  3. When did he enter the service?  4. How old is he?  5. If he was a judge, does it appear that the applicant is entitled to a pension?  6. When the application was made before a Court or a Judge?  REMARKS IN THE CASE OF  (Not for public use)  in the State of

BRIEF in the case of of Lynn
Rufus Conant in the State of  New Hampshire (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75 Years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank, Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. Gen.     Nov In 17 75 ✓ " — 1 — 12 Pmte Capt Orr Col. Baile   July 76 " — 2 — " " Capt Mitchell,   June 76 " — 5 — " " Capt Allen Col. Cary   Oct 77 " — 1 — " " Gen. Bates   Oct 80 " — " — 18 " Capt. Stowe  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. L. Adelson Examining Clerk.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. State of New Hampshire } ss County of Grafton }
On this 27 th day of August 1832, personally appeared Rufus Colbant a Resident of Lyne in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire aged 75 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the follow- ing named Officers, and served as herein stated, That at Bridgewater Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the month of November in the year 1775, he enlisted into a Company of Militia Commanded by Capt Robert Orr for the term of six weeks, Marched to Roxbury, from thence to Dorchester heights so called, that he remained in said Roxbury & Dorchester the full term of six weeks, the term of his enlistment having expired, he was dismissed and returned home about the first of Jan y 1776.
He further states that in the month of January 1776, he enlisted into a Company of Militia Commanded by Capt Elisha Mitchell for a term of two months, and was stationed at said Dorchester and Roxbury the full term of two months agreeably to the term of his enlistment, was then dismissed and returned home to Bridg- ewater in the month of March in the same year.
He further states that in the month of June 1776 at said Bridgewater he enlisted into a Company Commanded by Capt James Allen for the term of five months joined the Regiment of Col Cary, Marched from said Bridgewater to New Haven Connec- ticut, then took shipping and landed at the City of New York, was station- ed there a short time, until about the time the British landed at that City, then retreated up the river about forty miles to a place called Cortlandt (or some such name) where he was stationed until his term of service expired, being in the month of Nov r 1776, having served the full term of five months was dismissed and returned home to Bridgewater.
He further states that in the Spring of 1777 he moved to Lyne in the State of New Hampshire, and about the first of October 1777 he volunteered with many others and joined Gen l Gates Army, at Saratoga was there at the surrender of Gen l Burgoyne and his Army, continued there a short time was dismissed and he returned home to Lyne, there  at the first of Nov r the same year, having been absent from home about one month, according

He further states that in the month of October 1780 at said Lynn N.H. he volunteered and joined a Company commanded Capt. John Stone for the purpose of guarding the frontier against the Indians who were expected to invade the Towns in the vicinity of said Lynn, he marched under the command of said Capt. Stone to Dartmouth College, from there to Haverhill N.H. from there to Newbury Vt. where he was stationed a while, was then dismissed and returned to said Lynn, after being absent on said duty from two to three weeks, does not recollect the exact number of days, having served his country, in all, during the Revolutionary War the full term of ten months.
He further states that he has no Documentary evidence of his service and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service (except Arthur Latham & David Whitman whom affidavits are hereto annexed)
He was Born in Bridgewater Mass in the year 1757. He has no record of his age, he was told by his Parents that he was born March 27-1757.
He lived in Bridgewater when called into service, he lived in said Bridgewater until the Spring of 1777 when he moved to Lynn N.H. where he has ever since lived and where he now lives.
He Volunteered.
He says Col Bailey commanded the Regiment at Roxbury to which he belonged - he does not recollect the names of Officers of other Regiments, and that he has stated above as near as he recollects the circumstances attending his service.
He says he never received a written discharge, but was dismissed by his Officers at the expiration of the term for which he engaged - he refers to D. C. Churchill Esq. & Arthur Latham residing in his neighborhood who can testify to his character as to veracity and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
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. Rufus Conant sworn to and subscribed this day & year aforesaid.
W. D. C. Churchill residing in Lynn N.H. and Arthur

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. Rufus Conant sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
We D. C. Churchill residing in Lynn at 76 and Arthur Latham residing in Lynn at 76 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Rufus Conant, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that his reputation and belief, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that Opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the D. C. Churchill day & year aforesaid Arthur Latham
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 certifies that it appears to that the said D. C. Churchill who has subscribed signed the preceding Certificate is a just of the Peace resident in the town of Lynn and that Arthur Latham who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Lynn and are credible witnesses persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit —
Edward Webber Judge of Probate
I Moses Dow Clerk of the Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of said Rufus Conant for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 27 th day of August
A.D. 1832
Moses Dow

16. 346 INVALID.
File No. 16. 346
Rufus Corman
Pre Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: — Vol. A , Page 439
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rufus Wainwright
Providence
109332.
10 Months
$33.33
Agree
D. C. Church
Lynn N.H. Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Rufus Conant which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
†QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
†QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

State of New-Hampshire Grafton ss } Court of Probate at Orford, Augt. 27 th 1832 -
Ordered by the Court that the within affidavits of Arthur Litherland & David Whitman, be attached to the declaration of Rufus L. in cause for a pension, being sworn to in open Court, as evidence in the case Attest Mosses Clerk Reg d

I Arthur Latham of Lynn in the county of Grafton and state of New Hampshire of lawful age upon and say that Rufus Conant of said Lynn and myself in the year 1775 and previous to that time resided in Bridgewater in the state of Massachusetts. I further say that I belonged to a company of volunteers commanded by Captain Robert Orr. I further say that in the month of November 1775 said Rufus Conant enlisted and joined said company and marched with the same to Roxbury and Dorchester in said state where we were stationed until the first of January 1776. I further say that in the month of June or July following I was at the City of New York in the Regiment of Col Brewer. I further say that I saw said Rufus Conant who was then a soldier in the Regiment commanded by Col Cary who were called five month's men, when the said Conant enlisted or left the service I do not know, but have no doubt that he served in said Regt the full term of five months. I further say the same Rufus Conant now lives in said Lynn.
Arthur Latham
I David Whitman of Lynn in the county of Grafton and state of New Hampshire of lawful age upon and say that in the month of October in the year 1780 Rufus Conant of said Lynn with myself & others volunteered and joined a company of militia commanded by Capt John Sloan then of said Lynn for the purpose of guarding against the Indians who were expected to invade the town in the vicinity. I marched with said company to Danforth called N.H. and returned to Lynn accompanied with said Rufus Conant and was there and remained at said Lynn and the said Conant marched on with said company but how long he continued with the same I do not know but have no doubt that he continued with them two or three weeks as he states.
David Whitman

I hereby certify that Arthur Latham & David Whitman who have signed the within affidavits are credible persons & their testimony is entitled to credit Edward Webber Judge of Probate