Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,036, Ramon Castino, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Castino Ramon
S 15,036
carded
CONTENTS

Caveat within
Susp d Rec Let to Jno Fleming esq 27. Oct 34 do E. Couch 27. Oct. 34 (p o to 24 Sept. 1834.
Mr Atogabin is who was a private in Capt. Saper of the 60 th Marshall the time for 2 years per li a 5
Inscribed in the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per a to commence on the 1 st day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of Oct 1834 and sent to Mrs. Ballantine Esq. Arrears to the 1 st of Sept 1834 280.00 Pension, allowances ending 4 th March 35. 400.00 $320.00
Recorded by Dan V. Boyd Book 62 Vol. 4 Page 11

State of New York
County of Saratoga
On this 26 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Courts of Common Pleas in and for the county of Saratoga, now sitting at Ballston Spa, Ramon Castino of Galway in the county of Saratoga and State of New York aforesaid, aged seventy three years the 21 st day of March last past, 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 — He was born in the state of Rhode Island in the county of — and town of Little Compton, the 21 st March 1761, he has no record of his age.
In answer to the third interrogatory required by the War Department, He says, In Dartmouth in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, where he lived until 1786, (excepting, the period he was in the service of the United States) when he moved to the city of New York, where he lived until 1812 when he moved to Galway in the county of Saratoga in said state, where he lived until 1817, when moved to Nantucket where he lived until 1824, when he again moved to Galway where he has continued to live ever since, and where he now lives.
To the Question, How were you called into service? Were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? He answers and says, That

in August or September 1776 when he was between fifteen and sixteen years of age, and resided in the town of Dartmouth aforesaid, he enlisted into the service of the United States for three years, in Captain Amasa Soper's Company of Infantry in Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment of Continental troops, being the 10 th Massachusetts Regiment. He enlisted and joined his company at Middlebury at the time aforesaid, and immediately marched to Taunton and from there to Boston under the said Captain Soper, and joined the Regiment to which he belonged under the said Colonel Marshall. From Boston marched through New Hampshire and Binnington, Shaftsbury, Manchester V t in the State of Vermont, and so on to Ticonderoga, in the State of New York, and were stationed in the Fort at that place, a part of the time. We were on the advanced guard where we continued doing duty as we were ordered by our Superior Officers, until Burgoyne with his British troops advanced to near Ticonderoga, when the American army sallied out of the Fort and attacked the said British army, and they retreated with considerable loss, but the loss on our side was comparatively small — That from the commencement of said service this applicant served as waiter to said Captain Soper to the end of the first year, when we left pursuing the enemy on their retreat as aforesaid, we returned to the Fort. The American army at that place consisted of several thousand continental troops — he does not recollect the name or names of any, except that the 9 th Massachusetts Continental Regiment was one, where he continued through the winter in the said Fort, and until Burgoyne with the British troops under his command, again in the summer

of 1777. advanced from the north, and our army retreated before him and his army from place to place, and made a stop near Stillwater but on the opposite side of the Hudson river, where our Regiments with many other Regiments of both Continental and Militia, continued, until after the decisive battle was over, the object of so many men on the East side of the river was (as we were informed) to prevent the enemy from retreating that way, when he crossed over from the East side of the river to the West and went to Stillwater, and soon after, our Regiment was ordered and went to the Fort (he thinks it was Fort Edward) where we continued through the winter of 1778. and some time in the summer of the same year. Our Regiment marched from Fort Edward through Stillwater to Halfmoon, where we stayed not many days, and from thence to Albany. At Albany our Regiment was divided, and part went down the river in boats, and the other part marched by land. He this applicant went with the latter and met again at West Point where we were stationed and performed regular garrison duty until August or September 1779, he having served the full term of three years, in manner aforesaid, and served as a private, when he received an honorable discharge, signed by the said Captain Amasa Loper at West Point, which said discharge was in his possession until about three or four years ago, but since that time, it has been lost and probably destroyed, he does not know how or when.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares his name is not on the pension rolls of the Agency of any State.
Subscribed and sworn in open court the day and year first above written - A. Gouverneur, Clerk.
Ramon Castino

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
I Stephens Goodrich Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Saratoga in the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ramon Bastino for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this twenty sixth day of August in the year 1834.
S. Goodrich. Clerk.
(Copy)

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section Ramon Castino- S. 15036 MCS/eel
January 5, 1929
Mrs. Charles Reichard 35 Garman Avenue Scarsdale, New York
Madam:
I advise you that from the Revolutionary War records of this bureau it appears that one Ramon Castino applied for pension, August 26, 1834, at which time he was living in Galway, Saratoga County, New York.
He stated that he was born, March 21, 1761, in Little Compton, Rhode Island, and that his father was John Ramon Raymon Castino who was a native of France.
He also stated that while living in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, he enlisted in 1776 or 1777, and served three years as a private in Captain Amasa Soper's Company in Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment.
He stated that he moved to New York City in 1786, to Galway, New York, in 1812, to Nantucket, in 1817 and back to Galway in 1825.
His claim was admitted but later his name was stricken from the pension roll as upon investigation it was found that his

claim was fraudulent in that he was impersonating one Raymond or Rimon Castine whose name appeared on the military rolls as having rendered the service he alleged.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

15,036 INVALID.
1929 Jan. 5. hist. to Mrs. Chas. Reichard m.c.s.
File No. 15,036
Reamon Castino First Boer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 62
[Arrangement of 1870.]

27712 New York Ramon Castano
of Saratoga Co state of New York who was a private in the com- pany of Capt. Soper. Regt. of Col. Marshall of the Mass. line for
2 years priv
Inscribed on the roll of New York at the rate of 80¢ per annum to commence on the 4 mar 34
Certificate of Pension issued 8 day of Oct. 1834 & sent to A. Nash Ballston Spa
Arrears to 4 Sept '34 $2 80:00 Semal. to 4 mar 35 40 $3 20:00
Revoy. claim act 7. June '32
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk Book E. 2. Vol 4. Page 11.
Caveat. 27 oct 34
let. to Fleming
27 oct 34
p 2 to 4 Sept 34 //
let. E. Couch est not found 27 oct '34
let. to N. S. Benton Nov. 13. 1834
do. 3. Jany. 34 not found N. S. Benton 18 Feb 1835 not found

State of New York } County of Saratoga } ss.
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the said County, Ramon Castino, of the county aforesaid, aged Seventy three years, who being by me duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath depose and say, That by reason of old age, and consequent loss of memory, in his declaration made before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga, on the 26 th August 1834, for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, he was so unfortunate, as not to state with accuracy, the date of his enlistment & service for three years in Cap t Soper's Company in Colonel Marshall's Regiment, being the 10 th Regiment of the Massachusetts line of the Continental troops. As to the year of his enlistment, the mistake, was inadvertently made either by himself, or the person who wrote the declaration, he thinks it was by the latter, he always knew (& intended so to state) that he enlisted in 1777 and served until 1780, but as to the month, he does not perfectly recollect, but has no doubt it was in May 20 th 1777, and that he served the full period, of his said enlistment & received an honorable discharge, signed by the said Captain Soper at West Point, That at the time of making his declaration in August last, he did not recollect how his discharge had been disposed of, but now recollects that in 1829 he transmitted it to the Hon ble John Reid, then a representative in Congress from Massachusetts, who was then at Washington, which said discharge has never been returned. He informed me by

letter. That my name was found recorded in the War Department, which shewed I had served for three years, according to my discharge. He also informed me that in order to obtain a pension I must make a schedule of my real & personal property &c but by the conditions required in the printed Blank transmitted to me by him, it appeared that I did not come within the provisions of the Acts of Congress, and I relinquished the idea of obtaining a pension - That in 1832, I understood an Act was passed by Congress, granting pensions to the Militia and State troops, but never understood it affected the claims of Continental troops, until August last, I accidentally heard that the restriction relative to property was taken off by the Act of June 7 th 1832
Subscribed and sworn
Ramon Castino.
The 18 th day of Sep r 1834.
before me.
A. Goodrich. Justice.
State of New York.
County of Saratoga } ss. I, Alphus Goodrich, Clerk of the county Saratoga, do certify. That Alphus Goodrich, before whom the within affidavit purports to be sworn, was at the time of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said county, and that I am acquainted with his handwriting, and verily believe, his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper handwriting and signature.
Witness my hand and seal of Office the 18 th day of September 1834.
A. Goodrich. Clerk.

$1.902 Two. Ramon Castano For a Pension as a Private
2
aloud by the last Chy.
3 Years, from Aug or Sept 1776 to Aug or Sept 1779 in the 10th Regt. Massachusetts line. Capt. Soper Colonel. Marshal
Rolls
Ramon Castano 20 May 77. 3 years
aloud 24 mo. pri
80 $
A. Wash Agent

State of New York County of Saratoga ss.
On this 26 th day of August 1834 Personally appeared in open court, before the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Saratoga now sitting at Ballston Spa Ramon Castino of Galway in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aforesaid aged Seventy three Years the 21 st day of March last past who being first duly sworn ac- cording to law, doth on his oath, make the following de- claration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Con- gress passed June 7, 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
He was born in the State of Rhode Island in the County of _____ and Town of Little Compton the 21 st March 1761 he has no record of his age.
In answer to the third interrogatory required by the War Department, He says. In Dartmouth in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, where he lived un- til 1786 (excepting the period he was in the service of the United States,) when he moved to the city of New York, where he lived until 1812, When he moved to Galway in the County of Saratoga in said State where he lived until 1817 when moved to Nantucket where he lived until 1824 when he again moved to Galway where he has continued to live ever since

and where he now lives
To the question How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute; and if a substitute for whom?
He answers and says, That In August or September 1776 when he was between fifteen & sixteen years of age, and resided with his  father  in the  town of Dartmouth aforesaid, he of the United States For three years or enlisted into the service, under Captain Amasa Soper's Company of Infantry in Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment of Continental Troops, being the 10 th Massachusetts Regiment, he enlisted & joined his company at Middlebury at the time aforesaid, and immediately marched to Saunton & from there to Boston. Under the said Captain Soper and joined the Regiment to which he belonged under the said Colonel Marshall. From Boston  there marched through New Hampshire & Bennington Shaftsbury Manchester &c in the state of Vermont and so on to Ticonderoga in the state of New York and soon stationed in the Fort at that place, a part of the time, we were on the advanced Guard where we continued doing duty as we were ordered by our Superior Officers until Burgoyne with his British Troops advanced to, near Ticonderoga when the American Army sallied out of the Fort and attacked the said British Army and they retreated with considerable loss but the loss on our side was comparatively small,

That from the commencement of said service this applicant served as waiter to said Capt. Soper to the end of the first year) when we left pursuing the Enemy on their retreat as aforesaid, we returned to the Fort, the American Army at that place consisted of several thousand Continental troops , he does not recollect the name or names of any except that the 9th Massachusetts Continental Regiment was one where we continued through the winter in the said Fort and until Burgoyne with the British Troops under his command again in the summer of 1777 advanced from the north, and our Army retreated before him & his army, from place to place, and made a stop near Stillwater but on the opposite side of the Hudson River, where our Regiment with many other Regts of both Continental and Militia continued until after the decisive Battle was over the object of so many men on the east side of the river was (as we were informed) to prevent the Enemy from retreating that way when we crossed over from the east side of the river to the west and went to Stillwater and soon after our Regiment was ordered & went to the Fort (he thinks it was Fort Edward) where we continued through the winter of 1778 and some time in the summer of the same year Our Regiment Marched from Fort Edward through Stillwater to Half moon & where we stayed not many days from there to Albany, at Albany our Regiment was divided & part went down the River in Boats and the other part marched by land he this applicant went with  among the latter and met again at West Point where we were stationed and performed regular garrison duty in the Garrison until August or September 1779 he having served the full term of Three Years in manner aforesaid and served as a private, when he received an honorable discharge signed by the said Capt. Imasa Soper at West Point, which said discharge was in his possession until about three or four years ago, but since that time it has been lost and probably destroyed, he does not know how or where

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present a declares his name is not on the Pension rolls of the Agency of any State.
Subscribed and sworn in open Court the day and year first above written
Ransom Easton
A Goodrich Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states
I Alpheus Goodrich Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Saratoga in the state of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ransom Easton for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this twenty eighth day of August in the year 1834.
A Goodrich Clerk

State of New York County of Saratoga ss.
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County. Personally appeared John Smith of Ballston in said County aged Fifty seven Years, lacking            days, to me well known who being duly sworn according to Law doth depose and say, that, about five or six years ago he frequently saw Ra- =mon Casino At Anthony Collamen in the Town of Milton in this County, being the same Ramon Gas- tino who boarded with Aaron Nash and applied for a Pension last Fall as this deponent has been cred- (g) =ibly informed & verily believes, That his palsied frame and trembling limbs as well as his gait, his careful short step, indicated old age and from every appearance I should judge he was then about Se- =venty years of age
Sworn & subscribed before done this 4 th day of April 1835
John Smith
Oran G. Otis Justice & I also Certify that the above John Smith is well Esteemed as a Man of integrity & truth
April 4 th 1835 Ballston Spa
Oran G Otis

State of New York County of Saratoga } ss
I Alpheus Goodrich Clerk of the County of Saratoga Do certify That Jesse Robertson before whom the within affidavits purports to be sworn by John A. Gamba & John Benedict was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavits to be his proper hand writing & Signature. And that Oran G. Otis before whom John Klops, Samson Ford, George M. Towers, Gabriel Frain, Branks, John Smith, Philip H. McOmber and Aaron Nash purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County and that his name subscribed to each of the and also that William H. Satterlee before whom Jesse Robertson purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said County and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & that his name subscribed to the said Affidavit is his Signature
Witness my hand & Seal of Office this ninth day of April 1835 A. Goodrich Clerk
Ballston April 23. 1835
J. L. Edwards Esq
Sir. Aaron Nash has brought to me those papers & has requested me to write a line to you upon the subject of their contents. I know nothing of Castino

or his application for a Pension: But I have been well acquainted with Mr Nash for more than thirty years. For all this time he has been a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church in Ballston or Ballston Spa, at which latter place  where one has recently been organized. His character for integrity is as fair as that of any man among us. I consider him wholly incapable of knowingly countenancing a fraud upon the Pension Office.
Yours respectfully John W. Taylor

State of N ew York
Saratoga County ss. Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of said County. On the first day of April 1855 personally appeared Philip H enry Ombu of the Village of Ballston Spa in said County. To me well & personally known, who On being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he has been acquainted with Raimar Castino for the space of About ten Years - This deponent knows that the said Castino during the time aforesaid has claimed to be the Owner of a farm in the Town of Galway in the County of Saratoga aforesaid. And this deponent well remembers that he this deponent abouts ten Years ago was concurred as an Arbitrator along with Calvin Wheeler Esq r & Shorr Barker Esq r in the settlement of some Controversies in relation to said Farm & that the said Castino was One of the parties to said Arbitration & then claiming to be the Owner of the Farm in question - According to the best recollection of this deponent the award made by the Arbitrators above named was in favor of the said Castino & was founded upon an Opinion that the farm in question belongs to the said Castino - This deponent believes that since the time of the said Arbitration the said Castino has resided chiefly in the State of Massachu- setts - but that he returned to this State sometime in the summer or fall last past - that this deponent saw him several times after his return & Judging from his appearance should have supposed him to be at least Seventy Years of age and if deponent had not known of the intemperate habits of the said Castino he should have judged him to have been Considerably more than seventy Years of age
170 H. 111 1/2 111 13 3/4

The within Affidavits subscribed & sworn to before Me by the said Philip H McOmber to me well known this first day of April 1835.
Oran G. Othi
Justice.
I also certify that the said Philip H McOmber is of good character for truth & Honor —
O G Othi
Justice
The Christian name of the said Castro Ought to have been written Ramon instead of Raman in the within affidavits
O G Othi —

(18)
State of New York County of Saratoga } ss.
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County
Personally appeared Zabad Fairbanks of the Village of Ballston Spa in said County aged forty-five years, who being duly sworn says that for the last eighteen months has re- sided within about eight rods of Aaron Nash, that in the September & October Ramon Castro boarded with the said Nash, that he this deponent saw him fre- quently, that his trembling frame & limbs as well as his gait & short careful steps indicated old age age and from his very appearance I should judge that he then was seventy or seventy-five years of age
Subscribed & sworn before me this 3 rd day of April 1835,
Zabad Fairbanks
Oran G. Otsi Justice.
I also certify that I am well & personally acquainted with Zabad Fairbanks who has subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit & that he is of good name fame & credit
Oran G. Otsi Justice

State of New York County of Saratoga } ss.
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, Personally appeared Jesse Robison of Ballston in said County aged Sixty years who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that in the course of last fall (I think in October) I frequently saw a person at Aaron Nashs who from information since had, I understand his name was Ramon Castino and verily believe him to be the same person of that name who made application for a Pension at last August Court in Ballston Spa as I have been informed & verily believed & now believe,
I have seen the said Ramon Castino sitting & I have seen him walking. That his palsied frame and trembling limbs as well as his gait and short & cautious steps indicated an Old man, and from his appearance in his face and every way, I should judge that he then was Seventy or Seventy five years of age.
Sworn & subscribed before me The 31 st day of March 1835
Jesse Robertson
William H. Satterlee Justice of the Peace
(7) I certify that I am well & personally acquainted with the above named Jesse Robertson & with his signature & that he is a Justice of the Peace of the County of Saratoga & of good character both as a Magistrate & a Citizen & I also certify that I am well & personally acquainted with the above named William H. Satterlee before whom the above affidavit appears to have been subscribed & sworn & that he is a regular & acting Justice of the Peace in the town of Ballston in the County of Saratoga.
April 4 th 1835. Ballston Spa.
Ebenezer D. Oakes Justice

(6)
State of New York County of Saratoga } ss,
Before me the undersigned a Jus- tice of the Peace in and for the said County, Personally ap- peared George M. Towers of the Village of Ballston Spa in said County aged Forty-Nine Years who being duly sworn says that on the 16 th day of October 1834 he re-commenced Boarding with Aaron Nash in the said Village that when he came there Ramon Castino was there as a Boarder & was waiting (as he said) for his Pension His Palsied frame & trembling limbs as well as his white hair, his Gait & cautious short steps indi- cated old age, and from his appearance I should Judge that he was then Seventy or Seventy five years of age
Geo d M. Towers.
Subscribed and sworn the first day of April 1835 Before me
Oran G. Otis
Justice.
I also Certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named George M. Towers & have no doubt of his good character for truth & veracity
Oran G. Otis
Justice
Ballston Spa April 1 st 1835.

State of New York County of Saratoga ss.
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County. Personally appear- ed Sanburn Ford of the Village of Ballston Spa who being duly sworn. Says, that his age is Seventy eight years lacking twenty five days — That he resides in the Neighbor- hood of Aaron Nash. That he frequently saw Ramon Castino at said Nash's last fall & saw him frequently in the House & walking in the streets — That his palsied frame & trembling limbs as well as his white hair, his gait, his cautious steps and the outward appearance of his skin, indicated old age and from every appearance I should judge that he was then as old if not older than myself
Sanburn Ford
Sworn to before me by the said Sanburn Ford this 31 st day of March  April 1835 & I also certify that the said Ford is of fair character for truth & honor.
Oran G. Ots Justice of the Peace of Saratoga Co.
(4)

No (3)
State of New York County of Saratoga } ss.
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County Personally appeared John Benedict of the Village of Ballston Spa in said County who being duly sworn says that he resides in the neighborhood of Aaron Nash, That he frequently saw Ramon Gasline in the course of last fall at A Nash's that he has seen him sitting in the House and he has also seen him walking That his palsied frame and trembling limbs as well as his gait and step indicated old age, and from his appearance I should judge that he then was from seventy to seventy-five years of age
John Benedict
Subscribed & sworn the 38 th day of March 1835 } before me
Jesse Robertson Justice
10. The said Justice
I do hereby certify that I am acquainted with John Benedict the person who signed & sworn to the above affidavit, and believe him to be a person of truth & veracity Jesse Robertson Justice of the Peace
No (3)
.....

State of New York County of Saratoga ss
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County personally
appeared John Hops of the Village of Ballston Spa in said County aged thirty — years who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he had frequently seen Ramon Gar- tino while he was boarding at Aaron Nash's last fall, that his trembling frame & limbs as well as his gait & careful short steps, indicated old age & from every appearance I should judge that he was then upwards of seventy years of age
Subscribed and sworn the (4) first day of April 1835 before me
John Hops
Oran G. Otis Justice
I also certify that I am well & personally acquainted with the above named John Hops & believe him to be of good character for truth & veracity.
April 1 st 1835.
Oran G. Otis
Justice

no. (2)
State of New York County of Saratoga } ss
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County Personally appeared John A. Lamb of Ballston Spa in said County aged 27 years who being duly sworn deposes and saith that about the last of September & the month of October 1834 his business led him frequently to the House of Aaron Nash in Ballston Spa where he became acquainted with Ramon Castino an applicant for a Pension, that his application was frequently the subject of conversation by the said Castino to strangers and Inhabitants and he never understood it to be a subject of secrecy. He the said Castino said that he was upwards of Seventy years of age. His palsied frame & trembling limbs as well as his gait & steps indicated old age, and from his appearance I should judge that he then was Seventy or Seventy five years of age. Subscribed and Sworn the 38 th day of March 1835 { John A. Lamb
Before me the said Justice Jesso Robertson Justice I hereby certify that I am acquainted with John A. Lamb the person who signed and swore to the above Affidavit, and consider him to be a Person of truth & veracity { Jesso Robertson Justice of the Peace

N o 1)
State of New York County of Saratoga
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County Personally appeared Aaron Nash of the Village of Ballston Spa in said County who being duly sworn, says, That his first acquaintance with Ramon Castino was early in August 1834 when he the said Ramon called on this deponent in order to make application for a Pension under the Act of June 7 1832. and desired me to make out his papers for that purpose. From his statement I had no doubt, he had a fair claim to a Pension as a Soldier of the Revolution, that he had enlisted & served for three years, as stated in his declaration that he had received a regular discharge which he had sent to Washington some years ago. He told me he had a House and Farm in Galway. After I had taken the minutes of his statement of his services (his stay being one or two days only) he said he was going to Galway & would return on the first day of Court, being the 4 th Tuesday in August. He went, as he said, to Galway and returned on the first day of Court, then sitting at Ballston Spa, and went before the Court on the first or second day. In the course of his examination I asked him if there was no other Ramon Castino who might have been in the service; he replied there was only one man of that name who was his son, born after the close of the Revolutionary War, and he is now dead, that his Father's name was John Ramon Castino and was a native of France. After August Court aforesaid Castino returned to Galway (as he said) and came to

Wallston Spa about the time I received Mr Edwards Letter requiring amendments, to which he replied by his Affidavit. From this time Castino continued to Board with me until after he received his Pen- =sion Certificate. About this time I met Mr Couch in a public Street, near the Court House in Company with Mr Allen who was interested in a suit of Ejectment, recently commenced by Castino by his At- torney Oran G. Otis Esquire of this Village, Couch acting as Attorney  Pettifogger for Allen as this deponent was informed and verily believed and now believes.
He (Couch) then told this deponent that Pa- =mon Castino was not entitled to receive a Pension, as he was Born after the close of the Revolutionary War, and further he said that his (Castino's) Father was not married until after the close of the War. This Story I did not believe, as the very appearance of Castino would in my Judg- =ment contradict such a Story. and from the circumstance that Couch was engaged to defend the Ejectment suit aforesaid against Castino, and from the manner of relating it, I did not suppose he believed it him- =self, I related the same in substance to O. G. Otis Esquire a Respectable Attorney of this Village. He informed me that Couch had related to him the same Story but he had no confidence in it or words to that effect.
I heard nothing more on the subject until after he, Castino had gone to the Eastward, nor did I entertain a doubt of the correctness of his (Castino's) statement until after the Witnesses were called from Galway to Albany to testify against Castino on a Complaint for perjury.

Aaron Nash
Sworn & Subscribed to before me this 9 th day of April 1835
Oran G. Otis Justice
I further certify that I have been long & well acquainted with the said Aaron Nash that he is of unblemished reputation for integrity & honor
Oran G. Otis Justice

State of New York County of Saratoga ss.
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, Ramon Castino of the county aforesaid. Aged Seventy three years, who being by me duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and say that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory, in his declaration made before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga on the 26 th August 1834 for a Pension under the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 he was so unfortunate as not to state with accuracy the date of his enlistment & service for three years in Capt. Soper's Company in Colom t Marshall's Regiment being the 10 th Reg t . of the Massachusetts line of the Continental Troops, as to the year of his enlistment, the mistake was inadvertently made either by himself or the person who wrote the de- claration, he thinks it was by the latter, he always knew (intended so to state) that he enlisted in 1777 and served until 1780, but as to the month he does not perfect ly recollect, but has no doubt it was in May 20 th 1777 and that he served the full period of his said en- listment & received an Honorable discharge signed by the said Captain Soper at West Point, that at the time of making his declaration in August last, he did not recollect how his discharge had been disposed of, but now recollects that in 1829 he transmitted it to the Hon ble John Reid then a Representative in Con- gress from Massachusetts who was then at Washington, which said discharge has never been returned, he informed me by letter, that my name was found recorded in the War Department which shewed I had served for three years according to my discharge, he also informed me that in order to obtain a Pension I must make a schedule of my Real & Personal property &c but by the conditions required in the printed Plank transmitted to me by him, it appeared that I did not come within the provisions of the acts of Congress and I relinquished the idea of obtaining a Pension. In 1832 he understood an act was passed by Congress granting Pensions to the Militia and State Troops, but never understood it affect- ed the claims of the Continental Troops, until August last

He accidentally said that the restriction relative to property was taken off by the Act of June 7. 1832 was taken off
Subscribed and sworn
the 18 th day of Sept. 1834
before me
A Goodrich Justice
Ramona Goodrich
State of New York
County of Saratoga ss, I Stephens Goodrich Clerk of the Court Saratoga, Do Certify. That Alpheus Goodrich before whom the within affidavit purports to be sworn, was at the date of the same, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and ve- rily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature
Witness my hand and seal of Office the 18 th day of September 1834
A Goodrich Clerk
11 Jan 35

ans. J.
29. May 1835
J. J. Church Esq.
Gen. Pensions
Washington v

Lester Atorney Offc
Little Falls, May 23 d 1835
Sir
I hand you copies of the documents for extraordinary expenses attending the prosecution of the complaints against Ramon Castino, Silas Stiles, and John J. Cooper which have been paid to me by the marshal of the District. Besides the six hundred dollars of the cost I allowed Mr. Hubbard Three dollars per day for his services and have charged the same. Ramon Castino was tried and convicted at the late term of the United States District Court and was sentenced to confinement at hard labour in the State prison for four years, fined ten dollars and to remain imprisoned until the fine is paid. This conviction was had upon the indictment for perjury in returning to the execution upon the indictment for false swearing in the affidavit taken before the Justice explanatory of his declaration, here on this he was acquitted; the court held that as the oath was taken before a Justice of the peace and the Regulations of the War Department making no provision in terms recognizing the affidavit taken before a Justice as having any validity towards the establishment of a claim under the pension laws, the proceeding was not one in which a perjury could be committed and therefore directed an acquittal. This decision I suppose from what I have heard is at variance with the decision of the Supreme Court

of the United States made last winter. I have not been the Division Lias, Hiles and last, means; of this I have before informed the Department. According to your direction I now send you all the papers respecting the case of Costins which were forwarded to me from the Department. I also send to you the pay certificates of Costins and J. L. Cupin as of no present use to me. The trial of Charles Gotten was postponed on his application by the court to the next August term. Be pleased to advise me of the result of these papers at the Department.
I am respectfully your obedt servt A. S. Benton U.S. Atty
J. L. Canard, Esq. Couns. de

Feb 19 N.S. Bon. Dit. a W.
J. J. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Pension Washington
7/1/56
answ? 10 mar 56

District attorneys office
Little Falls. February 13 th 1835.
Sir
In order to procure testimony to indict Silas Stiles for perjury I wrote Henry Hubbard Esq. of Pitsfield Mass. to make inquiries among the old inhabitants of those towns and learn if he could learn anything of the history of Stiles - He said he was sure that brothers of Thomas Goodrich who testified before the Grand Jury that Stiles and his brother Thomas both enlisted as trappers in the British army and went south and returned home about the close of the war and after the battle at Yorktown.
It appears from the journal or memorandum sent to me by Mr. Hubbard that he was out on two or three different days making these inquiries and his charge for these services is twenty five dollars which he has requested me to remit to him - I wrote Mr. Hubbard if he would procure the desired information he should be compensated.
I think however Mr. Hubbard's charge is quite high and I do not feel willing to pay it unless by your direction and advice. The testimony of Thomas Goodrich's brother you will perceive has a bearing upon Stiles Goodrich's claim under the act of 1832. Will you please to direct me upon this subject -
Respectfully yours
obt. int.
A. S. Burton U.S. Atty
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Counsel etc

J. L. Edwards Esq. Convers of Pison Washington

District attorneys office Little Falls January 31 st 1835
Sir In accordance with the instructions heretofore received from the Department I submit herewith to the Grand Jury summoned at the January Session 1835 of the Circuit Court for this District now in Session in the cases of Hanson Castins, John F. Cuppin, Lewis Stiles, and Aaron Nash and also submit to them Bills such as I supposed the testimony would warrant their finding. The Grand Jury returned "true bills" in the cases of Castins and Stiles and "Ignored" the bills sent to them in the cases of Cuppin and Nash. The Jury also directed me to draw an Indictment against Charles Getman for fraud in making a false and fraudulent affidavit attached to the Declaration of John F. Cuppin. Peter Fox testified before the Grand Jury that Cuppin, Getman and Charles Waggner the Justice called on him to get his affidavit of Cuppin's Service - that he Fox told them he saw Cuppin at Fort Mank, that Cuppin was there a little over three weeks, and that was all the service he had any knowledge of Cuppin performing during the revolutionary war. that Getman wrote the affidavit sworn to by Fox and that he Fox was not asked, nor did he intend to state, nor did he know at the time that he had made affidavit that Cuppin had served two years in Captain Christopher Fox's company. that he Fox could not read writing readily and the affidavit as it now is was read to him but in part; that the part of the affidavit which states that Cuppin served two years was not read to him by Getman at the time he made oath to it. Mr. Waggner the Justice also testified before the Jury that Getman wrote the affidavit and pretended to read the same to Mr. Fox previous to his swearing to it - that he the Justice had no recollection that Fox was asked the question whether Cuppin had served two years and he was quite sure that when the

affidavit was read to Fox it did not purport to contain any such statement. That Fox stated he knew Cupin served about three weeks at Fort-Plank and that was all he knew about Cupin's service in the revolutionary war. The Justice also stated that Cupin could read writing and that Fox could not. If this testimony cannot be controverted, it seems Charles Getman fabricated the most material part of Fox's affidavit and purposely concealed the fact that any such statement was contained in it. The Justice says he did not read the affidavit - I have delivered process to the marshal to arrest Getman and his trial will probably come on at the next May Term - Miss Hildy was arrested by the depy. marshal on the warrant which I procured but was too sick to be brought to Albany and I have put process into the marshal's hands to have him brought up for trial at the next May Term. Castins has been arrested and committed at Boston I shall have him conveyed to Albany and tried at the same term.
Have you any evidence within your power or are you showing that Charles Getman forwarded Cupin's papers to your office?
In respect to the case of Aaron Root who wrote Castins's declaration and the affidavit afterwards sent on, it is perfectly clear that when Root was drawing the statement in the declaration that Castins "had resided in Goshway since the year 1824 and was at the time of making the declaration a resident of Goshway" he Root well knew that Castins at the time resided at Ballston Spa and was boarding or living with Root. I have not been able to get any testimony other than the above and what appears from the papers in Castins's case which tends to bring home to Root a knowledge that Castins was an impostor, except the information given by C. Cook Esq. but this appears to have been sometime after the pension certificate was granted. And this brings me to make the inquiry whether you have it in your power to inform me when and to whom the money was paid on Castins's certificate? I infer from the testimony of C. Cook Esq. that Castins

certificate had not been received by Mr. Ashe when Mr. Cook spoke to him, but from your papers I do not believe this could be so if the letters mailed came in due course; but it may have happened that the money had not been paid over by the pension agent when Mr. Cook informed Ashe of the true state of the case in regard to certificates.
I am respectfully,
your obedt Servt
N. S. Benton
Wis. avy
To J. L. Edwards Esq. Counsel

Feb 6 from N. Benton Esq. U.S. Dist. Atty. N.Y. and 7. Feb '35
J. F. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Customs Washington City.

To J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir,
At the request of Mr. Aaron Nash of the Village in which I reside, I take the liberty of stating to You such facts as are within My knowledge in relation to Mr. Nash & Castino & to the procurement of the pension of the latter.
It is about ten Years, since I became acquainted with Ramon Castino - I was then Employed by him as his attorney & Counsel in relation to a farm lying in the town of Galway in this County of which he claimed to be Owner - And which involved a question as to its rents & profits. He was successful in his litigation & since that time, I have not seen or heard from him, until his appearance here some time last Spring - he having been resident as I am informed & believe, during the intermediate time in the State of Massachusetts - sometime after his last arrival, he again called upon me, about the farm above mentioned & upon his representations I was again Employed to bring an Ejectment suit for the same at his instance.
Sometime after the Ejectment suit was commenced Mr. Ebenezer Couch of Galway in this County called upon me in company with the defendant for whom he was Employed as a Pettifogger & then Mr. Couch in behalf of the Defendant with a view to induce me to abandon the suit made some statement in relation to Castino which if true was derogatory to his character - If I recollect rightly, he mentioned to me at that time, something about Castino's having made a false application pretending to be a Revolutionary soldier when he was not - I paid but little attention to these statements, believing as I did that the Object of the communication was to lessen My confidence in Castino for the benefit of the defendant -
Some short time after this Mr. Nash calling at My Office mentioned to me what Mr. Couch had said to him in relation

to Castino, which as nearly as I can recollect was in substance the same that Mr. Couch made to me. He asked my Opinion of the Statement I remarked substantially, that I gave it no credence, because I suspected the information was given from sinister motives, & that in all I had had to do with Castino I had never seen any thing to prejudice me against him except his intemperance.
For Myself, having long known Mr. Nash & the standing which he held among all his acquaintances, I am free to say there are few men of whose integrity I should have less doubt. - I have never heard, since I have known him, the slightest imputation of any kind against him. He has been the Annually Elected Clerk of this Village for at least twenty Years & I know not but longer - I have looked over the affidavit of Mr. Nash and those accompanying his, & entertain no doubt of the truth of the facts they contain. - For Myself I do not remember that I ever made an Opinion as to the precise age of Castino. Yet such was the appearance of age, that I should never have suspected his pretensions to have been a soldier of the Revolution, from that circumstance.
I hope Sir that the perusal of the Defence made by Mr. Nash, will have the Effect to erase from Your Mind, all the suspicion, which as I believe has been unjustly charged upon him.
In relation to Myself, Sir, I take the liberty of referring You to the Hon. C. Hayward of the Land Office, who is My relative & friend -
Yours Respectfully
Oran G. Otes
Ballston Spa April 22 d 1835.

For the Pension Office
J. S. Edwards Esquire
Washington City
D. 6

1835 Ballston Spa N.Y. 23 rd April
Sir
An expression in your letter of the 18 th March addressed to Sanborn Ford, the fact that you have lately sent answers to my letters to other persons and not to me as formerly, and the complaint made against me before the Grand Jury in Albany by the District Attorney of the United States on a suspicion that I had participated in the fraud and perjury for which Castino stands indicted, induce me to lay before you the papers transmitted herewith, to remove the unjust suspicions which appear to exist in your mind against me.
I have been the dupe of Castino's artifice & deeply regret that I have, although innocently, contributed, by preparing his papers, to impose upon you.
Had I entertained a suspicion of his perjury, I am the last man who would have aided or countenanced him, in the perpetration of his crime. Trusting that the papers sent herewith will serve to convince you of my innocence, & restore me to your confidence.
I remain your ob t S r !
Edwards J. S. E. E. E. E. Commissioner of Pensions
Aaron Nash

FREE
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Compt. of Pension office
City of Washington

Galway, Saratoga Co. November 6 1834
Sir
In answer to Yours of the 27 th of Oct r last I give you the names of John Allen. Pardon- Davis, John Caw. Uriah Cornell & George Potter who if called upon will substantially prove the facts stated in my letter addressed to you of the 21 st of Oct r last in relation to Ramon Bastards, I am informed that Bastards is gone to West Port in the state of Massachusetts which is the place of his nativity also the place of his residence, & when he left this County said he should return this fall
I am very respectfully,
Your Most Obedt Servt.
Benjamin Church
Dear Jos. P. Edwards Esq.

Caveat
Raymond Bastard
Hon J. J. Edward
Commissioner of the Pension Office
City of Washington
Caveat
FREE

Dear Sir
Galway Saratoga County October 21 st 1831
A man by the name of Raymond Bastine late of the town of Westport in the state of Massachusetts who has for some twelve or fifteen years, at times frequented this County. He has recently come to this County, and as I understand has made application to the War Department for a Pension for his services in the War of the Revolution, I therefore have thought it a Duty, to apprise you that some four or five of my acquaintance of in this County and who are men of good character inform me that they have been acquainted with this Raymond Bastine from his cradle, some were school boys, were acquainted with him some with his father previous to his marriage, and that this Raymond Bastine is not over fifty five years old, his father's name was Raymond Bastine and might have served in the War of the Revolution, Should you think proper to advise me on the subject Affidavits can be procured and forwarded to you Presuming the above statement
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully Yours &c Elmerus Canfield
Dear J. L. Edwards

For the Pension Office
A. S. Edwards Esq.
Commission of Pensions
Washington City
D. C.
One A

Ballston Spa Sept. 1. st 1834
Enclosed you'll receive the papers of Ramon Castino applying for a Pension under the Act of June 7. th 1832. Have the goodness to examine his claim as early as any way convenient & transmit to me by Mail his Certificate (if he is entitled to one)
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servt.
Aaron Nash
J. S. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

Ramon Abrahan Castina
Genl Edward Commissr of Pensions
H. Nash Esq Daleston Spa N. York

War Department Pension Office 8 th Sept r 1834
Sir
The claim of Ramon Bastano has been examined. He alleges that he enlisted in August or September '76, when he was between 15 & 16 years old for 3 years in Lopez Camp, Marshalls regt. of the Massachusetts Line. It is true that "Ramon Bastano" enlisted in that Camp & Regt for 3 years on 20 May '77; but the fact in the declaration by which he fixes the date of his enlistment in Aug t or Sept r 96 will not justify the Department in extending to him the benefit of that entry. It is also proper that some reason should be assigned why he has not heretofore applied for a pension under the several Laws granting them.
I am Respectfully Your O bt Servant J. L. Edwards
A Wash Esq r Ballston Spa N. York

B. Spar. Sep r 1834.
Sir
Enclosed herewith you d receive the affidavit of Ramon Castino. Please make returns of the decision in his case, as early as convenient, to me.
Very Respectfully Your Obed t Servant Aaron Nash.
J. L. Edwards Esq r Com r of Pensions
(Copy)

copy
Burlington Vt.
Sept r 1 st 1834.
Sir
Enclosed you d receive the papers of Ramon Cas- -tino, applying for a pension under the Act of June 7 th 1832. Have the goodness to examine his claim as early as any may convenient and transmit to me by mail his certificate, (if he is entitled to one)
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Serv t
Aaron Nash.
P. L. Edwards Esq r
Commissioner of Pensions.

B. Spa. Sept. 1834
Sir
Enclosed herewith you'll receive the affidavit of Ramon Castina, Please make returns of the decision in his case as early as convenient to me
Very Respectfully
your ob d . Servant
Aaron Nash
J. L. Edwards Esq. Com te . of Pension
Three 13

Copy of letter
War Dept.
Pension Office Jan. 13. 1835
Sir
x x x x.
Pedro Castano applied for the benefit of the Act of June 7, 32 and after the explanatory affidavit to account for his delay in making application he was admitted. but immediately there- after was suspended in consequence of information that he was personating his father who had by the rolls rendered the service alleged by him in his declaration. He asserted that he made applica- tion thro you in 1829 for the benefit of the Act. of 18 Mar. 1818 and accompanied it with his original discharge that you forwarded him a copy of the regulations which convinced him that he was barred by the amount of property and considering himself excluded from the provisions of the act he failed to apply to you for the return over

of his papers. Instructions have been given to the U.S. District Atto. for Northern District of New York to prosecute him but it is understood that he left Saratoga in the fall for Massetts, with the intention of returning soon. Any information which you may be able to give that will lead to his arrest and punishment will be duly acknowledged by the Dept.
to Hon. J. Reed

Copy
War Department Pension Office Nov. 13 '34
Sir From information entitled to credit it appears that a declaration of Ramon alias Rimon Castino of Galway, county of Saratoga drawn up by Aron Nash claiming pension under the Act of 7 June '32 is false & fraudulent. It is understood that John Allen, Pardon Davis John Chase Uriah Cornell and Geo Potter residing in the Town of Galway will prove that the declarant is perhaps less than 50 years old. That fact alone is sufficient to ensure his conviction.
It is difficult to believe that Aron Nash was ignorant of the fact. x x x x ,
It is understood that Castino is on a visit to Massots but is expected to return return about this time. If he should not return one

in some short time you will please to communicate the fact to the Dept. that steps may be taken to have him arrested in Mass. and conveyed to Albany for trial x x x —
To W.S. Benton Little Falls N.Y.

Continental Army
Searsdale, N. Y. ✓
ERR
Mar. 8, 1928.
Com. of Pensions.
Washington - D. C.
Dear Sir -
Please advise me if you have any record of Raimond Castino who served as a Private in Capt. Soper's Co. Col. Thoo. Marshall Reg. during the years 1776- 1780. then lived at Freetown Mass. (near Dartmouth) Sup- posed later to have served as aide to Gen. Lafayette.

Thanking you -
Very respectfully -
Mrs. Charles Reichard. #35 Carman Ave. Scarsdale - N. Y.