Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15068, William Davis, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Davis William
S15068
boarded.
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents
Blank lined area for contents
527

20.256
288
New York
William Davis
of Laurens in the State of New York who was a Private in the Corp. commanded by Captain Water of the Regt. commanded by Col. Spratt in the Md. Line for 3 Years
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Aug. 1833 and with A.C. Low Laurens
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 $ 160 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4th '33 40
$200
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by
C. A. Allen
Clerk
Book
6.
Vol. 3.
Page 54

No 14598. a. William Davis St Sawyer County N.Y.
as m d
5-14
P 388
15/9 133
Allen & Baldwin Gladstone N.Y. of New York City Sawyer County Conn N.Y.
William Davis Sawyer County Conn
1. It is the statement of the undersigned that the within copy is a true copy of the original as shown to the undersigned. 2. The undersigned is not aware of any circumstances which impair the value or authenticity of the said copy. 3. The undersigned is not aware of any circumstances which would affect the value or authenticity of the said copy. 4. The undersigned is not aware of any circumstances which would affect the value or authenticity of the said copy.
William Davis Sawyer County Conn

BRIEF in the case of William Davis County of St Lawrence in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? about  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 64.  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.     Enlist Para Col In 1778 Sept 1 Private Gen. Capt Hartwell   " " 1779 March 1 (say 7) " " Ruggles   " " 1780 May Discharged late in Nov. or Dec. " " Manes Col. Privates   " " 1781 3 " " Cutter Col. Drury  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worcester Co Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living with Gen. Fradston many wits:  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers attached as the regulations require 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor Examining Clerk.

The matter of an application for a pension by William Davis.
x 2 14598 ✓
on Rolls Sprouds 6 mo in 1780
Adm d
24 mo. per
80  4

State of New York St. Lawrence County. } ss:
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832.
On this twenty fourth day of September 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, now sitting. William Davis, a resident of Potsdam in the said County of St. Law- rence and State of New York, aged sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Offi- cers and served as herein stated - That in 1778, in September or October as he thinks, he enlisted as a volunteer for six months, in a company commanded by Capt. Ephraim Hartwell, in which his brother Isaac Davis was Sergeant. in Rutland in the County of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, where he resided during the Revolutionary War. Said company was raised for the purpose of guarding a great num- ber of Burgoyne's prisoners who were at the Barracks at Rutland, whither tho' it was attached to any Regiment

he does not know. it was the only company stationed at the Fort at the same time, and belonged, as he supposed, to the Massachusetts State Troops. He served out his full period of six months, at the Barracks aforesaid which was only a half of a mile from his father's residence. At the expiration of his term he was dismissed there at the Fort some time the next spring, he thinks, about March 1779.
In a very short time afterwards, he thinks, in March 1779, he enlisted again as a volunteer at the same place to do the same duty, guarding Burgoyne's prisoners at the Fort aforesaid in Capt. Timothy Ruggles' company, of the Massachusetts State Troops. Whether he then enlisted for a particular term of time, he does not recollect. He remembers perfectly well of being in the Fort all the next winter, which was an unusually severe one, and till within a few weeks of the time when he enlisted in the Continental army, the next spring which was in May. He is quite sure he served in said Ruggles' company as much as one year. There was only one company there at the same time. There were no Continental Troops about there to his knowledge. In the spring of 1779 he thinks the British part

of the prisoners were exchanged and went away, but the Hessian remained. He was dismissed at the Port some time in the Spring. In May 1780 twelve men were called for from Rutland to go to West Point and join the Continental army for six months. He enlisted then as a volunteer, as one of the twelve. Gideon Phillips, whose affidavit is herewith annexed, being one of the others. They started soon after the dark day, which he thinks was the 18 th of May, and went to West Point and joined Capt. Mance's company in Col. Sprout's Regiment. There were several Continental Regiments there then, but he does not recollect the names of any Officers except that of Major Herod. He went to Fishkill to drill a few weeks, and thinks Genl. Steuben was there with them. He soon after went down the River in company with several Regiments and landed at Kings Ferry and went a short distance into the Sessyp, where a detachment of a few hundred, himself with them, left the main army and went to Dob's Ferry on the North River nearly opposite White Plains, and there built some small batteries to prepare for some British who were just below on the river. After being there a short time the British went down the river and the detachment returned to the main army. He was marching about in
Dated Aug. 6. 1832. - Governor is a morose person. Horace Allen, Fortin from.

the Jerseys till near the expiration of his term. He was at Tappan, at So'to was when Genl. Washington received the army, at Orange Town when Major Andre was executed. He returned to West Point and was dismissed there he thinks, late in November or early in December. recollects it snowed quite hard the night he arrived at the Point.
In the summer of 1781, he enlisted again as a Volunteer at Rutland aforesaid for three months to go to West Point. He went to Barre and mustered, and then went to West Point and joined the company of Capt. John Cutter as he thinks, in Col. Brasy's Regiment of Massachusett's State Troops. He was soon ordered with a small detachment upon the East side of the river, where he went into the South Redoubt commanded as he thinks, by Capt. Beels. In think, he was under the command of Capt. Cutter and Capt. Beels, during this service, but does not certainly recollect which commanded the Redoubt. While there, he remembers very well that news first came of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. He was dismissed at this Redoubt after serving out his term, as late, he thinks, as November. He recollects very well of seeing Mr. Simeon Howari while there, as stated by him in his affidavit herewith annexed.

He further says that he has no documentary evidence of his said services that he never was in any engagement, that he knows of no person living who was in the company of Capt. Ruggles with him at Rutland in 1779 & 1780. That his brother Isaac Davis was Sergeant with him in Capt. Hartwell's company, as mentioned in his affidavit hereto annexed. That he has for about 25 years past resided in Potsdam aforesaid where he now resides and well known to Gen. Clark, John Willis, Horace Allen, Benjamin G. Baldwin and others who he thinks can testify as to the reputation of his services in his neighborhood.
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.
William Davis
Sworn to & subscribed at the day & year aforesaid.
Wm Davis
We George Wilkinson, a clergyman residing in Potsdam aforesaid and Jonathan Hoit under sheriff of the said County of St. Lawrence, residing at Potsdam aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Davis, who has subscribed and
Dated Aug. 6. 1832.
Horace Allen, John Willis

Subscribed sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sixty nine 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 { George Wilkinson the day of year aforesaid } Jonathan Scott J C S M CLK
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 George Wilkinson who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in Potsdam aforesaid, and that Jonathan Scott who signed the same resides in Potsdam aforesaid and is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
J. Alvin C. Low Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Davis for a pension, and further that Horace Allen, before whom the annexed affidavit of Simon Howard was taken, was a Justice of the Peace of said county of Delaware at the time said affidavit was taken and that his signature to the said affidavit and certificate annexed thereto are in his own hand writing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty fourth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. J C S M CLK

State of New York } ss. St. Lawrence County }
Simeon Howard of Potsdam in said County, being sworn de- poseth & saith that he has for several years been a pensioner for services rendered in the Revolutionary War, that he entered the army from New Braintree, Massachusetts, and was stationed at West Point in 1781, that he is well acquainted with William Davis now of Potsdam, aforesaid, formerly of Rutland, Massachusetts, a town adjoining New Braintree, where this deponent former- ly resided, that about the first of September 1781 several companies of militia were ordered to West Point while the main army should march against Cornwallis, that said Davis belonged to one of those companies commanded by Capt. John Butler in Col. Dunning's Regt. from Massa- chusetts, that said Davis was stationed within a few rods of this deponent, and was in the service until said companies were discharged, after the return of the army after the surrender of Corn- wallis, which was about three months.
Subscribed & sworn this 6 th day of Au- gust 1882. before me Horace Allen Justice Peace
Simeon Howard
I the said Justice certify that Simeon Howard who subscribed the above affidavit is a credible person. Dated Aug. 6. 1882. Horace Allen Justice Peace

Seal. county Clerk's Office Vt. I. Alvin C. Dow Clerk of said county, and who subscribed the foregoing certificate certify that the annexed papers contain the original proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas of said County in the matter of the application of William Davis for a pension, and as the same papers returned from the Pension Office, except that a false affidavit of said Davis is annexed, and I also certify that Horace Allen before whom the annexed affidavits of Simon Howard & said Davis, purport to have been taken was at their respective depositions a Justice of the Peace of said county, and that his signature to the same are genuine. Also that throughout in all instances the ends of the tape were not passed under the seal of this office formerly affixed to the foregoing certificate of the said clerk -
Witness my hand & seal of office this 21 st day of May 1833 -
A. D. Smith

Historical County of Williamstown with County of ... having been ... by way of ...
St. John's ...
Williamstown ... County ... 1781 ...
James ...
1781 ...

I Gideon Phillips of Roxbury in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire of lawful age do testify and say that I lived in Rutland in the County of Hancock and State of Massachusetts some part of the time during the Revolutionary war and that William Davis then of said Rutland State & County aforesaid & now of Potsdam in the State of New York & County of St Lawrence
that the said William Davis enlisted in to the Continental army at said Rutland with myself in the year 1770 in May & marched to Westpoint and was there with said Davis some time & then I went to New Jersey said Davis enlisted for 6 months
also that I believe the report of other people that said Davis was with his Brother Isaac at Rutland guarding prisoners 6 months - but not to my personal knowledge Gideon Phillips
State of New Hampshire
(Cheshire ss) August 1 st 1832 Subscribed and
Sworn
Before me Sepulchre Newcomb Jus. Peace I certify that Gideon Phillips the above deponent is a credible witness
Sepulchre Newcomb Jus. Peace

Cheshire J. Aug. 8. 1832
I Balma Hale, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in said county certify that Leviathan Newcomb is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and I believe that the foregoing official certificates are in his own handwriting In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
B. Hale
Phillips Agt

I Isaac Davis of Noxbury in the county of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire of Lawful age do testify and say that I lived in Rutland in the county of Worcester & State of Massachusetts some part of the time during the Revolutionary war - and that William Davis then of said Rutland State & County aforesaid - & now of Potsdam New York & county of St. Lawrence - that the said William Davis was with me in Capt. Ephraim Hartwell's Company of which I was sergeant guarding prisoners - but how long I don't know but I think as much as six months in the years 1778 & 1779 - also that I believe that he was out at other times as I have frequently heard observed by him & others but not to my personal knowledge I think that he was out at West Point & other places six months, except at Rutland besides at Rutland
State of New Hampshire } Isaac Davis (Cheshire ss) August 1 th 1832
Subscribed and sworn
Before me Sepnile Newcomb Jus. Peace
I certify that Isaac Davis the above deponent is a credible witness
Sepnile Newcomb Jus. Peace

Cheshire Co. Aug 8. 1832
I Salma Hale, clerk of the Superior Court in said County certify that Sepulchre Newcomb is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, and I believe that the foregoing official certificates are in his own hand writing - In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of said Superior Court of Judicature.
S. Hale clerk
Levi Coffin

St Lawrence County N William Davis of Potsdam in the County aforesaid, being sworn faith, by way of amending his foregoing pension application that he was born in September A.D. 1763, in Rutland in the County of Worcester Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, that he has no record of his age that he resided at Rutland aforesaid at the time when he was first called into the service of the United States, as mentioned in the foregoing Declaration, and when not in such service, re- sided there during the whole term of the Revolu- tionary war that since the close of his said service he has lived and resided successively at Rutland aforesaid, Pittsfield Vermont, and Rochester Ver- mont and at Potsdam aforesaid, and at no other place, residing in Rochester & Pittsfield together about 78 years. — And this Deponent further saith in relation to the length of the different periods of service mentioned by him in his said Declaration that by reason of old age and infirmity and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear pos- itively as to the precise length of such periods of service, but he swears as a private and according to his best recollection, he served in his first above mentioned term of service, a period not less than six months, and in his secondly above mentioned term of service, a period not less than one year, and in his thirdly above mentioned term of service, a period not less than six months, and in his fourthly above mentioned term of service, a period of not less than three months, amounting in the whole to the two years and three months.
William Davis
Sworn this 20 th of May 1833 before me Allen, Justice Peace.

Abstract of said Davis services - From Sept. or Oct. 1778 - 6 months March 1779 - 12 do. May 1780 - 6 do Summer 1781 - 3 do 27 months.

15068 INVALID.
File No. 15,068
William Davis
Br. Rev. Mar.
Act: June 1 st 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 28
[Arrangement of 1870.]
5

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Davis which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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?
No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?

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?
See my list etc.
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
No
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes - the seal on each sheet, distinctly impressed, of the declaration.
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
1. 2. 3.
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 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 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 shewn 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.
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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
St. Lawrence