Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,241, Nathan Commins, Mass. New York.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass. New York.
Gommins Nathan or Gummins
S 3241
CONTENTS
carded.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for recording information.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for recording information.

Date of death not on aB.
7757. Ohio. Pittsburgh
* Nathan Cummings of Cleveland in the State of Ohio. who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Francis of the Reg t commanded by Col o Mason in the Mass. line for two years.
* Nathan Commins, Mass. and N.Y. Line, Records corrected Feb'y 17 th 1848
Inscribed on the Roll of Chas. Pitts at the rate of 80. Dollars 00. Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Mar, 1833 and sent to P. Headly. Clearwater O. Ohio
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. P. Palmer Clerk, Book E. Vol. 8 , Page 108

The State of Ohio Cuyahoga County
In the Common Pleas
November Term 1832
On this fifth day of November A.D. 1832 before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting personally came in open court Nathan Cummings a resident of Euclid township in said county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, aged seventy four years on the 14 October last, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
In the year 1776 he served six months at New York under Captain Oliver Root Lieut s Samuel Clark and Ebenezer Knapp and Ensign Asa Cook Col. Smith of Pittsfield and Brigadier General Fellows. He enlisted at Hancok Berkshire county, Massachusetts in June and was discharged in December. He was one of the last who left New York city when attacked by the British and was in the retreat to Harlem and when discharged at Boston bridge was under General Putnam
In the year 1777 he was in the northern army nine months out from March to December under Captain Francis and Col. Nixon, was at the battle of Saratoga, went with the army in its march to Ticonderoga, to Fort Ann and Still water
In 1778 he was out under Captain Douglas two different times, one six weeks and one twenty days, both times scouting through Connecticut

Rupert, Pawlet &c, guarding against the Tories who had taken refuge in lower Canada, and who made frequent inroads into Vermont for the purpose of plunder and murder.
He served at New Haven Connecticut four months under Capt. Samuel Clark, was at New Haven after it was pillaged by the British but recollects no other officers than the Captain. He enlisted for this service.
He was out again under Captain Blake five weeks most of the time in Hoback Skeneborough N.Y. He then lived in Hoback N.Y. The service was against the Tories and he was a volunteer. It was in the fall of the year, but he cannot recollect the exact year. It was near the close of the war. He was again out under Capt. Blake one month and under Lieut. Tiffany two weeks in the same business.
The preceding services were rendered by requisition from the States of Massachusetts and New York. He has no documentary evidence, and was always honorably discharged, He always enlisted or volunteered for the service.
The Applicant was born in Pawling Dutchess county N.Y. - when 15 years old he removed to Stephen town & next year to Hancock Massachusetts, which was his home till after the New Haven excursion. After 16 years residence in Hebron N.Y. he removed to Greenfield, Saratoga county. In two years more he removed to Clinton county, to Champlain on river Chazy. After 10 years he removed to Whitty in Upper Canada. In two years more he removed to Hamburg in Erie county N.Y. In 10

years more he removed back to Upper Canada where he resided 8 years in Brimley township, then he came to Euclid July 1. 1827 or 8
Anania Brooks of Salem Mehtabula Co Ohio served at New York in the same regiment
Shibach Spink living in West New York near Cataumgan Creek, this side, at a place called Walnut Creek also served with him at New York
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 any State or the Agency thereof. Nathan Cummings Sworn to in Open Court Nov. 5. 1832 Horace Perry. Clerk Com Pleas
We Stephen Peet a. clergyman residing in Euclid township and Asa Weston, an elder in the Church residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathan Cummings who has fulfilled and proven to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion Sworn to in Open Court Nov 5. 1832 Stephen Peet Asa Weston Horace Perry. Clerk Com Pleas

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 within named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Stephen Peet who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Euclid and that Asa Weston who has also signed the same is a resident in the vicinity of the applicant and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
The State of Ohio, Ashtabula County §
I, Horace Perry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathan Cummings for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventh day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Horace Perry Clerk C.P.
Forfeited Nathan Cummings
20202

20202
7757.
Nathan Cummings Ohio
Admitted 2 years from 1776
$80.
P. Bradley Cleveland Ohio

BRIEF in the case of Nathan Cummings  County of Cuyahoga in the State of Ohio  (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? 74  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.     enlisted In 1776 6 Private Gen. Fellow, Putnam   enlisted 1777 9 " Capt Root, Col Smith   1778 1 14 " Capt Francis, Col Nixon   " 20 " Capt Douglas   enlisted — 4 " Capt Clark   1 14 " Capt Blakelee   1 14 " Capt Blakelee   14 " Lieut Tiffany  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Saratoga  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Berkshire Co Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional *  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
* he gives the names of two persons who served with him, one lives in Ohio the other in New York - but he has not produced their testimony
Chas. Forrest Examining Clerk.

Reuben
3241
INVALID.
File No. 3241
* Nathan Cummings Prin. Mass. Line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 84
[Arrangement of 1870.]
* Nathan Cummings, Mass on N.Y. Line Records corrected Feb'y 17 '82

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathan Cummins 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? 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 short-brief
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?
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?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 2, 6, 7.
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.