Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12658, Philip Curtiss, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
born.
burtiss, Philip
S. 12658
carded
CONTENTS

9093 Connecticut
Philip Curtiss
of Wallingford in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hough of the Regiment commanded by _____ in the Connecticut line for Guards - Colo
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of March 1833 and Dnt. A. B. Chap- in Wallingford - Ct
Arrears to the 14th of March: 33. $ 40.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. 33: 10.00 $ 50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Bullock, Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 7

State of Connecticut. County of Hartford ss. Town of Wallingford Probate District of Wallingford
On this 11 th day of August 1832 personally appeared in the court of Probate for the district of Wallingford - in open court - Philip Bartol an inhabitant of said Wallingford aged sixty eighty years the 11 th day of March 1832 who first being 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 following officers - and served as here stated.
That before applicant was liable by the laws of this State to do Military duty in the Militia of the same - he was hired by Dea. Mattson of Wallingford aforesaid to go for him as a substitute to Branford under Captain Dean Collins of Meriden - to guard the coast for the term of two months - that the duty of the company was to go on guard and stand on sentry - that they were down upon a point applicant thinks was then called shipping rock - that at the expiration of the two months - he - together with the other members of the company were verbally discharged and returned home -
Applicant further says that in the fall of the year 1780. he was drafted to go on the coast - to keep a look out - guard the like - that one Hough was a commissioned officer - but whether captain or lieutenant he is unable to say - that they proceeded to West Haven where they were

stationed and served out the two months for which they were drafted - when they were actually discharged and returned home - applicant does not recollect any particular occurrence which took place in this town - except an alarm which was made at or near oyster river a distance of about two miles from where they were posted - that applicant was on sentry at the time of the alarm - but the alarm proved to be a false one -
Applicant further says that in the year 1781 he was hired by Simeon Hapson to go on the coast as a substitute - said Hapson having been drafted from the Militia in said Wallingford to go to the same place - for the space of two months - that they proceeded to Stratford where they were stationed for some time when they left and proceeded to New Haven - passing through - and making a short stop at West Haven - that they were at New Haven at the time they heard of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to the American army - that they had a day of rejoicing on that account - and that after having performed the two months service for which he was drafted - he was actually discharged -
Applicant says he was out in another town of two months at East Haven - but that owing to the poorness of his memory he is unable to fix the date - and he knows of no one living who was in the service with him at that place - and therefore he claims nothing on that account -

Applicant thinks he is entitled to the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress to those who have served six months - having performed three terms of three months each - beside the one at East Haver -
In answer to the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department applicant says -
To the 1 st that he was born in Wallingford in the year 1764
To the 2 nd that he supposes it is recorded in the town records
To the 3 rd that he has always lived in Wallingford
To the 4 th that he has answered it to the best of his knowledge in the body of his declaration
To the 5 th he says the same -
To the 6 th he says the same
To the 7 th he refers to Rev Sedgwick Rice - Dr John Andrews - Jeremiah Hall & Reuben Hearn - all of Wallingford
Applicant relinquishes all claim whatever to any pension or annuity except the present - and declares his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state
Subscribed & sworn to this day & year of our Lord
Philip Curtis
We the undersigned a clergyman residing in the town of Wallingford & John Andrews a physician residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Philip Curtis - that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age - that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he now resides to have been a soldier of the revolution - & that we concur in that opinion -
Subscribed & sworn to this
Sedgwick Rice John Andrews

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the forementioned interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certify that Sedgwick Rice, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Wallingford and that Doct John Andrews, who has also signed the same, is a resident in said town of Wallingford, and is a credible person - and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the Court further certify that the applicant was supported in his declaration throughout by the deposition of Jeremiah Hall duly authenticated in Court.
Philip Gurtis 2744
Geo. D. Keene Judge of Probate for the District of Wallingford
I Randall Cook Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Wallingford, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Philip Gurtis for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said office this 11 th day of August A 1832 -
Randall Cook Clerk.

Rev. man
12658 INVALID.
am
File No. 12,658
Philip Curtiss
Brn. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Philip Cartis 2244
admit 6 in private - 64 $ 20
A. Blashpin
J. Hull
Dep. Clerk
15

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Philip Cartip 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? Not produced, though stated to exist. 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? 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?
 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.

Jeremiah Hull of Wallingford in the County of New Haven & State of Connecticut: of lawfull age depose & say that I have been acquainted with Phillip Curtiss from our boyhood - that I was drafted to go on the coast to keep guard in the fall of the year of 1780 for the term of two months - that one Hough was a commissioned officer - but while the Capt. or Lieut. (deponent is not able to say - that the Company was not then at New Haven - deponent says that at the same time Phillip Curtiss was then during the said time - deponent says that in 1781 he was again drafted to go on the coast - that the company in which deponent served was stationed at New Haven & Stratford - that he served for the space of two months - that deponent believes Phillip Curtiss was then at the same time - in the same company under Capt. Chas. Norton - that deponent was drafted at New Haven & went on the coast under Capt. Collins of Meriden in said County - that he went for the space of two months - that Phillip Curtiss was then at the same time - that each time the companies are verbally discharged - that at this last time the company was stationed at Bridgeport Jeremiah Hull
New Haven County ss Wallingford August 24. 1832 Personally appeared before me - Jeremiah Hull the signers of the foregoing deposition - and solemnly affirmed under the pains & penalties of perjury to the truth of the foregoing facts according to the best of his knowledge, belief, that the said Jeremiah Hull is a credible person & his story is credible to him before me. M. B. Reynolds Justice of the Peace

Samuel Blakesley of Lampford age
Philip Gurtis 2244
I Randall book clerk of the Probate District of Wallingford, hereby certify that John D. Reynolds whose name is within written to the deposition of Jeremiah Hull, is a justice of the Peace, duly qualified to administer oaths - and that the same is his hand writing —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said office this 3 d day of December 2 d . 1832 —
Randall book Clerk
(Handwritten signature)