Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9167, Gad Chapin, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Chapin, Sad
S9167
carded
CONTENTS

22059
4529 New York
Gad Chapin
of Washington in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Taylor of the Regiment commanded by Col. Prevost in the Highlands line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York at the rate of 30 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of March 1833 — and sent to Col. Hartford
Arrears to the 4th of Ma: '33 $ 6 00 Pension allowance ending 4 th '33 1 50 $7 50
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Book E. Vol. 4. Page 56 Clerk.

State of New York County of Washington
On this 29 th — Day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of the County of Washington now sitting Ead Chaplin a resident of the Town of Hartford in the County of Washington and State of New York Aged Eighty Three Years who being first duly sworn according to law both 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 named officers and served as herein stated. That in the Month of June 1775 he enlisted in the Army of the Revolution at the Town of Rye County of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts where he then resided. That he enlisted for a Nine Months term but under an Agreement that his term should be considered as commencing in April previous to his enlistment & That he actually served about Seven Months and as he very believes more than Seven Months rather
7 Mo.

then Lep. that immediately thereafter he joined his Company at Inels Point near Boston under the Command of a Captain Maxwell and one Brown as Lieutenant and William Taylor as Ensign and one Prescott was Colonel of the Regiment but he does not remember the names of the Lt. Colonel or Major and that he remained Stationed at Inels Point to prevent the enemy from passing up the river to Cambridge from Boston &c. until he was discharged which was in January 1776. That he never had any written discharge as he recollects it so it has been lost or destroyed & that his House was burnt about Twenty three years ago and with it most of his Papers & Household Property and one of his children.

That in the Month of June 1777 he went out again as a Volunteer from the Town of Roe County of Hampshire State of Massachusetts that he joined a Company in Chillemont or some Town near Roe under the Command of Captain Taylor and Lieutenant Gideon Chapin & that he & his Company marched to a place called Moses Creek near Fort Edward in the State of New York passing through Adams & Williamstown in Massachusetts; that at Moses Creek he joined the forces under command of General Philip Schuyler and was in a few days marched to Fort Miller, staid one Night & then was marched to a place called as he believes Demonds-Ferry, staid there some days & marched to Stillwater so called at which place he was discharged having served Two Months. That he was discharged sometime in the Month of August 1777. but does not remember of receiving any written discharge & that if he did the same has been lost by time and accident or destroyed & has most probably been burnt as his House
2 Months

was destroyed by fire about Twentythree years ago when he had one child and most of his Papers & other property in his house consumed. That he has no documentary evidence of the said services or facts and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services.
And the said Geo. Chapin further states in answer to certain Interrogatories directed by the War-Department to be propounded to all applicants for a Pension in certain cases
Firstly That he was born in the Town of the Palmer in the County of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts in the year 1748.
Secondly That he had a Record of his Age in his Bible formerly but his house was destroyed by fire about 23 years ago and his Bible was burnt with it & he has no other Record of his Age
Thirdly That he lived in the Town of Roe in the County of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts at the time he entered the service and that since the Revolution he lived in Roe aforesaid until about Forty years ago at which time he moved to the Town of Hartford County of Washington & State of New York where he has resided

ever since
Fourthly That at the first time he entered the service he did so by a voluntary enlistment and the last time as a volunteer without enlistment
Fifthly That Colonel Prescott Captain Maxwell Lieutenant Brown and Ensign William Taylor are all the officers whose names he can remember whom he knew during his first term of service and General Schuyler General St. Clair and the officers of his company above named are all he can remember whom he knew during his second service & term.
Sixthly That he never received any written discharge from the service aforesaid as he recollects & if he did they were destroyed by fire at the time his house was burnt many years since probably.
Seventhly That he is known to Caleb Brown Israel Harris Ebenezer Lord Isaac B. Clark Daniel Mason & Timothy Allen in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
And the said Gad Chapin further says that he 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 or Territory whatever: if that he has not procured the certificate of the Minister of the Church & Parish to which he belongs for the reason that no Minister is settled there at this time & therefore he cannot do so.
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
J. S. Leigh C.W.B.
G. D. Cheyney
G. D. Cheyney

Yaa Chapini Washington 6 o New York
adm d

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of G. A. Chapin
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     June 1775 at 7 Purdie Capt Moses Wells Col. Purdie Sewell point near Boston March to Fort Edward 83 years Wamphire 84 M ch 11 Tract   June 1777 2 " Capt Taylor  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ 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 the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A. B. _____ who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

We Timothy Allen residing residing in the Town of Hartford in the County of Washington and State of New York and Caleb Brown residing in the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Gad Chapman who has subscribed and sworn to the the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty Three 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 & Subscribed in Open Court this 29. day of August 1832 J. S. Leigh C.R.
Timothy Allen Caleb Brown
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 Timothy Allen and Caleb Brown who have signed the preceding certificate are respectively residents in the Town of Hartford County of Washington and State of New York and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Jesse S. Leigh Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington

do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gad Chapin for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29 th Day of August 1832. J. S. Leigh clerk
Gad Chapin

Gad Chapins can
4 swm
Gad Chapins
22059
adm
9mo. pri
30
In the Matter of Gad Chapin a Pensioner

State of New York Washington County ss
Caleb Brown of Hartford County & State aforesaid Aged Seventy Three Years being duly sworn according to law says that he has known Gad Chapin named in the above declaration nearly Sixty Years that in the time of the Revolution he lived in Lester Worcester County Mass -chusetts and knew said Chapin well and that he had about the year 1773 married the sister of this deponent and while said Chapin was in the service he often heard of it and saw him when going to and returning from the service in 1775 and had then no doubt of his serving as he has stated, nor has he now. Further that his Brother was Lieutenant of the Company in which said Chapin served & he has heard his said Brother Benjamin Brown say that said Chapin served at Snell Point under him & was a good soldier. and he also heard at the time, of said Chapin being out again as a soldier in 1777. but had no personal knowledge of his service.
Caleb Brown
Subscribed and sworn to in Open court
this 29. day of Aug. 1832
J. S. Leigh CCR

Rev. Chap.
9164
INVALID.
No. No. 9167
Rev. Chapin
Pri Rev War
Act: June 1 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 st , Page 65
[Arrangement of 1870.]