Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 24128, Seth Conklin, New York

SERVICE
New York.
Conklin, Seth
NUMBER
S. 24128
CONTENTS

No. 393 York St City Seth Conklin of Ulster Co., in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Boyd of the Regt. commanded by Col. Drake in the New York line for 21 months and 13 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 71 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of Dec. 1833 and sent to Mrs. Mary Conklin Kings Co.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33 $179.16 Semi-ant. allowance ending Apr. '34 35.83 $215.00
Revolutionary Claim, as of June 7, 1832. Recorded by Geo. C. [unintelligible] Clerk Book C. Vol. 4. Page 94.

Seth Conklin
12. 253.

State of New York Ulster County ss.
On this thirteenth day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before Abraham G. Baron  burgh Joseph Jansen & Abraham A. Deyo Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County being a court of record having a Clerk & a seal Now organised according to Law and sitting as a court of Record with Conklin of the town of Newpaltz & in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy one years and upwards, 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. 1832.
That during the whole of the Revolutionary war he kept his home with his mother who was a widow, in the town of Cortlandt in the County of Westchester That in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven hundred and twenty seven he entered the service of the United States in the Militia of the State of New York, under the Command of Captain Boyd, (his christian name not recollected) in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Drake, and in which John Wyatt was Lieut Colonel and Elijah Drake Major, They went on an alarm down to White Plains, that they were in actual service more than fifteen days, -
And this deponent further saith that afterwards & during the war he was twice more called out on alarms under

The same officers to the same place and was out each time about seven days.
That During the summer of the year one thousand seven hundred and Seventy Eight. and for about seven months he served as a patrol under Captain Dennis Canada being called out every fourth night that the said Dennis has been dead for several years.
That During the next season to wit in the year 1779. he again served as a patrol under Captain Daniel Hall for about the same length of time as the year previous - and serving in the same manner every fourth night that during the summer his mother's house was burned by the enemy at the time that the deponent was out on duty as such patrol. That said Daniel Hall is also dead.
That the next season & for about the same length of time he served in the provision service on the North River under Captain John Savinus who is also dead.
1. That he was born in the town of Cortlandt in the county of Westchester on the tenth of April in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty one. 2. The record of his age was burnt when his mother's house was burned by the enemy as above stated. 3. That he was living in the town of Cortlandt.

During all the time above mentioned and continued to reside there until about twelve years since when he removed to his present residence
4 That whenever he was called out on alarms he was regularly warned to appear by the authority of the Law, and that the times he served as patrol, he did so by virtue of what he then considered as the proper authorities of his country under the continental congress
5 That he cannot recollect that he served in company with any continental troops and cannot relate any particular circumstances which took place at the times he was in service
6 Never had or received any written discharge
7 That he is acquainted with Peter Rebecka Esquire of the town of Croton and David Moody of Newpaltz and would refer to them and to all his neighbors for his character for veracity and integrity
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court. A. G. Hartshornh } Judges      Seth } Conklin Abner of Deo }                              Mark John J. Jones

State of New York
Ulster County ss, On the twelfth day of July in the year 1833. personally appeared before me, the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for the County of Ulster residing in the town of Kingston in the said County Seth Conklin of the town of Newpaltz in said County who being duly 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 time or 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 -
In the summer of the year 1777 - for fifteen 15d days - as a private soldier
7m In the year 1778. For seven months also as a private soldier -
7m In the year 1779 For seven months also as a private soldier -
7m In the year 1780 For seven months also 1y 9m 15d as a private soldier and for those several periods of service I claim a pension
Subscribed and sworn This 12 th day of July 1833 before me J. V. Gaasbeck Esq Justice of the peace -
his Seth X Conklin mark

State of New York
Ulster County Clerk's office Esq: I Jacob Snyder Clerk of the County of Ulster and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County do hereby Certify that Peter Van Gaasbeek Junior Esquire was on the day of the date of the within affidavit a Justice of the peace in and for said County of Ulster duly authorized to take affidavits &c and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe the signature of said Justice to the Certificate of the within affidavit to be genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court and County this twelfth day of July 1833.
Jacob Snyder

and e not Conklin se
State of New-York, County of Westchester
} ss. I, Nathaniel Bayles
Clerk of the County aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY , That, Daniel Wm. Durasall Esq whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the annexed deposition the annexed certificate and endorsed thereon, was, on the day of the date of the said Certificate, a Commissioner in and for the said County, residing in the said County, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Commissioner and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate of said Deposition is genuine.
In Testimony whereof , I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said County, the Eighth day of September 183 2
N Bayles
_____

State of New York Westchester County
Isaac Bonklin of the town of Courtlandt in said County of the age of eighty years being duly sworn doth depose and say that in the year 1776 with Bonklin the Brother of this Deponent entered into the service of the United States under Col. Samuel Drake & Major Joshua Drake & Capt Boyd in the Militia of the State of New York that this Deponent belonged to the Continental troops but at a variety of times when at home this Deponent was out in the Militia at alarms and scouting parties & patrolling nights on which occasions this Deponent was out in the same parties with his said Brother and on all occasions whenever this Deponent was out with his Brother in the Militia he always found his Brother out & in service and this continued to be the case from said year 1776 to the Peace in eighty three and this Deponent always understood at the time that his said Brother was out in such service almost the whole time during the whole of the war until the Peace And this Deponent further saith that during said time this Deponent and his said Brother both resided in
See New York State Library manuscript MS. A. 1. 1 v. 2 p. 1033

said town of Courtland - and further this Deponent saith not sworn this 8th Inst Isaac in  x Conklin 1832
Subscribed & sworn this 8th Inst
Daniel W. Birdsell Commissioner of Deeds

Resolution
24/28 INVALID.
File No. 24/28
Seth Conklin
Sci Rec War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 72
[Arrangement of 1870.]
my

WE, Benjamin Van Keuren a Clergyman, residing in the town of Eopus in the County of Ulster and State of New-York, and Peter R. Decker of the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Seth Cookklin who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one 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. in open Court. Benj. Van Keuren Peter R. Decker A. H. Hardenburgh Abn. A. Deyo John Jansen } Judges
CERTIFICATE OF THE COURT.
The Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ulster - in the State of New-York, sitting this thirteenth day of September in the year 1832 at the court-house in Kingston in said County, do hereby declare their opinion, after 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 Benjamin Van Keuren who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Eopus in the County aforesaid, and that Peter R. Decker who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and a creditable person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
A. H. Hardenburgh Abn. A. Deyo John Jansen } Judges
I, Jacob Snyder Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Ulster 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 Seth Cookklin for a Pension.
TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this thirteenth day of September 1832
Jacob Snyder

State of New-York. County of Westchester } ss. 1, Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY , That, Daniel Wm. Dinsdale Esq. whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the annexed deposition annexed deposition , and endorsed thereon, was, on the day of the date of the said Certificate, a Commissioner in and for the said County, residing in the said County, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Commissioner and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate of said Commissioner is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said County, the Tenth day of September - 1832
N. Bayles

State of New York West Chester County ss.
Henry C. Vought of the town of Cortlandt in the said County of the age of seventy two years being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was in several different years during the war called out in the state in alarms & scouting Parties that Seth Cooklin then of said town of Cortlandt now of the County of Ulster was in the service on such occasions & I uniformly met with him when I was out and that on a great variety of different occasions during different years of the war and I entertain no manner of doubt from what I have seen and understood from others that the said Seth Cooklin was uniformly called out in alarms scouting Parties & Patrols during the whole of the war from the commencement of it to the close and was ready at a moment's warning on all occasions of that kind. And further this Deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 10 th day of September 1832.
Henry C. Vought mark
Daniel W m Birdsell
Commissioner of Deeds
I certify that on the 10 th day of September 1832 Henry C. Vought to me personally known to be a man of respectability and credibility whose testimony is entitled to full credit appeared before me and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit.
Daniel W m Birdsell Commissioner of Deeds

State of New York
Westchester County ss. Isaac Conklin of the town of Courtlandt in the said County of Westchester being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was a soldier of the Revolution in the Continental Service, That his brother Seth Conklin now residing in the town of Newpaltz in the County of Ulster entered into the service of the United States, That his said brother was in actual service in the year 1777 under Capt Boyd in the Regiment of Colonel Samuel Drake, the precise time this deponent cannot recollect but he believes it was more than fifteen days That his said brother was also in actual service during the year 1778 and for a period exceeding six months according to the best of his recollection and belief. and that this year the said Seth served One Capt. Canada —
That in the year 1779 he served in like manner under one Capt Hall, for about the same period, That during all the several periods aforesaid he served as a private
And this deponent further saith that in the year 1780. The said Seth also served the same period of time under One Capt Laverus in the Provision Service as a private, and this deponent further saith that he has always understood and believes that his brother served in the Revolutionary war in the service of the United States for a period equal to Three years — at least.
Sworn & Subscribed before me
This 8 th June 1833. W m H. Briggs Justice
Isaac Conklin mark
I certify that on the 8 th day of June 1833 Isaac Conklin to me personally known to be a man of Respectability and credibility whose testimony is entitled to full credit appeared before me & Made Oath to the truth of the above affidavit W m H. Briggs Justice

I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of Westchester, State of New York do certify that William H Briggs Esq r before whom the forego- ing affidavit was sworn to, was on the day of the date of the Jurat thereto a Justice of the peace in and for said County, duly elected & sworn, and also that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice, and believe the signatures sub- scribed to the foregoing as his are genuine —
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand hereat and affixed my seal of office this 12 th day of June 1832
N. Bayles Clk

12253 Seth Jonklin
Admittal Private 21 mo 15 days
Admittal
Oct. 19 33
Nov. 4 33
John Van Buren Esq., Kingston New York

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

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? Yes
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?
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? No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes
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? Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
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.