Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4622, Joseph Harmon, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Harmon, Joseph
R. 4622
CONTENTS

The State of Ohio Grange County } On this 14 th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three and one eighth appeared in open court before the court of Common Pleas now sitting within open Grange County Joseph Newman resident of Hamilton in Darke County aged eighty years the 14 th day of May last who being duly sworn and upon his said oath make the following de- claration in order to obtain the benefits of the acts of Congress passed the 9 th day of June 1832
This deponent entered the service of the United States under the following named offi- cers and served as herein after stated In the month of August in the year 1776. The deponent entered the service of the United States under service of General Washington by an order of the governor of Connecticut joined the company of Samuel Harkness Lieutenants who commanded the Company. Quasimodo had indigen of said Company This deponent was ordered and marched to the City of New York under the command of Major Roger Housley where he remained about three weeks and was taken sick and sent to Massachusetts Hospital and then remained till his recovery when he was discharged from duty

upon which was again drafted for two months in the month of August in the year 1818 under Genl Sullivan in the Company commanded by Captain Pomeroy - This deponent was with Genl Sullivan on the 18 th of September 1818 when he effected his retreat from New York. This deponent was appointed waiter to Captain Pomeroy which duty he performed until the end of his tour and was then discharged.
This deponent was again drafted the year he cannot recollect for a two months tour of duty and employed Ezra Hanchett who went as a substitute. This deponent was also drafted for another two months tour of duty and paid a fine of sixteen dollars. He has no documentary evidence by which he can prove his claim nor does he know of any person living except John King whose affidavit he had been authorized to use. He hereby acknowledges all claims to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Joseph HARRISON
Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid.
D. D. Aiken, Clerk Com. Pleas

1 st In order to the better understanding of I was born in the Town of Suffield Connecticut in the year 1753 on the 14 th day of Janu y .
2 nd This is a record of my age in the Town clerks office at Suffield. It is the only record of my age that I know of.
3 rd I was living at Suffield when called into service. I removed to New York State and in 1800 to Herk County where I now live.
4 th I have already stated the particulars of my services as well as I can trace my 80 years of memory back.
5 th I was acquainted with Colonel Samuel Chapman General Sullivan Major Sturtevant.
6 th I never received any except a verbal discharge.
7 th I can refer to Moses Parsons War- ham Parsons William Harmon
Mr William Bolling a clergyman residing in the neighborhood of Joseph Harmon and John King residing in the same place are certain that we are well acquainted.

with Joseph Hearn who has signed and sworn to the above declaration that he believes to be aged eighty years that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution that we concur in that op- inion
Sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opin- ion after investigation of the matter and after perusing the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above na- med applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifying that it appears to them that William Collins who has sign- ed the above declaration certificate is a coun- tryman residing in the neighbourhood and that John King who has also signed the same is a resident in the neigh- bourhood of the said Joseph Hearn and is a respectable person and that their statements are entitled to credit.

The application of Joseph Warren for a pension under the act 1882 — " — " —
Isaac Paine agent

The State of Ohio Guadalupe County ss
I D.D. Aiken clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Guadalupe do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Warren for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 20th day of May September A.D. 1830
D.D. Aiken, Clerk
Not being the clergyman would not be present we have therefore sent the odd certificate

The application of Joseph Harrison for a pension under the act of 1832 "
27. 311.
Return to Mr. Paine Painswick

The State of Ohio Franklin County } ss } 0
3 Personally appeared John King who being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath depose as sayeth that Joseph Harmon in the year 1876 was drafted and went to New York on a ten months tour of duty. I had a brother David King who was drafted and went at the same time. — This affiant also knows of said Harmon's going to New York and Rhode Island in the company of Captain Pomeroy.
This affiant also knows that said Joseph was drafted and said a piece of paper called to expand himself from giving this deponent had been acquainted with the said Joseph Harmon for a great length of time and knows him to be a man of truth and veracity and further saith etc. This affiant also knows that said Joseph Harmon was drafted in the year and kinderra Heuchert as a substitute when sent in his stead and further this affiant saith etc. Joseph L.
John King
Sealed and delivered in open court this 14 th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 32
J. S. Aiken Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas

REJECTED
1622
P. O. _____
Joseph Harman
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for rejection -
Application filed: _____, 18
"not six months service"
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Act of 7 th June 1832
Rejected
See letter 29 th Oct 1833
To. Mrs. C. Palmer
Painesville
Ohio -
H 6 2 2

27. 811.
Joseph Harmon Ohio
Rejected Service note 6 months
Ira C. Paine Painesville Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjjoined 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. Those 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
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
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 the 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 inquiry 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 to the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposes 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 _____; 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 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 at 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 [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule [j] 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.