Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15160, Stephen Griffis, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Griffis, Stephen
S 15160
Born in Conn.
CONTENTS
Carded

N o 11.868 Pennsylvania
Stephen Griffis
of Susqueh a Co. in the State of Penna. who was a Ser t . in the company command by Captain Lansman of the _____ command by _____ in the N. York Mil. time for 11 months & 18 days & paid
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 57 Dollars 98 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of July 1833 and sent to A. D. D. & Co. Montrose Pa.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 115.96 Pens ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. 1833 28.99
$144.95
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown
Clerk,
Book E.
Vol. 5
Page 21

Sept 26
Stephen Griffin's Plasgow Application
10633

State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County
On this tenth — day of September A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before William Thomson and David Dimock Esquires, associate judges of the court of common pleas of said county, now sitting — Stephen Griffith, a resident of the township of Brooklyn, in the county of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, aged _____  Eighty three 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 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 after stated:—
That he volunteered in the Militia at Petersburg, county of Rensselaer, & State of New York, about the first day of April 1775, and served as first sergeant in a company commanded by Capt. John Sampson, as follows, to wit:— At Saratoga, ten days — at Patsburg-kiln, five days — Botten-kiln, six days — Stillwater, eight days — again at Saratoga, ten days — at Mapletown, four days — at Fort Edward, eleven days — again at Mapletown three days — again at Saratoga, nine days — & then again at Mapletown, four days — and again returned to Fort Edward & served nine days.
In the spring of 1776, called to Fort Edward, & served fourteen days — then to Saratoga, & served eight days — then to Botten-kiln, five days — Stillwater nine days — Fort Ann fourteen days — Saratoga again four days — Mapletown three days — Hoosack Falls two days — Dutch Hoosack five days — Old Hoosack ten days — & Stillwater ten days.
In the spring of 1777, served at Fort Edward fourteen days — Mapletown five days — Patsburg-kiln seven days — Botten-kiln six days — Stillwater nine days — Saratoga ten days — Old Hoosack thirteen days — Fort Edward twelve days — Ft. Ann thirteen days — Stillwater eleven days — Saratoga nine days — Mapletown three

and old Hoosack, eleven days -
In the Spring of 1778, called out and served at Fort Edward fourteen days - at Saratoga ten days - Posen Pile four days - Schenectady ten days - Fort Ann fifteen days - Fort Edward thirteen, & at Old Hoosack eleven days - again at Fort Ann twenty days and again at Fort Edward fifteen days -
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present; and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State -
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court
Asa Olmsted Provost
That he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to testify to his services.
J. Lapham

Sep - 26.
Stephen Grippis Penscow Application
16833

We Joshua Miles, _____ residing in the Township of Brooklyn, & Elisha Griffis of the Township of Briarwater, in the County of Susquehanna & State of Pennsylvania, hereby certify that we are acquainted with Stephen Griffis, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration; — that we believe him to be about eighty-three years of age, — that he is respected, and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution — & that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to, and subscribed, the day _____ and year aforesaid, in open court. _____ Asa D. Muck & Root
Joshua Miles Elisha Griffis
And the 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 certify that it appears to them that Joshua Miles, who has signed the preceding Certificate is a resident of the Township of Brooklyn — & that Elisha Griffis who has also signed the same, is a resident of the Township of Briarwater, & that they are both credible persons, and that their statements is entitled to credit. By the Court,
Asa D. Muck & Root
State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County ss.
I, Asa D. Muck Jr. Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Stephen Griffis, for a pension. —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and seal of office, this eleventh day of Sept. A.D. 1832
Asa D. Muck Jr. Prothonotary

State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County ss
Personally appeared before David Post- esque, One of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Susquehanna Stephen Griffith, of the township of Brooklyn in said County aged eighty three years and an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress, of the 7 th day of June 1832, and being duly sworn according to Law, in answer to the interrogatories proposed in the Regulations of the War Department under said Act, doth on his Oath depose and say -
1 st That he was born in the town of Norwalk in the State of Connecticut on the eighteenth day of June 1749 - 2 nd That he has no record of his age - That he had a record then of which he took from the family record of his Father, but that about ten years ago he had his house consumed by fire, with all its contents, among which was the record of his age. 3 rd That when he first entered the service of his Country, he resided at a place called Hoosack - Now Petersburg, Rensselaer County State of New York, that he left Petersburg aforesaid, about twenty years ago, and went to Herbers, Chenango County N.Y. From thence to Brooklyn township Susquehanna County Pa where he now resides. 4 th That, at all times when he served his Country, it was as a Volunteer, that himself, with the Company to which he belonged were Minute Men, and held themselves in readiness to turn out at any time when called upon - 5 th That he belonged to a Company Commanded by Capt John Sampman, 1 st Lieut Abraham Fosberg 2 nd Lieut Serre Dapoot - The Company belonged to a Regiment Commanded by Col. Henry Van Rensselaer (Also not recol- lects the name of the Lieut Col) - Major Abraham Punker - That at each time he was out in the service, it was under the same Company Officers. When he was at Saratoga General Schuyler had Command - That being a Minute Man, and performing but short tours of duty, he had not an opportunity of becoming acquainted with regular officers - That the Corps, to which he belonged were Militia and Volunteers and were called into service by the Authority of the State of New York - The general circumstances of his services are detailed in his description. 6 th He never received a regular discharge. 7 th That Joshua Meles & Elisha Griffith have testified to his character for veracity - That he verily believes (if they were present) that Col. Frederick Bailey, Capt. Amos Bailey - Anthony Wright, Joshua Baker, and his neighbours generally would testify to the same. That there is no

regularly settled Clergyman residing in his immediate neighborhood with whom he is acquainted. That he is informed, that a young Clergyman of the Presbyterian Order, has lately settled in Brooklyn Township, but that he has no acquaintance with him.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the twenty second day of May A.D. 1833.
Stephen Guffey
David Post Hance
State of Pennsylvania
Schuylkill County p.s.
Asa Dimock Jr. Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that David Post esquire, whose signature in his own proper handwriting appears subscribed to the attestation of the foregoing deposition of Stephen Guffey, is an acting Justice of the peace, in and for the County of Schuylkill aforesaid, duly Commissioned & qualified as appears of Record.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at Montrose the twenty second day of May A.D. 1833.
Asa Dimock Jr. Pro.

16633 Stephen Griffith Susquehanna Co. Penn.
Admitted 11 mos 15 days $38.00 11 mos, 18 days, Supt. $57.98
ASA Dimock Montrose Susquehanna County Penn.
E

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. 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 Stephen Griffith  Susquehanna County Penn
   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.     Vol. April 1775 61 1 st Sergt. None given Age 83 Traditionary   1776 84 " — — Petersburg   1777 123 — — New-York   1778 80 — —   248   11 18  
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 days 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 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 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 _____; 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.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

15.160 INVALID
File No. 15.160
Stephen Griffith Sergt. W. W.
Act: June 5th 1852
Index:—Vol. 1, Page 153
[Arrangement of 1870.]