Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8595, Reuben Graves, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Graves, Reuben
S. 8595-
CONTENTS
carded

Rev War
8595
INVALID.
File No. 8595
Reuben Graves
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index: Vol. 102 , Page 151
[Arrangement of 1870.]

14260 New York
Reuben Graves
of Cortland in the State of NY who was a private in the Com'ty commanded by Captain Dooker of the Reg't commanded by Col Webb - in the Mass line for 9 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York - at the rate of 30 - Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th day of May 1833 - and sent to L. D. Canfield Homer N.Y.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833. . . $ 60.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sep 1833. . . 15
$ 75.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book 6. Vol. 4, Page 57.

Declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. —
State of New York Cortland County, ss. on the twenty eighth day of October Eighteen hundred & thirty two personally appeared before me Andrew Dickson  and the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Cortland, to wit  to wit Reuben Graves a resident of the Town of Huston, in said County & the State of New York aged Sixty Nine Years on the twenty second day of November next who be- -ing 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 th 1832. — That he entered the service of the Uni- -ted States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. — That in the Month of June Seventeen hundred and Eighty one, he volunteered for the term of Six Months, in the Militia of the State of Massachusetts in the Army of the Revolution, under Captain Backus, and he believes his Ensigns Name Eaton his Orderly Sergeants Name he thinks was Smith — Colonel Webb Commanded the Regiment — he volunteered in the Town of Sudbury, in the State of Massachusetts, he went from Sudbury through Worcester, Brookfield, Springfield, and so on, the direct route to Fort Point, in the State of New York, where he remained til the Month of December after, when he was honorably Discharged, by Colonel Webb aforesaid, having served honestly and faithfully the full term of Six Months for which he volunteered he was acquainted with General, or Colonel Nixon and General or Colonel, Haskins, while there — That in the Month of August Seventeen hundred and Eighty two, he again volunteered for the term of three Months, in the Militia of the State of Massachusetts, in the Army of the Revolution, under Captain Page — he volunteered

in the said Town of Sudbury and in said State - he went from there, the direct route to Pehkill in the State of New York, he remained there, and at Gallows Hill so called til November after, when he was honorably Discharged by Captain Gage aforesaid having served honestly and faithfully the full term of three Months for which he Enlisted as a Volunteer there was a Captain Gage along at the time he thinks - he says he had two written Discharges of his Service, but that not seen them in Forty Years, and that he has lost them - he has no documentary Evidence & that he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service he was born in September hundred and Sixty Three he has no record of his Age, except there is one in the Town of Sudbury, where he was born, at which place he entered the service aforesaid - from Sudbury he Moved to the Town of Fitzwilliam in the State of New Hampshire from there he Moved to the Town of Pittsburg in the State of Vermont - from there he Moved - and to the Town of Troy, in the County of Onondaga & the State of New York - from there he Moved to the Town of Troy, in the County of Coeymans where he now resides - he hereby 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 Sworn and subscribed before me
This 21 st day of September 1832
Reuben Graves
Legislature Campfield Justice Peace
Sworn and acknowledged before me this 20 th day of October 1832
Andrew Dickson a Justice of Court Common Pleas
The undersigned and Robert Watson residing in the Town of Troy hereby certify that we are well ac- -quainted with Reuben Graves who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration, that we believe him to be Sixty Nine Years of Age, and that he is respected and believed in the Neighborhood

hood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn and Subscribed before
Zebulon Pierce.
on this 21 st day of September
1832 L. B. Campfield Justice Peace
Robert Watson
and the said Andrew Dickson hereby declares his opinion after the investigation of the Matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the Court department that the above named applicant was a Revolution- ary Soldier, and served as he states and the said And- rew Dickson further Certifies: That it appears to him that Zebulon Pierce & Robert Watson residents in the Town of Lux- -tan and County of Cortland are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit and the said Andrew Dickson further Certifies, that the said Reuben Gage, from badly infirmity, was totally unable to attend the County Court when the same was in session, in September last, & that he never is very unwell, and debilitated, with a Rheumatic complaint so as to injure his health, by being out, at all, from home - and that the words [unclear] the sixth line from the top, and the words [unclear] sitting, read the eighth line from the top; was, [unclear] Grand Jury -intest at, before me -
Andrew Dickson on of the Justices of the Court Common Pleas

I Samuel Hotchkiss Junior, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Cortland, which is a Court of Record, do hereby certify, that Lewis B. Canfield Esquire before whom, the foregoing Declaration of Reuben Graver is sworn, and before whom the foregoing Certificate of Jonathan Pierce & Robert Watson is sworn, and that Andrew Dickson, before whom, the Declaration of the said Reuben Graver is sworn, and the aforesaid Certificate is, by said Dickson subscribed, were at the date of the same, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in, and for the County of Cortland, & State of New York and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge, and the hand writing of the said Justice, and know, that their signatures to the same, are genuine - & that the said Lewis B. Canfield at the date of the same was a Justice of the Peace - in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this 24 th day of October 1832.
Sam Hotchkiss Jr. Clerk
Reuben Graver 10223

N o 16423
Deuel Gray Cortland N. York
L B Canfield Agent Hornes N York

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 Reuben Grans Cortland Co N. York
   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.     Col 1781 6 Poison Capt Beman Lt Col Webb From Ludlow to Norristown Brookfield N. York Peachkill 69 Ludlow Mass. Revolutionary   Col 1782 3 Capt Boje  
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 or 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 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.
[1] 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.
[2] 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 10 note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[4] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[5] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[6] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.