Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22838, James Holden, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Holden, James
S 22 838
CONTENTS

5638
New York
James Holden
of Batavia in the State of New York who was a Pr. Sgt in the Company commanded by Captain Sloan of the Regt. command by Col Patterson in the Massachusetts line for 11 months & 10 days private & 3 months Sergeant
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 52 Dollars 75 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Feb- ruary 1833 — and sent to Hon. P. Tracy Ho. Repn
Arrears to 14th of Sept 1832 — $79. 12 3/4 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 26. 37 1/2 $105.50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Enoch Bromwell Clerk, Book D Vol. 5 Page 148

State of New York
Genesee County ss: Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of the Town of Batavia in and for the county of Genesee James Holden the applicant for a pension in the declaration and papers hereto affixed, namely, 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 precise length of his service, but according to his best recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades: Viz. The first period I served as stated in said declaration, for nine months as a private. The second period mentioned in said declaration, I served as stated therein, at least six weeks, as a private. The third period mentioned in said declaration, I served for at least four weeks, as a private. The fourth period mentioned in said declaration, I served for three months, as an orderly sergeant. and for such service I claim a pension. In relation to the names and rank of officers under whom I served and where stationed, I cannot, for the reason before named, state more precisely & specifically than I have done in my said declaration, except that the Capt. White first named therein was William White.
9-42 28/11 70
Subscribed and sworn this 2 nd day of February 1833. before me.
James Holden
C. M. Russell Esq.
State of New York,
Genesee County Clerk's office ss: I Timothy Fitch, clerk of said county, do certify, that Charles M Russell Esquire, before whom the above affidavit purports to have been sworn, was, at the date of the same, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for the said county; and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit, to be his proper hand writing & signature. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this second day of February, Eighteen hundred and thirty three.
Timothy Fitch Clerk

State of New York
Genesee County 328
On this 16 th day of October eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Genesee, now sitting, (the said Court being a court of record) James Holden a resident of the Town of Batavia in the County of Genesee and State of New York aged Twenty Six 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 stated. That in the forepart of April 1775 he entered into said service at Adams in the county of Berkshire, Massachusetts, where he then resided, in a regiment of Militia of said State under Col. Patterson (whose christian name he does not recollect) in the Company commanded by Capt Samuel Sloan, as a volunteer & private, and continued in said service under this engagement, until sometime in January 1776. when he was duly discharged from said service by the said Col. Patterson, which discharge he has lost. That he was in said service under this engagement nine months. That he marched from Adams aforesaid to Cambridge near Boston, and was stationed at Charleston near Cambridge until he was discharged as aforesaid. That while he was at this place the Battle of Bunker Hill took place. But he was not in it, altho' he was near the scene of action he could see it distinctly. The regiment to which he belonged was stationed at Charleston to guard the place against the British force. That while stationed at this place, the British made an attack that upon the picket guard of the Americans, stationed at Greenwicks point, when a warm skirmish ensued, in which he the declarant participated, and in which the British forces were routed, & put to flight. That during his service under this engagement he frequently saw General Washington, General Putnam & General Green. That he cannot state the continental regiments (if any) with which he served during this engagement. The said James further declares that in the month of July 1776 he again entered said service, at Adams aforesaid, where he then resided, in a company of militia of Massachusetts, company commanded by Capt. White, as a volunteer, and continued in said service under this engagement at least six weeks, when

he was duly discharged from service by the said White, His discharge was a verbal one. The company was raised to go to Otter Creek in Vermont to protect the frontiers against the British, Indians, & Tories. The company to which he belonged was all that accompanied him from Adams on this expedition. He marched from Adams aforesaid to Otter Creek. From thence to Castleton in Vermont. Marched through Bennington, at which place the company to which he belonged joined the regiment under Col Seth Warner, under whose command he continued until discharged from service as aforesaid. The said James says he served under this engagement with the regiment under the said Warner. That he was acquainted with the said Warner & Capt. Hutchings of the regular army, That then he became acquainted with in this expedition.
The said James further declares that, in July 1777, he again entered said service as a volunteer at Adams aforesaid in the militia of Massachusetts in a company commanded by Capt. William White aforesaid, raised to go to Skeneborough in the State of New York, to guard the place against the British Tories & Indians. That he was out in said service on this expedition about 4 weeks. That the said expedition was made upon a sudden alarm given out that the British, Indians & Tories, were about to attack & burn that place.
The said James further declares that, a short time previous to Bennington Battle but the particular month he cannot recollect, he again entered said service as a volunteer at Adams aforesaid where he then resided, in a company of militia of Massachusetts company commanded by Capt. Brown (whose christian name he does not recollect) and continued in said service under this engagement at least three months at which when he was regularly discharged from said service, by the order of the said Brown. His discharge was a verbal one. That he marched from Adams to Williamstown, thence to Bennington where he joined the Regiment under Col. Seth Herrick, and where a battle ensued between the British & American Troops called Bennington battle in which the said James took part. From Bennington to Stillwater in New York, where he was station when he remained at the time of the surrender of General Burgoyne & until his discharge from service as aforesaid. The said James further declares that he stood as a minute man during the whole of the war that he was out in said service a number of times, besides those above stated, the particular periods of which or the names of the officers under whom he served he cannot state. That he is confident he was actually employed in said service during the war, under different engagements, at least two years.
To the special interrogatories of the said court the said James answered

that he was born at Berry in the State of Massachusetts the 15 th day of February, 1756. That he has a record of his age in his birth at his place of residence in Batavia aforesaid. That at the close of the war he resided at Adams aforesaid, after the war about 8 years. From this place he moved to Springfield Otsego Co N.Y. where he resided about 14 years. From this place he moved to Canandaigua Ontario Co. N.Y. where he resided about 3 years. From this place he moved to Batavia Genesee Co N.Y. where he has since resided, about 26 years and where he now resides. That in the campaign at the capture of Burgoyne he served with the Regiment under Col. Warner, Genl. Gates & Arnold & Col. Warner. He served with the corps under their command. He never received but one written written discharge from service, that was from Col. Patterson, and is lost. The rest were verbal. That he is known to William Hughes. There are L. Smith, Lucius Smith & Ethan B. Allen, residents in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. That he has no documentary evidence of his service, nor does he know of any person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his said services.
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 to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court
James Holden
Timothy Fitch Clerk
We Lucius Smith a clergyman residing in the Town of Batavia in the County of Genesee and Daniel H. Chandler residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with James Holden, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed & 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 & year aforesaid in open court
Timothy Fitch Clerk
Lucius Smith Daniel H. Chandler

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 Lewis Smith who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the town of Babylon in the county of Suffolk & State of New York, and that Daniel McChandlu who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same place, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Isaac Wilson William H. Hitehell Robert Carriff
I Timothy Fitch clerk of the said court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Holden for a pension, and that the said court is a court of record. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Sixteenth day of October 1832
Timothy Fitch Clerk
admed 11. m. 10. p.m. 3 mo. 003. 5. 6. 7 14 10
in the matter of James Holden a pensioner Declaration 15966 Heads and certificate To Carlton Town Babylon, Suffolk Co. N.Y.

F.S. Wood, Esq. Clerk, N.Y. Dist. Ct.
Resolutions
22838 INVALID.
Nov. 23/83 (Ant. Heist. Co) Batavia, N.Y. (Oct. 14/85 H.S.) to C.E. Lee 205 Niagara St., Buffalo
File No. 22838
James Holden
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 196
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Holden 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? Yes
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
Each term of service claimed for, should be especially
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? set forth as to period, & grade names, rank of officers - when stationed - etc. No allowance for any service not so specified
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? Yes
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
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.”

Jas. Holden
O.W.

Frank S. Wood, Counselor at Law, Batavia, N.Y. District Attorney.
Batavia, N.Y., Oct. 23, 1893.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear sir:-
My wife, who is a grand great-granddaughter of James Holden, a Revolutionary soldier wishes to join the society of the Daughters of American Revolution, and with that purpose in view, would like to obtain a copy of his declaration for pension, which is on file in your office. I do not know in what Co. he served, but he was a captain, and his declaration states that he was born in Barre, Mass. Feb 15, 1756, and mentions several engagements in which he was in. I do not wish the information for anyother purpose. Send memorandum of charges and I will remit.
Yours truly Frank S. Wood

205 NIAGARA STREET,
BUFFALO, N. Y.
Oct. 7 th 1895
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.
Dear Sir,
Would you kindly send me a certificate of the military service of James Holden in the Rev. War? He enlisted at East Hoosack, mass. in Capt Sloan's Co of Col John Patterson's Regt of Mass. Troops in 1775. He also served in Capt Nye's Co and Capt Brown's Co in 1777. He is also supposed to have served in Capt W m White's Co, Col. Seth Warner Regt of Mass. Troops in 1776. He resided at Batavia N.Y. at the time pension was granted. Any ex- pense attending a reply to this request will be gladly met if advised of amt.
Respectfully Yours
Chas. E. Selkirk