Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13298, Sylvanus Halsey, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Halsey, Sylvanus
S.13298
CONTENTS
learned

24881
New York
order to pay. Ap. 19, 1837.
Sylvanus Halsey of Suffolk Co in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Davis of the Reg d commanded by Col Livingston the New York line for 12 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Mar 1834 and sent to Hon A Huntington H. Repn
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 34 — $120.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep 34 20.00
$140.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by No. Cromwell Clerk Book E Vol. 4 Page 111

No rolls of H.B. Living = Elans left for '76 -
adm 2 12 mo. pri 40 H

State of New York } ss. County of Suffolk }
On this Second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the said county of Suffolk, Silvanus Halsey, a resident of the town of Southampton in the county of Suffolk, and State of New York, aged seventy 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 provision of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776, in the month of March and served in the regiment of the continental line, under the following named officers, to wit. John Davis Captain. William Havens first Lieutenant. Edward Conklin, second Lieutenant. Silvanus Conklin. Ensign. & Henry W m Livingston Colonel, that he left the service the first of March in the year 1777. that he resided in the town of Southampton, county of Suffolk and State of New York, when he entered the service, that

that he was engaged in a battle with a company of Tories on Long Island, and captured 28 of them and conveyed them to New Haven in the State of Connecticut. That he was stationed at first on Montauk on the east end of Long Island where the company remained four or five months, and from Montauk the said company crossed the sound to Saybrook in the State of Connecticut. And from thence to New Haven, and from thence through Danbury to Fishkill barracks, from thence to Fort Constitution, from thence to Fort Montgomery, where he was discharged. He hereby relinquishes every claim 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. Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid } Silvanus Halsey Joseph A. Hunting Clk

State of New York Suffolk County
Personally appeared before me Josiah H. White Esq. one of the Justices of the peace of the said County David Howell of the Town of Southampton County and State aforesaid a person to me well known who being duly sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted with Silvanus Halsey of the Town and County aforesaid and that he recollects perfectly well that the said Silvanus Halsey enlisted into a company of minute men commanded by Capt David Person John Foster was Lieutenant and Abraham Rose was ensign that the said Silvanus Halsey enlisted in said company in March 1775 and continued in said company until March 1776 and then enlisted into the Continental line and that he believes the said Silvanus Halsey is about the age he represents and further this deponent says not
The within named Silvanus Halsey is a man well known to me to be one who was entitled to full credit and belief
The above deposition taken and subscribed before me the 12 day of October A.D. 1832 Josiah H. White Justice of the peace
State of New York Suffolk County
Personally appeared before me Josiah H. White Esq. one of the Justices of the peace of the said County William Halsey a person to me well known who being duly sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted with Silvanus Halsey of the Town of Southampton County and State aforesaid and recollects that the said Silvanus Halsey belonged to a company of minute men in the year 1775 to 1776 and that he enlisted into the Company of Capt John David a company belonging to the Continental line in the year 1776 and that he believes the said Silvanus Halsey to be about the age he represents and further said deponent says not
The within named Silvanus Halsey is a man well known to me who was entitled to full credit and belief
I hereby certify that the above deposition was taken and subscribed before me Josiah H. White Justice of the peace Oct 12 1832

State of New York } I Joseph A. Huntington Clerk of Suffolk County } the Court of Common Pleas for Saiia County Do Certify that Joseph A. White Esq. before whom the foregoing Depositions of Maria Hovele and William Walser were Taken is a Justice of the peace for said County and duly authorized to act as such and further that I am well acq- -uainted with the hand writing of such Justice and truly believe the Signature is genuine - For Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 2 d of October 1832
Joseph A. Huntington Clk The amendments to the foregoing Certificate all in the proper hand writing of Joseph A. White Esq. Atty. J. A. Huntington Clk
And the said Court after a due Examination and hearing of the foregoing declaration and of the Declarations their opinions and after putting the interro- -gatories prescribed by the War department Decided then his opinion that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Sol- -dier and served as he states - And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that

State of New York } ss County of Suffolk }
On this 27 th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before me Jonathan J. Conklin one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Suffolk. Abraham Sherrill Junior, of the town of Easthampton in the county and State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five, early in the spring of that year the deponent he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the continental line, under the following named officers, John Davis Captain — William Havens first Lieutenant, Edward Conklin, Second Lieutenant, Sylvanus Conklin Ensign, & Henry B Livingstone Colonel, that the company to which he belonged was at first stationed on Montauk, on the east end of Long Island, from Long Island the company crossed the sound to Saybrook in the State of Connecticut, from thence to New Haven, and from thence recrossed the sound to the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, from thence to New Haven

New Haven aforesaid, and after marching through different sections of country, the said company was stationed at fort Montgomery where they remained about two months, and were discharged from the service in the month of march in the year 1777. And the deponent further says that he knows Silvanus Halsey a resident of the town of Southampton in the county & State aforesaid, who enlisted in the abovesaid company at the time that he the deponent did, and served therein during the term which the deponent served
Sworn to, and subscribed } Abraham Sherril Gurd on the day and year aforesaid -
before me;
Jonathan S. Cenklin Judge
Silvanus Halsey Deponent
I, Jonathan S. Cenklin, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Suffolk, in the State of New York, Do hereby Certify, that I am well acquainted with Abraham Sherril Gurd, who subscribed and swore to the foregoing affidavit. And I further certify that the said Abraham Sherril Gurd is a credible person and his statement as above set forth is entitled to credit.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the 28 th June 1833 -
Jonathan S. Cenklin Justice

And the said Court Do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Sonnet as he States
I Joseph R Huntington Clk of the Court of Common pleas for Suffolk County Do here Certify that the foregoing Contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Silvanus Halsey for a pension In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of office this 2 nd day of October 1832 -
Joseph R Huntington Clk

State of New York } Suffolk County } ss
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county of Suffolk. Silvanus Halsey, who, being duly sworn, deponeth 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 one year I served as a private in the Continental line. And previous to enlisting in the said Continental line I enlisted in a company known by the name of Minute men. I entered said company the first of March 1775 and continued in said company until the first of March 1776 at which time I enlisted in the continental line as above stated. The said minute company was stationed on Montauk on the East end of Long Island. The said company was a detached portion of the militia, was drilled much more than the militia generally, and held in readiness to be called out on any emergency. That I enlisted both times as a volunteer, and for such service (namely, for two years) I claim a pension. I was born in the year 1755. I have a record of my age now in my possession, that I now reside in the town of Southampton, where I have lived ever since the Revolutionary War.
Sworn to, and subscribed } Silvanus Halsey the 24 th June 1833 before me Jonathan S. Centhalin Justice

Suffolk County Clerk's office 3 I Joseph A Huntington Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Suffolk Do Certify that Jonathan S Conklin Esq before whom the foregoing Deposition of Silvanus Dillsey was taken is a Justice of the peace for said County that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and believe it to be genuine Witness my hand & seal of office this 1 st of August 1833 Joseph A Huntington

14.775
Schramm Kalsup Suffolk Co. N.Y.
R. C. J.
Non: A. Huntington Joseph R. Huntington Esq.
East Hampton N.Y.

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 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 Isaac Halsey
   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.     March or April 1816 to 1 March 1817 Private Capt Davis Col Livingston 76 years Suffolk Co NY Tradition  
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 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.
[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.
□ The notes from [a] to [e] 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.
[k] 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.

Rechar
13298 INVALID.
File No. 13. 298
Sylvania Keating Am. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 435
[Arrangement of 1870.]

New York
Rev
Sylvanus Halsey
Suspended
let. Soc R Hunting 22
Oct. 1833
admd
Act. 7 June '32

Mechanics Bank New York 8 th April 1837
Sir
I enclose for your examination the papers in the case of Sylvanus Halsey, a Private at $40 per Annum Under the act of 7 th June 1832, who claims his pension from the 4 th of March 1836.
Very Respectfully Your Oble Servt J n Fleming Presd t & Speng er
James S Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Halsey, Thomas GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7225 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 26, 1791 To Henry Ludlam, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.