Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4205, Asahel Graves, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
com.
Graves, Asahel
R. 4205-
CONTENTS

16561
Asahel Graves Susquehanna County Penn.
4205
Rejected
See letter 3. May 1833
Ada Dimock Montrose Susquehanna Co. Penn.

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 subjunctive 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 Asahel Graves Susquehanna Co. 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.     1780 or 81 2 or 3 yrs Blacksmith Maj. Seymour 86 Years - Litchfield Litchfield Co. Connect. Traditionary  
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 } ss.
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) _____, who has 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Reference case of Isabel Graves Represented in engraving by G. G. H. Group of Children
From the collection of the Library of Congress and the Library of the University of Michigan and the Library of the University of Wisconsin and the Library of the University of Illinois and the Library of the University of Iowa and the Library of the University of Missouri and the Library of the University of Kansas and the Library of the University of Nebraska and the Library of the University of Oklahoma and the Library of the University of Texas and the Library of the University of New Mexico and the Library of the University of Arizona and the Library of the University of Utah and the Library of the University of Colorado and the Library of the University of Wyoming and the Library of the University of Montana and the Library of the University of Idaho and the Library of the University of Washington and the Library of the University of Oregon and the Library of the University of California
J. A. Peugh Reins

POWER OF ATTORNEY—Revolutionary Pension Claims.
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Isabel Graves of Apalachan Township of Susquehannah County v State of Pennsylvania do
hereby constitute and appoint Samuel S. Pugh of Washington City my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of my Father, Isabel Graves for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to the heirs of Isabel Graves my Father
to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises, hereby revoking all other powers made in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 10 day of July , A. D., 185 2 .
Isabel Graves
Signed and Sealed in the presence of }
Witness Elizah Deuel }
Witness David Buffum
STATE OF Pennsylvania } COUNTY OF Susquehannah } ss:
On this tenth day of July , A. D. 185 2 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Isabel Graves and acknowledged the foregoing Power, of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, } the day and year aforesaid. }
David Buffum
J. Peace.

Claim of Act of
STATE OF Pennsylvania } ss. COUNTY of Susquehanna }
Be it known, That on this Tenth day of July A. D., eighteen hundred and fifty 2 , before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Asahel Graves a resident of Spaldahan Township in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the son of Asahel Graves who was in the Revolutionary service , and who was an Applicant for a Pension under the United States Government
who was a Revolutionary Pensioner
at the rate of allowed Dollars per annum; that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased ; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as his Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me.
David Buffum J. Peace.
Asahel Graves
I, Asahel Graves, son of Asahel , Justice of the Peace, in and for said County do hereby certify that who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
David Buffum J. Peace.
I, Clerk of the Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed, is signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this day of A. D. 185
Clerk.

STATE OF Pennsylvania } ss. COUNTY OF Susquehanna
It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me
That Asahel Graves , of the Revolutionary service was an Applicant for a Revolutionary Pension of the United States that he was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $ per annum and that he died on the Twenty Third day of December eighteen hundred and Thirty Six leaving surviving him the following children viz, Asahel Graves, Lucinda Whitaker the Wife of Henry Whitaker, & Mary Graves and that Asahel Graves, & Lucinda Whitaker wife of Henry Whitaker , are now the only surviving children of the aforesaid. Asahel Graves deceased
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my seal of office this Tenth day of
July
one thousand eight hundred and fifty Two
David Buffum   J.P.

Sep - 26.
Asahel Graves Pension Application
1888.1

State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County ss. On this tenth day of September A.D., 1832 personally appeared in open Court before William Thomson and David Dineock esquires Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Susquehanna County now sitting Asahel Graves, a resident of the Township of Chocowinta in the County of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania aged eighty six years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June Seventh 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated. to wit.
That to the best of his recollection he entered the service of the United States about the year 1780 or 1781 at the town of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut but cannot recollect the names of any Officer under whom he entered. That at the town of Litchfield aforesaid was a Blacksmiths Shop belong- ing to the Continental establishment and he being a Blacksmith by trade was given his choice either to go to work in the Shop or to bear Arms as a Soldier. That he chose the latter former and worked in the service of the United States in said Blacksmiths Shop to the best of his knowledge and recollection from two to three years. under the direction of Major Moses Seymour, and was discharged from the service about the termination of the Revolutionary War. That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can produce who can testify to his service.
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 to his knowledge. Sworn & subscribed in open Court, September 10 th 1832
Asahel Graves
Asa Dineock & Pres

We William Dobson & Joseph Beebo - - - - - residing in the township of Chocowinta in the County of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania hereby certify that we are well ac- quainted with Asahel Graves who has subscribed & sworn to the within declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty six years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neigh- borhood where he resides, to have been in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed in Open Court, Sept 10 th 1832.
William Dobson Joseph Beebo
Asa D. Mock & Prob
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after the inves- -tigation of the matter and after pulling the interrogatories presented by the War Department - that the above named applicant was in the service of the United States during the War of the Revolution and served as he states - And the Court further certify that it appears to them that William Dobson and Joseph Beebo, who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the township of Chocowinta Susquehanna County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court. Asa D. Mock & Prob
State of Pennsylvania } Susquehanna County } ss } Asa D. Mock & Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas of said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Asahel Graves for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Montrose the tenth day of September AD 1832.
Asa D. Mock & Prob

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
4205.
P. O. _____
Wahul Graves
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized, _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

16,661
Asahel Graves Pa
16,662

Asahel Graves Penn.
June 7 1832
Suspended.

State of Pennsylvania County of Susquehanna
Be it Known, that on this Twenty fourth day of March A. D. 1854 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Asahel Graves Jr (Son of Asahel Graves Deceased) resident of Spalachian in said County, and made oath according to law that Asahel Graves Deceased was his father who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of 1831 that he is directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint SAMUEL M. KNIGHT , of Washington City , my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of the said  Asahel Graves for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Asahel Graves Jr
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Asahel Graves Jr to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
B. Glidden Justice of the Peace
State of Pennsylvania County of Susquehanna p.
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas , said County, that Asahel Graves Jr the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the Identical Child & Son of the reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that B. Glidden Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine. and that full faith and credit is due to his acts as Such.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this Twenty Seventh day of March A. D. 1854.
H. H. Ward Clerk P. H. Williams
1. Claimant's name or names in full.—2. Post Office address. 3 "That he is the identical man," or, "that she is the widow of the identical man," or, "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c. 4. Leave this line blank.—5. "He is," "she is," or "they are."—6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.—7. Claimant's signature.—8. Claimant's name.—9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of."—11. Magistrate's name.—12. Clerk's signature.
N. B.—Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
The Soldier Deceased December 1838 there was no administrator