Pension and bounty land application. Francis Spear, 1855, Richland, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. 
Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives 
by Jeff Spear. jeffspear@earthlink.net. 
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This file can be found at
http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/kalamazoo/military/civilwar/pension/s16011.txt

These are transcriptions of documents obtained from NARA. 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Transcriptions of Bounty Land Warrant Application (1855-57) and 
Pension Application (1871-72) of Francis Spear, War of 1812. 
Transcription of Bounty Land Warrant Application File of Francis 
Spear, War of 1812. 
...................................................................... 
August 31, 1855. 
FORM OF A DECLARATION. To be made by a person who has never had a 
land warrant, or made a declaration therefor. State of Michigan, 
County of Kalamazoo, ss. On this 14th day of Aug A. D. one thousand 
eight hundred and fifty five before me __________ the subscriber, a 
Justice of the Peace, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, 
within, and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared 
Francis Spear aged 61 years, a resident of Richland in the State of 
Michigan who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 
the identical person Francis Spear who was a member in the company 
commanded by Captain James Kinney in the Volunteer regiment of 
militia, commanded by Major Judson in the war with Great Britain at 
the invasion of Plattsburg that he enlisted and was at the battle of 
Plattsburg on or about the 11th day of September A. D. 1814 and 
continued in actual service and was honorably discharged at Burlington 
Vermont on or about the 14th day of September A. D. 1814. 
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty 
Land to which he may be entitled, under the Act of Congress, approved 
March 3d, 1855, granting Land and additional Bounty Land to certain 
Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in the Military Service of 
the United States; and he hereby authorizes Salmon C. Hall to receive 
said Warrant, as his Attorney, and he declares that he has made no 
other application under any law than this, nor has he ever received a 
warrant. Francis Spear (Signature). 
We, Gilbert S. Read and Peter A. Young residents of Richland in 
the State of Michigan upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing 
declaration was signed and acknowledged by Francis Spear of Richland 
in our presence; and that we believe, from the appearance and 
statements of the applicant, that he is the identical person he 
represents himself to be. Gilbert S. Read, Peter A. Young 
(Signatures). 
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and 
subscribed before me, on the day and year above written; and I certify 
that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is 
the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in 
this claim. Horace M. Peck J. P. 
State of Michigan County of Kalamazoo. I, Amos D Allen Deputy Clerk 
of the County Court, in and for the County and State aforesaid, do 
hereby certify, that Horace M. Peck whose genuine signature appears to 
the foregoing declaration and affidavits is, and was, at the time of 
signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, that all his official 
acts as such, are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the 
aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record, having general 
jurisdiction. Given under my hand and the seal of my office, at 
Kalamazoo this 31st day of Aug. A. D., 1855. Amos D. Allen, Deputy 
Clerk. 
...................................................................... 
October 7, 1857 
RE-EXAMINED BOUNTY LAND CLAIM. No. 210186. Treasury Department, 
Third Auditor’s Office. Oct 7, 1857. 
The files of Vermont Mili. in this office do not show any Sir of Capt. 
Kinney’s Command. (Signature) Auditor. Commissioner of Pensions, 
Department of the Interior. Examined by (signature or initials). 
[The signatures and initials were difficult to read.] 
...................................................................... 
Feb 27, 1862 
210186 Sept 10/55. Francis Spear priv. Capt James Kinney, Maj 
Judson. Plattsburgh N. Y. 
Enl Sept 11 1814, Dis Sept 14 1814, War 1812. 
(one line here is difficult to read). 
“A” Sept 18/56. No evidence of rolls In A March 6/55. 3rd Aud 
Office. Sept 13, 1856 
Cir. S. to W. Van Master. Dec 21/61 Whittlesey. 
Pension Office. Feb 27, 1862. Not on Roll of Capt James Kinney Vt 
Mil on file in this Office, said Roll being corroborative only. 
E. S. Dauer, Examiner. 
W. Van Master 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Transcription of Soldier’s Pension Application File of Francis Spear, 
War of 1812. 
...................................................................... 
June 24, 1871 
War of 1812. Declaration for a pension. State of Michigan, County of 
Kalamazoo. ss: 
On this 24th day of June A. D., one thousand eight hundred and seventy 
one, personally appeared before me Clerk of the Circuits Courts of the 
County of Kalamazoo which is a Court of Record within and for the 
County and State aforesaid, Francis Spear aged 77 years, a resident of 
Richland, County of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, who being duly 
sworn according to law, declares that he is married, that his wife's 
name was Sophia Felch to whom he was married at Hinesburgh Vermont on 
the 15th day of October, 1817; that he served the full period of sixty 
days in the (1) military service of the United States in the War of 
1812; that he is the identical Francis Spear who (2) was in service in 
Captain James Kinneys Company, Vermont Regiment, of militia on or 
about one year before the Battle of Plattsburgh, and was honorably 
discharged at Plattsburgh N. Y. about one week after the Battle of 
Plattsburg in which Battle this deponent took part as a private 
soldier. That for the above service he received a Bounty Land Warrant 
no. 100 729 for 160 acres through the agency Wm Van Master of Lyons N 
York. 
That he at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of 
the United States, adhered to the cause of the enemies of the 
Government, giving them aid or comfort; or exercised the functions of 
any office whatever under any authority, or pretended authority, in 
hostility to the United States; that he will support the constitution 
of the United States; that he is not in receipt of a pension under any 
previous act; that he makes this declaration for the purpose of being 
placed on the pension roll of the United States, under the provision 
of the act approved February 14, 1871, and he hereby consitutes and 
appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Wm Van 
Master of Lyons N York his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his 
claim and obatin the pension certificate that may be issued; that his 
post office is at Richland state of Michigan; that his domicile or 
place of abode is Richland. ATTEST: Denison E. Grousbeck, Lyman 
Meljalis. APPLICANT: Francis Spear. 
Also personally appeared Horace M Peck residing at No. 17 in Cedar 
St., in Kalamazoo Village, and Rockwell May residing at No. 49, in 
Walnut street, in Kalamazoo Village, persons whom I certify to be 
respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, 
say: They were present and saw Francis Spear, the claimant, sign his 
name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have 
every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant, and 
their acquiantance with him, that he is the identical person he 
represents himself to be; that at no time during the late rebellion 
against the authority of the United States did he adhere to the cause 
of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort; and that 
they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. Horace M. 
Peck, Rockwell May. Sworn to a subscribed before me, this 24th day of 
June A. D. 1871, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above 
declaration, &c., were fully made known and explained to the applicant 
and witnesses before swearing, including the words marked ** erased, 
and the words __________ added; and that I have no interest, direct or 
indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. James W. Hoflins, Clerk 
of the Circuit Courts for Kalamazoo Michigan. 
[Where it says “Vermont Regiment, of militia” above New York was 
written, then a line drawn through.] 
...................................................................... 
Dec 2, 1871 
WAR OF 1812, ACT OF FEB. 14, 1871. Department of the Interior, 
PENSION OFFICE, Dec 2, 1871. 
Sir: You are respectfully requested to furnish official evidence of 
the enrollment, muster, service, and duty of Francis Spear, in Captain 
Jas Kinney Company, Vermont or N. Y. Please return this circular with 
your report. Claim No. 21380. Respectfully yours, J. H. Baker, 
Commissioner. Third Auditor, Present, Room No. H. B. K. 
...................................................................... 
March 1, 1872 
No. 21380. Treasury Department, Third Auditor's Office, March 1, 
1872. 
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions with the 
information that there are no Rolls of Captain James Kinney's Company 
of Vermont Militia, War of 1812, on file in this office. Signature 
Allan Rusherford, Auditor. 
...................................................................... 
July 3, 1872 
WAR OF 1812 
Sur Pension Claim, No. 21.380. Soldier Francis Spear. Served in 
Capt. Kinney Co. Warrant No. 100729-160-55. Required: Please give 
service upon which B. L. W. issued. H. B. King, Examiner. Report: 
Above warrant issued to Francis Spear for Service in Capt Kinneys Co 
Vt Mil for service from the 6 to the 14 of Sept 1814 at the Battle of 
Plattsburg proven by 2 comrades of same service. J. H. July 3, 72. 
Chief B'ty L'd Div. 
...................................................................... 
July 17, 1872 
Department of the Interior, Pension Office, Washington, D. C. July 17, 
1872. 
Sir: In the pension claim of Francis Spear, No. 21.380 as survivor of 
the war of 1812, under the act of February 14, 1871 reports from the 
proper department shows that there are no rolls of Captain James 
Kinney's company of Vermont militia on file. If the claimant can now 
furnish this office with the testimony of two competent witnesses who 
have personal knowledge of the fact of his having been sixty days in 
the service of the United States in the war of 1812, it will be 
considered in connection with his claim. Please return this letter 
with the evidence. Very respectfully, J. N. Barber, Commissioner. 
Signature William Van Master, Esq. Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
...................................................................... 
July 31, 1872 
Lyons, N. Y. July 31, 72. 
Resplly returned. 
Sir. Francis Spear received a Land Warrant for services in Captain 
Kinneys Co of Vermont Mi War of 1812 and No. 100.729 - for 160 in Feby 
1862. Please examine the papers in his Land Warrant case and see what 
the report of the auditor is. He must have over looked Capt. Kinneys 
Rolls Vermont Mi for there was certainly such a Co in service. Please 
make another examination. Very Resplly, Wm Van Master, Atty, Lyons 
N.Y. 
...................................................................... 
August 14, 1872. 
WAR OF 1812, ACT OF FEB. 14, 1871. Department of the Interior, 
PENSION OFFICE. August 14, 1872. 
Sir: You are respectfully requested to furnish official evidence of 
the enrollment, muster, service, and duty of Francis Spear, who 
enlisted at Plattsburgh N. Y., in Captain James Kinneys Company, New 
York, and who was discharged at Plattsburgh N. Y. Please return this 
circular with your request. Claim No. 21380. Respectfully yours, J. 
H. Baker, Commissioner. Third Auditor, Present. Room No. H. S. M. 
...................................................................... 
Oct 5, 1872 
No. 21380. Treasury Department, Third Auditor's Office, October 5, 
1872. 
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions with the 
information that there are no Rolls of Captain James Kinney's Company 
of New York Militia, War of 1812, on file in this Office. 
A stamp mark reads DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PENSION OFFICE OCT 8 
1872. 
...................................................................... 
December 2, 1872 
SPECIAL CIRCULAR - WAR OF 1812 
Department of the Interior, PENSION OFFICE Dec. 2, 1872 
Sir, In the claim for pension filed by Francis Spear under the Act of 
Feb 14, 1871, No. 21.380, the following evidence was called for Oct 
10, 1872, viz: testimony of two comrades to 60 days service in the War 
of 1812. 
No satisfactory response to these calls has been received. 
To enable this Bureau to promptly and finally dispose of the few 
remaining cases filed under the act named, I earnestly request that 
the required evidence be immediately forwarded, or that you state 
definitely what occasions the delay, and if it is intended to proceed 
further in the prosecution of this case. 
*If the claimant has deceased, please inform his or her legal 
representative or heirs that, upon completion of the case, they will 
be entitled to the amount due up to the date of death. If none such 
are known to you, or if they decline to proceed with the settlement of 
the case, will you so state. You are informed that continued silence 
for a reasonable time will be considered an abandonment of the claim, 
and it will be rejected for the want of evidence in support of the 
allegations made in the Declaration. Very respectfully, J. H. Baker, 
Commissioner. 
PM, Richland, Kalamazoo, Mich. 
*NOTE.-If this Circular is addressed to a Postmaster, his attention is 
particularly directed to this paragraph. 
[PM in previous line means Postmaster.] 
...................................................................... 
Dec 10, 1872 
Richland Mich Dec 10, 1872. 
J. H. Baker Esq Washington D. C. 
Sir, As for inquiries of enclosed circular Francis Spear is still 
living. The testimony of two comrades as required he says it is out 
of the question for him to find them now when he obtained his land 
warrant two were living and their testimony was then obtained but they 
are both now dead and he can find no others. Mr Spear is now 79 years 
old and has no property consequently can do nothing toward the matter. 
Yours Resp E. W. Evers P.M. 
...................................................................... 
Dec 18, 1872 
WAR OF 1812 
Original No. 21.380 
Applicant: Francis Spear. Returned on Review to H. S. MIller. 
Examiner Survivor's Section, Dec 18, 1872 by reason of ommission to 
credit this man with the service proved in claim for warrant. The 
claim should be rejected for insufficient service and incapability to 
prove other service. Chas. R. Conner. Reviewer. 
...................................................................... 
Dec 20 1872 
WAR OF 1812. ACT FEBRUARY 14, 1871. 
BRIEF OF CLAIM FOR A SURVIVOR'S PENSION 
in the case of Francis Spear, of Captain James Kinneys Company, 
Vermont Militia. Residence: Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Post office 
address: Richland, Kalamazoo Co. Michigan. Declaration and 
identification in due form, filed July 7, 1871. Service shown as 
follows: Rejected by reason of insufficient service. Report from 
Bounty Land Division shows that claimant served in Captain Kinneys 
Company of Vermont Militia from the 6th to the 11th of September, 1814 
at the Battle of Plattsburg, proven by two comrads; it appearing from 
a letter to this office that claimant cannot furnish hard proof of 
other service. Third Auditor reports no rolls of Capt. James Kinneys 
Co. Vt Mil on file. Lenght of service 9 days. 
Admitted Rejected December 20, 1872, to a pension of eight dollars per 
month, from February 14, 1871. (Signatures) H. S. Miller, Ex'r and 
App'd, Chas. R. Conner, Reviewer. Claimant, Richland, Kalamazoo Co, 
Mich. Atty Van Master suspended. 
[The printed form had the word Admitted and a blank. The word 
Rejected was written with pen in that blank.] 
...................................................................... 
December 20, 1872. 
No. 21380. ACT OF FEBRUARY 14, 1871, WAR OF 1812. Francis Spear, 
Richland, Kalamazoo Co, Mich, Capt. James Kinney Vt. Mil. Received 
July 7, 1871. Wm. Van Master, Lyons, N. Y. Attorney. 
1871 Dec 2 BLW(?). 1872 Mar 11 BL(?). Aug 13 B L papers called for. 
Aug 17 Atty parole testimony. Aug 14(three words?). Oct 10 Parol 
evidence. Dec 2, 1872 special circular. 1872 Dec 20, Rejected. 
[There are abbreviations or initials that are difficult to read.] 
...................................................................... 
Transcribed August 2001. 
End of file.