Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42289, for Seymore Sherwood, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE  Conn.
Navy.
Sherwood, Seymore
or Seymour
NUMBER  S. 42289
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11846

New York 

Seymore Sherwood

of the City of New York in the state of New York
who was a Mariner in the Frigate Trumbull commanded by
Capt. Nicholson of the U.S. Navy (Mass.)
line, for the term of 4 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 8th of June 1818.


Certificate of Pension issued the 14th of June 1819 and sent to R. Riker Esquire

City of New York

Arrears to 4th of March 1819  71.16
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819   48.00

$119.16


{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}

Continued

New York County

Order to pay 2
Order to pay
Page 3

In the matter of Seymore Sherwood a
Revolutionary Pensioner
Page 4

New York Marine Courts

In the Marine Court of the City of New York held at the City Hall, in and for the said City before the Justices of the said Court on the twenty third day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty.

Present the Honorable Elbert Herring Justice of the Marine Court of the City of New York

City of New York ss.  Be it Remembered, That on the twenty third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Twenty, personally appeared in the Marine Court of the City of New York, in open Court, the said court being a court of Record, for the City of New York, according to the laws of the State of New York Seymour Sherwood aged fifty nine years resident in the City of New York in the State of New York who being first duly sworn according to law; doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows:  that is to say he shipped at Boston on board the frigate Trumbull mounting 32 Guns commanded by Commodore Nicholson in the year 1780.
from Boston she went to Brest in France and returned to Boston and from Boston proceeded to Philadelphia where she fitted out again and sailed from there for France, and shortly after they sailed, they fell in with and was captured by an English Frigate mounting 38 guns, and was carried into New York from there the pressed deponent on board a man of War called the Narcissus mounting 20 guns, commanded by one Edwards, and about a month after he was so pressed, this Narcissus captured a large sloop from Kennebunk and deponent with some others were put on board of her to carry her into New York
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when deponent with four others confined the rest of the hands five in number and carried her into Connecticut river and left her.  Deponent then enlisted in September 1782 for 3 years or during the war in a regiment commanded by Colonel Campfield [Canfield], in a company commanded by Captain Fitch, in the line of the State of Connecticut, he served under them until the conclusion of the war in 1783 when he received a furlough, which mentioned no time for him to return, but that he should hold himself in readiness at a moment warning and he saith he hath never since been called upon.
and that his original declaration is dated the eighth day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and that his pension certificate is No. 11.846.

Seymour Sherwood
(his mark)

Declared and sworn to before me
August 23rd 1820.

Elbert Herring Justice of the 
Marine Court of the City of New York

And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me, nor have I any
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income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, to wit

Real Estate   None

Personal Estate - (necessary clothing and bedding exempt) 
as follows, to wit, 1 chest - $1.00
? of nails and 1 cocoa nut shell - 0.31
a Razor and shaving box     - 0.50
___________________________________
The whole value of his property is therefore $1.81

Deponent has no trade, he is a Sailor, but is now through age and infirmity rendered unable to do any kind of business - he is also afflicted with a partial loss of his eye sight; in the summer season he generally goes out of town and lives with his friends and in the winter he stays in New York  - he has a wife named Elizabeth Sherwood aged 55 years who lives with and works for  her children and earns her own support - he has no children with him  - he has two children however named Isaac Sherwood aged twenty nine years and Mary Sherwood aged twenty three both married they provide for themselves but do not support deponent; they are very poor, but provide for their mother - deponent further saith that he is in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his country, that is to say without the aid of the General Government, except by private or public charity.

Seymour Sherwood 
(his mark)

Sworn before me this 25th
day of August 1820 in open court

Elbert Herring
Justice of the Marine Court
of the City of New York
Page 7

I Peter B. Van Beuren Clerk of the Marine Court of the City of New York Do hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit and the Schedule hereto annexed are truly copied from the Records of the said Court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is one dollar and eighty one cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Said Court this thirteenth day of February 1820.

P.B. Van Beuren Clerk
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Left side - 

Seymour Sherwood
Mariner

City of New York
March 1780 to June 1781, on board the
frigate Trumbull

8th June 1818

affidavit of Richard Riker and Robert Swanton
taken before P.R. Jay,
testifying their belief of 
the correctness of the facts
stated.


Richard Riker, Recorder
of the City of N.Y.


Right side - 

Seymour Sherwood

A Mariner
with a special certificate 
of the Recorder of the city
of New York as to the
indigent circumstances
of the applicant.
Page 9

Printed by E. Conrad, Frankfurt Street

State of New York, ss.

To the Hon. Richard Pike
Recorder of the City of New-York, and one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, called the 
Mayor's Court of the City of New-York, which is a 
Court of Record of the State of New-York.

The Declaration under Oath of Seymour Sherwood formerly a Mariner engaged in the Service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, now a Citizen of the United States and resident of the City and County of New-York, respectfully sheweth,

THAT the said Seymour Sherwood sometime in the Month of March 1780 entered or enlisted on board the Trumbull Frigate then lying in Nantucket roads near Boston that he served faithfully as a Marine on board the said Frigate from March 1780 to June 1781 fighting against the common enemy in the war of the revolution.
The said Frigate Trumbull was commanded by Commodore Nicholson all the time this deponent served on board - That the said Frigate was taken on her passage to France with dispatches by a British Frigate and the deponent made a prisoner - This deponent is now about fifty seven years of age  - 

And the declaration further sheweth that the said Seymour Sherwood is now a citizen of the United States, resides in the City of New-York, and is, by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from his country for support
This deponent also served in the Gun boat service in the  sound between Long Island and the Mainer was in several actions with the enemy and he also served a part of the war in Col. Canfield's Regiment under General Waterbery in the Connecticut line and was wounded twice

Therefore the said Seymour Sherwood conceives himself entitled to the benefit of the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," approved 18th March, 1818, and requests your Honor will examine into the truth of the matter aforesaid, certify and transmit
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the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War, to the end that such relief may be had in the premises, as is by law in such case made and provided.  And in support of the facts above set forth, the said Seymour Sherwood refers to the proof accompanying this sailor to the Judge to whom he now applies and who knows this applicant well.

City and County of New-York, ss. Seymour Sherwood of the City and County of New-York, being duly sworn, saith, that the matters by him set forth in the foregoing Declaration, are in all respects just and true.

Seymour Sherwood (his mark)

Sworn before me this 8th 
day of June 1818.

R.Pike

Recorder of the City of New York
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City and State of New-York, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this eighth day of June, In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before me Richard Piker Recorder of the City of New-York, and one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, called the Mayor's Court of the City of New-York, which is a Court of Record, personally appeared the aforesaid
Seymour Sherwood
who being by me duly sworn to the truth of the facts stated in the foregoing Declaration and also producing to me the annexed proof and I knowing him personally and being satisfied of the truth of the facts stated by him and that he is so reduced in circumstances as to stand in need of the aid of his country for support 
Thereof I being satisfied that the said Seymour Sherwood did serve in the Navy of the United States in the Revolutionary War, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months and longer, to wit:  for the term and the manner stated in the Declaration of the said applicant; and that the said applicant is fairly and justly entitled to the benefit of the Act aforesaid. THEREFORE I DO HEREBY CERTIFY and transmit the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, as before set forth, to the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War.

GIVEN under my Hand and Seal of the said Court, in the City of New-York, this eighth day of June In the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen

R.Piker
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David Brush being sworn says that he is well acquainted with Seymour Sherwood the applicant that he the said Seymour served in the war of the Revolution against the common enemy they were in different  actions together and the said Sherwood enlisted as he believes for three years during the war and this deponent and the said Sherwood served together in Jabez Fitch Company commanded by Col. Canfield under General Waterbury and both of them were made prisoners together by the British.

David Brush 
(his mark)

Sworn this 4 May 1818

R.Piker
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COPIED FROM AN

February 2, 1932

BA-J/WLB


Mr. G. Hubert Smith
3426 Pillsbury Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Dear Sir:


Reference is made to your letter of January 14, relative to Seymour Sherwood, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 42289, based upon his military service in that war.

Seymour or Seymore Sherwood was born in New York City, date not stated.

In March, 1780, he entered as a mariner on the frigate, "Trumbull", Commodore Nicholson; the ship was captured on a voyage to France.  He, after being imprisoned in New York, was pressed on the British man-of-war, "Narcissus"; they captured a sloop, on which he was placed for the purpose of convoying it to New York, but with several others confined the rest of the crew, landed the sloop in the Connecticut River and escaped. He was also in the gunboat service on Long Island Sound, no details of this service given. He served from September, 1781, or 1782, to April, 1783, in Captain Jabez Fitch's company, Colonel Canfield's Connecticut Regiment.  He was in several actions and was twice wounded, nature of wounds and names of battles not stated.

He was allowed pension on his application executed June 9, 1818, while living in New York City, aged fifty-seven years.  In 1820 he referred to his wife, Elizabeth, aged fifty-five years, and to his children, Isaac twenty-nine years old, and Mary aged twenty-three years.

There are no further family data, and the above history
Page 14

is that of the soldier named Seymour or Seymore Sherwood, found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

Very truly yours


A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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INVALID

Navy

File No. 42289

Seymore Sherwood
Mariner
Frigate Trumbull
Revolutionary

Act March 18, 1818.

Index: Vol  , Page

[Arrangement of 1870]


1924 Dec. 15 Hist. to R.W. Duncan 
1932 - Feb. 2 - Hist. to G. Hubert Smith - MLB
Page 16

Mechanic's Bank
New York 24th March 1838

Sir

I enclose the papers in the case of Seymore Sherwood a Revolutionary Pensioner at Eight Dollars per month, whose pension certificate is illegally withheld by Lewis Updike of this city.

Very Respectfully,

Your obedient Servant,

Jacob L. Willard



James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
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Seymore Sherwood
Soldier
Page 18

Application for Pension - Sold by T.B. Jansen


United States of America

On this twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, before me, Richard Riker, Recorder of the City of New York, and one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now called the Mayor's Court of the City of New York; which is a Court of Record of the State of New York 
personally appears Seymour Sherwood aged fifty seven years or thereabouts, resident in the City of New York aforesaid
who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the Act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to Provide for certain Persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War:" That he the said Seymour Sherwood enlisted in September One thousand seven hundred and eighty one in the state of Connecticut in the Company commanded by Captain Fitch of the Army that he continued to served in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until the month of April 1783 when he was discharged from service in Stamford in the state of Connecticut that he was in service from the 2nd Sept. 1781 to April 1783 - he was at a battle in the sound off Long Island, Huntington,  with Capt Rider when Col. Brewster was wounded - that the boat was at the time in the State service - that Col. Canfield commanded the Regiment of which Capt. Fitch was a Captain of one of the companies

and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services, except the oath of Ethan Smith.

Seymour Sherwood
(his mark)

Sworn to, and declared before em,
the day and year aforesaid.

R.Riker
Recorder of the City of New York

I do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said
did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary of the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the said Act.

Dated, the ---- day of ---- 181
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City of New York Ethan Smith being sworn saith that he knows the facts stated by Seymour Sherwood to be true - that he the deponent served in the War of the Revolution - 

Ethan Smith

Sworn 25 April 
1818

R. Riker
Page 20

City of New York ss.  Richard Riker and Robert Swanton both of the City of New York Counselors at Law being ? duly sworn do depose and say that they have sworn Seymore Sherwood the applicant for a pension in the annexed petition and papers named, for several years.  The deponents have always considered him to be a man of truth and have no doubt of the correctness of the facts by him stated.  The deponents also know that he is very poor, the said deponent Richard Riker having at different times assisted him with small donations in money.  His sight is imperfect and he is also infirm.  The deponents verily believe that he is so reduced in his circumstances as to stand in need of the assistance of his country for support and they also fully believe that he is entitled to the provision of the act of Congress of 18 March 1818.

R. Riker
R. Swanton

Sworn before me
this 6th day of May
1819.  P.A. Jay

State and City of New York ss. I Peter A. Jay Recorder of the City of New York do certify
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that I am fully satisfied from the deposition of Richard Riker and Robert Swanton Esquires that Seymour Sherwood the applicant within named is in such indigent and reduced circumstances as to stand in need of assistance of his country for support.

P.A. Jay
8 May 1819
Page 22

State of New-York

City and County of New-York, ss.


I, BENJAMIN FERRIS, Clerk of the City and County of New-York and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the said City and County,

Do hereby certify, That Richard Riker, Esq. before whom the annexed affidavits were made, and who hath subscribed his name to the Certificate also hereto annexed, was on the day when the said Affidavits were made, and the said Certificate signed, Recorder of the City of New-York, and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, called the Mayor's Court of the City of New-York, and duly commissioned and sworn.
And further that the said Court is a Court of Record of the State of New-York; and that the signature of R. Riker subscribed to the said Certificate is the proper hand writing of the said Richard Riker.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, this ninth day of June 1818.

Benjamin Ferris
Clerk
Page 23

Duplicate 
State of New York 
New York County } ss BE IT KNOWN, That before a Sylvester Spencer, a Notary Public a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid personally appeared Seymore Sherwood  and made oath in due form of law, that he is the identical person named in an original Pension Certificate, now illegally withheld by Lewis Updike of the City of New York, who claims a debt of Twenty two Dollars, which this deponent declares he does not owe to him, that his pension certificate was left in his hands by deponent for safe keeping,  Deponent being blind and the said Lewis Updike now refuses to deliver up the said pension certificate so as to enable Deponent to draw his pension now due.  
that he is entitled to a pension of Eight dollars per month, on account of wounds and disabilities received or of  services rendered to the United States, during the Revolutionary War; that he served in the Trumbull Frigate Com.  Nicholson; that he now resides in New York City and has resided there for the space of Seventy seven a half years past;  and that previous thereto he resided in in no other place, and that being blind he cannot write.  
Seymore Sherwood x his mark
Sworn and subscribed, this 19th day of September 1838 before me, 
Sylvester Spencer Notary Public 
Witness H. Caldwell O’Neil
Note. -- The above deposition must be signed by the deponent. 
Here state the facts respecting the date of the Certificate. 
This blank must be filled with the amount which the Pensioner is now entitled, which in some cases, varies from the original Certificate.
Page 24

State of New York 
New York County } ss  
19th Sept 1838
CONFORMABLY to the Regulations of the War Department of the 27th of October, 1832, Sylvester Spencer, a Notary Public Magistrate in the county above named, do hereby certify, that I have the most satisfactory evidence, viz: the affidavit of George Simpson, a credible witness of this City that Seymore Sherwood who this day appeared before me to take the oath of identity, is the identical pensioner he declares himself to be in the annexed affidavit; and I am also satisfied that the statement made by him in relation to the Pension Certificate, is true. 
GIVEN under my hand at New York City the day and year above written.  
Sylvester Spencer 
Notary Public 
I-  Clerk of the Court of - cunty, certify, that is a Magistrate as above, that the foregoing Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this  -  day of - in the year  
Clerk of the Court of -  -County. 
Here state what the evidence is whether personal knowledge, or the affidavits of respectable persons, giving their names.
Page 25

Duplicate 
State of New York 
New York County } ss 
BE IT KNOWN, That before me, Sylvester Spencer, a Notary Public a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid personally appeared Seymore Sherwood and made oath in due form of law, that he is the identical person named in an original Pension Certificate, now illegally withheld by Lewis Updike of the City of New York, who claims a debt of Twenty two Dollars, which this deponent declares he does not owe to him, that his pension certificate was left in his hands by deponent for safe keeping, Deponent being blind and the said Lewis Updike now refuses to deliver up the said pension certificate so as to enable Deponent to draw his pension now due. 
that he is entitled to a pension of Eight dollars per month, on account of wounds and disabilities received or of services rendered to the United States, during the Revolutionary War; that he served in the Trumbull Frigate Com. Nicholson; that he now resides in New York City and has resided there for the space of Seventy seven  years past; and that previous thereto he resided in in no other place, and that being blind he cannot write his name. 
Seymore Sherwood x his mark 
Sworn and subscribed, this 19th day of September 1838 before me, 
Sylvester Spencer Notary Public 
Witness H. Caldwell O’Neil 
Note. -- The above deposition must be signed by the deponent. Here state the facts respecting the date of the Certificate. This blank must be filled with the amount which the Pensioner is now entitled, which in some cases, varies from the original Certificate.
Page 26

State of New York 
New York County } ss 
21st March 1838. 
CONFORMABLY to the Regulations of the War Department of the 27th of October, 1832, Sylvester Spencer a Notary Public  in the county above named, do hereby certify, that I have the most satisfactory evidence, viz. The affidavit of Mr George Simpson of New York a respectable witness, who has known Seymore Sherwood for the last fifteen years. 
that Seymore Sherwood who this day appeared before me to take the oath of identity, is the identical Pensioner he declares himself to be in the annexed affidavit, and I am also satisfied that the statement made by him in relation to the Pension Certificate, is true. 
GIVEN under my hand, at New York City -- the day and year above written. 
Sylvester Spencer 
Notary Public 
I Clerk of the Court of  -  certify that - is a Magistrate as above, county, certify, that and that the foregoing Certificate, purporting to be his, is genuine. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this in the year day of Clerk of the Court of County.
Page 27

3426 Pillsbury Avenue, 
Minneapolis, Minnesota 
January 14, 1932
The Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir: 
The New York State Historical Library has suggested to me that I communicate with you concerning some data which I want for strictly genealogical purposes. 
only one
The library has informed me, in answer to an inquiry, that one Seymour Sherwood was enlisted as a private in the third regiment of the New York Line, commanded by Col. James Clinton and Col. Peter Gansevoort (Capt. Abraham Swartout's company) in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted on April 13, 1778, for three years, but he died on Feb. 10, 1779. (N. Y. in the Rev., I, 45; and Doc. Col. Hist. St. N.Y. XV, 202.) 
I wonder if it is within your power to supply any further information to me concerning this person: whether or not anyone ever applied for pension in his name etc. I ask in order to discover whether or not this person was connected with my great great grandfather, also Seymour Sherwood (b. 1766, d. 1836) by name, having no information that supplies the gap myself. 
As I have stated, I ask for this information solely for purposes of family history, and so would be pleased if you can help me, or suggest where I might apply for such information. 
Yours truly, 
G. Hubert Smith 
G. Hubert Smith
[stamp] RECEIVED JAN 18 1932 RECEIPT SECTION PENSION FILES [unreadable]
Page 28

425 West 214 St. 
New York City 
December 12th 1924
Bureau of Pensions 
Dept of the Interior 
Washington, D.C. 
Dear Sirs:- 
I would appreciate very much the receipt of such information as you records give regarding Seymour Sherwood, “mariner” Frigate Trumbull in Revolutionary or War of 1812.  Also if not too much trouble would like to have the names of Anson's who were pensioners of the War of 1812. 
Thanking you in advance for Your kindness I am, Yours very truly, 
R. W. Duncan
[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE  H DEC 13 1924
Page 29

AW
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. 
Dec. 15, 1924
R. W. Duncan, 
485 W. 214  St. 
New York City. 
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the An Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 42289, it appears that Seymour, or Seymore Sherwood was born in New York City , date not stated. 
In March 1782, he entered as a Mariner, on the Frigate “Trumbull”,  Commodore Nicholson in command, the ship was captured on a voyage to France. He, after being imprisoned in New York, was pressed on the British man-of-war, “Narcissus", they captured a sloop, on which he was placed for the purpose of conveying it to New York, but with several others, confined the rest of the crew, landed the sloop in the Connecticut River and escaped. 
He was also in the gunboat service on Long Island Sound, no details of said service given. 
He served from September 1781, or 1782, to April 1783, in Captain Jabez Fitch's Company, Colonel Canfield 's Connecticut Regiment. 
He was in several actions and was twice wounded, nature of wounds and names of battles not stated.
Page 30

He was allowed pension on his application executed June 9, 1818, while living in New York City, aged fifty- seven years. In 1820 he referred to his wife Elizabeth aged fifty-five years and his children, Isaac twenty-nine years old and Mary aged twenty-three years. 
There is no further data on file as to his family. 
If you will furnish the full name of the soldier of the War of 1812, named Anson, whose history you desire, with as much as possible of the following data, in order that a proper search of the records be made, his history will be furnished you, if on file:  approximate dates of birth and death and place of residence at enlistment and after service. Owing to the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, it is not practicable to comply with your request as to all soldiers of that name who were pensioned for service in the war of 1812. 
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.