Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23439, for Roswell Stearns, Connecticut
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Service:  Conn

Stearns, Roswell

S.23439
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1469
Vermont
----
Roswell Steams

of Bristol in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Storre and Reg't commanded by Col Durkee in the Conn Continental line for 

10 months as private 33.33
6 months as Sergeant 30.00

total $63.33
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Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Novr 1832 and decd to S Haight, Present
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Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832   $94.99
Semianl allowance ending 4th March 1833  $31.66
(total)  $126.65

Revolutionary Claim,Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J M Cuffield

Book D, Vol 4, Page 84
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No 4232

Admitted

Private 10 mo  33.33
Sergt 6 mo  30.00

63.33

to Judge Haight
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BRIEF in the case of Roswell Stearns of Bristol in the State of Vermont
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court of Probate

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?  73 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period | Duration  |  Rank  |  Officers

In 1775 May  |  7 months  | private  | Continental - Capt Storre, Col Putnam & Durkee
In 1776 Jany  |  3 months  | private  | Capt Dunn, Col Denison
In 1777 June or July  |  6 months  | Sergeant | Capt Barrows, Col Chester

5. In what battles was he engaged? Bunker Hill, White Plains

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Mansfield

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence,
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? the witness swears to the first months to the last periods; 
 both swear that he was in the service at different times

8.  Are the papers defective as to form? and if so, in what respect?   Correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

J M Duffield, Examining Clerk
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No 4232

Roswell Stearns
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State of Vermont
District of Addison

On this 27th day of July 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court for the said District, being a Court of records now sitting, Roswell Stearns resident of Bristol in the County of Addison & State of Vermont, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress passed June of 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated-

In the month of May 1775, at Mansfield in the County of Windham Connecticut, I enlisted into a company commanded by Captain Experina Storm of that place in a regiment commanded by Colonel (afterwards General)  Israel Putnam, on the Continental Establishment. We were marched directly to Cambridge near Boston and immediately after Colonel Putnam was appointed a Brigadier General and Colonel Durkee of Norwich Connecticut commanded the regiment.  And during the same campaign Capt. Storm was appointed a Major and Capt Dana (before the first Lieutenant) commanded the
company. I enlisted as above for seven months and served in the above mentioned corps until the expiration of that period at said Cambridge. I was at Cambridge during the battle of Bunkerhill, on guard - a part of our regiment were in the battle, three of our company were killed & three wounded. After the expiration of my time, in December I returned home.

In January 1776, I enlisted again, for the term of three months, and was stationed at Roxbury, and there served until the term of my enlistment expired, in a company commanded by the same Captain Dana, in a regiment commanded by Colonel William Denison of Killingly, Connecticut. We were out on duly guarding the town of Boston, obstructing the enemy, then in possession of Boton, but no considerable engagement took place during
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this campaign. Besidesother troops, there was there a Connecticut regiment under the command, I think of,  Colonel Joshua Huntington of Norwich Connecticut.  After the expiration of the term of my enlistment I returned home. The British had left Boston about four days before the expiration of my time.  During a part of the preceding service I was on Dorchester Hill and was present, when the casks of sand were prepared to roll down upon the enemy, in case they come to attack us.  And I was also a few days at Cambridge.

The latter part of June or first of July 1776 at Mansfield aforesaid, I again enlisted for the term of six months, in a company commanded by Capt. Genham Barrows of Mansfield in a regiment commanded by Col John Chester of Westerfield. We were put on board vessels at Norwich, and sailed through the sound to New York. We were stationed in the City, I think about two months;  from thence we went to Long Island Flatbush for the purpose of opposing the British, but were obliged to retreat from the Island, after remaining there about ten days. We were there during the engagement on the Island, and were stationed at a redoubt near a Tide Mill. The British fired upon us there with their cannon, and once or twice, parties came up and fired with small arms but ww were soon forced back. General Washington and Gen Putnam were then in the Redoubt. We then returned to New York. after a day or two, we retreated thence to Valentine Hill near Kingsbridge. There we built barracks, expecting the troops to remain there during the winter. But the British landing at Harlem & threatening to surround us, we retreated to White Plains. I was engaged in the battle, which took place there. Thence we were marched to Peekskill where I remained until the time of my enlistment expired, and I was there discharged. During the service of the last six months, I served as a Sergeant, I enlisted as a Clerk to said company but after joined the army, the orderly Sergeant
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of the company being discharged, I was appointed & served as orderly Sergeant.  I never had any written discharge. It was not the practice at that time, so far as I know to give a written discharge.
nor did I have any warrant as a Sergeant - but after then, the Captain Barrows gave me a certificate of the fact, to clear me for training, but I have not preserved it.  And I have no documentary evidence of my said service and know of no evidence within my power except the accompanying affidavits.

I was born in Killingsley, Windham County Connecticut, on the 25th day of December 1758. I understood there was a record of my birth in the town clerk's office in Killingsley but I have not seen it, nor have I any other record. When I was 14 years old, I removed to Mansfield, where I resided until 1781. then I removed to Lebanon same County where I remained until I removed to Middlebury, Addison County Vermont 36 years ago.  since that time I have lived in said Middlebury, Waybridge in the same County & Clary, State of New York until about twelve years ago I removed to Bristol, where I now reside.  And the said Roswell Stearns 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.

Roswell Stearns

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Saml Swift, Judge

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after 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 Penuel Child and Jonah Stowel, whose affidavits are annexed are credible persons, and their testimony is entitled to full credit

Saml Swift, Judge
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State Vermont
District of Addison

I Harvey Bell, Register of the Probate Court for the said District of Addison, do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Roswell Stearns for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 27th day of July 1832

Harvey Bell Register
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State of Vermont 
District of Addison

On this 27th day of July 1832, personally appeared before the Probate Court for the District of Addison, Jonah Stowell, residing in Middlebury in said District, aged Eighty two years, being duly sworn deposes and says that I resided in Mansfield in the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut in the year 1775, and during the war.  That I was there acquainted with Roswell Stearns now residing in Bristol
in the County of Addison, Vermont, who then resided in said Mansfield, and I recollect that in May or June of that year, he went into the service, and understood at the time that he enlisted in the company commanded by Capt Epperson Storrs of Mansfield, James Dana being a Lieutenant, both of which I well knew as well as many of the men.  the company having been raised in that neighbourhood, I well
recollect the said Stearns going from the fact that my wife who was a tayloress made clothes for him. It is my present impression, that he enlisted & served for seven months. I well recollect that it was before the Bunker hill battle from the fact that a man, who went from the neighbourhood in that company was killed in that battle. I have now a general impression that the said Stearns was afterwards in the service several times, but my recollection is indistinct.  The year 1776, I volunteered, to go to New York & was for about two months in the service in that neighbourhood. In conversations with the said Stearns he has stated facts occurring there, & the time came connect with them, which I think he could not so particularly have known, if he had not been there. And I have no doubt that he was. The said Stearns is now in court making application for a pension. I have ever since the above mentioned time been acquainted with him. He has always sustained a good reputation for truth & veracity.

Jonah Stowel

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid

S Swift, Judge
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Case of Roswell Stearns

P Childs affidavit
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Penuel Child of Brandon in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont formerly of Union County of Tolland State of Connecticut do testify and say I became acquainted with Roswell
Stearns now of Bristol in County of Addison State of Vermont, formerly of Mansfield County of Windham State of Connecticut, in the year 1775. I believe & understood he was in the Army
in the Revolution in Col Putnam Regt so told afterwards, Col Durkey Rgt and served untill the year 1776. I know then he enlisted in Capt Dany Company, Col. Denison Regt I believe (almost forgot the Col). Our times being out which I think was three Months we we were discharged.
some five days after the Enemy left Boston we both then being on Bunkerhill.  We sometime soon after enlisted in Capt Garsam Barrosn's Company, Colonel John Chester's Regt.  I have forgot the Number of Months, not under six months but I think nine months however he did serve as aforesaid was then discharged on the 25th Dec 1776 or first Jan 1777 at which time I was in the same company.  He did serve all on past the same tour as orderly Sergeant of P Company.  Further the deponent saith not.

Penuel Child

Further in the year 1776 after we left Boston Campaign, we went to N York from that to Long Islan, back to new York, from that in different tours until after White Plains Battle which we were in.  We then went to Peekskill in New Jersey.

Penuel Child

Sworn and subscribed this 26th day of July 1832.

Saml Swift, Judge
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Revolution

23439

INVALID

File No. 23439
Roswell Stearns

Priv - Rev War

Act:  June 7, '32

Index: Vol 2, Page 392

[Arrangement of 1870]