Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 17154, for John Porter, Connecticut
Page 1

Continental (Conn.)   Porter, John  R17154
Page 2

4th Jan 1862
Sir
   An effort was made (as may be seen by the papers herewith) to obtain a pension by Heir of John Porter - on the acct. of services of the latter in the Continental Army, War of the Revolution.
   The Comptrollers Certificates State of Ct dated Nov. 53 Authenticate the service, as also the fact that no other John Porter is found upon the Military Rolls of men who served in the army from the State.
   Whether any saw is in force which would enable the said Heir of John Porter to obtain a pension is what they would like to know.  It is Bounty Land, rather, which they now claim on the acct. of said service John Porter who performs? the service as certified by the comps. was for many years a resident of Castleton Orwell & perhaps other towns in Rutland Co. Vt. & died, I think in 1816 in Vermont, having at the time (as I think) minor Heir but no widow.  Ebenr Porter is one of the surviving Him, children of decd. several of them may be living.
  If Land Warrants for Revolutionary Services are lying in the Office of Connt. of Pensions, awaiting claimants, the right truths being established there may be One for the service of John Porter names in the Comptrollers Cert. herewith which of right may be claimed by the said Porter Children & Heirs.  Ebenr Porter as one of these Heirs, Claims
Page 3

Bounty land on acct. of said service.
  Should it be decided that the claim is valid sustained by requisite proof of legitimacy of Heirs as claimants - this may be furnished.
  He respectfully asks that the claims may be examined & the result communicated to the subscriber as his agent here.  Respectfully (signed) Israel Smith Comm. of Pensions Washington City D. C.     Orwell Vermont

Letters in relation to Mr. Porters claim are inclosed to Maj. W. Smith Rej Mr. in the Army.  Should the claim to Land bounty be rejected Mr. P. would esteem it a favor that the Comptrollers Certificates be handed to Maj. Smith who will if necessary offer for examination the said letters entrusted to his care. Respectfully (signed) Israel Smith

(date stamp) (illegible) Jan 18 1862
Page 4

(official seal)   State of Connecticut Comptrollers Office Hartford Nov 4th 1858

I certify that on application for evidence of the service of John Porter, in the war of the Revolution, I have examined the documents in this office, and find the name of John Porter on a PayRoll under the following heading viz. "Settlement with the Regiment of Artificers Jaduthan Baldwin Esq. Colonel before 1788", where the said Porter is credited with service as a private from March 1st 1779, to Jany 1st 1780 - 10 months.  In another settlement with Col. Baldwins Regiment "for the year 1780" I also find the name of John Porter, where he is credited with service as a private from "Jany 1st 1780 to December 31st 1780 - 1 year." 
  the following are copies of documents on file in this office with the receipts of the said Porter, for balances due to him for his services in the years 1779 & 1780.
  "West Point December 7th 1782"
"Please deliver to the bearer Joseph Hills, the declaration notes which is due to me for my service in the United States as artificer. Likewise the pay for the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty, and his Recpt. shall be your sufficient voucher, and
Page 5

in so doing obliges your Humble Servt. (signed) John Porter"
"To the committees of Pay Table of the State of Connecticut SS
Witness, J. Patten, Capt Artily artificers
this may certify that John Porter has been in the service of the United States, as an artificer from the 11th of March 1779, until December 7th 1782, and is now in actual service.  (signed J. Batten Capt Arty. artificers"
 (signed) Wm H. Buell Comptroller by Geo. Robinson, Clerk
Page 6

No. 39,174  John Porter Vermont.

Letter Israel Smith  Jany 15, 1862  Jarve Jany 24, 1862.

Act. 7th June 1832
Page 7

(date stamp) Orwell Vt. 21 Jan
Free
(date stamp) Department of the Interior Pension Office  Jan 24 1862

Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.
Page 8

Mr Crury (illegible)
(date stamp) Orwell Vt 8 Jan
Dec John Porter Con sas 1862
FREE
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.
free
Page 9

17154
Rejected
P. O. John Porter
Service: Rev
Enlisted:  ___,18
Discharged: ___ ,18

Application filed:___,18
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted:

Attorney:  
P. O. 
___Recognized. ___Contract.

(illegible)
Page 10

20th Jany 1862
Sir
   In the letter from the Comm of Pensions of 13th ins. in relation to Bounty Lane & Pension claim of Heirs of John Porter it may be infred that the rejection of the claim is made to depend upon the following statement contained in said letter
  "That John Porter drew his Bounty Land & was a pensioner from the State of New York to the time of his death which occurred in 1849 the claim is therefore rejected"
  The John Porter named in the Certificate of the Comptroller of the State of Ct was personally known to the subscriber, was an uncle, the Brother of his Mother, emigrated from Stratford (now, I think Bridgeport Ct.) to Vermont near the close of the Revolutionary war, where he resided to the time of his decease, did not at any time reside in the State of New York, was an invalid from asthma, for many years before, as wall during the war of 1812, sleeping almost wholly in a chair thru the night up to the time of his death which occurred in 1816, the year following the close of the war of 1812. The immediate cause of his being a cancer upon the lips.  He had several sons among them Ebner, formerly of Orwell Vt. who served as a private in the army, War of 1812. Capt Farrington Comp & 30t Reg U. S. Inf. Col Fassets
Page 11

 & recd. Land Bounty for said service.
  there might have been a son John older than Ebner.  He might have served in the Army War of 1812, not in the war of the Revolution.
  If the claim is rejected independently of the Commissioners Conjecture then John Porter of Ct who died in Vt 1816 is the identical person the John Porter who died in the State of New York 1849, a farther prosecution of said claim would seem useless.  If otherwise the rejection be held as due to the said identity, I may rightfully ask a reconsideration of the decision.  Respectfully (signed) Israel Smith Orwell Vermont
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.
Page 12

(date stamp) Department of the Interior Pension Office Jan 24 1862
Page 13

(official seal)  State of Connecticut Comptrollers Office Hartford  Nov. 19th 1858
I certify that on application for farther evidence of the service of John Porter in the war of the Revolution I have examined the documents in this office and do not find any evidence of said service, except what is embraced in a certificate issued from this office on or about the 4th of November 1858, nor do I find any other John Porter on the Rolls of the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army except  the one whose service was certified to as above.
(signed) Wm H. Buell Comp. by Geo Robinson Clk