Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37832, Obadiah Child, Conn.
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Conn. Child, Obadiah S37832
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12,935 R
Connecticut
Obadiah Child
of Woodstock in the state of Connecticut 
who was an Ensign in the regiment commanded by Colonel A. Ward of the Connecticut line, for the term of one year
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of twenty Dollars per month, to commence on the 14th of October 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 24th of July 1819 and sent to David Botter, esq. Windham, Conn
Arrears to 4th. of March 1819 5 22/31
114.19
120.00
======
$234.19
======
Semi-anl, all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819
{Revolutionary clain, Act 18th March, 1818}
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Rec'd Jan
1819
There is no evidence in the Pension office, to shew that Ward's reg't was commissioned by Congress although the applicant produces a commission signed by the President he does not prove that it was given to him as an officer in Col. Ward's regiment

July (xx) 1819
Please to notice the depositions of Captains Allen and Nichols accompanying these applications.

Rejected: not being considered continental service

(rotated 90 degrees and overwritten):

Windham(?) Co [unknown symbol] rec
Per(?) 29
Hon C Calhoun
Secretary of War
C (----) Washington
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on left face:

Rec'd Jan
1819
There is no evidence in the Pension office, to shew that Ward's reg't was commissioned by Congress although the applicant

on right face:
Obadiah Child 
Ensign
Col. A. Ward's Conn't Reg't
1776 -- 1 year
14th October 1818

Admitted
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To David Bolles Esqr. Judge of Windham County Conn.(?)
Obadiah Child of Woodstock in (?aforesaid?) County applieth and in pursuance of the United States Land entitled "An act to to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War" 
(?aforesaid?) Child doth declare under oath that on the 10th June A D 1776 he was commissioned as an Ensign in the continental army and served in the war of the revoluytion from said 10th June untill the 14th day of May 1777 when he was at Chatham in New Jersey honourably dismissed therefrom: he has no written (unknown word), he served in the company commanded by Capt. Cutler he thinks his (?aforesaid?) Captain's name was Benj. (?)a Cutler in Col Andrew Ward's regiment in the Connecticut line.
(?aforesaid?) Child now & for many years past has resided in (?aforesaid?) Woodstock he owns about 100 acres of land worth about $1600 and owes (unknown word) to his best recollection just about $1000. ---- he is 78 years old and through age and infirmity is wholly unable to labour and doth declare that he is by reason of his reduced circumstances in life in need of assistance from his country for support and doth therefore desire to receive a pension from the United States of twenty Dollars per month during life (unknown word) to the provisions of (?aforesaid?) Act  Done at Ashford(?) in said Windham County this fourteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eighteen hundred & eighteen.  signed  (signature)
State of Connecticut
Windham so(?) Ashford 14 October A D 1818 Personally appeared Mr. Obadiah Child signer of the above and made Solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth before
David Bolles Judge of Windham
County Court
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I Ransellaer Child of Woodstock in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut of lawful age testify and says that I am well acquainted with Mr. Obadiah Child within named I think the within statement here   his farm is in my opinion worth no more than $1600 and he is deeply in Debt how much precisely that he owes I cannot tell but being a dweller about 2 miles from him, from what I have learnt of his circumstances if his creditors take a course of law with him I fully believe it will reduce him to entire poverty: as he has very little property except land aforesd.  He has been home these many years and is wholly unable to labour - I remember that he was an officer in the army but as to the length of time I don't now recollect it with certainty and further the Deponent saith not.   Ashford 14-Octr. 1818 -
        [Signed]   Ransellaer Childs

Windham Js  Ashford 14- October 1818
Personally appeared Ransellaer Child Esq of Woodstock in sd County signer of the foregoing deposition and made oath that the same contains the whole truth & nothing but the truth before
    David Bolles Judge of Windham County
                             Court

State of Connecticut, Windham Js   Decr 14-1818 [date inserted] I David Bolles, Judge of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas forsd Windham County Certify that it appears to my satisfaction that Obadiah Child of Woodstock in sd County signer of the foregoing declaration made on oath, did serve
in the revolutionary war as stated in sd declaration, against the common enemy; and be reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his country for support.
                       [Signed]   David Bolles

I Samuel Gray Clerk of the County Court in & for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do Certify that David Bolles Esq is Judge of Said County Court, & that the above Signatures are his hand writing that full Faith & credit ought to be given to his Acts as such.  I also further Certify that Ransellaer Child and Jonathan Nichols [illegible word] Esq before whom affidavits have been made respecting Obadiah Child an Applicant for a Pension under the Act of Congress March 18,.AD 1818 are duly enrolled as Justices of the Peace in & for sd Windham County & full Faith ought to be given to their acts as such -   In testimony whereof   I have Subscribed my name and affixed the Public Seal of said Court at Windham in sd  County  this 14th day of Decemb AD 1818.

     ]Signed]   Sam Gray
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Rev. 1812 Wars Section

May 18, 1925 

Mrs. Mary B. Bishop
142 Grove St. 
Putnam, Conn.  

Madam: 

I have to advise you, from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.37832, it appears that OBADIAH CHILD was commissioned Ensign June 16, 1776, in Captain Benoni Cutler's Company, Colonel Andrew Ward's Connecticut Regiment, and was discharged May 14, 1777.  

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 14, 1818, at which time he was a resident of Woodstock, Winham County, Connecticut, aged seventy-eight years. 

There is no data on file relative to his family. 

Respectfully, 

WILDER S. METCALF
Commissioner
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CHILD, OBADIAH
(CONN.)
S-37832
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IN CONGRESS. 

The DELEGATES of the UNITED COLONIES of New-Hampfhire, Maffachufetts-Bay, Rhode-Ifland, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennnfylvania, the counties of New-Caftle, Kent, and Suffex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia, to

To Obadiah Child Esq, Greeting 

WE repofing efpcial Truft and Confidence in your Patriotifm, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by thefe Prefents, conftitute and appoint you to be Ensign of a Company

in the Army of the United Colonies raifed for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hoftile Invafion thereof.  You are therefore carefully and diligently to difcharge the Duty of Ensign by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging.  And we do ftrictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as Enfign  And you are to obferve and follow fuch Orders and Directions from Time to Time as you fhall receive from this or a future Congrefs of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congrefs, for that Purpofe appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other fuperior Officer, according to the Rules and Difcipline of War, in Purfuance of the Truft repofed in you.  This Commiffion to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congrefs.  Dated this tenth Day of June A Dom 1776 

By order of the Congrefs
John Hancock  President 

Atteft. Chas Thomson
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No.
37832
INVALID.
---
Obadiah Child
Ensign He was
---
Act: 18 March 18
dex: -- Vol. A
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Arrangement of 1870.}
2
May 18 Hist
this Mary B. Bishop
see letter in case of
Jos. Seagrove W. 12509
M
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I Thomas Chaffee of Thompson in the County
of Windham and State of Connecticut of lawful
age testify and say that I Obadiah Child of Woodstock in County served as Ensign in the army of the American Revolutionary war in the Continental service more than nine months beginning in the fore part of May 1776 and was discharged in the Month of May 1777 in the Town of Chatham in New in the Company of Capt Benoni Cutler of Killingly and Col Andrew  Wards Regiment who bed in Guilford and State of Comes and that the said Obadiah Child is an aged
Man and a cripple and unable to labor for a
living and that his real estate in my opinion
is not worth more than Sixteen hundred Dollars
and further the deponent saith not Thomas Chafer
Windham County S Thompson Novr 12th 1818
Then personally came before me Thomas Chaffee and made oath to the facts contained in the fore going Deposition
Ransellaer Child Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that that the above bound
Thomas Chaffee is a endable man and may be
relied on of a man of Doth
Ransellaer Child Just Peace
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I Aaron Corbin of Woodstock in
the County of Windham & State of Connecticut of Lawful age testify and say that I am acquainted with Mr. Obadiah
Child of Woodstock and that his deeply in debt and his Real Estate is not worth more than Sixteen hundred Dollars and has but little work and is a cripple and unable to labor and the income of his farm were debt is not more than sufficient maintenance and further the Deponent saith not 
                                   Aaron Corbin
Windham County of Woodstock Nov 19 to 1818
Personally appeared Aaron Corbin of Woodstock
and addeth to the facts contained in the foregoing
Deposition by him subscribed
Certified by Ransellaer Child Fisher of the peace

I hereby certify that the above and Aaron
Corbin is a credible man and man and may be
relied on as a man of truth
Ransellaer Child Josie of the peace
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I hereby Certify that Capt Jonathan Nichols the deponent to the foregoing deposition is a credible man and may be relied on as a man of truth.
   Certified by
   [Signed]  Jonathan Nichols Jr.  Justice of Peace
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I Jonathan Nichols of Thompson in Windham County and State of Connecticut boing of lawful age do testify and say that I was knowing that Obadiah Child now residing in Woodstock in sd Windham County did serve as an Ensign in Capt Bonono Carltons Company in Col Andrew Ward's Regiment in the Connecticut line in the Continental Army for more than nine months during the Revolutionary War - further the deponent saith not -
      [Signed]  Jonathan Nichols

Windham County Js Thompson Oct. 21st 1818
There personally came before Me Jonathan Nichols and made solemn Oath to the truth of the fact contained in the foregoing Deposition by him Subscribed -
[Signed]  Jonathan Nichols Justice of the Peace
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Depositions of Daniel Allen
and Jonathan Nichols taken as
applicable to the inclosed cases of
      Obadiah Child
     Samuel Whitney &
            Thos. Chaffee -
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I Daniel Allen of Ashford in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut late a Captain in the Continental Army and now a pensioner of the United States under the act of 18th March 1818 Testify and Say that I have this day seen the Deposition of Capt Jonathan Nichols taken yesterday 1st July 1819 by David Bolles Esq and am knowing that the facts therein stated are true except that I had no personal acquaintance or knowledge of Thos. Chaffee - I personally knew Obadiah Child an Ensign in Col Andrew Wards Regiment in which ..... the years service I served also as Captain.   Wards Regiment consisted of Connecticut people chiefly, and was raised in Connecticut & myself and the other officers therein received all our Commissions signed by the President & Secretary of Congress and I suppose that this Regiment was the first that Connecticut furnished under Congress, The Commission which I then received as Captain is the same that I sent to the War Office to obtain my pension.  I know that Capt Hermans company served in sd Regiment and also Capt Cutlers whose Ensign Obadiah Child was; While I belonged to sd Regiment, an army was begun for three years or during the War in which I was also appointed a Captain and served therein.  This Wards Regiment was as our  Commissions stated "In the army of the United Colonies", I have now seen ensign Obadiah Child's Commission and it is similar to mine in date and general tenor, I Recollect that Thomas, Cutler, Dana, Phelps - Pettibone, Meigs & myself were Captains in that Regt.  Johnson was Lt Col & Cooke was Major. I had Connecticut bills to pay bounty money to my Soldiers then they enlisted but all our wages was paid in Continental money and came through the hands of Paymaster Royal Flint - Dated Ashford 2d July 1819
               [Signed] Daniel Allen

State of Connecticut
Windham Js Ashford 2d July 1819   Personally appeared Capt. Daniel Allen signer of the above deposition and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth before
     [Signed]  Daniel Bolles Judge of the        
              County Court for sd County
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To the Honorable Secretary of the Dpartment of War
The Dposition of Capts Daniel Allen and Jonathan Nichols (who are credible & respectable persons) [last six words inserted] are transmitted as applicable to the cases of Ensign Obadiah Child, Thomas Chaffee and Samuel Whitney applicants for pensions under the Act of Congress of March 18 1818 -  Two points viz 
1st   That Col Andrew Wards Regiment was in the Connecticut Line on the Continental establishment
2d  That the Officers & Soldiers generally in that corps served at one time more than nine months.
   I was humbly convinced that it was not necessary to take 3 sets of Depositions for those 3 cases but it is hoped the same will be as acceptable if so done and be allowed to apply to each case aforesaid
    [Signed]   [?] D. Bolles    J.W.C.C.

P.S.   I am informed (whether correctly or not the documents in the war office will show)  that Zenas Howe of Windham in Connt. is a pensioner by virtue of his service in Andrew Wards Regiment as on the Continental establishment
                [Signed]  D Bolles
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I Jonathan Nichols of Thompson in Windham County and State of Connecticut residing at this time July 1st - 1819in Ashford in said County and being in the eightieth year of my age testify and say that in May 1776 I enlisted a number of soldiers into the army of the United  Colonies and Capt Allen of Ashford & Capt Herman of Hampton in sd County and Ensign Obadiah Child of Woodstock and Capt Benoni Curler of Killingly all in sd County did the like and when we had got our compliments of men we had orders to march and join the Continental army in New York under General Washington    Colonel Andrew Ward of Guilford in this State commanded the Regiment in which we served and Lieutenant Col. Johnson of Canterbury in this County and Major Cooke Of Wallingford in New Haven County [last three words inserted] were field officers in that Regiment.  all the Officers in sd Regiment received commissions from Congress, and understood at the time, dated 10th June 1776   I recd one of that date as Ensign Daniel Allen was my Captain Lieutenant Morgan & Lieutenant Bottom were officers in the same company in Sd Wards Regiment with me     Col. Ward left the army I think some time  in the fall or Winter of 1776   we had a little skirmish and it was said Col Ward did not conduct quite so well as he might have done and I understood there was something done about it [last word inserted]  and I saw him no more  I was at the taking of the Hessians at Trenton and in the battle at Princeton and I do not recollect seeing Col. Ward there not afterwards in the army but Col Johnson commanded our Regiment.
We entered the service for one yer on the Continental establishment and I know that Ensign Obadiah Childs whose commission is now before me did serve the whole of term.  We sailed in the same vessel to to New York we were much in each others company and we were discharges together as a regiment   I do not recollect that written discharges were given to us generally, perhaps some might have taken them.  Capt James Hedman's company did duty according to my best recollection during the years service in which we were engaged
Thos Chaffee was enlisted in Capt Cutlers company and served as waiter to [last two words inserted] Ensign Obadiah Child the chief of the time
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I have the commission here that I received from Congress as an Officer in sd Wards Regiment it is similar to the one shown me belonging to Obadiah Child which it is said has been sent to the War Department with Ensign Childs application for a pension.  We were part of the time in General Sullivan's division and a part of the time in General Stevens' division.  I am called on this day by Samuel Whitney of Ashford to say whether I knew him as a soldier in the sd Hedman's company.  I do not remember him nor probably many other soldiers in that rgt but I know that Hedmans company served in said Regt as aforesaid, and further saith not.
      [Signed]  Jonathan Nichols

State of Connecticut Windham County Js Ashford 1st July A.D. 1819
Persoanally appeared Capt Jonathan Nichols signer of the above and foregoing deposition and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the truth
   before            [Signed]  
David Bolles Judge of the County Court for Windham County