Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 20436, for Elijah Spear, Connecticut
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Conn. Spear, Elijah R20436
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E. Spear Recd. 9 July 1878
[stamped St Albans VT Jun 28]
Hon Secretary of the Treasury
City Washington
Revolutionary CLaims
[illegible]
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Revolutionary Claims.
Under act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved 15th May, 1828.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
8 Dec 1828,
---
The annexed paper, relating to the claim of Elijah Spear under the abovementioned act, is respectfully referred to the Secretary of War, with a request that he will be pleased to cause me to be informed whether it appears, by any
records in the War Department, that the claimant has received, or is entitled to receive,
the bounty in land granted by Congress for service in the Continental Line of the Army
of the Revolution.
The Hon. the SECRETARY OF WAR.
R. Rich
War Depart
Bounty land Office
the records of this office do not show that
Elijah Spear of the Connecticut line
received or is entitled to bounty land of the
United States
Robert Taylor
11 Decr 1828
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I Elijah Spear of North Hero in the county of Grand Isle in the state of Vermont do hereby declare that I enlisted in the continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and entered in to service untill its termination by myself & substitute. That I was a Sergeant in Capt. Roger Aldon's company on the 2nd regiment of the Connecticut line. 
And I also declare that in my opinion I was enlisted to a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars under a resolve of Congress passed the 15 May 1778.
And I further declare that I was not, on the 15th day of March 1828 in the pension list of the United States.
Elijah Spear
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State of Vermont
Franklin County}Ss. Franklin County Clerk's office June 28th 1828 Horace Jones of [illegible] in said county, Clerk of the county court do hereby certify to all whom it may concern that Seth Wetmore Esq whose official signature is hereunto annexed is a Justice of the Peace duly qualified to act as such [illegible] the foregoing certificate is signed by him in his own proper hand. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the Public seal of my office.
Horace Jones Clerk
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419

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Sept 6 1828

Elijah Spear, of North Hero, in the County of Grand Isle, in the State of Vermont, has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution," approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termination, at which period he was a sergeant in captain Aldon's company, in the second regiment of the Connecticut line; and that does not state that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing. He states that he served until 1780 personally, and afterwards by a substitute who was accepted by his Colonel.
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary
A. Dickins.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
12th September 1828
It further appears that Elijah Spear is not now on the pension list of any agency, and has not been so since 3 March 1826.
The name of Elijah Spear cannot be found among those of the Connecticut line, to whom certificates for the gratuity of eighty dollars were issued.
It appears from the muster rolls of the Connecticut line, that a man by the name of Elijah Spear enlisted in the 2nd Regt if said line on the 20th of March 1777 for the war - and opposite to his name, are the following remarks "Desertd
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Sergt May 5th 80 reduced July 1st 80.
Peter Hagner Aud
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S. Wetmore
for E. Spear 419
Recd 4 June 1829

Free
24

Hon. Secretary of Treasurer
City Washington

Pension Claim

[stamped]
ST. ALBANS. VT
MAY 29
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St. Albans (Vermont) May 28 1829

Hon. Secretary of Treasurer

On or about the 31 day of July 1828 Elijah Spear called on me stating that he was a Revolutionary Soldier. That he enlisted on or about the month of April AD 1777 in a company commanded by Capt. Granger & in the regiment commanded by Col. Charles Webb of the Connecticut line; that he was afterwards honorably discharged before the close of the war on his hiring a substitute, which substitute was accepted by his officers. Which discharge he then had in his possession stating the fact of his substitute. And requesting me as a Judge of the Probate Court to take his declaration in order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress of May 1828 - not receiving any form under the act I made his declaration to conform to the act & other acts - which Spear subscribed to - and I transmitted the same together with the discharge to the Hon. Secretary of the Treasurer.
Mr. Spear not having any returns, I at his request I wrote the Hon. Benjamin Swift, a member of Congress in Decr last. & received from Mr. Swift an answer which answer is here enclosed. Mr. Spear again called on me this day for advise on the business, stating that he had been sick, was the reason why he had so long neglected to be informed on the subject - he residing about 50 miles from me. 
It is by Mr. Spears earnest request that I again wrote you & to state the name of his substitute was Patrick Kelley or O'Kelley
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whether the said Kelley served to the close of the war or not Mr. Spear from his advanced age & feeble mind as well as body does not now recollect whether he was ever inform it. But thinks that he did serve to the close of the war & that he further has an impression on his mind that since the war, the said Kelley was killed in the army under Gen. Harmer or Hammond in the war with the Indians.
Mr. Spear refers the Hon. Secretary to the rolls of the army for the facts of Kelleys service.
If Mr. Spear should not be a subject proper for a pension he wishes to have his papers & discharge transmitted to the Hon. Mr. Edwards Pension office, War Department or to have his discharge transmitted to me as he calculates to apply under the act of March 1818. Should he fail to be placed under the act of May 1828 the latter act he prefers as he is now so far advanced.
He wishes to be advised relative to his claim as soon as will comport with the business of the office & I doubt I'd my can.
That I may advise him of such information as I may receive. 
Respectfully yours
Seth Wetmore

Should Mr. Spear apply under the act of 18 March 1818 his discharge will be wanted as evidence of his serving 9 months at one term of service.
S. Wetmore
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Rejected
OLD WAR.
File No. 20,436

REJECTED

Elijah Spear
Sergt
Capt. Alden
Ct. Line
Revy War

Not allowed 
Act 1828
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[stamped]
WASH CITY
DEC 17

[stamped]
FREE

B. Swift

Hon. Seth Wetmore
St. Albans
Vermont

Benj. Swift
Letter Dec 17 1828
Subject Elijah Spear
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Washington Dec 17 1828

Friend Wetmore
Dear Sir
Your letter in behalf of E. Spear, was recd yesterday, and this morning I called at the Treasury Office & found on examination that the papers of Mr. Spear had been duly rec'd. There is an entry on the muster roll (I think 1779) that Spear deserted but it also appears that he was afterwards (I think in 1780) appointed a sergeant, so there seems to be no difficulty on the ground of desertion, but the difficulty is this. 
It appears (as you will recollect) from a certificate eon his warrant, that he was discharged before the close of the war, and a substitute accepted in his place, that fact also appears from some other record in the office, but it does not appear who that substitute was, or that he performed the service
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I am informed, that it has been the practice in cases when service has been performed by substitutes, to grant to the substitutes the rights & privileges belonging the soldier int he same manner as if he had been originally enlisted, still when no claim has been made by the substitute, the claim of the original soldier has been allowed. If therefore Spear can show who his substitute was, & that he served during the war, and does not claim the pension, Spear will be entitled to it.
I have nothing of news to communicate.
Respectfully yours, &c.
B. Swift

PS. You will recollect that by mistake the post route from Scranton to Champlain was not included in the will. Is it still desired that route should be established? Or will the steam boat to Plattsburgh save the necessity? Please inform me on this subject.
BS.
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Sergeants Warrant from Col. Zebulon Batles dated 1779
Discharge from Major A. Walbridge to Elijah Spear he having obtained a substitute.
Dated -- 1780.
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O. W. Rej
#20,436
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Elijah Spear - Sergt
Conn Line
Not allowed
Act 1828
Vermont
322 Adt Weds
don't fit
Not found, exd Ad Inv.
Act Mids Rej. & old books
L. D. S.
Nov 13/79