Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45331, David Dorrance, Conn. Continental
Page 1

Service]
Conn.
Continental

Dorrance, David

Number
S45331
B.L.nt. 535_300_Capt
Issued Mar. 5, 1793 to
Samuel Darrance, assigned
This warrant was
issued under Darrance
no papers
Page 2

of
who ???
Colo?

?scribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 6th of April 1818

Certificate of Pension [illegible] of June [illegible]
and [illegible]

Arrears to [illegible]

Revolutionary claim,
Act 10th March 1818

[illegible]
Page 3

State of New York, Sullivan County ss - On the 6th day of April 1818 before me the Subscriber Wm A Thompson first Judge of the Court of Common pleas for Sullivan County personally appears David Dorrance Aged 67 years resident in the Town of Mammakating in the said County of Sullivan 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 late act of Congress, subtitled "an act to provide for certainp persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War that the said David Dorrance enlisted a Sergeant at Plainfield ^in^ Connecticut in Capt Waterman [illegible] Company in Col. Jed.h Huntington Regt. in the Summer of 1775 - & served in sd Company about three months when he was appointed an Ensign and Company and Remained one Year or More as Ensign in sd Regt. when he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in sd Regiment and continued[?] as 2nd Lieut. in sd Regiment for 6 or 8 months at which time he was appointed first Lieutenant of said Regiment
when Col Jedediah Huntington was promoted to be Brigadier General, and the deponent Commanded the  Col. Company that the Deponent sometime 1778 was appointed a
Captain  & served in Col. Starr & Col.  Grovenors Regiments for some time and was afterwards appointed a Captain in 1779 in Col. Heman Swifts Regiment of light infantry in the Marquis De [illegible] [possibly Lafayette]. [illegible] & Remained in sd Regiment until the 23rd day of January 1781 when the Deponent was wounded at [illegible] in Westchester County and Remained Confined with his
wounds for 17 months.  That afterwards he was returned and Served as Captain in Col. Samuel B Webbs Regiment ^on the Connecticut line^ and Continued to Command Redoubt no. 4 ^at Westpoint^[?] until the close of the War. -
Page 4

and the said David Dorrance says respecting
his wounds that he was wounded by a musket-
Ball passing through his right hip and has
dis enabled [disabled] him from use his right leg and has benumed  [benumbed]his leg  so that he but little or no use of it, at particular times, that some years since he applied for a pension from his Country for his wounds but his application was rejected on account of his not applying for it within the time limited by Congress, and the Deponent further says, that his Different Commissions  which he has had in the Army, was taken out his Chest by his oldest son Elisha and carried out of his ^state,^, this for Reasons best known to himself and the sd Commissions are not now at his Command of he has not got the power to produce New, and the Deponent further says that has become verry [very] infirm through age and the increasing effects of his wounds and his usefulness to his Family has in great measure ceased - and he further says that he stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and is in reduced in Circumstances and has not property, means or ability to support himself or Family but through bodily infirmity and misfortune of various kinds he is ^in^ need
David Dorrance
Sworn to and Declared before me the day and year first above Written
Wm A Thompson first Judge of the Court
of Common pleas for Sullivan Country
Page 5

I Wm A Thompson first Judge of the Court of
Common pleas for the County of Sullivan Do certify that it appears to my full satisfaction that the said David Dorrance did serve in the Revolutionary War as Stated in the preceding Declaration against the Common Enemy and I Do further certify that the said David Dorrance is in indigent Circumstances that he is very infirm and lame from his wounds, which he swears he Received in the Revolutionary War, and that he is in Reduced Circumstances and Stands in need of the assistance of his Country for Support - and I Do further Certify that the said Dorrance is a person of an Excellent moral Character and I now transmit the proceedings and Testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the Directions of the aforementioned
act of Congress-
Wm A Thompson
Page 6

State of New York Sullivan County
David Dorance of the Town of Mamakating
in the County of Sullivan on this 18th day of April
1818 before me the Subscriber Wm A Thompson his
Judge of the Court of Common pleas for Sullivan County
Page 7

District of New York on this 31st day of
January AD 1821 personally appeared in
Open Court in the Court of Common Pleas
in & for the County of Sullivan in said
State being a Court of Record in & for said
district by the Constitution and laws of said
State David Dorrance aged seventy years
upwards resident in the town of Mamakating
County and State aforesaid who being
first duly sworn according to law
his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows. He enlisted
after the Battle of Bunker Hill in
the forepart of the said war the day he
cannot collect into Captain Waterber
Clefts company in Colonel Samuel Holden
Parsons Regiment
the Council
live as a Sargeant therein shortly after
in this deponent was appointed and
commissioned an Ensign and then was
annexed to Col. Jedediah Huntingtons
Regiment in said line and was there
commissioned a Lieutenant & was annex
to Col Stars Regiment & was then
commissioned a Captain & annexed to
Col. Heman Swifts Regiment of Light
Infantry in the Marquis de La Fayette corps
that he enlisted at first for during the war
that he was wounded on the
23d of January 1781 that he actually
served though the whole war
and in the last of his service was in
Col Webbs regiment, having served
in all about seven years. That the
date of his original declaration is
the sixth day of April AD 1818 and the
number of his pension certificate is 11347
and I do solemnly swear that I was a
resident citisen 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
to diminish it as to bring myself
within the provisions of an act of Congress
Page 8

entitled "an act to provide for certain per-
sons engaged in the Land and Naval Service
of the United States in the Revolutionary war
[illegible] on the 18th day of March 1818 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 income other than what is con-
tained in the schedule hereto annexed and
by me subscribed - that my occupation
is that of a farmer - that I am unable
to labour by reason of my age
[illegible] which is supposed to be occas-
ioned by my wound recd in said
service & which has continued more than
ten years - that the number of my
family including myself is five to [illegible]
Anna my wife aged 56 years able to
do only one third the labour of a com-
mon labouring woman.  George my
son aged 24 years who works for himself
Catherine my daughter aged about
18 years as able as girls in general of
her age and Charles my son aged 13
years as able as other boys of his age.

David Dorrance
Signed sworn to this 31st day of January AD
1821 in Open Court
before me
Wm A Thompson First Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas in
[illegible] the County of Sullivan
State of New York
Page 9

Schedule of David Dorrance's
property refered to in the foregoing
affidavit

142 1/2 acres of Land about one third of
which is very poor mountain land
Steep & hilly and one third low and
swamp land worth little or nothing
estimated in all at -------------------- $783.75
1 old horse 17 years old -------------    10.00
2 cows ----------------------------------- 18.00
pepper box on caster -------------------   4.00
6 old silver teaspoons -------------------  3.00
6 knives & forks -------------------------  1.00
8 old chairs ------------------------------  2.00
1 iron kettle ------------------------------ 2.00
1 small iron pot -------------------------- 1.00
1 smaller pot & dish kettle -------------- 1.50
1 [illegible] ------------------------------- 1.00
1 shover & tongs ------------------------ 1.25
3 Pewter Platters ------------------------- 1.25
8 small plates & 10 teacups & saucers - 1.00
1 Cherry table & 1 [illegible] Do -------- 2.12h
1 Candle Stand - old --------------------  0.37h
1 Candle Stick old -----------------------  0.12h
                                                         ----------------
                                                           $833.37h

Debts due from me to
Wm Holland ---------------------- $5.85
C P Perry --------------------------   2.40
Caleb Perry -----------------------    2.75
Charles Baker --------------------   17.34
John Dorrance -------------------   18.32
Caleb B Barnes ------------------    32.00
Perry L Dorrance ------------------   3.41
Jacob Gumaer --------------------    8.05
Isaac Crans ------------------------ 19.60
Daniel Sloan ----------------------   85.22
D & P Hunter ---------------------   19.67
D Hunter --------------------------- 19.24
Joseph Purdy on a
mortgage given for the
purchase money of the
land above mentioned at
the time of purchase ------------- 344.63
Eli Roberts -------------------------- 21.40
Pedro Leon ------------------------- 60.00
                                                     ---------
                                                       $769.88
Debts due to me are more that
are collectible
Page 10

Amt. of debts due from
me but over --------------- $769.88
To Moses Crawford --------- 19.50
John Longhead --------------- 2.00
David Munn [illegible] ------ 10.00
W. Otis & Co ---------------- 20.00
Abraham Gray ---------------- 4.00
James Lockwood ------------ 19.68
Amos Holmes --------------- 12.98
Lewis Bruck & Co ------------- 1.37h
[illegible] Thos Royce -------- 9.00
Samuel S Freer -------------- 14.00
Daniel Gillies ---------------- 18.00
                                           -------
                                           $900.33'h

Signed by me this 31st
January 1821
David Dorrance

State of New York
Sullivan County
[illegible] I John P Jones Clerk of the County of
Sullivan & Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
in & for said County do hereby certify that
the foregoing oath and the schedule thereunto
annexed are truly copied from the Record 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 property
exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Eight hundred thirty
three Dollars & thirty seven & a half Cents.
In testimony [illegible] I have hereunto set my hand &
affixed the seal of the said Court on this first day of
February AD 1821.

Signed:  David Dorrance
[illegible]
11.347
[illegible] R. S. Street
Poughkeepsie
June 21, 1821
Page 11

March 23, 1938

Mrs. Grace P. Bonsall
158 Presidents Lane
Quincy, Massachusetts.

BA-J/ILL
David Dorrance
S. 45331

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of David Dorrance, who applied for pension
under the Act of 1818.

The data which follow are found in the papers on file in
pension claim, S. 45331, based upon service of David Dorrance in
the Revolutionary War.

David Dorrance enlisted, shortly after the battle of Bunker
Hill, at Plainfield, Connecticut, served as sergeant in Captain
Waterman Clift's company, Colonel Samuel Holden Parson's Connecticut
regiment, after several months was appointed ensign in that regiment
- 10 Cont. Inf-
until Aug 1776 -
[illegible] "Conn.
fr. Jun 1777-
and served more than one year, was then appointed 2# Lieutenant and
1# Lieutenant in Colonel Jedadiah Huntington's Connecticut regiment,
was promoted Captain, served in Colonel Josiah Starr's and Homan
Swift's Connecticut regiments, was in the battle of Morrisania, Janu-
ary 28, 1781, in which engagement he was severely wounded by a ball
which entered his right hip, an account of which he was confined about
seventeen months, after which he continued in service as Captain in
Colonel Charles B. Webb's Connecticut regiment until the restoration
of peace in June 1783.

On account of his service as Captain in the Revolutionary
War, David Dorrance was allowed 300 acres of bounty land on warrant
#535, issued March 5, 1793.

David Dorrance was allowed pension on account of his service
in the Revolutionary War on his application executed April 6, 1818, at
which time he resided in Mamakating, Sullivan County, New York.  He
Page 12

was aged then about sixty-seven years; the date and place of his
birth and names of his parents are not shown.  In January 1821,
David Dorrance stated that the following members of his family were
living at home; his wife, Anna, aged fifty-six years, his son,
George, aged twenty-four years, his daughter, Catherine, aged about
eighteen years, and his son, Charles, aged thirteen years.  He did
not state Anna's maiden name, nor the date of their marriage.  He
referred to his eldest son, Elisha, but did not give his residence
or his age.

David Dorrance died June 21, 1821. - AB.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistance
to the Administrator.
Page 13

April 7, 1938.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/ady
David Dorrance
S. 45331

Mrs. Grace P. Bonsall
158 Presidents Lane
Quincy, Massachusetts

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request to know whether
or not the widow of David Dorrance, S. 45331, whose
record was furnished you March 23, 1938, received a
pension.

There is no claim for pension on file which was
made by any one as the widow of the above named soldier
and pensioner.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 14

158 Presidents Lane
Quincy, Mass
March 28, 1938.

Pension Department
Veterans Admin
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir:

With reference to
BA- J/ILL
David Dorrance
S. 45331

thank you very much for the information just received.  I would like to know whether the widow of ^Capt.^ David Dorrance, Anna (Hurlbut [?]) Dorrance, received a pension after 1821 (her death), and if so, what

[There is a partial stamp at the top of the letter which states RECEIVED MAR 29 1938 but the rest of the stamp is illegible.]
Page 15

information  she gave in her application.

Yours truly
(Mrs.) Grace P. Bonsall
Page 16

158 Presidents Lane
Quincy, Mass.
March 7, 1938.

Pension Dept.
Veterans Admin.
Washinton, D.C.

Gentlemen:-

Have you on file any record
of a pension granted to Capt.
David Dorrance, who enlisted
first in 1775 from Voluntown, Conn.,
sergeant in 1776, 2d lieut. in 1777,
capt. lieut 1779, capt. 1780-1783.

He was residing in New York
when he applied for a pension -
Act of 1818, I believe.

His wife's name was Anna

[Stamp reads:  RECEIVED Mar 9, 1938
[illegible] SUB-DIV
VETS. ADM
[illegible] 21]
Page 17

He was born in 1761 and
died 1822.

Would you please send me
a summary of his papers.

Yours truly -
Mrs. Grace P. Bonsall
158 Presidents Lane
Quincy, Mass.
Page 18

45331
INVALID
Rev Y

No. 45331
David Dorrance
Capt Rev War

Act:  18 March 1818
Index:- Vol. 3, Page 132

Arrangement of 1870

Written on the side:
1938. Mar. 23. Hist. to Mrs. Grace P. Bonsall - ILL
1938 Apr. 7 Mrs. Grace P. Bonsall further adv. A.D.Y.
Page 19

Ephraim Smith of the Town of Mammakating in the
County of Sullivan aged 68 years who being
sworn according to the Law on his Oath Doth
Declare that he has personally known David Dorrance
of said Mammakating for nearly fifty years last
past and was well acquainted with him in the
Different Grades that he passed through in the
Continental army in the Revolutionary War from
the time that he was an Ensign in Col. Jedadiah
Huntington Regiment with the said David Dorrance
was a Captain in Col. Samuel B. Webbs Regiment
at the Close of the War, that he Recollects that the
said David served as a Captain for three or four
years in the Continental Army before the peace
in the Connecticut line of Troops, and the
Deponent - further saith that he has lived as near
neighbors to the said Dorrance for about 35 years
last past and now resides near said Dorrance and
he personally knows that said Dorrance is very
frequently indisposed and [lame?] on account of the
wound he received in his Hip during the Revolutionary War. that at many times said Dorrance is
unable to move out of his own house or to attend
to any concerns whatever, that the Deponent
knows that the said Dorrance applied for a pension
account of his wound, but understand that the [?]
application was [?], by Reason of not applying
before - he further says that said Dorrance is
now very infirm and Decrepid [decrepit] on account
of his Wounds - and the Deponent further
says that the said Dorrance is in very low
Circumstances and very much in want
Page 20

of the Common necessaries of Life, and that the Dorrance 
is not able to appear Decent at home 
or abroad, and that from the personal knowledge 
the said Deponent the said Dorrance is in such reduced 
circumstances as he stands in need of assistance from
his Friends or his Country for Support
Ephraim Smith [signature]

Sworn this 18th day of October 1818
before me Wm A Thompson first Judge
of the Court of Common pleas for
Sullivan County -

The said Ephraim Smith further says that he has [illegible] & read
the [illegible] of the said Dorrance a Lieutenant & Captain 
in the Connecticut line of Troops in the Continental army in 
the Revolutionary War, but has lately understood that the son 
of the [illegible] has carried them out of the State.
Ephraim Smith [signature]
Sworn this 18th day of Oct. 1818 before me a
Wm Thompson first Judge
[illegible]
Page 21

Left hand side on the margins:
Wm A Thompson first Judge
Common Pleas for Sullivan County

Ephraim Smith
Deposition

David Dorrance [illegible]
Capt 1780
Correct by [illegible]

N.B. The applicant and
then [illegible] are personally
[illegible] known to me
Wm A Thompson
[illegible] @ 6th April 1818
Capt Smiths
Cont Regt
2 years
[Signature]
Page 22

Lemuel Clift of the Town of Southeast
in the County of Putnam in the State 
of New York being Duly sworn on oath 
according to Law Doth Declare that 
that he served as a captain in Col 
Dargees and Col Gravenors Regiments 
for a number of years During the
Revolutionary War and untill after the
Close of the War and that the Deponent
is now Sixty two years of age and the
Deponent doth further Declare that 
he is and was personally well acquainted 
with David Dorrance of the Town 
of Mamakating in the County of Sullivan 
and that he personal knows that the said 
David Dorrance Served as a Captain 
in both of the aforesaid Regiments untill 
the peace  in 1783 and the Deponent
further knows that the said Dorrance
was wounded in West Chester County some
time in the forepart of War. - and the Deponent 
further Declares that from the best information
he believes that the said Dorrance is in need
of assistance from his Country for Support & 
further that said Dorrance was on the Continental
Establishment
[Signed]
Lemuel Clift
Sworn this 10th day of June 1818
before me Wm A Thompson first Judge of Common Pleas
for Sullivan County
Page 23

David Dorrance
Pensioner -
Afft of
D Hunter
A. Dimnsick
Page 24

State of New York Sullivan County
Alpheus Dimmick of said County being
duly sworn deposeth & saith that he
is well acquainted with David Dorance  [continue] of
said County who hath this day made
oath to his schedule to continue his
name on the pension roll under the
act of Congress of 18th March 1818
and also with his circumstanes [circumstances]  generally & with the schedule aforesaid
which this deponent hath examined
and this deponent saith that the
said David Dorrance is reputed to
be a man of strict 
truth & veracity
& verily believes that the matters & 
things therein set forth are correct & true.
A Demmick
Signed & sworn to this 31st day
Jan of 1821 before me in open
Court Wm Thompson
first Judge of the Com pleas
for [illegible] County
State of Newyork [New York[ Sullivan County
ss David Hunter of said County being
duly sworn deposeth saith that he
hath examined the foregoing affidavit
of A Dimmick & verily believes the
matters & things therein set forth are
correct & true in all respects he being 
well acquainted with the said Dorrance
his circumstances & the schedule therein
mentioned
---
David Hunter
Signed and sworn this 31
of Jany 1821 before me
in open Court Wm A Thompson, first Judge
of the Court of Common pleas
Sullivan County
Page 25

State of New York
York
City
ss
I. John P. Jones Clerk of the
County of Sullivan and Clerk of the Court of
Common pleas in and for said County Do
hereby certify that William A Thompson within
and 
before whom the annexed affidavits were
taken was at the time of taking and certifying the same
and still and still is duly commissioned and Sworn
as first Judge of said County, and that I am well
acquainted with the hand writing of the said William
A Thompson, and verily beleive [believe] the certificates to
the annexed affidavits to be his own hand writing
and Signature, and further that I saw him subscribe
his name to to the within Certification, In Testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed seal of the
said County, this 20th day of November 1818
JPJones Clk