Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,671, Bezaleel Brainard, Conn.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Conn. Brainard, Bezaleel W. 23,671
or Brainerd, Lydia
CONTENTS
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[left facing page]
269.
Connecticut
Lydia Brainard
widow of Bezaleel Brainard
Conn
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
26 Dollars 66. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of June 1848
and sent to
John C Palmer
East Haddam
Courts
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 25 Vol 1

[right facing page]
Reported
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4384
Lydia Brainerds application for Pension & declaration
Con
Act 7 July 38
In 87 d 27-
6 mo 76 Holmes
2 in 77 Smith
adm'd
8 Mo. pri
$26.66
No deduction
E. A. Bulkeley
E. Haddam
Con
Page 4

State of Connecticut Middlesex County}
Probate District of East Haddam} ss
On this 27th day of December AD 1838, personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of East Haddam, being a Court of Record, having a Clerk and Seal, Lydia Brainerd of the town of East Haddam, in the District aforesaid and County of Middlesex aged eighty years the 6th January 1838 who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". That she is the widow of Bezaleel Brained late of said town of East Haddam deceased, who at the time of our marriage was called Bezaleel Brainerd Jr - his father Bezaleel being then alive, that the said Bezaleel Jr in the year 1776 in the month of June the 24th or 25th day of the month, then residing in s'd town of East Haddam, where he was born and always lived enlisted into a company, under the command of Capt Eliphalet Holmes of said East Haddam, and soon after said enlistment, which was for the term of six months he proceeded to New York, where he remained until within about three weeks of the expiration of his term when in consequence of a services sickness with which he was afflicted he was permitted to come home to East Haddam, his father going down after him, the said Bezaleel was a private soldier.
The applicant is unable to state the names of the officers under whom he was except Capt Holmes. He was employed while in the service in and near the City of New York, and was near White Plains when the battle there was fought. The Applicant has no documentary evidence in support of her claim, except the accompanying pay abstract found in the possession of the Son of Capt Eliphalet Holmes
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2'd The Applicant further states that in the year 1777, her said Husband Bezaleel Brainerd Jr then residing at said East Haddam, was drafted from the militia of the town of East Haddam, into the service of the United States for the term of two months - that he went to the town of New London in Connecticut where he remained in the service two months- that he was a private soldier in the company of Capt Matthew Smith-- This service began in the month of July and ended in September but what day of the month it commenced or ended the applicant is unable to state. The Applicant is unable to state the names of the officers under whom he served beside Capt Smith. She has no documentary evidence in support of her claim the facts which the Applicant has stated in relation to the services of her husband were not within the personal knowledge of the Applicant but were derived from information received from her husband and others conversant with the subject many years since, and she has no doubt of their correctness-
She further declares that she was married to the said Bezaleel Brainerd Jun'r on the twenty first day of October in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven, that her husband, the aforesaid Bezaleel Brainerd died on the 25th twenty fifth day of June eighteen hundred twenty seven; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, Seventeen hundred and ninety four viz. at the time above stated.
[signature] Lydia Brainerd
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesd before the Court of Probate for the District of East Haddam}
F W Green Clerk
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Nathan L Fosters
Deposition on application of Lydia Brainerd
Page 7

I, Nathan L. Foster, of East Haddam, in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut of lawful age depose and say that I am the Town Clerk of said Town of East Haddam, and have the custody of the Records of the Marriages of said Town; and that in said Records I find a Marriage recorded, as follows, to wit:-
"Bezaleel Brainerd Junr of East Haddam and Lydia Deming of Norwich were joined in marriage the twenty first of October, A.D. One Thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven."

I certify that the above is a true Copy of the Record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows: to wit:-- "Bezaleel Brainerd Junr of East Haddam and Lydia Deming of Norwich were joined in Marriage 21st October A.D. 1787."
[signature] Nathan L. Foster, Town Clerk

East Haddam, Sept. 17, 1838.-
State of Connecticut.}
Middlesex County, SS} East Haddam, Sept. 17. 1838. Personally appeared Nathan L. Foster, the above named Deponent, personally known to me to be the Town Clerk of said Town of East Haddam, and made solemn Affirmation that the above Deposition and certificate by him subscribed, and the matters and things therein contained, are true
Before me,
[signature] Orin Holmes Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut}
Probate District of East Haddam, SS} I Frederic W Green Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of East Haddam hereby certify that Ozias Holmes Esq. on the 17th day of September 1838 was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex duly commissioned & sworn and that the preceeding signature purporting to be his is his own genuine and proper hand writing. In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and official seal this 28th day of December AD 1838
[signature] F.W. Green Clerk
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Rev WIDOW, &
File No. 23671
Lydia Brainard
Wid of Bezaleel Brainard
Priv Rev Wat
Act Feb 2nd 1848
Index: Vol. A, Page 91
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Connecticut. 3121
Lydia Brainard
widow of Bezaleel Brainard
who was a pensioner under the Act of [blank] and who died on the 25 June 1827 of Middlesex in the State of Connecticut
who was a Priv. in the Compy commanded by Captain Holmes of the Reg commanded by [blank] in the Conn't line for 8 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Jan '39, and sent to E. A. Bulkeley
E. Haddam, Ct

Arrears to the 4th of March - $79.98
Semi-annual allowance ending 13.33
$93.31
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by R BendialClerk,
Book A Vol. 1 Page [obscured]
Page 10

[left facing page]
Reported
Letter to Pen Agt. 11 March 1847
same pens aud 1 May 1848.

[right facing page[
4044
Connecticut
Lydia Brainard
widow of Bezaleel Brainard who was a Private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Dec 1843 and sent to C. A. Bulkeley East Haven, Conn
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 63.
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[envelope]
[note written from left edge]
4384
Jan 11, 1839
Conn,
7 July 1838.

[return address & addressee]
East Haddam Ct
Jany 8th
free
Hon James L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Dr Sir
Inclosed (sic) I send you the Declarationof Lydia Brainerd and accompanying proof for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act of Congress of July 7th 1838- Any communication on the subject may be addressed to the subscriber at East Haddam, Connecticut
Yrs very Respcety
[signature] Eliphalet A Bulkeley
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[envelope]
[note written from left edge]
B 4504
Ct Oct 5 1843
Lydia Brainard
Act 1843
$26.66 per an
C. A. Bulkeley
East Haven Ct.

[addressee]
James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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East Haddam Conn't Sept 30th 1843
James L Edwards Esq
Sir
Inclosed (sic) is Lydia Brainard's application for a Pension under the Act of March 3d 1843.
I sent you some months since the declarations of Olive Hungerford and Caroline Crossley for Pensions under the same Act, since which no communication on the subject has been rec'd will you please inform me what action (if any,) has been had in relation to them,
Very Respecty yrs
E A Bulkeley
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Lydia Brainards Pension application under Act of March 3d 1843.
4504
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3d of March 1843 granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7, 1838.
State of Connecticut
County of Middlesex}ss
On this 13th day of September AD 1843 personally appeared before Eliphalet A Bulkeley a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, Lydia Brainerd [Brainard] a resident of the town of East Haddam in said County of Middlesex aged eighty five years --- who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3d of March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war.
That she is the widow of Bezaleel Brainerd {Brainard], who was a private soldier in the war of the Revolution and who served under Capt Eliphalet Holmes at New York and in the Militia at New London Connecticut, any further particulars in regard to the officers under whom he served, she is unable to state, but would refer to his Declaration on file in the Pension Office; the amount of Pension, which she received under the act of July 7. 1838 was Twenty six dollars sixty six cents. She further declares that she is still a widow,
[signature] Lydia Brainard

Sworn to & subscribed on the day and year above written by the said Lydia Brainerd [Brainard] the Declarant who is personally known to me   is a credible person
Before me [signature] Eliphalet A Bulkeley Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut}
Middlesex County} I John Fisk Clerk of the County [lined out "of Middlesex"] Court of said County of Middlesex do certify that Eliphalet A. Bulkeley Esq was on the 13" day of Sept. 1843 & now is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex as pr Commission on file in my Office & that his name subscribed to the preceeding (sic) certificate is his proper hand writing & signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of s'd Court this 22d day of Sept A.D. 1843
[signature] Jno Fisk Clk
Page 18

State of Connecticut}
Middlesex County } ss. On this twenty fifth day of April One thousand eight hundred and forty eight, personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said Middlesex County, Lydia Brainard a resident of the Town of East Haddam in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut aged Ninety years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 2nd day of February 1848 granting pensions to Widows of Persons who served during the Revolutionary War, That she is the widow of Bezaleel Brainard who was a private in the Connecticut Militia during the Revolutionary War, and served therein, in Capt Eliphalet Holmes Co. Col Huntingtons Regiment as an enlisted soldier in 1776, and at other times as a militia man. That she drew a pension under the act of Congress passed June 17th 1844. at the rate of Twenty Six Dollars Sixty six cents per annum, and she refers to her application heretofore made for a more particular statement and proof of her claim - She further declares that she is still a Widow-
[signature] Lydia Brainerd
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me and I certify that the Declarant & Lydia Brainard is personally known to me
[signature] John C. Palmer Justice of the Peace
In presence of
[signature] William Brainerd
[signature] John C Palmer
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State of Connecticut
Middlesex County ss I Elihu Spencer Clerk of Middlesex County ^Court^
and State aforesaid do hereby certify that John C Palmer is a Justice of the Peace for said County and that his commission bears date the 17 day of June AD. 1847 and will expire on the 20th day of June AD 1848. and that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be his is his own genuine and proper signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my official signature and the seal of said County ^Cout^ this 13th day of May AD 1848
[signature] Elihu Spencer
Clk of s'd County Court

Admitted
John C. Palmer
East Haddam Ct
Page 20

Depositions of Daniel S Emmons, Samuel Emmons, Crippen Hurd, Darias & William Brainerd on application of Lydia Brainerd [Brainard]-
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Daniel S Emmons of East Haddam in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut in the eighty second year of his age deposes and says that in the year 1777 or 1778 he was on a tour of duty at New London in Connecticut for one month as a substitute for his father who had been drafted, that while there he recollects to have seen Bezaleel Brainerd of East Haddam, who was then a member of a company stationed at New London, but how long he remained there deponent is not able to state
[signature] Daniel S Emmons

Samuel Emmons of East Haddam in Middlesex County and State of Connecticut in the seventy seventh year of his age depose and says that in the year 1777 as he thinks he was on a tour of duty at New London in Connecticut for two months having been drafted from the militia of the town of East Haddam, where he then resided, that he recollects Bezaleel Brainerd then Junior of said East Haddam was a member of the same company with himself commanded by Capt Matthew Smith of East Haddam - Deponent thinks Mr Brainerd remained there, at New London, as long as himself which was two months and of this he is quite confident- Deponent thinks this service commenced in the latter part of the month of July and ended in the latter part of September - Deponent thinks the Colonel who was in command of New London was one Gallup -
[signature] Samuel Emmons

Crippen Hurd of East Haddon, in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut in the seventy sixth year of his age, deposes and says that in the year 1777 as he thinks he was on a tour of duty at New London in Connecticut as a substitute for Timothy Chapman of East Haddam who had been drafted
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Deponent join a company commanded by Capt Matthew Smith & distinctly recollects that Bezaleel Brainerd then called Jr was a member of the company of Capt Smith at the same time with the Deponent- Bezaleel Brainerd Jr was at New London in the service two months the Deponent is quite confident- His service commenced as the deponent thinks in July and ended sometime in September
[signature] Crippen Hurd

Darias Brainerd of East Haddam in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut in the seventy second year of his age being first duly sworn deposes and says that he is a brother of Bezaleel Brainerd Junior late of East Haddam deceased, that his said brother Bezaleel in the year 1776 in the month of June enlisted into a company commanded by Capt Eliphalet Holmes of East Haddam in the service of the United States to serve for the term of six months, soon after this enlistment he proceeded to New York where he remained more than five months in the service and in consequence of a sickness with which he was visited had leave of absence, when his father went after him and brought him home-
The Deponent further says that in the year 1777 his said Brother Bezaleel was drafted from the Militia of the town of East Haddam [lined out "and"] for the term of two months - after s'd draft he proceeded to New London in Connecticut where he joined the company of Capt Matthew Smith of s'd East Haddam and remained in said service two months - This service commenced in July and ended in September as deponent thinks - He recollects that his brother [mowed sowen]? after his return home. The s'd Bezaleel died at East Haddam aforesaid on the 25th day of June AD 1827- Lydia Brainerd his wife has since remained his
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widow - is still living, unmarried - The deponent has a record of the time of his brothers death, which state the time as above mention
[signature] Darius Brainerd

William Brainerd of East Haddam in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut in the forty fourth year of his age being first duly sworn deposes and says that he is a son of Bezaleel Brainerd formerly called Jun late of East Haddam aforesaid - that his said father died at s'd East Haddam on the 25th day of June AD 1827 and the Deponent was Administrator upon his estate, Lydia Brainerd his wife has since remained a widow, unmarried and is still living
[signature] William Brainard

State of Connecticut}
County of Middlesex} SS On the 8th day of October 1838 personally appeared Daniel S. Emmons who hath subscribed a foregoing deposition and on the 26th day of December 1838 personally appeared Samuel Emmons and Crippen Hurd who have subscribed foregoing depositions and on the 27th day of December personally appeared Darius Brainerd and William Brainerd in the year 1838, subscribers of the foregoing depositions and each of them being first duly sworn, respectively made oath to the truth of the depositions by them subscribed in due form of law - And I hereby certify that the said Daniel S Emmons, Samuel Emmons, Crippen Hurd, Darius Brainerd and William Brainerd are credible persons and entitled to full confidence. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & official seal this 28th day of Decr 1838.
[signature] Eliphalet A Bulkeley Notary Public
Page 24

Gamaliel R Tracy of Colchester in the County of New London and State of Connecticut in the eightieth year of his age being first duly sworn, deposes and says that on the 25th June 1776 he enlisted into a company called the new levies commanded by Capt Eliphalet Holmes of East Haddam to serve for the term of six months. the company proceeded to New York & joined the army under Genl Washington - Where the company remained until the 2d or 3d January1777 a few days after their time expired. Bezaleel Brainerd [Brainard] of East Haddam enlisted into the same company for the same time with myself and proceeded with us to New York and remained there till within about three weeks of the expiration of his term, when in consequence of being unwell he was permitted to go home, but deponent did not understand that he was discharged from the service, but supposed he was liable to be called on during the whole six months & entitled to pay for the whole time.
After Deponents term from the service above stated in the month of April 1777 he enlisted for three years into the Continental army and served in New York, Pennsylvania & New Jersey - during this term of his, he recollects having recd a letter from Bezaleel Brainerd of East Haddam with whom he had from a boy been on very intimate terms, stating that he had been to New London on a tour of duty for two months & had recovered his health. Deponent thinks this service must have been in 1777 or 1778 - Deponent well recollects having had after his return from his second enlistment frequent conversations with Bezaleel Brainerd in which he spoke of his service at New London for two months, they frequently conversed with each other in relation to their services
[signature] Gamaliel R. Tracy
Page 25

Gamaliel R Tracy
Deposition on application of Lydia Brainerd

State of Connecticut}
County of Middlesex} SS  East Haddam
On this 20th day of September AD 1838 personally appeared Gamaliel R Tracy who hath subscribed the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same in due form of law - And I hereby certify that the s'd Gamaliel R Tracy is a credible person and entitled to full confidence. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and official seal the day and year above named
[signature] Eliphalet A Bulkeley Notary Public