Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,940, for David Lee, Connecticut
Page 1

(8-1776) 
Service
Conn. (Connecticut)
Lee, David
Number
S.18.940
Carded
Contents
Page 2

3953
Vermont
David Lee

Windham Co. in the State of Vermont who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Allen of the reg commanded by Col Kempfield in the Connecticut line for Private 12 1/2 mos $41.66

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 41 Dollars 66 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 

Certificate of Pension issued she 5th day of January 1833 and sent James Elliot 
Brattleborough Vt.


Arrears to 4th of April 1832 $62.49 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833 20.83
$83.32

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk
Book 2 Vol 4 Page 70
Page 3

No 2,786
[illegible] Novr 29 1832
11. 12. 13.
Admitted
12 1/2 months
$41.66
James Elliot
Brattleborough
Vt
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of David Lee of Windham Co. in the State of Vermont 
(Act 7th June, 1832) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Private Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 

3. How old is he? 68 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

Period.
In 1782 Jany 15

Duration of Service
Years,        Months,          Days. 
1                    "                   15 

Rank. 
As a Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
Col. Kempfield, Major Dana, Lt. Bissell ensign Robinson Connecticut line
supposed be Col Canfield

5. In what battles was he engaged?  none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the services Thompson. Windham Co. Connecticut

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By traditionary evidence
No Clergyman, no reasons

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
D. Brown
Examining Clerk.
Page 5

No 39 - Windham Co. Vermont
David Lee Dec for Pension
August 1832
No.2.786
Page 6

STATE OF VERMONT
County of Windham 
Probate District of Marlborough
At the Probate Court for said District, being a Court of Record
On this first day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, at Brattleboro in said District
Present Hon. Marshall Miller Esquire, Judge -
Before the said Probate Court, within and for said District -- now sitting David Lee a resident of Vernon
in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, aged sixty eight years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to
obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated
that he enlisted in the army of the United States the 15th of January A.D. 1782, in the Regiment of the
Connecticut line, under Colonel Kempfield, Major Dana and, in Capt Allen's Company, Lieut. Bissell
and Ensign Robinson, went into service in company with Sergeant Coon, privates Simons, Clark & others.
That he was ordered to garrison at Stamford near Horseneck, that he marched thence by way of Hartford
and New Haven, and was garrisoned there & at Horseneck during the whole of his service except on some occasional temporary orders away on duty. That he served the Country faithfully twelve and one half Callender months;

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
To the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, he answers, upon his said oath, as follows:
1. At Thompson, Windham County, & State of Connecticut in the year 1764. January 22d
2. That he no record of his age, & whether it is in the Town Clerks office at Thompson or not, he knows  not.
3. That he was living at Thompson aforesaid when called into service, and afterwards till the year 1793 when he removed to Vernon aforesaid, & has resided there ever since.
4. That he enlisted voluntarily out of a class at Pomfret Conn, of which Peter Chandler was heard or leader
that his enlistment was for one year, but he continued in service
5. Colonel Sheldon's  Regiment of Horse was stationed part of the time at Horseneck, otherwise there were no troops stationed near our garrison, except our own Regiment
6. On the first day of April 1783. Colonel Kempfield dismissed him, the said applicant and all the rest
of the Regiment, except some who were discharged before that time by verbal proclamation
accompanied with much good advice, but gave no written discharges
7. Marshall Whithed, Elijah Stebbins, John Stebbins, Jesse Lee and Ebenezer Howe Jr Esquires, the selectmen, Town Clerk and civil authority, or any of the inhabitants of Vernon
[cut off bottom of page}
Page 7

5. Colonel Sheldon's Regiment of Horse was stationed part of the time at Horseneck, otherwise there were no troops stationed near our garrison, except our own Regiment
6. On the first day of April 1783. Colonel Kempfield dismissed him, the said applicant and all the rest
of the Regiment, except some who were discharged before that time by verbal proclamation
accompanied with much good advice, but gave no written discharges
7. Marshall Whithed, Elijah Stebbins, John Stebbins, Jesse Lee and Ebenezer Howe Jr Esquires, the selectmen, Town Clerk and civil authority, or any of the inhabitants of Vernon would doubtless testify as to his character for truth and veracity - and the general belief that he was a soldier of the revolution.
David Lee
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid  
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate

We Cyrus Washburn & Andrew Parsons citizens residing in the town of Vernon) both of said Vernon and County Windham in said state of Vermont, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with David Lee who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Cyrus Washburn
Andrew Parsons
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid  
Marshall Miller Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Cyrus Washburn & Andrew Parson who signed the preceding certificate, are resident in the said town of Vernon 
in said county, and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
James Elliot, Register of the Probate Court, within and for 
the District of Marlborough aforesaid , do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the application of David Lee for a pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this first of August A.D. 1832
James Elliot, Prob. Register
Page 8

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
David Lee which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amout of pension
he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
June 7, 1832?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal?
Page 9

2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary 
service?  No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining 
it? no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____  
year _____ ______ months and ______ days, I served as a ______ . For  ______ months
and ______ days, I served as a ________ and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 10

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about the
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature
of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
State of Vermont    At Vernon in said County, on this 20th day
Windham County⎬ of December A.D. 1832, Personally
appeared before the subscribing Justice of the Peace in and for
said County, David Lee, a resident of Vernon aforesaid, aged
sixty eight years, who, being first duly sworn, doth on his oath
make the following declaration, in addition to his declaration
made & sworn to before the Probate Court, of the District of
Marlboro in said County on the 1st day of Augt 1833, in 
order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of
Congress passed June 7 1832. That he is an inhabitant of said
Vernon in Vermont and has been for 39 years last past, and owing to his poverty 
& infirmities he has not for 30 years past, visited his native State of
Connecticut, that as stated in his Declaration aforesaid that he
served his country, faithfully twelve & an half Callender month
during the revolutionary war, and that he has no documentary
evidence thereof, and that he knows of no persons whose testimony
he can procure, who can testify to his services

David Lee
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid,
Before me, Cyrus Washburn Justice of the Peace-
Page 11

State of Vermont           Vermon in said County Decr 20th 1832.
Windham County SS. ⎬ We Timothy F. Rogers, a clergyman
residing in Bernardston, a town adjoining the said Town of
Vernon and William Johnson residing in the same Vernon
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Lee
who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration
that we believe him to be 68 years of age, that he is reputed and
believed in this neighbourhood, where he resides, to have been a
soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Timothy F. Rogers
William Johnson
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Before me Cyrus Washburn Justice of the Peace

And the said Justice, hereby declare his opinion, after the
investigation of the matter, that the aforesaid applicant, was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states; and that Timothy F.
Rogers who has signed the preceding certificate is a 
clergyman, of the first Church & Congregation of Bernardston,
aforesaid, and has officiated as a Clergyman in said
Vennon for a large proportion of the time for seven
years past, (there being no Clergyman having his
permanent residence in said town, and never was,
and that William Johnson, who has also signed the same
is a resident of the town of Vermon, in said County &
is a credible person, and that their statement is
entitled to full credit.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 20th day of December A.D. 1832
Cyrus Washburn Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont - Windham County Court Clerk's Office
New Fane December 21. A.D. 1832.
I certify that Cyrus Washburn, Esquire, is one of the Justices of the Peace
within and for the County of Windham aforesaid, and that the preceding
(on this sheet) are his signatures - In testimony whereof I have here
unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court
on the day and year above written.
James Elliot, Clerk.
Page 12

Keene N.H. June 8 98
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
Will you send the record of David Lee 
a revolutionary pensioner who died 
in Brattleboro Vt. May 30th 1839
& oblige
Lillian B Beale
Mrs H R Beale
64 Marlboro St
Keene
N. H.
Page 13

P 18940
INVALID.
File No.18, 940
David Lee
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7th 32
Index: --Vol. 1 , Page 222
(Arrangement of 1870.)


[right side]
June 22 98
Mrs H R Beale
Keene NH
Apr 21 99
L Lee
Andover Mass