Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18314, Gershom Beers, Conn.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE Conn 
NUMBER  S18314
Beers, Gershom  
carded
Contents
Page 2

Connecticut
6921
Gershom Beer’s heir
Redding in the State of Connecticut 
He was a private in the
Page 3

Gershon Beers
payment to be made
by the Pres of the US Branch
Bank at Hartford
agent for paying pensioners 
in the agency of
Connecticut
Recorded by Riley
Clerk in Book D vol
3 page 70
Page 4

War Department
Revolutionary Claim
I certify that in conformity with the Law of
the United States of 7th June 1832, Simeon Beers
Alonzo P. Beers, Eunice Northup wife of Smith
Northup and Asenath Couch wife of Henry Couch
all of the State of Connecticut and Eli Beers of
the State of New York, children and heirs of
Gershom Beers who was a private in the army
of the Revolution and who died on the twenty
eighth day of October 1832, are entitled to
receive the amount due the said deceased
from the 4th of March 1831 to the time of his decease
at the rate of Forty seven dollars
sixteen cents per annum.
Given at the War Office of the
United States this ninth day
March one thousand eight
hundred & thirty three
Lew Cass Secretary of War
Countersigned J.L. Edwards
Commiss of Pensions
Page 5

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield,
On this 28th day of July 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before
the Court of Probate held at Weston in and for the
Probate District of Weston it being a Court record
now sitting, Gershom Beers a resident
of the town of Redding in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged
Seventy one years, who being first sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated. That he enlisted in the spring of the year 1780
in the Continental army in aforesaid Redding for six
months, That he went from said Redding to Danbury
in said County drawed my allowance then and joined
the army at Westpoint above New York under Capt
Dean of the first Company of Col Swifts Regiment and
General Huntingtons Brigade, from thence marched
to Elizabethtown in the State of New Jersey and in the course
of the time went to Philadelphia, received a discharge of Col
Swift at the Highlands so called above New York in the
latter part of the same year.
when enlisted I was a minor bound out until twenty one years
of age to David Lyon of said Redding and to get clear of him
enlisted as he used me very hand.
Soon after I returned home to said Redding from the aforesaid
service which was as near as I can recollect in the month of
November I entered the the service in the State Troops of
Connecticut a substitute of Salmon Hull of said Redding
for nine months, joined the Troops at Horseneck in Capt
Hinmans Company, Col Meads Regiment and guarded
the lines at Horseneck, Stanford, Whiteplains in the border
of New York and served out the above term of time
That he now lives in said Redding when he has lived
ever since the Revolution. That the
was born in the town of Thetford now Monroe in Fairfield
County aforesaid December 1780 and his age is recorded
in the said town of Stratford: received a discharge from
the state troop of Col Mead at said Horseneck which
he has last also lost the discharge he recd of Col
Swift
Page 6

We Andrew Fairchild Aaron Sanford Jr & Thomas
B. Fanton all of Redding in Fairfield County Connecticut
of lawful age depose and say that we have for a great
length of time been acquainted with Gershom Beers late
of said Redding now Decd who has made application
for a Pension under the Act of Congress of 1832 as
specified in the within Declaration, that said
Beers Died at said Redding on the 28th day of
October 1832 a Town Charge. His wife died as near
as we can recollect about the year 1820 at said
Redding-- We further certify that the said
Gershom Beers at the time of his death left and
now has living five children or heirs of the follow
ing names viz Simeon Beers Alonzo P. Beers
Ennis Northrop the Wife of Smith Northrop, Asanth
Couch, the Wife of Henry Couch & Eli Beers, Two of
said heirs now live in said Redding two in the
Town of Newtown in said Fairfield County and the
said Eli is now in the State of New York which
heirs we have long been acquainted with and are
the legal heirs of the said Gershom, and are
entitled to his Pension the same as he would
have been had he survived to have recd the Same

And Fairchild
Thom B. Fanton
Aaron Sanford
State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield   ss At Redding in said County
On this 23rd day of February 1833 Personally appeared
the above named Andrew Fairchild, Aaron Sanford Jr and
Thomas B. Fanton Esqr and made oath to the
truth of the above certificate or Deposition by them
Subscribed - I further certify that I am personally
acquainted with the above named Andrew Fairchild
Aaron Sanford Jr & Thomas B. Fanton Esqr. that they
are men of the first respectability and that their
Deposition is entitled to full credit
Before me
Bradford Winton Judge
of the Court of Probate
for the District of Weston
Page 7

The said Gershom Beers 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.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.  Gershom Beers
Oliver C Sanford Clark                                                        X  his mark
We, Hawley Sanford a clergyman, residing in the town of said Redding
and Thomas B. Fanton residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well
acquainted with Gershom Beers who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be seventy-one years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Hawley Sanford
Ths B. Fanton
Oliver C Sanford Clerk
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 Hawley Sanford who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Redding and that Thomas B. Fanton who
has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Redding
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Bradford Winton
Judge of said Court

I, Oliver C Sanford Clerk of the said Court of Probate
do hereby certify that the foreging contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gershom Beers for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office
this 28th day of July 1832.
Att Oliver C. Sanford
Page 8

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County        ⎬Ss
on the 4th day March 1834
before the Court of Probate for the District of [illegible]
in the said County and the Simeon Beers Alonzo
Beers Eunice Northrop wife of Smith Northrup and
Asenath Couch wife of [illegible] Couch
all of said county appeared and saith
in open Court to the fact that Eli Beers are
of the children and - [illegible] 
the act of June 7 1832 [illegible]
[illegible] March 1833 [illegible]
[illegible] for more than fifteen years
[illegible]
the said county, the place of his nativity and
his fathers residence and that his name [illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible] and that it
Generally believed by all who knew him
he is dead and that [illegible] been
extensively made and information sought
from every source and in [illegible]
it might reasonably be expected and that information
could obtained by the said [illegible] said
Gershom herein named - to a [illegible]
Whether [illegible} the herein and has no in
[illegible]
[illegible]
Certified by order [illegible} this 4th day
[illegible 4th day of March

Attest [illegible] Taylor Clerk
Page 9

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County  SS
on this 4th day of March 1834
before the Court of Probate for the District of Danbury in the said county and State Simeon Beers Alonzo sd Beers Eunice Northrop wife of Smith Northrop and Asenath Couch wife Henry Couch all of the said County appeared  and [illegible] in open court to the [illegible] [illegible] said Couch and said Court doth find that Eli Beers and of the children and heirs of Gershom Beers and if upon age then with the other children and heirs of said Gershom  a pension was granted under the Act of June 7th 1832 by [illegible] dated the  29th of March 1833 the [illegible] [illegible] sent for her to [illegible] for more than fiftee years last past that when he left Reading in the said County the place of his nativity and of  his fathers residence and that of his friends [illegible] and [illegible] [illegible] been heard of by any of his friends Reqd that it is generally believed by all who knew him that he is dead And that enquiries have been  extensively made and information [illegible] from every service and in every [illegible] we have it [illegible] of reasonably he expected that information could be obtained by said [illegible] children of said Gershom herein ordered to ascertain whether he be yet living and if so his present place of residence that all search exertions have been without success 
Certified by order of said Court this 4th day of March 1834
In testimony [illegible] herein Edward Taylor Clerk of sd Court have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 4th day of March 1834
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
Page 10

P
18314
INVALID.
File No. -- 18.314
Gershom Beers
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7" 32
Index: --Vol. 1, Page 423
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 11

Samuel Bexley
No 338
June
From
D.C.. Churchill
Lyme
[illegible]
Page 12

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Saml Bexley which require further
proof or explanation.
1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
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? Yes
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 amount of pension he is entitled? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes, in his favor
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
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? Yes
Page 13

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  Yes 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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?
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? Yes
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? Yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And. if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
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 14

3
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 three four months is to 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
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.

Seal wanting on one certificate
Tape or Ribbon must pass through all the paper in the case
Page 15

Saml H. Parsons
Hartford

[right margin]
May 3rd 1834
Dear Sir Monday 9th Dec 33

[cut off}
Fre
J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pe
Washington
Page 16

6.921

Hartford May 3 1834
A pension warrant was [illegible} March 21 1834 to the children & heirs of Gershom Beers recorded in the Pension Office Washington in Book D vol 3 page 70 by R Burden Ck
[illegible] that no report of this pension is
made to the Farmers & Mechanicks Bank in this City
I hold a power to draw the amount I will thank you to cause the same to be reported for payment

Very respectfully
I am Your obed Sert
Samuel H Parsons

G. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of pensions
Washington
Page 17

Sam'l H Parsons
Hartford Ct.
Apr 19th 1834

ans May 6 1834
12 1834

[upside down]
JL Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 18

Hartford April 29. 1834
Sir Will you cause to be reported to the Agent for paying annuitants in Connecticut the name of Gershom Beers decd and authorize the payment
of the Arrears of pension to the heirs of sd Beer
Certificate to the heirs is dated March 21st 1834
Yrs respy
Sam H Parsons

J L. Edwards Esq
Commisner of Pensions
Washington
28.172 
28,169
Page 19

new certificate
leaving out Eli Beer's name
G Tomlinson
Pruate
Page 20

[illegible] March 5th 1834
Dr Sir
I have prepared and herein enclose a corrected 
certificate in the [illegible] of the tours of Gershom Beers deceased for the purpose of processin a new certificate so the heirs can [illegible] 
Will you have the goodness to take charge of it
[illegible] [illegible] [illegible] 
[illegible] [illegible]
Page 21


No 4130
Heirs within named
admit - private
14 mo 5 days
$47.16
Page 22

I Nathan Lyon of the town of Weston in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of the age of Seventy three years, depose and say that Gershom Beers of Redding Fairfield County aforesaid enlisted in the Continental
Army for six months, (in the year 1780 as I believe) that he the said Beers was bound out to my Father David Lyon of said Redding when he enlisted in the Army That he served out the time of his enlistment as I believe that he resided in said Redding when he enlisted and
has ever since the Revolution
Nathan Lyon

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County S.S.
Weston 28th July 1832 personally appeared the above named Nathan Lyon after being duly cautioned & sworn subscribed to the foregoing deposition & made oath to
the same before me were in open court
Ths. B. Fanton Justice of Peace
Att Oliver C Sanford Clerk

I Zalmon Hull of the town of Redding in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of the age of seventy three years
depose and say that I was drafted to go to Horse neck on a tour of nine months service in State Troops or Militia of Connectuct. My Father hired Gershom Beers of said Redding to go a substitute for me and the said Gershom
Beers took my place as a substitute and served the above term of time out, which was as near as I can recollect in the year 1780 in the latter part of the year
Sworn in Open Court
Zalmon Hull
Att Oliver C Sanford Clerk

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County SS.
Weston 28 July 1832 personally appeared the above named Zalmon Hull after being duly cautioned and sworn subscribed to the foregoing Deposition and made oath to the same before me
Thoms B. Fanton Justice of Peace
Page 23

I herein certify that I am well acquainted with the
within named persons, Nathan Lyon of Wharton & Zalmon
Hull of Redding that have sworn and subscribed to
the foregoing depositions and that they are of good
character and entitled to full credit in the said
depositions
Redding 16th January 1833
Thomas B. Fanton Justice of the Peace
Page 24

I Daniel Lyon of the Town of Redding in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of the age of sixty four years, depose and say that I am well acquainted with Gershom Beers of said Redding and have been for more than
fifty years. That in the year 1780 as near as I can recollect in the spring of the year he enlisted in the Army a soldier and was gone from said Redding, and I suppose
was in the revolutonary service while gone from said Redding That he came home in the latter part of the year to Redding again. That he was bound out & lived with David Lyon of said Redding when he enlisted into the Army.
Also that he the said Gershom Beers went as a substitute of Zalmon Hull of said Redding in the Connecticut Militia or State Troops, but how long he served I cannot say
Daniel Lyon

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County SS
Weston 28th July 1832 Personally appeared the above named Daniel Lyon after being duly cautioned & sworn subscribed to the foregoing deposition and made oath to the same before me sworn in open Court 
Thomas B. Fanton Justice of Peace
Att Oliver C Sanford Clerk

I herein certify that I am well acquainted with
Daniel Lyon of Redding that has sworn & subscribed to the above deposition and that he is a man of good character and entitled full credit in the said deposition
Redding 16 January 1833

Thoms B. Fanton Justice of the Peace
Page 25

I Oliver C. Sanford Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District
of Weston in Fairfield County Connecticut hereby certify that
Bradford Weston is Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Weston
and that the foregoing signature of his name is his genuine signature. I further certify that Thomas B. Fanton is a Justice of the Peace for Fairfield County that I am acquainted with
the hand writing of the said Fanton & that the signatures of his name to the within Depositions are his genuine signatures I further Certify that Daniel Lyon Zalmon Hull
and Nathan Lyon who have signed the these preeceding Depositions appeared in open Court & made oath to the truth of
the same. that I am well acquainted with each of the above named persons, that they are men of truth & that their depositions
is entitled to full credit. I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court on this 17th day of January 1833
-
Att Oliver C Sanford Clerk