Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,158, for Cephas Sheldon, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Mass

NUMBER
S. 41,158

Sheldon, Cephas

CONTENTS
Page 2

[written vertically on left side of page]

Continued and [illegible] sent to Hon. Rich House of Representatives Feby. 12. 1821

[Text on right hand side of page]

16.526 D
Vermont

Cephas Sheldon
of Washington Cy in the state of Vermont
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Porter of the Massachusetts
line, for the term of one year

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 4 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the [illegible] of March 
1821
and sent to Honble. Charles Rich. H of Reps

Arrears to 4th of March 1820 $184.23
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept    48.--
                                                    $232.23

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}

Continued
Page 3

Vermont      4h. April

Cephas Sheldon
Waterbury

1st of Janry. 1776. Enlisted & Served a Private
In Col [illegible] Porters Mass Regt -  for
one year - 

Ezra Butler
Judge

Moved by witness certificate to be credible.

[illegible]



Not Continental
Rejected
Admitted [illegible]
to [illegible] Col. Simeson 1776.
Page 4

STATE OF VERMONT,
Washington County, to wit.}

I Ezra Butler One of the Judges of the County Court, within and for the County aforesaid, Do certify, That it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Cephas Sheldon did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding Declaration, against the common enemy ; 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 Act of Congress, passed the 18th March, 1818, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in t he Revolutionary War."

Given under my hand, —  this 4th day of April A.D. 1818.

Ezra Butler

And I further certify that I am freely [illegible] that the said Cephas Sheldon, [illegible phrase] prove hes counting for [illegible], and that he cannot now convenietnly procure further evidence of his said service 

Ezra Butler

[illegible] of Vermont,
[illegible] Washington, ss.}

I Homer Reiz Clerk of the County of Washington Do certify, that the Hon. Ezra Butler who made the above CERTIFICATE, and before whom the annexed Declaration was taken, was a Judge of the County Court within and for the County aforesaid, at the respective dates thereof, acting under the authority of this State, and duly qualified for that purpose ; and that his name subscribed thereto, is his own proper signature.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said County, at Montpelier in said County, this 12 day of June in the Year One Thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen

Homer Reiz Clerk.
Page 5

I Cephas Sheldon of Waterbury in the County of Washington and State of Vermont, a resident Citizen of the United States, declare and say that I served in the war of the revolution on t he Continental establishment for some more than a year — I enlisted & enter the service about the first of January 1776 in the Company commanded by Capt. Thomas Alexander, in Col. Elisha Porters Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry for the term of one year. I was in the expedition to Quebeck in 1776, continued in the service until sometime in January 1777, when I was dismissed, having served some longer than the term of my enlistment. — And I further declare that by reason of [illegible] circumstances I consider myself in need of my Countrys assistance for support.

Cephas Sheldon

State of Vermont, Washington County ss — At Waterbury this fourth day of April 1818 personally appeared the above named Cephas Sheldon and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed to. Before me

Ezra Butler
{Chief Judge 
of Washington 
C. Court 

We , Dean Carpenter and Solomon Newcomb, of lawful age, testify and say that we are personally acquainted with the above named Cephas Sheldon, know him to be a man of truth and veracity, and we are fully of opinion o that the above declaration by him subscribed to, is substantially true

Dan Carpenter
Solomon Newcomb

Washington ss — at Waterbury this fourth day of April 1818 personally appeared the above named Dean Carpenter & Solomon Newcomb and made oath to the truth of the above statement by them subscribed to

Before me
Ezra Butler, Judge

I hereby certify that the above named Dean Carpenter and Solomon New [end of page is missing]
Page 6

Washington ss — at Waterbury this fourth day of April 1818 personally appeared the above named Dan Carpenter & Solomon Newcomb and made oath to the truth of the above Statement by them Subscibed to Before me

Ezra Butler, Judge

I hereby certify that the above named Dan Carpenter and Solomon Newcomb are credible witnesses [illegible]

I Ephram Town of Stowe in the county of Washington of Lawful age do testify and say that Cephas Sheldon did serve in Col Elisha Porters Rigement the year of our Lord 1776 in Qubech Expidition as is stated in the above Cirtificate

And I do know that the above Cephas Sheldon did serve as above stated

Ephriam Town

Subscribed and sworn before me this 9th Day of April 1818

Ezra Butler, Chief Judge of
Washington C. Court
Page 7

Washington ss — at Waterbury this fourth day of April 1818 personally appeared the above named Dean Carpenter & Solomon Newcomb and made oath to the truth of the above statement by them
Subscribed to Before me

Ezra Butler , Judge

Certify that the above named Dean Carpenter and Solomon Newcomb are credible witnesses

Ezra Butler, Chief
Judge of Washington
C. Court

I Asaph Allen of lawful age testify that I live in the town with the above named Cephas Sheldon, have personal knowledge of his enlisting in Col Porters Regiment, early in the year of 1776, and when with the Massachusetts Troops immediately after, in their expidition to Quebeck; and that he did not return from the Army until sometime in the winter of 1777

Asaph Allen

Washington ss — at Waterbury this fourth day of April 1818 personally appeared the above named Asaph Allen & made oath to the truth of the above statement by him subscribed to.

before me Ezra Butler, Judge

I hereby certify that the above named Asaph Allen is a credible witness

Ezra Booth
{Chief Judge
of Washington
C. Court
Page 8

Schedule of
Cepahs Sheldon

Con

Con &
Feby 12. 1821. [illegible]
[illegible] sent to Honble
C Rich H of Rep's
Page 9

Revolutionary Claim, under Act of Congress, May 1, 1820.

STATE OF VERMONT,
Washington COUNTY, ss.} 

ON this 13th day of September
1820 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record, to wit the Honorable County Court now Sitting at Montpelier within for the County of Washington & State of Vermont, Cephas Sheldon aged sixty six years, resident in Waterbury In said County, who being [illegible] duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows: - Enlisted Service of the last days of December 1775, or the very first days of January, 1776 into Captain Thomas Alexander's Company & Colonel Elisha Porters Regiment of Massachusetts troops for the term of twelve months, Served said term, [illegible] at the request of General Washington, volunteered & served until the enemy were driven from Newjersey. left the army after 14 day of January 1777 as appears by a journal now in my possession -  was at the taking of Elizabeth Town & Newark, & in a skirmish with the enemy on the 5th day of June 1777 in which killed Sixty Mercennariy (otherwise called Waldeckers) & took some prisoners - my original declaration was dated April 4th 1818 and my pension Certificate is numbered 16,526 - - -

And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818 ; and that I have not, since that time, by fit, 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 Congres, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons 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 contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed, viz. fifty acres of land wit ha small house & barn standing on the same with the hay & grain under the [illegible] of a mortgage being now due to Dan Carpenter of the sum of three hundred fifty eight dollars & fifty six cents - are old [illegible] fine [illegible] mare & suckling colt, one yearling colt, one cows & calf, one couling heifer, four small hoes two plows, one drag, one bureau, one table, one light stand six old chairs, one pair of shovel & tongs & [illegible] Glass ware, Hallow ware, fifty old sap tubs, two hives of bees; one grindstone, one axe, one scythe & smith, one old chain, six reins & forks, two old pitch forks & one old bridle - - -
Page 10

annexed, and by me subscribed, viz. fifty acres of land with a small house & barn standing on the same with the hay & grain under the [illegible] of a mortgage being now due to Dan Carpenter of the sum of three hundred fifty eight dollars & fifty six cents - are old [illegible] fine [illegible] mare & suckling colt, one yearling colt, one cows & calf, one couling heifer, four small hoes two plows, one drag, one bureau, one table, one light stand six old chairs, one pair of shovel & tongs & [illegible] Glass ware, Hallow ware, fifty old sap tubs, two hives of bees; one grindstone, one axe, one scythe & smith, one old chain, six reins & forks, two old pitch forks & one old bridle - - -

I am by occupation a farmer, but am unable to do any labor of consequence, on account of a very bad breach, which gets lower - I am some days obliged to pick it up, when I attempt to labor or exercise ten or fifteen times in a day -  Have a wife named Abigail aged sixty three years, who has been confined by sickness since the sixth of May fast past, constantly under the care of a physician and there is no probability of her ever recovering so as to be able to perform any labor of consequence, that I have no one to afford me any assistance, that beside numerous other debts, which are due & owing from me I am in debted to Amara Pride the sum of $169.58 -  to Cephas Wells the Sum of $32.55, that were my creditors to call on me, it would strip me of the little I now possess. - (signed) Cephas Sheldon, - 
Joshua Y Nail Clerk - 

Sworn to and declared on the
13th day of September 1820}

Before,
the Court,

STATE OF VERMONT,
Washington COUNTY, ss.}

I Joshua Y. Nail - Clerk of Washington County Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said court ; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is  Eighty Three dollars and 81 - cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 2d - day of November 1820

Joshua Y. Nail Clerk.
Page 11

We hereby certify that in estimating the value of the property mentioned in the within schedule, the real estate was estimated at its real value, and the amount of the [illegible] incumbrances was estimated therefore, and the balance carried into the estimate of the whole [illegible] his property

Ezra Butler, Chief Judge of 
Washington County Court

Joseph Howes } Assistant Judge
of Washington C. Court


State of Vermont
Washington County ss}

I Joshua Y. Vail Clerk of t he County Court for t he County of Washington do hereby certify that Ezra Butler as Chief Judge & Joseph Hawes as Assistant Judge, were a majority of the Judges with held the court a [illegible] for the County of Washington on the second Monday of Sept. 1820, & that their names Subscribed to the above certificate is their true and proper hand writing - Certified at Montpelier in Said Washington County this 19th day of December . D. 1820 - 

by me Joshua Y. Vail, Clerk -
Page 12

I. S. C. Exr.

S
I. No. 41,158,
Rev. War.

July 25, 1904.

Sir: - 

In reply to your inquiry you are advised that Cephas Sheldon aged sixty-four years, residing in Waterbury, Vt., applied for pension April 4, 1818.

He stated that he enlisted December 1775, or January 1776; as Private in Capt. Thomas Alexander's Co., Col. Elisha Porter's regiment, Mass. Infantry, and was discharge January 14,
1777.

Was in the expedition to Quebec in 1776, at the taking of Elizabethtown and Newark, and in skirmish with the "Waldeckers" January 5, 1777.

Mentions his wife, Abigail, aged sixty-one years.

His claim was allowed.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.

Mr. W. P. Baxter,
P. O. Box 238,
Chicago, Illinois.
Page 13

[tri-fold sheet; first panel is essentially illegible]

[second panel]

41 158

INVALID
Recy.

File No. 41.138
Cephas Sheldon
Pri Rev War

Act: 18th March 18

Index : — Vol. 3. Page 1857

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[third panel]

July 2 - 19
Mr. J.S. Butchel
Waterbury, Vt.

July 25, 1904, [illegible] to W.
Chicago, Ills.
Page 14

[illegible]
DEC 29 1902
[illegible]

Waterbury Vermont Dec 19 - 1902

To the Commissioner of Pensions

Will you please look up the record of Cephas Sheldon a revolutionary soldier and 
a pensioner of the 6th [illegible]
Died at Waterbury Vt July
24th 1848. 94 Years old.

Respt 
Mr J. S. Batchelder

[circular stamp as follows]

PENSION OFFICE
U.S.
DEC
23
1902
Page 15

[stamp one as follows]

U. S. P. P.
OLD WAR & NAVY
JUN 29 1904
FILELS


[stamp two as follows]

PENSION OFFICE
US
A
JUN
27
1904
Page 16

P. O. box 238 Chicago 6/25/1904.

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions

Please send me the following records. James Fletcher, Massachusetts Continental line. Placed on pension roll September 21, 1833, from Windsor County, Vermont. Andrew Thomas, Massachusetts Continental line. Placed on pension roll September 24, 1833, from Windsor County, Vermont. Cephas Sheldon, Massachusetts Continental line from Washington County, Vermont.

Respectf W. P. Baxter