Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21980, for Oliver Smith, Connecticut
Page 1

(S-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Smith, Oliver

NUMBER
S.21980
Page 2

Oliver
9175
Vermont
Oliver Smith
of Addison in the State of Vert
who was a Pri - in the com command
by Captain Smith of the Reg command
by Col Willis in the Coun
line for 15 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of Ver
at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of April 
1833 and sent claim
Addison, Vt=

Arrears to the 4th of March 33 $100
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept. 33 2500
-
$125.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by
D. Bullock Clerk
Book  E. Vol. 3 Page 90
Date of death
not [illegible] AB
.
Page 3

I, Asahel Smith of Dorset in the County of Bennington 
& State of Vermont of lawful age do depose
testify & say that I was born as I am informed & verily believe
on the 14th day of October AD 1766. I further say that
Oliver Smith of Addison in the County of Addison and
State of Vermont is my brother, being as I have always
been informed & verily believe about two years older than
myself. I further testify & say that from the year 1779 to
the year 1782 I resided in the town of Windham County of
Windham & State of Connecticut & that the said Oliver being
all that time (excepting while in the service of his country as
hereafter set forth) resided in Mansfield in the State of
Connecticut a town adjoining said Windham, I further
testify & say, that in the year 1780, as I believe, being the
year before New London in Connecticut was burnt by
the British & about the last of June or first of July
of that year my said Brother Oliver went into the service
of his country as a common Soldier, attached to the Connecticut
Militia, that I saw him at that time going with
his equipments to join his detachment, at the place of service, 
which I understood to be at New London in Connecticut
that I understood my said Brother had enlisted for
a term of three months. I further say that after a
period of three months or thereabout my said Brother 
returned home, having been during all his absence
as I have always understood & verily believe in the
service of his country as a soldier. I further testify & say
that in the spring of the year AD 1781. & as I should
think in the month of March of that year, my said Brother
enlisted as I understood for a time of one year
into the service of his country as a common Soldier
in the Connecticut line, that he was absent from one
about one year, & that in the month of March AD 1782
my said Brother returned home, having been absent a year 
or thereabout, having been during all that time as I have 
always understood & verily believe in the service of his country
as a Soldier, connected with the Connecticut line -
Page 4

I further depose testify & say that I do not of my own
knowledge know the officers under whom my said Brother
served. I further say that I understood my said
Brother was stationed most of the time, during his
second term of service, at or near Horse Neck,
And further this Deponent saith not.-
Asahel Smith

State of Vermont. 
Bennington County Be it Remembered that 
at Manchester in said County
of Bennington on the Eleventh day of July A.D.
1832 personally appeared Asahel Smith, above
named, and made solemn oath that the foregoing
Deposition by him subscribed in my presence, contains 
the whole truth and nothing but the truth
Before me John Aiken Justice of peace

I John Aiken above named do further certify
that the said Deponent Asahel Smith is in my
opinion a credible witness

State of Vermont
To all to whom these presents
shall come Greeting

I Certify that John Aiken Esq
whose signature appears to the foregoing
was at the date thereof & Stitt
is a Justice of the peace within &
for the County of Bennington duly qualified 
by Law to act as such & that his
Signature I believe to be genuine-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my
Official signature & affixed the seal of our said
County Court at Manchester this 26th day of December
AD 1832-
Henry Robinson Clerk of
Bennington County Court
Page 5

Declaration of 
Oliver Smith

July 30 1802

Pensions 
Office
Page 6

STATE OF VERMONT
Addison County

I, Edward D. BARBER, Clerk of the County Court for the 
County of Addison, do herby certify that the annexed documents contain
the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application
of Oliver smith for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
the seal of said Court this 26th day of July A.D.
1832

Edward D. Barber Clerk
Page 7

State of Vermont
Addison County
on the 4th day of July 1832
personally appeared before the
Judges of Addison County Court in open Court Oliver
Smith resident of Addison in said County
of Addison where he has resided for thirty two
years last part aged sixty eight years who being
first duly sworn according to Law, doth on oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the provision made by the act of
Congress, passed June 7th 1832
that he enlisted at Mansfield in the State of Connecticut 
at the last days in June 1780 for three months
into Capt Smiths Company and into Col Willis
Regiment and served out said enlistment except
a few last days of the same at New London and
Mohegan in said State of Connecticut was
discharged or dismissed and on the first day 
of March 1781 he again enlisted at Mansfield 
in the same state into Capt James Davis
Company and Major Shipmans Regiment
for the Term of one year and served out
the said Term of enlistment. Genl Waterbury
being the commander of Brigade to which he
was attached and was dismissed, and was in the
battle at Frogs point, that his residence was at
the time of his said enlistment at said Mansfield
and since it has been at Franklin and Norwich in said
Connecticut and at Addison in Vermont
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any
pension or annuity except the present and declares that
his name is not on the pension roll of any state
Sworn and subscribed in open Oliver Smith
Court the day and year
aforesaid
Page 8

We the undersigned residing in Addison
in the County of Addison and State of Vermont
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Oliver Smith who has subscribed and sworn
to this declaration, that we believe him to be
of sixty eight 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 in
open Court the 4th day of   David Whitney
July AD 1832                        Marshal Doty
E. D. Barber Clk

And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion, after the instigation 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 also certify, that in
personal acquaintance with said Oliver
Smith as well as with David Whitney and
Marshal S. Doty, Sheriff of Addison
County, whose certificate is above with
they consider the persons of veracity
and entitled to credit
Edward D. Barber Clerk
Page 9

October 21, 1933

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mabel L. Day              BA-J/EEL
1020 N. Main Street  Oliver Smith-S.21980
Smethport, Pennsylvania

Dear Madam,

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the rec-
ord of Oliver Smith (S.21980), a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data given below are obtained from the papers on file in
Revolutionary War pension claim, S.21980, based upon the military service of Oliver Smith in that war.

The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of
Oliver Smith are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.

While residing in Mansfield, Connecticut, he enlisted the latter 
part of June, 1780, and served three months as a private in Captain
Smith's (no relationship to soldier show) Company, Colonel Willis'
(probably meant for Wyllys) Connecticut Regiment: he enlisted March 1, 1781, served as a private in Captain James Dana's Company, under
Major Shipman in the Connecticut Troops, was in a battle at Frog's
Point and served one year. 

After the Revolution, he resided at Franklin and Norwich, Connecticut.

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 4, 1832,
at which time he was aged sixty-eight years and resided in Addison County, Vermont, where, here stated, he had then resided for thirty-
two years. 

In 1832, soldier's brother, Asahel, was a resident of Dorset, Bennington Country, Vermont and stated that he was born October 14, 1766.

There are no further family data.
Page 10

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name
and address of person paid and possibly the date of the Revo-
lutionary War pensioner, Oliver Smith (S.21980), you should address
the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following data:

Oliver Smith, Certificate No. 9175, issued April 3, 1833, rate 
$60 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Vermon
Agency.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 11

21980
INVALID.

File No. 21,985
Oliver Smith
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. 2, Page [illegible]

[Arrangement of 1870.]


NEXT PAGE:
1938-Oct 21-[illegible]
To Mabel L. Day EEL
Page 12

admit
15 mo. private
$50
claimant
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Oliver Smith 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 mention 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?

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?

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 14

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?
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?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? No: see afft of A Smith
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?
VI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct
No. see Jus. 16
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 election 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 15

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 or four months is too
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.
Page 16

Smethport, Pa., Oct.13, 1933

Director of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,

In the endeavor to establish a line of descent from
Oliver Smith, a Revolutionary soldier from Connecticut, we find 
there were two, and possibly more, of that name, who served, and
we are unable to distinguish between them, as we do not know
the name of our ancestor/wife.

We learn, from the State Library at Harford, that
one Oliver Smith was a pensioner, (Pension No. S 21980).

Does the information at hand furnish the name of
the soldier's wife, also the names of his children?

Any help you may be able to give will be much appreciated.

Very truly yours

Mabel L. Day
1020 W. Main St.,
Smethport, Pa.