Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17283, Azariah Bill, Conn. New York.
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(3-1776) 

SERVICE 
Conn. 
New York. 

Bill, Azariah 

NUMBER 
S. 17283 
carded 

CONTENTS
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28.386 
Connecticut 
Azariah Bill of Lisbon in the State of Connec who was a Private in the Company command by Captain Woodbridge of the Rgt. command by Col. Elmers in the Cont. line for 15 mos & 20 days 

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 20 Dollars 22 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of May 1834 and delr’d to A. J. Judson Present

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834  $156.66 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.  26.11 
[total] $182.77 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D D Addison Clerk, 
Book E2  Vol. 3d  Page 3

order to pay June 23, 1837
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832. 
State of Connecticut, County of New London, and Probate District of Norwich ss. Norwich 
On this 4th day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before Probate Court within and for the Probate District of Norwich, Azariah Bill, a resident of the town of Lisbon, within the District aforesaid, aged 85 years, on the 15th day of April last past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
That he enlisted in the army of the United States, three several terms or tours, and served in the several Companies and Regements, hereinafter stated under the following named officers. viz –
1st Term On the 25th day of June 1775 Azariah Bill lived in, and was an inhabitant of the town of Spencertown in the state of New York, and as a private soldier enlisted into the Army of the Revolution, for the period of six months, and thereupon he immediately entered upon said service in the Company then commanded by Capt Joel Pratt, who was then an inhabitant of said Spencertown. The Company into which I enlisted belonged to the New York State Troops, and according to my best recollection Col. or General Schyler [Schuyler] commanded the Regement. Our destination was Lake George and the Company marched thither under the Command of Capt. Joel Pratt aforesaid, and were stationed there during my period of service. Toward the close
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of this period of service I was taken sick and had a furlough to return home on account of my disease and accordingly I went to my home in said Spencertown and within its limits again returned to the army in good health, and served therein untill the period of my enlistment expired on the 25th day of December next following my said enlistment, and was discharged verbally. Having been, in years before, a sailor, I was now employed in carrying boards and other lumber across Lake George to build the barracks, at Ticonderoga - This was soon after that fort fell into the hands of the Americans. 
2d Term of service - After the expiration of my 1st term of service, as above related, I enlisted into the Connecticut State troops, for the term of four months, which enlistment took place on the 1st day of February 1776 and according to said enlistment I entered the Company Commanded by Capt Fosbury, the express object of this enlistment, was, an expedition to Canada, and in virtue of said enlistment, on the 10th day of February 1776 I joined the Company commanded by said Capt. Fosbury, and immediately marched with said company for Montreal and Quebec Having stoped at Albany & there drew my gun. Our company arrived at St Johns about the 1st day of February 1776, when I fell in with my old commander and his company. Capt. Pratt, whith whom I served my first tour. From St Johns we proceeded to marched, where we remained about two weeks and from thence proceeded down the River St Lawrence by land & on the ice, to Quebeck, then besieged by Col. Arnold and his forces, to which our company was a reenforcement. The last of March 1776, the small pox broke out in the American Camp, which disease attacked me with great severity. I was removed from the camp with others, to a small island just below Quebeck, called "Orleans" where I was carried through the effects of the small pox. Just as we were recovered
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A “man of war” and two frigates, came up the River St Lawrence, filled with British soldiers for General Carlton, who was the commander of the Fortress at Quebeck. These three armed vessels broke their way thing the ice. On the 5th or 6th of May following, the American troops gave up the seige and began their retreat. I was one of that body. We continued to retreat untill we arrived at the River Sorel, where we met some re-enforcements from the colonies. General Thomas or Thompson here had the command of the part of the army in which I served. We crossed the St. Lawrence at the said river in the night with great care, passing the enemy’s vessels which had been sent up from Qubec. Genl. Thomson was taken prisoner but I escaped, and retired with all possible expedition to St Johns. General Sullivan conducted the latter part of this retreat. The last time that I recollect seeing Gel. Arnold was at the river sorel, when he gave me in person orders to draw provisions. I was discharged verbally and arrived home on the 30th day of May 1776, the exact day of my discharge, I cannot now remember, but verily believe it was near the 20th day of May 1776 – I do remember the day when I got home at Spencertown and that was the last day of May as above stated. 
After my discharge which was given me at Sorel River I went immediately to Spencertown a distance of about 260 miles. The following are some of my offices and fellow soldiers, with me when discharged. Lieut Loomis. Ensign Barret. , were two of my company officers.
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3d Term of service.
On the 20th day of May 1777 I enlisted as a private, into the Connecticut State Troops, for the period of six months, and immediately marched from my place of residence, Spencertown in the State of New York. Sargeant Pardee enlisted me for Capt. Woodbridges Company, in Col. Ellmer's Regement Lieut. Collonel Brown belonged to the same Regement – Majr. Corpin was our Major. Immediately after my enlistment, I joined my Company and marched to Albany; The first service performed in this tour, was to go as a guard with other soldiers to Fort George with 20 waggons, two men to a waggon, with powder for the American forces stationed there at that time. I was gone upon this expedition from Albany two weeks. At the end of that time we returned to Albany again, and soon after, our company were ordered to the German Flats, (now Herkimer) where we were all engaged and employed in building the fort at that place. Some time in the month of September 1777 we were ordered to Fort Stanwix, and immediately we took up our march for that post, and remained there untill the expiration of this term of service. Col. Ellmer commanded the fort (Stanwix) while I remained there - and at the expiration of my term of service November 26 1777 he gave me a written discharge, which I have lost many years since, and cannot now, after diligent search find the same. I received this discharge at Fort Stanwix. 
Leut. Col. Brown left Fort Stanwix at the same time, and was killed on his way to Albany, by an ambush shot.
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I have no documentary evidence in my possession, and I know of no person alive who served with me in either of the foregoing Tours. I am now nearly eighty six years old, and live at a great distance from Spencertown from whence I went when I enlisted, in all three of said tours. It may be noticed that the two last mentioned tours, I served in the State Troops of Connecticut; at that time I was not acquainted in Connecticut, having never lived there after I was 23 years of age. During the last year I have made diligent enquiry for some one of my Company, but can find none, and verily believe they are all dead. I am very infirm and therefore am unable to seek after them personally, and cannot without great expense make further search for evidence.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Interrogatories put by the Court 
1st. where, and in what year were you born? 
Answer. I was born at Lebanon Connecticut on the 15th day of April 1748, and removed when young to Spencertown N.Y. 
2d. Have you any record of your age, and where is it? 
Answer. I have none, but my age is well known where I now live 
3d. Where were you living when called into service? where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
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Answer. When I entered the service as aforesaid, I lived in the town of Spencertown on the east line of the State of New York. After the Revolutionary service rendered as aforesaid, I returned to said Spencertown, lived there till peace, then moved to the State of Vermont, lived there 15 years, and then moved to Canterbury in the State of Connecticut, lived there 17 years, and now live in Lisbon Connecticut. 
How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whom? 
Answer I enlisted each time 
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops, when you served; such continental and militia regements, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service 
Answer. I have in the body of my declaration stated my answer to this question or requirement 
6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, & if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Answer. Twice I was verbally discharged, and Col. Ellmer gave me a written discharge at Fort Stanwix which I have lost. 
7th. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier in the revolution 
Answer. Revd. Philo Judson Pastor of the Church in Lisbon
[signed] Azariah Bill
sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Before me [signed] John Hyde Judge of the court of Probate
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17283 
INVALID. 
File No. 17.283 
Azariah Bill 
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 426 
{Arrangement of 1870.}
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We Philo Judson, a Clergyman, residing in the town of Lisbon, and John Fuller William Lee residing in the same town of Lisbon, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the Azariah Bill who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 85 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood when he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur fully in that opinion. We further certify that the character of Azariah Bill, for truth and veracity is perfectly good - that he is infirm from his advanced age, and that in our opinion his declaration of his services is true 
[signed] Philo Judson   William Lee   John Fuller 
Sworn and subscribed at Lisbon this 3d day of December 1833 Before me 
[signed] Ebenezer Allen Justice of the Peace 

State of Connecticut, New London County. ss. Decr. 4th AD 1833,  I John Dewit, Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of New London, do certify that Ebenr. Allen Esqr. who has signed the foregoing certificate is a Justice of the Peace for New London County the currant year, and that his signature is genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the day and year above mentioned. 
[signed] John DeWitt Clerk
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And the said Court of Probate doth hereby declare its 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 its satisfaction that the Revd. Philo Judson who has signed the preceeding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Lisbon aforesaid and that the other persons who have also signed the same certificate, with the said Clergyman, are also residents in the same town of Lisbon, and that they are all credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit 
I Burell Lathrop Clerk of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing [illegible] the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Azariah Bill for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 4th day of December 1833 
[signed] Burrel Lathrop Clerk
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Washington City May 20. 1834
J. L. Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
Sir: 
Permit me to certify, that in the year 1809. I became well acquainted with Azariah Bill, an applicant for a pension - for more than 20 years he has resided with me, in the same town, and has ever been deemed a man perfectly honesty, and his character for veracity is unquestionable. He now resides in Lisbon adjoining the town which that of my own residence. In the month of Novr last, when returning from Albany, I traveled in the stage with Mr. Bill, when he informed me that he had been to the State of New York and the State of Massachusetts in search of witnesses to prove his services in the revolution and that he could find none alive - they were all dead.
He states in his declaration, “that during the last years, he made diligent search but could find none, and verily believes they are all dead”
Having seen him in that search, and having helped him out and in the stage, while returning from it, and witnessed his infirmity, as well as his very advanced age, I do believed what he states.
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The long acquaintance I have had with him confirms that belief. 
Your Obt. servt 
[signed] Andrew T. Judson 

Andrew T Judson Esq of Canterbury, Connt. is a gentleman well known to us - he sustains a most respectable character - & full confidence may be placed in any statements which bear his signature 
May 19, 1834. 
[signed] J.W. Huntington  Noyes Barber  Ebenezer Young
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Elisha Phelps certificate {Comptroller of Con.}
In support of the service of Azariah Bill 
For a Pension 

Andrew T. Judson Esq
Canterbury
Connecticut

Mr Bill's application is now on file.
Put this with it.
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Comptrollers Office 
Decr 18th 1833 
I Elisha Phelps Comptroller of the public accounts of the State of Connecticut do certify that I have not been able to find any record of the appointment of Col. Elmores or of the officers belonging to his regiment; or any account with him or them upon the books of this Office 
[signed] E. Phelps 
N.B. Reference for information is made to the journals of the old Congress 
1776 Jan. 8th Congress order one battalion to be raised in Connecticut for Canada. 
1776 March 5th - Congress appoint Brig. Genl Thomas to command the army in Canada promoted him to rank of Maj Genl. – 
1776 July 29th – Genl. Wooster made report to the war office of Col. Elmores regiment
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to the War office, which was ordered to be transmitted to Gen. Washington, with blank commissions &c. &c. for the regiment; & John Brown was appointed Lt. Col. of Col. Elmores Regt.
1777-March 15th - Lt Col. John Browns, of Col. Elmore Regt raised in Connecticut was accepted -
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Sir 
I send my certificate that I can find no evidence regarding Col. Elmores Regt, with reference to the journal of the old Congress &c which I think sufficient 
Yours truly 
[signed] E. Phelps
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28378

30.864

Azariah Bill’s 
30. 874 
application 
[crossed out: 28.874]
Lisbon New London County 
Connecticut 
16 Dec 
Private, 15 mos & 20 dy 
Adm’d 
Capt. Woodbridge 
Col. Elmer 
Cor.
Rg

[illegible]

Send the certificate to Andrew T. Judson Pres’t
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Farmers & Mechanics Bank 
Pension Office 
Hartford 19 June 1837 
Sir
Azariah Bill having neglected to apply for his pension for more than twelve months his claim is herewith enclosed and transmitted for special directions authorizing the payment. The Magistrate by whom the papers are executed has lodged in this office his official signature duly certified.
I am very Respectfully 
Your Obd. Servant 
[signed] Saml L Pitkin 
Agent 

J. L Edwards Esq 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington