Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16250, for Jeffery Smith, Connecticut
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE Conn.
Smith, Jeffery
NUMBER S16250
Carded
[line]
CONTENTS

[pencil] [unclear] &. 1762 isi Haddaw, Middlesex Cs. Conn. there at wt.
In 1832 res of Madison, Newleaven Co. Conn. [/unclear]
Page 2

Connecticut 2252
Jeffery Smith
of Haddam, in the State of Connt. [Connecticut]
was a Private in the Co. command[ed?]
by Captain Collins, [blank] of the Rgt. commande[d?]
by [blank], in the County
line for 7 ms. [months?]

18.900.
[line]
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
[line]
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of [unclear]Fedr[/unclear]
1833 and sent to Geo
Griswold [illegible] 
[line]
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833. 58.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34, 11.67
$70.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Mr. K. Palmer Clerk
E. Vol. three page 42
Page 3

18900. 22525
Jeffery Smith
Return this to
Adm. T Manths
$23.33
W
46.66
11.67
58.33-
George Griswell 
Guilford
New Haven[crossed out]
Connecticut
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office.
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

Statement, shewing the service of Jeffery Smith
of Madison Connecticut

[Table]
Period when the service was rendered. | Duration the
claimant's service.(Years.|Months.|Days|) | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period | Evidence by which the declaration is supported 
78 79 | - - - | 2 2 2 | - - - | Private " " | Capt Cole Ventures Collins Cashman | - - - | Skirmish with the British | Saybrook NewLondon NewJersey | 70 years Haddem | 

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of }ss.
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank] with [blank] and
served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers: [blank]

Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank]

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I [blank]of the Court of [blank] hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank]
day of [blank] & c.[blank]

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia. except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
[blank] 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
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 A. B. [blank] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of [blank] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank] of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.

[brackets]Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. [/bracket]
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
{To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. 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 of the Revolution.

The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure , taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[line]
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank], For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] ; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent suthority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.

Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he 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.
[pointing right hand emoji]The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k]This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[brackets] [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. [/brackets]
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

[handwritten] Applicant pates in his declaration that he [unknown] and that he was drafted 2 mo & volunteered [unknown]
Page 7

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
[line]
State of Connecticut County of New-Haven,} ss. Probate Court Guilford District

On this second day of August 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Guildford now sitting, Jeffery Smith, a resident of the Town of Madison, in the County of New-Haven, and State of Connecticut, aged 70 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 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: I entered the service
of the United States a volunteer in the year 1778 - under Capt John Ventures of the town of Haddam Middlesex County State of Connecticut, James Arnold of said Haddam was Lieut, on the six of July Marched
to New Haven, in a skirmish with the British a soldier volunteer from Guilford was killed (by the name of Luttenden) then we marched to saybrook nothing very important excepting the attempt of several Barges to land which we drove off next Marched to Luch[unclear].
Island where the British burnt a house; served under Capt Ventuers 2 months, there is none living (that I remember) that served with me. The next service was in the year 1779 two months from the first of Sept to the first of November I enlisted under Capt Dan Collins our Ensign was Joseph Dickerson first joined the Company in Chester from thence marched
New London and encamped the whole two months at New London kept guard on the point, Jonathan Isodd was our Surgeon and John Willams our quarter master (both of the Town of Madison;) the next service
I volunteered under Capt Cushman of the town of Coventry about the 10th of November 1779 - for two months ending the 10th January 1781 - Marched to Morristown New Jersey, froze my feet hands + ears the American troops were there. General Washington was there, the Americans were much in want of provisions
Page 8

I resided in the Town of Haddam from my birth
untill the close of the war. the last forty eight years of my life I have lived in Guilford or Madison a distance of twenty miles, I therefore do not know of any surviving soldier that served
with me.
Page 9

I was born in Haddam Middlesex County State of Connecticut in the year 1762 I have a record of my age in my family Bible I was living in Haddam when called into service I removed to Madison in the year 1784 and have resided in Madison ever since, two month of my service I was drafted and six months I volunteered I cannot recollect general officers as I lived in Haddam when called into the service and
have not lived there since for 48 years the persons with whom I served are most of them dead I never received any written discharge Samuel C Shepard a Clergyman of Madison and Jesse Crampton Esq of Madison will testify to my character for veracity and belief of my being a revolutionary soldier

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 the agency of any State, [crossed out]except that of the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Jeffery Smith
before me Reuben Elliott Judge of Probate

[line]
We, Samuel N Shepard a Clergyman residing in Madison and Jesse Crampton residing in Madison hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jeffery Smith who
has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be 70 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.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid Samuel N.
Jesse Crompton

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 Samuel N. Shepherd who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Madison and that Jesse Crampton who has also signed the same, is a resident in Madison and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Reuben Elliott Judge

I, George Griswold Clerk of the Probate Court of Guilford District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Jeffery Smith for a pension.
 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office,
this second day of August 1832
George Griswold Clerk
Page 10

The Application of Jeffery Smith of Madison in the County of New Haven & State of Conn. for a Pension under the law of 1832
Taken before Reuben Elliott Judge of Probate
Court, Guilford District and County
Page 11

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven

Probate Court Guilford District

On this 15th day of July 1833 personally in open court Jeffery Smith, who hath made the foregoing Declaration, and being duly sworn according to law, doth in order to amend the same further declares and says ---
that in relation to his second tour of service under Capt. Dan Collins in the year 1779 he was not positive as to the length of his service though strongly impressed with the idea that it was three months, he claimed but two months not knowing then of any living witness to prove such service, that he has since not only been fully confirmed in his own opinion but that he has procured the testimony of Schabor Hare who was in the same service-  that they both enlisted and served three months in that service.

That in suming up the amt of service, this person who drew up the declaration made the mistake and that he the J Smith did not  observe it -- that he has no written discharge or any written discharge documentary evidence.  that he knows of no living witness to prove his service in 1778 under Capt Venture or his service under Capt Cushman in 1779 and therefore makes the following affidavit.
Jeffrey Smith
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
before me
Reuben Elliott Judge
Page 12

Personally appeared before me Reuben Elliott Judge of the Probate Court for Guilford District [illegible] Jeffery Smith, who being duly sworn deposeth said that in consequence of not being able to procure any testimony with regard to a part of his service that he did serve as stated in the foregoing declaration & amendment not less than seven months as a private soldier and for such service claims a pension.

Jeffery Smith

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Reuben Elliott Judge
Page 13

I George Griswold Clerk of the Probate
Court for the District of Guilford
Do hereby certify that the foregoing annex contains
the original & additional proceedings of the ┃
said Court in the matter of the application
of Jeffery Smith for a Pension-

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand & Seal of Office this ┃
15th day of July A.D. 1838-
George Griswold Clerk of the
Probate Court, Guilford Street
Page 14

State of Connecticut County of New Haven
Guilford, July 15 1833
-
Be it remembered that on the day and
year aforesaid personally appeared
before me Reuben Elliott Esquire a
Justice of the Peace within and for
New Haven County duly qualified,
Ichabod Hand of said Guilford to
me personally known and who I certify
to be a credible witness and being
first duly sworn on his oath declares
and says that, in the year 1779
September 1 he enlisted under Capt
Dan Collins into a Company of Volunteers
for three months joined the Regiment
at Chester marched to New London
Col Richards commanded the Regmnt were
stationed at New London kept guard
there part of the time and were part
of the time employed cutting farms at
Mohegan near New London and
He further states that he was in the
same Company and well acquainted with
Jeffery Smith who has made the foregoing
declaration and that said Smith served
as a Soldier in the Company till their
time of enlistment expired, when they were
verbally discharged he thinks by the Col
(over)
Page 15

and further the deponent saith not
Ichabud Hand
Sworn and Subscribed the day and
year aforesaid before me
Reuben Elliott Justice P
and Judge of Probate
Page 16

P 16250
INVALID.
File No. 16250
Jeffery smith, with ┃
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7' 32
Index: -- Vol.1, Page 349
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1924. Nov. 12. Hist. to F.C. Bissell
See letter in Joseph Wilcox S.32073 awy
1928. May 29. Hist to Mrs.
K. R. Mansfield awy
Page 17

19 Frost St.
New Haven, Ct
Aug. 23, 1927.
Bureau of Pensions
Washington D. C
Dear Sirs
I wish to find the date of
birth of Jeffery Smith born about
1763 in Haddam Ct. who moved to
Madison and served in the Revolutionary
War. His pension appli
cation number is S16250
Will you kindly tell me when
he entered the service, what rank
he held and if possible, what
company he was with.
Very truly yours
Mrs. K. R. Mansfield
Page 18

Rev.
[stamp] PENSION U.S. OFFICE R AUG 24 1927
Page 19

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAN-51-
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
NAME Smith, Jehiel 
GRADE Private
LINE Connecticut 
WARRANT NUMBER 6462
ACREAGE. 100 
ISSUED Apr. 6. 1790
to not shown
The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.