Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31207, for Messenger Lewis, Connecticut
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn

Lewis, Messenger

NUMBER
S. 31207

CONTENTS
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25167
Kentucky
Messenger Lewis
of Clay Co in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Nap  [Knapp] of the regt commanded by Col Palmer in the Connecticut line for 1 year and 2 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of Decr 1833 and Abner Baker (illegible)

Arrears to the 4th of Sept  11667
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 March  2333
$140.00

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk
Book E  Vol. 7  Page 17
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State of Kentucky Clay County Sct

On the 29th day of Octr 1833, personally appeared in open Court before Joseph Eve Judge of the Circuit Court for the County aforesaid, Messenger Lewis a resident of said County, aged 71 years last August who being duly sworn according to law, doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the Act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War as a volunteer in the year 1778 under Capt. Jeremiah Nap [Knapp] in the State of Connecticut on the sea shoor, oposite Long Island about 20 miles from the city of New York. David Nap [Knapp] was his Lieut - he was marched to a place called the horse neck and joined Colo. Parmer [Palmer] about 15 or 18 miles from the white plains in New York. his business was to guard the Sound or that part of the water passage from the Connecticut Shoor to Long Island to prevent the Tories from carying provisions &c to the British on said Island. In this service he was actually engaged for 3 months and discharged by his Capt
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He then returned home awhile and was called upon again in the same year to go a tour of the same kind and he again volunteered and went under the same officers and served at the same place 3 months guarding as aforesaid and was discharged. In in the year 1779 he again volunteered under Capt Edwd. Oakly in the state of New York, Rubeen [Reuben]  Shaw Leiut and marched to a place called Fishkill a little above West Point and joined Colo Philips and served 3 months they were called highland rangers and ranged the County about the White Plains Peekskill & Fishkill during this tour his Capt was killed by a Tory,  Capt. Jo McKeel. In the next year 1780 as he believes he volunteered at the same place for 3 months under Capt Isaac Springer, Thos Lewis Lieut,  John Hill Ensign. Marched to Peakskill and joined Colo Philips he served this tour in guarding the passage of provisions from Peakskill and the neighbourhood to Dansford Plains where the regular army was stationed at that time. he served out his tour of 3 months and was discharged in the year 1781 he again volunteered for 3 months under Joseph Langdon,  John Newmans Lieut,
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Philips was his Colo still, he marched to the same place and served after the tours and guarding provisions &c untill Wallace was taken, he was then discharged having served not less than 2 months. He states he served in all not less than 14 months in actual service. Being interogated by the Court he states that he was born in the year 1762 in August, in Connecticut near a little town called (illegible) about 20 miles from Long Island. He has no record of his age. He lived in Connecticut when he entered for the first 2 tours, and in New York Duches County when he entered for his other service. After the war he moved to Kentucky where he has lived ever since. He never received any written discharge. He volunteered every time. He had no particular acquaintance with any of the regular offices. He has no documentary evidence of his service and he knows of no person by whom he can prove his service. William Morris and Elisha Bowman can testify as to his character & he hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the roll of the agency of any state whatever. Sworn to and subscribed
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Messenger Lewis 
Kentucky 
[unreadable] 17 private 14 months 
$46.66
clk
the day & year afsd 
Messenger Lewis 
Elisha Bowman (a clergyman) and William Morris, citizens of the County of Clay aforesaid came into Court and made oath in due form of law that they had been acquainted with the said applicant for more than 20 years - that from his character for veracity they had no doubt that he had stated the truth in his said declaration that it is reported and believed in the neighbourhood of said applicant, that he was a Revolutionary soldier and the said Morris further states that he had heard said applicant speak of his services many years ago. 
And the said Court do hereby certify that after an examination of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department it is the opinion of the Court that the said applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and that he served as he states, and further certify that the said Elisha Bowman is a clergyman living in said County, and that the said Morris is a citizen of said County and that both are credible persons. 
State of Kentucky Clay County } Sct 
I Abner Baker Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County aforesaid do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of the said Messenger Lewis, for a pension. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 29th day of October 1833 
A Baker
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July 13, 1932 
BA-J/MCS  
Messenger Lewis
S. 31207
Honorable Charles Finley  
House of Representatives 
Washington, D.C. 
My dear Mr. Finley: 
Reference is made to your letter of July 8th, relative to information desired by Mr. Homer Ledford of Manchester, Kentucky. 
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 31207, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Messenger Lewis.  
He was born in August, 1762, in Greenwich, Connecticut. 
While a resident of Connecticut, he enlisted in 1778 and served three months in Captain Jeremiah Knapp's Company in Colonel Parmer's (probably meant for Palmer's) Connecticut Regiment. He enlisted again in 1778 and served three months under the same officers as in his previous enlistment. 
While living in Dutchess County, New York, he enlisted in 1779 and served three months in Captain Edward Oakley's Company in Colonel Philips' New York Regiment. He enlisted in 1780 and served three months in Captain Isaac Springer's Company in Colonel Philips' New York Regiment. He enlisted in 1781 and served two months in Captain Joseph Langdon's Company in Colonel Philips' New York Regiment. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 29, 1833, at which time he was living in Clay County, Kentucky, having moved to Kentucky after the Revolution. 
There are no data relative to the soldier's family, 
Very truly yours, 
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator
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November 7, 1931 
BA-J/MCS 
Alice Pennington Williams 
Shelby Street 
Frankfort, Kentucky 
Dear Madam: 
Reference is made to your letter of October 21, 1931, requesting information in regard to Messenger Lewis, a soldier of the Revolution. 
The data furnished herein are obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 31207, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Messenger Lewis, 
He was born in August, 1762, in Greenwich, Connecticut. 
While a resident of Connecticut he enlisted in 1778 and served three months in Captain Jeremiah Knapp's Company in Colonel Parmer's (probably meant for Palmer's) Connecticut Regiment. He enlisted again in 1778 and served three months under the same officers as in his previous enlistment. 
While living in Dutchess County, New York, he enlisted in 1779 and served three months in Captain Edward Oakly's Company in Colonel Philips' New York Regiment. He enlisted in 1780 and served three months in Captain Isaac Springer's Company in Colonel Philip New York Regiment. He enlisted in 1781 and served two months in Captain Joseph Langdon's Company in Colonel Philips' New York Regiment. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 29, 1833, at which time he was living in Clay County, Kentucky, having moved to Kentucky after the Revolution. 
There are no data relative to the soldier's family, 
Very truly yours, A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
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Frankfort, Kentucky 
Shelby Street, 
October 21, 1931, 
Commissioner of Pensions, 
U. S. Pension Department, 
Revolutionary Department, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir: 
I would like for you to give me a report on a Revolutionary Soldier by the name of Messenger Lewis, who was a private in the Conn line, and secured his pension and was living in Clay County Kentucky in the year 1833. He was 72 years old at that time. He was put on the pension roll 13-4-1831 and commenced to draw pension 12-2-1833, He drew annually 46,66, and received $116, 65 at that time, 
Hoping that you will give me all the information you can regarding this soldier, I am 
Most sincerely, A.G. Pennington
ALICE PENNINGTON WILLIAMS,
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Answered July 13. through Hon Chas. Finley, 
Manchester K.Y. 
July 14-1932 
The Director of Pensions 
Washington D.C. 
Dear Sir  
I would appreciate it very much if you would give me the pension record of Messenger Lewis A revolutionary Soldier who lived for some time in Clay Co. N.Y.  I desire this very much as he is my great Great great Grand Father give me as much of his history as you can.  
Yours respectively 
Homer Ledford 
Manchester K.Y
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CHAS. FINLEY 
11TH DISTRICT 
KENTUCKY 
Congress of the United States 
House of Representatives 
Washington, D.C. 
July 8, 1932.
COMMITTEES: MINES AND MINING TERRITORIES
Hon. E.W. Morgan, 
Director of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C. 
My dear Mr. Morgan:- 
I enclose to you a letter from Mr. Homer Ledford, Manchester, Kentucky, in which he expresses a desire to secure the record of one Messenger Lewis, who it is stated served in the Revolutionary War. 
It has been suggested that you might have record of this veteran's service in your Office, and hence this letter to you. 
I shall appreciate any information that you may be able to give me on this matter. 
Sincerely yours, 
Chas. Finley 
Chas. Finley.
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31207
Revy  INVALID.
File No. 31,207-
Messenger Lewis
Pri---Rev---War---
Act:--June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 241 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1931 Nov, 7 hist to Alice Pennington Williams W.C.S.
1932 July 13. hist. to Hon. Chas Finley for Mr. Homer Ledford. W.C.S.