Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 38514, Elijah Backus, Conn.
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SERVICE    Conn.
Backus, Elijah
NUMBER  S. 38514
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Notification sent January 9. 1821 to Benjamin Swan, Woodstock Vermont 
10128 R 
Vermont 
Elijah Backus 
of Bridgewater in the state of Vt. who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Swift of the Conn’t line, for the term of 3 yrs. 1777
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 of July, 1818 
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 of May 1819 and sent to Judge W. Strong Windsor Co.
Arrears to 4th of May 1819    61.67
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819 48.00
$109.67 
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.} 
7 mo 22/31. 
Continued
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Free
Secretary of the Department of War 
Washington City 
[unreadable]
Elijah Backus
Private
77 to 80
Swifts Connect.
On Roll
Admitted
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State of Vermont 
Windsor County ss} On this fourteenth day of July Anno Domini 1818 before me one the subscriber one of the Judges of the County Court within and for said County of Windsor, personally appears Elijah Backus Aged Sixty three years the 23d day of this July resident in Bridgewater in said County and for several years last past hath been an inhabitants there, who being by me first duly sworn, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the [unreadable] made by the late act of Congress, entitled “an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war” - that the said Elijah Backus enlisted in 1775 for eight months and served the same in the Regiment Called Pulmans’ Regiment, that in April 1777 he enlisted for three years in the company first commanded by Capt. V. Elderkin untill the then next winter which was then commanded by Capt Convers in the regiment No & the Connecticut line commanded by Col. Heman Swift which he served accordingly untill the ninth day of April 1782 when he received an honorable written discharge at Springfield in the State of New Jersey which he has lost and has not seen or heard of the same for more than twelve years - That he was in Monmouth battle in said New Jersey and also in German town in the State of Pensylvania during said term and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said service except that of Eleazor Robinson who served with him. 
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year first aforesaid William Strong Judge Windsor County 
State of Vermont
Windsor County SS}   On this fourteenth day of July 1818 aforesaid personally appeared before me the said Judge Eleazer Robinson of said Bridgewater a creditable witness who after being duly sworn by me doth on his oath declare that he was well knowing to the said three years service of the said Backus and that the same is truly stated in said declaration that he the said Robinson served the same time in the said Company with him the said Backus - and that he the said Backus is in reduced circumstances and Stands in need of the assistance of his country for support 
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid – 
William Stone Judge Windsor County Court
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State of Vermont
Windsor County SS} I William Strong first Judge of the County Court within and for said Windsor County do certify that the appears to my satisfaction that the said Elijah Backus did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy, and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.   
In Testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name and affix the seal of said Court this fourteenth day of July Anno Domini 1818.  
William Strong Judge Windsor County Court
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6
Elijah Backus
L
10128 Bridgewater
Con
Sept 19
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STATE OF VERMONT, WINDSOR COUNTY. SS} 
At an adjourned term of the Supreme Court of Judicature, begun and holden at Woodstock in the County of Windsor, on the first Tuesday in November Anno Domini eighteen hundred and twenty.  On this Twenty first day of November 1820, being the first day of said term, personally appeared in open Court, (the same Court being a Court of record agreeably to the laws of this State, having the power of fine and imprisonment, &c.)   Elijah Backus, aged sixty five years, resident in Bridgewater in said County of Windsor, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war, as follows: That he enlisted in Windham in the State of Connecticut on the Eighteenth day of April 1777 for three years in the company commanded First by Capt Elderkin & afterward by T. Converse of Regiment Commanded by Col. H. Swift in the Connecticut line which time he served until the full expiration of said Term, when he received in honorable written discharge at Springfield in the State of New Jersey, which he has lost -  
That he was in the Battle at Germantown, Monmouth while in said service. 
That he made his original declaration on the Fourteenth day of July 1818, has received a pension Certificate, No. 10,128 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 gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War , passed 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, 
one small shell of a House valued at --  30
one cow 10, two Piggs, & one Sheep 1.95, Farming Tools . 2.50. -  14.45 
Houshold Furniture, 4.20, a debt due from his son Royal Backus $200 -  204.20 
$ 248.65
That he owes the following debts, viz
To Isaiah Raymond 53 – Chars Dana 18 -  Lyman Mowes 16.50 -  87.50 
To E. Dunham Sr   2. Sam Cawan 2 - Jesse Williams 17  -   21 –
To Richd Southgate 6 -  Elihu Smith 6  - Thos Southgate 1.50  --  13.50 
To Thos Southgate Jr. 1 -  Sam’l Mitchel  7 - Doct. Munger 7 - 15 
To James Little John 5 – William Burdick 34 – W. R. Fitch 5 – P. Sanderson Jr. 4 – 18
$155
$93.65  
That he pursues the occupation of a Farmer, the he is troubled with Rheumatism & Gravel some years past with one hand nearly useless and is unable to do but little towards his support that his wife Tryphena aged fifty three years is of poor health, and unable to do but little towards the support of the family, his daughter Roxana aged fifteen years & son William aged thirteen years in Common health 
Elijah Backus 
Sworn to and declared on the Twenty first day of November 1820, before said Court. 
Attest Benj Swan Clerk 
STATE OF VERMONT, 
WINDSOR COUNTY SS}  I Benj. Swann Clerk of the County Court for the county of Windsor, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the 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 aforesaid schedule is Two hundred forty Eight 65/100th dollars. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, at Woodstock, this Twenty fifth day of November 1820 
Benj Swan {Clerk of the Courty for Windsor County.
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Phila Pa 
38514
Revy    INVALID. 
File No. 38574 
Elijah Backus 
Pri   Rev War -  
Act: 18” March 18” 
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 22 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
Feby 19-1901 Mrs. W. A. Bisbee Savannah Ga 
Nov - 17- 1902 - Mr. J. O. Bowman
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[stamp] U.S.P.B. OLD WAR & NAVY FILES OCT 17 1902
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OWN   OWN
Please send me copy of Military history of Elijah Backus if at any expense kindly let me know and I will remit  
Yours truly 
Mrs. J. O. Bowman 
1814 N. Broad St.  
Phila Pa 
Oct. 13th 1902
[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE C OCT 14 1902
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[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE K FEB 9 1901
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[unreadable] 
Savannah Ga Feby 5 / 1901 
22 East Macon St.
War Dept. 
Pension Bureau 
Washington D.C. 
[stamp] OW&N DIVISION FEB 12 1901 RECEIVED
Gentlemen  
I wish to obtain information as to whether Hezekiah Calkins who was born in 1764 (presumably in N.Y) possibly in Conn. took part in the war of the Revolution – 
Kindly give me the names of other members of the C. family who took part, together, with any information you may have concerning their arrive to the country.  Also, kindly inform me as to the
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names of those taking part by the names of Backus & Hedge, whom I think lived in Conn, at that time together with what information you can give me concerning them. 
Your kind favor, will greatly oblige 
Very truly yours 
(Mrs.) W.A. Bisbee