Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,336, for Joel Newton, Connecticut
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(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Conn. Newton, Joel S. 23,336
CONTENTS
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Vermont 914
Joel Newton
Salisbury in the State of Vermont
the was a teamster in the - commanded
by Captain - of the Regt  commanded
by Col. Meigs in the Connecticut
line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
the rate of 80 Dollars per an
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22d day of October
1832 and sent C.C. Waller
Middlebury Vt
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 120.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4th M'ch
1833 40.00
$160.00
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by John M. Duffield Clerk
Book D Vol. 4 Page 75
[illegible]
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STATE OF VERMONT, }
Addison County ss. }
I, EDWARD D. BARBER, Clerk of the County Court for the
County of Addison, do hereby certify that the annexed documents contain
the original proceeding of said Court in the matter of the applicatin
Joel Newton for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
the seal of said Court this 10th day of July A.D.
1832
Edward D. Barber Clerk
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No 1136
Declaration of
Joel Newton
(914)
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Joel Newtons
Declaration
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State of Vermont }
Addison County ss }
On the fourth day of July 1832
personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of
the County Court for the County of Addison in
the State of Vermont now sitting Joel Newton
resident in the town of Salisbury in the County of
Addison and State of Vermont aged seventy six years
and upwards, who first being 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 was born in Cheshire in the
State of Connecticut as he believes on the 3d day of
November 1755. He has a record of his birth which he
took from the records of the town of Wallingford in
Connecticut which was formerly Cheshire -
That he enlisted in the City of New York
a few days before the American troops
situated from Long Island he writ on to Long Island
and joined the army only the day before the retreat which
took place in the night that when they came off
from Long Island they remained but a short time
at the City of New York and went to a place where
there was an entrenchment called Turtle Bay
that at this place they was fired upon by the British
from their shipping for about an hour when they
retreated to Kings Bridge near which they stayed at
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short time and afterwards retreated to White Plains
the said Newton states that he was in the Battle
fought at that place - That he belonged to a front
guard which was first attacked in that battle when
the guard
the British soldiers came in sight the guard were ordered to
to fire upon them. They did fire and the said
Newton recollects that he did not notice what other
were doing till on turning round from the force
behind which they were stationed he found he
was above the rest of the corps having retreated
several of the British soldiers were already within
8 rods of him when he retreated after his comrades
He further states that after the battle of White plain
his regiment marched to a place which he thinks
was called North Castle and that his term of
service expired on Christmas day. He thinks
that he served four months but cannot
state the exact time - He received no
written discharge. He cannot state the names
of the Captain or other officers under whom he
served - He was then saw in the service and during
most of the time he was in hard service and
his mind occupied with learning his business and
that the names of his officers did not get to impress
on his mind as to be retained-
In the spring of 1777 as the said Newton
believes a company of the teamster under the command
of a man by the name of Gilbert was raised in the
town of Cheshire in the fall afterwards the said
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Newton took the place in the army of one of the
ten teamsters above mentioned by the name of Reuben
Bunnell - He went to a place provided by government
and had the small pox and in the spring of 1778
he joined the army some where in the State of New York
near the North River - He cannot tell at what place
He states that he was in the army as a teamster two
years and four months counting from the time he had the small pox
that thru defect in his memory he cannot now
state the several places at which the army incamped
during this time but recollects that he carried
baggage one summer for the Regiment commanded
by Colonel Meiggs and that Col Dunkees regiment
was in the same division and encamped beside them
that they went to a great many places but the
said Newton does not recollect their names
He thinks the first winter the troops went into
quarters some where between the Connecticut and
the Hudson rivers at a place called Reading
and that the teams were taken to a place
East of Connecticut River called Colchester
where government had provided a large
quantity of fodder &c. He crossed the Connecticut
river at Hartford Cont was detained two
or three days waiting for the ice to take so as to
bear the teams across the river - He remained
in the charge of the teams through the winter and in
the spring joined the army again at Reading as he
thinks but is not quite clear that that was the name of
the place where the army went into winter quarters-
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after he joined the army in the spring as aforesaid
he followed its movements as a waggoner till some time
in the summer when he and eighteen other
teamsters went across the mountain from West point
on foot to a place called Middlebrook where Government 
had collected a drove off horses - They were
ordered to select from the horses four a piece such
they deemed would be most serviceable and they did
so and took the Horses back towards West point
seven or eight miles to a place which he thinks was
called Morristown where there was continental
stores. there obtained harnesses for the horses
and got them shod and obtained baggage waggons
and took in loads of pork flour & Rum and went
directly to Fishkill in the State of New York
Newton states that he then crossed the
ion and joined the troops on the East side
and remained with the drawing wood and
forage and such other things as the army wanted
till late in the fall when he went again
to west point and was employed during the winter
as a cook for the Forage Master & Waggon Master
whose names he cannot recollect-
In the spring he was discharged the term
having expired for which the said Bunnell
had enlisted. The term of said Bunnell enlistment
was three years, two years and four months of
which the said Newton declares that he served
as said Bunnells substitute as he has stated above
He further declares that he does not know that
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(2 Sheet of Joel Newton declaration)
there is any person living by whom he can prove the
part of his said service- and that he has no documentary
evidence of his said service
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity except the present and declares
that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency
of any State
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid - Joel Newton
E.D. Barber Clerk
The said Newton further states that he removed
State of Vermont a little before the close
of the Revolutionary war and has resided in said
State at Wallingford & Salisbury ever since
I Sworn and subscribed day Joel Newton
and year aforesaid
Thomas A. Merrill a Clergyman residing in
Middlebury, Vt about six miles from the residence of
Joel Newton of Salisbury, whose signature appears
immediately before my certificate, do hereby certify
that I have been very well acquainted with said
Newton for fifteen years and slightly acquainted with
him for ten years longer that I esteem him
(and think that all who are well acquainted him esteem
him) to be a person of the most unquestionable
veracity that I know him to have been many
years a member in good standing in the Congregational
Church in Salisbury - That I believe him to
be seventy six years of age and that he was a
soldier of the revolution, and that his character in
all respects is such as to take away (as I think) from neighbors
or as acquaintance the least suspicion that he would make
an erroneous statement of facts to secure a pension. Thomas A Merrill
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William Pratt of Salisbury in the State of Vermont
being sworn according to law hereby states and
declares that he has known Joel Newton
of Salisbury who has made and signed a
declaration preceding this for at least
thirty years that said Newton has always
been reputed to have been a revolutionary Soldier
and that in regard to his character he agrees
with the Rev. Thomas A Merrill whose
certificate precedes this
Sworn to and subscribed in Court
July 5th A.D. 1832 William Pratt
The above affidavits of Thomas A. Merle
and William Pratt sworn as subscribed in open Court
the 5th day of July AD 1832
E. D. Barber Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion after the investigation of the
matter and after putting the interrogatories
presented by the War Department, that the
above named applicant was a soldier 
of the revolution, and served as he
States; and the Court also certify that
from personal acquaintance with
Rev. Thomas A. Merritt and William A.
Pratt, whose affidavits are herewith
transmitted they consider them persons of 
veracity and entitled to truth
Edward D. Barber Clerk
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Joel Newton [illegible]
H H [illegible] 5
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I Rufus Newton of Salisbury of in the County
of Addison & State of Vermont of lawfull age
depose and say that I am the only surviing
child of Joel Newton late of said
Salisbury deceased who was a Revolutionary
Pensioner under the act of June 7th 1832
upon the Vermont agency at the rate of
$80.00 per annum, that I am of the opinion
& believe that he was entitled to a greater
amount than $80 per annum, that I ask
for a reexamination of the case under the
agency of Col. H.H. Sylvester, and for the
proof the death of the said Joel Newton &
that he did not leave any widow and
that I am the only child I refer to the
vouchers in the Auditors Office upon which
the balance of his pension was paid after
his deceased
Rufus Newton
Subscribed & Sworn to this 15th day of June
1850 by the above declarant
Before me John Dyer Justice of Peace
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State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier July 3. 1850
I hereby certify that John Dyer Esquire, whose
name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate, is and was
at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace within and
for the County of Addison in said State duly
appointed & qualified, and that full credit is due to his
official acts and attestations as such
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my
hand and affix the seal of this office
this third day of July A.D. 1850
Ferrand F. Merrill
Secretary of State
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No 1136
Admitted
Teamster for 2 years
$80 per annum
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BRIEF in the case of Joel Newton
of Addison County in the State of Vermont
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In a County Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 76 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Years, Months, Days. | As a | Gen.
In 17 not stated | 4 mos | private | not recollected
1777 } 2 years 4 mos | Teamster| Served as a substitute 
part of the time in Cpl Meigs regt.
5. In what battles was he engaged? White Plains
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? 
New York N.Y.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, 
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
By tradition
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
J. M. Duffield Examining Clerk.
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Revolution
23336
INVALID.
File No. 23,836
Joel Newton
Teamster Rev. War
Act: June 7th 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 295
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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June 5. 1857
Sir
I filed an application for an increase
of the pension of Joel Newton, [illegible] of team
service on Nov last. I have the papers but there
has been to action of the Office on the case.
Oath 18 of Nov I also filed the declaration
of Lydia Briggs [illegible] Esq 1848. This case
has not been [illegible] on as yet.
I am Respectfully
H. H. Sylvester
J. E. Heath Esq
[illegible]
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Middlebury Vt. July 13. 1832
Sir
With this you will receive the declaration
of Joel Newton and accompanying documents to
support his claim to a pension as a revolutionary soldier
under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832
I obtain and forward the certificate of Thomas a
Merill Pastor of the Presbyterian ch in this place in
support of his character because there is no clergyman
residing at this time in Salisbury
Hoping his claim will meet your early and
favorable consideration
I am with great Respect
your ob.t sert.
Calvin C. Waller
Hon Lewis Cass
Secy War.