Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9594, for Jonathan Phelps, Connecticut
Page 1

(3--1776)

SERVICE
Conn.
Privateer

Phelps, Jonathan
Charity

NUMBER
W.  9594
B. L. Wt. 26604-160-55
-------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
Page 2

           6.574
New York Albany
_____________________________________
Charity Phelps
widow of Jonathan, Phelps
Conn
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a private & corporal
____________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate
of 52 dollars 32
cents per annum, to commence
on the 26th
September 1857.
___________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued
22d day of March 1859
and sent to E. C. Durfee
                 Leon
Cattaraugus Co
            N. York
_______________________________________
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 3, 1853, Page 25 Vol. 11
Page 3

103.323                       Act March 3/55
33.568                                April 27./55
______________________________________________
Jonathan Phelps
                       Corporal

No 26604 iss May 20/56

War of Revolution
_________________________________
Rev Pension. Act June 7, 1832
N.Y.  ????  32-11942
_______________________________
NO:160 Acr May 16/56
               BD Boynton
Vol P. page 79.
________________________________
Thomas J. Wheeler
Conewango
Cattawragus Co
New York
Page 4

to Pens Agt 31.  June          09
To Albany from 4 March 1838
7 March 1839. Notification to
B. Walworth Fredonia N Y
____________________________________
Paid at the Treasury under
the act of the 6th April
1838 from 4 Mar 1838 to
4 Sep 1838. Agt Notified 4th
April 1840
______________________________________
Let to Hon J G Marlin 3 Apl 1802
          Thos. J. Wheeler 30 June /52
          Robt Owen Sep 29/53
          Thos J Wheeler
               Oct 3 1855
49 5

No. 11942 Albany
11942
____________________________________________
     Jonathan Phelp
Warren Co. in the State of Pen
who was a Pr. & Corpl. in company
by Captain Morgan of the Regt
by Col. Wills in the Connt. Troops
(line) for 8 months Pr               26.66
              7       "      Corpl          25.66
                                                 _______
                                                $52.32
_________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvan
the rate of 52 Dollars 32 Cents
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
______________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of July
            1833  and sent to J. Galbraith
                       Franklin  Pa
____________________________________________-
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833              104.64
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 1833      26. 16
                                                                 _________
                                                                  $130.80
                                              ( Revolutionary Claim,
                                              (Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. Brown                       Clerk
Book  E.   Vol. 5   Page 45
Page 5

Declaration for Widows
Revolutionary Pension
act of July 4th 1836

Charity Phelps
widow of
Jonathan Phelps


E. C. Durfee agent
    Leon
    Cattaraugus Co
                N. Y.
Page 6

State of New York
County of Cattaraugus ⎬ Ss.
                 On this twelth day of January
in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight
Hundred & Fifty Eight personally appeared
before me the undersigned Judge of the County
Court of Cattaraugus County said Court being a
Court of Record Mrs Charity Phelps aged Ninety
two years a resident of Conenango in the County
& State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to 
Law doth on her oath make the following declara-
tion in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836
     That she is the widow of Jonathan Phelps
who was a private soldier & wagoner, in the war
of the Revolution.   That his place of Residence
at the time he entered service was Lyon or Haddam
then the Loudon now Middlesex County in the State of
Connecticut.   That he served in the Militia or
other troops of said State under Capt Richard
Eles & Abner Comstock that as she has been informed
he was stationed on Long land Sound & other
places during the war that he was also with the army
in the State of Virginia as a soldier or Wagoner & was
in service at the surrender of Cornwallis
Page 7

She further declares that she was married to said
Jonathan Phelps on the 14th day of August A.D.
One Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty four & lived with her
said husband seventy three years that he the aforesaid
Jonathan Phelps died on the 26th day of September
One thousand eight humdred & fifty seven & that she
has remained a widow since that time as will more fully
appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
    That she was married at East Haddam in the
State of Connecticut by Israel Spencer a Justice
of the Peace that her name before her marriage was
Charity Beckwith
     That her said husband was a pensioner during
his lifetime under the act of June 7th 1832 at
the rate $53.32/100 per annum which was paid to him at the
agency at Philadelphia Pa  afterwards transferred to
Albany N.Y. to take effect from the 4th of March 1838
     That said Jonathan Phelps, name was placed on
the list & certificate issued to him July 15th 1833 and
recorded in the Pension Office in Book E. Vol 5.
Page 45 By D Brown Clerk and she refers to the
Evidence now on file in the Pension Office more fully
to substantiate the service referred to
                                                  Charity Phelps
Page 8

The foregoing declaration subscribed & Sworn to before
me the day and year first before written and I
certify that from her appearance Ithink said de-
ponent is of the age stated in said declaration & that
her statements are in all respects true. That she is
unable from age & bodily infirmity to appear in open
Court & I further state that I am in no way interested
in said Claim
                                            Nelson Cobb
                                            Co???? Judge of
                                           Cattanaugus County
                                                   New York
Page 9

State of New York        Ss.                       Charity Phelps
Cattaraugus County ⎬                            being duly sworn
                                                               before the undersign-
ed Justice of the Peace in and for the County afor-
said duly qualified to administer oaths deposes
& says that she is the identical Charity Phelps
who makes the declaration appended for a widows
Revolutionary Pension, that her age is ninety
two years that she resides in Conenango in the
County & State aforesaid
She further states that she is still the widow of
Jonathan Phelps who was a soldier in the war of
the Revolution & a Pensioner as stated in her appen-
ded declaration & that she was married to him in
the town of Haddam or Lyme in the State of
Connecticut on the 14th of August 1784 and liv-
ed with him as his wife until his death which happen-
ed, Sept 26th 1857
She further states that after diligent enquiry she
has reason to believe that no public record exists or ever
did exist of her marriage with said Phelps, that she
once had a private record which said record was
in a family Bible but it was destroyed by the burning
of their house more than fifty years ago & none
other has since been made & to the best of her knowledge
& belief there is no person now living who was present at
Page 10

her Marriage Seventy four years ago & that the annex-
ed Evidence is the best she can now furnish to show that
she was the wife & is now the widow of Jonathan
Phelps
Sworn & subscribed this 27th day of
1859                                                        Charity Phelps
S. B. Ellsworth Justice of the Peace
Cattaraugus County SS
                     Edwin Adams & China M. Adams his
wife being duly sworn before the undersigned Justice of the
Peace duly qualified to administer oaths depose & say that
said Edwin Adams is a son in law and said China M
Adams a daughter of Mrs Charity Phelps who makes
the appended declaration for a widows Revolutionary
Pension, That the former deponent is aged sixty ???
& the latter fifty nine years that they have known said
Charity Phelps from their earliest recollection & that
from the infancy of said deponents she lived with Jonathan
Phelps as his wife & neither ever heard the fact of her
being such questioned or disputed, That said Jonathan
Phelps died at the time set forth in the appended dec-
laration & that said Charity is still his widow & has resided
with said deponents since his death & each saw her make
oath to & subscribe the appended declaration & each
knows her to be the identical person therein described
And said deponents further say that the facts set forth
in her appended affidavit in relation to the destruction
Page 11

of the family record is as deponents believe strictly true
& that after diligent enquiry no record Public or Private
of their marriage now exists & that there is no person now
living who witnessed their marriage
Subscribed & sworn to this                    Edwin Adams
27th day of January 1859                       Chima M Adams

S. B. Ellsworth Justice of the Peace
Cattaraugus County ss
           Thomas J. Wheeler being duly sworn deposes that
he is practicing Physician in Conenango County aforesaid
that he has known Charity Phelps & her husband Jonathan
Phelps intimately & well for a period of ten years that
he has been their family Physician, That he never heard
the fact of their being husband & wife questioned & deponent
believes the facts set forth in the appended affidavits to be
strictly true & that no public or private record of their
Marriage can be furnished, & this deponent further states
that he knows said Jonathan Phelps to have been a Revolu-
tionary Pensioner & that he died at the time set forth in the
foregoing declarations to wit about Sept 26th 1857
                                      Thomas J. Wheeler
The foregoing affidavit subscribed & sworn to before me this 12th ay
of February 1859 & I certify that I know said affiants to be
persons of credibility & that said Charity Phelps is undoubted-
ly the person she is represented to be and further state I have no
interest whatever in said claim
                                       S. B. Ellsworth Justice of Peace
Page 12

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY}
CLERK'S OFFICE,             } Ss.
           Chas H Southwick
I, (THOMAS MORRIS), Clerk of said County, do certify that Sheldon
Cobb & S. B. Ellsworth Esquires, before whom the foregoing affidavit purports
to have been taken, were on the day of the date thereof,the said Catt County Judge
& the said Ellsworth Justice of the Peacel in and for said County,  elected and sworn and duly authorized to take the same; and further that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of                         and verily belive the signature
purporting to both are genuine

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
Seal this 11th day of February 1859
                                  Geo C. Newcomb CLERK
Page 13

113.323
Page 14

Original Declaration for Revolution Soldier.
                                 DECLARATION.
State of New York     } Ss.
County of Cattraugas}
    On this 20th day of April A. D. 1855, personally
appeared before me, ???? a Justice of the Peace
within and for the County and State aforesaid, Jonathan  Phelps
aged Ninety one years, a resident of the Town of Conewanga
in the State of New York who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the
identical Jonathan Phelps who was a private & Corporal in
the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War; that on account of his services in said War he
was allowed and is now actually in receipt of a pension under the Act of Congress, passed on the 7th
day of June A.D. 1832, at the rate of $52.32/100 per annum, as will more fully
appear by reference to the evidence now on file in the Pension Office at the City of Washington.
    He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which he may be entitled
under the Act approved March 3d, 1855.
    He also declares that he has never received any Bounty Land Warrant under this or any other Act
of Congress, nor made any other application therefor. Except an application made
on or about the 28th March 1855
Claimant's Signature.                                                                 his
                                                                                  Jonathan    X     Phelps
                                                                                                 mark
    WE, Edwin Adams and T. J. Wheeler residents
of Conewanga in the State of New York upon our oaths declare
that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Jonathan Phelps
in our presence; and that, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, we believe that he is the
identical person he represents himself to be, and that the said Jonathan Phelps signed
his name by making his mark because he cannot see to write
                                                                                       Edwin Adams
Signatures of Witnesses.
                                                                                     Thomas J Wheeler

    The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day and
year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the
person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.

                                        Signature of the Magistrate.            ??????????????

State of New York County of Cattaraugus Clerks Office ⎬ ss
                    I, Chas H. Southwick, County Clerk and Clerk of the County
Court in and for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that
????? Esquire, whose genuine signature appears above
we at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace
in and for the County aforesaid duly elected and sworn
and that all his official acts as such are entitled to
full faith and credit and that said County Court is a
Court of Record having general jurisdiction, I also
certify that I have no interest in the result of this
case and am not concerned in its prosecution
Given under my hand and official seal at Ellicottville in said County
the 24th day of February 1855.            Enos H Southwick
                                                                County Clerk of Cattaragus County
Page 15

Jonathan Phelps
22112
Page 16

State of Pennsylvania, Sixth Judicial District}
Warren County ss                                        } Ss
    On this sixth day of December in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally
appeared in open court, before Hon. Henry Shippen Pre-
sident and his associates, Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas of said County of Warren, now sitting, Jonathan
Phelps, a resident of Sugar Grove township in the County
of Warren and state of Pennsylvania aforesaid aged sixty
nine 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
hereinafter stated. That he first entered the service as a
waiter to the French General, Wilmangee at Providence
in Rhode Island in the month of March or April 1781
in which he remained until the month of December in that
year. From Providence we passed through Philadelphia
and Baltimore to York town. He remained in Yorktown
during the seige of York town. The American Continental Army were
stationed on the York side, and the French Army and the
Virginia militia on the opposite side of James River
The cannonading continued for nine days, three of which,
it was without cessation. I was present within a few rods
when Cornwallis surrendered and delivered his sword to Genl
Washington. He first appeared to offer it to Beauchambeau, and then
handed it to Washington. I saw the British soldiers coming out
of the fort at Yorktown when it was given up, with their knap-
sacks on their backs and in full uniform. Soon after the surren-
der of York town, in the latter end of November or beginning
of December of that year, I received a written discharge, which
I preserved, but which got burnt a number of years after-
wards with my other papers when I got my house burnt in
Delaware County, New York. While I was out in this tour my
duty was to take care of and ???? the baggage of Genl Wilman
Page 17

ger. After I went to Yorktown with Genl Wilmanger and
conveyed his baggage to that fort, I volunteered with a number
of others about sixty to take a redoubt belonging to the
British in the neighborhood of York town in the Gloucester
side of the river. There were a number of redoubts on both
side of the river belonging to the British, which were taken
one by one during the siege. After my discharge, I was
conveyed, being sick to Wilmington with
a number of others in waggons. I was then put on board a
sloop with about fifty or sixty others to the Head of Elk
He was furnished with four days, provision, under the suppo-
sition we would reach the Head of Elk in that time, but
on account of opposite winds and bad weather we were out
fourteen days, and had nearly starved. From the Head of
Elk I walked home to the town of Lyme in Connecticut
home when my (father) Mother lived. When I left Head of Elk
I had but ten dollars in money, and provisions being
scarce and high and not being able to travel far in a
day, my money soon ran out, and my way being along
the sea shore, and many of the inhabitants being tories
I had a great deal of difficulty in getting home. Some
time in the month of August in the year 1782 Simion
Saunders a Corporal in Captain Morgans company, Col
Wells regiment then stationed on the line for a year or
will became rich and unable to perform duty, and I ent-
ered as his substitute and remained in that service until
the month of December following about four months
I entered at this time at the town of Lyme in Connecticut
During this tour we had a number of skirmishes, generally
in the night with what were called Cow boys or refugees
under Delaney. I took to winter quarters at Kingston
near Horseneck the middle of November or latter end of that
month. After we had stationed here two or three weeks, we
were attacked in the night by about four hundred of
the British and refugees who took prisoners all the offi-
cers of our line (excepting a lieutenant Book, and Sergeant
Loomis) who had met in counsel at Col. Wills, quarters
Page 18

Soon after this we were all discharged. The lieutenant gave
the discharges. After our officers were taken, we were frequent-
ly attacked by the British and refugees until but few of
us remained. The discharge I preserved also until my pa-
pers were burnt in Delaware County in the State of New 
York as above stated. In January, I think, in 1783 I enlis-
ted as a volunteer under Captain Compstock at Fort Trum-
bull in New London, ??? three months and remained there
for the purpose of guarding the Fort during the whole period
of three months. He had occasionally a little skirmish with
the boats belonging to the enemy on the sound for the
purpose of keeping them from landing. There was no
Colonel or General at Fort Trumbull during that time
I had a written discharge from Captain Comstock, which
I preserved until I got my house burnt as above stated
when it and all my other papers were burnt. During
this period I was a corporal. At the end of this period I
entered as a marine on board the Brig Marshall at New
London, commanded by Captain Scofield for a six months
????. When we had been out a short time a week
or two, we captured a British Brig and after we had con-
veyed her some distance, we were chased by a British
line of War until we were obliged to leave her. The next
day we overtook her again and conveyed her as a prize
in the Harbor of New London. As we came in, we met
American merchant vessels putting out to sea, and
were informed by their passengers that peace was estab-
lished. We then dismissed. After peace was declared
I entered with eleven others under captain Josiah Burnham
for the term of eight months at Lyme in Connecticut to guard
the Long Island Sound from the tories, refugees and British who
still invaded and plundered the inhabitants. At the end of
the time we were discharged. I think there was at this
time no written discharge That the whole amount of his services was not less than twenty months I have now no documentary
evidence of my service, and know of no person whose tes-
timony I can procure who can testify to my service I
had a brother living in Pittstown near Rochester in New