Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8488, for Samuel Prindle, Connecticut
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SERVICE  Conn.
Prindle, Samuel
NUMBER  R. 8488
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Samuel Prindle
Reply to 
Chas B. Phelps
Woodbury Conn.
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State of Connecticut 
Probate Court } ss District of Woodbury 
On this 14 day of Sept 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the District of Woodbury holden at Southbury in New Haven County within & for said District of Woodbury now sitting, Samuel Prindle a resident of Southbury in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, aged seventy six  years, who being first 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. 
That I was born in Newton in Fairfield County Connecticut on the 4th Day of June 1756 and lived there untill I entered the army of the Revolution. I have no memorandum of my birth &  know of none.   
In Nov 1779 being the Nov after Fairfield was burnt I was a private in the Militia company at Newtown & was drafted for three months duty and early in Nov by the fourth or fifth I left Newtown & marched to Fairfield Conn and joined a company commanded by Lieutenant Ebenezer Boughton. Ezekiel Beers was Sergeant.  This company belonged to a Regiment commanded  by Major Abels. I knew no higher officer than him. No commanding officer belonged to our company than Lieut Boughton.  I  remained in this company untill the last day of January 1780 and was dismissed.
3 mo.
In 1781, Sept   I was a private in said Newtown  militia and was again drafted to perform a three months tour and in Sept joined Abel Botsford Company, Lieutenant I have forgotten but have some impression it was Silas Fairchild. I know of no other officer in the company. Do not remember any higher officer than Capt Botsford, I was stationed at Horse Neck.  I remained in this Service about seven weeks when the whole guard consisting of this company were taken prisoner by the British except the Captain and three privates who [unreadable].  I was one of the three privates. All who were
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taken [unreadable] in New York.  Of the three privates I know none alive.  The Captain is decease.  I was discharged and returned home.  
In 1782 In Sept or October, the fore part, I was a private in the Newtown Militia and was in again drafted for three months & immediately joined Capt Abel Botsford company at [unreadable].   Lieutenant I have forgotten. There was no higher officer than Botsford that appeared among the soldiers.  I continued to do duty there in this company until the expiration of six weeks & more, if not seven and was dismissed.  Our work was as a guard and the guard was then broken up & company disbanded.
1 month 2 weeks
Since then I have lived in Newtown untill after the cose of the war about 1787 & moved to New Milford Conn. Remained there Four years, returned to Newtown, lived there about six years then removed to Southbury & have remained there since and now live there.
I have made enquiries for proof and can find no body alive that I knew in the Army & can hear  of nobody living that was in the army with me. 
I am acquainted with Newton Tuttle,  John Pearce Esq & Benajah Hill and others of Southbury.
I was out in an alarm and was marched from Newtown to Frederickstown on North River when the British went
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up the River in the year 1778 in Summer.  I was under military command ten days in this expedition.   Capt Abel Botsford was Capt of the company I was in.  Col Baldwins Regiment 
The said  Samuel Prindle  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. 
Chas B. Phelps 
We Isaac Hill, residing in the town of Southbury and Benajah Hill residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Prindle who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 76 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. 
Chas B. Phelps  Judge of Probate
Benajah Hill 
Isaac Hill  
District of Woodbury
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Bene  Samuel Prindle  
that Benajah Hill & Isaac Hill who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Southbury and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.   
Chas B. Phelps Judge of Probate Dist Woodbury 
I, Edwd M. Phelps Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Woodbury hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Prindle for a Pension.  
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Probate Office, this twenty seventh day of September 1833- 
Edw M Phelps   Clerk of Probate for the District of Woodbury
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Hon R. P. Freeman  
(Mrs M. B. Bishop)    May 15, 1930 EEL
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 8488, it appears that Samuel Prindle was born June 4, 1756, at Newtown, Fairfield County, Connecticut. 
About 1787, he moved to New Milford, Connecticut, remained there four years, returned to Newtown and lived there six years, then removed to Southbury, Connecticut. 
He applied for pension September 14, 1832, while residing in Southbury, New Haven County, Connecticut, and stated that he served as a private with the Connecticut Troops as follows: 
In the summer of 1778, ten days in Captain Abel Botsford's Company, Colonel Baldwin's Regiment. 
From November, 1779, under Lieutenant Ebenezer Boughton and Major Abels and was discharged January 31, 1780. 
From September, 1781, seven weeks in Captain Abel Botsford's Company. 
From about October 1, 1762, six weeks in Captain Abel Botsford's Company. 
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months service in an embodied military corps as required by the pension laws. 
There are no data concerning his family.
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Rejected
Connecticut
Samuel Prindle
Letter C. B. Phelps 31 July 1834
8488
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June 12, 1903 Hist Rear Admiral Franklin C. Prindle AWF
1930 May 16, Hist to Hon R. P. Freeman for Mrs. Mary B. Bishop.
Letter returned to Mr. Freeman.  EEL
REJECTED
8488
Samuel Prindle
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8488 – Rej [rejected]
Samuel Prindle
Sept 14 1832 ’76 N. H. Co Conn
Born Newtown Conn June 4 1756
Nov 79 Newtown Conn 
Lt. Boughton, 
Col – 
Priv 3 m.
Sept 81 
Capt Abel Botsford
Col – 
Pvt 7 weeks
Feb 82 C. Pr D
Col – 
Pvt 6 weeks
Rej – no proof of service
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O. W. & N. Div.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.
Department of the Interior,
Respectfully returned to
Commissioner.
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C. B. Phelps
31 July 1834
O.C.
Red Vol. 2 p 488
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War Sect 
July 31st  1834 
Sir
From the certificate of the comptroller it does it appear that any such corps as that in which Samuel Prindle claims to have served in 1779 was in service that year unless at the Fairfield alarm when the service were very temporary.  His other services were too short to bring this claim within the law, and in the sum of all proof with a strong presumption arising from the fact that no charge for the service is found on the books of the pay tables, the claim must be rejected.  The papers remain on file.  
The word “Connecticut” has been added to the endorsement on the back of Mr. Hills certificate which is hereinth returned.   
C B Phelps Esqr Woodbury Ct
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Charles B. Phelps Esqr
Post Master
Woodbury Connecticut
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Comptrollers Office 
December 19 1833 
I Elisha Phelps, Comptroller of the public accounts of the State of Connecticut, do certify  that there is charged to the United States, upon the books of the Pay Table, under date 31st August 1779, for the pay roll of Capt. A. Botsfords company Fairfield alarm, also the pay roll of Capt Jaber Botsfords company same alarm. 
No roll of either company has been found or proof of the duration of these services. 
Also, under date 29th October 1779, the amount of the pay roll of Capt. Abel Botsford company to Peekskill is charged to the United States. 
No roll of the company has been found or proof how long it served.   
Also, under date January 4th 1781 the amount of the payroll of Capt Jaber Botsford company coast guards is charged to the United States. 
No roll of this company her being found, or proof of the continuance in service.  
E. Phelps
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Sir
I sent you all the proof I found of Capt. Abel Botsford service, of Capt Jaber Botsford’s. As they both were in service in 1779 & Jaber in 1780 or 1 - the applicant might mistake the given name, &c 
I am truly [unreadable]
E. Phelps
N. B. the applicant maybe mistaken on the years.
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21.692
Sam'l Prindle
C. B. Phelps
Woodbury Conn.
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WAR DEPARTMENT 
Pension Office, 
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 compling with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A Statement, showing the Service of
Period when the service was rendered.    Duration of Claimant’s Service.   Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.   Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service.   Proof by which the declaration is supported. 
I am respectfully 
Your obedient servant 
JAMES L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 in stance, 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 day of A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:    
[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 entered 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 that of Agency in the State of    
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 of the Court of hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of for a pension.               
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of & c.            
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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.               
I, Clerk of the Court of contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of & c.         
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.            
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  
It would appear by the certificate of the Comptroller of Public Accounts neither Capt Botsfords Co of Militia was in actual service at the periods stated.
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3   
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 Town officer 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. 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 or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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.        
[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---year - months , and days , I served as a - months and --- days, I served as 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 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 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 authority ; 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. 
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. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
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To the Com of Pensions
Sir
I enclose the certificate [unreadable] to Nace Hill of Connecticut.  I believe on the back of a direction to be paid by the Pension Agent in Vermont.  No such bank exists in Vermont but apprehending some difficulty at Hartford about it I chose to have the error corrected. 
With respect 
Chas B. Phelps   
Woodbury  28 July 1834
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J L Edwards Esq 
The enclosed papers of  Samuel Prindle are returned again with the certificate of the Comptroller that no [unreadable] exists in his office unless [unreadable] the amt Allowed Jun 4 1781 is for the services of Jaber Botsfords company in fall of 1779,  a fact consistent with the manner of accounting in the pay table officer
Yours respectfully 
Chas B. Phelps 
Woodbury Con 28 July 1834