Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16249, for Reuben Smith, Vermont
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Vt.
Smith, Reuben
NUMBER
S.16249
Carded

CONTENTS
b Jan. 13 1763 in Windsor Conn.
Res. at enl. Norwich, Windsor Co. Vt.
Sec. in 1845. Vermont [illegible]
D. Dec 14 1845
Wife Abigail
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Ohio [illegible]
Reuben Smith
in the State of
he was a private in the
commanded
of the
commanded
to the Revolution
line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Cincinnati
the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
and and 14th December 1843

Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of
April 1833 and Sent to
as to the 4th of J. Coombs
Semi anl. allowance ending present
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7 1832

Recorded by S T Setty Clerk
Book E Vol 8 Page 52

A. Neff July 14 1855
Page 3

Lawrenceville Illinois
2nd July 1855
Sir
my wife being one of the
heirs at law of Reuben
Smith late of Scioto County
Ohio deceased and Reuben Smith
of said County & State having
as administrator of said deceased
drawn a pension for said
deceased or his heirs and as
yet not having settled said
estate or had any portion of
whatever amount he has drawn
to any of the heirs. I am
driven to the necessity of
requesting you to inform
me what amount the said
Smith drew as adm as aforesaid
and much oblige
Obedient Servant

[signature] Andrew Neff
To Com Pensions
Washington City
Page 4

Rueben Smith
Ohio Act 1832, sus

Addl evidence

J.L. Coombs
Page 5

The State of Ohio
Scioto County
On this 21st day of September 1854 before me, F.C. Searles a Justice
of the Peace in and for said County personally, came William Holmes and Phinehas
Chaffin both of said County and known
to me to be credible and disinterested
witnesses, who being duly sworn according to
law make oath and says, they were
acquainted with Reuben Smith and
Abigail Smith his wife, late of said
County that the said Reuben Smith
was reputed to have been a Revolutionary
Soldier. that they have this day visited
the graves of said Reuben and Abigail
and find the following inscriptions on
the tomb stones of said deceased, viz:
" Reuben Smith died December 14th 1845
Eighteen hundred and forty five, aged
82 years eleven months and one day "
" Abigail Smith wife of R. Smith
September the 28. 1846 aged 82 years
which dates correspond to our recollection
of their said death. They state that the
said Reuben died at the said date
leaving said Abigail his widow who
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also died on the day above mentioned leaing
sally Chaffin, Reuben Smith
Emily Kniff at Julia Kneff the
surviving children of the said Reuben
Smith deceased and the only
children who now survive
they have no interest in the foregoing
application for arrears of pension by the
heirs of said Reuben Smith. The said
Emily and Julia kness reside in Illinois
and these affiants have not heard of
their death, and suppose them to be
living
[illegible]
[illegible] Phineas Chaffin

Sworn to and subscribed before me
the day and year above written and
I certify that the said Wm Holmes and
Phineas Chaffin are credible and disinterested witnesses, and I further certify
that from my own knowledge I am
satisfied that the foregoing statements
are true. I was acquainted with the
whole family, and have heard the said
Reuben Smith tell of his service in
the Revolutionary war
[illegible] F.C. Scurle JP
Page 7

On motion to the court. It was ordered that
Reuben Smith. In Adm of   [illegible]hand, thereupon
the said Reuben Smith appeared in open
Court, and complied with said order, and
entered into an a[illegible] the of
Six Hundred dollars, with William Bacus
and Aaron Hollenshead conditioned according to law.
I hereby certify the above
to be a true copy of the
[illegible] made in the above
case, this 20th day Feb
A.D. 1855
J.W. Collins [illegible[ Judge
Page 8

The State of Ohio Scioto County
I Benjamin Ramsey, Probate Judge
in and for said County hereby certify that satisfactory
evidence has been submitted to me by the
testimony of William Holmes and Phineas Chaffin
both known to me to be credible witnesses (taken
before Esq. Searles a Justice of the Peace in and for
said County, and hereto attached, that Reuben
Smith who was reputed to have been a Revolutionary soldier, departed this life on the 14th
day of December Eighteen hundred and forty
five leaving Abigail Smith his widow, who
also died on the 28th day of September 1846,
and that Sally Chaffin Reuben Smith
Emily Kneff and Julia Kneff are the surviving
children and the only surviving children
of the said Reuben Smith deceased
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
the seal of the said Probate
Court this 23d day of September Eighteen hundred and fifty four
[illegible] B. Ramsey Probate Judge
Page 9

The State of Ohio Scioto County ss:
On the twenty eighth day of August 1845 before the subscriber
one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said Scioto County, aforesaid
Newton Smith a resident of Vernon Township in Scioto County aforesaid, aged
Eighty four years on the thirteenth day of January next 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 7th 1832
that from general infermity occasioned by old age, and from the effects of a
fall which happened him in February last, he the said Reuben) is unable to attend
the Court above named, and will not from present appearances be able to attend
said Court at its next Session. He further states that he entered the service of the
United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
that in the year 1781 and for many years prior to that time, he was a resident
of the town of Norwick, in Windoer County now the State of Vermont, and that in the early
part of the year 1781 according to the best of his recollection, the State of Vermont then so called
undertook to raise a regiment of soldiers for the United States Service - that each
town in said State, as he was then advised, was divided off into districts and
each district was to furnish one man that he was employed and sent by
the district in which he then resided in said service- that he cannot state
with certainty, owing to the long lapse of years which have now intervened, the day
of the month, on the month in which he entered on said service, but believes
it was some time in the month of May or June in the year 1781 as it was during
his said service and not long before the determination of it, that the news of the
Surrender of Cornwallis First reaches the State of Vermont that he is enabled to
remember that fact any distinctly from the qual excitement which prevailed at
the fort at which he was stationed, one day not long before the end of his service; which
was occasioned by the long and continued firing of cannon at a neighbouring fort
that this firing as they afterwards learned, was on account of the Surrender of
Cornwallis, the news of which had just reached them. That he is unable to state the
day of the month, or the month in which his said services ended- that but states that
he entered the army for six months and served during the whole of said time
that at the termination of said service he obtained his discharge - that said discharge
was kept by him for many years after it was obtained but has been accidentally
lost or destroyed. That during said service he was stationed on the frontier in
the State of Vermont at a new fort built by them, and which was called
"Fort Wait after the colonel of their regiment - that he was not in any regular 
engagement or battle during said service, but was out in scouting parties along
the frontier and [illegible] sometimes nearly [illegible] as Lake Champlain. That David Wait
was the Colonel of the regiment Kingsbery (his Christian name not recollected
was the Major. Seeley of his Christian name not recollected) the Captain James
Smalley the First Lieutenant Fippen his christian name not recollected) the
second Lieutenant
and
Hatch the orderly Sargent. That he has no
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that he was stationed, one day not long before the end of his service; which
was occasioned by the long and continued firing of cannon at a neighbouring at
that this firing as they afterwards learned, was on account of the Surrender of
Cornwallis, the news of which had just reached them. That he is unable to state the
day of the month or the month in which his said services ended-that but states that
he entered the army for six months and served during the whole of said time
that at the termination of said service he obtained his discharge - that said discharge
was kept by him for many years after it was obtained but has been accidentally
lost or destroyed. That during said service he was stationed on the frontier in
the State of Vermont at a new fort built by them, and which was called
"Fort Wait" after the Colonel of their regiment - that he was not in any regular
engagement or battle during said service, but was out in scouting parties large
the frontier, and work sometimes pay up as Lake Champlain. That David Wait 
was the Colonel of the regiment, Kingsbery (his Christian name not recollected)
was the Maj. Seeley of his Christian name not recollected) the Captain James
Smalley the Testator in his christian name not recollected) the
second Lieutenant and Hatch the orderly Sargent. That he has no
documentary evidence of his having rendered said services, and that he knows of no
person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his 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 before me on the
day and year first aforesaid
[signature] Ruben Smith
[signature] Wm Salter Judge
for Scioto County, Ohio
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The State of Ohio Scioto County
We John Bennett
a Clergyman residing
in the County of Scioto aforesaid and Lamuel Caddot
residing in
the same hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Reuben Smith who
has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty
years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood when he
resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Lemuel Colot
[signature] Wm Salter Judge of
Scioto County t---
[signature] John Burnett[signature] Lemuel Cadot

The State of Ohio County Moses Hayward of said Scioto County, being duly
sworn according to law make oath and says that in the year 1779 he moved from the
State of Connecticut to the town of Norwich Windsor County, State of Vermont, that
soon after his arrival at said of Norwich he became acquainted with the Reuben
Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that he also because
acquainted with the fame of the said Reuben, that he learned from said family that said Reuben had been on a six months service in the United States
army stationed at Fort Wait, that he frequently heard during his residence in
said town the mother and other members of said family relate incidents connected
with the service of the said Reuben, that it was notorious to every one in
said town and every one spoke of the fact, that the said Reuben had been
a soldier in the revolutionary army. That he has been well acquainted with
the said Smith ever since that time and that the said Reuben has always been
reputed & believed to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that he concur
in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th
day of August 1845
[signature] Moses Hayward

[signature] Wm Salter Judge Peace
Scioto County
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 the said Smith ever since that time and that the said Reuben has always been
reputed & believed to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that he concur
in that opinion
[signature] Moses Hayward
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th
day of August 1845
[signature] Wm Salter Judge Pce
Scioto County

State of Ohio Scioto County ss:
the said Reuben Smith being first duly sworn according to law
make oath and states as follows in answer to the interrogatories put to him by me the
subscriber one of the Judge as aforesaid
Question. When and in what year were you born?
Answer
According to the records which my father kept, I was born on the 13th day
of January 1763 in
the town of Winser in the State of Connecticut the name of
the County I can not recollect
2 Queston Have you any record of your age? and if so, where is it?
Answer
I have a copy of the record kept by my father, made out by my
son Kilbourn who is now dead, that copy is among my papers, the
record itself is
I saw it
at the house of my son's widow, or was the last time I saw it.
Page 13


3d Question where were you
living when called into service; where have you lived since
revolutionary to
, and where do you live now?
Answer I lived when called
into service in the town of Norwich Winsor County State 
Vermont then so called. I continued to reside there until the year 1815
when moved to
the State of Ohio, where I have resided ever since, and
now live in Derron Township, Scioto County State of Ohio
4th question. How were you called into service; were you draughted, did you
volunteer, or were you a substitute; and if a substitute for whom?
Answer  the State of Vermont then so called, was divided off into districts and each district
was to send one man. I was employed and sent by the district in which
I then lived
5th Question. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops
where you served; such continental and malitia regiments as you can
recollect; and the general circumstances of your service
Answer. My Colonels name was David Wait - the Major was Kingberry his heirs
tion name I cannot recollect) Suley (his Christian name I am unable to
collect) was the name of our Captain James Smalley was our first
Lieutenant Fippin, I can not recollect his first name was the name of
our second Lieutenant, and Alden Watch was the name of our orderly Sergeant. At the time of my service, there was no continental regiment
in that part of the country, that I can recollect of before our regiment was in 
the pontin was guarded by the people themselves who had formed them his
in to small companies and were called minute men. Our regiment was raised for the purpose of guarding the parties. I was stationed at Fort
Wait, and our services were in scouting along the frontier. There was a
line of Forts and we were engaged in scouting along the line of
forts and sometimes as high up as Lake Champlain
6th Question Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so, by whom was it
given, and what has become of it
Answer I did receive a discharge at the end of my service. It was given I think
Page 14

 wait, and our services were in scouting along the frontier. There was
line of Forts and we were engaged in scouting along the line of
forts and sometimes as high up as Lake Champlain
6t Question Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so, by whom was
given, and what has become of to
Answer I did receive a discharge at the end of my service. It was given I thing
by James Smalley our first Lieutenant. The discharge was lost or destroyed before I moved to Ohio
Question State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief
of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer John Bennett, Lemuel Caddot Moses Hayward
[signature] Reuben Smith

Sworn to and subscribed before
me this 28th day of August 1845
Wm Salter Judgefore
Scioto County Ohio

I William Salter one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas holden
within and for Scioto County where the declarant resides do hereby certify that the
above named Reuben Smith is, from general infirmity occasioned by old
age and from the effects of a fall which happened him in February
West, unable to attend the Court of which I am one of the Judges, and I do not
think from present appears that he will be able to attend the Court
above named as next session - that I therefore attended at his place of
abode and administered the foregoing oath by him subscribed. And I further
do hereby further certify declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter
Page 15

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 I do further certify that I attended at the house of the said Reuben Smith
in said Scioto County they not having been produced in Court on account of the
great expense and inconvenience to said applicant, and administered to the said 
John Bennett, Lemuel Cadol and Moses Hayward the oaths by them respectfully
subscribed I further certify that the said John Bennett is a Clergyman resident
in said County of Scioto, and that Lemuel Cadot and Moses Hayward an credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit. August 28th 1845
[signature] Wm Salter Judge

I John R Turner Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Scioto
County and State of Ohio, do hereby certify that William Salter is one of the
Judges of said Court of Common Pleas, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature
October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight and
forty five.
[signature] Jno. R. Turner Clerk
of Scioto Com: Pleas
Page 16

16249
INVALID

File No. 16241
Reuben Smith
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 341
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

37.130
Reuben Smith
Ohio
Let to A. G. Thurman
Dec 2 45

1832
Page 18

Reuben Smith
decd Scott Co. Ohio
admd June 7 1832
6 mopri Inf $20
per annum from
4 March 1831 to Dec 14 1845
when he died
Pay to Reuben Smith
Adm for himself and
Sally Chappin Emily
Kneff and Julia Kneff
surviving children

JJ. Coombs
Present
Page 19

37.130
Reuben Smith
Ohio
Act 7 June '32
Page 20

Commissioner of Pensions
Page 21

H. of Reps Decr 1/45
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
I inclose herein
the papers of Reuben Smith, an applicant
for a pension. Should they be defective
in any particular I will thank you to
inform me of it. Be so good also as to let
me know the decision of the left upon the
I am very Respy
---
you obt servt
[illegible] A.G. Thurman
of Ohio
Page 22

Reuben Smith
of Ohio
Act 1832 suspended

Addl Evidence

J J Coombs
Page 23

State of Vermont
Secretary of States Office
Montpelier, Aug. 29th 1854
I hereby certify that there is on file in
this office "A Pay Roll of Capt. Abner Seeley's Company in the service of
the State of Vermont, from the beginning of the campaign, 1781, to the
30th of June, in said year, inclusive on which occurs the name of
Reuben Mill for which service he is allowed 2d wages
in this Company "Jas Smalley is "First Lieut" and "Saml Phippen "
the 2d Lieut
Also, a "Pay Roll of Capt. Abner Seeley's Company in Col.
Benjamin Waits Battalion, in the service of the State of Vermont,
from the 1st day of July to the 8th day of November, 1781, inclusive
on which roll occurs the name of "Reuben Smith
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed
my official signature, and the seal of this office
this 14th day of August, AD. 1854.
[signature] George R. Thompson
Dep. Sec. of State
Page 24

Washington Sept. 1. 1854
Sir:
Enclosed I have the honor to
present additional evidence of
the service of Reuben Smith,
of Ohio, who claimed a pension
under act of 7th June 1832
The service proved by the certificate
of the Secy of State of Vt. correspond
exactly, as to Company & Regt time
names of Officers and comrades,
with the service set forth in the
declaration. I presence, therefore,
so question of identity will be
raised.
I have written for evidence of
the time of Smiths death, and
names of surviving children
Your obt Svt
[signature] J.J. Coombs


Hon L. P. Waldo
Comr of Pensions
Page 25

Brief in the cast of Reuben Smith Decd
Scioto County and State of  Ohio
act June 7 1832

Claim, (original,  )
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Record evidence of service, now furnished by the Secretary
of State of Vermont, in conformity to his original
declaration made 10 years ago, with which
he is identified by his description of an
upon Rolls in the possession of the Secretary of Vermont
and which he knew within [illegible] by the testimony
of John Bennett, Samuel Caddot & Moses Hayward
who swear to his reputation of veracity
Death & hardship prove by Wm Holmes & Phinehas Chaffin properly certified
Name and residence of Agent
J. J. Coombs
Present
[signature] Thornton Triplett
Examining Clerk.