Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,670, for Josiah Thatcher, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn
Thatcher, Josiah 
NUMBER
S14670
Carded
Page 2

20852
New York
Josiah Thatcher
Declared in the State of New York he was a matross in the corps, coman [obscured] Captain Keeler of the Reg comman [obscured] by Col. [blank] in the command line for Gr. Matrop
21 [illegible]
$50--
    2.31
$52.31
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of $52 dollars 31 cent per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834

Certificate of pension issued the 9th day of Oct 1833 and [illegible] claim and Sidney

Arrears to the 4th of Sep '33                  $130.77
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar'34        26.13
                                                              $156.92

Revolutionary Claim for June 7, 1832
Recorded by Go C Stiles    Clerk
Book 8, vol. 4, Page 81.
Page 3

14755
Josiah Thatcher
Balance N York
asm
5.14.16
P393
May 14, 1833 
114.62
 26.15
150.77
Page 4

Brief in the case of Josiah Thatch of Delaware Co in the State of N York
(Act 7th June, 1822.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge? Open court
2. If before a Judge, does appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 68 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Chart]
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. " Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

Fall Spring in 1780 or 81 | Years, Month, Days. 3 (under entry for months) artillery | As a Private Matross | Capt Keeler

[end of chart]

5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Nassek Count
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by insidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Papers not attached or signed
          Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Cutts Examining Clerk.
Page 5

1st tour 3 mos by 1 declare
              3 mos " 2 "
The last (illegible) compilation

Aomd
12mo Matross
21 days pri infty
Page 6

State of New York
County of Delaware ss
I, Crawford B Sheldon clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware do hereby certify that the annexed contains the original proceedings heard in the said court in the matter of Josiah Thatcher for a pension on the eighth day of October 1832-and also the further proceedings had in the said court on this 17th day of June 1833 - in the matter of the above named Josiah Thatcher for a pension. And I further certify that James Hughston before whom the annexed affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said county, and that I am well acquainted with his hand and certify of the said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper handwriting and signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court this 7th day of Jan 1833
C B Sheldon Clerk
[seal attached at upper left of paper, lettering too faint to read]
Page 7

State of New York
Delaware County
Personally appeared in open court before the judges of the County Courts in & for the said County of Delaware and State of New York now sitting. Josiah Thatcher who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that in the first term of his services as mentioned in his application here to annexed - he cannot swear positively as to the names of his officers or the length of his service, but knows that it was not less than three weeks but the other term he does well recollect. That he enlisted in the month of April in the year 1781 for the term of one year in a company of matross or artillery men commanded by Lieutenant Jackson - which said company and also a company in infantry was raised by the authority and order of the Governor of the State of Connecticut for the special purpose of guarding and protecting the town and the harbours of Norwalk from the depredations of the enemy and that they were not attached to any regiment that the officers were companions of the said governor. And that Captn. Samuel Keeler was the commandant of the station and commanded both said companies and such militia companies as same occassionally -- that one of said companies was stationed at the Fort on the west side of the harbour and the other on east side or east harbour. That one of said companies the Mattross had twenty five privates commanded by Lieut. Jackson and the other had sixty men commanded by Lieut. Rockwell & ensign Bixby. and that Capt. Keeler commanded the whole. That Keeler said thatcher served faithfully at least one year as a private soldier under the command of said officers at the fort. The black house in the field & in whale boats. And that he was discharged at the fort with the resolve of the man after the expiration of said term of one year by the said Capt. Keeler the Commandant. And for the time during which the said services was performed he was not employed in any civil service. And for which services he claims a pension
[signed] Josiah Thatcher
Sworn in open court this 17th day of June 1833
C. B. Sheldon Clerk
Page 8

We, Norman H. Adams a clergyman residing in Unadilla in Otsego in the county of Delaware and Abijah H. Beach residing in same place and near J. Thatcher hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Josiah Thatcher who has subscribed and sworn to the proceeding affidavit that we believe him to be sixty eight years and ten months of age. That he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

Norman H. Adams
Abijah H. Beach

Sworn & subscribed in open court this 17th day of June 1833
C. B. Sheldon Clerk

And the said court do hereby certify that it appears to them that the Rev. Norman H. Adams who has signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in Unadilla near said Thatcher in Otsego County and that Abijah H. Beach who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
C.B. Sheldon Clerk


I Crawford B. Sheldon Clerk of the court of Common Pleas in &for the County of Delaware do hereby certify that the foregoing proceeding were had & done in open court in the matter of the application of Josiah Thatcher for a pension. And I also certify that James  Haughston Esq before whom the affidavit of Samuel Ketchum appears to have been taken was at the date thereof a Justice of Peace in & for the County of Delaware and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe that his name subscribed thereto is his own proper hand writing and signature.  In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of office this day 17 June 1833
Page 9

State of New York
Delaware County
Personally appeared before me the undersigned as Justice of the peace in and for the County of Delaware in the State of New York Samuel Ketchum of the town of Sidney in said county who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Josaih Thatcher of Sidney in said county. And that he was well acquainted with said Thatcher in the time of the revolution war. That he said deponent lived in Norwalk in the State of Connecticut thru said war. That he lived by the side of the harbour in Norwalk and was twenty five years of age in the year 1781 and that he now well recollects that he frequently saw the said Thatcher in that year in the capacity of a soldier under the command of Captain Keeler and that he then understood from the officers and the men and the inhabitants that the said men were enlisted and the officers were commissioned by the authority of the Governor of the Sate for the express purpose of guarding the town of Harbour & of Norwalk and that for now has no doubt but does verily believe that they were then so raised and commissioned. And he knows that they also serve as such guard and rendered very essential service for the term of one year or more. That the enlistment was for one year

Samuel Ketchum

I hereby certify that Samuel Ketchum who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavit before me this 29th day of May 1833 is well known to me and a man of truth and veracity and a creditable and lawfull witness

James Hughston Justice of the Peace
Page 10

State of New York
Delaware County Js
On this Eighth day of October in the year 1832 personally
appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware now sitting-
Josiah Thatcher a Resident of the town of Sidney in the County of
Delaware and State of New York aged sixty eight years four months
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 the 7th of June 1832 - that he entered the service of the
United States under the following named Officers and served as
herein stated to wit - That in the fall of the year 1780 he was Drafted
into a company of Militia to serve as a guard of the Town of Norwalk in the
State of Connecticut for the term of three months- guarding the Town harbor
That in the spring of the year 1781 he enlisted at Norwalk in Connecticut
for the Term of one year in a company of Matrops or Artillery Commanded
by Lieutenant Daniel Jackson under Captain Samuel Keeler who was
the Commandant of two companies of Connecticut State troops which
was raised for the purpose of guarding the last-- The town of Norwalk
and its vicinity from the depredations of the enemy who was frequently
[illegible] the long island Sound in the night and taking of persons
South [illegible]- That said Thatcher being young and active (at that time) was very
frequently called out with several others of said Company in sudden emergency
to go in the said Boats and in scouting parties on shore which in addition 
to their month duty on Guard rendered the service much onto [illegible]and [illegible] and besides their Exploits and Execution soon made them [illegible] Refugees & Tories on Long Island who sought every opportunity to take them prisoners which kept them constantly on the alert especially in the
night when not in the Guard House which was often the case.
For instance one night being on Patroll they met the advance party of
the enemy about four rods distance-- they hail d& fired & shot one man
through the head-- the then retreated to their Main Body who soon came up
and said Thatcher and his party kept them at Bay untill our main
Guard turned out who exchanged shots with the enemy untill the
Inhabitants turned  stet and the enemy retreated to their Boats & went off at
another time the enemy came over in Boats of took some Cattle - that
said guard pursued them and killd one Man on the way and a number more on
the Beach as they were retreating to their Boats that said Guard had two men
wounded in this skirmish and in this way the said Thatcher rendered various and and
very Andurous and dangerous service in the said Company in guarding the
Town and the persons of property of the Inhabitants during the said Term of one 
year when said Company was dismissed at Norwalk as aforesaid he thinks
he had no written discharge but that both said companies never dismissed at
Page 11

The expiration of the said term of services as aforesaid and that Captain Keeler report into Continental Army. That he said Thatcher has no documentary of other evidence of his services but that hereto annexed. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension of annuity except the present and declares that his name is not of the pension role of the agency of any state.
Josiah Thatcher
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
C.B. Sheldon Clerk

That the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department being then put by the Court to the said Applicant under Oath and the followin several Answers were given by him on his Examination--towit--that he was Born in the Town of Norwalk in the State of Connecticut in the year 1764--that he has a Record of his Age in his Family Bible and also in the Town Record of Norwalk--that he lives in Norwalk in the State of Connecticut when he entered into the Service--that he lived at Norwalk at the time and since the Revolutionary war untill about 22 years past and since that time he has lived at Sidney in Delaware County where he now lives--that he was drafted and enlisted into the Service--that he refers the Court to the following named persons in the neighborhood where he resides to prove his Character for veracity and belief of his Services & towit [underlined] James Haughston Esqr Colo. Wm. V. Webster  henry Bradley Esqr--Capt John Williams--William Evans  JJ Boult
Josiah Thatcher

Sworn & Subscribed the day    )
and year aforesaid                    )

We Hugh Johnston and Abigail H Bearl-John Williams residing in the Town of Sidney in the County of Delaware hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Josiah Thatcher who has Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and do believe him to be sixty eight years of Age and that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the Revolution and that we Concur in that Opinion--
Hugh C. Johnston
John Williams

Sworn & Subscribed the
day & year aforesaid before me
C. B Sheldon  Clerk
Page 12

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 further certify that it appears to them that Hugh G Johnson and John Williams who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of Sidney in Delaware County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.


I Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Delaware do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Josiah Thatcher for a pension. And also that James Houghston Esquire before whom the annexed affidavits appear to have been taken was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Delaware and that the signature appears to be his proper hand writing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this eighth day of October 1832.

C B Sheldon Clerk
Page 13

On this 17th day of August 1832 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Delaware, Samuel Ketchum of the town of Sidney in said County of lawful age and a credible witness, who being duly sworn according t o law, doth on his oath declares & says that he is personally well acquainted with Josiah Thatcher of town of Sidney in said County and he's been so acquainted with said Thatcher since the commencement of the revolutionary war, that he said Ketchum lived in Norwalk in Connecticut in the same neighborhood with said Thatcher during the said War that he knows of now well recollects that said Thatcher was a soldier and did serve as such in a company of artillery commanded by Lieut Jackson & Capt Keeler which was raised for one year and continued to serve said year and more, that he was acquainted with said Officers and not of the men that he lived in the Harbour as a guard was kept at his house, that he frequently saw said Thatcher on duty on guard in the whale boat in [unk] parties of in engagement with parties of the enemy from Long Island, that he has no doubt and does verily believe and in fact does know that said Thatcher did serve in said company at least one year, wither the year of 1780 or 1781, that he saw said Thatcher one morning pursuing a plundering party of the enemy to their boats, 2 or 3 were killed & several wounded, that he saw said Thatcher almost every day & has no doubt of his faithful service as above and also in the [unk] both before and after the said term of one year.

Samuel Ketchum

Sworn & subscribed te day of Aug 1832 before me

James Houghton Justice of Peace

I hereby certify that Samuel Ketchum who subscribed & made oath to the above affidavit before me on the 17th day of August 1832 was at that time well known to me as a man of health & veracity and a lawfull and credible witness. Sidney Delaware County 29th May 1833.

Samuel Houghton Justice of Peace
Page 14

State of New York
Delaware County

On the 15th day of August 1832 before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Delaware personally appeared Jacob Boalt to one known as a man of truth and a lawfull witness who being duly sworn according to law doth depose & say that he is personally well acquainted with Josiah Thatcher of the Town of Sidney in Delaware County and was so acquainted with him in the time of the revolutionary war, that he then lived in the same neighborhood with said Thatcher in the Town of Norwalk in the State of Connecticut and knows of now well recollect that said Thatcher was engaged and did serve in a company of artillery commanded by Lieut. Jackson of Capt. Keller which were raised and served as State Troops to guard the coast lines & that the said Boalt was acquainted with the above named Officer and most of the men, that he frequently saw said Thatcher on duty in the Comp'y commanded Lieut Jackson he thinks the years 1781 that Capt Keeler commanded both companies of State Troops & also the Militia on that service at that time, that one [unk] Dikeman lived at with this deponent at the time of the said war and was soldier in the said company with said Thatcher that he saw them both on duty together in said company frequently and has no doubt but does verily believe that they both did enlist of serve in said company. The said term of one year as aforesaid.

Jacob Boalt

Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me

James Houghton Justice of the Peace

I James Houghton do hereby certify that Jacob Boalt who subscribed and was sworn to the the above affidavit before me on the 15th day of August 1832 was then well known to me as a man of truth and veracity of lawfull age and a credible witness.
Sidney Delaware County 29th May 1833

James Houghton Justice of Peace
Page 15

State of New York
County of Delaware

I Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of the said County do verify that James Houghton before whom the two foregoing affidavits were sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the said County and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said County this 8th day of October 1832.

C B Sheldon Clerk
Page 16

14670
INVALID

No. 14670
Josiah  Thatcher
[illegible] Rev. War

Act: June 7th 32

Index:- Vol. 1, Page 374
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 17

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield} ss. 

Probate Court District of Norwalk in said County Sept 6 1834 personally appeared before said Court being a Court of Record Daniel Jackson of Wilton in said District aged eighty seven years and being duly sworn in open Court according to law depose and says that he is well acquainted with Josiah Thatcher formerly of Norwalk now residing in the State of New York. That he was Lieut Com'd of a Company of [illegible] in said Norwalk, that in March 1781 he enlisted said Jonah Thatcher in his company as a private soldier as will now fully appear by his enlistment in the War Department at the City of Washington attached to his declaration, that said Josiah Thatcher continued in his company and was stationed at said Norwalk and on the lines of Horse Neck and he was a good faithful soldier until the close of the Revolutionary War and assisted in firing the field piece at the rejoining when peace took place according to him but [illegible] he was in said service for more than two years.

Daniel Jackson

Sworn and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid that I am well acquainted with said Daniel Jackson that he is a credible pension witness my hand and [illegible] the seal of said Court to be here affixed.

Benj Isaac Judge

attest Chas Isaac Clerk
Page 18

Josiah Thatcher
pensioner

Hon Sherm Page
M Congress
Washington City
Page 19

Unadilla 29th Novr 1834
Dear Sir
You will recollect that I spoke to you on the subject of my pension - the facts of my case are viz I made application for pension for services in Captain Keelers Company of Matross or coast guards & received a certificate of H52-31 as will appear by the records in Pension Office but it will also appear by the same records that I did not receive what others did for the same service in same company viz Thomas Saunders- Thomas Trowbridge- Peter Butts, James Sillick &c - I served faithfully with them the same time or more in the same compy as will appear by my former papers on file and by the affidavit of Lieut. Jackson now enclos'd.
I now wish to have my pension raised equal to others for the same service and have now enclos'd my certificate for that purpose I was attached to the field prices and did serve with them when call'd on to the end of the war as will appear by the afft. of Lieut. Jackson now enclosed. I wish you to present my case to the Commission of Pensions.
I am Sir most respectfully your obt servt
Josiah Thatcher
Hon S Page
Note- I have received payment on the above certificate up to 4th Sept 1834.
Josiah Thatcher