Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14.244, for Asahel Ransom, Connecticut
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Ransom, Asahel

NUMBER
S. 14244
carded

CONTENTS
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9445
Connecticut
Asahel Ransom
of Salem in the State of Con who was an Ensign in the Com commanded by Captain --- of the Reg commanded by Col. Chapman in the Con State Troops 8 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of Con at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of May 1833 and sent John Isham, Colchester, Con

Arrears to the 4th of March 33   $100 --
Semi=anl. allowance ending Sept. 33 40 --
$200 --
Asahel
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by E. D. Bullock Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 37
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State of Connecticut County of New London SS Colchester July 11th 1832.
On this 11th day of July 1832 personally appeared in open Court before Benjamin Trumbull Esq Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Colchester in said County of New London, Asahel Ransom of Salem in said County of New London and State of Connecticut aged eighty six 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated (viz.)
That in August 1776 he was Ensign in Captain James Ransoms Company and Col. Throops Regiment of militia and was ordered to march to New York and join the Continental Army but being sick at the time was unable to go with the Company but soon after got better and joined the army at White Plains and was in the engagement with the enemy at that place. owing to fatigue was again taken sick and returned home - thinks he served about one month.
That in July 1778 he was drafted as Ensign in Capt. Holmes Company and Col Chapmans Regt. to perform a tour of military duty for four or five months does not recollect which, soon after which he joined said Company at Norwich in Connecticut and marched with said Company and Regt. to Rhode Island and on his arrival was placed under the command of Genl Sullivan at Newport and was stationed at said Newport for a short time
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and then marched to Providence and from there to New London in Connecticut where he was stationed until the latter part of November in the same year and was then dismissed by said Colo Chapman.

That in the fall of the year 1779 or 1780 he was ordered on a tour of duty for two months as Ensign in a Company commanded by Captain Nathaniel Harris and was stationed and worked at Fort Trumbull at New London in Connecticut which duty he performed and was dismissed by said Captain Harris at the expiration of said time.

And he further declares that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. That he was born in Colchester in said County of New London in the year 1746 has no record of his age except in his Bible and was living in said Colchester when called into service and continued in said Colchester until that part of the Town of Colchester in which he resided was incorporated as the Town of Salem since which he has lived in said Salem. That he never received a written discharge but was dismissed at the expiration of his term of service by his officers.

That he received an Ensigns commission dated May 28th 1773 signed by Jonathan Trumbull and in August 23rd 1777 he received another Ensigns commission signed by said Jonathan Trumbull as well appear by said commissions herewith enclosed. 

That the following named persons living near and being well acquainted with him can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution viz Doctr John R Watsons and Colo John Isham
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That he has no documentary evidence except his commission and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services except Stephen Foote of said Colchester whose testimony is hereafter annexed.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Asahel Ransom
8 months in all

We John R. Watsons and John Isham both of the Town of Colchester in the County of New London State of Connecticut hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Capt. Asahel Ransome who has subscribed and sworn o the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty six 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 to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John R Watsons
John Isham

Stephen Foote of Colchester aforesaid certifies and says that in the year 1778 Asahel Ransom aforesaid did military duty in the Revolutionary War, as Ensign in Captain Holmes Company of militia, that I was a soldier in said Holmes Company and that said Company met at Norwich in Connecticut in July 1778 and then marched from Norwich to Newport on Rhode Island; from thence to Providence and from Providence to New London in Connecticut where the Company was dismissed some time in the month of November in said year during which time the said
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No. 5013
Asahel Ransom’s Application
July 18 1832
CO
Ransom was Ensign of said Company 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
Stephen Foote 
And the said Court do hereby declare his 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 John R. Watson and John Isham who have signed the preceding certificate and that Stephen Foote who has signed the preceding certificate are residents in said Town of Colchester and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.  
Benj Trumbull Judge of Court 
I Benjamin M. Trumbull Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Colchester in New London County, State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Asahel Ransom for a Pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 12th day of July AD 1832 
B. M. Trumbull
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5013 
Asahel Ransom 
Ct 
Admit Ensign 
8 Mo $80.00 
John Isham Colchester 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   Asahel Ransom Ct.
Period when the service was rendered.   Augt 1776   Duration of Claimant’s Service.  About 1 month  Rank of claimant.  Ensign   Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served. Capt. Ransom, Col. Throop  Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service.  86     Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Born in N. London Cty, Ct, enlisted there and now living in said county.  The surviving witness proves the service under Capt. Holmes, but not certified credible.  Certificate of two Citizens.
Period when the service was rendered.  July 1778 drafted   Duration of Claimant’s Service.  5 Months   Rank of claimant.  Ensign   Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.    Cp Holmes, Col. Chapman
Period when the service was rendered.  fall 1779  Duration of Claimant’s Service.  2 months  Rank of claimant.  Ensign   Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.   Cap Harris
I am respectfully 
Your obedient servant 
JAMES L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2            
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  alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3
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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AWF 
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section. 
March 5, 1929 
Charles R. Hale 
33 Capitol Avenue 
Hartford, Conn. 
Sir:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 14244, it appears that Asahel Ransom was born in 1746 at Colchester, Connecticut. 
While residing at said Colchester, he served as an Ensign, as follows -  
He was commissioned May 28, 1773 ensign in the Twentieth Company, Twelfth Regiment, Connecticut Colony; from in August 1776 in Captain James Ransom's Company, Colonel Throop's Regiment, and was in the battle of White Plains; from in July 1778, four or five months in Captain Holmes' Company, Colonel Chapman's Regiment; and in the fall of 1779 or 1780, two months in Captain Nathaniel Harris' Company. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 11, 1832, at which time he was living in Salem, Connecticut.
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Rev War 14244 
INVALID. 
File No. 14,244 
Asahel Ransom 
Ensign Rev War 
Act: June 7th 1832. 
Index: -- Vol.  1 Page 309 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
1929, Mch 5, tombstone data to  Chas R. Hale AWF
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JONATHAN TRUMBULL, ESQ. 
Captain-General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Colony of Connecticut, in New England. 
To Asahel Ransom. Gent.   Greeting.  
You being by the General Assembly of this Colony, accepted to be Ensign of the twentieth Company or Trainband in the 12th Regiment in this Colony.  
reposing special Trust and Confidence in your loyalty, Courage and a good Conduct, I do, by virtue of the Letters Patent from the Crown of England to this Corporation, the thereunto enabling, appoint and impower you  to take the said Company into your Care and charge, as their ensign carefully and diligently to discharge that Trust; exercising your inferior Officers and Soldiers in the Use of their Arms, according to the Discipline of War: Keeping them in good order and Government, and commanding them to obey you as their Ensign for His Majesty's Service. And you are to observe all such orders and Directions as from Time to Time you shall receive either from me, or from other your Superior Officer, pursuant to the Trust hereby reposed in you. Given under my Hand and the Seal of this Colony, in Hartford the 28th Day of May in the 13th Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third, KING of GREAT BRITAIN, &c. Annoque Domini 1773. 
By His Honor's Command, 
George Wyllys Secr’y
Jon’n Trumbull 
S. File 14,244 
A. Ransom 
Conn.
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JONATHAN TRUMBULL, ESQ. 
Captain-General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Colony of Connecticut, in New England. 
To Asahel Ransom. Gent.   Greeting.  
You being by the General Assembly of this State, accepted to be Ensign of the Tenth Company or Trainband in the 25th Regiment of this State.  
as by your former Commission dated the 28th Day of May 1773 appears
Reposing special Trust and Confidence in your loyalty, Courage and a good Conduct, I do, by virtue of the Laws of this State, me unto enabling, appoint and impower you to take the said Tenth Company of the 25th Regiment into your Care and charge, as their ensign carefully and diligently to discharge that Trust; exercising your inferior Officers and Soldiers in the Use of their Arms, according to the Discipline of War: Keeping them in good Order and Government, and commanding them to obey you as their Ensign for the Service of this State. And you are to observe all such orders and Directions as from Time to Time you shall receive either from me, or from other your Superior Officer, pursuant to the Trust hereby reposed in you. 
Given under my Hand and the Seal of this State, in Lebanon the 23rd Day of August Anno Domini 1777. 
By His Honor's Command, 
George Wyllys Secr’y
Jon’n Trumbull 
S. File 14,244
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Secretary of the State of
Connecticut, certificate
of Judge Trumbull app
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I, THOMAS DAY, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern, 
That Benjamin Trumbull Esquire is, and for more than one month last past, has been, Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the Probate District of Colchester in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified. that the said Judge is by law required to have a Clerk by him to be appointed and sworn to the office; also to have a proper Seal belonging to said Court, to be used for all causes, matters and things proper for said Court, and according to law. and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said Judge in Court and Country. 
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the thirteenth day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. 
Thomas Day
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Rev & 1812
[seal] HEADQUARTERS OF COMMANDERY-IN-CHIEF 
SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR 
COMMITTEE  ON MARKING GRAVES 
CHARLES R HALE, CHAIRMAN 
23 CAPITOL AVENUE 
HARTFORD CONN 
Feb. 14 - 1929 
Chief Clerk Pension Dept 
Washington, D.C. 
Dear Sir 
Please send me Revolutionary War Record of Asahel Ransom who was in the 1832 pension list from New London County Co Conn.   
Also of Ebenezer Rogers who was on 1840 Pension list from Salem, Conn.  
We wish to get headstones for the above Veterans.   
Yours very truly 
Chas. R. Hale