Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 14065, for Levi Osborn, Connecticut
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Osborn, Levi

NUMBER
S14065

Carded

CONTENTS
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1680
Connecticut
Levi Osborn
of Danbury in the State of Connecticut who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Baldwin if the Regt commanded by Col Swift in Connecticut line for 6.mo 2 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 20 Dollars 21 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March,1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Nov 1832 and sent Edward Taylor Danbury Court

Arrears to 4th of Sept: 1832 -                  $30.21
Semi=anl. allowance ending                     10.10
                           4 Mar 1833   10.10
                                                                 _______
                                                                 $40.31

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
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1272
Brief in the case of Levi Osborn
of Danbury in the State of Conn
(Act 7 June,1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge:  in open Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he:  69 years --

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period
in 1780. 1st , May

Duration of Service
___#8 ___  Months
# only 6 months proven by the Rolls

Rank 
private

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
(Col N Swift - Regr)
(Capt Batowin Cos)

5.  In What Battles was he engaged: none stated

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service:  Danbury

7. Is his statement supported by living witness, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidents evidence or by the rolls? 
by one witness, & the traditionary evidence of ten others - one a Clergyman - all of high standing & character who testifies to the high sense of honor & truth & also the rolls

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect:
Correct

     I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

E. Stephens
Examining Clerk.
Page 4

Osborn
   July 20, 1832
Pension 
   Office} No 1272


admit
private 6 mo 2 days
    $20.21

Please direct to Edward
Taylor Esq  Clerk of Probate
Danbury Conn.
Page 5

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield} SS
   On this 25th day of July 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Danbury in and for said District the same being a Court of Record -
    Levi Osborn of Danbury in the said County, aged sixty nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -
That in or about the first day of May 1780 the term of service of great numbers of the Continental Troops having then a..., order were issued for drafting troops to supply their places: and the said Levi Osborn, then residing in said Danbury was drafted to serve as a Private Soldier.

After being drafted he was requested to enlist; and accordingly on or about said first day of May he enlisted as a private Soldier in the Company commanded by Captain Baldwin in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Herman Swift; for what term he enlisted, whether for nine months or a less term of time he does not recollect, but he served in the said Troops for and during said period of his enlistment, and until about the 1st day January following.
Thomas Starr was Lieutenant of said Company. About six weeks immediately after his enlistment he served at West Point where General Washington was then encamped with his Army.
  Then the Corps of the Army to which
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he belonged crossed the Hudson River at Kings Ferry and marched to Tappan Bay in the State of New Jersey;  staid there six weeks, thence to Hackensack staid there about six weeks, thence to [illegible word]  in said State where he remained about six weeks - Thence to Tappan Bay where he remained several weeks:  Thence recrossed the said River, and marched to the High plains, where the Army went into Winter Quarters and there he remained until about the first of January 1781.  Said Regiment belonged to the Connecticut line-
He does not recollect as above stated for how long a time he enlisted, but he served until the Army went into Winter Quarters in the Highlands; and he there assisted in conducting [illegible word] for the accommodation of the Troops and he served as he believes between eight and nine months-
When the [illegible word]  were completed he was honorably discharged; but said discharge is lost, but how he lost it he cannot now recollect.
He further Declares that he was born in the year 1763 at said Danbury and ever since has resided there - He has no record of his age but relies upon the information he received from his parents.- That after the termination of the first mentioned term of service, to wit, On or about the first day of January 1781 he enlisted in the Hospital Department under Doctor Cunningham, who then had charge of a Hospital established in said Danbury and served in said Department as a nurse for the sick, and as an assistant of the said Doctor Cunningham. The period of six months Then next following for which he enlisted, but he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service under the last mentioned engagement -  He had no written discharge at the expiration of his said term of service -
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The said Levi Osborn 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 in Open Court
                [Signed] Levi Osborn

We, Anson Rood a clergyman, residing in the town of Danbury aforesaid and Daniel B. Cooke residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Levi Osborn who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine 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 in Open Court
           [Signed]  Anson Rood-
                          Daniel B. Cooke

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 Anson Rood who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Danbury - and that Daniel B. Cook who has also signed the same, is a resident of the town of Danbury and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, Edward Taylor Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Danbury do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Levi Osborn for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of my Office this 25th day of Feby 1832.
   Attest Edward Taylor Clerk

[Seal affixed to lower left corner of page]

   Attest  Edward Taylor Clerk
Page 8

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County} SS -
                                               I Reuben Booth of Danbury in the said County and State Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Danbury in the said County and State do hereby certify to all whom it may concern that I Edward Taylor Esquire who hath signed and certified the foregoing proceedings of the said Court is Clerk of the said Court of Probate and was Clerk as aforesaid, at the time & Signing and certifying the same - And that the said Signature of the said Edward Taylor are in truth his hand writing - And that  full faith and credit are due to his official acts as such Clerk.

In testimony whereof I have [illegible word] to set my hand in Danbury aforesaid this 25th day of July 1832-
                            Reuben Booth Judge
                            of Probate for the District
                            of Danbury Connecticut
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We the Undersigned Inhabitants of the Town of Danbury, do hereby certify that we have known- and been acquainted with Levi Osborn - who hath applied for a Pension, for Revolutionary services. That he Sustains and has ever sustained a high reputation for integrity and truth -  We have this day, heard the declaration made by him before the Court of Probate  for the District of Danbury in Connecticut for the purpose of obtaining a Pension.  And that he is generally reputed and believed in said Danbury to have served as therein stated. And from our knowledge of his high sense of honor and strict regard for truth, we fully believe that he so served -
         [Signed]     Saml H Phillips
                           Anson Rood
                           Daniel B. Cooke
                           Saml. Wildman
                           Geo W. Ives
                           Darius Starr
                           Seth Comstock
                           Isaac Ives

July 25th 1832 Sworn & Subscribed in Open Court and the said Court of Probate certifies that the Deponents are all gentlemen well known to the Court, and sustain good character for truth and are credible witnesses
                Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
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I Benjamin Peck of new Fairfield in the County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut  {last four words inserted] aged seventy years, being duly sworn do depose and say, that early in the month of May 1780, Levi Osborn then and now of Danbury in the Said County enlisted in the Army of the United States in the Company commanded by Captain Baldwin, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Benjamin Swift in the Connecticut line: the term for which he enlisted I do not recollect; 
but he served in the said Company as a Private Soldier from some time in the said month of May until about the first days of January 1781 - the period of his service was more than seven months: and I have a strong belief that it was eight months - I joined the Army at the same time with the said Levi Osborn and served in the same Company with him during the whole period of his service.  His service was principally in the States of New York and New Jersey; in and about the highlands, and on the River Hudson -
                [Signed] Benjamin Peck

July 25th 1832  Sworn & Subscribed in open Court and the said Court of Probate certifies that the Deponent sustains a good character for truth and is a credible witness
               Attest  Edward Taylor Clerk
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O. W & N. Division.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
F. S. M. E. C.    Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,  February 29, 1869.
Madam:
       In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of ---Levi Osborn--- a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR,  you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT   LENGTH OF SERVICE.   RANK   OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED   CAPTAIN.    COLONEL.  STATE
     Enlisted July 1, 1780, and served six months as a private in Capt. Baldwin's company, in the Conn. regiment commanded by Col. Homan Swift;  January 1, 1780, he entered the hospital department under Dr. Cunningham then in charge of the hospital at Danbury Conn., and served as an assistant to Dr. Cunningham for about six months.  No other details of his services are mentioned in his declaration for pension.
Battles engaged in,   None mentioned.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Danbury, Conn.
Date of application for pension,  July 25, 1832.
Residence at date of application,  Danbury, Conn., 
Age at date of application , Born at Danbury, Conn., in the year 1763.
Remarks:  His pension for pension was allowed.
Very respectfully,
Mrs. B. A. Hough,
30 Deer Hill Ave.,
1832b2m  Danbury, Conn.        Commissioner
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[LEFT PAGE]

Feb. 29, 1896
Mil. histy to
Mrs. B. A. Hough
Danbury, Conn


[RIGHT PAGE]

Rev War        14065
                    INVALID

File No.  14,065
Levi Osborn
Priv. Rev. War

Act;  June 7, 1832
Index:- Vol. 1,  Page 282

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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                               1272

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of ....................... which require further proof or explanation.

I.   Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?    Yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?   Yes

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? -  Yes

V.  *Has he mentioned 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?   Not exactly so - his memory failed him

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom  he served in conformity with the regulations?      Yes -

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?       Yes -

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  -Yes

IX.   Has the Clerk given his certificate?    -Yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?     Yes
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XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to the belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?     Yes

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been provided, is there any reason for not obtaining it?

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he states in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV.  If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?   Highly so

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?   Yes

XVI.  + Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?   -Yes

XVII.   Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?   So stated by the Court

* QUERE V. 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, etc. 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 length of his service, but according to the bet of his recollection he served not ess than the period mentioned below, and in the following grades:  For ______________ year ____________months, and ___________days, I served as a __________  For ____months and ______days, I served as a _________; and for such I claim a pension."
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3
     It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as 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 (in italics) about three or four months (end italics) is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
Quere XIV.  ( Italics) Proof of Service (end Italics)
     In the 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 claimants 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
Quere XVI.  (Italics) Mode of authenticating papers. (end Italics)
     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 paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape of narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under seal of office of the verifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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14065-(J or I)
Danbury- Conn.
Feb. 3rd 1896
Conn. Bureau of Pensions.      (large letter O)
    Please send me all the information you
have of Levi Osborn of Danbury- Connecticut- a Revolutionary pensioner 
( ?L) obliged
Mrs. B.A, Hough-
30 Deer Hill Ave.
Danbury Connecticut