Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37605, for Matthew Lee, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE   Conn.
Lee, Matthew
NUMBER  S. 37605
Page 2

18.121 
R.
Connecticut 
Matthew Lee 
of Farmington in the State of Connecticut who was a private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Durkey Durkee of the Connecticut line, for the term of three years pr. 80
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 2 of August 1820 
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 of April 1821 and sent to Thomas Chester Hartford Conn
 Arrears to 4th of March 1821 7 mos 3/30.   56.77 
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1821  48-  
$104.77
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. & first of May 1820}
Page 3

I enlisted a soldier in the Connecticut Line in the Continental army in December 1780 for the term of three years and to join Col. Durkee Regiment if that Regt had his full compliment I was to join some other Regt in the same line, as it happened that Regt not being full I joined what was then called Durkee’s and was enrolled in Capt Robert Warners Company on or about that time Colo Durkee left the army and never more returned.  I had an Idea that the inspection returns were made out in his name at the [unreadable] there I find I made a mistake Thomas Grosvenor was Lieut Colonel when I joined the Regt as was told me afterwards Colo Zebulon Butler returned from the westward and joined our Regt which of these Colonels took the command I am not able to say.  Capt Warner was appointed Brigade Major and after that field Major, the last Capt that I served under was David Judson.  There was so much shifting and transfers of Officers that it was most impossible to recollect the whole of them and the time has been so long since. 
The reason why I did not make application before is that I was absent from the United States to the South Seas for more than three years.  
Matthew Lee
Page 4

391
Matthew Lee 
Hartford County, Connt 
2d August, 1820.  
Col. Durkee’s regt 
Connecticut line, 1780 to 1783. 
Not on rolls 
The testimony, on oath, of two or more disinterested and credible person Certified as such, by the Judge, proving 9 mos Service in continuance on Continental Esabl’t is required  
Worth $79.45. 
Ad  
Thomas Chester, agent 
Hartford, Connect 
13. Sept. 1820
Page 5

STATE OF CONNECTICUT,  County of HARTFORD, ss. Special County Court, or Court of Common Pleas, holden by order of the Chief Judge of said Court, on the first Tuesday of August, 1820. 
On this 2d day of August, 1820, personally appeared in open Court, the same Court being a Court of record for said County, having the power of fine and imprisonment, Mathew Lee aged 56 years, resident in Farmington in the County of Hartford, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: 
Enlisted in Capt Robert Warners company Col Durkeys regt for three years on the fourth day of Decr the line of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment.  I served out my time when I was honourably discharged.  
"And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed." 
3/4ths of an acre of poor land with one poor & old house thereon  $75.00
2 pots                       40
1 kettle                     20
1 frying pan             20
6 chairs                    75
1 small brass kettle  65
1 low chest               25
1 chest with drawers 50
1 square table           75
1 round table            50
1 stand                      25
79.45
I am by occupation a day labourer & am in very feeble health, I have a wife aged 49 years in poor health named Rebecca Lee, one child me named George Lee aged nine years & I have no other means of subsistence except as above enumerated except what I may derive from the generosity of my Country 
Matthew Lee
Page 6

Sworn to and declared by said Matthew Lee on the - day of August, 1820, before said Court, and it is the opinion of said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is seventy nine dollars and forty five cents.   
1, Thomas Chester Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hartford aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of said Court. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 26 day of Augt 1820 
Th Chester Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Hartford
Page 7

Hartford January 22d 1821. I further certify  that on the 1st & 2d day of November 1820 John Mix Esq was a Justice of Peace of the County of Hartford aforesaid & that on the 9th day of January 1821 the Honorable Jonathan Brace was chief Judge of the County Court aforesaid & that on a paper marked J M. S.C. two signatures of said Justice Mix & one signature of said Judge Brace I believe to be their signatures. Witness my hand & the seal of said Court as aforesaid. 
Tho Chester Clk as aforesaid-.
Page 8

OWN
In reply to your request of – received – for a statement of the military history of   Matthew Lee
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.    S. F. 37605
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  Dec 4 1780   LENGTH OF SERVICE    3 yrs  RANK.  Pvt.   OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Robert Warner, Captain David Judson, Colonel John Durkee, Colonel Zebulon Butler   STATE.   Conn.
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment,   not stated
Date of application for pension,   Aug 2, 1820. His cl. was al. [his claim was allowed]
Residence at date of application,  Farmington, Hartford Co. Conn.
Age at date of application,   56 yrs.  He was born at Farmington, Conn.
Remarks:  In 1820, he referred to his wife, Rebecca, aged 49 yrs and a son George, 9 yrs of age.
The above noted is the only Matthew Lee found on the Rev War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully
Commissioner
Page 9

Mr. Edwards
Matthew Lee
Rec’d 2nd June
Give this to Mr. Wright
Ad by ME
See letter 6 July 1821
Page 10

Hartford June 26. 1821 
Honorable John C Calhoun 
Secretary of war 
Sir 
J.L. Edwards Esqr in his letter to me of the 24th of April last having written that certain proof was required of Mr Matthew Lee he has obtained the deposition of Mr Henry Cowles which is enclosed.   
I am sir very respectfully your obt servt 
Thomas Chester
Page 11

7605 
Revy INVALID. 
File No. 31,605 
Matthew Lee 
Pri   Rev War 
Act: 18” March 18” 
Index: -- Vol. 2 Page 403 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
1917. June 5, History to Henry R. Drowne. Letter with cl S.F. 45441 Jeremiah Keeler
Page 12

I Elijah Manrow of Bristol in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut depose and say that I was well acquainted with Matthew Lee of Farmington, County and State aforesaid, for the three last years of the Revolutionary war and know that he served that term in the Connecticut  line of the Continental army, and for a considerable part of that time I served in the same Regiment with him, and when the army was disbanded in the year 1783, Col. Zebulon Butler commanded said Reg, and by whom my discharge was signed.  
Elijah Manrow 
State of Connecticut 
Hartford County ss Farmington Nov. 1st 1820 
Personally appeared Elijah Munrowe, who is well known to me, and whose reputation is unblemished, and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the several acts as stated in the above deposition by him subscribed.- 
John Mix Just Peace 
State of Connecticut & County of Hartford Jany the 9th AD 1821 I hereby certify that the above named Elijah Manrowe and the within named Joel Welton, and Solomon Welton who have made & subscribed their respective depositions are all respectable men and credible witnesses.
Jonathan Brace Judge of the County Court for said County 
J. M  J. B. S C
Page 13

We Solomon Welton & Joel Welton both of Farmington, County of Hartford, State of Connecticut, depose and say that were well acquainted with Matthew Lee of said Farmington, and know that he served for the three last years of the Revolutionary war in the Connecticut line of the Continental army;  Lee and we were in the in the same Regt. and Company during the whole of that time, and generally, mess mates; we were all three discharged in the fall of the year 1783; as which time Colo Zebulon Butler commanded the Regt, and Capt David Judson the company in which we had served; our discharges were both signed by Col. Butler,  Col. John Durkee commanded this same Reg previous to the  appointment of Col. Butler to that command.  
Joel Welton 
Solomon Welton 
Connecticut
Hartford County Ss Farmington Nov. 2. 1820. 
Personally appeared Solomon Welton and Joel Welton, both being well known to me, and reputation as to truth is good, and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the several facts as stated in the above deposition by them subscribed 
John Mix Just Peace
Page 14

I. Henry Cowles of Farmington in the County of  Hartford, State of Connecticut, depose and say that from my early life I have known Matthew Lee of said Farmington of which town both he and myself are native. That for several years. I resided in the City of New York, that during my residence there & in the month of November AD 1806, I recollect that this same Matthew Lee shipped himself on board the schooner Ann in New York. Ebenezer H Mix trustee, which sailed from that port in company with the ship Commodore De Catur, both owned in that City principally by a company of Merchants, and bound on a sealing voyage to the South seas from thence to Canton; both vessels now owned by the same concern, in which I had some title interest;  I was on board the schooner Ann at the moment of her sailing being well acquainted with her Master and several of the crew and perfectly recollect to have seen this same Lee on board at that time, and bidding him farewell; who requested me to do or send some message to his wife & family at Farmington, where he had a wife & family residing nearby as far back as my memory extends. After these vessels had been gone more than two years accounts were rec’d in New York, that they had both been wrecked & lost on the coast of Patagonia. The Crew after
Page 15

a long time & many sufferings got up the river La Plate to Buenos Ayres in South America, This I know by letter from the masters of both vessels written by them immediately after they got  to that place. This Lee I know got home to his family about a year since, perfectly poor & penniless & found them, as they ever have been in the same situation,  They live about one mile from me;  Sealing was the sole object of their voyage; a part or the whole of both these vessels were insured in  New York previous to their sailing and I know that the insurance broker have since been called upon, and have actually paid the amount for which insurance was effected.  It is clearly within my recollection that  I advised Lee a short time before he sailed to get a protection or certificate that he was a citizen of the United States from the collector at the Port of New York.  The enclosed certificate he put into my hand a day or two since:-- and as he says, and as I fully believe is the same which he procured  before sailing, on the voyage above mentioned.  Henry Cowles
Page 16

No. 733
I David Gelston Collector of the District of New York, do hereby certify, That Matthew Lee American Seaman,  aged Fifty two years, or thereabouts of the Height of Six Feet 1/4 Inches, Grey hair, Dark Complexion, was born in Hartford County State Connecticut has this Day produced to me Proof, in the Manner directed by the Act, entitled "An Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen; and, pursuant to the said Act, do hereby certify, That the said Matthew Lee is a Citizen of the United States of America. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this  Second day of November 1816 
David Gelston Collector
Page 17

State of Connecticut 
Hartford County & Farmington June 23d 1820 
Personally appeared Mr. Henry Cowles and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the several facts as stated in the foregoing deposition by him before me 
John Mis Just Facis. 
I certify that Mr. Henry Cowles the above deponent, is a near neighbour of mine, and with whom I am well acquainted; that he is a gentleman of respectability, and that whatever he says or testifies is deserving of full faith and credit. 
John Mix Just Facis 
State of Connecticut 
Hartford County Ss 
Hartford June 26th 1821 
I Thomas Chester Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas of said County certify that on the 21st day of June 1821  John Mix Esq was a Justice of Peace of said County & I believe that the two above signatures of his name are his signatures. Witness my hand & the seal of said Court 
Thomas Chester Clerk
Page 18

By the Honorable Major General Knox commanding the [unreadable] upon Hudsons River and their Dependencies 
Mathew Lee Soldier in the Connecticut Regiment having been certified by a Board of Officers  appointed to inspect the Invalids of the Army as being unfit for any further Duty on account of general Disability is hereby discharged from the Service of the United States 
Given under my hand at West Point this Seventeenth Day of Septr 1783  
Knox M General 
By the General Command 
Jno Little Aide de Camp
Registered in the books of the Regt
H. Loomis Ajt.