Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 2329-200, Hezekiah Davenport, Conn.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
CONTENTS
Davenport, Hezekiah
NUMBER
B.L. Wt 2329-200
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Hezekiah Davenport
N. 2,329


Hon. Saml Simons
Ho. of Repts
Feby 10th 1844
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield ss  Stamford

Be it known that on this 20th day of Nov AD 1838 before me N D Haight a Notary Public in and for said State personally appeared Deodate Davenport (age 72 years) of the Town of New Canaan in said County & State and made solom oath that he was well acquainted with Hezekiah Davenport late of Stamford Decd who was an officer in the war of the Revolution & to the best of his knowledge & belief held of Lieutenants Commission in the Continental Army as he was called Lieutenant, before his death which took place at the battle Ridgefield in the Spring of 1777.  said Hezekiah did also enlist men for the army as deponent well knows as he lived with said Hezekiah a short time previous to his death & had the small pox at said Hezekiah's house which was also made an hospital for the Soldiers.  Deponent says that his father brought the cloths of said Hezekiah home from Ridgefield after his death & also administered on his estate & that said Hezekiah's children were brought to his fathers house.  & that William Davenport is the son of said Hezekiah, who is an application for the bounty land of his father as the Heir of said Hezekiah and the only heir living at this time, that a short time after his death was attacked with fever sores & has been quite a cripple through life as Deponent well knows and said Son lived with his Father a number of years after said Hezekiah's death.  and further deponent saith not

Deodate Davenport

Personally appeared Deodate Davenport & Swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed on the same day & year to certify that he is a credible person.

Before me N D Haight Notary Public
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DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

Regulations for the heirs of Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army, who were slain by the enemy, or who have died since the war, and have not received land from the United States.

By an act of Congress of the 16th September, 1776, it is provided that the Officers and Soldiers who engaged for, and continued to serve during the war, or until discharged by Congress, and the heirs of such Officers and Soldiers as shall be slain by the enemy, shall receive land in proportion to their rank.

N.B.  Those who engaged for three years, or for any other period than during the war, or who died of sickness, fatigue, or casualty, are not entitled to land from the United States.

The following declaration (and enclosed blank form of heirship) must be filled up and signed by the proper authorities:

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield
I, Wm Davenport heir at law of Hezekiah Davenport decd do, upon oath, testify and declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that said Hezekiah Davenport did enter the service in 1777, for the term of five years and served as a Lieutenant in the Regiment No.          under the command of Colonel Charles Webb, of the Connecticut Continental line; and that he continued in the service aforesaid until his death.
I further declare that I have never received a warrant for the bounty land promised to the said Hezekiah Davenport on the part of the United States; nor do I believe that he ever received it, or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever; therefore,


Know all men by these presents, That I, William Davenport, aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint Samuel Simons, [N.C?] of Fairfield ^County & State of Connecticut to be my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my  name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States., a warrant for the quantity of land due to me as aforesaid; and my said attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered to constitute and appoint one or more substitutes or attorneys under him, for the special purposes above expressed.  Feb 3rd 1844

William Davenport

Attest.
N. D. Haight

Personally appeared the abovenamed Wm Davenport subscriber to the foregoing declaration, and made oath to the same, and in my presence acknowledged the power of attorney thereto subjoined to be his free act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.

Attest,
N D Haight Justice of the Peace.

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield
In testimony that the above written N. D. Haight was a magistrate authorized to administer oaths, and take acknowledgments, &c., in the State of Connecticut at the above date, and that his name there subscribed appears to me to be his usual signature, I have hereunto affixed the county seal, and subscribed my name and quality, at Bridgeport this Fifth day of February 1844.

Wm. H. Noble
Clerk of the County Court for said
Fairfield County
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Rev. War Section

July 23, 1933.

Mrs. Irving St. John,
Merriam Home,
Newton, N. J.

Madam;

I have to advise you that from the records of this Bureau, it appears that Hezekiah Davenport while residing in Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn., enlisted May 1775 and served as a sergeant in Captain Joseph Hoyt's Company, Colonel Charles Webb's Regiment, Conn. troops.  In the winter and spring of 1777 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and served under the above mentioned officers.  He was in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton and Ridgefield, where he was killed Apr. 27, 1777.

Warrant No. 2339 for 200 acres of bounty land was allowed William Davenport, son and only surviving heir in 1840, in full satisfaction of his father's services, at which time said William was a resident of Stamford, Conn.

Respectfully,



Commissioner.

Could not use "Prucilla" as no relationship is stated.  awf.
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield  ss   Stamford

Be it known that on this 14th day of November AD 1838 before me N D Haight a Notary Public in and for said State personally appeared Samuel Dean of said Stamford aged    years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify in addition to what he has heretofore testified in Refference to the services of Hezekiah Davenport in the war of the Revolution, viz that in the Spring of 1777 said Hezekiah Davenport Recd a lieutenants commission in Col Charles Webs Regt for during the war, says that. said Hezekiah Davenport Recd his Commission from the Legislature of said State. by the hand of Benjamin Weed Esq. who was a member of the Legislature at said time, as Deponent was an eye witness at the time of delivery & Deponent lived within a few rods of said Esq. Weeds residence & at the place of rendervoux [rendezvous] for the recruiting of men for the continental army & that said Davenport did also enlistment men for said Col. Webs Regt, says that said Hezekiah never joined the army after its complete organization for the was prevented from so doing as he was killed at the Battle at Ridgefield at the time the British burnt Danbury and that Deponent has also calculated to have enlisted under said Hezekiah if he had not been killed & further deponent saith not, Samuel Dean

Personally the said Samuel Dean & swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed & I certify that he is a credible person

Before me N D Haight Notary Public
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield Ss. Stamford
Be it known that on this 18th day of November AD 1838 before me N D Haight a Notary public in & for said state personally appeared Usual Knapp of the town of Montgomery, County of Orange & State of New York who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify that he was well acquainted with Hezekiah Davenport of the Revolutionary War late of Stamford decd.
That in the spring of 1777 he recd a Lieutenants Commission in the Continental Army for during the war in Charles Webs Regt. But was killed at the Battle of Ridgefield before he joined the Regt and enlisted men for said Regt before his death, as deponent well knows as he was at Ridgefield at the time of his death.
Usual Knapp X his mark
In presence of Joshua B. Ferris

Personally appeared Mar 14 the above named Usual Knapp & the above subscriber of his mark by him made on the same day & year & I certify that his is a credible person.
Before me N. D. Haight Notary Public
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield Ss. Stamford
Be it known that on this 10th day of December AD 1837 before me N. D. Haight a Notary Public for and within said state and county personally appeared Col. Samuel Dean of said Stamford, aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify that he was well acquainted with Hezekiah Davenport of Stamford decd, late of the revolutionary army. Deponent says that said Hezekiah recd a Sargents warrant in the Continental Army under Capt. Joseph Hoyt & Col. Charles Web & sometime in May 1775 went to Boston and was in actual service, all of the time while there, which was till Boston was evacuated & followed the enemy to Long Island. & then had an engagement with them which took place sometime in August & our troops were driven from the Island to New York & from thence to the White Plains & said Hezekiah was in the Battle at White Plains & from said place said Hezekiah under said Hoyt & Web went with the army of General Washington to Trenton and was in the Battle of Trenton in the taking of the Hessians which was in the latter part of Dec 1776 and from thence said Hezekiah returned to said Stamford
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said Hezekiah in the forepart of the winter of 1777 recd a Lieutenants Commission in the Continental service or war with Great Brittain during the war and enlisted men and deponent further says that said Hezekiah's house was made an hospital for the soldiers to have the small pox in by special request General Washington. Deponent says that said Davenport in the spring of 1777 went to Danbury at the time the British went there to burn and destroy the American stores & that said Davenport was in the action which took place at Ridgefield at said time and was killed in said action and Deponent further says that Wm. Davenport late of the Town of New Canaan, County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut is the son of said Hezekiah Davenport Decd.
Samuel Dean

Personally appeared Samuel Dean above named and swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed and on the same day & year and I certify that he is a creditable person.
Before me
N. D. Haight Notary Public
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[stamped]
CITY OF WASHINGTON
OCT 19

Treasury Department
Third Auditors Office
P. Hagner

[stamped] FREE

Mr. George Mills
No 48 Chatham Street
New York
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Treasury Department
3d Auditors Office
19th October 1836

Sir
Your letter of the 15th instant addressed to the Secretary of War, on behalf of William Davenport, son of Lieut Hezekiah Davenport of the Connecticut line of the Revolutionary Army, has been referred to this office - and in reply thereto I have to state, that it appears from a return made by the State of Connecticut, in the year 1835, of payments made by that state to the widows and children of deceased officers, in pursuance of the Resolution of Congress of the 24th of August 1780, that "Prucilla Davenport & others heirs to Lt. Hezekiah Davenport" have received the sum of £336, which is the amount of the seven years half-pay, to which Lt. Davenport's widow, or children, were entitled, under the Resolution of Congress of the 24th August 1780.
I have sent your letter to the Pension office agreeably to the endorsement made thereon, at the War Department.
I am very Respectfully
Your most Obt Svt
Peter Hagner Aud

Mr. George Mills
No 48 Chatham Street
New York
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Form for Proof of heirship
The names of each and all the heirs to be inserted and to be certified that they are the only surviving heirs at law.
Hons. S. Simons
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State of Connecticut
Fairfield County} Ss.
Stamford Probate Office July 23rd 1840.
I certify that satisfactory evidence was adduced to me, to prove that William Davenport of Stamford in said County in the Probate District of Stamford is
the son and only surviving heir at law in fee to Hezekiah Davenport who was a Lieutenant in the ~~ Regiment of the Connecticut Line commanded by Col. Charles Webb.
Given under my hand and Seal of Office, this 23rd day of July 1840.
Joshua B. Ferris Judge

The above form will answer for the following States, viz:
Maine,
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire,
Rhode Island,
Connecticut,
Vermont. } Judge of Probate

New York
New Jersey. } Surrogate

South Carolina,
Georgia. } Ordinary
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield Ss. Stamford
Be it known that on this 20th day of Nov AD 1838 before me N. D. Haight a Notary Public in and for said state personally appeared Henry Fuller Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Northstamford in said Stamford & made oath that he is well acquainted with Wm. Davenport the applicant for the Bounty Land for his Father's services in the War of the Revolution & also Deodate Davenport, & Col. Samuel Dean who are witnesses for said Wm. & that they are credible persons & members of said church.
Henry Fuller

Personally appeared Henry Fuller on the same day & year & swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed & I certify that he is a credible person.
Before me
N. D. Haight Notary Public
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield Ss. New Canaan
Be it known that on this 24th day of oct AD 1837 before me N. D. Haight a Notary Public for and within said state and county, personally appeared Deodate Davenport aged 71 years of said New Canaan who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify that he knew and was well acquainted with Hezekiah Davenport decd late of the Revolutionary War as said Hezekiah was Deponent's uncle, said that Hezekiah Davenport's house was made an hospital for the troops and deponent went to said Davenports house to have the small pox & that previous to his having the small pox at his house, said Hezekiah recd a lieutenants commission which was in 1775 and went to Boston and after his return from Boston, he went to Ridgefield & was killed which was in the spring of 1777 when the British was retreating from Danbury at which place the British had been to destroy the American stores. Deponent says he was young at the time of said Hezekiah's enlistment and can't tell how long & the particulars of said Hezekiah's services. Deponent says that Wm. Davenport late of the town of New Canaan is the son of said Hezekiah.
Deodate Davenport

Personally appeared Deodate Davenport above named on the same day and year & swore to the truth of the above by him subscribed before me & I certify that he is a creditable person.
N. D. Haight Notary Public
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield Ss. Stamford
Be it known that on this 25th day of Oct AD 1847 before me N. D. Haight a Notary Public for and within said state and county personally appeared Col. Samuel Dean of said Stamford who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify that he was well acquainted with Hezekiah Davenport of Stamford decd - late of the Revolutionary Troops. That Hezekiah Davenport recd adjutants warrant in May 1775 and went to Boston under Capt Joseph Hoyt & Col. Charles Webb and remained there in actual service till the first of Jan 1777 and returned to Stamford for a few days. And returned back to Boston again and continued there in service till Boston was evacuated and followed the enemy to Long Island and there had an engagement with the enemy sometime in August and were driven from the Island to New York and from thence to the White Plains and there had an engagement with the enemy from thence said Davenport under said Hoyt & Webb went with the army of Washington to Trenton and was in the Battle of Trenton in the taking of the Hessians which was in the latter part of Dec 1776 and from thence again returned to Stamford and in the forepart of the winter in 1777 he received a Lieutenant's commission for during the war and enlisted men and said Davenport's House was made an hospital for the soldiers to have the small pox in by a special request by General Washington & in the spring of 1777 went to Danbury and was killed in said action at Ridgefield and the deponent further says that Wm. Davenport late of the town of New Canaan is the son of said Hezekiah Davenport decd.
Samuel Dean

Personally appeared Samuel Dean above named and swore to the truth of the above on the same day and year by him subscribed before me & I certify that he is a creditable person.
N. D. Haight Notary Public
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New York December 12th 1837
Sir
At the request of Mr. Wm Devenport a respectable old gentleman now a resident in the vacinity of this city, I enclose his documents in support of his claim for Bounty Land in the right of his late father a Lieutenant in Capt. Hoyt's company of Col Webb's Regiment of the Connecticut line in the Continental service of the Revolutionary Army and solicit your attention to his claim.
I have the honor to be Sir your obt servt
M Myers

Hon. J. R. Poinsett
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield ss. New Canaan
Be it known that on this 24th day of Oct AD 1837 before me N D Haight a Notary Public for and within said State and County personally appeared Nathan Chichester aged 77 years of said New canaan who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath testify that he knew and was well acquainted with Hezekiah Davenport late of the town of Stamford decd in sd Fairfield County, who was a Lieutenant in the army of the revolutionary war & according to the report and the best of Deponents knowledge said Lieutenant Davenport enlisted in the service in 1775 and received a Lieutenant's Commission ^in 1777 for a term not less than three years, as that was the shortest term of enlistment. Deponent says that said Hezekiah Davenport was killed in the spring of 1777 on the 27th day of Aprl 1777 at Ridgefield, when the enemy were retreating from Danbury at which place they had been to destroy the American stores sd Deponent further says that he was near said Davenport when killed, & deponent says that Wm Davenport late of sd Newcanaan is the son of said Hezekiah Davenport decd.
Nathan Chichester
Personally appeared the above named Nathan Chichester on the same day and year & swore to the truth of the above by by him subscribed & I also certify that he is a credible person before me
N D Haight Notary Public
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Letter from
William Davenport
M991
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New York December 13th 1837
Sir
In answer to my application for bounty lands in right of my late Father Hezekiah Devenport a Lieut. in the regiment of Col Charles Webb of the Continental army, you say in a letter to me of the 4th of Novembr answer to mine of the 31st Octobt that the records in your office furnish no evidence of the rank, services or death of an officer named Hezekiah Davenport and that you have examined the official returns of the dead and killed of the several New York continental regiments but the name of Hezekiah Davenport does not appear thereon.
I am sorry that I have given you so much trouble and that I am compelled by age and poverty to trouble you again on the subject, but having procured an amended affidavit from Col Samuel Dean marked No 2 inclosed, I am induced to request Major M Meyers to enclose my papers again to you.
If I am now successful in my application I should be please to have my patent or land scrip (the latter would be preferred) sent to that gentleman for me.
I am not surprised that you did not find the name of my late Father in the list of dead or killed in the New York line because both he and Col Webb belonged to the Connecticut line.
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I hope the last affidavit of Col. Dean may prove satisfactory on that subject and as proof of the death of my late Father at the battle of Danbury and Ridgefield in the absence of other testimony. To prove that he was in the continental service you will find the names of many of the officers and men of Col. Webb's regiment in the printed list of those who have acquired a right to bounty lands, printed by order of the U S Senate in Jany 1828, and although the name of my late father does not appear in said list it may have been unintentionally omitted as he was killed at Ridgefield in 1877 [note error - should be 1777] . At that early time many irregularities in making returns took place which I am informed has since been corrected by living evidence.
I sincerely hope Sir that my proofs may be deemed sufficient to establish my claim which I know to be just.
Your answer directed to Major M Myers will oblige.
Your most obt servt
William Davenport

Wm Gordon Esq
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24 postage stamp recd F.B.S.

MRS. IRVING ST. JOHN
MERRIAM HOME
NEWTON, NEW JERSEY
June 4 1823
War Dept. or Pension Bureau
Please send me the war record of "Hezekiah Davenport North Stamford Conn. born Jan. 14, 1738 married at the Cramp Ponds (Yorktown) by Rev. Mr. Sackett, to Ruth Ketcham Dec. 7, 1763. He was a Lieutenant in the army in the war of the Revolution and fell at Ridgefield on his return from the battle of Danbury in 1777. Mrs. Davenport died in 1775." Taken from the Davenport Family Book pages
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229 of the 1st edition (pub. in 1851) and page 227 of the 2nd edition (pub. in 1876). An early reply will greatly oblige.
Respectfully
Annie Davenport St. John
(Mrs. Irving)
If this does not belong to the War Dept please forward it to the Pension Bureau.
A. D. St. J