Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 20,743, Samuel Edgcomb, Conn. Privateer
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SERVICE: Conn. Privateer
Edgcomb, Samuel
NUMBER: S. 20,743
carded
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1,092 
Connecticut 
Samuel Edgcomb, 
Private in 
Captain Latham's company of the ^Conn regiment* 
commanded by Col Ledyard 

Ratio of disability, One Half 
Date of ^closing Discharge testimony, 20 Nov. 1824. 

Inscribed on the roll of Connecticut,
at 4 dollars per month, to commence on the 
20th November 1824. 

Certificate of pension issued the 8th of Decr 1824, 
and sent to Hon: N. Barber H.R. 

Arrears to 4th Mar: 1825.   $13.98 
Semi-anl, all'ce ending [blank]
[=] $13.98

* & Privateer Service
[illegible] Jany 25 1910

10th April 1806 & 4th Feby 1822
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Copies of papers Sent to 
Hon E Haley Jan 17. 1837.
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Declaration 
In order to obtain the Benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1834. 
State of Connecticut} 
County of New London} ss. Probate District of Stonington 
On this 11th day of June 1834, personally appeared in Open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington in the County of New London & State of Connecticut now sitting, Samuel Edgecomb, a resident of Groton in the District, County and State aforesaid aged Seventy four years and upwards, 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 7. 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated- 
That in the year 1777, being in the 17th year of his age he lived in said Groton at the dwelling of his father Saml Edgecomb, that on or about the 1st day of April 1777 his sd Father was drafted to perform two months service as a private soldier, at fort Griswold in said Town of Groton, that as a substitute for his father, he joined the forces at sd Fort, and was placed in the company of State Troops commanded by Capt Abel Spicer, Isaac Gallup Lieut - Williams Ensign, the forces commanded by Lt. Col. Wm Ledyard,- Jona. Eldredge Adjutant &  that he continued constantly to serve at sd Fort as a substitute for his Father in labor on the Fort and works, and other military duties till on or after the 1st June 1777 when having serving two months, the full term for which he was engaged, he was discharged verbally by Capt Abel Spicer, but received no writing to that effect. that he returned home to the house of his father in said Groton. 
In the same year 1777 on or before the 1st Oct of sd Year his said Father, who belonged to the company commanded by Elijah Avery was drafted to perform three months service at sd. Groton, at Fort Griswold - that on or before the 1st October 1777 he the declarant, as a subsitute [sic] for his said father joined the company - commanded by sd Capt Elijah Avery
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Lieut ---, Ensign Amos Denison, in Col Parsons Regiment, that he continued constantly to serve in said Company, three months, that the duties performed, were labor on the fortification - Standing Picket Guard - and other duties - Col Wm Ledyard commanded the Garrison of Fort Griswold, in which were a Matross Company commanded by Capt Wm Latham. That Col Ledyard was daily at fort Griswold - That on or about the 1st January 1778 he was discharge having served three months, the full term of his engagement as a substitute for his said father.
That the principal part of the next following years 1778 and 1779 he was absent from home, privateering in the Sloop Beaver Capt Haven, Brig Nancy Capt Pinkham in 1780 he entered the Privateer Sloop Randolf Capt Nicoll Fordick, and arrived in a prize at New London 1st April 1781.
That in July 1781, he again enter'd the Private armed Sloop Randolf Capt Peck, and arrived at New London in a Prize Ship on the 5th Sept 1781 - and went home the next morning early, on alarm being made at Fort Griswold, he immediately and with speed, repaired to sd. Fort Griswold and with Lt Moore & Sailing master Danl Eldredge of the Privateer, and many other volunteers - he enter'd the Fort and by direction of Capt Wm Latham he was posted at a large Gun in the South East Angle of the Fort and there continued vigorously engaged in the defence of the Fort against the Attack of the Enemy - till within a few minutes before the surrender of the Fort ^when he was severly wounded in the hands by a musket Ball.
The Enemy having obtained possession of the Fort massacred the principal part of the Garrison, then order'd the survivors to get out of the fort - and by assistance the wounded were seated on a Plank - those who could not walk, were put into a waggon - were drawn by hand to the brink of the hill - when the waggon was let go - and run down the hill Westerly, toward the river
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and struck a large apple tree, the shock caused several to fall from the waggon - Those able to walk were order'd by the British officer to Parade - they were march'd to the shore and carried away as prisoners - The same officer then proposed, that of any commissioned officer (American) would sign a certificate of Parol - those who were severely wounded might be parolled - and not compelled to be removed. That Ensign Charles Eldridge who was present and severely wounded in the knee signed the Parol List - that Declarant was with others parolled - the British officer then order'd the wounded and parolled soldiers, to get themselves away from the Fort as well, and as soon as they might as he intended to Blow up the fort.  with great exertion, and assisting each other, the wounded reached a Barn near the fort, from whence soon after midnight, they were to removed by friends, on horseback - that the following day declarant was conducted home - and there continued disabled by his wounds for more than four months - to say till on or after the 6th January 1782.
That he has received a pension from the United States of four Dollars a month commencing 20th November 1824, on account of wounds and disabilities received on sd. 6th Sept 1781, that he claims an additional pension for services during the Revolutionary war as before alleged - nine months as a private 
That he was born in said Groton 28th February 1760 - that he he has no record of his age except family record 
That he was living in said Groton when called into service. That since the revolutionary war he has continued to reside in said Groton and now lives in said Groton. 
That he was a substitute for his Father Samuel Edgecomb, in the two first tours of duty in 1777 herein alleged - in the last alleged service in 1781, he volunteered 
That he believes there were no Regular officers with the Troops where he served nor Continental Regiments, and that he has stated, the circumstances of his service.
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That he never received a written discharge, but was ever honorably discharged. 
That he is known to Erastus Denison ^a clergyman and Simeon Fish who reside in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for Veracity and their belief of his Services as a soldier of the Revolution, that he has no documentary evidence of his service, but is informed, That a roll of Capt Elijah Avery's company forwarded in the papers of Ichabod Dickinson of Stonington to the Pension office, contains the name of the declarant, to which he respectfully begs that reference may be had.
[Signed] Samuel Edgcomb
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid 
Before the Court 
[Signed] Asa Fish Judge 

We Erastus Denison, a Clergyman residing in the town of Groton, New London County & State of Connecticut and Simeon Fish residing in the same town of Groton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Edgecombe, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be Seventy four 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, and that we know sd. Samuel sustains a character for veracity. June 16. 1834 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Before the Court aforesd
[Signed] Asa Fish Judge 
[Signed] Erastus Denison
[Signed] Simeon Fish
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Samuel Edgcomb

pen com: 20 Nov. 1824
$4 per mo
(under act 4 Feb 1822)
Conn't. [illegible]
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State of Connecticut }
County & City of New London ss.}
On this 20 Day of November 1824 before me Ebenezer Learned a commissioner duly appointed by the District Judge for the District of Connecticut to take the testimony in the matter of Samuel Edgcombs application for a pension personally appeared John Morgan of the Town of Groton in said County who being solemnly sworn deposed & said that in the Year 1781 he was in Fort Griswold in Groton when it was attacked by the British during the revolutionary war - that Samuel Edgcomb of Groton was in said Fort at the time & the Deponent remembers that he was stationed near said Edgcomb during said attack & that said Edgcomb employed in throwing cold shot on the Enemy as they were mounting the works when said Edgcomb was wounded as the Deponent believes & has always heard for he cannot swear he saw him at the time the wound was inflicted though it was said by those near said Edgcoomb & said on the day of the attack that he received said wound from a musket shot from the Enemy - the wound was in the fore finger of the right hand & the first joint of that finger is
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ruined - the Deponent has always been well acquainted with said Edgcomb and knows that he has always resided in said Town of Groton where he now resides - that he has always carried on the presence of a Cabinet maker which is his occupation at this time - that said Edgcomb was a volunteer & after said attack with the other volunteers returned home 
[Signed] John Morgan 

New London County ss. New London
November 20 1824 
Sworn before 
[Signed] Ebenezer Learned 
Commissioner for taking Testimony for the
application of Samuel Edgcomb for a pension
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State of Connecticut}
County & City of New London ss} 
On the 20th day of November AD 1824 before me Ebenezer Learned a Commissioner duly appointed of the District Judge of the United States for the District of Connecticut to take the testimony in the matter of Samuel Edgcombs application for an invalid pension personally appeared William Latham Junior of the Town of Groton in said County of New London - who being solemnly sworn deposed and said that in the Year 1781 he was a private in the company commanded by Capt William Latham & was stationed at Fort Griswold in said Groton then under the command of Col William Ledyard - that when the Enemy under the command of Benedict Arnold made an attack upon said Fort Griswold, the said Samuel Edgcomb with other Inhabitants of said Groton came into the fort as a volunteer to aid & assist in its defence - that said Edgcomb was stationed next to the Deponent - that while facing the Enemy and endeavoring to repulse them from said Fort the said Edgcomb received
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from the Enemy a musket shot which went through the forefinger of the right hand & carried away the first joint of said finger - that he afterward on the day when said Injury was received saw said Edgcomb [illegible -span?] the wound & has ever since been acquainted with said Edgcomb haveing lived within two miles of him and has often seen said wound & known that it has injured the said Edgcomb in procuring his living by manual labor 
[Signed] William Latham Jun 

Also at the same time personally appeared Caleb Avery Esqr of said Town of Groton who being solemnly sworn deposed & said that he was a volunteer in Fort Griswold at the time the attack was made on said fort by the Enemy during the revolutionary ^war in the Year 1781 - that he was stationed at some distance from said Samuel Edgcomb during the engagement but after the Fort was surrendered by the Americans & the British took possession the Deponent remembers that said Samuel Edgcomb was placed on the list of the wounded
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He was parolled by ^the British & he also remembers seeing the said Edgcomb on the Day of the attack & after it was over knows that he received a wound in his Right hand fore finger and then heard & believed & has always heard & believed that said wound was occasioned by a musket Ball from the Enemy,  which the said Samuel received while facing them & in line of his Duty & by command of the commanding officer of said Fort Griswold - The Deponent has since the Year 1781 lived near said Samuel Edgcomb & has always been personally acquainted with him & knows that he has ever labored under the Inconvenience of said wound which has rendered his forefinger nearly useless 
[Signed] Caleb Avery
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State of Connecticut} 
County & City of New London ss} 
Personally appeared Caleb Avery Esquire & William Latham Junr signers of the foregoing affidavits & made solemn Oath that the affidavits by them severally signed contained the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth before 
[Signed] Ebenr. Learned  
Commissioner appointed by the District
Judge of the District of Connecticut
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State of Connecticut} 
County & City of New London ss} 
On this 20 Day of November AD 1824 before me Ebenezer Learned a commissioner appointed by the District Judge in & for the District of Connecticut to receive & take the Testimony in the matter of Samuel Edgcomb's application for a pension personally appeared Doctors John O. Miner and Benjamin F. Stoddard both of them of Groton in said County who being solemnly sworn depose & said that they are and have been well acquainted with Mr Samuel Edgcomb of said Groton & for many years past have personally known him 
Later have known by report that he was wounded in Fort Griswold on the 6 Day of September 1781 when said Fort attacked by the British - that they have often seen & have this day particularly examined the fore finger of the right hand of said Samuel Edgcomb in which he received said wound and find that a part of the bone of the fore finger of the right hand has been destroyed & said finger is stiff & crooked & in his other fingers are other & smaller Injuries - the Deponents also know that said Edgcomb has always resided in Groton
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where he now resides & where he now carries on the Business of a cabinet maker which Trade he has followed ever since they have known him - The Deponents are of opinion that the disability under which the said Samuel labors from said wound amounts to one half a total disability & that he is disabled to the extent of one half from procuring a livelihood by manual labor
[Signed] John O Miner M.D. 
[Signed] Benjn F Stoddard 

Sworn before 
[Signed] Ebenezer Learned 
Commissioner appointed by the district Judge 
for the District of Connecticut to take Testimony 
on Samuel Edgcombs application for a pension
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State of Connecticut}
County & City of New London ss.} 
On this 20 Day of November 1824 before me Ebenezer Learned Commissioner appointed by the District Judge the district of Connecticut to take the proper testimony touching the application of Samuel Edgcomb for a pension under the Act of Congress of the 14th of April, 1806, personally appeared the said Samuel Edgcomb who being solemnly sworn deposed & said that in the Year 1781 when Fort Griswold in Groton was attacked by the British during the revolutionary war he went into said Fort in the morning of the Day that the attacked [sic] commenced & continued to ^help defend said Fort untill it was Surrendered in the afternoon of the Same day - that whatever he did was done as a volunteer & that while engaged in its defence & while in endeavoring to repulse the Enemy he received a musket shot from the enemy in the first finger of his right hand which carried away part of that finger - that after said Fort was surrendered he was paroled
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by the British & has ever since that day suffered from the Effects of said wound - That he was born and has always lived in said Groton where he now resides with his family consisting of wife & nine children - that he is now Sixty Four years of age & untill he became an old man he had thought to live by his own Industry & not take any Benefit of the provision made by Goverment [sic] for invalid soldiers, but that in his old age he feels that it is necessary for his comfort & support to obtain a pension if possible - that he knew nothing of the first Law of Congress upon the subject & had he known of the Law it is not probable that, as he was then younger, he should have made any application for a pension - The Deponent further swears that he is not on the pension list of any State & that by trade he is a cabinet maker which business he has always followed.
[Signed] Samuel Edgcomb
Sworn by & before 
[Signed] Ebenezer Learned, Commissioner appointed by the District Judge for the District of Connecticut to take testimony in Saml Edgcomb's application for a pension.
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Samuel Edgecomb
Connecticut
Rejected. Letter
30th June 1834. Hon: Noyes Barber -
copies of papers sent to Hon S.N. Clarke HR Jan 16 1843.

[lower document]
3235[?]
Samuel Edgcomb [second "e" stricken]
consolidated with O.W. & N. File 20,743
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Hon E Haley
H.R.
Saml Edgcomb
Rev'd [or Fw'd?] copies of papers
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Hon S.N. Clarke
H.R.
Copy [illegible]
1 Lt [?]
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Copy
War Dept 
Pension Office 
June 30, 1834. 

Sir:
The papers in the case of Samuel Edgecomb have been examined and placed on our files. It would seem that he performed five months service only, and as the act of June 7, 1832 provides for none who served less than six months, a pension under that law cannot be granted. It appears that in 1781 he volunteered at Fort Griswold for an indefinite period and was wounded. For the disability arising from that wound he has already received an invalid pension. But the applicant sets up a claim in consequence of his having been confined four months after receiving the wound. Such a claim cannot be admitted. Had he enlisted for a specified period, and during that time he had been confined to a military hospital in consequence of a wound, the fact of his having been unfit for duty, from such a cause would constitute no objection to his claim. The soldier would have been considered as much in the service as if he had been under arms. But not so in the present case. His term of service expired when he left the Fort. He was under no military authority whatever and would not of course have been in military service.
[Signed] Hon. Noyes Barber 
H. R.
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Washington DC
H.R.

To the Hon James L. Edwards

Dear Sir 
I request that I feel myself under the necessity of troubling you any more by calling for the papers in relation to the case of Mr Samuel Edgcomb, the Committee has defered to act in the case for a number of days, for the want of information from your Department 
I am Sir with greatest 
Respect your obt Servt 
[Signed] Elisha Haley
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20743
Revolution
INVALID. a.w.
File No. 20,743
Samuel Edgcomb
Pri Cont. Regt
Revy War
Act: 10" April 1806, Feb 4" '22
Index:-Vol. 2, Page [illegible- 125?]
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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United States
Connecticut District at[?] Bridgeport  
I Pierpont Edwards Judge of the District Court of the United States of America for the Connecticut District by authority of an act of Congress passed the 4th day of February 1822 entitled an act to raise and continue in force an act entitled 'an act to provide for persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the revolutionary War,' do hereby especially authorize and commission Ebenezer Learned Esquire of the Town of New London of the County of New London and district of Connecticut to take all evidence pursuant to the rules and regulations of the said act for Establishing the claim of said Samuel Edgcomb of the Town of Groton in the County of New London and district of Connecticut to be placed on the pension list of the United States by [reason?] of known wounds received in said War or since (as prescribed in the fourth section from acts concerning invalid pensioners before the 25th April 1808), while in the actual service of the United States and in the line of  his duty and when the same shall be completed to return the evidence, affidavits, certificates, and proceedings had hereupon together with this Commission, to the Secretary for the Department of War.
From under My hand and Seal at Bridgeport the 22 day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four 
[Signed] Pierpt. Edwards Depty Judge
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I Simeon Miner of the Town of Groton County of New London and State of Connecticut a Revolutionary Pensioner aged 74 Years do on my oath depose and say that in April 1777 I entered into the Connecticut State Service as a Substitute for John Chester of said town of Groton for the term of two Months and was Stationed at Groton ferry opposite to New New London in a Company Commanded by Capt Abel Spicer and was employed in guarding the place and working on the fortifications during the whole of said term of two months, and I well Remember that Samuel Edgcomb of Said Town of Groton was then a Soldier in Said Spicers Company and belonged to the Same Mess that I did during the whole term of two months; at the expiration of which time, we were both discharged together by said Capt Spicer; I am well acquainted with the above named Samuel Edgcomb,  I believe him to be 74 years of age and that his testimony is entitled to Credit
[Signed] Simeon Miner
 

State of Connecticut} 
County of New London} ss. Groton June 9th 1834
Personally appeared before me the above named Simeon Miner and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him Subscribed, And I hereby Certify that the said Simeon Miner is to me well known and is a credible witness 
[Signed] Nathan Daboll Justice of the Peace
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Declaration. Pension 
de 
Saml Edgecomb 
Cpy[?] 31.127
Rejcd.

June 30 1834[?]
Please return to Hon. 
Noyes Barber M.C. 
House of Representatives

Gratis Cpy
3235
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I John Morgan of Groton in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, aged Seventy four years, being duly sworn according to Law before the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington, do on my oath certify declare and say, that I am well acquainted with Mr Samuel Edgecomb of said Groton, who signed the annexed Declaration for a Pension in my presence, that I have ever lived in said Groton, and have from my childhood been well acquainted with said Samuel. That in the year 1777, I lived in sd. Groton and belonged to the militia company located in Groton, commanded by Capt John Williams, that about the 1st October in said 1777, I was detached or drafted for three months service and joined the Company of detached militia at Groton Bank, near Fort Griswold, commanded by Capt Elijah Avery - Ensn Amos Denison and served from sd. 1st October three months, till on or about the 1st January 1778, when I was dismissed. That I well know sd. Samuel Edgecomb was a private in said in said Elijah Avery's company and served the whole of sd. tour or term of three months. I also was serving on the 6th Sept 1781 as volunteer in Fort Griswold, was wounded in the attack & engagement at sd. Fort and that I well know that sd. Saml Edgecomb served at sd. Fort on sd. 6th Sept 1781 and was wounded, that myself and said Saml Edgecomb, were parolled, the said Parol was signed by Ensign Charles Eldredge, in my my presence, the sd Ensign Eldredge was also severely wounded at sd time. That I believe said Saml Edgecomb is Seventy four years of age. 
Sworn and subscribed, this 11th day of June AD. 1834, before the Court aforesaid 
[Signed] John Morgan
[Signed] Asa Fish Judge
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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 Samuel Edgecomb was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Erastus Denison who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said Town of Groton and that Simeon Fish who has also signed the same is a resident of said Town of Groton and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit, And the Court further certifies that it appears to said Court that Simeon Miner and John Morgan, who have each signed a certificate hereunto annexed, are residents of said Town of Groton, are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to Credit
[Signed]  Asa Fish Judge 

I David A Daboll Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Stonington Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application Samuel Edgecomb for a Pension.  In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office this 16th day of June A D 1834 
[Ribboned Seal]
[Signed] David A. Daboll Clerk