Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 21,680, Earl Durfee, R.I.
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Service
R.I.

Durfee, Earl

Number R. 21680
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State of New York
Washington County

On this 28th day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court the court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington and in the state aforesaid being a court of record now sitting, Earl Durfee a resident of the town of Cambrige in the county of Washington and state of New York aged seventy five years and ten months old 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 seventh eighteen hundred and thirty two.  That he entered the service of the United States in the month of October seventeen hundred and seventy five in a company of militia commanded by Captain Christopher Manchester  Lieutenant Peleg Sawnders and Philip Manchester as [illegible] he thinks that they were called out at this time for the purpose of guarding the shores against the troops of the British shipping, which was at that time being off the coast, that the Col. was John Cook, Pardon Gray Lieut-Col and Nathaniel Church Major, as he believes that at this time he was out three weeks that he was again called out and served under Captain Benjamin Durfee.
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Ebenezer Slocum Lieutenant and Jonathan Davol Esquire that he served at this time about ten weeks - during which time he was deployed in building a fort at Howlands Ferry and guarding its shore after it was built, that he entered the service this time on the first of November seventy five. He was again drafted in the year seventy six a number of time, to with the number of five times as an alarm under the guarding the island from the attacks of the British shipping which had again appeared on the coast. That he was at this time under the Command Capt. Benjamin Durfee that at each of these several times he was out from fifteen to twenty days. That in the fall of this same year he enlisted as a minute man for three months in a company commanded by Captain Silas Devol and Ben Burden as Lieutenant or consign and 2hich he does not recollect and continued in said company until the removal of Capt. Devol to the Command of a company of cruisers on board the ship Providence in the last part o the las aforesaid year. 
That in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven he was again drafted and served under Daniel Devol who acted as captain under Col. Cook to guard the shores at Howlands and Fogland ferry; that he served at this time two months.
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and that this service was rendered in the early part of seventy seven. 
That in the same year he was again drafted and served under the same officers that he served at this time two weeks; that this last mentioned service was rendered in the Spring of seventy seven; that he does not recollect of having been again drafted in that year; though he recollects, that he did render services, during that time one or two days at a time during the reminder of that  year. 
That on the ninth day of August seventeen hundred and seventy eight he went on Sullivan's Expedition; that he was drafted a few day days previous for twenty days, but served about thirty; that the company in which he served was commanded by Richard Durfee as Capt. Humphry Sherman as lieutenant and Thomas Durfee ensign the regiment of which said company was a port was commanded by Col Mason Miller and Lieutenant Col. Pardon Gray the remainder of the offices he does not recollection. 
That he was again drafted and served under Capt. Richard Durfee was a piquet guard that h served one half of the time during the night; that he was drafted in May seventeen hundred and seventy nine and served until the month of September the same year.
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That when he first entered the service he was resident of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island; that he was always drafted; that he was engaged in various skirmishes, with the British while guarding the coast; that he was principally employed in the towns of Tiverton Middleton & Newport, that he was drafted militia man; that the names of the officers whom he knows are as above stated; that he has no documentary evidence; that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service, 
I That he was born in Tiverton in the state of Rhode Island 1757
II That he has a record of his age kept in the family Bible which is now in his possession. 
III That he lived at Tiverton when called into service and removed from there in the year of seventeen hundred and eighty four to Cambridge in the county of Washington and state of New York where he now resides and has done for the last forty nine years
IV That he was drafted whenever he was called into service
V That two names of the officer are as sated above, 
VI That he never had a discharge
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VII That he is acquainted with Walter N. Groesbeck, Isaac Wlling and Benjamin F. Skinner Esq who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his having been a solder of the revolution. 
that there is no clergyman living in his vicinity to whom he can apply for a certificate. 
That he hereby relinquishes every claim or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state 
Earl Dufee
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid us open court. 
J.S. Leigh
We Walter N. Groesbeck and Isaac Welling & Benjamin F. Skinner of the county of said county residing in the town & county and state aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Earl Durfee who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that he is reputed and believed to have been in the neighborhood where he reside as a solder of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
Walter N. Groesbeck, Benjamin F. Skinner
Isaac Welling

JS Leigh clrk
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and the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations 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 Walter N. Groesbeck and Isaac Welling who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents of the town of Cambridge in the county and state aforesaid  are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. 

I James S. Leigh clerk of the court of common pleas of the county of Washington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Earl Durfee for a pension - In testimony which I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28th day of August 1833.
J.L. Leigh clk
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Washington October 7, 1931

Mr. W. G. Durfee
Hoosick Falls, Lock Box 31
New York

BA-J/AWF

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letter relative to Earl Durfee and Mathew Gooding soldiers of the War of the Revolution. 

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers in that war. 

A careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the service of Mathew (Matthew) Gooding, all spellings of the surname searched. 

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in the pension claim, R.21680 based upon Earl Durfee military service in the War of the Revolution. 

Early Durfee the son of Gideon Durfee, was born in 1767 in Tiverton, Newport County Rhode Island. 

He stated that while residing in Tiverton he served in the Rhode Island militia, as follows - in October 1775, three weeks in Captain Christopher Manchester's company, Colonel John Cooke's regiment; in the fall of 1775 ten weeks in Captain Benjamin Durfee's company; in 1776 in Captain Benjamin Durfee's company on five alarms of fifteen or twenty days each; in the fall of 1176, three months in Captain Silas
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Devol's company: in 1777, six weeks in Captain Daniel Devol's Company, Colonel Cooke's regiment; from August 9, 1778, thirty days in Captain Richard Durfee's Company, Colonel Mason Miller's regiment, and was in Sullivan's expedition; from May 1779 until September 1779, in Captain Richard Durfee's company. 

He applied for pension, August 28, 1833 then a resident of Cambridge Washington County, New York, having moved there in 1784 from Tiverton. 

The claim was not allowed as proof of service as required by the pension laws was not furnished. 

There is no reference to wife and children. 

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller 
Assistant  to Administrator

I searched all books and records for correspondence on this soldier & found nothing. His name appears or should rejected ...in case but no reference ... any correspondence ... the name is not in the printed rejected note of 1852
AWS
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Ray 

No. 21.680

Ex'r. REJECTED

Old War Invalid 
Earl Durfee of NY Priv Col. Cook RI Troops


1931 - Oct 7 Hirt to Mr. W.
as Durfee ...
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I Elihu Gifford of Tiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island of lawful age, being duly sworn on such any Corporal Oath declare that I was well acquainted with
Earle Durfee from my childhood up to the time, he removed from this town to the town of Cambridge in the State of New York. the said Earle, removed to said Cambridge a quat many years ago. I should think soon after the Revolutionary War.
Hes the said Earle was born in this town, and was the son of Gideon Durfee and during the Revolutionary War, resided in this town
and belonged to the same militia company with myself, until our company was divided, which happened I believe in the year 1777.
When the British came on to Rhode Island in December 1776 the militia in our said company was commanded, I believe by Capt. Benjamin
Durfee and were ordered into the public service on the west shore of the town to repel the incursions of the Enemy, we were closed of into two parts or divisions and each class served alternately for one month at a time, and we relieved each other at the guard post on the shores. At this time said Earle Durfee was in the public service, here on the shores. I have been within our service a number of monthly tours of duty at Howlands ferry, and at Anthony Landing
at Still House landing which were guard posts on the shores of the town.
After our company was divided as aforesaid said Earle belonged to the 3 or North company which said company was commanded by Capt. Richard
Durfee who is now living in this town- and from this period I saw said Earle are many times in the guard service on the shores of this town until the
Enemy evacuated Rhode Island in the month of November 1779.
In Sullivans Expedition on Rhode Island in August 1778 I saw Earle in the service on said Island, at Butts Hill, we were not at that time in the same company, but we belonged to the same Regiment and say much to each other. I cannot be positive as to the amount of service performed by one Earle but from my best recollections and belief. I think the served
as much as Eighteen months in the militia, during the time aforesaid,.
Eliha Gifford

State of Rhode Island Ho
County of Newport

Be it known, That personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the Peace within and for said County of Newport, on the 13 day of January 1837 at Tiverton in said County, the above named Elihu Gifford and was duly sworn to the truth of the foregoing
deposition, and subscribed the same.
I further certify that said Deponent is personally
known to me, and is a credible witness
John Cross Jus. Peace
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In the matter of Earle Durfee
A Revolutionary Soldier
Elihu Giffords Afft
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I Richard Durfee of Tiverton in the County of Newport in the Sate of Rhode Island, Esqr late a Captain of the militia in the Revolutionary War of lawful age & being duly sworn deposed.
That in the year 1777 or 1778 was appointed a captain on the third or fourth Company of Militia of that town and county and in the same company the ... the whole Revolution to the of the war. then the war broke out Capt. Benjamin Durfee had the same command of said company of militia and I was a private in said company. The the year 1777 the company was divided and I took the command of the north company- 
When the enemy came on to Rhode Island in Dec. 1776 the militia of our said company then crossed off into two parts  one of those parts were continually in the public service at the guard posts on the shores at this town - for one month at at time and the classes relieved each other - and this manner of service continued till the enemy evacuated Rhode Island in December 1779 - 
I further state that I was well acquainted with Earl Durfee who removed from that town many years ago to the town of Cambridge and the state of New York from any ... after the time removed away as ago said - During the Revolutionary war he belonged to the same militia company with myself in this town - and I entertain not the least doubt that he performed his full share of military duty in guard service on the shores of this town in said company of militia - I can remember as much in regard to said Earl as I can in declaration on
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the thirteenth day of January 1837, at Tiverton in said Boun. ty. the afore named Richard Durfee and was duly sworn to the truth of the forgoing deposition, and subscribed the same.
I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said Richard Durfee, and that he is a credible person.
John Cross Jus. Peace

In the matter of Earl Durfee a Soldier of the Revolution.
Capt. Nivhaw Durfee's Appt.
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the thirteenth day of January 1837, at Tiverton in said Boun. ty. the afore named Richard Durfee and was duly sworn to the truth of the forgoing deposition, and subscribed the same.
I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said Richard Durfee, and that he is a credible person.
John Cross Jus. Peace

In the matter of Earl Durfee a Soldier of the Revolution.
Capt. Nivhaw Durfee's Appt.
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MILLS AT
BENNINGTON, VT.
HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y.

NEW YORK OFFICE
87 WORTH STREET
NEW YORK

E-Z MILLS, INC.
Hoosick Falls
New York
Lock Box 31

Sept. 22, 1931

Bureau of Pensions
Revolutionary Dept.
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:
Will you kindly advise me if application was ever made for a pension forEarl Durfee who served with a Rhode Island regiment?
I would also like this information on Mathew Gooding. Ell Hiell

Yours truly,
Durfee
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