Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S.11,931, George Abbey, Conn.
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn.

Abbey, George

NUMBER
S. 11931

carded
Page 2

[left section]
Com

[central section]
Connecticut, 31,463.

George Abbey
Eastford Co. in the State of Connecticut,
as a private in the company commanded
by Captain Wright, of the regmt commanded
by Col. Woodbridge in the Connecticut
militia, 6 months private.

[Ins]cribed on the Roll of Connecticut,
[at the] rate of 20 Dollars per annum,
[to com]mence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of July
1838, and sent to the
Hon. J. M. Niles, Senate.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1838, $140.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Sept. "  10.00
$150.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by G. T. Rhodes Clerk
[Index] E 2 Vol. 3 Page 1.

[right section]
[???] of
Lem. Holme, 
Ad Jun 7  32
Send Holmes
Ad Jun 73
Page 3

State of Connecticut
Hartford County SS
Wethersfield

On this 28th day of May 1838 Personally appeared
before the Court of Probate for the District of
Hartford in the County of Hartford and
State aforesaid George Abbe, a resident of said
Wethersfield a credible person, aged 77 years next
January who being first duly sworn according 
to Law, doth on his oath declare, That in the
time of the Revolutionary War, He was living
with Mr Alexander Grimes, of said Wethersfield
for the purpose of learning the trade or mystery
of the tanning and Shoe making business
and that in the forepart of July 1779, the
said Grimes was drafted to go as a Militia
man to North East Haven, a part of New Haven,
immediately after the British invaded New Haven
and that as it was inconvenient for the said
Grimes to leave a large business, he the Declarant
went as a substitute for his said
Master Grimes. That he served in said
Court Guard, for the term of one month in
Capt Benjamin Wrights Company, and Col
Goel Woodbridges Regiment & that at the termination
of the period for which the draft was made, he returned
home, And he furthermore declares, that he
again went into the service in the year 1781,
That he joined a company of State troops about
the first of July of that year.
that he found a company which marched from
Hartford in Connecticut under Capt Aaron Cook
& Lt Charles Dix, which marched with Col Canfield
Regt & marched to West point when we were
United to the continental army & served a part of
the time under General Patterson & a part of the time
Page 4

under Gen McDougal we served on the lines
above & below West point for the defense of our
lines against the British & Tories while General
Washinton with a large Branch of the army
had gone to meet Cornwallis at Yorktown
I served at this time according to my best
recollection from about the first of July until
the 15 of December of the same year, for a period
of not less than five months and a half, which
added to my services at East Haven amount
to Six months & a half and for these service he
claims a pension under the act of June 7th
AD 1832.

He was Born at Chatham in the county
of Middlesex, & State of Connecticut in the month of
of January & the 15 day 1763. The record of his age
is in the old family bible now with my sister in Chatham
He entered the service as he has stated
He served with the Officers named as well as with
others. He served as a private & was regularly
dismissed at the close of the periods of his services
he does not remember that he had any written
discharge, if he had it is lost. He now resides in
Wetherfield in Hartford County Connecticut where
he has resided for the last Fifty nine years and
previously thereto, he resided in the same place & in Chatham
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present, and declares
that his name is not on the Pension Roll
under the agency of any State.
He is acquainted with the Rev Caleb J Jenney
a Clergyman, resident in his neighborhood &
with Lancelot Crane & Samuel Galpen Town Clerk of the said town 
of Wethersfield who can testify as to his character
and their belief of his services in the War of the
Revolution.
George Abbey
Page 5

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid
Before said Court.

We Caleb J Jenney a Clergyman, residing in Wethersfield
in Hartford County, Connecticut, and Lancelot
Crane residing in the same town hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with George
Abbe, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing
declaration that we believe him to be seventy five
years of age last January 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.
Caleb J. Jenney Clergyman
Lancelot Crane

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Before said Court

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 applicant was a
Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he States;
and the court further certifies that it appears
to them that Caleb J Jenny, who has signed the
preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in said
town of Wethersfield and a credible person, and
that Lancelot Crane who has also signed
the same is a resident in said town a credible
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Henry Seymour Clerk of the Court of Probate
for the District of Hartford said District embracing
the Town of Wethersfield do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings before said
Page 6

Court in the matter of the application of George
Abbey of Wethersfield in Hartford County for
a pension.

In testimony and I further certify that
Henry Bulkley before whom the annexed
certificate of Alexander Grimes & Mary
Dickinson were taken is at this time
has been for more than six months last
past a lawful Justice of the Peace for
said County & that his signature to
said certificates as his genuine Signature

In testimony whereof I do hereunto
set my hand & affix the seal of said
Court the day & year first named & declare
that in the 1st page April was
erased & May was inserted before the papers
were furnished.
Attest Henry Seymour Clk

And I further certify that Franklin H
Merriman Esq before whom the annexed
Certificate of Samuel Holmes was taken
is at this time & has been for six months
last past a lawful Justice of the Peace
for said Hartford County & that his
signature to said certificate is his genuine
signature well known to me
Attest

[writing in right margin]
George Abbey
Declaration
Page 7

Mr Jesse Charlton
East Windsor Hill
Hartford County
Conn

Hon. J. M. Niles
Senator NY

[inverted writing]
George Abbey
Additional Declaration
Page 8

State of Connecticut
Hartford County SS. Wethersfield

On this 22 day of June 1838 personally
appeared before me Alfred Francis Esq,
one of the Justices of the Peace for said County
George Abbey, a resident of said Wethersfield,
a credible person aged 76 years last January who being first
duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath
make the following Declaration in addition to and
explanatory of his former Declaration in the Pension
Office in Washington, The period of his
entering the service the second time he
says the circumstances were, we were drafted about the
first of July 1781; four of our company were drafted to go into
a company to be marched to Join the Army at West point.
The Company was commanded by Capt Aaron
Cook of Hartford, our Lt was Charles Dix of
Wethersfield, our Ensign a Mr Smith of Glastonbury
or Chatham; we marched from the town of Wethersfield
thro the town of Farmington & Danbury
to West point; we were then placed under United
States officers: I remember Gen Patterson and
Gen McDougal were there. In answer to
the enquiry why did Capt Cook & Lt Dix leave
the Army he says, they were Militia Officers & went
with a company made up of Detached men & when
they arrived at Camp the Privates joind the continental
and the Capt he served under after Capt Cook
left the Company was Capt Starr of Middleton
to Col. Canfields Regiment we were employed
at West point in performing guard and Camp
duty from on or about the first of July
until on or about the 15th of December 1781.
in this second tour a period of not less than
Five months & a half, which added to his
first service make the amount of not less
Page 9

than six months and a half; according to
his best recollection; & for these services he asks
a Pension under the act of June 7th AD 1832.
He would further add that he believes Col
Canfield left whether removed to some other
place or discharged he does not know our
company was then annexed to Colo Jacksons
Regiment I believe Col Jackson was from
Boston; & that he belonged to the Massachusetts
line: Out of every company the most effective
men at West point were taken & marched down
to the Army going to meet Cornwallis. I
remained at West Point & Patterson had the
chief command. I remained until late in
December 1781. I had a written discharge
but it has been lost many years; I was
present at taking up the great chain
about the middle of December I did not
reach home until near the last of December
George Abby

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year first
named & the words "last January" & Middletown
was interlined before signing
Attest Alfred Francis Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut Hartford County Hartford

I Philo A Goodwin Clerk of the County Court
for Hartford County hereby certify that Alfred Frances Esq
before whom the above Declaration was taken is at this
time has been for more than one year last past, a lawful
Justice of the Peace for Hartford County, & that the signature
annexed to said certificate purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
Page 10

hand & affixed the Seal of said office at Hartford aforesaid
this 25 day of June 1838.

Attest Philo A Goodwin Clk
Page 11


In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank]
for a statement of the military history of George Abbey
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his application for pension
on file in this Bureau. S. F. 11.931.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | STATE.
   |  |  | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. |  

July, 1779. | 1 mo | Pri | Benjamin Wright |  Howell Woodbridge | Conn

July, 1781 | 5 1/2 mos | Aaron Cook, Starr | Canfield | [blank]

Battles engaged in, [checkmark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wethersfield, Conn
Date of application for pension, May 21, 1838. His cl. was al
Residence at date of application, Wethersfeld, Hartford Co. Co
Age at date of application, B Jan 15, 1763, Chatham, Middlesex Co. Conn.
Remarks: There is no data relative to family.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 12

1912, Oct. 8. History to
Mrs. Josephine G. Nichols.  F.N.

Rev War

11.931
INVALID
File No. 11.931
George Abbey
Priv Rev. war

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 1

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

East Windsor Hill Hartford County
Connecticut

Sir
I herewith transmit the application of
George Abbe a resident of Wethersfield in
Hartford County for a Pension under
the act of June 7th AD 1832

Some persons have
neglected to make application for a pension
where they were justly entitled to it because
they did not understand the nature of the proof
required and have believed that two living
witnesses were necessary to substantiate every
alledged period of service others from the
belief that it was necessary to have served six
months at one term

Mr Abbe is a man
who I never saw until a few weeks ago he
appears to be an honest but weak minded man
& has an overseer his children had moved
into the western country & left him & he had no
one to make any effort for him until one 
of the Selectment of the Town of Wethersfield
applied to me to present his case
That he served as he states I think there
is no doubt and that was less than 180
Page 14

days I have no proof he feels sure it was
longer I cannot obtain any more definite
proof as to the number of days but it would
seem from the evidence that the term
was not less than six months in the whole.

I am Sir most respectfully
your obt Servt
Jesse Charlton

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 15

State of Connecticut 
Hartford County SS Wethersfield

On this 21st day of May 1838 personally
appeared before me the Subscribing authority
Mrs Mary Dickinson a resident of said
Wethersfield a credible person aged Sixty six
years who being first duly sworn according 
to law doth on Oath declare That being
the daughter of Alexander Grimes of Wethersfield
she lived with her father and
well remembers that George Abbe now
a resident of said Wethersfield lived with
her father as an apprentice to the Tanning
and Shoe making business That she well
remembers that the said George Abbe 
went into the Army in my fathers
stead that he went at two different
and that when he came home
it was in the winter season and that
he was lousey she was young at that time
and cannot specify the exact time he
was gone but well remembers his going
twice & returning in the winter
Mary Dickinson

Sworn & Subscribed the day & year first named
Before me & Glastonbury was erased before signing
Henry Buckley Jus of the Peace
Page 16

State of Connecticut
Hartford County SS Wethersfield

On this 21st day of April May 1838 personally
appeared before me Henry Bulkley Esq one 
of the Justices of the peace for said County
of Alexander Grimes a resident of the Town of
Wethersfield in said County aged 93
years a credible person who being first duly
sworn according to law doth on oath declare
That in the Revolutionary War, he was well
acquainted with George Abbe, then & now of
Wethersfield in Hartford County Connecticut,
That the said George Abbe lived with me
when he was a young man to learn
the Tanning & Shoe making business which I was
there carrying on; and I well remember
that in July 1779, just after the enemy came in
to New Haven there was men detached to go
down to New Haven or East Haven I was
detached & it was more convenient to have
George go than to go myself & as he was
willing to go, I let him go in my place, as my
substitute, & he went & served, (I fully believe
a month at least. And I am also well
knowing to the fact that in the Summer of 1781
men were wanted to in the army near West
point and the said George Abby who was
still living with me & not then twenty one
years old went into the army & served
until December he left home as I fully believe
the forepart of July & staid as I fully believe
until the middle of December, but I cannot tell
to a day, it is so long ago; but as he was living
with me & went once for me & again by my consent
my mind is so impressed with it that I shall be
as likely to retain it as I shall to retain
Page 17

a recollection of anything.
Alexander Grimes

Sworn & Subscribed the day and year first named
& before signing April was erased and May was inserted.
Henry Bulkley Jus of the peace
Page 18

No 3452/ra

George Abbey
Con

admd
6 mo/[??]
20$

Hon J. M. Niles
Senate

[???] Col. Starr
July 15 '80 discharged
Dec 80

Hon J. M. Niles
Senate US
Page 19

[left margin]
C
259

No
16[?]

State of Connecticut
Comptrollers Office
Hartford June 1838

I hereby certify that in the settlement
at Canfields Regiment in Nov 1783
I found the following entry
By Jonah Baldwin acct for clothing
delivered to the Captains & credited on their
rolls  1460 " 19 " /
but the names of the Captains I do not find
nor any Rolls of this Regiment.
By order on Treasurer returned by Jonah Baldwin
a/Jan  272 " 3 : 6
But the date at which these articles were
delivered to the Captains is not given
And under date of 3d July 1780
There is the following entry
Colo Howell Woodbridge Dv[?]

To order on Treasurer Lawful Money
264 "  "

Henry Kilbourn Compt.
Page 20

James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Page 21

State of Connecticut
Hartford

Comptrollers Office. June 22nd AD 1838

On examining the Books of the Pay
Table in this office relating to the Revolutionary
War, I find the following entries viz.
The United States Dv[?] to the State of Connecticut
for Sundry Expenditures for Bounty Wages etc of
Troops who served at West point in 1781-
1782.
Jan 29 Col Samuel Canfield Bounty 2 " 15
Wages 346 " 16 " 0 Billeting Mileage etc 54:19"8 Commission
10 " 0 " 10 Amount paid in Specia 414 " 11 " 6
See Haskells Receipts page 17
And in Leg 6 page 218 The is the following
entry
Dv[?] Col Samuel Canfield Contra Cr
1783
July 2 By amount of acct rendered 1319 " 12 5
By Ballance charged below 191 10 6
And Sundry Debits orders on Treasuryetc
to Ballance the same by referring to the Journal
1631, I find no further particulars given
and the entry there is "By amount of Acct
rendered Specie & War is charged. 1319 " 12 " 5
In examing the files & Rolls of 1781 I do not find
any rolls of Col Canfield Regt or the names of
the officers who served under him

Henry Kilbourn
Compt
Page 22

East Windsor Hill
Hartford County
Conn
June 1838

Sir,
If Mr Abbey had enlisted into a particular
Corps, we might have found the act authorizing
that branch of the forces: but being drafted to join
the Army, we know not where to find anything that
will shed more light on the subject in the office of
the Secretary of State. I have carefully searched the
records of the Council of Safety, & cannot find any
thing there which has any bearing on the subject.

I am Sir very respectfully yours
Jesse Charlton

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D C
Page 23

George Abbey
June 30
JM at
[??]

J. L. Edwards Esq
Comr Pensions
Washington

Hon. J. M. Niles
Senate U.S.
Page 24

Washington  June 29 39

Sir
I enclose you the witten additional
papers in relation to the case of George
Abbe

I am your
J. M. Niles

J L Edwards
Page 25

Mr. J. L. Davenport,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,
Will you kindly send me any records in your office regarding the following:

Mason Abby Capt. Elderkin's Company, 7th Regt., Conn. line, enl. Feb. 20,
1777, disch. Feb. 24, 1780.

Ichabod Abee, private in Mass. troops, 1775, 1776.

George Abby, enl. 1st Regt. Conn. line, July 15, 1780, disch, Dec. 5, 1780.

Stephen Abby, private, later corporal in Capt Sedgwick's Co., 6th Battallion,
Wadsworth's brigade, Conn. State Troops 1776.

Yours truly
(Mrs.) Josephine G. Nichols,
1915 Daly Ave.
New York City

October 3, 1912.
Page 26

[postmark]

U.S. PENSION OFFICE
D
Oct 5 1912
Page 27

F.W.
Rev. War Section.

October 8, 1912.

Mrs. Josephine G. Nichols,
1915 Daly Avenue,
New York City.

Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 3" and received
the 5" instant, you are herewith furnished the history of
Mason Abbe, Sur. File No. 32,628, and George Abbey, Sur. File
No. 11, 931, Rev. War, and advised that this Bureau has only
a record of claims filed on account of services rendered to
the Government, and a careful search of the records fails to
show that claims were ever filed for Ichabod Abee of the Massachusetts
troops, or Stephen Abby of the Connecticut troops
in the Revolution.

Very respectfully,
J. L. Davenport
Commissioner.