Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30538, for Roswell Lanfair, Connecticut
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.
Conn. Sea Service

Lanfair, Roswell

NUMBER
S. 30538

CONTENTS

Not identical with
Roswell Lamphear - W.21544
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15,023 
Massachusetts 
Roswell Lanfair of Hampden in the State of Mass who was a PR & Seaman in the Company commanded by Captain Chapman in the Regt. commanded by Col. Swift in the Conn’t line for 16 months Private 
8 months Seaman} 
Conn & Conn Sea Service 
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 85 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of May 1833 and sent to Richd D Morris Springfield Mass 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833    $170.66 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833  42.67 
$213.33 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by D D Addison Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 2a  Page 49
72
Hampden
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Roswell Lanfair 
Mass 
Seaman 8 months 
Private 16 months
24 
53.33 
32.00  
85.33 
8843 
Rd D Morris Agt 
Springfield Mass
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BRIEF in the case of Roswell Lanfair County of Hampden in the State of Mass 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court 
2, If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 70 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period.   May In 1777 Duration of Service.  8 Months  Rank.  Private  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Captain Coit  Col. Ledyard
Period.  Feb. 1778 entered on board the Oliver Cromwell public Armed Ship June 20 was on this cruise Duration of Service.  8 months   Rank.  a Seaman  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Capt Parker
Period.  1780  Duration of Service.  8 months  Rank.  private  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Cap. Chapman Col. Swift
Period.  1782   Duration of Service.  8 months   Rank.  private   Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Cap Selden Col Sherman
5. In what battles was he engaged?  hard battles  at sea captured British ships after hard fighting 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Norwich Connecticut 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary and two living witnesses 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are not attached agreeable to the regulations 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
George Taylor 
Examining Clerk.
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Leonard Lanfair of Deerfield in the County of Franklin & State of Massachusetts, of the age of seventy two years depose & say that I was drafted into the service in the State line of Massachusetts in the Revolutionary war in the latter part of June 1780. I do not remember the day of the month I went to Springfield to pass muster and joined the Army at West Point, we marched to Fishkill. & there I saw my brother Roswell Lanfair, who was a Soldier in the Connecticut Line. The army marched to the Jerseys. I & my brother, on the way & in New Jersey after saw each other. I was often at his tent & he at mine.  I knew him to be a soldier in the army as above stated for about three months. I returned with the army to winter quarters at West Point & left my brother with the troops at a place called the English neighborhood in New Jersey.   I was informed by my brother at that time that he had enlisted in Connecticut for Eight months.  And I have always, since understood from him and others that he served eight months in the year 1780 in the Connecticut line of the Revolutionary army.
I further state that a few years before the
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above service. I cannot recollect in what year my brother & I both lived with our father in Norwich Connecticut, and he was said to have enlisted in the army in the State service of the Revolution, & I suppose he did, tho I did not see him enlist. He went away. as he said, & the family understood, to join the forces, and was stationed at Fort Trumbull in New London about 15 miles from our house. I cannot say, at this time how long he was gone on this tour of service. But it was through the season. And he came home during the time on furlough, as it may said I remember, my father was dissatisfied with his enlisting, that year. It was always reputed in our family & I cannot doubt the fact, that he was in the service of last aforesaid.  
And I further state that I understood my brother enlisted to go to sea.  My father and mother were opposed to his enlisting & forbade his going.  When the time come, when he was to have gone, he did not go. The next day, I think,
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two officers of the vessel in which he was to sail came to my fathers house & took my brother by force & carried him to Norwich landing Ct.  The name of the ship in which he sailed was called “Oliver Cromwell”.   I think he was gone about nine months. This was in the year 1778 I think.   The Said Roswell Lanfair lives in Springfield County Hampden & State of Massachusetts, and is now present while I make this deposition.   
Leonard Lanfair
State of Massachusetts,  
Franklin S.S.} July 28, 1832 – 
Then personally appeared Leonard Lanfair who subscribed the foregoing deposition and made  oath that the same is true. and I certify that said deponent is reputed to be a credible witness 
Geo Grennell Jr Justice of the peace  
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin SS.   I Elijah Alvord, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Franklin do certify that George Grennell Jr. Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit is a Justice of the Peace for said County.  And I believe his name to the caption thereof subscribed to be his genuine signature.  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Greenfield. on the twenty eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two 
E. Alvord Clerk
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Roswell Lanfair
Declaration
with Depositions of 
8843  Leonard Lanfair Joshua Sweet
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
County of Hampden Ss. 
On this Twenty seventh day of August in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before Oliver B Morris Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Hampden now sitting in Springfield in said County of  Hampden Roswell Lanfair a resident of Springfield in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy years 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 month of May in the year 1777 he enlisted in the Connecticut State troops for the Term of Eight months in a company of Artillery under the following named officer in Capt Coit Lieut Day and Lieut Harris that he enlisted at Norwich Connecticut where he then resided in his Fathers family and was stationed at Fort Trumbull New London in the Regiment commanded by Col. Ledyard. 
8 months
Col Ledyard was at Groton at Fort Griswold but commanded the Troops at both Ports. Major Saltonstall was at Fort Trumbull, that he served out the full time of his enlistment and was discharged about the first of February following, having served Eight months, that he does not recollect the names of any other Offices other than those above mentioned.  That he knows of no person living who served with him whose testimony he can procure and the only testimony that he can produce in addition to his own declaration is the Deposition of his Brother Leonard Lanfair who knew of his absence from home at that time and of his the said Leonards belief that he was then at Fort Trumbull in the service, and the belief and understanding in his fathers family that he was then in the service in the Army of the Revolution, and that he has no other documentary evidence of his service.  The deposition of said Leonard Lanfair is annexed hereunto
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That in the month of January in the year 1778 and before the time of his last mentioned service had expired, he enlisted in the Naval service under an officer then recruiting at New London for the Connecticut State ship Oliver Cromwell then lying in the Harbor of Boston and fitting out for a cruise, which enlistment was to take effect immediately after the expiration of the last mentioned service.  That after his discharge from the last mentioned service he immediately went home and his Father objected and forbade his going to sea, that he was sent for, and that he immediately repaired to Boston and went on board the Oliver Cromwell then nearly ready to sail in the month of February 1778.  That he sailed out of Boston in the Oliver Cromwell on the first day of March 1778 and cruised off the West India Islands where the fell in with and captured the British ships, "Admiral Cable” of 24 guns and "Cyrus" of 22 Guns after a hard fought action of about four hours. That the captured ships were manned from the Oliver Cromwell and sent as prizes to the United States where he understood they afterwards arrived safe at Boston.  That the Oliver Cromwell put into Charleston South Carolina to repair and remained one month, and then again put to Sea and run close cruised off the Coast of Guinea and on her return was overtaken by a violent hurricane which carried away her masts and threw the Ship upon her beams end. She however righted the next wave and that they were compelled to put all of the Guns in the hold for ballast, the ballast having shifted one side of the Ship in the Gale.  
18 months
She was refitted as will as the storm and means would permit and started for the United States. She soon after fell in with and Captured an English Brig bound from the West Indies to New York laden with goods & provision for the British Army.  The Oliver Cromwell arrived at New London about the last of October 1778 where he then said applicant was discharged having served over Eight months the time of his engagement and then he returned home to his Fathers in Norwich.  That he has no documentary evidence of his service and does not know of a person living who was with him who can testify of his service. That he offers the Deposition of his Brother Leonard Lanfair which is hereunto annexed
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to corroborate his own Statement who testifies as to his leaving home and of his return and his reputation of having served as above stated. Capt James Parker Commanded the “Oliver Cromwell”, John Chapman 1st Lieut.   Fresby 2nd Lieut.  Lt. Day of Marines was Killed in the action with the British ships. 
That in the month April or May in the year 1780 he again enlisted for Eight months in the Continental Army in the Connecticut line that he enlisted at Norwich and marched through Hartford and Litchfield in Connecticut under Capt Chapman to Fishkill in the State of New York where he joined the army and was placed in a Company commanded by Capt Reed in Col Starrs Regiment in Gen Jedediah Huntingtons Brigade. From Fishkill he was marched to the Highlands and remained there a few days, from there went to Verplanks point, crossed the River at Kings ferry into New Jersey-- went to Orangetown from thence into English neighborhood so called - from thence to Totowa. In the month of September following he was transferred from Capt Reeds Company into a company of Light Infantry under the command of Lieut Allen, (the Capt of which was sick and was not on duty while he remained in the Company - does not recollect the Capts name) have in a Regiment commanded by Col Heman Swift
8 months
The Light Infantry troops were commanded by Gen Lafayette.  That he remained in New Jersey until the latter part of December when the company to which he belonged went into Winter quarters near Verplanks Point in a piece of Woods, and that the time of his enlistment having expired he was discharged about the first of January having served Eight months; that he received a written discharge signed by Col. Heman Swift  that he has lost it and that he does not know what has become of it.  That he knows of no person living who served with him whose testimony he can procure but he offers the Deposition of his Brother Leonard Lanfair which is annexed hereunto who was with the Massachusetts troops and saw him in the service and can testify to a part of this time of serving and that he has no other documentary evidence to substantiate his claim
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That in the month of April or early in May in the year 1782 he again Enlisted at New London Connecticut in New London, Connecticut in the Continental army Connecticut line under Capt Ezra Selden a recruiting officer then recruiting at New London for the term of Eight months and he joined the Army at Verplanks Point in the State of New York the latter part of May or early in June following and was put into a company under the following named officers, Capt Hodge Lieut Spencer & Ensign Clark in Col Shermans Regiment Major Froup was in the same Regiment, in General Huntingtons Brigade and that he remained at or near Verplanks Point during the season or most of the time. While the Regiment was at Verplanks Point, he was sent with party of men up the River back of Newburg to cut wood for the Army - and joined his Regiment again at West Point where it had removed during his absence on the wood chopping expedition.  That he received his discharge at West Point the latter part of December or first of January following the time of his enlistment having expired - he having served Eight months;
8 months
that he received a written discharge signed by Gen Lafayette and that he does not know what has become of it not having seen it for a great many years.  That he recollects very well of seeing Gen Washington,  Gen Wayne,  Lord Sterling & Gen Green during this last campaign and that he was born in Norwich Connecticut in the year 1762. that he knows of no record of his age and that he resided at Norwich at each of the times when he was entered the service - That he has no documentary evidence of his last mentioned service other than the deposition of Joshua Sweet who testified to his being in said service; and that he knows of no other person living whose testimony he can procure to prove said service.  That he served the United States as afore stated in the whole two years and Eight months. That after the Revolutionary War he removed to Deerfield in the State of Massachusetts where he resided forty years, and then removed to Stamford in the State of Vermont and from
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Stamford, he removed to Springfield Massachusetts where he now resides, and has resided there for four months last March. 
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 of the agency of any State. 
Roswell Lanfair
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid  
And the said Court, after investigating the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he States 
I Justin Willard Register of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Roswell Lanfair for a Pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two 
J Willard 
Register &c
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30538  
Revy INVALID.
File No. 30,538
Roswell Lanfair
Pri Rev War 
Act June 7” 32”  
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 236 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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I Joshua Sweet of the Town of Shelburne County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do Depose and say that in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two I was Personally acquainted with Roswell Lanfair formerly of the Town of Grant in the State of Connecticut But now a resident in the Town of Springfield in the State of Massachusetts County of Harper and that he the aforesaid Roswell Lanfair was in the service of the Continental Army at the aforesaid time and I the aforesaid  Joshua and Roswell quartered at the same place in the State of New York at Verplank Point near Kings Ferry so called and that he the aforesaid Roswell then told me that had enlisted for the term of eight months and further I say not  
Joshua Sweet
Commonwealth Massachusetts 
Franklin ss July 26th 1832 
Then Joshua Sweet above named personally appearing made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth 
Before me Elam Kellogg Justice of the Peace 
I certify that John Sweet above named is reported to be a man of veracity and a credible Witness 
Elam Kellogg Justice of the Peace
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Joshua Sweet Deposition 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss.  I Elijah Alvord Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said Comonwealth when holden within and for the said count of Franklin do certify the within named Elam Kellogg is a Justice of the Peace for the said count of Franklin; and that his name to the certificate of the caption of the within affidavit subscribed is his own proper and true signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed name and affixed the seal of the said Corut at Greenfield on the twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
E. Alvord Clerk
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Joshua Sweet Deposition 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss.  I Elijah Alvord Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said Comonwealth when holden within and for the said count of Franklin do certify the within named Elam Kellogg is a Justice of the Peace for the said count of Franklin; and that his name to the certificate of the caption of the within affidavit subscribed is his own proper and true signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed name and affixed the seal of the said Corut at Greenfield on the twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
E. Alvord Clerk