Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21997, for Asa Staples, Connecticut
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
Staples, Asa
NUMBER
S. 21997
CONTENTS4
Page 2

Vermont 8724
Asa Staples
of Rutland in the state of Vermont who was a Pri. in the compy commanded by Captain Sill of the reg commanded by Col. Parsons on the Connecticut Line for 7 mos & 10 days.

Reduced from $50.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Burlington at the rate of 24 Dollars 43 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of March 1838 and sent A. L. Brown, Rutland Vermont

Arrears to the 4th of March - $171.01
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 12.21
_________
$183.22
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk
Book G2 Vol. 3 Page 100

Letter to Con Agent 27 Sep 1839
Same person F. B. Auditor 31 March 1840
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6th April 1838 from 4th Sept 1838 to 4 March 1839. Agt notified 25 April 1840.
Page 3

Asa Staples
21 mo
no old papers on file
Undefined service disallowed
Ely Reg' 1776, 1 [illegible] actual
see Comp Certf
admed
15 mo pri
50$
from R Semple
Rutland
Vermont
Page 4

State of Vermont,
Rutland County, ss}
On this 11th day of July A. D. 1812, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of Rutland [illegible] now sitting, Asa Staples a resident of the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 75 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.
In 1775 he lived at Lyme Connecticut & enlisted in April to serve eight months in Capt. Sill's compy in Col. Parsons Regt (afterwards Genl. Parsons) & marched to Roxbury through New London (where they drew their arms & tents), Norwich & Providence, he was stationed at Roxbury, saw the battle of Bunkershill, but was not called into action. When his time expired the new recruits had not come in, & Col. Parsons made a speech to the regt & requested them to remain until Col. Huntingtons Regt arrived. The young men remained, among whom was the deponent, which extended his service to nine months.
In the summer of 1776 he volunteered & served in Capt. Dan Marvin's company, Col. John Ely's Regt & marched to Kingsbridge, through New Haven. The enemy took New York the day before they reached Kingsbridge. & he retreated to Whiteplains. He was in the heart works during the battle at Whiteplains. He was drafted with two others immediately after the battle to drive teams & continued in that service until he was discharged by Genl Wadsworth, Commissary Genl, at his head quarters, at the heights 18 or 20 miles above Whiteplains, having served six months.
In 1777, & the subsequent years, he was frequently called out on alarms from Lyme. He served two months under Capt. Saml Marther, & marched to New London soon after it was burnt by the enemy & worked at the Forts, but he cannot recollect so as to state particularly his several periods of service. He should think he was out eight or nine times, & served from one week to one month at a time. He recollects he served once just a month at New London, having been called for a month, but cannot recollect the time. He is confident however that the whole amount of his service during these alarms could not be less than six months.
Page 5

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. 

Sworn to and subscribed the }   [illegible]  
day and year aforesaid. 

R.C. Royer Reg

We Lucas L. Tilden a clergyman residing in Rutland and Silas Pratt, Esq residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Asa Staples who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 

Sworn and subscribed the }       Silas Pratt
day and year aforesaid.              Lucius L. Tilden

R.C. Royer Reg

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 was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Lucius L. Tilden who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Rutland and that Silas Pratt who has also signed the same, is a resident in Rutland and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 

Rodney C. Royer, Reg. Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Asa Staples for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the office this 4th day of Aug. A.D. 1832

R.C. Royer Reg
Page 6

September 10, 1932
XXXXX
Asa Staples 21997
BA-J/EEL
Mrs. J. Grinnell
3016 Benvenue Avenue
Berkeley, California
Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information
in regard to Thomas Wood, Antony Newland and Asa Staples, soldiers
of the Revolutionary War and Willard Wood, a soldier of the Civil War.
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 of that war.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made
in your behalf and no record found of such claims having been made
on account of the services of a Thomas Wood, born February 24, 1731;
died in 1817, or of any Antony Newland, in that war. Searched by Min Ford
The history of Asa Staples follows:
Asa Staples was born September 8, 1756, at Lyme, Connecticut.
While residing at Lyme, Connecticut, he enlisted in April, 1775,
served nine months as a private in Captain David F. Sill's Company,
Colonel Samuel H. Parsons' Connecticut Regiment and was in sight of
the battle of Bunker Hill but did not participate in said battle:
he enlisted in May or June, 1776, and served six months as a private
in Captain Dan Marvin's Company, Colonel John Ely's Connecticut Regiment: he enlisted, date not given, served two months in Captain Samuel Marther's Connecticut Company, and was stationed at New London, in
1777, and subsequent years, he served eight or nine tours of from one
week to one month each, at least six months in all, one of the monthly tours being at New London, no specific dates or officers' names
are given for these last named services.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 11, 1832,
Page 7

at which time he was a resident of Rutland County, Vermont.
There are no data as to family.
Your letter has been referred to the proper division of this office in regard to Willard Wood, a soldier of the Civil War.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 8

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office
April 14th 1840

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1833, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Asa Staples, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Vermont Agency, at the rate of twenty four Dollars and forty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept 1838, to the 4th March 1839.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present
Page 9

Asa Staples
Rutland Vt.
Page 10

Rutland 10 Feby. 1835

Sir
Agreeably to the instruction from the pension office 17th Jany. 1835 addressed the Hon. William Slade, I make the following statement compounding as near as I can recollect with my original declaration. 
 
I served in Col. Samuel H. Parsons regiment, and in Capt. Sill's company in which Lieut Wade + Lieut Wright were officers - I resided at [illegible] in the State of Connecticut when i was inlisted for  eight months - and was stationed at Boston and vicinity during the period of my service and was in sight of the battle of Bunker Hill but not engaged in the battle - was not engaged in any battle - was employed in the Connecticut line - served out the time of my enlistment eight months and remained about one month longer than my enlistment- I enlisted im 1775 in April I believe - Resided at  Rutland Vermont my present residence, where I made application for a pension - my declaration was made before Robert Pierpoint, Esp Judge of Probate for the District of Rutland, I have received fifty Dollars per annum and was paid up to the 4th September last, In May or June 1776 engaged  for six months in Col John Blair Regiment [illegible] in Capt Dan Marvin's company in which Able Hall was
Page 11

8724 Vermont
Asa Staples
of Rutland in the State of Vermont
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Sill of the Regt commanded by
Col Parsons in the Connecticut
line [?] for 15 month
[illegible Rxxxxx - 7 mo illegible]

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
the rate of 50 Dollars - Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of April
1833
and sent to R Temple
Rutland Vt
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33- $100.00
Semi anl. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 25.00
-
$125.00
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Jno Cromwell Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 90
Page 12

Let A L. Brown 20 Feby 1835
Let Brown & Hopkins 27 April 35
Let A L Brown 10 July 1835
[illegible notation at the bottom of the page]
Page 13

Rev.& 1812 Wars Section
RFL
November 22, 1930
Miss Jessie Wishart
Room 673, Veterans Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.21997, that Asa Staples was born September 8, 1756, at Lyme, Connecticut.

[handwritten marginal note  Mrs. Finch said use what was stated as length of serv instead of state report.]

While residing at Lyme, Connecticut, he enlisted in April, 1775, served nine months as a private in Captain
David F. Sill's Company, Colonel Samuel H. Parsons' Connecticut Regiment, and was in sight of the battle of
Bunker Hill but did not participate in said battle.

[handwritten marginal note  Could not identify this capt (meaning Samuel Marther)]

[handwritten marginal note   Could not identify Capt Dan Marvin as of Col Ely's Regt.]

He enlisted in May or June, 1776, and served six
months as a private in Captain Dan Marvin's Company, Colonel John Ely's Connecticut Regiment.

He enlisted, date not given, served two months  in Captain Samuel Marther's Connecticut Company, and was
stationed at New London. 

In 1777 and subsequent years, he served eight or nine tours of from one week to one month each, at least six months in all, one of the monthly tours being at New
London. No specific dates or officers names are given for any of these services.

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 11, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Rutland County, Vermont.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
Page 14

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly
the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner,
Asa Staples, S.21997, you should address the Comptroller
General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this
city, citing all of the following data:
Asa Staples, Certificate No. 8724, issued March 14,
1838, rate $24.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act
of June 7, 1832, Vermont Agency.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 15

21.997
INVALID.
[handwritten note  Revolution]
File No. 21,997
Asa Staples
[illegible] Rev War
---
Act: June 7 32
Index: --Vol. 2, Page 392
Arrangement of 1870.


1930 - Nov 22. Hist to
Miss Jessie Wishart EES
1932 - Sept 10 - Hist to
Mrs J. Grinnell Letter
to the Record Divison
[illegible initials]
Page 16

State of Connecticut
Comptroller's Office
Hartford
11. April 1835
On examination of the files of this office, it appears that Asa Staples served as a private in Captain David F. Sill's company, Colonel Samuel H. Parson's regiment in the year 1775 from the 8th day of May to the 18th day of December, seven months and ten days -
Certified by Roger Huntington
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Page 17

[stamp Rutland VT]
[illegible note Jxx Axx 27]
Apr 21
Hon. J.L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions
City of Washington
Page 18


Rutland 
21 April 1835
Sir
We send enclosed a certificate of the Comptroller of the State of Connecticut in relation to the service of Asa Staples in 1775 as directed presuming that
this will be sufficient.

The agent at Burlington, Prest of the Branch Bank, still declines paying Luke Roberts pension "because he has
not been directed so to do by the Department," and we
are apprehensive that the letter containing such instructions might have been destroyed when the mail was robbed
some time since near Lansingburgh. Your note to
Mr. Roberts advising him that he was restored, and that
his pension would be paid as usual, bears date at
the "Pension Office Feby. 18 1835" -
We hope that the agent will be immediately
directed to pay Mr. Roberts
Very
Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
Brown & Hopkins
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Page 19

[handwriting Asa Staples
$50]
Payments to be made
at Burlington Vt
by the Presd. U.S.Br. Bk.
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of
Vermont
[handwriting  May 1, 1833 of Rutland
50 years, previous of
Granville - Capt
Sill, Col. Parsons]

Issue New Certif for
12443 and deduct previous payments -

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E Vol. 3
Page 9 by Jno Cromwell
Clerk.
Page 20

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States
of the 7th June, 1832, Asa Staples of the
State of
Vermont-
---
who was a Private in the Revolutionary Anny
is entitled to receive Fifty dollars
[strike through: and
cents] per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the
4th March, and 4th of September, in every year. 
Given at the War Office of the United States this 25th day of April one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-three.
Lew Cap
Secretary of War
Examined and
Countersigned. }
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 21

[handwritten]
[illegible]
W Stafly
[stamp reads Rutland VT Mar illegible]
[stamp reads FREE]
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
City of Washington
Page 22

Rutland 5 March 1838
Sir I send enclosed Asa Staples pension certificate
for correction, as directed by a letter from the Pension Office
of 27 Apl 1835 addressed to Brown & Hopkins Rutland Vt.
by which letter it appears that he is entitled to pay for only
7 mo. 10 days service- Please to make the correction and return
new certificate to me
Yours &c
Respectfully
A L Brown

Hon J L Edwards
Com. of Pension
Page 23

History furnished on the personal request of
Miss Jessie Wishart,
Room 673, Veterans Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Page 24

Asa Staples pri 50 p. anm. when enlisted?
G.M.L.
March 14 '38
paid to 4th Sept 1834
JH
Page 25

Montpelier 26 Sept 1839

Sir
I regret to trouble you so often with questions which to you may appear trivial but the short time I have been in the business & my ignorance of the [illegible] at the Departments in Washington must be my apology. The case I now refer is that of Asa Staples which was rejected for want of a certificate from the Justice of his identity after two payments had become due, which I considered a years pension. Also that it should have been returned in me power please advise me on the subject.
Yours &c
A. Clarke

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pension
Washington