Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,220, for Truman Porter, Connecticut
Page 1

(8-1776)
Service Conn.
Number S. 14.220.
Porter, Truman
Carded
Contents
Page 2

New York 9026 Albany.
Connecticut [lined out]

Truman Porter of Waterbury in the State of Connt who was a Pri[vate] in the Com[mand] commanded by Captain Edwards of the Regt commanded by Col Shipman in the Connt line for State Troops 10 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of Connt at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of March 1833 and sent R. S. Hinman Salembridge Conn.

Arrears to the 4th of March: 33. $66.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep: 33: $16[.]66
$83[.]32

Revolutionary Claims Act June 7, 
Recorded by E. D. Bullock, Clerk
Book E, Vol. 3, Page 34

[indecipherable] and letter to E M Birge 22 March 1838
[indecipherable] to Pen[sion] Ag[en]t 12 April 1838
To Albany New York from 4 Sept 1837. - 20 April 1838 [indecipherable] Sent to E. M. Birge, Coventry Chenango County N. York.

De[indecipherable]
Paid at the Treasury the Act of 6th April 1838 from 4th March 1838 to 27 Sept 1838. Agt [indecipherable] 11 April 1840
Page 3

Truman Porter's app for Pension 11 Months
No 1322

August 4 1832
Admit
10 Mo
$33.33

R. S Hinman
Salembridge
Cont [Connecticut]

R. S. Hinman Clerk
Page 4

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven
District of Waterbury
SS.
On this 28th day of July 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for said District Truman Porter Esq aged 69 (next September) years, who being first 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 August 1779 he entered the service in the militia under Capt Jotham Curtiss as a substitute for Jared Byington who was drafted for one month, and served for one month as a Soldier at Stratford and waited upon the Major of the Battalion Phineas Porter for said term of one month when the company was dismissed. 
That Stephen Hopkins was Lieut not a whole Regt. out -- No Col.
1 Month Stratford 1779

That in the summer of 1780 he was drafted and marched to Danbury Does not recollect the Capt.'s name the Lieut was Hezekiah Hine. and 
1 M with Danbury 1780
Page 5

marched on to Danbury and served there about one week - and then was told to go home untill called upon. That he was drafted for one month but was not called on after he returned from Danbury but held himself in readiness.
That in 1780 about the first of June he enlisted in a company as a recruit which company was enlisted for one year, this year to expire on the first day of March 1782. That his term was to, and did expire at said time. That his Capt was Nathaniel Edwards Lieut Aiken Ensign Henry Bull That they joined the Rgt at White Plains commanded one Battalion by Major Shipman and the others by Major Humphreys and the whole command by Genl Waterbury. remained at White Plains two or three months and then returned to Greenwich Ct and remained there and in its vicinity untill discharged which was on the last day of February 1782 just at night

That he was born in Waterbury on the 8th day of September 1765 and his birth he supposes is recorded on the Town Records of Waterbury
Page 6

and that he has always resided in Waterbury.

That he has no evidence of the time which he served at Danbury Ct and he annexes the evidence in his possession for the rest of the term.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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 day and year aforesaid. Truman Porter

We Thomas S Davis and John B Richardson clergymen resident in Salembridge Society Waterbury, New Haven County do hereby certify that we are acquainted with said Truman Porter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 69 years of age; that he is reported and believed in his neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesd.
Thos. S Davis
John B. Richardson
Page 7

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 abovementioned applicant was a revolutionary solider and served as he stated. And the court further certifying that it appears to them that Thomas S Davis and John B Richardson are clergymen and resident in said Society & Town and are reputable persons and their statement entitled to credit.
I, Robinson S. Hinman Cleark 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 Truman Porter for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & Seal of office this 28th day July A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
R. S. Hinman Clerk
Page 8

Elihu Spencer of Waterbury New Haven Court, Cnt. [Connecticut] being duly sworn depose and say that he was a soldier in the Revolution and that about the last of June 1781 he enlisted in a company commanded by Capt Nathaniel Edwards, which company's enlistment was to expire on then last day [of] February 1782 and that Truman Porter Esq of said Waterbury with whom he is well acquainted was a soldier in said company when Deponent joined it at White Plains, that deponent remained in said company at White Plains and at Greenwich untill February (the last day) 1782 when they were dismissed. That said Porter remained in said company untill that time - and further deponent says not. Elihu Spencer

Jared Tenell of Waterbury New Haven County, Ct. being duly sworn depose and say that he was a Revolutionary Soldier that in August 1779 he was drafted in a company commanded by Captain Jotham Curtiss stationed at Shatford Ct. for one month, and served at said place for our months
Page 9

and that he is acquainted with Truman Porter Esqr of said Waterbury and that said Porter was a soldier in said company and served with him for said one month when they were dismissed. Said Porter came to Stratford and took Mr Byington's place, who had been drafted. Jared Terrel

Culpepper Hoadly of said Waterbury being sworn deposes and says that he was a soldier in the Revolution and that in August 1779 he served as a substitute for one month at Stratford Ct for Lemuel Hoadly. That he is acquainted with Truman Porter Esqr who served in the same company with deponent for one month. Culpepper Hoadly.

State of Connecticut SS. Waterbury County of New Haven. July 28, 1832

Personally appeared Elihu Spencer Jared Terrel and Culpepper Hoadly all to me well known and respectable men and each signed his deposition in my presence and made
Page 10

oath to the truth of the same. Before me R. S. Hinman Just[ice] Pea[ce]

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven
District of Waterbury SS.
On this 3d Day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court for said District Truman Porter Esqr the said applicant who signed the foregoing Declaration, of Waterbury in New Haven County, Connecticut and made this his supplemental declaration to wit; He says he does now & always has lived in said Waterbury sd [said] County and State. That the first time he was out in the service of militia he served one month which commenced in August 1779. That the second term in 1780 in the summer he was drafted for one month and actually served 8 days but held himself in readiness to be called on during the month.
That the next and last service commenced the first day of June 1781 and continued untill the first day of March 1782. just nine months during which he was in actual service.
Making in all ten months & eight days he was in actual service & 22 days more during which time he was under a draft & held himself in readiness for service.
He says he has annexed above the testimony of at least one creditable witness to all his service except the eight days and
Page 11

that all his witnesses were men who were soldiers and served in the same company with him and that he has no evidence as to the 8 days. And in answer to the 1.2.&3 questions prescribed by the department he has in his former declaration said and he repeats. That he was born in the town of Waterbury, said County and State on the 8th day of September 1763 and that he has always resided in said town and no where else except when he was in said service, and that his birth is recorded on the Waterbury town records.
Subscribed and sworn this day & year as aforesaid. Truman Porter
R. S. Hinman Clerk
Page 12

Application for a transfer
County of Chenango ss.
On this 30th day of March 1838, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Chenango personally appeared Truman Porter who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Nathaniel Edwards in the Regiment commanded by Colonel David Waterbury in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Connecticut from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory,) of New York where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The following are his reasons for removing from Connecticut to New York That is to say said Truman Porter has lost his wife and his children residing in Chenango County or the principle part of them he has removed to said County to reside with them. Truman Porter

Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day and year aforesaid. Zenas Hutchinson Justice of the Peace

☞ The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The County Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
☞ The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath, is the person described in the affidavit. The Magistrate must certify that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed.
☞ In every case where the Clerk of the Court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should be sent with the papers.
☞ Mode of authenticating papers.--In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officers who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or small ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Page 13

Chenango County Town of Coventry Ss
Edwin M Birge of Coventry in said County being duly sworn before the undernamed a Justice of the Peace in said County makes Oath and swears that the person who has taken the within Oath is the said Truman Porter described in the affidavit subscribed and sworn before me Zenas Hutchinson Justice of the Peace 
Edwin M Birge
March 30th 1838
I Zenas Hutchinson do hereby certify that I am and have been for the last six years perfectly well [acquainted] with the above named Edwin M Birge 

State of New-York, Chenango County, Clerk's Office ss.
I, Perez Randall, Clerk of the county of Chenango, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the said county, do hereby certify, that Zenas Hutchinson Esquire, was on the 30th day of March 1838 a Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, duly commissioned and sworn, and that full faith and credit are to be given to his acts in that capacity: And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe the signature to the annexed Instrument to be genuine & to be his proper hand writing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of the said county, and subscribed my name this 2d day of April 1838. P. Randall, Clk
Page 14

Chenango County, Town of Coventry Ss 
Edwin M Birge of Coventry in said County being duly sworn before the undernamed Justice of the Peace in said County makes Oath and swears that the person who has taken the within Oath is the said Truman Porter described in the affidavit subscribed and sworn before me Zenas Hutchinson Justice of the Peace. 
Edwin M. Birge March 30th, 1838
I Zenas Hutchinson do heresy certify that I am and have been for the last six years perfectly well acquainted with the above named Edwin M Birge and that he is a man of truth and veracity Witness my hand at Coventry March 30th 1838
Zenas Hutchinson Justice of the Peace
Page 15

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office, April 6th, 1840
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, 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," The child[en] of Truman Porter, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, NY. Agency, at the rate of thirty three Dollars and thirty three cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838 to the 27th Sept. 1838, the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours, Albion K. Parris, Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present
Page 16

March 23, 1932
BA-J/EEL

Mrs. Eugene B. Fisher
104 West New York Avenue
Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information in regard to Thomas Porter, born January 7, 1783, Thomas Porter, born May 9, 1736, Truman Porter, born September 8, 1763, all in Waterbury, Connecticut, and Oliver Smith, born February 8, 1730, in Connecticut, and died in 1797, in Vermont.

The records have been searched and no record found of any of the above named persons except Truman Porter. His history is given below.

The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.14220, based upon the military service of Truman Porter in that war.

Truman Porter was born September 8, 1763, in Waterbury, Connecticut, and his birth was recorded in the town records of said Waterbury.

While residing in Waterbury, Connecticut, he enlisted and served with the Connecticut troops as follows: from August, 1779, one month in Captain Jotham Curtis' Company and acted as waiter to the major of the regiment, Phineas Porter (no relationship to soldier shown); in the summer of 1780, eight days under Lieutenant Hezekiah Hins; from about June 1, 1781, to the last day of February, 1782, in Captain Nathaniel Edwards' Company, under Major Shipman.

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 28, 1832, while residing in Waterbury, Connecticut.

In March, 1838, he was residing in Coventry, Chenango County, New York, where, he stated, he had moved because his wife had died and his children resided in said Chenango County; the names of wife and children are not given.

He died September 27, 1838.

Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 17

104 West New York Avenue
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
February 12th 1932
[Postmark] Received Feb 17 1932 Reader #19 Mail Sub. Div. N.S.V.B
[Postmark] Received Feb 17 1932 Receipt Section Pension Files Sub-division

Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:
Will you kindly inform me if there is any 1812 war service for one Thomas Porter born Jan 7th 1793 Truman Porter [born] Sept. 8th 1763 Thomas Porter, Jr. [born] May 9th 1736 All born in Waterbury, Conn. Thomas, Jr. died in Waterbury and Truman either died in
Page 18

Waterbury or Coventry.
This information will be much appreciated.
Yours truly, Mrs. Eugene B. Fisher

I would also like to inquire if your office contains any Revolutionary War record for one Oliver Smith born February 8th 1730 in Stonington or Preston, Connecticut. He married Zermah Bingham in 1764, and died in Vermont in 1797.
Page 19

Apl, 7, 1904, [indecipherable] to Alfred S. Roe Worcester Mass

1932-Mar. 23 [indecipherable] to Mrs Eugene B Fisher EEL

Rev War
14.220
Invalid.
File No. 14.220
Trumann Porter
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:--Vol. 1, Page 300
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 20

Coventry Chenango Co New York April 2/38

Sir,
I herewith enclose the application for a transfer of Mr. Truman Porter's Pension all filled up & authenticated as our Justice thought it ought be which I hope will be satisfactory.
I am Sir
Verry Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
E. M. Birge

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 21

Apl 20
M Evans

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 22

Pension Agency
Hartford, 16 April 1838

Sir,
In answer to your enquiry as to what time Truman Porter a pensioner on the Roll of the Agency under the act of 7 June 1832 at 33. 33/100 dollars per annum was last paid. I have to inform you that he has been paid to the 4th of September 1837.
I am very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant,
Saml L Pitkin, Agent

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

Coventry NY
[indecipherable] March 8 Free

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D. C.
Page 24

Coventry Chenango Co N. Y.
March 7, 1838

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Sir, Mr. Truman Porter a pensioner of the Connecticut agency has removed from Waterbury in the State of Connecticut to this place where he is expecting to remain wishes to have the place of payment changed from Hartford to Albany as he can much easier get his money from there than Hartford -- he is unacquainted with the manner in which it can be done and has requested me to write to you for the necessary intervention -- his certificate is recorded in the Pension Office in Book E Vol 3 Page 34 -- please have the goodness to write me at this place.
Very Respectfully Yours
E. M. Binge
Page 25

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven Ss.
I Jno Beach Clerk of the County Court within & for New Haven County & [indecipherable] through & of the Commissions of Justice of the peace in and for said County hereby Certify that I am acquainted with Robinson S. Hinman Esqr. & with his official signature & that he is & for more than one hear last past has been a Justice of the Peace in & for said New Haven County, & duly qualified to administer Oaths, & that his official signature to each [indecipherable] the papers [indecipherable] is his genuine official signature, In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County Court this 28th day of Nov. AD. 1832. Jno Beach Clerk
Page 26

Truman Porter
P. 27
R. S. Hinman
Page 27

Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claims of Truman Porter which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? No
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Does not appear
III. If the applicant did not make a declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of war when he served?
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. Not with precision
VI. Has he given the. names of officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
Page 28

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No--evidence defective
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? No
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or such an age, as to have personal knowledge of the applicant's service? does not distinctly appear
XVI. †Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1 & 2 & 3

EXPLANATORY NOTES
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:  "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, ^c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ----- year ---- --- months and ----- days, I served as a ---------. For ----- months and ----- days, I served as a --------; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 29

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in the affidavits the time of the claimant entering service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
Quere XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Brief. In this case the applicant has proved by witnesses who were in the service with him in the same company, as to all his service except 8 days and if the Department is not satisfied of the service of the eight days -- why strike it out and allow for the rest -- As for myself I do not know what language to use to satisfy the Clerk of the Department -- for I know of no words in the English language more explicit than the answers in the first declaration to the Questions -- 1, 2, & 3. And yet none were answered says the Clerk -- I did however think before I got through writing
Page 30

of the Term no where else and I added it for the distinctness of expression.
I am about out of patience. R. S. Hinman

Truman Porter

p 27
R. S. Hinman