Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,841, for Ralph Smith, Connecticut
Page 1

Service
Conn.

Smith, Ralph
Anne

Number
W. 17,841

Contents

res. at enl. New Milford, Litchfield Co. Conn. there in 1819.
d. Nov. 13, 1823
Page 2

12,153
R
Connecticut.
Ralph Smith,
of New Milford in the state of Cont
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Swift of the Cont
line, for the term of three years.

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 28th of May 1819.

Certificate of Pension issued the 22d of June 1819.
and sent to Pierpont Edwards,
Esq. Bridgeport, Cont.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1819 3 & 4/31 4/30 26.09
Semi-anl. all'ce ending -
$26:09

{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th march, 1818.}
Page 3

Connecticut 2014
Anne Smith
widow of Ralph Smith
who was a Private
Conn.
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
80 Dollars
per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the
16th day of Sep. 1843
and sent to N. Perry
New Milford,
Con.

[Act of March 3, 1843.]
recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1. Page 76.

Repd.
Page 4

Ralph Smith
Page 5

I Pierpont Edwards district Judge of the district of Connecticut do certify that appear [illegible] Ralph W Smith who made and subscribed the declaration contained in the annexed schedule did fight in the revolutionary war against the common enemy as stated in his said declaration & now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me in this case to the Judiciary of the department of War, pursuant to an act of congress in prior made and provided. Said providing and testimony are contained in the annexed Schedule May 29 1819 Pierpont Edwards
I certify further that fair & [illegible] truth by reason of his reduced circumstances in life and in need of his
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Country for support May 29 18[illegible]
Pierpont Edwards district Judge of Connecticut district
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District of Connecticut ss
On this 28 day of May AD 1819 before me Pierpont Edwards District Judge of the United States for said District Ralph Smith of New Milford in said District a resident Citizen of the United States resident in said New Milford where he has dwelt more than forty years last past that he may obtain a pension under the act of Congress of March 18th AD 1818 under oath declares that in February AD 1777 the Declarant enlisted into the military service of the United States as a soldier in Captain Elizur Warrens Company Colonel Heman Swifts Regiment in the Connecticut line of the army of the United States on the Continental establishment for the term of three years which term the Declarant faithfully served out as a private soldier in said Regiment in said army in the Continental establishment during the war of the revolution and that during said term of the declarants service he was in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth & the storming Stoney Point and that at the end of said term the Declarant was from said service honorably discharged by Lt Col Holdridge which discharge by time & accident is lost
The Declarant further maketh oath that that he is and for more than forty years last past hath been a resident citizen of the United States of America a dwelling in said New Milford and that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life is in need of assistance from his country for his support.
Ralph Smith
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District of Connecticut Ss May 29 1819
then came and appeared before me Pierpont Edwards district Judge of the district of Connecticut within named Ralph Smith and in my presence made oath to and signed in my presence the within declaration and that the same is true Pierpont Edwards
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District of Connecticut Ss On this   day of May AD 1819 before me Pierpont Edwards District Judge of the United States for the District of Connecticutt came Robert B Ruggles of Brookfield in said District who being duly sworn do the depose & say that he is well acquainted with the aforenamed declarant Ralph Smith and with his circumstances in life and that he is for more than forty years last past has been a resident citizen of the United States and that his circumstances in life are so reduced that in the opinion of the deponent he is in need of assistance from his Country for his support.
Robt B. Ruggles
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District of Connecticut Ss May 29 1819
I Pierpont Edwards district Judge of said district do certify that Donald S. Boardman before whom the annexed deposition of David Buell and the annexed deposition of David Bostwick were taken is a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Litchfield, and the Name subscribed to be caption of [illegible] said deposition is the proper hand writing of said David S. Boardman I being well acquainted therewith and I further certify that Noah A Lacey before whom the annexed deposition of Isaac Lockwood was taken is a Justice of the Peace for the
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for the county of Fairfield and that the signature to the caption of said Lockwoods deposition is the proper hand writing of the said Noah A Lacey and that the deposition by David Bostwick and David Buel and Isaac Lockwood are each [illegible] and [illegible] Pierpont Edwards
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State of Connecticut County of Litchfield ss
On the 22d day of April 1819 before me the subscriber Justice of Peace for said County personally appeared David Buel of New Milford in said County to me well known & by me deemed to be a credible witness, and being duly sworn, saith that he served as a soldier in the Regiment of Continental troops commanded by Col. Heman Swift of the Connecticut line, from some time in the Month of December in the year 1778 to some time in the month of Feby in the year 1780 & that during said time he well knew & ever since has known Ralph Smith then & still of said town of New Milford & that he the said Smith served as a Private in said Regiment during the whole of said period, that he was in said Regt when this deponent joined the same & remained in it untill after this Depont was discharged & as this Depont has understood & verily believes served in said Regt the full period of three years - David Buel
Sworn the day & year first above written Before me David L. Boardman Just. Peace
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State of Connecticut, County of Fairfield ss.
On the 27th day of May 1819 Personally appeared Isaac Lockwood of Lawful age & testifies & says that he is well acquainted with Ralph Smith of New Milford in Litchfield county & with his circumstances, & that he requires the assistance of his country for support 
Isaac Lockwood
Sworn the day & year first above written before me Noah A. Lacey Just. of peace

[seal affixed at right]
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State of Connecticut County of Litchfield ss -
On the 24th day of April 1819 before me the subscriber a Justice of Peace for said County. Personally appeared David Bostwick Jr of New Milford in said County, to me well known & by me deemed to be a credible witness & being duly sworn doth upon such his oath declare that for more than forty years last past he has well known Ralph Smith of said New Milford named in the foregoing affidavit of David Buel; that during the campaigns of the year 1777, 1778 & 1779, this Depont. served in the Connecticut line of the Continental army, & there frequently saw & well knew the said Smith, who served during said period in the Regt commanded by Col. Heman Swift - that said Smith was as this Depont. understood, & verily believes inlisted for the period of three years, & that he served out the full period of his inlistment
David Bostwick Jr
Sworn the day & year first above written
Before me David L. Boardman Just. Peace
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252
Anne Smith

admitted
Pri 2 yrs
$80
Page 16

State of Connecticut,
County of Litchfield,
Probate District of New Milford ss.
On this 7th day of August 1838 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for said District now sitting at New Milford in said District and County Anne Smith a resident of said New Milford aged Seventy two years, who, being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 intitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows". That she is the widow of Ralph Smith who was a private in the army of the Revolution - He inlisted into Capt Elizur Warners Company in the Regiment Commanded by Col. Heman Swift in the winter or spring of the year 1777 as she believes for a period of three years and served out the term of time for which he inlisted - He was a pensioner of the United States under the
Page 17

Act of March 18th 1818 and was afterwards dropped therefrom or stricken from the roll of Pensioners on account of property and she respectfully refers the Department to his declaration & the proof thereto annexed and other documents in the Pension Office at Washington for proof of his services -
She further declares that her maiden name was Treat, that she was married to the said Ralph Smith on the eighteenth day of March in the year seventeen hundred and eighty three and that her husband the aforesaid Ralph Smith died on the 13th day of November in the year eighteen hundred and twenty five; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz: at the time above stated -
Anne Smith
Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written Before
Nathaniel Perry Judge of said Court
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I Noble S. Bennitt Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Anne Smith for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at the Probate Office in said District this 7th day of August AD 1838 -
Nobel S Bennitt Clerk

[seal affixed at left]
Page 19

I John Smith of New Milford in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut aged fifty four years being first duly sworn according to Law, depose and say that I am the son of Ralph Smith late of said New Milford deceased, that I resided in the family of my said father from my infancy to the time of his death He died on the thirteenth day of November 1825 I was present at the time of his death and attended his funeral -
Since the death of my said father I have resided in the family with my mother Anne Smith the widow of sd Ralph Smith to the present time. She has remained a widow ever since the death of the said Ralph Smith and is still unmarried
John Smith

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County
Probate District of New Milford ss
On this 7th day of August 1838 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for said District John Smith and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit and I certify that the said John Smith is a credible witness - Sworn before & certified by me
Nathaniel Perry, Judge of said Court
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State of Connecticut
Probate District of New Milford ss
Probate Office Augt. 7th 1838
I Noble S. Bennitt Clerk of the Court of Probate for said District do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in taking the Affidavit of John Smith
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year above written
Nobel S. Bennitt Clerk

[seal affixed at left]
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"March eighteen, Seventeen hundred eighty three Ralph Smith married Anne Treat."

I Noah Porter Junr Pastor of the First Congregational Church in the town of New Milford, County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut do certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Records with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows "March 18. 1783"
Noah Porter Junr

I Noah Porter Junr above named, depose and say; that I hold the office of Pastor of the first Congregational Church in the town, County, and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said church with the exception above named as certified by me
Noah Porter Jr. Pastor of the church aforesaid.

State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield
Probate District of New Milford ss:
On this 3d day of August 1838. personally
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appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for said District Revd Noah Porter Junr & subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit 
Before me
Nathaniel Perry Judge of sd Court

State of Connecticut
District of New Milford ss:
Probate Office August 3d 1838
I Noble S. Bennitt Clerk of the Court of Probate for said District do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in taking the Affidavit of Revd Noah Porter Junr -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day & year above written -
Nobel S. Bennitt Clerk

[seal affixed at left]
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October 12, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/MCS
Ralph Smith, W.17841

Mrs. Grace C. Wellwood
Bridgewater
Connecticut

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to Ralph Smith, a Revolutionary War soldier who married Anne Treat and who died November 13, 1825.

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W.17841, based on the military service of Ralph Smith.

The date and place of his birth and the names of his parents were not given.

While a resident of New Milford, Connecticut, he enlisted in February, 1777, as private in Captain Elizur Warner's company in Colonel Heman Swift's Connecticut regiment, was in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth and Stony Point, and served three years.

He married March 18, 1783, in New Milford, Connecticut, Anne Treat, and the marriage was recorded in the First Congregational Church of New Milford.

Ralph Smith was allowed pension on his application executed May 28, 1819, at which time he was living in New Milford, Connecticut. His age when he applied for pension was not given.

He died November 13, 1825.

A son, John, was living in New Milford, Connecticut, in 1838, aged fifty-four years. There are no further data relative to family.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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[left side of page]
Rev Widow, &c.

File No. 17841
Anne Smith
Widow of
Ralph Smith
Pri Rev War

Act: March 8 43
Index: - Vol. M, Page 223

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side of page]
1938 Oct. 12 hist. to Mrs
Grace C. Wellwood M.C.S.
Page 25

134
Connecticut
Anne Smith
widow of Ralph Smith decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818
and who died on the 13 November 1825
of New Milford in the State of Ct.
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Warner of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Swift in the Ct.
line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Ct
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of Sept. 1838 and sent N. Perry
New Milford Connt

Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $160.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 40.00
200.00

{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
H Vol. 2 Page 208
Page 26

New Milford (Con) Augt. 10th 1838
Sir
I send herewith the declaration of Mrs. Anne Smith an applicant for a pension under the Act of July 7th 1838
A copy of the record to prove her marriage and the affidavit of her son to prove the time of her husband's death are also herewith sent His service was [illegible] and I suppose will appear at Washington I see nothing why she is not entitled to a full pension - Please make returns to me
Your Obt Servt
N. Perry

J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
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2325
Anne Smith

$80 per ann

Nathl. Perry
New Milford
Con
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State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield } ss.
On this 21st day of June 1843 personally appeared before me Nathaniel Perry a Justice of the Peace within & for said County Anne Smith a resident of the town of New Milford in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut aged 77 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3d March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War
That she is the widow of Ralph Smith who was a private in the army of the Revolution and served in the Regiment commanded by Col. Heman Swift and that he was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and stricken from the roll of Pensioners on account of the amount of his property
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She also declares that she received a pension at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum under the Act of July 7th 1838 - She further declares that she is still a widow
Anne Smith

Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year first above written
Before me
Nathaniel Perry Justice of Peace

I certify that the above declarant is personally known to me to be the same person who received a pension under the Act of July 7 1838 as above stated
Nathaniel Perry Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut, }
Litchfield County, } ss. Litchfield.

[seal affixed at left]

I Geo. C. Woodruff Assistant Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Nathaniel Perry Esq is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and by Law authorized to administer Oaths and to take the acknowledgment of Deeds. And that his commission was dated on the 8th day of June A.D., 1843, and will expire on the 20th day of June, A.D. 1844 & that the preceeding signatures which purport to be his are genuine

Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this 23d day of June A.D. 1843
Geo. C. Woodruff Assistant Clerk
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Ralph Smith
private
Col. H. Swift
Connecticut Line
February "1777 -
3 years service

Admitted
on Roll.

[vertically at left]
New York 21 January 1819
[illegible] 28V 54/100
[illegible] months worth after Date
Page 32

37 ^
12 ^
20 ^
75
12 ^
12 ^
346
12 ^
184
6,11

O
F (?)
C
B
L&B
Fairfield
[illegible]
Page 33

any information gladly received. I Thank you.

Veterans Administration
Washington

[circular symbol] Veterans Administration

September 27, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXX

[circle stamp] Received Oct 6 1938 Mail Sub-Div. Vets. Adm. 23

In Reply Refer to:
BA-J/MCS
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Mrs. Grace C. Wellwood
Bridgewater
Connecticut

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of Ralph Smith who served from Connecticut under Colonel Seth Warner.
As means of identification of the particular Ralph Smith whose record you desire, it is essential that you furnish as much as possible of the following data: approximate date of birth and death, place of residence at enlistment and after service and first name of widow.


Mr. A D. Hiller
In behalf of Bridgewater Historical Society.
Dear Sir -
In answer would state Ralph Smith was born in Bridgewater, Connecticut, January 11th 1758, the son of George and Lucy Botsford Smith. (Bridgewater was incorporated as a town May 1856 before that date was a portion of New Milford, Conn.
Ralph Smith married Anne Treat, daughter of John and Phebe Hawley Treat. (Anne Treat was a great great grand-daughter of Gov. Robert Treat of Connecticut.)
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(2)
Ralph Smith died November 13th 1825. Anne Treat Smith his wife, died June 16th 1845 aged 79 years. Ralph Smith lived in Bridgewater Conn. at time enlisted in Col. Seth Warner's Co. Feb. 24th 1777 term 3 years, discharged February 25th 1780." We are in possession of Ralph Smith's pension paper, reads "dated the 22nd day of June 1819 J. L. Edwards in absence and on behalf of the Secretary of War."
We are also in possession of a dispatch, should say delivered to George Washington by Ralph Smith, we have placed the date of this dispatch 1778, I will endevor
Page 35

(3)
to make a copy of this dispatch (although perhaps crude). we, the Historical Society would like very much to verify the date of this dispatch also the meaning of same. (if I have given the correct meaning) although I can not read the codes, if they are codes.
The dispatch reads -
(I may not be correct?)
George Washington, by dispatch
Doctor and Ralph's regment's.
First Co. Sergeant Doctor Bostwick.
Gidion Wilkinson First Brigrade,
Hinesburgh, Vt., John Frothingham, Vt.,
News, Approaching d'Estiang, Howe Nine [symbol] (Hook) meaning Sandy Hook, reat, meaning
retreat. Heth Griffith, Ralph Smith News.
Ralph - M marks over C Blockade ^y^y ships
Page 36

(4)
From Encyclopaedia Britannica I quote -
"Charles Hector D'Estaing (Count) French Admiral. In 1778 he obtained the command of a fleet intended to assist the United States against Great Britain. He sailed on the 13th of April, and between the 11th and 22nd of July blockaded Lord Howe at Sandy Hook."
Another Quotation
"In 1778 on the 13th of April 1778 the French government despatched a squadron of 12 sail of the line and 4 frigates from Tauton to America, under the command of Count d'Estaing"
Another Quotation -
"on the coast of America the news of the approach of d'Estaing compelled the British commanders to evacuate Philadelphia on the 18th of June. Howe then concentrated his forces of nine small line - of - battle ships at Sandy Hook on the 29th of June, and on the 11th of July he learnt that d'Estaing was approaching
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(5)
The codes may read Ralph Smith 78 14 50 12 12
The 12 on Smith
12 on S may mean 12 ships of d'Estaing 
Ralph 14 on l of Ralph. This may mean 4 Frigates 4 on l of word Ralph.
24 under Hinesburgh
V4 forms Vt.
The Hook also may read July and also 11 with word retreat. The marks over Hook over name Ralph, may stand for blockade. other codes beyond Hook, counting all, 12, arrow pointing from 12 on word Smith, 12 ships
other codes 12, 40, 14, 24. am not sure of meaning.
Dispatch next page. I may be wrong in all?
Page 38

(6)
Dispatch very hard to copy dull with age.

Thanking you in advance I am sincerely
Address. Mrs. Grace C. Wellwood
Bridgewater, Connecticut.

Dispatch
George B & Washington
Doctor & Ralphs Ky
[illegible] Doctor Bostwick
Gideon Wilkington Hinesburgh A.
[illegible] Frothingham 2 12 40 14 54 more plain next
[illegible] y01yyy News
Heth Griffith [illegible]
12 12 40 14 78

P.S. blockade
this Ralph Philadelphia
Sandy Hook reat retreat ,y,y ships
July

Had no one to instruct me, so is my own interpretation.
Page 39

[circle stamp] Received
Oct 6 1938
Mail Sub-Div.
Vets.Adm. 23
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