Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17722, for Elisha Taylor, Connecticut
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Conn. Taylor, Elisha  S17722
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(left side)  1891
Sept 26  W. O. Taylor  history Prior

(right side)
7868 Connecticut
Elisha Taylor
(illegible) in the State of Conn
(illegible) Pre in the Conn command
Captain -- of 6 (illegible)
by Col Adams in the Conn Militia
for 9 Mo 14 days --
____________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 31 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
___________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 1th day of Sept (illegible) and Leut O. S. Ley Macey Litchfield Ct
____________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833  $78.87
Semi-anl. allowance ending  15.77
    $9464
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by E D Bulleck Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 Page 488
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832,
State of Connecticut County of Litchfield Litchfield July 31, 1832
On this 31st day of July 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield in said County of Litchfield now sitting Elisha Taylor aged 71 years, a resident of said town of Litchfield 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 names Officer & served as herein stated (viz)
I was born in Litchfield aforesaid June 21, 1761, having no record of my age. I lived in said Litchfield when called into service as hereinafter specified & have always resided here since the Revolutionary War and still do reside here.
I never received a written discharge at any of the times of service herein after mentioned.
I am known to the Revd. Tellanh. Deet Samuel Bush Capt Samuel Seymour  Oliver Goodwin. Others who can testify as to my character & to their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
In Augt or Sept 1777 I was drafted to go for six weeks acending to the best of my recollection to Cromped Stoney Ridge Peekskill&c. I accordingly went in the Company of Capt John Osborn of said Litchfield in the Regt. of Col. Adams. I served until my time expired, keeping guard at said places, most of the time at Crompend.  There were other Regts of militia along the Mott River but we were not connected in the service with any of them as I recalled. I was then young & my
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were out but a short time & my memory is not very distinct as to the names of Officers. I have no documentary evidence of this service or any of my services during the War to corroborate my statement as to this service. I send herewith the affidavit of Mr. Oliver Dickinson.

In the spring, I believe in March 1778 I enlisted for one year into the State troop of Connecticut. I first enlisted under Capt Bezaleel Rube supposing that he was to take command of a company but he not doing it I was placed in the company of Capt. Jack Gillet of Harrinton Ct. in Col Rogers Eno's Regt. Major Curtiss of Warren Ct was the major of the Regt ofthe Regt of the company officers were 1st Lieut Clark of Litchfield, 2nd Lieut Burr of Tonington, Ensign Iona Wright of Litchfield.
I continued doing duty in said company as a private till the year of my enlistment expired. We were first stationed at San Pitts, (illegible) which place we kept buard several weeks. The Regt. then marched to White Plains where we did duty with the continental Army until after the celebration of Independence. Col Major Regt of Seather Caps of Col Sheldon's Regt of Horse (illegible) with us at White Plains from this place the whole Regt marched to West Point where we were employed in the fortifications chiefly on the mountain back of West Point. We were here about 3 months. We were then were ordered to Greenwich, my company lay at old Greenwich the rest of the Regt were scattered in different places near there. We continued here keeping guard until our time expired. The Capt went on to Horse Neck and got an order for our discharge which was read and we were dismissed.
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As proof of this year's service I send herewith the affidavit of our Ensign Mr Joha Wright - also the affidavit of Mr. Joseph Sanford.
In Augt or Sept 1779 I was drafted for six weeks to go to Horse Neck and went and recd duty for six weeks in the company of Capt Zebulon Taylor, the Lieut of the Co(illegible) Amer Parmeloc & the Ensign Saml McMish. We were not to my knowledge formed into any Regt. We were stationed part of the time at Horse Neck & part of the time at a place then called Middlesex at which places and at Sherwood & Byran Bridge as kept guard. We were discharged at Middlesex. Mr James Baldwin who was one of our sergeants had given his affidavit of this service which is herewith sent.
In March 1782 I was drafted for two months to go again to Horse Neck and went accordingly & did duty at & near that place two months, till my time expired. I was in Capt Payant Stoddard's company, the officers of which were Lieut (afterwards Col) Lyman of Goshen & Ensign Money Sanford. The Regt was first commanded by Col Mead afterwards col Mead was taken prisoner and Col Mygate took the command. We were at this time engaged in several small skirmished with the Cowboys. At one time we had made 14 prisoners which conducted to Hartford Ct. by Sergeant Smedley of our Company with a guard of which I was one. Of this last service I have no evidence whatever excepting my own statement.
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I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State.  Elisha Taylor
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me, Freoderick Wolcott, Judge of Probate, Litchy District.

Mr. Truman March a clergyman residing in said town of Litchfield and Joseph Adams residing in the same town hereby certify that we are all acquainted with Mr. Elisha Taylor who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 71 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion. We also certify that said Elisha Taylor is a man of undoubted veracity & entitled to credit, sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Truman Marsh
Joseph Adams
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War department that the person named applicant Elisha Taylor was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the Rev. Truman Dante who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman & that Joseph Adams who has also signed the same is a resident in said town of Litchfield & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Freoderick Wolcott, Judge of the (illegible) Litchfield District, Connecticut

I Phinehas Miner Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield do hereby certify that the foregoing contain the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of application of Elisha Taylor for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this 31st day of July A. D. 1832
Phinehas Miner clerk
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P O No 6247.
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I Jonathan Wright of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut aged 86 years being duly sworn do depose & say that early in the Spring of 1778 I was Ensign in Capt Joel Gillet's Compy in Col Roger Eno's REgt. of Connt. State Troops. I was & still am well acquainted with Mr. Elisha Taylor of said Litchfield. He enlisted for one year into said company early in the spring of 1778. I know that said Taylor served as a private for one year in said Company until he was regularly discharged at Old Greenwich in the spring of 1779. Our company was stationed at White Plains first, then at West Point & afterward during the winter of '78-9 & the spring following, at Horse Neck and its Vicinity.
Jonathan Wright

State of Connecticut Litchfield County ss Litchfield July 23rd 1832 when personally appeared Jonathan Wright to me well known as a gentleman of veracity & entitled to full credit & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him in my presence subscribed.
Before me Origen S. Seymour Justice of the Peace
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I Oliver Dickinson of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield of State of Connecticut being duly sworn depose and say that in the latter part of summer of 1777 I was drafted from the Connecticut militia in said Litchfield to go to Stoney Ridge and did accordingly go & served about two months. I was then and am still well acquainted with Elisha Taylor of said Litchfield and know that he also was drafted and was in the service of the United States at Stoney Ridge about two months till the Regt. was discharged. Said Taylow was in Capt John Osborn's company in Col Adams Regt.
Oliver Dickinson
State of Connecticut  & County of Litchfield & Litchfield July 23d 1832 when personally appeared Oliver Dickinson a credible witness and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him in my presence subscribed before me Origen Saymour Just. of Peace

I James Baldwin of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield and State of Coneecticut aged 73 years being duly sworn do on my oath depose & say that after Norwalk was burned in the latter part of the summer or early in the fall of 1779. I was drafted for six weeks to go from Litchfield to Horse Neck and guard that place. I went accordingly and served during said six weeks as Sergeant of Capt. Zebul on Taylor's Company. I then was & still and well acquainted with Mr. Elisha Taylor from & then of said town of LItchfield and well known that said Taylor was drafted at the time I was & that he served the full period of six weeks aforesaid in said Company of Capt. Taylor at Horse Neck and at a place then called Middlesex, now call I am informed Carien, at the latter place the said Taylor and the rest of the company was discharged.  
James Baldwin
State of Connecticut, County of Litchfield July 31, 1832 When personally appeared James Baldwin to me well known as a gentleman of truth (illegible) to full credit & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him in my presence subscribed Before me Origen S. Seymour, Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut, ss Office of the Clerk of the County Court for the County of Litchfield
I Frederich Wolcott Clerk of said Court hereby certify that Elihu Harrison Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Joseph Sanford appears to have been taken, was at the date thereof and still is a Justice of the Peace for said County duly qualified to administer oath & that his signature thereto is genuine. I also certify that Origen S. Seymour Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits of Jonathan Wright, Oliver Dickinson & James Baldwin were made were at the respective dates of said affidavits, a Justice of the Peace duly authorized to administer as (illegible) his signature to the same are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this (illegible) day of August A D 1832, Frederick Wolcott, Clerk
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I Joseph Sanford of the Town of Lisle in the County of Browne & State of New York late of the town of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut of Lawful age depose and say that I enlisted and served in the Army of the Revolution for one year that any time of service commenced in the Spring of 177(illegible) & that it expired in the spring of 1779, that I served in the company commanded by Captain Joel Gillet in the Regiment commanded by Col. Roger Eno. That I was at that time and ever since have been well acquainted with Elisha Taylor then and now of said Town of Litchfield, that he enlisted about the time I did into the same company & that he served in the same company the whole year to my personal knowledge. That the company was discharged in the Spring of 1779 at Greenwich in the State of Connecitcut.
Dated at Litchfield December 16th 1829
Joseph Sanford.
State of Connecticut Litchfield County & Town of Litchfield Dec. 16th 1829 Personally appeared Joseph Sanford personally known to me as a man of undoubted veracity & respectability and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed before me
Elihu Harrison Justice of the Peace
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17722
INVALID.
File No. 17,722
Elisha Taylor
Pri. Rev. War.
Act: June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 445
[Arrangement of 1870]
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1(illegible) Litchfield Con where born
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(CH
Litchfield Septem 18, 1833
To the Hon: The Commissioner of Pensions.
Yours of the 13th instant was received last evening. It states that the claim of Elisha Taylor to a pension has been examined & suspended, and that his papers are placed on file and the reason seems to be that he has alleged that he served 12 months, from the spring of 1778 to the spring of 1779 in Col Eno's Regiment and that it is established from the records of the State of Connt. that Col Eno's Regiment for the period stated was in actual service but six months.
W. Taylor lives several miles from me & I have not had an opportunity to see him since the receipt of the above. I do not know that I understand the operation of suspending his claim, and do not know what may be required of him by way of explanation or otherwise and should be glad to be advised what steps it is necessary for him now to pursue in order to obtain his pension. I trust that by suspending his claim it is not intended to withhold for an indefinite time from a worthy man a pension to which he is justly entitled under an act of Congress. Such a course I am sure the department would not adopt unless his papers afforded satisfactory evidence
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that he has committed perjury. It wont I humble conceive be a bad measure to visit an innocent mistake with such a consequence and I hope the department will not take it for granted that Mr. Taylor who is a man of unimpeachable integrity has been guilty of perjury merely because his is under a misapprehension in retard to the term of his service in a case when a misapprehension is certainly not unnatural for the department may think it right to consider Col Eno's Regiment as only six months in actual service, yet it is certain that they enlisted for 12 months, and were liable during every moment of that period to be called on to march wherever directed. The State certainly has considered them in some sense as actual service during the whole 12 months for by mere enlistment they became entitled to receive their County & twenty shillings per month for the whole year for the purpose of showing which I send the act of the Connecticut Legislature under which Col Eno's Regt. was raised. Under these circumstances & when fifty odd years and the infirmities of age have conspired to render the memory of events indistinct it seems to me as if it was too much to set a respectable citizen down as perjured because he says that he was in actual service during the whole 12 months. If it should be required Mr. Taylor can obtain abundant testimony that he sustains an unblemished character for integrity & truth. I should be glad to be advised as to what it may be necessary for him to do.
Very Respectfully
your obt. servant
O. L. Seymour