Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3790, Cromwell French, Conn
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE NUMBER  
Conn French, Cromwell R. 3790
or Comewell
or Commel
or Cummel
Elizabeth
CONTENTS
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the third Section of the Act of Congress of the 4th July 1836
State of Connecticut }
Litchfield County }  ss Litchfield
On this 17th day of October 1836 personally appeared before the Court of Probate within for the District of Litchfield in sd County State Elizabeth French of Warren in said District aged 82 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 act of Congress provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836; That she is the widow of Commel French late of Stratford Conn in that part of said Stratford now the Town of Marion, That her maiden name was Elizabeth Prindle & that on the 2d day of March 1775 she was married to said French by a regularly ordained Clergyman viz the Rev Wm Johnson, that after she had been married a little over one year viz in April or May 1776 said Commel Frach was drafted out of the militia company in said Stratford by Benjamin Nichols an officer in said Company to go down the seabord towards New York to defend the County from the attacks of the British That he went
accordingly & served near Horseneck as a private soldier in the United States service for a period of nearly six weeks
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That sd Commel French told her after his return, that the Troops were stationed near horseneck as a guard that they expected the British might attempt to land on the coast, but did not & that they had no skirmishes with the enemy. That after their time was out they were dismissed & said Commell returned to Stratford after having served at least five weeks as above stated That she cannot state more particulary the names of his officers nor the particulars of his service nor has she any testimony by which she can prove this service, nor does she know of the existance of any, but must rely on her own statement
That when their child (who was born 1st day of Jan 7 1776) was seven months old viz on the 2d or 3d of August 1776 as she believes her husband the said Commell French again went into the service of the United States That said Benjamin Nichols who was then a Lieut, applied to said Commel to enlist to go to the Northward; that sd Cummel was at first unwilling to go but that one Gershom Sears told said Commel that if said Nichols said if Commel did not enlist he would be drafted. That thenceupon said Commell did enlist into a company as the support of Continental Troops commanded by Capt Elijah Beach & Lieut Nichols in Col Swifts Regiment
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for the period of nine months to serve as a private soldier in said Company in the military service of the United States. That he left said Stratford in August as aforesaid went to the Northward to, or towards, Canada but she is unable to state the places in which he served for the particulars of his service That said Commel never returned to said Stratford nor did she ever again see him, but that it was reported & believed by her & her neighbors that he died at the north in said service, nor can she tell the precise time when he died that said Gersham Sears was a soldier and in the same company & was half brother to said Commell, & was taken sick at the north while in sd Service & returned to Stratford in Jan 1777 when he left the Army he did not know but that said Commel was still living. That while sd Commel was in said service said Elizabeth received a Letter from him, but as she [illegible] since lost it she cannot say when or where it was dated That she believes said Comell served till near the close of the nine months before he died, but as she never knew the precise time he did die the cannot say how long he served, but suppose the documents & records in the War Department will show the time. That he resided in sd Stratford when he last entered the service
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she further declares that she was married to sd Commell French on the 2d day of March 1775 as above stated that she knows of no record of her marriage in existence, that there was a record of it in an old Bible of hers, but that the Blank leaf in which it was recorded is lost out of the Bible & the Book it is almost destroyed; that her husband the aforesaid Commell French died as above stated & as she believes in the year 1777; & that she has remained a widow ever since his death - All of which may more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Elizabeth French her X mark
Sworn to & subscribed on the day year above written Before me
Frederick Wolcott, Judge of Probate
and the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter that said Commel French was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as is above stated & that the facts set forth in the foregoing application of Elizabeth French are true
Frederick Wolcott, Judge of Probate
District of Litchfield State of Connecticut
I Phinehas Miner Clerk of the Court of Probate within & for the District of Litchfield Conn do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Elizabeth French for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 17th day of October 1836
Phinehas Miner Clerk
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Deposition of Ephraim French
taken Sept 30th 1836
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State of Connecticut } On this 29th day of September 1836
Fairfield County } Personally appeared before me David Hawley Esq. Justice of the Peace within and for said Fairfield County Ephraim French of the Town of Trumbull in said County well known to me the said Justice to be a credible witness who being sworn testifies and says that he was well acquainted with Comewell French and Elizabeth Prindle wife of said Commwell French that said Comewell French lived in the town of Stratford & that said Comewell French wife's, name before marriage was Elizabeth Prindle & that the said Comewell French was married to the said Elizabeth Prindle in the year 1774 at the House of Thomas Patterson in North Fairfield Parish in the said Town of Stratford that he is pretty confident it was in the year 1774 he knows that the said  Comewell French & said Elizabeth Prindle was married before the said Comewell French went into & served in the revolutionary war & that the said Deponent was present at the time the said Comewell French and Elizabeth Prindle was married and saw them married that he remembers it not be mistaken and that said Comewell French enlisted under Capt. Elijah Beach of the said town of Stratford as a soldier to serve in the Revolutionary War and that said Comewell French served in said Revolutionary War under the command of said Capt Elijah Beach and remembers that Benjamin Nichols of said Stratford was Lieutenant of said Company that said Comewell
French served in Aug remembers well that the said Comewell French Died at the time the said Comewell French was in the actual service in the Revolutionary war to the Northward the deponent is positive that the said Comewell French died in the actual service remembers well that said Comewell French never  returned home after he went into the service in the [illegible] was reported & believed that said Comewell French died as aforesaid & remembers well that the said
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Elizabeth lived & remained unmarried and a Widow of the said Comewell French after his death for more than a year when the said Elizabeth moved & went to Newlo in said Fairfield County to reside And further more the deponent saith not
Ephraim French
Sworn & Subscribed on the day and year aforesaid Before me David Hawley Justice of the Peace
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REJECTED
3790
P.O. Elizabeth French
Service:
Enlisted: , 18
Discharged: , 18
Application filed: , 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney;
P.O.
Recognized. Contract.
Cert. of Dis. Searched for , 18
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Elizabeth French
Connecticut
Rejected
See letter 17 Nov 1836
G.C. Woodruff
did not serve six months
Let to J. M. Thayer Esq
Apl 8. '47
Let S. Spore, May 2/56
3790
Act 4th July 1836
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Copy sent to Hon. L. Phelps, Feb. 2, 1837
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Comptrollers Certificate
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Comptrollers Office Hartford Connecticut Sept 27th 1836
I certify that the name of Capt Elijah Beach appears on the Pay table Books in this office and attached to Swifts Regt in 1776, and he is credited By Account Rendered for his Co by Lieut Nichols
1 Mo Wages April 11th 1777 L191-12- 
Enlisting Premiums 498-
Equiping do 37-
Belliting Roll 64 -11
Commissions 12 - 12 -4
Hospital Bills 62 -6 -8 L916-2-14
His name further appears on the same Books where he is credited as follows viz, "The late Capt Elijah Beach Swifts Regt 76 Cr By account this day rendered per Lieut Benjamin Nichols. By arms now returned or loss certified as inevitable for which was stoped in settlement April 11th 1777 L49 -13 -6" I further certify that Cromwell or Cumwell French or Cromwell or Comwell Beers has not been found
Wm Field Comptroller
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Deposition of Walker Sherman
taken Sept 30th 1836
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State of Connecticut } On this 30th day of September 1836
Fairfield County } Personally appeared before me David Hawley Esqr Justice of the Peace within and for Fairfield County Samuel French of the Town of Monroe in said Fairfield County well known to me the said Justice to be a credible witness who being sworn testifies & says that Camewell French of the town of Stratford in said County enlisted into the Army of the Revolution in the company commanded  by Capt Elijah Beach of said town of Stratford in the Regiment commanded by Col. Heman Swift & served nine months at the Northward in the year 1775 & 1776 that he well knew the said Camewill French of said Stratford & that said Camewill French belonged to the same company & served therein at the Northward & that he the Samuel French draws a pension Eight Dollars per month from the United States Government & that the said Comewell French Died at the Northward during said term of Nine months & never returned home & said Deponent well remembers that said Comewell French died during said nine months term of service because he the Deponent belonged to same company & further more the deponent saith not
Samuel French
Sworn and subscribed the day of year aforesaid Before me David Hawley Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut } On this 30 day of September 1836
Fairfield County } Personally appeared before me David Hawley Esqr within & for Fairfield County Walker Sherman of the Town of Weston in said County well known to me the said Justice to be a credible witness who being sworn testifies & says that he was well acquainted with Comewell French & Elizabeth French wife of said Cornewell French & that said Comewell French lived in the town of Stratford in said Fairfield County & that said Comewill French's wife's name before she was married to said Comewell French was Elizabeth Prindle & remembers well that the said Comwell French was married to said Elizabeth Prindle before the Revolutionary war & remembers well that the said Comewell French enlisted into the continental Army in the company commanded by Capt Elijah Beach of said town of Stratford and served in [illegible] Company to the Northward in the 1776 the Deponent thinks, but is not certain as to the year, but knows well that the said Comewell French served in the Revolutionary war to the northward & remembers it well because he remembers that he the Deponent went at the time said Comewell French went to the Northward in the company with said Comewell French & others as far as the town of Cornwall at Harts Bridge in the County of Litchfield & said State of Connecticut & remembers well that the said Comewell French & the said Elizabeth his wife lived together in the said town of Stratford before & at the time the said Comewell French listed in the Army & remembers well that the said Elizabeth wife of said Comewell French was left a widow & the said Comewell French never returned to said Stratford but died in the Army & remembers well the said Comewell French Enlisted went & served in the Army because the Deponent returned from said Cornwall with horses & went for that purpose &c & Deponent never heard that this Elizabeth ever married as she was left a widow by said Comewell French farther the Deponent said not
Walker Sherman
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid Before me David Hawley Justice of the Peace
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Deposition of Sarah Hawley taken Sept 30th 1836
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State of Connecticut } On this 30th day of September 1836 Personally
Fairfield County } appeared before me David Hawley Esqr Justice of the Peace within and for said said Fairfield County Sarah Hawley of the Town of Monroe in sd Fairfield County well known to me the said Justice to be a credible witness who being sworn testifies and says that she was well acquainted with Comewell French of Stratford in said County & that she knew his wife Elizabeth French well & that the deponent is daughter of Benjamin Nichols who was a Luietnant in Capt Elijah Beach's Company of the said Town of Stratford of the United States Army that said Comewll French enlisted in the said Capt Elijah Beach's Company & left Stafford to join the American Army at the Northward with his Father & other members of said Company the Deponent thinks in year 1776 - And that said French never returned & it was then reported & believed that said French died in the service & that the wife of Comewell French's wife's name before marriage was Elizabeth Prindle & that said Comewell French married Elizabeth Prindle before said Comewell French enlisted that she the Deponent was not present when the said Comewell French was married but knows that said French & Elizabeth lived together as man & wife that said Comewell French lived with said Elizabeth his wife in her Father Benjamin Nichols house more than a year that Comewell & Elizabeth had a daughter born named Sarah while they lived together there as man & wife & that after said Comewell French died  she the said Elizabeth remained unmarried till she left said Stratford about a year or more afterwards when she went & moved to Newtown to live being all the time after the death of said Comewell a widow further more the Deponent saith not
Sarah Hanley
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid Before me David Hawley Justice of the Peace
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State of Connt }
County of Litchfield } [illegible] March 15th 1847
J L Edwards Esq }
Comer of Pensions }
Sir I have appointed John M Thayer Esq of Washington City my Attorney to attend to my Claim for a pension and request you to inform him as to the present condition of the claim & what is wanted to complete it
in presence of George Staver
Respectfully yours
Elizabeth French her X mark
Widow of Comewell French
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Hatanah, Westchester Co. N.Y. April 18th /56
Dear Sir
I wrote you a few months ago upon the subject of the services of Commell French, but did not myself fully understand the matter, and will now try to make it plain, Said C. French served in the war of the revolution, as a Connecticut Militiaman. some ten or fifteen years ago, a claim was made in the right of his widow Elizabeth French for a pension The papers (affidavits, certificates &c) were sent on to the department by an agent, but the application was denied on the grounds that the term of said service lacked "ten days" of six months. The papers sent to Washington were not returned, and here the matter rested till the widow died since that time, Sarah Pulford, her daughter, now living she has obtained affidavits showing most conclusively that said French served over six months; but to make this applicant, it is necessary to find the old papers, sent on with the application 
My object in writing is to leave if a daughter would be entitled to a pension she is the only surviving heir, and if so, can said papers be found for benefit? You
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will perceive that Commel French was in the Connecticut Malitia & not of N.Y.
It has been suggested to me that said papers may have been burned, some years ago with the public library: In any case might be entitled to show the facts of the application, the time covered by the last certificates &c. by the answers of the department to said agent in order to put them with additional evidence now in the daughters possession, to make out the time which the law requires to obtain the pension
Mrs. Pulford is now an old lady, in feeble health, and in a condition to need her rights. If it will avail any thing in her behalf I will go to Washington for her - I shall esteem it a favor if you will oblige me with your answer by your earliest convenice and any instruction how I must proceed in the matter, will be thankfully recd by
Yours truly
Seth Shore M.D.
Commissioner of Pensions
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Deposition of Amos Terrell
Newtown
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I David Pulford of Warren Litchfield County Conn aged 61 years being duly sworn do depose & say that at the request of Mrs Elizabeth French of sd Warren I have searched the Records of the Town of Stratford with the Town Clerk of that Town I have searched the Records of the Rev Mr Johnson & the records of the adjoining towns, but I could find no record of the marriage of Commel French & Elizabeth his wife the above named Elizabeth French, I could find in Mr Johnson records no record of any person he married in Stratford, I found his records in the town of Weston & learnt that he when living resided there. It was then called North Fairfield & adjoins that part of Stratford in which said Elizabeth was married I also with the Town Clerk searched the Town Records of Fairfield in which North Fairfield (now Weston) formerly was but could find no record of her marriage in the Records
I first became acquainted with said Elizabeth French in Newton Corn more than 40 years since, & have ever since known her well I know that she has during the whole of that time been & now is unmarried & the reputed widow of Commel French late of Stratford Conn decd And further saith not
Dated at Litchfield Oct 17th 1836
David Pulford
State of Connecticut } Ss Litchfield
Litchfield County }
Personally appear on this 17th day of Oct 1836 David Pulford to me known & who is entitled to full credit & made  solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by [illegible]
Geo. C. Woodruff
Justice of the Peace
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I Origen S. Seymour Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Litchfield Conn do hereby certify that Geo. C. Woodruff is a of Justice  & for more than one year last past has been a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned & qualified; and that the signature to the proceeding certificate which purports to be his is genuine
Given under my hand & the seal of said Court at Litchfield this 24th day of October 1836
Origen S. Seymour Clerk
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State of Connecticut
Said County  Newtown October first
AD 1836 - On this first day of October personally 
appeared Amos Terrill of said Newton
of the age of seventy years who has been
well known to me for twelve years past
who sustains a fair character for the
who being by me duly swore life's and
says that he was well acquainted with
Elizabeth French who was reputed to be
the widow of Cromwell French That the
Elizabeth resided in Newtown
period of about fifty-eight years and
most of that time a near neighbor to him,
& during the period aforesaid it reported
& generally believed that her husband
died in the American Army of the Revolution
that she lived a single woman after the
death of her husband during all the
time he lived in Newtown - That he
has seen the 2d Elizabeth one since the
left said Newtown in the Town of Warren
in the County of Litchfield, where she
then resided & as the witness believes still
lives & resided in the family of Laird Pulford
at whose house the witness sums her as aforesaid
about four years past - and further the
Deponent saith not
Amos Terrell
Sworn & Subscribed on the day & year
aforesaid. Before me
David H Belden
Justice of peace
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State of Connecticut }
County Fairfield } Ss I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the County Court within for the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that David H. Belden & David Hawley Esquires are now for more than one year last past have been Justices of the Peace within for sd County of Fairfield duly commissioned & duly authorized to administer oaths & take depositions &c. I further certify that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the sd David H Belden & David Hawley Esquires & that verily believe that the signature to the Certificate annexed to the Depontion of Amos Terrell hereto attached, purporting to be the signature of the David H Belden Esquire, is genuine, & that I verily believe that the signatures to the Certificate annexed to the other Depositions hereto attached, purporting to be the signatures of the said David Hawley Esquire, are all genuine. Given under my hand & the Seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 19th day of October AD 1836. 
Thomas B Osborne Clerk
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J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D C
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Conn
Litchfield Oct 24th 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq
Sir 
Enclosed is Elizabeth French's application for a Pension, if granted please send her certificate to me
Respectfully Yours
Geo. C. Woodruff
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820 JH Loud 28 Mar '37
Nov 10
ch
21 July 1836
FREE
J. L. Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Washington DC
Elizabeth French
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Litchfield Conn Nov 7th, 1836
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
I have recently been to Hartford in search of other evidence at the Comptrollers Officer in another con & found evidence in support of the claim of Elizabeth French for a Pension which according to my present recollection was not included in the Comptrollers certificate which I forwarded with her application She claimed & for at least 5 weeks service in April or May 1776 & for several months service in the full & winter succeeding. The evidence which I found was as follows on the Pay Table Books viz
on Leger A.
Capt Elijah Beach
1776 July 5th To order an invasion L330.
Dec 24 To do do L955.10.4
Cr L1285.10.4
1776 Dec 24 By his acct rendered L1285.10.4
on Leger B
Capt Elijah Beach
1776 July 5 To order on Treas for your Compt L852.
To sundry Guns & for your Co from S. M. Stratford 49.13.6
1777 Apl 11 to order on Treas to balance L916.2.0
Cr
1777 Apl 11  By amt of your act under this day by Lieut Nichols L916.2.0
---
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I should infer from the foregoing that Capt. Beach's Company served as she stated her husband served in her application Perhaps all this evidence was contained in the Comptrollers certificate. But if not, another certificate can be procured, of the provided if it would produce a favorable result in her case, but if not, it will be unnecessary to procure another certificate, especially & she cannot well afford to be at the additional expense
Respectfully Yours
Geo. C. Woodruff
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Washington D.C. March 18th '47
J. L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions
Sir
I enclose herewith a power of attorney in case of Elizabeth French widow of Commell French the the widow cannot inform me the difficulties  in the way of the allowance of her claim
I am very Respectfully
Your
J. M. Thayer