Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29633, Josiah Bissell, Conn.
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SERVICE                                           NUMBER
Conn.              Bissell, Josiah             S. 29633
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                   21,405
   Massachusetts
Josiah Bissell of Berkshire in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Wells of the Regt commanded
by Col, Wolcott in the Conn
line for 6 mos Pri

Inscribed on the roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of
            Sept.
1833 and sent to  Hubbard
& Rockwell    Pillsfield [Pittsfield] Mass

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833         $  50.00
Semi-anl. allowance  ending                  10.00
                      4 March 1834                ________
                                                           $  60.00
                                    {Revolutionary Claim,
                                     Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by H.D. Addison Clerk
Book E    Vol. 2    Page 9-
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                      26003
                       Josiah Bissell

Private 6 months

Hubbard & Rockwell
      Pittsfield
            Mass
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                         WAR DEPARTMENT,
                                       Pension Office,
                                         July 20, 1833
Sir:  
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace(thus:  }  ).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling [sic] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
  [A chart with six headings plus subheadings follows]

A Statement, showing the Service of Josiah 
         Bissell
Period when the service was rendered.
Duration of the claimant's service.
                Years.  Months.   Days.
Rank of the claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers under
       whom he served.
Age at present, and place of abode when he
       entered the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.

1 July 1776    6 months   Private   Capt. Wells
   Col. Wolcott       75 years   One witness not
            certified as credible & disinterested
1777    less than...    Private    Capt Fitch/ No
    Col Mentrones [?]
Relinquished  see letter

                         I am, respectfully,
                              Your obedient servant,
                                 J. L. EDWARDS,
                                Commissioner of Pensions.
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{This is a copy of the printed for, page 2,  "REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832." with no insertions or additional information.]
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[This is page 3 of the printed form "REGULATION UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832." with the Court interrogatories marked with a bracket.]
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this paper, stating his reputation, & that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier f the revolution; that he is also kown to the Hon George C. Briggs, the representative in COngressfor the Berkshire COngressional District; also to the Hon Henry R Dwight of Stockbridge in said County of Berkshire; also the Hon Henry Hubbard of said Pittsfield who can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution -
He also states that in the  exautumn of the year 177 in the month of October as he believes, he served as a volunteer in the Company of volunteers commanded by Captain Ebenezer Fitch Bissell; that he marched with several Company to Fishkill in the State of New York, a distance of 110 or 120 miles from said Windsor where he then resided; that he was absent from his home on that expedition somewhat less than ne month; that he has no documentary evidence; that he knows of no person who can testify to his service in this  last expedition.
                         Signed] Josiah Bissell
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, SS.
On this second day of January A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting, Josiah Bissell a resident of the town of Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy five 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 June7, 1832.
   That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
   That he served as a Private in the Regiment of Connecticut State troops commanded by Colonel Erastus Wolcott and in the Company commanded by Captain Jonathan Wells; that he enlisted into said Company on the first day of July A.D. 1776 for the term of six months service that he served out said term;  that said Company was stationed for a few days at New London in said State; & for the remainder and greater part of said term at Groton in said State; that he was discharged [illegible word] at said Groton at the end of his said term to wit on the first day of January A.D. 1777, that he has since lost his discharge & is unable to find it, had company papers in ; that at the time of his said enlistment he resided in Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut; that he enlisted into said service as a volunteer; that since his said discharge he resided at said Windsor until the year 1811, when he removed to said Pittsfield where he has since resided; that he served outsaid term in his possession company with Lemuel Rockwell of Sharon in the County  of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, whose affidavit accompanied this paper; that he was born at said Windsor on the 27th day of November A.D.  1757 and has no Record of his age except in his family Bible; that he is personally known to Rev John W. Yeomans Pastor of the Congregational Church in said Pittsfield and to Julius Rockwell, whose Certificate accompanies
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this paper, stating his reputation, & that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the revolution; that he is also known to the Hon George A. Briggs, the representative in Congress for the Berkshire Congressional District; Also to the Hon Henry R. Dwight of Stockbridge in said County of Berkshire; also to the Hon Henry Hubbard of said Pittsfield who can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution -

He also states that in the exautumn of the year q777 in the month of October as he believes he served as a volunteer in the company of volunteers commanded by Captain Ebenezer Fitch Bissell; that he marched with said Company to Fishkill in the State of New York, a distance of 110 or 120 miles from said Windsor where he then resided; that he was absent from his home on that expedition somewhat less than one month; that he has no documentary evidence , that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service in this last expedition -

                         [Signed]  Josiah Bissell
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   He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declared that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
         [Signed] Josiah Bissell
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
     [Signed] William P Walker Judge of Probate

We, Jonathan W Yeomans a Clergyman residing in the town of Pittsfield aforesaid and Julius Rockwell residing in said Pittsfield hereby certify, that we are all well acquainted with Josiah Bissell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five years of age; that he is reputed and believed , in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
    [Signed]    John W Yeomans
                       Julius Rockwell
Berkshire Js
Sworn , and subscribed,
this 17th day of December 1832
Before me Joshua Danforth Jus of the Peace

AN the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the Interrogatories, after the investigation of the matter, 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 John W. Yeomans who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, residing in the town of Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Julius Rockwell, who has already signed same, is a resident of the town of Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
      [Signed]  W. P. Walker J. Probate

I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Josiah Bissell for a pension.
  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of office of said Court of Probate, this second day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
  [Signed]  Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire Js
   I Charles Sedgewick a Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County Of Berkshire do hereby certify that Joshua Danforth Esq before when the foregoing A. H. Darby & J W Yeomanary [word faded] & Julius Rockwell were taken  -is A Justice of the Peace within aforesaid County of Berkshire & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.

   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of aforesaid Court this second day of January AD 1833
     [Signed]  Chas. Sedgewick Clerk

[Written vertically]
                26003
      Josiah  Bissell

       Hon G N Briggs
         Laneborough
                   Mass
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                             29633
                           INVALID
Revy

File No.  29,633
  Josiah Bissell 
   Pri Rev War

Act:  June 7th, '32"

Index:- Vol. 2,  Page 37
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Mass                Aug 12


   J. L. Edwards Esq.
      Commissioner of Pensions
                 Washington City
                              D.C.
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        Pittsfield  July 7th !833.
  Mr. Edwards
   Dear Sir
   At request of Josiah Bissell Esquire we enclose the papers to you again relating to his Pension. The deficiency in the papers present to relate principally to the short period of Service to wit, less than a month - 
   He does not wish to do anything further respecting that -  As we understand your communication, there is no deficiency in his papers as to the six months time of service - except it is noted, that "the witness is not certified to be credible & discretional."
   This we think is am oversight, for the certificate of the Magistrate does certify that Samuel Rockwell, the witness, is credible [word underlined] whish i stated to be the Requisition in your instructions.  The Paper now he made anew if necessary - but in the hope that they will upon the information be found sufficient,  [illegible word] or the six months term is concerned; we send them to you again -
                       Very Respectfully
                       Your obedient servant
                         Hubbard & Rockwell
                                               Attorneys
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P.S.  Mr. Briggs, to whom the papers were directed, from your office is absent, &
we write in his presence.   A.V.R.
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State of Connecticut Js  County of Litchfield
    Salisbury August 18 AD 1832

I Samuel Rockwell of Sharon in said County of Litchfield being duly sworn on my oath do depose and Say, that I have from my youth to the present have been well acquainted with Josiah Bissell of Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire and Common Wealth of Massachusetts, that we were soldiers together in the company commanded by Captain Jonathan Wells  in Colonel Erastus Wolcotts Regiment of Connecticut State troops from the 1st of July 1776 as I believe to about the 1st day of January 1777 being at any rate the term of six months  that we were discharged at Groton in the State of Connecticut  we enlisted in said Company for six months service and both the said Josiah Bissell & myself served out the full term of enlistment I well remember that I returned home from service in Company with said Bissell who then resided in the town of Windsor in Connecticut, and our Regiment was stationed at New London & Groton
    [Signed]   Samuel Rockwell
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State of Connecticut Js. County of Litchfield
    Salisbury August 18, 1832
   Personally appeared Samuel Rockwell Esq of Sharon in said County who has subscribed the within and foregoing Affidavit to me personally known as a Credible witness, and made solemn oath before me that the same contains the truth & nothing but the truth
Attest
  [Signed]  Samuel Church Justice of Peace


I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the Court within & for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, certify that Samuel Church Esq. was on the 28th day of August 1832 & for many years hath been & that he now is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that as such he hath a right by law to administer Oaths, to take affidavits Ecc. - and that the above signature, which purports to be his, is his genuine signature. -

    In testimony whereof I heron to set my hand & affix the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this tenth day of December A.D. 1832.
      [Signed]  Frederick Wolcott, Clerk