Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 17726, for Elisha Taylor, Connecticut
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
Taylor, Elisha
NUMBER   S 17726
Carded
CONTENTS [blank]
Page 2

No 19,703
Ohio Pittsburg

Elisha Taylor
Portage Co. in the State of Ohio who was a private in the company commanded by
Captain Parsons of the Regt commanded
Col. Parsons in the Connecticut Militia for one year

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburg
the rate of 40 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of August 1833 and sent to Ceres Prealy
Ravenna Ohio

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $80.00
Semi-anl [semi-annual] allowance ending 4 Sept, 1833  20.00
[total]  $100.00
Recorded by

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Th S Evans ---Clerk
Book E  Vol. 8   Page 129.
Page 3

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office,  183

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 the regulations will shew [show] what is necessary to be done. 
Those 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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

Statement, shewing [showing] the Service of Elisha Taylor Portage County Ohio

[Column Headings: 
(1) Period when the service was rendered; (2) Duration of the claimant's service: Years| Months| Days|, (3) Rank of the claimant, (4) Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. (5) Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. (6) Proof by which the declaration is supported.]

[Row 1]
Served 1776 | [blank] | 2 | [blank] | Private \ Cap. Parsons, Colonel Chapman | 72 years County of Hartford Connecticut | Traditionary evidence, paper

[Row 2]
Enlisted Apr. 1777 | [blank] | 8 | [blank] | Private | Cap. Denny, Col. Ely | [blank] | Correct 

[Row 3]
Served 1781 | [blank] | 2 | [blank] | Private | Cap. Wales | [blank] | [blank}
[End of Table]

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.














Period when the
rendered.
1776 ┃
Entiled Apr 1777
served
1781
A Statement, showing the Service
2
8
2
Rank of
15
claimant.
New
Names and rank of the Field
ficers under whom he served.
of Elisha Taylor Portage County Ohio
of
┃ Cap Parsons,
Colonel
Chapman,
┃ Cap Denny, Col Ely
Cap Wales
Age at present, ┃
┃ and place of abode
┃ when in entered ┃
the service.
72 years
┃ County of
Hartford
Connecticut
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary evidence, paper
Correct
I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 4

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, etc., Teamsters, Boatmen, etc. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians [musicians] or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
{Sate, Territory or District of County of} ss. [Scilicet].

On this [blank space] day of [blank space] 
personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of [blank space] in the county of [blank space] and State, Territory or District of [blank space] aged (c) [blank space] 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank space], with [blank space] and served in the [blank space] (e) regiment of the [blank space] line, under the following named officers:

Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers:) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. 
[Pointing hand, or manicule] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, etc.

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank space].
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I [blank space] of the Court of [blank space]
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank space] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank space] 
day of [blank space] etc.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz [Latin videlicet meaning 'that is' or 'namely']:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank space] and C. D. residing in (the same) 
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
[blank space], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank space] 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.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.

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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank space] and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank space] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank space] Clerk of the Court of [blank space] do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank space] day of [blank space] etc.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 5

Elisha Taylor's
Application for a Pension
25812
Page 6

{The State of Ohio
Portage County S.S.} [S.S. is a scilicet]

In the Court of Comon [Common] Pleas of Portage County Ohio May Term AD 1833
on the twenty ninth day of May AD 1833
personally appeared in open court before the 
[judiciary?] of the Court of Common Pleas now setting at Ravenna within and for the County of Portage and State of Ohio Elisha Taylor aged Seventy two years a resident of Nelson 
Township Portage County Ohio, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That I was born on the Seventh day of August AD 1760 in the Town of Yarmouth and State of Massachusetts and that I have seen a record of my age in my father's Bible and that I have a copy of the same in my own Bible. I was called into service of the United States as a private with a Brigade of Militia in Mass. from Willington in Hartford County Connecticut on the fifteenth or sixteenth of August 1776. 

I went with the Brigade to the city of New York
in a company commanded by Captain Joseph Parsons in the Regiment commanded by Col. Chapman. I remained in New York with the Regiment until the city was taken by the British.  the Regiment then retreated at which time I was sick and had a [commission?/permission?] to go to Norwalk. I was home from Norwalk and arived [arrived] there the same day some of the troops belonging to the same Regiments arrived, 
the Regiment having been discharged between the twentieth and thirtieth of October the same year the whole of this term of service was a few days over two months.

I enlisted in April 1777 for eight months and
marched on the first of May following in Capt. James Deny's Company in Col. Ely's Regiment to New London and remained there until September of the same year when I marched with the Regiment to Rhode Island and  remained there until the middle of October when we returned to New London and remained there until the month of November. We then marched to Norwalk Connecticut and after staying there a time we were ordered and went on to Long Island in five sloops one of which was taken by a British Man of War
and two were driven back and two [illegible] ashore and were burnt [burned] on
on Long Island (I was in one of the two lost) one hundred and eighty men escaped onto the Island and fled towards the [South?]

[continued on next page]
Page 7

end of the Island. Col Ely commanded the Regiment who with Lieutenant Col. Moulton were taken by the British Man of War. The men who escaped (with myself) onto the Island proceeded to Oyster Pond Bay and from thence were taken by water to New London.  at New London I received a furlough from
Major Buell on the 25th or 26 of December and arived [arrived] at home about three days before my time expired which was on the first of January 1778. My what service at this tour was Eight months.

My next tour of service was with four companies which went to New London the 20th of September 1781. I was in a
company commanded by Captain Wales remained in service two months when the Capt. discharged the company and I 
returned home during this period. We remained in fort [illegible] and fort Griswold do not recolect [recollect] of there being any colored there. We were called out immediately after New London was
burnt [burned]. Then I returned home and remained there until I was twenty three years old, when I removed to Tyringham
Massachusetts and lived there nine years then moved to Great Barrington Massachusetts and  lived there until 1814 when I removed to Nelson [township] Portage County Ohio where I have lived since and now live. I have no documentary evidence of my services and never had a written discharge and I do not know of any person living by whom I can prove any portion of my service. I refer to the Reverend to the Reverend Galdry [Ira Eddy?] of Edinburgh Township Portage County Ohio and to Mr J W. Knowlton of Nelson Township Portage County Ohio for proof of my [character?] for truth and veracity and their belief of my service as a Soldier of the Revolution.

I herby relinquish every claim whatever to
a Pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency of any State. I am acquainted with Col. Elish Garrett, D Evert Esq. D How Esq  all of Nelson County and attach a form sworn and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid.
Before me
B.P. Hunter Dep. Clerk
Elisha Taylor
Page 8

We- Reverend Ira Eddy residing in Edinburgh Township Portage County Ohio and I W. Knowlton residing in Nelson Township Portage County Ohio hereby certify that we are well 
acquainted with Elisha Taylor who has subscribed and Sworn to the foregoing declaration,  that we believe him to be
Seventy two years of age that he is a man of truth and veracity 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.
Ira Eddy
W. Knowlton

Sworn and subscribed the day and year before written before me B. S. Hunter Dep. Clerk

And the said courts do herby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Intirogatories [interrogatories] prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the Reverend Ira Eddy
is a residents of Eddenburgh Township Portage County Ohio and that Mr W. Knowlton is a residents of Nelson Township Portage County Ohio that they are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to full credit.

I George Kirkham Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Portage County Ohio do hereby certy [certify] that the foregoing contains the original procedure of the said
Court in the matter of the application
of Elisha Taylor a soldier of the Revolution for a Pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29th day of May AD 1833
Geo. Kirkum Clerk
Page 9

Litchfield Conn.,  May 29 1833,
Sir, 
The declaration etc., of Elisha Taylor (which were
returned for want of proper authentication,) are herewith inclosed [enclosed], amended in the particular in which they were before defective
Very Respectfully
Your obt [obedient] servant,
O.S. Seymour,

Honl. [Honorable] L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 10

17726
INVALID.

File No:  17,726
Elisha Taylor
Pri [Private] Rev War

Act: June 7th, 32 [1832]
Jane " 32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 445

[in brackets] Arrangement of 1870.
Page 11

[Illegible writing throughout the short page, unable to transcribe]
Page 12

Elisha Taylor
Connecticut
2 mo[months] 16 days pri [private]
$31.55

[calcluation]
63.10
15.77
_______
78.87
[end caculation]

O. S. Seymour
Page 13

[page 1 of 3]
B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Elisha Tayolor which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [blank]

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes

V. *[See footnote at the bottom of page 2] 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 amout [amount] of pension he is entitled? Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

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? Yes
Page 14

[page] 2 [of 3 pages]

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? Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  [blank]

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? [blank]

XIV. [single dagger] 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? Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  Yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  Yes

XVI. [double dagger symbol] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  No Valid [illegible]

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  [blank]
_____________________________

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*[Footnote for asterisk before Question V on first page of this document.}
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, etc.
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 15

[page 3 of 3]
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each 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 [start italics] about three or four months [end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. 

[single dagger symbol referencing Question XIV on page 2 of this document] 
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 their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the 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.

[double dagger symbol referring question XVI on page 2 of this document] 
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates 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 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.