Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,433, for Reuben Taylor, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn.
Continental

Taylor, Reuben
Anna

NUMBER
W. 16,433
Page 2

14027

12946  New York

Reuben Taylor
of Chautauqua in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Wright of the Regt. commanded by Col. Wyllis in the Ct. [illegible] line for 24 mo.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of May 1833 and sent to Jas B. Lowry C.C. Westfield

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833                $160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept                 40.00

                                                                     $200.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book E Vol. 4 Page 32
Page 3

N. York    3,908

Anna Taylor, widow of Reuben Taylor, who was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June '32 and who died on the 9 March 1833
C't
of Chautauqua in the State of N. York who was a Pri in the company commanded by Captain Wright of the Regt. commanded by Wyllis in the [illegible] Conn line for 2 years

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Aug. '39, and sent to Sarah Houghton Fredonia, N. Y.

Arrears to the 4th of March          $240.00
Semi-annual allowance ending        40.00
                                                      $280.00

{Act July 7,}
{1838}

Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk
Book A Vol. 2 Page 106
Page 4

5447.
Anna Taylor
N.Y. 3908
Act 7 July 38.

m 84 d 33.

aomdl
2 yrs pri
80 $

no deduction

Jacob Houghton
Fredonia 
N.Y.
Page 5

Hebron Ct }               F.R.E.E.
May 7th }                   Henry H. Fitch P.M.

Jacob Haugton Esq
Fredonia
Chautauque County
N.Y.
Page 6

State of Connecticut Tolland County} ss
Hebron Town Clerks Office}                         May 3rd 1839


                                 Copy

Reuben Taylor & Anna Skinner were joined in Marriage December Sixth, One Thousand, Seven hundred eighty four

I certify that the above is a true copy of the Reccord with the exception of the date which is expressed on the reccord in fair legible figures as follows
Dec 6th 1784.  Attest Henry H. Fitch Town Clerk

I Henry H. Fitch above named depose & say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the County, Town & State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the reccords of said Town of Hebron with the exception of the date as above named and certified by me.
Henry H. Fitch Clerk of the
Town of Hebron

State of Connecticut}
Tolland County} ss
Be it known that before me Abner Hender a
Notary Public in & for the State aforesaid personally
appeared Henry H. Fitch who has subscribed the
foregoing deposition and made oath to the truth of the same
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & seal of office this 4th day of May A.D. 1839 ---
Abner Hender
Notary Public
Page 7

Hebron Ct May 4th A 1839
Jacob Haugton Esq

Sir the Seal of Notary public is sufficient without the County Clerk's seal [mark outs] we have obtained a number, [illegible] with the same form and seal.

Respectfully yours Henry H. Fitch
Page 8


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 tubular 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 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.

A Statement, showing the Service of Reuben Taylor
Period when the service was rendered 
Dec 1775 to Jany Feby 1777 
May 1777 to November
May 1778 to Feby 1779
March 1779 to late in the fall

Duration of the
claimant's service. years months days
24 months

Rank of the claimant.
Private

Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Capt Wright
Col Wyllys
Capt Elliot
Col Swift
Capt Woodbridge
Col Sherman
Capt Branne

Age at present, and place of abode when entered the service.
73 Years
Hartford
Co
Con't

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary
a Clergyman

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant, 
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 9

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, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. 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 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.
State, Territory, or District of
County of ) 33
On this day of personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of
and State, Territory or District of
aged(c)  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)      ,  with       and
served in the       (e) regiment of the
      line, under the following named officers:

[Here act 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 his 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. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the case of offers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

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

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,

of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) 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 (i) this
day of                   &c.

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: 
(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the
and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
                          ,who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,                 Clerk of the Court of
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        day of           &c.
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
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 10

State of New York }
Chautauqua County } ss.
On this 23d day of April, 1839.
before Hon Benjamin Walworth one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in for the said County of Chautauqua in the State of New York (the same being a Court of Record) personally appeared Anna Taylor, a resident of the town of Portland in the said
County of Chautauqua aged Seventy five years on the Seventh day of October last; who first being 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, entitled
"an act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows."

That she is the widow of Reuben Taylor, who
was a private in the service of the United States, in the War of the Revolution. That for his said services the said Reuben Taylor received a pension of Eighty Dollars per annum under the
act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, the Certificate of which is not in her possession but she believes it is now on file in the War office inasmuch as that she drew so much of the said pension as was due to the said Reuben
Taylor at the time of his death after the
death of the said Reuben Taylor. And that she is informed and believes that the said Reuben Taylor served five years in Connecticut Regiment, the number of said regiment
she does not remember but for further proof in the premises, she refers to the records & papers on file in the War Department.

She further declares that she was married to the said Reuben Taylor, at Hebron, in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut, on the 6th day of December 1784, by Mr. Bliss a Justice of the Peace of the said Town of Hebron.
that her husband the aforesaid Reuben Taylor, died on the 9th day of March 1833, at the town of Portland in the said County of Chautauqua, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage
took place previous to the first of January, 1794, viz. at the time above stated, and she further declares that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her late husband,
the aforesaid Reuben Taylor, and still is a widow.
Anna Taylor

Subscribed & sworn to
before me April 23. 1839 ⎬
B. Walworth Judge
Ct of Com Pleas
Page 11

State of New York }
Chautauque County } ss.

Parsons Taylor of the town of Portland
in said County, being duly sworn deposes & says, that he is
the son of Reuben Taylor & Anna Taylor, named in the annexed
declaration, that he is now in the 53'd year of his age ---
That he was brought up in the family of the said Reuben
and Anna. That his father died at the time & place
mentioned in the said declaration. That his mother
has remained a widow ever since the death of his
said father, and is still a widow, not having been
married since his death. That he has read the annexed
declaration of his said mother, & that the same is true
as far as his knowledge & information extends.
[signed] Parsons Taylor

Subscribed & sworn to }
before me April. 23. 1839. }
[signed] B. Walworth Judge
Chau. Com. Pleas.

5447
State of New York. }
Chautauque County } ss.

I, Benjamin Walworth, one of the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Chautauque
in the State of New York, do hereby certify that I have seen
and conversed with Anna Taylor, whose Declaration is
annexed, & that I am personally acquainted with Parsons
Taylor (her son) whose affidavit is also annexed, and that
in my opinion, the said Anna Taylor, & her said son are
respectable in society & entitled to full credit for truth and
veracity. And I do further certify that in my opinion,
the said Anna Taylor cannot from bodily infirmity, attend
the said Court of Common Pleas.
Given under my hand, April 23'd 1839.
I further certify that I have satisfactory evidence
that before marriage, the name of the said Anna
Taylor was Anna Skinner ---
[signed] B. Walworth Judge
Chau. Com. Pleas

State of New York }
County of Chautauque } ss.

[office seal] I George W. Tew Clerk of said county,
certify that Benjamin Walworth Esq.
was on the 23'd April 1839, a Judge of the
County Courts of said County, commissioned
& sworn, & that the signature "B. Walworth"
subscribed to the preceding certificate
purporting to be his, is genuine. In Testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal
of office, this 15. day of May 1839 --
[signed] G. W. Tew Clerk
Page 12

12.946

Rolls 8 [illegible]
April 21 1777
Jan 8 1778
July 16. '80
 to Dec 10 4.[illegible]
May 6 '78
 to Dec 6

8.17
4.24
Page 13

State of New York. }
Chautauqua County, } ss.

On this eighth day of September, 1832.
personally appeared before me, Thomas B. Campbell, one
of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas for said county,
Reuben Taylor, a resident of Portland in said county,
aged seventy three 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 June 7, 1832.

That he enlisted into the Army of the United States, in
December, in the year 1775, and served under the following
named officers, viz. Col. Samuel Wylys, Lieut. Col Hezekiah
Holdrich, Major Nathaniel Miller, Capt. Samuel Wright, Lieut.
Stephen Goodrich, and Ensign George Butler; that at the time of
enlisting, he resided in the town of Glastenbury, Hartford County,
in the State of Connecticut; that about the first of January, 1776
he marched to Roxbury in Massachusetts, and quarted there
and in Dorchester until the enemy evacuated Boston; he then
marched to New London, went from thence to New York by
water, and in July or August crossed over to Long Island,
was in the battle on the Island, and returned to New York
with the army, was in several skirmishes on York Island;
he remained in the vicinity of New York until January
or February, 1777, when he was discharged and went home.

In May, 1777, he again enlisted, and served under the
following named officers, viz. Col. ___ Swift, Lieut. Col. ___
Starr, Maj. ___ Pitkin, Capt. ___ Ellsworth, Lieut.
Phineas Gravier, & Ensign Wm. Woodbridge. Soon after
enlisting he marched to the Connecticut farms, in New Jersey
from thence to Tapan [Tappan], and was engaged in building forts on
the Hudson, until September; he then marched to a place
called Moscheto Hill a few miles from Germantown,
was in the battle at that place, and was discharged
the latter part of November.

In May, 1778, he again enlisted for eight months, and served
under the following named officers, viz. Col. ___ Shearman, Lieut Col.
___ Meigs, Maj. ___ Savage, Capt. Theodore Woodbridge, 1st Lieut.
Isaac Talcott, 2'd Lieut. Ezra Miller; marched to Brandywine and
Page 14

Germantown, ranged the country in various directions, was in
several skirmishes, but in no general battle, and was discharged near
Brandywine, in February I779.

In March, 1779, he again enlisted for eight months with the
Connecticut State troops, and served under the following named
officers, viz. Col. ___ Eno, Lieut. Col. Isaac Williams, Maj. Timothy
Judd, Capt. Branne, Lieut. ___ Hollister, & Ensign Mattson;
Marched in April to the Hudson, was stationed at Horseneck, and
several other place on the Hudson, and was discharged, at Stamford,
in Connecticut, late in the fall, the exact time not recollected.

He received written discharges at three different times, but he has
not preserved any of them; he has no documentary evidences of his
services in his possession, nor does he know of the existence of any
within his reach; neither does he know of any living
person, by whom his services can be proved.

After the close of the war, he resided at Colchester in the State of
Connecticut, six years, then removed to Whatley in Massachusetts,
where he resided nine years, then removed to Norwich, Chenango Co. in the
State of New York, where he resided twenty years, then removed
to his present residence, where he has resided to the present time.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on
the pension roll of the Agency of any State
[signed] Reuben Taylor

Sworn to and subscribed }
this 8th day of September 1832 }
before me. }
[signed] Tho's B. Campbell
A Judge of Chau. Com. Pleas
Page 15

We, Nathaniel Reeder, a Clergyman, residing in the town of
Portland, in the County of Chautauque, and Calvin Barns, residing in
the same place; do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
Reuben Taylor, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing
declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age,
that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he
resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we
concur in that opinion.
[signed] Nathaniel Reeder
[signed] Calvin Barns

Sworn and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid, before me,
[signed] T. B. Campbell

And I, the said Judge, do hereby declare my opinion, after
investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories,
prescribed by the War Department, that Reuben Taylor, the foregoing
applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
And I further certify, that it appears to me, that Nathaniel
Reeder who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman,
resident in the town of Portland, and that Calvin Barns, who
has also signed the same, is a resident in said Portland, and
is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to
credit. And I further certify, that the said applicant cannot,
by reason of bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
[signed] T. B. Campbell

State of New York
Chautauque County ss.

I James B Lowry Clerk do certify that
Thomas B. Campbell Esquire whose name appear
to the above certificate and before whom the foregoing
affidavits purports to have been sworn, was at the
date of the same, one of the Judges of the County
Courts, in & for the County of Chautauqua; and
that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily
believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavits
& to said declaration to be his proper hand writing
& signature. Witness my hand and seal of Office
this tenth day of September A.D. 1832
[signed] James B Lowry Clerk
Page 16

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3 -- 525

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., ___, 19___

In reply to your request of ___, received ___
for a statement of the military history of Reuben Taylor
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (& his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau. W.F. 16.433.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. ( CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. ) | STATE.
Dec. 1775 | Jan. or Feb 1777 | Pvt | Samuel Wright. | Samuel Wyllys | Conn.
May. 1727. | Nov. 1777. | | Ellsworth | Swift |
May 1778. | 8 mos. | | Theodore Woodbridge | Sherman |
March 1779 | 8 mos. | | Branne | Enos |

Battles engaged in, None stated.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Glastonbury, Hartford Co., Conn.
Date of application for pension, Sept 8, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Portland, Chautauqua Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, 73 years.
Remarks: He married Dec. 6. 1784 in Hebron Lebanon Co. Conn. Anna
Skinner born Oct. 7. 1763, he died in Portland N.Y. Mch 9. 1833, and
she was allowed pension on an Application executed Apr 23. 1839
while a resident of Portland N.Y.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
6 -- 2856
Page 17

1121
Rev See

50 Central Avenue Fredonia N.Y.
May 18th, 1915

To the Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir,
Will you kindly send me
the military record of Reuben Taylor
who lived in the town of Portland
Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Thanking you in advance
[signed] Mrs. G. N. Douglass

[round stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE D MAY 20 1915
Page 18

Rev WIDOW, &c.

File No. 16.433
Anna Taylor
Wid of
Reuben Taylor
Priv Rev War

Act: July 7th /38
Index: -- Vol. M, Page 264

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 19

1915. May 25: history to Mrs. G. N.
Douglass
1915. May 25: history to Mrs. Georgia
McLean. Mpsl.

[illegible: Entr Let tras idel] in Glastonbury Co
[illegible: able t Court in Co his tar] than to
[illegible: Ma fr & try May'd] in Hebron
Page 20

J. L. Edwards, Esqr
Com. of Pensions
Washington City.
Page 21

Fredonia, 18 May, 1839

To the Commissioner of Pensions,

Sir,
In the case of [underlined] Anna Taylor, [/underlined] widow of [underlined] Reuben Taylor, [/underlined] decd. I herewith send a Declaration & papers, by which she claims the five years' Pension -- By reference to your records, I trust the proof will satisfactory.
Your Obt. Servt.
Jacob Houghton.