Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18391, James Edgerton, Conn. Privateer
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Edgerton, James
S18391
Conn. 
Privateer
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6278
Connecticut
James Edgerton of    in the State of Conn. who a private in the company commanded by Captain Luther of the Reg. commanded by Col Latimer in the county line for private & privateer. $30.00

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 30 dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued 27 day of Feb 1833 and put to Hon N Barber House Reps

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832 $45.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar 1833  $15.00
$60.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk, Book D Vol 3 Page 39


Letter to F E Hassler
Oct 23/37
F E Hassler Jny 5 1853
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State of Connecticut
County of New London
On this 6th[?] day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the City Court of the City of New London now sitting James Edgerton a resident of the City & County of New London in the State of Connecticut aged Seventy two 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the full of the year 1776 he enlisted at Franklin in New London County Connecticut into a company which he believes was commanded by Capt Lathrop. That he believes Hez Tracy was a  Lieut on Ensign in the company and [illegible] remembers that ^Phineas Peck was a sergeant & that^ [deleted words] following persons were members of the company  Nat Kingsbury & Joseph Kingsbury Edgerton and Daniel Ellis ^were members of the company [dim words; unsure if part of transcription or were erased]^ that he enlisted  for the term of six months and that shortly after his enlistment he marched with the company to Providence in Rhode Island where there were  several armed rebels and privateers that the Company was stationed at Providence during the winter and at the expiration of his term of  enlistment he was then discharged and returned home in the spring of 1777. he remembers that Genl Arnold was at Providence in the course of the winter but does not remember who were the general officers in command. That after his return from Providence he went to Lebanon to reside for the summer and while there a draft was made of men to join the northern army. Two Regiments were
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to be raised for the purpose in Connecticut one on the east and one on the west side of Connecticut river. That John Manning of Lebanon was drafted to join a company in the regiment raised on the east side of the river which was commanded by Colonel Latimer. That Manning employed you applicant as his substitute and that he immediately joined the regiment commanded by Colonel Latimer & marched with it through Hartford & Albany and joined the army under Genl Gates at Stillwater. That he was in the engagements of the 19th September and 7th October 1777 that Col. Latimers regiment was on the left wing of the American Army that he well remembered that the man who stood next to him was shot & killed and that Col. Latimer received a shot through his clothes & that his commission which was in his pocket was perforated by the ball though he weaken whilst after the surrender of Burgoyne and after his term of service expired he returned home having been three months in service according to his recollection. That he does not remember the officers of his company and does not know of an individual living who can testify as to his service. He remembers that Capt Cook had command of one of the companies belonging to the Regiment raised on the west side of the river. And that Genl Gates, Genl Arnold were the principal officers.

He further states that in the month of January 1779 he at New London shipped on board the ["Continental" crossed out] ship Putnam of twenty guns.
Nathaniel Saltonstall Captain
Nathaniel Cort Lieutenant
Pickett Latimer Capt Marines
Simon Wolcott Surgeon
David Pool Boatsman
Thos Edgar Carpenter
Potter Sailing Master
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That the first cruise of the Putnam was in southern latitude, thence to the banks of Newfoundland & then the ship went into Boston and the ship returned to New London after an absence of six months in service. That the ship Putnam was a private armed ship as he has lately understood. That the ship succeeded in taking several prizes which were sent into Boston and New London after being in service six ["or eight" crossed out] months. He was discharged and the Putnam was sent by the government on the Penobscot expedition.
That he subsequently in the same year 1779 sailed from New London in the Revenge Capt Parker a privateer. That the Revenge was taken by two 44 gun ships the Romulus and Roebuck. That he was carried a prisoner to New York and confined on board the prison ship Good Hope. Was on board the Good Hope when she was burnt and afterwards was confined on board a transport. That he was taken in October and discharged the 1st July following. 
That he was born at Franklin in the year 1760. That there is a record of his age in the New London town records. That he was living at Franklin when first called into service. That soon after the close of the war of the Revolution he moved to New London where he has since continued to reside & now lives. He was first enlisted into the service, then went as a substitute and last shipped on board the Putnam. That he does not remember ever to have received a discharge. If he did has lost it. And that he never received any commission. That he knows of no person who can testify as to his service. That he is well known to Coddington Billings Mayor of the City of New London, Jonathan Coit & Henry Douglass Esq, Aldermen of said City and to Abel McEwen one of the clergymen of said city who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution [crossed out "& mariner of the Revolution"].
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
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pension or annuity except the present and declared that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
James Edgerton
Wm F Brainard, Clerk

We Abel McEwen a clergyman residing in the town of New London and Daniel Chapman residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Edgerton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy two 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 & subscribed the day and year aforesaid in Court.
Danl Chapman
Abel McEwen
W. F. Brainard Clerk

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after 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 Abel McEwen who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of New London and that Daniel Chapman who has signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I William F. Brainard Clerk of the City Court of the City of New London do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Edgerton for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said City Court this 6th day of August AD 1832.
Wm F. Brainard Clerk

Jas Edgerton
No. 3130
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No 3136
James Edgerton
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State of Connecticut
County of New London} Ss.
On this 16th day of February AD 1833 personally appeared in open court before the City Court of the city of New London now sitting, James Edgerton, a resident of the city and county of New London in the State of Connecticut, 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 7th 1832 in addition to & explanation of his declaration of the 6th of August AD 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as follows:
1776 - In the fall of the year 1776 in the month of Nov as he believes he enlisted at Franklin in said state into Capt Lathrop's company for six months. The officers were
Capt Lathrop Capt
Hez Tracy Lieut
James Peck Sergt
That after his enlistment he marched with the company to Providence, Rhode Island. Was stationed during the winter til the spring of 1777 when he was discharged after his term of service had expired. That he was in service in said company the full term of six months without interruption. That he has made repeated enquiries but has not succeeded in finding and survivor of this term of service. That he has been personally to Franklin to obtain testimony, and thus ascertained that no survivors of this term of service remained. The individuals who belonged to Franklin who enlisted with your declarant and whose names are mentioned in his former declaration are dead.

1777 - In the summer of 1777 in the month of July or early in August at Lebanon in said state your declarant again entered the service as a substitute for one
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John Manning then of said Lebanon now deceased, who was drafted into Col Latimers Regiment for the term of three months. Lebanon adjoined the town of Franklin and your declarant at the time he made the contract with said Manning to be his substitute was to work by the month at Lebanon. That the officers of the company to which he was attached in Latimer's Regt. were strangers to him as well as the men, which is the reason why he does not remember them. That he well remembers all the circumstances stated in his former application and who remembers that he served the full term of three months without interruption as a substitute for said John Manning. That his memory of the service and the events which took place is very perfect. But his associations during the war in the land and naval service were so numerous that it is not possible for him to remember the individuals with whom he was associated in the service. After his discharge he did not return to Lebanon and never after resided there. There is no individual living who has survived this service who is known to your declarant.

Your applicant further states that he has made great efforts to obtain testimony. That he enquired of all such persons as were the connections of those in service with him living in Franklin but did not succeed in getting any information. That he removed from Franklin to New London shorty after the service as stated, where he has ever since resided and has had but very little intercourse with his native place since he removed, which makes it very difficult for him to trace the connections of those once known to him & now dead.
James Edgerton
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Wm F Brainard Clerk
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I William F Brainard Clerk of the City Court of the City of New London do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the said court in the matter of the application of James Edgerton in addition to & explanation of his former application for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said City Court this 10th day of February AD 1833.
Wm F. Brainard Clerk
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James Edgerton
Revolutionary
Pensioner
Connecticut

filed 7th July 1851
F E Hassler
attorney
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State of Connecticut
County of New London } ss.
Be it known that before me, JOHN W. HAUGHTON, of the town of Bozrah, county of New London, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly authorized to administer oaths, personally appeared Mortimer Edgerton aged 38 and made oath in due form of law, that he is the son of James Edgerton the identical person that was a revolutionary pensioner of the United States of America, as by the files and records of the Pension Office in Washington will more fully appear, and that he cannot know of them otherwise than through the said office. 
And that he the said James Edgerton died November 27th AD 1842 and his original certificate of pension has been surrendered. 
And that he now resides in New London and has resided there for the space of ten years past. And that he makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining any arrears of pension that may be due under the laws of the United States: and that by these presents he does constitute and appoint F. E. HASSLER, of the city of Washington, his true and lawful attorney, irrevocably, with power of substitution for him and in his name, place and stead, to ask and receive of and from the United States, any bounty land, extra pay, pensions, money or moneys that now is or are due him on account of services rendered by his deceased father; advances made, property destroyed or taken by the Government, or any claim arising from intercourse between the United States and any foreign nation, and the Indians, disbursements made, or, expenses incurred by him while in the service of the United States, or on any account whatsoever, and in his name to give receipts and other sufficient discharges for such bounty land, pensions, patents, claims, and money due as aforesaid, and to attend to and prosecute any and all business of whatsoever nature he may have with or before any of the Departments of the Government or Congress, or any legally established commission of the United States, and, generally, to do any and every other act or acts that he might or could do, were he personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever his said attorney shall do in and about the premises, by virtue hereof.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of June 1851.
Mortimer Edgerton {SEAL}

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of }Two witnesses.
Joseph Skinner
Gurdon Kimball
John W. Haughton

State of Connecticut
County of New London
On this 30th day of June AD 1851, personally appeared Mortimer Edgerton before me, and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein contained.
John W. Haughton J. P. {SEAL}
Notary Public

AND I HEREBY CERTIFY, that at the same time, personally appeared before me Joseph Skinner 2nd and Gurdon Kimball known to me, to be two credible witnesses, and who being duly sworn, deposes and says, each for himself, that the above named Mortimer Edgerton and that they are, each, wholly disinterested.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, upon the day and year first above written.
Joseph Skinner
Gurdon Kimball
John W. Haughton Notary Public
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[handwritten illegible name]
In reply to your request of [blank]
received
for a statement of the military history of James Edgerton
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his [crossed out](or his widow's)
 application for pension
on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.

LENGTH OF SERVICE.

RANK.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.     STATE
CAPTAIN.       COLONEL.
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Date of application for pension,
Residence at date of application,
Age at date of application,
Remarks:
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James Edgerton
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[seal]
State of Connecticut
Comptrollers Office
Hartford Feb. 11th 1852
I certify, that an application for evidence of the service
of James Edgerton in the war of the Revolution
I have examined the documents remaining in this
Office, and find the name of J. Edgerton in a pay
Roll under the following heading, vir. "Settlement
"with the 1st Connecticut Regt Josiah Starr Esq. Colo"nel, before January 1st 1780", and opposite said name
are the following entries vir, | Rank corporal Connecticut of service April 1st 1777 |time of this settlement
June 1st 1778 |Term 1 yr. 2 mos | Amt of Wages L 28.|
Money in for blankets L1.1.| Value of No.D.  for Clothing & Co. L0.15.8
Amt of debt L 29.16.8|.1 Value Mo. unc. on acct of Wages L 8.8.| Value of clothing & supplied L 3.14.6. |Amt of Blankets
supplied L 0. 18.7.| Amt of Credit L 13.1.7.1 Balance L 16.15.7.1
R.G. Pinny Comptroller
by Geo. Robinson, Clerk
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Washington City ___
___ 18th 1857
Honorable JE Heath
Commissioner of Pension
Sir
For and in behalf as attorney of James Edgertons heirs, I request an examination of his papers no on file as a pensioner on the Connecticut Rolls for Revolutionary Services that such allowance as his services as marine or sailor or matron may be made as the laws provide for this claim sets forth.
Yours respectfully
F.E. Hassler
Attrny
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and Jonathan Dickerman & I am thanking you kindly for your trouble
I am
very truly yours,
Katherine H. Dickerman
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3-871
Record Division
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions

Briefed by S. D. L.
Claim no
Certificate No
Claimant
Soldier James Edgerton
Service Conn.
Additional service Rev War

No    claim, State records    ,190
No claim, combination records   ,190

Remarks: No claim as above except Invd # 18391
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File No. 18391

INVALID.
File No. 18,[illegible]
James Edgerton
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7th 32
Index: --Vol. 1
Page 110
Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side]
1905 June 20, Hist to Miss
Katharine A. Dickerman ¢
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James Edgerton
5.6.13
W.P. Cleavland
[illegible] N Barber
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Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Edgerton which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

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

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?

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

V. 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 amount of pension he is entitled?
The services on board private arrears [unk] and not within the act

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
No

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

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
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2
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?

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

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?
Something like evidence must be produced or the claim cannot be admitted. -- [illegible] the claimant admits his memory to be defective. In such a case application should be made to the auditors office of the state.

XIV  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 the person of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under seal of the office?

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?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

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

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
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, &c. 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 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."
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 "about three or four months" is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
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 off office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.
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July 19.51
Revolutionary-
Arrears & increase
of James Edgerton decd
Cap Liftell
filed 180July 1851
 F. E Hassler
Atty
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Washington City DC
July 18th 1851
Honorable P. E. Heath
Commissioner of Pension
Sir,

for & in behalf & as attorney
James Edgartons heirs. I request
you [crossed out make}an examination of his papers
now on file as a pensioner on the
Connecticut Rolls for Revolutionary
services & that such allowance us,
his services as a marine or sailor  or matron
may be made as the laws provide
for this claim sets forth.
Yours respectfully
F. E. Hassler,
Attny