Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12939, Rufus Avery, Conn.
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Service Number
Conn. Avery, Rufus S. 12939
carded
Contents
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414
Connecticut
Rufus Avery
Groton in the State of Connecticut who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Latham of the Regt commanded by Co[smudged]edgard in the Cont. [illegible] for 1 year and also a private in the Companies of Captain Gallage Noyes and Lt Thompson 1 year and three months
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of one hundred Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 day of August 1832 and sent to Hon. N. Barber Groton C
Arrears to 4th of March 1832... 100
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1832... 50
$150
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Geo [illegible] Clerk,
Book D Vol. 3 Page 29
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Rufus Avery
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State of Connecticut
County of New London

On this [illegible] day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the New London City court now sitting Rufus Avery a resident of Groton in the County of New London and 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 7 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served therein as his [illegible]. That at Groton in the month of May 1776 he enlisted for the term of six months into the company commanded by Capt Abel Spicer in the regiment commanded by Colones Selden the other officers [illegible] Lt Col Latimer and Major Samuel Clift the officer of the company men

Abel Spicer Capt
[illegible] Palmer 1st Liet
Park Avery 2nd
Jabz Smith Ensign

That shortly [illegible] in the latter part of June or 1st July the company was ordered to New York to join the army there. That he with the other members of the company sailed from the [illegible] Thames in a sloop and arrived at New York on the 5th July. That he remembers they were at achol at Hells gate the night following 4th July. That the company remained at New York till after the enemy landed on Long Island in August when that company and others were ordered onto the island and took a station on the east line in a small fort where they discharged grape shot at the enemy who men engaged fighting the american army. The company was afterwards ordered to the south line to a fort called Cobble hill and remained there until ordered to retreat to New York. After a few days the company was ordered to Turtle Bay on the east [illegible] then ordered into the entrenchments in [illegible] point to cover the artillery while they [illegible] firing at Conwallis who lay near Brooklyn with his 50 gun ship.[illegible] enchanged about 500 shot. one man killed and the major of the artillery lost part of his foot by a shop near where said army was stqtioned.  On the 15th Sept the enemy landed on New York island. Genl [illegible] brigade to which he belonged were ordered to man the entrenchments on East River at Turtle bay. Soon after which the enemy's shipping papers along [illegible] anchored near Turtle Bay and sommeced landing shortly to cut off the Brigade
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from the main body of the army. As soon as they commenced landing they also opened a fire upon [illegible] Brigade which was not very affectual. orders to march were given and in the retreat they incountered the [illegible] who took Colonel Senden prisoner and also the Brigade Major Willis and killed and took among them two sargeants, two corporals and 2 [illegible] officers and took several men prisoners. That they marched to Harlem when they were attacked by the [illegible] the next day and repulsed them. The american army contined to retreat to White Plains where the american and British army had a general engagement and lost several hundred men but the army under General Washington kept the ground from White Plains. The army retired to North Castle and Philipsburg at the [illegible] and he was discharged in the month of November his term of six months having expired. Nathan Darrow of Groton is living and can testify to this service he was a member of the same company.

That in the month of December 1777 at Groton he was drafted into Capt Gallup's company the garrisson Fort Griswold the company belonged to Colonel Ledyards command the officers of the company was

Joseph Gallup Capt
John Gardner Liet
Dane Avery Ensign

That he served a Fort Griswold three months and was discharged in March 1778. that he does not know of any person living who can testify as to his service.'

That in the fall of the year 1778 he was again drafted into Capt Noyes company to garrison Fort Griswold that he served in fort Griswold and was discharged in the early part of the year 1779 that during this season above Ledyard commanded the post but he does not know of any person living who can testify to this service. That afterwards in the month of Nov or Dec 1779 he was again drafted at Groton for three months to do garrison duty at Fort Griswold. That the company to which he was attached was under the command of [illegible] Thompson. That he again served three months and knows of no person who can testify to this service in this time.

That in the month of November 1780 he enlisted for one year into Capt Lathams company at Groton that officers of the company were

William Lathams Capt
Enoch Stanton Liet
Obediah Perkins ensign

John Armstick Rufus Avery and Nathan Darrow sergeants that the company was stationed at Groton at Fort Griswold and continued thru until the fort was taken by the
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British [illegible]1781. that he was in that engagement and was with the other survivors taken prisoner and carried to New York. That after he was exchanged, which was earlier than the other prisoners, he returned to Fort Griswold and finished the term [illegible] of his enlistment and was discharged after serving one year in Nov 1781. That he was a sergeant in Capt Lathams company and had a warrant signed by Colonel Ledyard which he lost when he was taken prisoner. That Nathan Darrow and John Comstock were also sergents in Lathams company. Comstocks term of service expired in the spring of 1781 and he was dischared but Darrow was in the battle and taken prisoner with said Avery and both of them can testify as to this service. 

That he was born at Groton in the year 1758 that there is a record of his age in his family bible. That he was living at Groton when called into service where he has since lived [illegible] that he was called into service by draft and by ensiltment. That he does not recollect to have [illegible] any discharge if so he has lost them. That he [illegible] a sergeants warrent and lost it as stated prisoner. That he is well known to Elijah Bailey and John G Wightman who can testify to his character for veracity and their [illegible] of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. That he as no documentary evidence but Nathan Darrow and John Comstock and Jeremiah Harding are living and can state as to his service in Lathams and Spicers company. 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 every state. Swore to and and subscribed the day and year of service.

Rufus Avery
Wm. Brainard Clerk

We John G Wightman a clergyman residing in the town of Groton and Elijah Bailey residing in the town of Groton hereby certify that we are well acqainted with Rufus Avery who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that be believe him to be seventy three 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 in court.

John G. Wightman
Elijah Bailey
Wm Brainard Clerk
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and the said court do duly declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department that the within named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that John G Wightman who has signed the processing certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Groton and that Elijah Bailey who has signed the same is a resident in said Groton and is a credible person and that this statement is entitled to credit and that Nathan Darrow is a credible witness

I William F Brainard Clerk of the City Court of this 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 Rufus Avery for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said City Court this 6th day of August AD 1832
Wm F Brainard Clerk

Rufus Avery written down side
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I Nathan Darrow of the town of Groton in New London County of the age of Seventy three years dispose and say that in the month of May 1776 I enlisted into Spicers company at Groton for six mons and in the month of July went with the company to New York by [illegible] that he was in the engagement on Long Island and in the skirmishes on York island and at White Plains was in the service six months. During [illegible] which time Rufus Avery of Groton who to me is well known as a member of Spicers company and was in all the engagements with me.

I was also in the years 1780 and 1781 a member of Capt Lathams company stationed at Fort Griswold. I was a sargeant in Lathams company and belonged to the company from the spring or summer of 1780 to the spring of 1782. I well remember that Capt Rufus Avery was a sergeant with me in Lathams company for one year he was in the garrison at the time of the battle and was taken prisoner with me and carried to New York and exchanged before I was exchanged.

Nathan Darrow

Signed and sworn to in court
Wm. Brainard Clerk
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[illegible]
O. W. and N. Division

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C., May, 1893

Madam

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Rufus Avery, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT: May 1776
LENGTH OF SERVICE: 6 mo
RANK: IN
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED: CAPTAIN Abel Spicer COLONEL Selden
STATE: Conn

DATES OF ENLISTMENT: DEC 1777
LENGTH OF SERVICE: 3 MO
RANK: IN
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED: CAPTAIN Joseph Gallup COLONEL Ledyard
STATE: CONN

DATES OF ENLISTMENT: FALL 1778
LENGTH OF SERVICE: 3 MO
RANK: IN
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED: CAPTAIN NOYES  COLONEL: DO
STATE: CONN

DATES OF ENLISTMENT: NOV 1779
LENGTH OF SERVICE: 3 MO
RANK: IN
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED: CAPTAIN [ILLEGIBLE] THOMPSON
COLONEL: DO
STATE: CONN

DATES OF ENLISTMENT: 1780
LENGTH OF SERVICE: 12 MO
RANK: SGT
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED: CAPTAIN WM. LATHAM
COLONEL: DO  
STATE: CONN

Battles engaged in Long Island, Harlem, White plains & Massacre at Fort Griswold & prisoner
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Groton Conn
Date of application for pension, August 1832
Residence at date of application, Groton, Conn
Age at date of application, born in do in 1758
Remarks: 

Very Respectfully

__________Commissioner

Mrs Rufus L. Avery
51 Park Avenue
Mansfield, Ohio

7941 b-3 m
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Rev War
12939
INVALID

File No. 12939
Rufus Avery
Sergt: Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index:--Vol.__________,Page_________

(Arrangement of 1870)


1893 - May 18 - [illegible] to Mrs. Rufus L. Avery
Mansfield O.
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Apr 7 1893 362766

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

April 5/93

Rufus Avery
Revis Mar

Mrs. Rufus L. Avery
#51 Park Ave
Mansfield Ohio

requests revolutionary record of above named man . a pensioner of New London. Conn

Date stamp: U S Pension Office D Apr 22 1893

Record of Pension Office
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington April 7th, 189
Respectfully returned

Mrs. Rufus L. Avery
No. 51 Park Avenue
Mansfield, Ohio.

The records of the Revolutionary War are on file in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

Rec'd Back with enc. Apr 17 1898

BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: 
T.C. Ainsworth
Colonel, U. S. Army, Chief of Office

Per [illegible

(800a)


date stamp: U. S. Pension Office Apr 23 1893

Record and Pension Office
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington April 17th, 1893
Respectfully returned to

Mrs. Rufus L. Avery,
No 51 Park Avenue,
Mansfield, Ohio

This communication appears to have been erroneously addressed to the Record and Pension Office of the War Department, which is in no wise connected with the Pension Office of the Interior Department.

For information such as is asked for within, application should be made to the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

1 enc-

BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

T. C. Ainsworth
Colonel, U. S. Army, Chief of Office.

Per: [illegible]
(800a)
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Mansfield,
Ohio April 20, 1893,

Commissioner of Pensions.

Dear Sir,

[illegible]
the encloses sheets. you will see I have been misinformed in sending for the desired records. Will you please
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send me the desired records.
The revolutionary record of Rufus Avery pensioner of New London Conn.

Respectfully,
Mrs Rufus L Avery
51 Park Avenue
Mansfield.
Ohio.
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Enc, to 1st end't on 362466
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Date stamp: U S Pension Office Apr 22 1893

Chief of the Record & Pension Office

Dear Sir,

[illegible] the enclosed you will see that my application was sent to the wrong department,

Will you
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please to send me the record asked for. The revolutionary record of Rufus Avery pensioner of New London Conn.

Respectfully
Mrs. R. L. Avery
51 Park Avenue
Mansfield, Ohio 

April 11, 1893,