Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 35028, for Joel Phelps, Connecticut
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SERVICE   
Conn.
Continental
Mass.
Phelps, Joel
NUMBER:  S. 35028
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State of New York 
Ontario County ss}  I Joel Phelps an inhabitant of the town of Bloomfield in the County of Ontario and State of New York being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is a citizen of the United States of America 
Joel Phillips Private 
Patterson’s Mass
Regt 76 12 months
Proof of Service marked 
that in the month of June AD 1775, he enlisted into a company of soldiers commanded by Capt John McKinstry of the first regiment of foot commanded by Col John Patterson of the Massachusetts line of the Continental army; that he served at Cambridge and continued in service with the rank of Sergeant untill the third day of January, 1776. that he reinlisted on the 2nd day of February or thereabouts into the same company commanded by the same officers as before; that he served in New York, and Canada, that he was there taken prisoner by a party of British and Indians, that a cartel was settled between Capt Foster and General Arnold by which every person was directed not to take up arms again during the (then) present contest, that he was ordered by General Gates to join his regiment and they were then ordered to Mount Independence.  That he afterwards served in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that on the 29th day of December his term of inlistment having expired, at the request of General Washington, he engaged to serve for ten weeks longer. that on the expiration of the ten weeks, which were spent in New Jersey, he reinlisted into the Company of Capt Hall of the 13th regiment commanded by Col Henry Sherburne of the Continental Army (and this deponent does not recollect to what line it belonged) for three years: that on the 24th or 30th of June following General orders were issued to all who had been sent home on cartel to leave the army and retire home; that being in Wyoming in Pensylvania and the British and Indians committing depredations, he was ordered by Col Zebulon Butler of the Connecticut line to join a company commanded by Capt Stephen Hardin, and on the 16th joined the same to go on a scout that he then fell in with a party of British and Indians, that a skirmish ensued, at which time he
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Phelps 
received a wound from a musket ball, that after having suffered extremely from his wound; having in some measure recovered, he was appointed Quarter Master by the United States to accompany General Burgoyne’s army to Virginia; that his health becoming critical by occasion of his wound he left that department. That he was appointed Issuing Commissary at Saratoga at the last of April or the first of May 1779 that he performed the duties of that station untill the contractors came in, some time in May 1790, left the department and joined the army no more.  That in June or July following he received a regular and honorable discharge as a disabled soldier, which discharge is now in the pension office: that in Circa 1790 or 1792 be applied for a pension, and his discharge was given up to Abraham Clark a member of the house of Representatives from New Jersey to aid that application: that the application was referred to the Judge for the district of New Jersey, that the claim was investigated by Commissioners appointed by the said Judge who reported favorably thereupon, that he was placed on the pension list and has received a pension of $30 per year since that time; and this deponent further says that he was present of the Cedars in Canada at a battle; at one at Trenton in New Jersey, and at Princetown ,at Bound Brook in the same state: at the battle of Wyoming and at many other minor skirmishes. And this deponent further saith that he is now in the sixty-third year of his age and by reason of his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support: and further this deponent saith not:
 Joel Phelps 
Sworn and subscribed before me this 20th day of April AD 1818 
Micah Brooks
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Phelps
by reason of his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support.  And further this deponent saith not.   
Joel Phelps 
Sworn and subscribed before me this 20th day  of April AD 1818 
Micah Brooks 
State of New York 
Ontario County SS 
I Micah Brooks one of the Judges of the Court of Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, do certify that it has been made to appear by the oath of reputable persons to my full satisfaction that Joel Phelps the person described in the declaration here unto annexed, is so far reduced in his circumstances as really need the assistance of his country for support  and I am fully satisfied that he has rendered the services set forth in the said declaration.   
Bloomfield 3d Novr 1818 
Micah Brooks
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State of New York 
Ontario County Clerks Office } ss In Testimony that Micah Brooks whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificates was on the day of the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ontario & that the same is his signature. I hereunto subscribe my name affix the County Seal at Canandaigua this 11th day of Nov AD 1818 
Hu McNair Clk 
Honorable Micah Brooks East Bloomfield
NY
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Joel Phelps
Schedule
17094  Sept 20 $53.20
R. P. 
Con 
J.L.E.
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State of New York 
Genesee County } ss I Simeon Cumings, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Genesee do hereby certify that the foregoing oath (or affirmation) and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is fifty three Dollars & twenty cents.   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this seventh day of February A.D. 1821. 
Simeon Cuming Clerk of said Court 
By R.C. Smead Deputy
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Consolidated with File 35,028
43847
Revy INVALID. 
File No. 43,847 
Joel Phelps 
Sergt. Rev War 
Act: 18 March 18th 
Index:--Vol. 5 Page 592 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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35028 
Revy INVALID. 
File No. 35028 
Joel Phelps   
Pri Rev War
Act: 18" March 18”   
Index: --Vol. 2  Page 322 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
1909 Apl. 22 Hist to J. W. Toms, Pontiac Mich V.L.M.
1909 Dec. 16 J. W.  Toms thro’ Hon S. W. Smith to apply to aud for Interior Dept for date of 1st payment of Pension &c. 9 enclosures returned, statement of service among them.  V.L.M.
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3-871  
RECORD DIVISION.  
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
Briefed by Geo M. Moore 
Dec 15, 1909 
Certificate No. 
Claimant 
Soldier Joel Phelps 
Service Rev 
Additional Service. 
No. claim, State records , 190 
No claim, combination records 190. 
REMARKS: No W. S. W. or R. as above except S.F. 43847 – S.F. 35028 -  identical & consolidated under S.F 35028 
W F 18756   Conn serv. 2 yrs not identical with above two
for information relative to Joel Phelps invalid pension see American State Papers Vol. claims pages 96 & 172 and as Printed list of 1835, of Genesee Co (over)
AW Dec 16 ‘09
Chief Division
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BUREAU OF PENSIONS. – 
Briefed by George M. Moore 
Sept 20, 1909. 
Certificate No. 
Claimant 
Soldier Joel Phelps 
Service N. J. or N Y. Rev. 
Additional Service. 
No claim, State records 190 
No claim, combination records 190. 
REMARKS: No OW Ind., O.W. Wid, or O.W. Reg as above, except O W Inv File No. 35028 
Chief Division
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17094 
New York  
Joel Phelps, 
of Bloomfield in the state of New York who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Patterson of the Massachusetts line, for the term of one year.  
Conn & Continental & Mass 
Inscribed on the roll of at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the the 20 of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 of Novr 1818  and sent to  Micah Brooks Esq. E. Bloomfield N. York 
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 1819   132.00
Semi-anl, all'ce ending Mar 1820    48.00
16 mo 15/30   $180.00   
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818} 
Arr to 4th Sept 1819 and Revy 132.00
Arr to Sept 1819 as Invalid         66.66
66.00
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I Joel Phelps of the town of Bloomfield in the County of Ontario in the State of New York do hereby relinquish every pension to which I have any claim under any law of the United States of America on condition that I have the pension allowed me under an act entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war” passed March 18th  1818.  
Joel Phillips
Acknowledged before me this 20th April AD 1818 
Micah Brooks a Judge &c 
Signed and Sealed in presence of William Wilcox 
Enoch Wilcox
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July 12
Mr. Evans
Joel Phelps
Loss of Pens Cert
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
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Rose July 3. 1837 
Sir I have accidentally lost my Pension certifficate and no hopes of it ever being found.  I went to live for a while with a son in law of mine 35 miles from this place, took the certificate with me on my return home lost it with other valuable papers belonging to another person great exertion and search has been made to find them but no trace can be discovered of them.   It is supposed that they are either distroyed or secreted for the little property that was with them.   I wish to know whether there is any way provided that I can obtain another certificate by my qualifying and proving that they are lost and how I must proceed.   I am actually suffering for the pension.  I have a wife that is unable to do any labour; I also have a son that is Insane & I am eighty two years of age & to labour for my support I cannot owing to my advanced age.   I am wholly dependent on the mercy of the people for my maintenance.  I must suffer surely suffer if the pension is lost. I beg the favour of your Honour to let me know as soon as may be that I may regulate my conduct by your order.   I will discharge the former Certificate and prove by a Justice of the Peace who was with me at the time that I lost the papers. It was on the ninth of June 1837 that I lost the certificate.  You will please let me know what course to take in order to obtain the pension.   You will please Direct your answer to Aaron Phelps P.M. he is a son of mine.
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My name is placed placed on the roll at No. 17094. Sir your immediate attention to this hull much oblige yours 
I am very Respectfully Yours Svt
Joel Phelps 
N. B. I received the transfer a few days since
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APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER. 
State of Michigan 
County of Oakland ss 
On this Twenty Seventh day of April AD 1837, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Oakland aforesaid personally appeared Joel Phelps who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain John McKinstry in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Patterson in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State  of Michigan where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The following are his reasons for removing from the State of New York to the State of Michigan are that his children have removed from the State of New York and he was desirous of residing with them in the State of Michigan.   
Joel Phelps
Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day and year aforesaid.}  
District or Territory erased before signing John P. LeRoy 
Justice of the Peace 
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The County Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who 
administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine. 
The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the affidavit. The Magistrate must certify that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed. 
I Hiram Madden  being duly sworn depose and say that Joel Phelps whose signature above written is the person described in the above affidavit.
Hiram Madden
Subscribed and sworn  before me this 27th day of April 1837}  
John P. LeRoy Justice of the Peace
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Payable semi-annually. The first payment on this Certificate will be made on the 4th of March next, in the City of New York at the U. States Branch Bank.   
Papers returned for the pensioner to relinquish his former pension
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War Department 
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM. 
I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Joel Phelps, of Bloomfield, State of New York,  late a Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the New York Agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the twentieth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this twenty ninth day of November one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, 
C. Vandeventer 
Acting Secretary of War
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Dear Sir
Shelby Octr 18th 1836 Orleans Co 
I am a pension of the United States and by Reason of my extreme age I am obliged to live with our Children who are migrating to Michigan, myself and wife must go with them.  Will you be so good as to transfer the pension which is now paid at Albany to the place where they are said in that teritory  and if that cannot be done please to allow me to be paid at Buffalo, the children are willing and anxious for us to go with them,  I think it a [unreadable] to be with them the little time I have to live,  I pray you to be good as to let me know whether it can be done or not by letter directed to Aaron Phelps at Milford Madison County Michigan stating the case or place that I can be paid.  The Certificate is No. 17094.  I am [unreadable] you sir. I hope you will pardon the freedom I have taken.  
I am respectfully Your humble servt.
Joel Phelps.  
P. S. please to Excuse Haste and incourtesy 
Hon Lewis Cass
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State of New York 
Ontario County ss   Oliver Fletcher of said County being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was an enlisted Soldier for the year 1776 in the Company of Capt John McKinstry in Col John Pattersons Regt of the Massachusetts line of the Revolutionary Army - and this deponent further saith that he knew Joel Phelps a Soldier of said Company and well recollects his inlistment and joining the Company about the first of the year 1776 and that he the said Phelps did faithfully serve in the said Company until about the close of the said year, and received an honorable discharge and this deponent further with that he is not directly or indirectly interested in the application of the said Joel Phelps for a Pension from the U. States   - Oliver Fletcher 
Sworn to and subscribed before me the 7 day of Augt 1819- 
Micah Brooks a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for said County 
I Certify that Oliver Fletcher the above deponent is a credible witness and that his testimony is entitled to full credit 
Micah Brooks
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Ontario County  Clerks office.}  ss 
In testimony that Micah Brooks by whom  the foregoing affidavits were taken was on the day of the date thereof a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County duly commissioned & sworn and that his name thereto subscribed is in his own proper hand writing. I have hereunto affixed the seal of said County and subscribed my name at Canandaigua this 28th day of October 1819 
John Van Fossen Clerk
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State of New York 
Ontario County ss   Samuel Horsford of said County being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he this depoment was an enlisted Soldier in the Company of Capt John McKinstry in Col Patterson Regt for the year 1775 that during the said years service he this deponent became intimately acquainted with Joel Phelps a Sergeant of the said Company for the said year 1775.  That at the close of the service of the said year 1775, Capt McKinstry was solicitous to again enlist and fill up his company for the year 1776, and this deponent well recollects that Capt McKinstry affixed to the said Joel Phelps the office of Sergeant and in his company for the the ensuing year 1776 if he the said Joel Phelps would enlist a certain number of men.  And this deponent further saith that some time in the month of February 1776, the said Joel Phelps joined the Company of Capt McKinstry and served in the capacity of Sergeant. And this deponent further saith that the said Joel Phelps did serve in the Company of Capt McKinstry for the year 1776 as is set forth in the declaration of the said Phelps, for the said year 1776, and to the full satisfaction of his officers, which declaration this deponent hath seen and examined.  And this deponent further saith that he is not interested with directly or indirectly in the application of the said Said Phelps for a pension from the U. States - further this deponent saith not.  
Samuel Horsford  
Sworn and Subscribed this 24 day of August 1819 before me 
Micah Brooks a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for said County 
I certify that Samuel Horsford the above deponent is a credible witness and that his testimony is entitled to full weight and credit 
Micah Brooks
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May 15
Jurat
Mr. Burdine
Troy Mich
2 May    Free
Hon J L. Edwards   
Commissioner of Pensions  
Washington D.C.
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Rose Oakland County Michigan May 1837 
Hon J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions 
Dr Sir,   I have been paid my pension in Albany State York up to the 4th Sept last,  will you inform me by letter addressed to Lewis Phelps Moscow Livingston County State of N York whether the payment has been transfer to 
Respectfully Yours 
Joel Phelps
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Batavia N.Y.
Feby 13 1821}
Free
Hon John C. Calhoun
Secy of War
City Washington
N. Yk
Recd 20th Feb 1821
Ex’d [examined]
Con
J.L.E.
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Batavia Feb 13th 1821. 
Hon J. C. Calhoun 
Sir Enclosed you have the schedule of Joel Phelps a Revolutionary soldier, after your decision you will please forward to me the result.   
I am respectfully Sir your Obt Svt
C. F. Buckley
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Jurat May 22
Mr. Burdine
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MECHANICS & FARMERS' BANK, 
Albany Pension Agency, 
May 18 1837  
JAMES L. EDWARDS, Esquire, 
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Sir, 
In reply to your letter of the 15th inst I have to state, that Joel Phelps a Pensioner under the Act of March 18, 1818  at $8 Dollars per month was last paid to 4 day of Sept 1836. 
I am, Sir, Very respectfully, Your obt servt 
Thos W. Olcott
PRES'T AND PENSION AGENT.
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Pontiac Mich Sept 13th 1909 
Pension Office
Joel Phelps my Grandfather Enlisted from New Jersey probably, possibly from N York & served through the Revolutionary War. About 1835 he removed to Michigan where he died. He was [unreadable]  the last of the pensioner of that war. His sons & daughters who should have his record are all gone and now the D. A. R. wish to secure his record.  Can you furnish it on the above data? 
Youn Truly 
J. W. Toms
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SAMUEL W. SMITH. CHAIRMAN. 
LEWIS M. MILLER. CLERK. 
COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U. S. 
WASHINGTON, D. C
Attention and reply to. J. L. Davenport 
First Deputy Clerk
December 14, 1909. 
Hon. J. L. Davenport, 
Washington, D. C. 
My dear Mr. Davenport: 
I have a good old venerable friend in my home city by the name of Joel W. Toms who, as you will see from the enclosed correspondence, is very much interested in getting some further information respecting his grandfather Joel Phelps. This is my excuse for troubling you with the enclosed reading matter and for asking you if you will have this matter thoroughly investigated and let me know the result. With your reply, please return these papers which I am sending you. 
Thanking you, I am, 
Sincerely yours, 
S. W. Smith 
9 enclosures Returned Dec 16 1909 
[stamp] DEC 10 1909 COMMISSIONER
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December 16, 1909   
Hon. Samuel W. Smith, 
House of Representatives. 
My dear Mr. Smith: 
In reply to your letter dated and received the 11" instant, and the enclosed letters from Mr. J. W. Toms of Pontiac, Michigan, relative to Joel Phelps, Revolutionary War pensioner, Sur. File No. 35,028, I have the honor to advise you that for date of last payment of pension, person to whom it was paid and date of his death, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U.S. Treasury Department, citing the following data: Joel Phelps: Certificate No. 17,094, issued May 23, 1820, under Act of March 18, 1818, at the Michigan Agency; as the records of this bureau do not show said facts.
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner,