Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,559, for Joseph Ransom, Connecticut
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SERVICE   Conn.
Continental
Ransom, Joseph
NUMBER   S. 18,559
carded
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13.447. 
Ohio Pittsburg  
Joseph Ransom 
of Atwood Co. in the State of Ohio was a Private in the Co. commanded by Captain Dorrance of the Regt commanded by Col. Swift in the Cont. line for two years 
Conn. & Continental 
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburgh at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of July 1833 and sent to [unreadable]  Norwalk Ohio 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 160.00 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4. Sept ‘33. 40.00 
200.00. 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded  by Wm R Palmer Clerk
Book E. Vol. 8. Page 125
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No 5270
7th
Joseph Ransoms
pension papers
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State of Ohio 
Huron County} ss  Norwalk 27 July AD 1832 
On this 27th day of July 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Supreme Court for the State of Ohio in Said Norwalk now sitting Joseph Ransom, a Resident of in the County of Huron and State of Ohio aged sixty nine who being first duly sworn according to law doth on oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 – 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated 
In 1777 was drafted as a militia man two months under the command of Captain Miner Lord, of Lyme State of Connecticut (Continental line), in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Latimer of Lyme & Benedict Arnold and Gates his General. He went to Bemis Heights 35 miles above Albany at North River.  & came within about 1½ mile of the British Army,  that he was engaged in a Battle with the British there was wounded by a musket ball in his left leg,  that the Americans drove them out of their breast works & pursued & got above them, at or near the Saratoga Muling house, my being commanded by the American Genl Gates followed them Seven days to consider whether they would surrender after which they capitulated, that he saw the British surrender, march out, and lay down their arms. The American Army then marched to Albany.  The British Prisoners were separated,  some to Boston, Hartford & other places in number, about 8000.  After this they marched to Rhinebeck and there were honorably discharged but said discharge is lost.  In 1780 he and the Regular Army of the Continental line, there being vacancies in said line, he and others enlisted for eight months to fill up those vacancies.  Then he marched to West Point,  there remained for three weeks, then marched & found the Regular Army at [unreadable],  he knew at the time Captain David Dorance,  Lieutenant Allen,  Col Heman Swift
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and Benedict Arnold Brigadier General.  There he joined three corps respectfully that he further recollects the said Dorance was his Captain the whole time. That he went with a party of about 1000 men South into the neighborhood of the British to challenge them, for a Battle, after which they returned to West Point at which place he was stationed for three or four months.  When Arnold was taken and hung a gallows hill at which time and place he was present.  Genl Washington & many other officers were there. There time serving expired were discharged & returned home, which discharge he has lost.  He afterwards enlisted for eight months in the Continental line of Teamsters.  That he served faithfully with his team eight months in carrying Provisions & ammunition from Hartford to Danbury.  He further states that the Captain of his company was Niels Ely of Lyme Connecticut & then returned home.  After this he enlisted in the State Regiment of Troops for one year under the command of Captain Lee Lary of Lyme. Cols name not recollected, Genl Spencer Genl of E. Haddam.  He first went to New London and kept Garrison. He then marched on to Rhode Island.  Our troops had Troops had a battle with the British there, were the same officers & others Genl Lafayette, & there they made entrenchments the Island was taken & the Americans retreated, went to & were stationed at Providence  two or three months, their time being expired, were discharged & returned home. After this went on Tour to N. London & served two months there, went to Horseneck & served three months.  He knows of no person who can testify for him, he is aged 70 years fifth Sept next.  He was born in Mines Nova Scotia.  He has lied since the war for several years in an East Haddam, Colchester in Connecticut from thence he moved to Eldridge Hardin Co Ohio where he now resides.
Joseph Ransom  
Attest D Gibbs Clerk Supr Ct.
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any pension or or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.   
Joseph Ransom
Subscribed sworn to the day year aforesaid 
Attest. D. Gibbs Clerk Supr Ct. 
We Joshua Phillips a Clergyman residing in the Town of Berlin and John Brooks residing in the town of Florence hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Ransom who has sworn and subsided to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Sixty nine 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 and that we have always considered him as a man of veracity.   
Joshua Phillips 
John Brooks 
Sworn to and subscribed the day aforesaid Attest D. Gibbs Clerk Supr Ct. 
And the said Court do hereby declare the 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 other states & certifies that it appears to them that Joshua Phillips who has signed the preceding certificate is Clergyman resident in the Town of Berlin in said County of Hardin and that John Brooks who has also signed the same is a Resident in the town of Florence in said County and is Credible person & that the statement is entitled to credit/   
Attest D. Gibbs Clerk Supr Ct. 
I D. Gibbs Clerk of the Supreme Court of Hardin County Ohio do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Ransom for a pension.   
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 6th day of August A. D.
D. Gibbs Clerk Supr. Ct.
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5270  
Jp Ransom Hardin County Ohio
13447 
R.
Adm. 2 years. 
IV. V. 
Int. 2.7. 
Let Lears B. Sturges Norwalk Huron Co Ohio
Decr 4 1832
P 120
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5270  
BRIEF in the case of  Joseph Ransom of Huron Co
in the State of  Ohio
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he?  70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period.  In 1777 drafted  Duration of Service. 2 Months   Rank.  pri   Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Capt. M. Lord, Col. Latimer, Gen Arnold
Period.  1780 (Continental)  Duration of Service.  8 Months  Rank. pri   Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Capt D. Dorrance, Col Heman Swift
Period.  “afterwards enlisted”   Duration of Service.  8 months   Rank.  Teamster  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Capt Reel Ely
Period.  Afterwards enlisted State Troops   Duration of Service.  12 months  Rank.  pri Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Capt Lee Lang, G. L. Earle
Period. Afterwards enlisted State Troops  Duration of Service.  2 months  Rank.  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   
Period. Afterwards enlisted State Troops  Duration of Service. 3 Months  Rank.  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
5. In what battles was he engaged?   Saratoga
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Conn’t.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?   Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?   Correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above 
H. H. Sylvester  Examining Clerk
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In reply to your request of – received – for a statement of the military history of Joseph Ransom 
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow’s) application for pension on file in this bureau.  S. File 18559
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT   Aug ’77  LENGTH OF SERVICE  to Saratoga 2 months   RANK. Pri   OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. [unreadable] Captain Abner Lord, Colonel Latimer.   STATE.  Conn.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  LENGTH OF SERVICE  [unreadable] 1 year  RANK.  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. Captain Lee Lay page 543 STATE. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  LENGTH OF SERVICE  8 mos.   RANK.  Teamster  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. Captain Abiel Ely, page 325  STATE. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  LENGTH OF SERVICE  8 mos.    RANK. Pri OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. Captain David Dorrance  STATE. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT   LENGTH OF SERVICE  2 mos. RANK.    OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  to New London STATE. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  LENGTH OF SERVICE  7 mos.  RANK.  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. to Horseneck   STATE. 
Battles engaged in,  [unreadable] Saratoga
Residence of soldier at enlistment,   
Date of application for pension,   July 27, 1832
Residence at date of application,   Eldridge, Eldridge, Huron Co. Ohio 1833 [unreadable]
Age at date of application,   born [unreadable] 1762
Remarks:  to auditor for last payment [unreadable] 
Very respectfully
Commissioner
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18559 
INVALID. 
File No. 18559 
Pri Rev War 
Act: June 7” 32”  
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 310 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1907 July 10 Hist to Mary A. Cary
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Ohio  
[stamp] NORWALK
J L. Edwards Esqr  
Commissioner of Pensions  
War Department
Washington
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Norwalk H. Cy Ohio 27 June 1833 
J. L Edwards Esq 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Sir
I enclose to you Joseph Ransoms second supplementary declaration & other papers for a pension.  
You say his name cannot be found on the roll. This must mean when he served under Capt Dorance. Independant of this he served 2 months under Capt Lord.  He enlisted & served in the American Continental Line of Teamsters for 1 year.   He enlisted & served in the Connecticut State Regiment of Troops for 1 year.  He served in other tours at New London 2 or 3 months.  He served at Horseneck at two different times at least 7 months, so the least he served 2 years & 11 months exclusive of the 8 months he served under Capt Dorance which entitles him to a full pension.  I truly believe the case of Jos Ransom is an honest one as he is considered a very honest man who is very from destitute.   
Respectfully yours 
Lewis B Sturges
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Joseph Ransom's
Pension papers
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State of Ohio Huron County ss Norwalk 
On this 20th day of February AD 1833 personally appeared before me Timothy Baker one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County of Huron Joseph Ransom a resident of Eldridge formerly of Austin in said County who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on Oath make the following supplementary declaration in addition to his former declaration made before the Supreme Court for the State of Ohio then sitting in said Norwalk on the 27 July AD 1832 in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 1832. That he was according to his from declaration drafted into the militia of Connecticut in August 1777 that afterwards he then served two months. That afterwards he enlisted in the year 1780 into the Regular Army of the Connecticut Line for eight months which time he served at the expiration of which he was discharged, which discharge he has lost. That he afterwards he enlisted for eight months in the in the Continental Line of teamsters which term of time he faithfully served with his Team as Driver & was again honorably discharged which Discharge he has lost.  He then returned home. After this he again enlisted in the State Regiment of troops for one year & served for that period & was then honorably discharged which discharge he has lost and the Declarant also says that he served in the Revolutionary War for the other times and periods as mentioned & described in his former declaration made before said Supreme Court.  
He has no record of his age but his age is
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is as stated in his former declaration now Seventy last September.   That he has mentioned in his former declaration the names of persons to whom he is known in his neighborhood viz the Revd Joshua Phillips Clergyman and John Brooks  credible persons who have already & can again testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.  
And the said Declarant further deposeth & saith that by reason of old age to 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 in the following grades for three years & one half as a private Soldier 
Joseph Ransom
State of Ohio  
Huron County}  ss  Sworn & subscribed before me at Norwalk this 20th day of Feby 1833 
Timothy Baker  Judge of Huron Com Pleas 
State of Ohio
Hart County }  I David Gibbs Clerk of the last of Common Pleas in said County do certify that Timothy Baker is an Associate Judge of the said Court in said County as stated & that the signature above purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my and affixed the seal of said Court at Norwalk this 20 day of February AD 1833. 
D Gibbs Clerk H.C.P.
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State of Ohio Huron County Norwalk 
On the Twenty seventh day of June AD 1833 personally appeared before Timothy Baker one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said County Joseph Ransom Resident of Berlin in said County who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make this his second supplementary declaration to his first declaration made before the Supreme Court said State at the Session at said Norwalk on the 29 July 1832 in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. 
That after he enlisted in 1780 in the Continental line for eight months to fill up vacancies as mentioned in his first declaration he was stationed about two months at West point & then at Tappond  for three or four months & from thence he with a one Thomas [unreadable] went to Bergen point in New Jersey to challenge the British to a battle after which they returned to Tappond pond before which returned and they heard Major Andre was taken but they got there soon enough to see him hung.  He by mistake in his former declaration mentioned Arnold hung instead of Andre. When he served under his enlistment for eight months under Captain Dorrance and who under Lieutenant Allen, Colonel Heman Swift and Benedict Arnold & General Gates also had a command over them.   
That he was mistaken in stating in his former declaration that he enlisted into the Continental Line of Teamsters after he served as last mentioned.  It was soon after Danbury was burnt by the British in 1777 that he engaged served as a Teamster & served as such in the American Continental Line.  He was chiefly employed as such from Hartford to Danbury & back from the latter place to said Hartford in carrying provisions, pork, Beef, Spirits &c &c their purchasing Commissary lived at Hartford, he believes it was
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Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth & the Captain & Superintendent of the Teams was Riel Ely.   That previous to his enlistment & Service into the continental line in 1780 he believes the year before, he enlisted into served in the Connecticut State Troops for said one year in his first declaration he by mistake said it was subsequent to the year 1780. He cannot recollect the name of his Colonel.  General Spencer of East Haddam was the General.   They first went to & served at New London & kept it for two or three months from thence went to & served in Rhode Island.  Had a Battle with the British the Declarant not being in it but keeping guard were stationed at  Providence & served on the Island two or three months.   General Spencer was also there as commander also Genl [Lafayette]  was there.  After Rhode island was taken by the British they returned New London served there at Lyme near Governor Griswold’s the remainder of said year.  He was discharged which discharge is lost.  After this the Declarant went on First to New London in the militia & served two months to guard the harbor, one of which tours he served as a Substitute for one Abner Beebe in a Captains company commanded by Captain Lee Lay, there was no Colonel. After this he enlisted into the militia served at Horseneck at Byron Bridge for four or five months was afterwards drafted into the militia, & served at said Horseneck for three months both said times he served under the authority of the Laws of Connecticut.  He can not recollect the names of the officers under whom he served at Horseneck.   His old fellow Soldiers comrads he believes are all dead.  He knows of no person or persons living who can testify to his
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aforementioned services. 
The Declarant again declares that he did not serve less in the Revolutionary War in the service of the United States than three years and six months.   
Joseph Ransom
Sworn & subscribed before me at this 27th day of June 1833
Timothy Baker Judge of the Huron Com Pleas 
State of Ohio 
Huron County ss}  Norwalk June 27th day AD 1833 
I David Gibbs Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that Timothy Baker is a lawfull Judge of said Court as above & the signature above purporting to be his is genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name the Seal of said Court at Norwalk this 27th day of June AD 1833.
D. Gibbs Clerk H.C.P.
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[stamp] JUL 2 1907 
Napoleon June 28 1907  
Department to the Interior 
Bureau of Pensions 
Washington DC 
Gentlemen:
Will you kindly give me the last known place of residence of the pensioner to drew pension [unreadable] Joseph Ransom who enlisted in the 1st Regt of the Connecticut line as a [unreadable] at its formation in 1777 to 1781.  Was discharged Dec 13, 1780, that first being [unreadable]  a part of his service may prior to such enlistments Aug. 24, 1777, he was drafted into a militia regiment for service at Saratoga in Capt Collins Co, and was assigned to Gen [unreadable] Brigade, General Arnolds Division and
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fought at both battles Sept 19 and Oct 9, 1777. He was discharged Oct 30 1778.   
Also what was his age or “his captive list" is shown by original roll or by pension record?  
Very respectfully 
Mary A Cary
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[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE H JUL 1 1907