Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17200, Robert Williams, Conn. Continental
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.
Continental

Williams, Robert

NUMBER
S. 17200

CONTENTS

carded
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Typed document completed in handwriting

17.087 Connecticut

Robert Williams
Groton in the State of Conn who was a Sergt in the Conc commanded by Captain--- of the Reg
commanded by Col Parsons in the Conn & [strikethrough] troops [strikethrough] State Troops 12 Continental and

Inscribed on the Roll of Connt the rate of 60 Dollars --- Cents per annum, to commence on the
4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of July 1833 and sent Hon N Barber Groton, Cont

Arrears to the 4th of March 33   $120
Semi-anl allowance ending Sep 4, $30
                                                            ------
                                                            $150
{Revolutionary Claim,
 Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by ED Bullock Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 46
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Robert Williams

Admitted
Sergeant 12 mo $60

Hon N. Barber
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Typed document completed in handwriting

BRIEF in the case of Robert Williams of Groton in the State of Connecticut
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 78 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
6 Column table
|Period. | Duration of Service. Years, | Duration of Service. Months, |Duration of Service. Days. | Rank. As a | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

| Jany 1st In 1776| 1 | --- | --- | Sergeant | Capt Jas Chapman Col Saml H. Parsons} Connec’t |

5. In what battles was he engaged? Long Island

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Stonington Connecticut

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence, and two living Witnesses - also his original commission as Ensign

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are duly authenticated

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
Wm. Gordon Examining Clerk

The applicant states that he performed in service after receiving his commission as Ensign, that having received said Commission immediately or before his term of the years service, as Sergeant, expired, he did not deem it necessary to obtain a Sergeants warrant to which he was previously entitled
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Robert Williams
Pension Papers

26.097


Presided by N Barber
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Declaration

In order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

State of Connecticut
County of New London} ss Probate District of Stonington

On this First day of February AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington in the State of Connecticut, now sitting in the District and County aforesaid, Robert Williams a resident of the Town of Groton in aforesaid County of New London & State of Connecticut, aged Seventy Eight years and upwards, 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 month of December 1775, his residence being his mother’s house, was in Stonington in said New London County, he voluntarily enlisted at New London in place County as a Sergeant, for one year’s service, to commence with the year 1776 the next ensuing in the Company commanded by Capt James Chapman of New London 1st Lieut Rich’d Hewit, 2nd Lt Wm Cleaveland of Norwich Ensign Dan’l Wait of Lyme all in aforesaid New London County & in Col. Sam’l H. Parsons Reg’t of Connecticut State Troops of which Regiment , - Tyler was Lt Col’o & Sam’l Prentice of aforesaid Stonington was major - That on or about the 1st day of January in obedience to the order of Capt Chapman he repaired to New London aforesaid and after four days preparation he proceeded with one or two enlisted men to the Rendezvous at Norwich in aforesaid County & thence marched - seven men being under his charge or command from aforesaid Norwich through Plainfield & Voluntown in said Connecticut through Providence in the State of Rhode Island to Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts & there joined with said party under his charge, the Regiment commanded by Colonel Parsons in Gen’l Spencers Brigade, that he
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arrived at said Roxbury as early as the 10th January & served as Sergeant in his said Company at said Roxbury till the 1st day of February following when he rec’d verbal orders from Cpt Chapman to proceed immediately to Stonington and there and in the vicinity to enlist as many recruits for his said company & Regiment as possible and return in seventeen days with such enlisted recruits to said Roxbury. That in Obedience to said orders he proceeded with dispatch on foot from Roxbury to New London - Stonington & the vicinity and Enlisted Eight privates viz Comfort Chappel Joshua Chappel Stephen Chappel Wm Tinker Nathan Tinker, white men Robert Ashbow & -- Occum Indians - [strikethrough] and one [strikethrough] all of New London & Montville then or part of said New London, and one what man belonging to the State of New Jersey an name forgotten, that he returned with 3 men Eight in number, under his command & charge, and return’d the names and enlistment of said Eight men and delivered them to Capt Chapman - that he continued Serving as Sergeant in his said Company at said Roxbury: that in the month of March in the latter part the Americans fortified Dorchester Heights & there built three Forts - thee were sundry Regiments of the State Troops of Massachusetts & Connecticut serving at the same time at Roxbury aforesaid among them he recollects the names of Ward’s, Willis and Huntington. That Gen’l Washington’s head quarters were at Cambridge but that, he was at Dorchester Heights at the time the Enemy were in motion embarking from and evacuating the Town of Boston - early in April 1776 and soon after the evacuation of Boston by the British he marched with said Company & Regiment from Roxbury to said Norwich & the noncommissioned officers and privates belonging to the neighborhood had liberty to go home with orders to join company on a set day at New London to embark for the City of New York. that he joined his Company at New Lon
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don aforesaid on the day ordered & we embarked in Capt Harris’s Sloop with 3rd Chapman’s Company commanded by the aforesaid Company officers - and arrived at New York after a long passage the latter part of April or early in. May in said 1776. That he served at aforesaid New York City in said Company & Regiment employed in fortifying the aforesaid City & other duties till August following - & untill the British army landed on Long Island - a part of the time awhile at New York four Regiments lay encamped at Rutger’s Hill now called Corlears Hook to wit, Huntington’s Ward Willis’ & Parson’s that , Parson’s regiment, lay next, the East River - That immediately after the British Landed on Long Island the said Regiments were ordered to stake their Tents, that he crossed with said Regiments over the East River to Long Island at Brooklyn - and marched in front of the Enemy’s line. that he was serving in said Regiment when engaged with the enemy on Long Island, between Flatbush & the American Lines. That about the last of August, the American Army retreated in a foggy myst from Long Island, back to New York City in Boats. that he was in the retreat & made five trips across the East river, in a Boat in transporting the army and arms across the river That he encamped with the said regiment, over the hill Westerly of the site of their former encampment - about the middle of September the British landed on Turtle Bay on York Islands and the said Parsons regiment was engaged with the enemy the day of the said landing. That his Captain James Chapman was killed and Lieut Wm. Cleavland taken prisoner - then he was in the retreat of said Regiment to Harlaam heights - and the day following the said Parsons Regiment was again engaged with the enemy. Tat the American army except that part left to garrison Fort Washington retreated from Harlaam Heights to Kings Bridges, West Chester, Morrisania, north of Harl Gate - thence he with the said army retreated to White plains. that Col. Parsons was promoted while at New York and appointed Brig
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adier Gen’l after which Tyler was appointed Colonel of said Regiment, and after the Death of Capt. J Chapman the company aforesaid was commanded by Capt David Nevins - Gen’l Washington, Stirling Heath Sullivan, Spencer & Putnam, were with the army while serving at New York. - The Enemy followed the American Army to White Plains, & the armies were engaged, but Tyler’s late Parson’s Regiment had no part in the action, about the 1st November Gen’l Washington with a part of the American army marched from White Plains, crossed the River Hudson into New Jersey & that he the Declarant, marched in said Regiment to North Castle as also did the remains of Huntington’s Regiment, thence to Peekskill, where the said Regiment, crossed the Hudson or North River thence marched Southerly to Haverstraw thence to Smiths clove - & thence built a Fort by the River near a Bridge & that he there continued in service in said Reg & company till 26th December 1776. - thence he march’d back to said Peekskill having crossed the river and encamped - & continued in service as aforesaid till on or after the 1st day of January 1777. The term of his enlistment, as Sergeant, having expired he was honorably discharged by Colonel Tyler, at the same time the twelve months men belonging to said Regiment were also discharged having been paid off but no written discharges were given to his knowledge - before he was discharged he received an Ensign commission signed by Joh Hancock President, by order of the Congress of the United States which commission is herewith transmitted. - That as he understood, and believes at the time Genl Saml H Parsons, late [strikethrough] of [strikethrough] Colonel of the Regiment in which declarant served one year as Sergeant as aforesaid obtained Ensign commissions for Eight Sergeants in said Regiment, and he further declares and says that he neglected to call on Colonel Parsons while he commanded the Regiment, for [?]. That having received an Ensigns commission
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before he was discharged from service as sergeant he deemed the permission of his warrant, unnecessary and of no importance. That he returned home to Stonington after having served a short Period as a volunteer at Fort Independence at which place he was not attached to any company. at Stonington and vicinity he unsuccessfully attempted to enlist men for Cap Lee;s Company in Col John Durkie Regiment - but that he never joined the company - and does not claim for any services performed as Ensign -

That he has no documentary evidence of the service for which he claims a Pension - to wit for One year’s service as Sergeant, and that he knows of no person who can testify to his said service, except Nathaniel Chesebrough of Montville in said New London County who was a Sergeant in the same Regiment in Capt Eldridge’s Company at the same time, and Asa Baldwin of Stonington who served in said Eldridges Company the same campaign,

That he was born in Stonington in the County of New London aforesaid in the year 1755, Seventeen Hundred & Fifty Five - That is age is recorded in the Town Records of said Stonington. That he was living in said Stonington when called into service. That since the Revolutionary war he has for the most past presiding in said Stonington & that he now resides in Groton in said New London County. That when called into service he voluntarily enlisted as Sergeant, did the duty & was recognized as such and never was a Substitute. -
That in reply to the 5th Interrogatory prescribed by The War Department - he has answered as far as he can recollect in his Declaration preceding - 

That he received a verbal discharge from Col Tyler as before declared at the end of his term but no written discharge, that he considers his commission equal to a discharge - That he has before stated that he rec’d a commission & by whom signed & That the
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same is herewith transmitted - 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. 
Robert William

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and Year aforesaid Before the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington in the State of Connecticut}
Asa Fish Judge

We, John G. Wightman a Clergyman residing in the town of Groton, in the County of New London and State of Connecticut and Eldredge Packer residing in said Town of Groton; do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Williams who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declaration. That we believe him to be Seventy Eight 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.
Feby 4th 1833
John G Wightman
Eldredge Packer

Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid before the Court of Probate aforesaid for the District of Stonington in the State of Connecticut}
Asa Fish Judge
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I Nathaniel Chesebrough of Montville in the County of New London & State of Connecticut a soldier of the Revolution and a Pensioner of the United States aged Seventy Seven years being duly [strikethrough]? [strikethrough] sworn according to Law do on my oath certify declare and say that I am well acquainted with Robert Williams now resident in the Town of Groton in said County and have been well acquainted with said Robert Williams ever since the year 1776 -

That in the year 1775 in the month of December at Stonington in said New London County I enlisted for one year service as a Sergeant in Capt James Eldridges Company of Connecticut States Troops in the Regiment commanded by Col. Sam’l Holden Parsons - That I marched early in January 1776 to Roxbury and then joined my company & Regiment, and Served as Sergeant and Company. That at said Roxbury I found said Robert Williams serving as a Sergeant in Capt Chapmans Company in the said Parson’s Regiment - That I marched in said Regiment after the evacuation of Boston by the British to Norwich Connecticut - that said Robert was also with said Regiment in its said March

That I embarked in a vessel at New London with my company and served at New York. That on the arrival [strikethrough] of the vessel [strikethrough] of the companies comprising said Parsons Regiment I joined the said Regiment and well remember that said Robert Williams was then serving as Sergeant in said Capt Chapman’s company - That the said regiment served in the City of New York till the Enemy landed on Long Island when said Parson’s
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Battle with the Enemy, retreated by night back to New York & continued to serve in and near said City of New York till Sept. 1776 & that I served in said Regiment & knew that said Williams was also serving as sergeant the whole time before noted. That at about the Time for Washington on York Island was taken I was taken prisoner and did not again see said Robert till my return home at Stonington in the beginning of the Year 1777 - that I did not join the corps to which he belonged after I was made a prisoner as aforesaid - That [strikethrough] when [strikethrough] understood and believed at the time, That said Robert served as Sergeant in his company in said Parson’s Regiment the full term of twelve months, the term of his Enlistment and I also understood & believed at the time that the said Robert received an Ensigns Commission, at the time he was discharged from his engagement, as Sergeant - I believe said Robert Williams to be now Seventy Eight, years old & know That he is the identical Robert Williams, who performed the services above stated & that he resided in Said Stonington during the Revolutionary War & that he now resided in Groton in said New London County
Montville February the AD. 1833
Nath’el Chesebrough

State of Connecticut 
County of New London } ss Montville

On this 4th day of February AD. 1833 personally appeared before the subscriber
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a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid Nathaniel Chesebrough a resident in the said Montville and made Solemn oath in due form of Law to the tenth of the foregoing certificate by him subscribed & I the undersigned Justice do further certify that said Nathaniel Chesebrough is to me well known & that he is a credible person & that it appears to me that his statement aforesaid is entitled to full credit
William Raymond Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut
County of New London} ss

I John DeWitt Clerk of the County Court in and for said new London County do hereby certify that William Raymond Esqr before whom the within deposition of Nathaniel Cheesebrough was sworn is a Justice of the peace in & for said new London County and that his signature thereto affixed I believe to both his own proper hand writing 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 4th day of February AD 1833
John DeWitt Clerk
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I Asa Baldwin of Stonington in New London County in the State of Connecticut aged Seventy Seven years a soldier of the Revolution being sworn acording to Law do on my oath Certify Declare and say that about the the first of January 1776 I enlisted as a soldier for twelve months join’d Capt James Eldridge’s Camp in Coln Parsons Reg’t then Stationed at Roxbury near Boston that Robert Williams of Stonington was then a Serg’t in Capt Chapmans Camp in said Reg’t was said to be the first Serg’t in said Reg’t he Remained with us in said Reg’t during that season in the capacity aforesaid While at Boston Newyork and on Longisland and back to Newyork in this time Col Tyler took Command of said Reg’t and Capt Chapman was appointed Major and after wards kiled on our Retreat from Newyork. I was discharged about the Last of December in new york but When said Williams Left the service I have no recollection I have been acquainted with said Robert Williams since 1775 and know him to be the same person who applied to me for this Disposition and for whose benefit it is taken I believe him to be about seventy eight years old

Dated at Stonington January the 12th -1833
Asa Baldwin
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State of Connecticut
New London County ss} Stonington - January 12th 1833

Personally appeared Asa Baldwin of said Stonington signer of the within or foregoing deposition is to me well known and whose testimony is in my opinion entitled to Credit and made Solemn oath to the truth of the facts by him therein Stated

before me W Randall Just of Peace

State of Connecticut
New London County } ss

I John DeWitt Clerk of the County Court in and for said New London County do hereby certify that Wm Randall esq. before whom the within and foregoing deposition of Asa Baldwin was taken is a Justice of the peace in and for said New London County and that his signature thereto affixed I believe to be in his own proper hand writing - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County this 4th day of February AD 1833
John DeWitt Clerk
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And the said Court do hereby declare Their opinion after the investigations of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant Robert Williams was a revolution and soldier and served as he stated and the Court further certifies that it appears to said Court further certifying that it appears to said Court that John G Wightman who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said Town of Groton, in the County of New London & State of Connecticut and that Eldridge Packer who signed the same is a resident in the Said Town of Groton, and is a credible person and that their Statement is entitled to credit - and it also appears to said Court that Nathaniel Chesebrough of the Town of Montville in said New London County - and Asa Baldwin of Stonington in said County who each signed a certificate hereunto, annexed, preceding, are evident as by them stated and are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit -
Asa Fish Judge

I Nathan Daboll Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington C.T. do hereby certify that the foregoing containing the original proceedings of the Said Court in the Matter of the application of Robert Williams for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of office this 8th day of February 1833
Nathan Daboll Clerk
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Typed document completed in handwriting

17,200

INVALID

File No. 17,200
Robert Williams
Sergt Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 413
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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17200

IN CONGRESS.

The DELEGATES of the UNITED STATES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pensylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carollina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, TO Robert Williams Gent, Gaceling

We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO, by these Present, constitute and appoint you to be Ensign of a Company, of which Cap Elisha Lee is appointed Captain, in a Battalion of which John Durkee Esq’r is appointed Colonel - in the Army of the United States, raised for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Ensign by doing and performing all manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as their Ensign And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress: Dated [strikethrough] at [strikethrough] the First Day of January Adom’I 1777

By Order of the Congress,
John Hancock PRESIDENT
ATTEST. Chas Thomson jug