Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20294, for Levi Keeler, Connecticut
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SERVICE   Conn.
Keeler, Levi
Dorcas
NUMBER  W. 20294
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Connecticut.  563 
Dorcas Keeler 
widow of Levi Keeler, decd Conn, who was and who died on the 6th May 1812 of Fairfield in the State of Conn who was a Pri in the Compy commanded by Captain Hoyt of the Regt commanded by Bradley in the Connt line for 2 years 
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.  
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Sept 38, and sent to and  Edw. Taylor Danbury Conn 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept    $200.00 
Semi-annual allowance ending 40.00
 $240.00 
{Act July 7, 1838.} 
Recorded by D. Burdine Clerk
Book A Vol. 1 Page 191
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783  
Dorcas Keeler 
widow of Levi 
Conn 
Act 7 July 38 
5 years 
Married in 1782  
died in 1812 
on Rolls 
Admd [admitted] 
2 years pri 
80$ 
no deduction 
Edwd Taylor 
Danbury Conn
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State of Connecticut 
County of Fairfield }ss   On this Sixteenth day of August Eighteen hundred and thirty Eight personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the district of Danbury in the County and State aforesaid the same being a Court of Record) Dorcas Keeler a resident of the Town of Ridgefield in said County of Fairfield Aged Seventy seven years, who being duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath in open Court, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled an "Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.” That she is the widow of Levi Keller who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution, that she was born and brought up in said Ridgefield and resided there during the said war, and that her acquaintance with the said Levi Commenced before he entered the army - that when he visited his friends which he sometimes did on furlough she as often saw him, and from this peculiar situation, she verily believes  that in the early part of the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven (she thinks as Early as March or April) the said Levi Keeler enlisted for three years as a private soldier in Captain Samuel Hoyts Company, in Colonel Philip B. Bradleys Regiment in the Connecticut line and that he served a greater part of the time as a waiter to Ensign Bradley - that he served faithfully the full period of his enlistment and that in the Spring of the year seventeen hundred and Eighty he was honorably discharged at Springfield in the State of New Jersey
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for proof of which service she respectfully to the affidavits of Jeremiah Keeler of the Town of South Salem and of Jeremiah Mead of said Ridgefield.  That she cannot tell what became of the discharge of the said Levi and that she has no documentary evidence by which she can prove his service, or any other testimony that what is herewith transmitted.  
She further declares that she was married to the said Levi Keeler on the thirteenth day of January seventeen hundred and Eighty two that her marriage is recorded in the public record records of said Ridgefield; that her husband the aforesaid Levi Keeler died on the Sixth day of May Eighteen hundred and twelve, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service; but the Marriage took place prior to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four viz at the time above stated.   
Dorcas Keeler
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State of Connecticut 
County of Fairfield }  on this 16th day of August 1838 before the Court of Probate within & for said District of Danbury in the said County and State personally appeared Dorcas Keeler above named and subscribed the foregoing Declaration, and being duly sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the same. And I Gilead G Taylor Clerk of said Court of Probate do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court relating to the claim of the said Dorcas Keeler for a Pension.   
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 16th day of August 1838 
Gilead G Taylor Clerk 
I Edward Taylor of Danbury in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut Judge of Probate within and for the District of Danbury in said County and State do hereby certify to all whom it may concern that Gilead G Taylor who hath signed the foregoing & subsequent certificates is Clerk of the said Court of Probate, and was Clerk at the date thereof duly appointed and Sworn.  That the signatures subscribed to said certificates and purporting to be his is in the proper hand writing of the said Gilead G Taylor and that full faith & credit are due to his official acts as such Clerk, and that the seal impressed upon the said certificate is the seal of said Court of Probate In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Danbury aforesaid the 18th day of  August 1838 
Edward Taylor Judge
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Jeremiah Mead of Ridgefield in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut Aged Eighty Three years, being first sworn according to Law do on my oath testify depose and say That in the early part of the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy seven this deponent enlisted into Capt Ezekiel Sanford Company, in Col. Philip B. Bradley's Regiment of the Connecticut Line  for three years.   That in the month of April (according to the best recollection of Deponent) in that year this deponent with other recruits of the & said Regiment left Ridgefield and joined the Army at a place near Peekskill in the State of New York, and that Levi Keeler of said Ridgefield who was then a private in said Regiment, Marched with said recruits and joined the Army as aforesaid.  Said Keeler enlisted also for three years and although this deponent belonged to a different company from said Keeler, this deponent frequently saw him, and has personal knowledge that said Keeler served faithfully the period of his Enlistment, and shared in the marches and danger of said Regiment and had the reputation of a brave and faithful soldier.   That after the close of said service the said Keeler and this Deponent returned to Ridgefield where they continued to live on times of close intimacy until the death of the said Keeler.  That he is now well acquainted with Dorcas Keeler, the person who now makes application for the benefit of the provisions
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of the Act of Congress passed July 7 1838.  That she is now unmarried and is the widow of the said Levi Keeler and has ever maintained an unblemished Character for truth and veracity.  
Jeremiah Mead 
Sworn and subscribed this Eleventh day of August One thousand Eight hundred and thirty Eight, and I certify that the Deponent is a Credible Witness- 
Sworn before me Harry Smith Justice of Peace 
The words "of New York”  on the first page of this deposition were interlined before Signing
 Attest Harvey Smith Justice of Peace
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I Jeremiah Keller of South Salem in the County of West Chester and State of New York Aged Seventy Eight years, being first sworn according to law, do testify depose and say that from my early childhood I was well and intimately acquainted with Levi Keeler of Ridgefield in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, that in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven,  this Deponent (as he thinks on the last of April or first of May) enlisted into a company under the command of Capt Samuel Hoyt in the Regiment of Colonel Philip B. Bradley of the Connecticut line of the Continental Army. After this Deponent enlisted he was detained by small pox so that he did not join his company until the forepart of July at which time he joined the Regiment at a place called Gallows hill near Peekskill in the State of New York when and where he found the said Levi Keeler on duty in the same company to which deponent belonged. He the said Levi Keeler having been enlisted by the Brother of this Deponent in the month of April 1777.   This Deponent enlisted as "during the war man”, and the said Levi Keeler for the term of three years.  The said Levi Keeler and this Deponent continued to serve together in the said Company and regiment until the period of his the said Levi Keelers enlistment expired.  That the said Keeler & Deponent lodged together in the same tent, and in Huts, more than one half of the time during the time aforesaid.  In the month of August after this deponent
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enlisted as aforesaid, the said Levi Keeler and this deponent had permission to return home for three days, to wit, one day to go home, One to stay at home, and one to return to the Army at Peekskill. While on this furlough Deponent was taken sick and did not join the regiment again until Feby 1778 at Valley Forge, when and where he again found the said Levi Keeler, and with the exception of the time above named this deponent can state with great certainty that he almost daily saw said Keeler the said Levi Keeler inlisted as a private and served as a waiter to Ensign  Bradley and this deponent was waiter to Lieutenant Thaddeus Keeler.  That the said was a brave Soldier, and shared in all the Marches and dangers to which the Army was subjected. And that in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and Eighty the said Levi was honorably discharged at Springfield in the State of New Jersey.  This Deponent was present when the said Levi was discharged, and this deponent saw the said Levi and others his companion set out on their return to our homes While he was left longer to share in the lots and fatigues of war.  
On a review of the above, deponent would say that at the Battle of Monmouth the said Levi Keeler was detached to go with the baggage to Princeton (so that he could not be said to share in all the dangers as aforesaid). Deponent is also well
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acquainted with Dorcas Keeler the widow of the said Levi Keeler, that she still lives in Ridgefield aforesaid and is the widow of said Levi Keeler and that she has was sustained a fair character truth and veracity.  
Jeremiah Keeler x his mark 
State of Connecticut
Fairfield County } S.S.  Be it known that on the 11th day of August Eighteen hundred and thirty eight, before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid Personally appeared Jeremiah Keeler above named who hath subscribed this deposition by his mark by reason of a recent & severe attack of Rheumatism, and who I certify is a credible witness and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts states therein.   
Harvey Smith Justice of Peace  
the words "within” and “Hoyts” on the first page - and the words "returning to their” on the second were erased, and the words “to” on the first page and "Keeler” on the second page were interlined before signing 
Harvey Smith Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut 
Fairfield County } ss I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Harvey Smith Esquire is now & for more than one year last past has been a Justice of the Peace within and for said Fairfield County duly commissioned and duly authorized to administer oaths & take Deposition & I further certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Harvey Smith Esquire and verily believe the signatures to the Certificate on the foregoing Depositions of Jeremiah Keeler and Jeremiah Mead, purporting to be the signatures of the said Harvey Smith Esq are genuine. Given under my hand & the Seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 20 day of August AD 1838. 
Thomas B Osborne Clerk
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I Ebenezer Hoyt of Ridgefield in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut Aged Sixty years, being first sworn according to Law do on my oath testify and say that I was born and brought up in said Ridgefield and within two miles of Levi Keeler and Dorcas Smith, who afterwards became his wife,  and is now his widow, that my acquaintance continued with the said Levi to the time of his death and with the said Dorcas to the present time. That said Dorcas now and has for many years resided Alternately  in the family of Deponent, and of Jeremiah Keeler of said Ridgefield.   That from my intimate acquaintance with the said Levi Keeler and conversations had with him. I have no doubt but he served for three years in the War of the Revolution in Colonel Bradley’s Regiment, and do know him to be the same Keeler referred to in the declaration of the said Dorcas, and in the depositions of Jeremiah Keeler of South Salem, and Jeremiah Mead and others of said Ridgefield.   That the said Levi Keeler died at Ridgefield on the Sixth day of May in the Eighteen hundred and twelve, that said Dorcas in now unmarried and is the widow of said Levi Keeler.   That she is now residing in the House with deponent and has ever bore a character for truth and Veracity which is above reproach.  
Ebenezer Hoyt
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State of Connecticut 
County of Fairfield 
Probate District of Danbury } ss on this 16th day of August 1838 before the Court of Probate within and for said District personally appeared Ebenezer Hoyt above named well known to the said Court as a person of good character for truth and a credible witness who subscribed the foregoing Deposition and being duly sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the same.   
Gilead G Taylor Clerk
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I Jeremiah Keeler of Ridgefield in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut Aged fifty one years, being first sworn according to Law do on my oath testify depose and say that I was well acquainted with Levi Keeler of Ridgefield aforesaid during his life time, and that I am also intimately acquainted with Dorcas Keeler, who now makes application for the benefit of the Act of Congress of July 7th 1838.  That said Dorcas has resided in the family of this Deponent nearly one half of the time for the last twenty five years.   That he knows her to be unmarried and the widow of the above named Levi Keeler.   And further that the Levi Keeler above named died at Ridgefield on the Sixth day of May Eighteen hundred and twelve, and that he is the identical Levi Keeler referred to in the declaration of the said Dorcas Keeler, and in the Depositions of Jeremiah Keeler and Jeremiah Mead  herewith transmitted.   
Jeremiah Keeler 
State of Connecticut 
County of Fairfield  
Probate District of Danbury } SS on this 16th day of August 1838 before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Danbury personally appeared Jeremiah Keeler above named well known to the said Court as a person of good character for truth and a credible witness who subscribed the foregoing Deposition and being duly sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the same.  
Gilead G. Taylor Clerk
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Philip Bradley of Ridgefield in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut aged sixty sworn years, being first sworn according to law do testify depose and say. That I am the son of the late Philip B. Bradley, who was Colonel of the 5th Regt Connecticut Line in the Army of the Revolution.   That I was also well acquainted with Levi Keeler now decd who was a Private for three years in said Regiment, as I verily believe.  Deponent well members that said Keeler came to the house of his father from the army, and stated that when his time was out, the said Col. Bradley hired him to work on his farm. That he commenced working on his farm and was soon drafted to go on some tour (deponent cannot remember what).  That said Levi complained of being obliged to leave his place so soon after his three years tour, and finally the colonel released him and he continued in the employment of deponents father for a great proportion of the time until the close of the War.  That deponent remembers his marriage with Dorcas Smith, but cannot state positively the month & year.  That the said Dorcas is now living and is the widow of the aforesaid Levi Keeler and that she sustains a fair character for truth.  
Philip Bradley 
The word "was " in the eighth line from the top in this deposition was interlined before signing Gilead G Taylor Clerk
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State of Connecticut 
Fairfield County 
Probate District of Danbury }  ss   On this 16th day of August 1832 before the Court of Probate within and for the said District personally appeared Phillip Bradley above named well known to the said Court as a person of good character for truth and a credible witness, who subscribed the foregoing Deposition and being duly sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the same.   
Gilead G. Taylor Clerk
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Levi Keeler & Dorcas Smith were married Jany Thirteenth, One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty two.   
State of Connecticut 
Fairfield County }  S.S. Ridgefield August 6th 1838 
I Nathan Smith Town Clerk of the Town of Ridgefield in the said County and State, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the Record of marriages, in the Town Records of said Town, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows Jany 13th  1782, 
Nathan Smith Town Clerk of Ridgefield 
I Nathan Smith above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the County, Town and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town, with the exception above named, as testified by me, 
Nathan Smith Clerk of the Town of Ridgefield 
State of Connecticut 
County of Fairfield 
Probate District of Danbury} ss  On this 16th day of August 1838 before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Danbury personally appeared Nathan Smith above named well known to the said Court as a person of good character for truth and a credible witness who subscribed the foregoing Deposition and being duly sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the same 
Gilead G Taylor Clerk
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Levi Keeler Dec’d May sixth AD hundred and twelve, aged Fifty four years, one mo & two days.  
State of Connecticut 
Fairfield County } S.S. Ridgefield August, 16, 1838 
I Nathan Smith Town Clerk of the Town of Ridgefield in the said County and State, do hereby certify, that the foregoing is a true extract from the Record of deaths in the Town Records of said Town, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows, May 6th AD 1812 aged 54 years 1 mo & 2 days.   
Nathan Smith Town Clerk of Ridgefield 
I Nathan Smith above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the County, Town, and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town, with the exception above named as certified by me.  
Nathan Smith  Clerk of the Town of Ridgefield
State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield 
Probate District of Danbury } ss  on this 16th day of August 1838 before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Danbury personally appeared Nathan Smith above named well known to the said Court as a person of good character for truth and a credible witness who subscribed the foregoing Deposition and being duly sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the same. 
Gilead G. Taylor Clerk
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MMHF 
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section 
July 18, 1924
Mrs. Harold E. McCormack 
1417 Massachusetts Ave., 
N. W. Washington, D. C. 
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 20294 it appears that Levi Keeler, while a resident of Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, enlisted in March or April 1777 and served as a private three years in Captain Hoyt's Company, Colonel Philip B. Bradley's Connecticut Regiment. 
He married January 13, 1782 in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Dorcas Smith born in 1761 in said Ridgefield. 
He died May 6, 1812 in said Ridgefield aged fifty-four years, one month and two days, and his widow Dorcas was allowed pension on her application executed August 16, 1838 while living in Ridgefield, Connecticut. 
Respectfully, Commissioner.
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Rev  WIDOW, &c. 
File No.  20294 
Dorcus Keeler 
Widow of Levi Keeler 
Priv. Rev War  
Act: July 7. 1838 
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 393 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
Apr. 4/96 soldier pensioned Benj. K. Northrop Ridgefield Conn MEL 
1924. July 12. Hist. to Mrs. A. E. McCormick
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O. W. & N. Div.  
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 4, 1896. 
F.S.
M. E. C. 
W. 20294. 
Sir:
In response to your request for the military record of Levi Keeler, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that his widow, Dorcas, made an application for pension on August 16, 1838, at which time she was residing in Ridgefield, Conn., and seventy- seven years of age, and her pension was allowed for the actual service of her husband for two years as a private in the Connecticut troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time served under Capt. Samuel Hoyt and Col. Philip B. Bradley. 
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.
Mr. Benjamin K. Northrop, 
Ridgefield, Conn.
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1417 Massachusetts Ave. 
N.W. Washington, D.C. 
United States Pension Bureau 
Washington, D.C 
Gentlemen, 
Will you send me a copy of the pension given to Levi Keeler (Ridgefield Conn) 
widow Dorcas Keeler of Ridgefield Conn. Levi Keeler died May 5, 1812.   His widow, Dorcas Keeler drew her pension thro. 
Harvey Smith, magistrate Levi Keeler served under Capt. Samuel Hoyt, 
Col. Philip B. Bradley
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I want this for the D.A.R. application 
Very truly yours 
Dorothy Keeler McCormack (Mrs. Harold E. McCormack) 
1417 Mass. Ave. N.W Washington, D. C.
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State of Connecticut 
Fairfield County } ss  Danburg August 22 1838 
To the Honl J L Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions 
It is respectfully requested that in the application for a Pension of Dorcas Keeler of Ridgefield in said County & State that the report & correspondence in said are be made to Harvey Smith of said Ridgefield. 
Respectfully yours 
Edward Taylor