Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,548, Francis Belknap, Conn. Vt.
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Conn. Belknap, Francis        S 31548
Vt.
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Connecticut 28.935
Francis Belknap of Tolland Co. in the State of Connecticut who was a private in the Compy commanded by Captain Parsons of the Regt commanded by Hinman in the Connect't line ['for' crossed out] and various other comps 17 months 3 days
______
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 57 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 22d day of July 1834 and sent to L. T. Pease Enfield Ct
______
Arrears to the 4th of March 35  171 - 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 28.50
199.50
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by R Ela Clerk, 
Book E2 Vol. 3 Page 3
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of Connecticut
County of Tolland 
Probate District of Ellington} ss.
On this 18th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before Asa Willey Esq Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Ellington now sitting Francis Belknap a Resident of Ellington in the County of Tolland in the State of Connecticut aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to Law on his oath doth 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. That in the year 1775 about the first of May he Enlisted for the Term of seven months under Capt Hezekiah Parsons of Enfield that he soon afterwards marched to Roxbury near Boston with s'd Company. that Boston was then in possession of the Enemy. that he was stationed at Roxbury according to his best recollection about six weeks. that during that time Charles Town was burnt & the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought that he well recollects seeing General Ward at Roxbury. that he did not see then
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General Washington nor does he recollect seeing any other General Officer Except Ward. that Col'o Pitkin of East Hartford commanded the Regiment to which he was attached that after s'd six weeks service at Roxbury he was ordered with part of s'd Company to Hingham to Keep Guard. that he served at Hingham the remainder of the Term that after the Expiration of s'd Seven months he again Enlisted for a further term to serve untill the new recruits came in & that he remained at s'd Hingham he believes about another month making the whole Tour of Service Eight months that he was discharged & returned home the latter part of Dec'r that Rufus Bush a person mow living at Enfield in s'd State served with him in the same company during the whole Tour & can testify to his service. In the Summer of 1776 he went to reside in Vermont that he hired himself out to a man by the name of Remington in Castleton Rutland County. that he was Enrolled in the millitia there and in the month of September he was drafted & served in company commanded by a Capt Hyde (he does not recollect his Christian name), that he was engaged in service this Tour two months scouting the Woods in pursuit of Indians, that he knew no officer in this service of a higher grade than a Captain that he knows of no person living who served with him this Tour. that soon after rendering this service he returned to Connecticut
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& has not visited Castleton since. that in the year 1777 he believes in the month of March he was drafted from a company of Millitia in s'd Ellington to serve in the state of Rhode Island. that he soon afterwards marched to Bristol in that state in a company commanded by Captain Hezekiah Parsons of Enfield the same Capt he had served under at Roxbury & Hingham that he served at s'd Bristol about three months that the Enemy were then in possession of the Island of Rhode Island that their duty was to keep guard & previous incursions of the Enemy upon the main land. that he does not recollect the name of any field officer at at Bristol that Deacon Ebenezer Terry a person now living at Enfield served with him in the same company during the whole of this Tour & can testify to his service. ['that' crossed out] Enlisted at springfield in the state of Massachusetts in a small company of guards for the public stores for the Town of three months ['I' crossed out] he cannot be certain as to the year, but believes it was in 1779-80 he recollects well that he served the three winter months. he does not recollect the names of the officers & he does not know of one person living who served with him this Tour. In the Spring of the year 1781 he performed a Tour of Service at New London under Capt Edward Paine that he served as a substitute for his Father Job Belknap who was Enrolled in what was then
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called the Cripple Roll. that he served two months this Tour, that he was stationed near New London Light House. that he does not recollect the names of any other officer than Capt Paine above mentioned that he knows of no person living who served with him. that he never according to his best recollection received a written discharge from Either Tour of Service. that he was born June 22d 1755 at a place which was then a part of East Windsor in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut now Ellington in the County of Tolland that he resided at s'd Ellington at the time he Entered the Service and that he now resides at the same place that he believes his birth is recorded in the records of the Town of Windsor. that he hereby relinquishes Every Claim whatever to a pension or annuity Except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state and that I have no Documentary evidence - 
/s/Francis Belknap 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year afores'd 
/s/Asa Willey Judge
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State of Connecticut ss.
Tolland County - Ellington June 7th 1833 - 
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of Peace for the County of Tolland Francis Belknap who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and 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 and in the following grades - 
for seven months I served as a private soldier
for one month I served as a private soldier
for two months I served as a private soldier
for three  months I served as a private soldier
for three months I served as a private soldier
for two months I served as a private soldier
and for which service I claim a Pension - 
I also depose & say that I cannot rember the names of officers other than those I have named in my declaration - 
/s/Francis Belknap
Subscribed & sworn to this 7th day of June 1833 before me 
/s/Asa Willey Justice of Peace
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3-525
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. [initials: own]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C. Feb, 9, 1922
In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Francis Belknap 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. 31548
[column headings: DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.|LENGTH OF SERVICE.|RANK.|OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS  RENDERED.(CAPTAIN.|COLONEL.)|STATE.|]
May 1, 1775|8 mos.|Pvt.|(Hezekiah Parsons|Hinman & Pitkin)|Conn.|
Sept. 1776|2 mos| " |(Hyde| ✓ )|Vt|
Mar. 1777|3 mos|[blank]|(Hezekial Parsons| ✓ )|Conn.|
Winter 1779-80|3 mos.|[blank]|(Officers not stated| ✓ )| " |
*1781|2 mos.|[blank]|(Edward Paine| ✓ )| " |
* substi|tute|for his|(father Job| Belknap)|[blank]|
[end of columns]
Battles engaged in, none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Ellington, Tolland Co. Conn. 
Date of application for pension, Aug. 18 1832. Al.
Residence at date of application, Ellington, ['Tolland Co.' crossed out] Conn.
Age at date of application, b. June 22, 1755 in the part of E. Windsor, Hartford Co Conn which was later Ellington Conn. 
Remarks; no fam. data - 
Respectfully, 
[blank] Commissioner. 
6-2856
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[verso]
31548
Revy INVALID.
File No. 31,548
Francis Belknap Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 33
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[recto]
May 28-1903 - His Leverett Belknap Hartford Conn
1922, Feb. 9 hist to Elizabeth Allyn - Ew.
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3-049.
Ex. aw. Rev. War S. Div. Record
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D.C. Jan 12 1922
The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained. 
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau. 
['No. of claim,' crossed out] First name of widow Roxanna 
Name of soldier, Francis Belknap
['P.O.' crossed out] address of claimant, at enlistment & (after service) East Windsor, Ct. Ellington 
Company 10th Company
Regiment 4th
*State where enlisted [blank]
Date of ['enlistment' crossed out] birth June 22, 1755
Date of ['discharge' crossed out] death Nov. 22, 1838
If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers. 
Return attached letter with reply. 
/s/Washington Gardner Commissioner.
6-2469
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Comptroller Office
March 1 - 1834
I Elisha Phelps Compt'r of Public Accounts of the State of Connecticut do certify that it appears by an authenticated roll of Capt. Hezekiah Parsons Co. in the 4th Reg't commanded by Col. Hinman, that Francis Belknap served therein as a private from the 16th May untill the 19th Dec'r 1775, being seven months & three days; being one if the regiments raised May 1775 by the General Assembly of the Colony of Cont. 
/s/E. Phelps
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The within deposition of Rufus Bush was taken at the request of Francis Belknap to be used on the hearing of his application for a pension & to be opened by the person or persons before whom such application shall be heard
Taken & Sealed up this 7th day of Aug't 1832
by me /s/Lorrain T Pease Justice of Peace
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I Rufus Bush of Enfield in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut of Lawful age & Testify & say that I was before & during the Revolutionary War & now am well acquainted with Francis Belknap a Resident of Ellington in the County of Tolland in s'd state and an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that s'd Belknap served at Roxbury & Hingham in the year 1775 as a private soldier in a company of State Troops commanded by Capt Hezekiah Parsons John Holdrige (Holdridge) Lieut Edward Paine Ensign s'd company was attached to a Regiment commanded by Col'o Pitkin of East Hartford. that I served in s'd company about eight months in the campaign of 1775. having been Enlisted about the 1st of May & discharged the last of Dec'r and I well recollect that  s'd Belknap was in the service with s'd company both at Roxbury & Hingham and I have no doubt but he served the whole Tour of Eight months & further he saith not
/s/Rufus Bush
State of Connecticut Hartford County ss 
Enfield Nov'r 5th 1833
I certify that Rufus Bush the subscriber to the foregoing Deposition is well known to me that he is a credible person & that his statements are entitled to full credit
/s/Lorrain T Pease Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut
County of Hartford }ss Enfield 17th Aug't 1832
Then personally appeared before me Lorrain T. Pease Esq Justice of the Peace for the county afs'd Rufus Bush who in my presence subscribed his name to the foregoing deposition & who being duly cautioned & sworn made oath to the truth of the same. taken at the request of Francis Belknap to be used on the hearing of his application for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 before any Tribunal proper to hear the same
/s/Lorrain T. Pease Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut, County of Hartford ss. Clerk's office
I, Jared Griswold, Clerk of the County Court for said Hartford County, do hereby certify, that Lorrain T. Pease Esquire, signer of the foregoing certificate, was on the 17th day of August AD. 1832 a Justice of the Peace within & for the county of Hartford aforesaid, legally appointed & authorised to administer oaths & take Depositions & that the signature to s'd certificate, purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 7th day of June AD. 1833. 
/s/Jared Griswold, Clerk
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The within deposition of Ebenezer Terry taken at the request of Francis Belknap to be used on the hearing of his application for a pension and to opened by the person or persons before whom s'd application is heard. Taken & sealed this 24th day of Aug't 1832
by me /s/Lorrain T. Pease Justice of Peace
Francis Belknap
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I Ebenezer Terry of Enfield in the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut of Lawful age Testify & say that I was before & during the Revolutionary War & now am well acquainted with Francis Belknap a Resident of Ellington in the County of Tolland in s'd state & an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that in Spring of the year 1777 the s'd Belknap served against the Enemy at Bristol in the State of Rhode Island as a Private soldier in a Company of drafted millitia commanded by Capt Hezekiah Parsons. that he served there according to any best recollection the Term of three months that this deponent served with him in the same company during the whole Law & further he saith not - 
/s/Ebenezer Terry
State of Connecticut Hartford County ss
Enfield Nov'r 5th 1833
I certify that Ebenezer Terry the subscriber to the foregoing deposition is well known to me that he is a credible Person & that his statements are Entitled to full credit
/s/Lorrain T Pease Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut
County of Hartford} ss Enfield 17th Aug't 1832
Then personally appeared before me Lorrain T. Pease a Justice of Peace for s'd county Ebenezer Terry who in my presence subscribed his name to the foregoing deposition and after being duly cautioned & sworn made oath to the truth of the same, taken at the request of Francis Belknap to be used on the hearing of  his application for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 before any Tribunal proper to hear the same
/s/Lorrain T. Pease Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut, County of Hartford ss. Clerk's office
I, Jared Griswold, Clerk of the County Court for said County of Hartford, do hereby certify, That Lorrain T. Pease Esquire, signer of the foregoing certificate, was on the 17th day of August 1832 a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford, legally appointed & authorised to administer oaths & take Depositions, & that the signature to said certificate, purporting to be his I believe to be genuine.
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 7th day of June AD. 1833
/s/Jared Griswold, Clerk
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[addressed envelope]
[margin notes: Francis Belknap 14th March 10 1834 Connect't original]
[postmark: ENFIELD CT MAR 11]
FREE
Hon'a J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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[handwritten letter]
Enfield Ct March 9th 1834
Hon J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions

Sir I have again Enclosed Francis Belknap's Papers accompanied with the Comptroller's Certificate of his service in 1775 - when I was at your office in Feb I looked over these papers with Mr. Ela & partly obtained a promise from you that these papers should be sent up to him as soon as rec'd - will you have the goodness to let this go with them. 
Mr. Ela will recollect that the other Tours claimed by Belknap were to be allowed, amounting to 10 months
Comptroller's certificate 7 mo 3 days
as this has been return'd second time, first time without notice that comptroller's certificate was requisite. I beg for the certificate  as early as consistent with other duties 
I am with respect your most obed't serv't
/s/L T Pease
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Francis Belknap Con't - 
17 mo 3 days $57 - 
L. T. Pease Esq 
Enfield Ct
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We Deodate (Diodate) Brockway a Clergyman residing in the Town of Ellington in the County of Tolland in the State of Connecticut and Charles Sexton residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Francis Belknap who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion 
/s/Diodate Brockway
/s/Charles Sexton
Sworn & subscribed the day & year afores'd 
/s/Asa Willey Judge 
And the s'd Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states
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And the Court further certifies that It appears to them that Diodate Brockway who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman Resident in s'd Ellington & that Charles Sexton who has also signed the same is a Resident in s'd Ellington and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit and the s'd Court further certifies that the Depositions of Rufus Bush & Ebenezer Terry hereto annexed were taken with the approbation & that they are credible persons & entitled to full Credit. and that Lorrain T Pease Esq before whom s'd depositions were taken is a Magistrate duly authorised to take the same
/s/Asa Willey Judge
I Moses B Bull Clerk of the court of Probate for the District of Ellington in the County of Tolland & state of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the s'd Court in the matter of the application of Francis Belknap for a pension - 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto et my hand & seal of office this 18th day of Aug't 1832
Attest /s/Moses B. Bull Clerk
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I hereby Certify that at the time of making out the foregoing certificates Asa Willey Esqr was Judge of the Court of Probate for the district of Ellington and that Moses B. Bull was officiated as Clerk of said Court and I believe he was duly appointed and sworn according to Law
Dated at Ellington the 8th day of March AD 1834
Attest /s/Oliver W. Steele Clerk 
Tolland County ss Ellington Probate district March 8th 1834
I hereby certify that Oliver W. Steele Esquire has been duly appointed Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Ellington and sworn according to Law 
/s/Benjamin Pinney Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Ellington in the County of Tolland
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[handwritten letter]
18 SOUTH HIGH STREET
NEW BRITAIN, CONN. 
[margin note: Rev. Srv]
To The Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington - D.C. 
[receipt stamp: U.S. PENSION OFFICE DEC 24 1921]
[receipt stamp: PENSION DIVISION DEC 27 1921]
[receipt stamp: U.S. PENSION OFFICE D JAN 17 1922]

Dear Sir
Will you be so kind please as to give me a record of the military service of Francis Belknap? in the Revolutionary War?
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[handwritten letter]
Francis Belknap was my ancestor; I wish the record as evidence of my eligibility of membership in the Society of D.A.R. 
Thanking you for any attention that you may think best to give to my request, I am, yours truly
/s/Elizabeth Allyn
December the twenty-second
[receipt stamp: PENSION DIVISION JAN 18 1922]
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[handwritten letter]
ESTABLISHED 1835. 
BELKNAP & WARFIELD, PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSELLERS, HARTFORD, CONN. 
PACKARD & BROWN, 1835-1838.
BROWN & PARSONS, 1838-1859.
F. A. BROWN, 1858-1858.
BROWN & GROSS, 1858-1891.
[margin note: OW & N] 
[receipt stamp: OLD WAR & NAVY U.S.P.B. MAY 27 1903]
May 22 - 1903
Hon Commissioner of Pensions.
Dear Sir
Will you inform what service was rendered by Francis Belknap East Windsor Conn in Revolutionary War 
[receipt stamp: U.S. PENSION OFFICE C MAY 23 1903]
When he was granted the pension in 1832 he was living in Ellington Tolland County Connecticut. 
I think his papers would give his service - 
Is any one allowed to photograph a signature on such papers.
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[handwritten letter]
Respectfully
/s/Leverett Belknap 
Hartford, Conn.
Bookseller finr of Belknap Warfield