Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14468, for Zenas Skinner, Connecticut
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Skinner, Zenas

NUMBER
S.14468

Carded

CONTENTS
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Typed document completed in handwriting

9674
Connecticut
Zenas Skinner of Tolland in the State of Con who was a Pri in the Con commanded by Captain Bidnell of the Reg commanded by Col Cook in the Conn [strikethrough] troops [strikethrough] State Service 10 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of Con at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of May 1833 and sent A Willey Ellington let

Arrears to the 4th March 33.               $66.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep 2 30  16.66
                                                                  $83.32

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by E.D. Bullock Cl
Book E Vol. 3 Page 40

Died Aug 26-1838 AB
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Zenas Skinner 7058
Declaration
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832-

State of Connecticut 
Tolland County} ss

District of Ellington Probate Court August 16th 1832

On this 16th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before said Probate Court now sitting Zenas Skinner a resident of Vernon in said District in said State aged 76 years who being 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 7th 1832 - That I was drafted as a private soldier in the Militia of said State in the service of the United States for the term of three months - I entered the service of the United States about the middle of August 1777 the day I do not remember. I joined the company at Hartford in said State commanded by Capt Zebulon Bidnell then of East Hartford in Hartford County Lieut Elisha Kibbee and Ensign John Booth in the Regiment commanded by Col Cook I marched from Hartford to Colebrook from thence to Green Bush in the State of New York from thence to Albany and from Albany to a place then called half from now Waterford and from thence to Still Water when at Still Water on the 19th of Sept 1777 we had a Battle with the British when my Captain Bidnell was mortally wounded and soon after died and on the 7th of October we had another Battle with the British and gave them what they deserved and soon after the Battle the British retreats we pursued them up to Saratoga we tarried there a few days and the British Army surrendered, when the British Army surrendered, laid down their arms and marched out from Saratoga we followed the Army down to Albany there we tarried about 9 or 10 days, provisions were very short we had hard fare we went to Green Bush from thence to Livingstones manor from there to a place called Red Hook in the State of New York and then were verbally discharged in the month of Nov 1777 the day I do not recollect
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the time I actually served was a few days over 3 months the number of days I do not remember it being so long service - 

I further declare and say that in the month of May 1775 the day of the month I do not remember I entered as a private soldier in the Militia of the State of Connecticut into the service of the United States and served for the term of 7 months under the following named Officers viz Isreal Putnam he was my Captain Samuel Robertson Lieut and a Stanley Ensign General Isreal Putnam then of Pomphret in Connecticut commanded the Regiment. I joined the company at Pomphret and marched [strikethrough] there [strikethrough] Pomphret to Cambridge near Boston in Massachusetts and was stationed there untill I was discharged employed in keeping up Guards and Building Forts. I was discharged in the month of Dec. 1775 the British were in Boston at the time we were in Cambridge. I served the full term of my enlistment and received my wages for 7 months service and was honorably discharged verbally, have no written discharge - I have no documentary evidence -

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State -

Answers to the questions proposed by the Court
I was Born at Bolton Connecticut in 1756
I have no record of my age
I lived in said Bolton and always have lived there till about three years since. I now live in Vernon Connecticut
I enlisted one term and was drafted one term -
I have no particular recollection of any other officers or particular circumstances attending my service other than them already specified in my declaration - 
I never had a written discharge
I am known to the following persons in my Neighborhood Jonah Strickland & Jacob Lyman
Zenas Skinner

Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid
Asa Willey Judge
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We Jonah Strickland and Jacob Lyman of Bolton in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Zenas Skinner who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 76 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-
Jonah Strickland
Jacob Lyman

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Asa Willey Judge

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the Investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jonah Strickland and Jacob Lyman who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in said Bolton and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to Credit and the Court further certifies that Eleazer Pinney Justus Talcott and Jacob Fox whose depositions accompany this Declaration are men of fair character and are entitled to full Credit and that Josiah Hills whose Deposition also accompanies this declaration being our of this state his character is unknown to the Court but is said to be good
Asa Willey Judge

I Moses B Bull Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Ellington in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains a true copy of the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Zenas Skinner for a pension

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 16th day of August 1832
Moses B Bull Clerk
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No. 7058
Zenas Skinner


A. Willey
Ellington Ct.
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Typed document completed in handwriting

BRIEF in the case of Zenas Skinner of the County of Tolland in the State of Conn’t.
(Act 7th June, 1839.)

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? 76 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 | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. |

|In 1777 Aug’t | --- | 3 |--- | Drafted | Col. Cook, Capt. Bidnell |
|In 1775 May | --- | 7 | --- | Private | Genl Israel Putnam, Capt. Israel Putnam Lieut , Lt Sam’l. Robertson |

5. In what battles was he engaged? Still Water in Sept & in Oct’r. another Battle

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bolton

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions

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

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Levin Belt
Examining Clerk
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April 16, 1931

Rev.& 1812 Wars Section
AWF:MLS

Mr. Charles R. Hale
131 Washington Street
Hartford, Connecticut

Dear Sir:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.14468, that Zenas Skinner was born in 1756 in Bolton, Connecticut,

While residing in Bolton, he enlisted and served as a private with the Connecticut troops, as follows:

From May, 1775, seven months in Captain Israel Putnam’s company, Colonel Israel Putnam’s regiment: from August, 1777, three months in Captain Zebulon Bidwell’s company, Colonel Cook’s regiment, and was in both battles of Stillwater and the surrender of Burgoyne.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 16, 1832, at which time he was living in Vernon, Connecticut.

He died August 26, 1838. A.B.

Very truly yours

E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner

There is a side handwritten note:
Tombstone date
See last letter in Justus Talcot W6247 no family data avail
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Typed document completed in handwriting

Mch 11-1901 - Hist to Lester C. Skinner Cleveland Ohio
1916 Apl. 1. Hist to F.C. Bissell letter in S.17680 Nathan Smith
1931 Apr 16 - Hist to Chas R. Hale - see his letter in Justus Talcott aws

14.468
Rev War
INVALID.

File No. 14.468
Zenas Skinner
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832.
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 343

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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There are two stamps

PENSION
K
MAR
5
1901
US
OFFICE

O. W. & N. DIVISION
MAR 11 1901
RECEIVED
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Cleveland Ohio Mar. 2nd 1901.

Dept. of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:-

Will you kindly send me what information you may have or or pertaining to Zenas or Zenos Skinner who served in the Revolutionary War, and was placed on the Connecticut Pension Roll, May 29th 1833. His name appears among the pensioners of Tolland County Conn. on page 115 - Vol. 12, 1st Session 23rd Congress 1833-4, Conn. Pension Roll.

I should also like a copy of the application for widows pension of Sarah De Wolf Skinner which was made August 12th 1841. She was the wife of Luther Skinner, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, Conn. Line. He made his application from Greenwich N.Y. April 4th 1818, but his wife made her application from Georgia Vermont.

Any information concerning the above persons will be greatly appreciated.

Very respectfully,
Lester C. Skinner.
607 Hough Ave.
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No. 7058
Zenas Hall

Admit pri
10 mo
$33.33

A. Willey
Ellington Ct.
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Typed document completed in handwriting.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Zenas Skinner which require further proof or explanation.

1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period of periods of the war when he served? yes

V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk’s seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? [strikethrough] yes [strikethrough] no
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Typed document completed in handwriting

2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? supplied

XII. If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, as he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. ** It the applicant’s name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
     If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
     Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant’s service? yes

XVI. *** Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered? yes.

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*Quere V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. 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--- year --- months, and --- days, I served as a --- For --- months and --- days, I served as a ---; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about 3 or 4 months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia. &c. without. specifying the tours; the names of the officers and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served: the duration of each term of engagement: the particular place or places where the service was performed: that the applicant served with an enlisted corps called into service by competent authority: that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

**QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
     In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oath must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

***QUERE XVI Mode of authenticating papers.
     In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Tolland County Conn
s.s. Clerks offices} s.s. Tolland

I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of Tolland County Court do hereby Certify that Jabez L. White Esq. before whom the within deposition of Josiah Hills was on the 12th day of August 1832 taken & sworn was at that time a justice of Peace within & for the County of Tolland legally appointed and authorized to administer oaths & take depositions - and that the Signature to the within certificate purporting to be his I believe to be genuine being well acquainted with his writing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court This 20th day of August 1832
Jeremiah Parish Clerk

There is an attached seal.
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I Josiah Hill of tiringham County of berksher in the State of Mashusetts of lawfull age do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Zenas Skinner that he was an inlisted Soldier with me in Capt Israel putnam in Company in general putnams Regiment in the year 1775 for seven month service
X his mark
Josiah Hills

in person of - 
Jabez L. White

Tolland County ss Bolton July 12th 1832
personally appeared Josiah Hill and made Sollom Oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit and Signed the Same in My presence
Jabez L White Just of peace

and the aforesaid Josiah Hills has recommendations from Several gentlemen that he is a man of good & honorabl Character and temperate habits and that he has resided in the aforesaid tiringham between thirty and forty years and that he served in the army of the United State during our revolution three year at lest
Jabez L White
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Typed document completed in handwriting

In reply to your request of ---, received --- for a statement of the military history of Zenas Skinner a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [strikethrough] (or his widow’s) [strikethrough] application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. 14,468

6 column table
|DATES OF ENLISTMENT OF APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. COLONEL. | STATE. |

| 2. Aug. 1777 | 3 mos. & a few days | Private | Zebulon Bidwell | Zebolon Cook | Conn |
| 1. May 1775 | 7 mos | Private | Israel Putnam | Israel Putnum | --- | 

Battles engaged in, the battle of Stillwater surrender of Burgoyne.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Bolton, Conn. until about 1829.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 16, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Vernon, Tolland Co, Conn.
Age at date of application, born in 1756 at Bolton, Conn

Remarks: No family data in file.
He died Aug 26-1838.

Respectfully, 

Commissioner.

J-2850
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To the Honorable Court of probate to be Halded at Elington written in the District of Elington to heard at the request of Jonas Shane he Deposes of Jacob Fox to be and for the benefit of Z Skiner to him his Service in the war 

Take and Seal unto the 13th day of August 1832 at Bolton in the County of Tolland by me Jabez L White Just peace
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Jacob Fox of Lawfull age deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Zinas Skinner and that he was knowing that said Skiner inlisted as a soldier in the year 1775 into Capt Israel Putnam Jr Company in general putnams Regiment for Seven month Service and it is with full belief that said Skinner Served and the full term of Said Seven months and that he served as a Soldier in the Same Company with Skinner but came away from said Company upon a furlow Little before said Skiner time was our further the deponent saith not
Jacob Fox

Tolland County to Bolton August 13th 1832 personally appeared Jacob fox and made solom oath to the foregoing deposition 
Before me
Jabez L White Just peace

I hereby certify that Jacob fox is a man of good morral caracter and Stedy habets and that good faith ought to be had to his testimony
attest
Jabez L White

Tolland County Con.
s.s. Clerks office } s.s.sTolland} - 

I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of Tolland County
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Tolland County Con.
s.s. Clerks office } s.s.sTolland} - 

I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of Tolland County Court hereby Certify that Jabez L White Esq - before whom this deposition of Jacob Fox was [strikethrough] this day [strikethrough] taken & sworn on the 13th day of August 1832 for a long time before was & still is a Justice of Peace within & for Tolland County legally appointed & [?] & authorized to take depositions and administer oaths - and that I believe the signature to the above certificate from history to be his is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of the Court at Tolland this 20th day of August 1831
Jeremiah Parish Clk
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I Justus Talcott of Vernon in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut aged 72 years depose and say that Zenas Skinner of [strikethrough] Bolton [strikethrough] Vernon in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war about the middle of August 1777 for the Term of three months - that he was drafted as a private in the Militia for said Service and served [strikethrough] drafted [strikethrough] company of Militia [strikethrough] company [strikethrough] raides by said States and commanded by Cat Zebulon Bidwell of East Hartford Lieut Kibbe of Somers & Ensign Dearth in the Regiment commanded by Col Cook - that I was a private in the same company and know that he served out said time as aforesaid - that he was drafted in the town of [strikethrough] said [strikethrough] Bolton [strikethrough] where he now resides [strikethrough] and marched with said Company through Hartford to Albany & from there to Stillwater and was there in the battle which ended in the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne - that Capt Bidwell was killed in said engagement -
Justus Talcott

State of Conneticut
County of Tolland} ss Tolland
Aug 7 1832

Personally appeared Justus Talcott the above named deponent and solemn oath to the truth of the deposition by him subscribed before me
Elisha Skinner Justus Peace

I also certify that the above named Justus Talcott in terms a fair character for truth and is entitled
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to full credit.
Elisha Skinner Justice of peace

Tolland County Con
s.s. Clerks office - } s.s. Tolland -

I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of Tolland County Court do hereby certify that Elisha Skinner Esq before whom the within Deposition of Justus Talbott was on the 7th day of August 1832 taken & sworn was at the time of taking said deposition a Justice of Peace within and for the County of Tolland legally appointed and authorized to administer oaths & to take depositions and that the signature to the foregoing certificate purporting to be his is genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court at Tolland this 20th day of August 1832
Jeremiah Parish Clerk
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I Eleazer Pinney of Ellington in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut aged 78 years Depose and say - That Zenas Skinner of Vernon in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut was drafted and entered the service of the United States about the middle of August 1777 according to the best of my recollection he joined the company at Hartford in the State of Connecticut commanded by Capt Zebulon Bidwell Lieut Elisha Kibber & John Booth Ensign in the Regiment commanded by Colo Cook as a private soldier I was drafted and joined the same company under the same aforesaid Officers, we marched from Hartford to Colebrook from Colebrook to Green Bush in the State of New York and from there to Albany & from Albany to a place then called Halfmoon now Waterford from there to Still water [strikethrough] then [strikethrough] when there on the 19th of September 1777 we had a Battle with the British on the 7th of October we had another Battle with the British at which we gave them a very good drubing at the first Battle with the British  at Still Water our Captain Bidwell was mortally wounded and soon after died soon after the last Battle the British retreated we pressed them up to Saratoga we tarried there a few days and the British Army surrendered I myself and the aforesaid Skinner were present at the time the British Army surrendered and laid down their Arms and marched from Saratoga we followed the British Army down to Albany then we tarried about 8 to 10 days almost [?] next from Albany to Green Bush from Green Bush to Livingstone Manor from thence to a place called Red Hook in the State of New York and there were verbally discharged some time in the month of November the day I do not recollect the time we served was a few days over 3 months to my best recollection. the aforesaid named Zenas Skinner was in the same company with me and served the same term and discharged out the same time according to my best recollection & belief and further the Deponent saith not Dated at Ellington this 14th day of August 1832
Eleazer Pinney
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State of Connecticut
Tolland County ss. Ellington
August 14th 1832

Personally appeared Eleazer Pinney the above named Deponent and mad Solemn oath to the truth of the facts stated in the above Deposition by him subscribed before me
Asa Willey Justice of Peace

I also certify that the said Eleazer Pinney sustains a fair character for truth and is entitled to full credit - 
Asa Willey Justice of Peace

Tolland County Court
s.s. Clerks office } Court Tolland

I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of Tolland County Court hereby certify that Asa Willey Esq before whom the above Deposition of Eleazer Pinney on the 14th day of August 1832 was taken & sworn was at the time & for a long time before & still is a Justice of Peace in and for Tolland County legally appointed & authorized to administer oaths & take depositions and that the signature to the above certificate purporting to be his is genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 20th day of August AD 1832
Jeremiah Parish Clerk