Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 57525-160-55, for Rufus Phelps, New York
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New York
CONTENTS
Phelps, Rufus
NUMBER
B.L. Wt. 57525-160-55
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253. 992 Act prian. 3. '11
Reyt 9. '16

Rufus Phelps []

57525 iss Feby 17

[]

Let D. Giffon May 12/57
Let Hon D. L. Dickinson May 12/57
Revy. war
[] No papers

Vol. P. page 82

Hon. D. S. Dickinson
Binghamton N. Y.

Janry 23 07 Hon
Frank O Lowder
given statement of service
PT
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Lindenwood April 29th 1857

Dear Sir
Is not a Revolutionary Soldier who has received a Land Warrant entitled to a pension also.
An old gentleman by the name of Rufus Phelps has recently obtained a land warrant for his services in the Revolution He has never made any application for a Pension but thinks he is entitled to one under an act passed some thirty or forty years since  Will you please have the goodness write me in reference to the above matter at Lindenwood Ogle County Illinois

All of which will much oblige Your Obt Servt
D, Gifford

Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington D.C.
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Rufus Phelps 
Declaration

Bounty Land App.

283.992
Page 5

State of Illinois} 
County of Ogle} SS
On this First day of June A.D. 1856 Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and state aforesaid Rufus Phelps aged Eighty nine years a Soldier of the Revolution which separated the United States from Great Britain enlisted for six months at Dutchess County State of New York by Sergeant Jones with several others In a few days left for Green Bush from thence to Schenectady & thence to Fort Herkimer where we were stationed until the Battle of Tylock in which Battle was wounded after said Battle was conveyed back to Fort Herkimer my wound examined by the surgeon of the army who said I would not be able to do duty for some time in consequence thereof I applied for and received a written discharge signed by Colonel Willet who was commander at the Battle of Tylock but not the colonel of the regiment to which I belonged he being sick and absent most of the time I have forgotten his name My Captains name commenced with Mc the other parts I have forgotten  My discharge is lost I was not quite fifteen
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Years old when enlisted was in the service about four and a half months before I was discharged to the best of my knowledge and belief I was the only surviving of my company.  I have not applied for any renumeration for my service in defense of my country under any act whatever until now and I have not have made application at this time had I not been unfortunate in the loss of my property by becoming security for others.  I now make this declaration for the purpose of obtaining bounty lands to which I am entitled under the act of Congress granting lands to the soldiers of the Revolution and others and also for the Bounty formerly granted to the soldiers of the Revolution for like services Rufus Phelps

We Charles C Burroughs and Daniel Gifford residents of Ogle County and State of Illinois upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Rufus Phelps in our presence and that we have been well acquainted with the said Rufus Phelps for many years and know him to be a man of truth & veracity and that he is the identical person that he represents himself to be 
Charles C. Burroughs Daniel Gifford
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The foregoing declaration and affidavit sworn to and subscribed before me one of the Justices of the Peace on the day and year above written and I certify the applicants to be credible persons that claimant is the very person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this first day of June AD 1856 Lewis P. Piper {seal}
Justice of the Peace

State of Illinois}
Ogle County} ss
I Joseph Sears Clerk of the County Court of said County hereby certify that Lewis P. Piper Esq before whom the foregoing declaration & affidavit were made and who has thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned & sworn that his foregoing signature is genuine 
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court at my office in [] on this 30 day of June AD 1856 Joseph Sears Clerk
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State of Illinois
Ogle County SS

On this fourth day of June AD 1856 personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County and state aforesaid John B. Phelps aged Fifty Nine Years Son of Rufus Phelps who made the foregoing declaration that I have frequently heard my Father relate that he was in the service as set forth in his Declaration.
John B. Phelps
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th day of June AD 1856
Lewis P. Piper
Justice of the Peace
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State of New York}
Broome County SS}

Daniel S. Dickinson Binghampton being duly sworn saith that he has known Rufus Phelps in the annexed declaration since about 1815 That himself & said Phelps were residents of the same town Earlville Chenango Co. N.Y. for about twenty five years that the said Phelps was a Justice of the peace for most of the time & was a man of true [] That he was generally believed to have been a revolutionary soldier and above
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Thirty five years since this deponent has frequently heard him give the same relation of the battle & of his being wounded and discharged as is given by him in the annexed declaration and he being believing the said Phelps enlisted served was wounded & discharged as stated in his declaration & further saith not
Sworn this 6 day D. T. Dickinson of August 1836 Before me B N. Loomis Justice of the Peace
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January 22, 1907.

Hon.  Frank O. Lowden,
House of Representatives .

My dear Mr. Lowden :

In response to your communication of January 19, 1907. addressed to The Military Secretary, War Department, enclosing a letter from Mrs. Joseph Sheaff, of Holcomb, Illinois, and referred to this Bureau for reply and received here to-day. I have the honor to advise you that Rufus Phelps alleges in his application for bounty land that he enlisted for six months at Dutchess county, New York, and in a few days left for Green Bush; from there went to Schenectady and Fort Herkimer and was stationed at last named place until the Battle of Tylock in which he was wounded and in consequence of which he was discharged by Colonel Willet.  The soldier states his Captain's name commenced with Mc, but has forgotten other part of it.  The dates of service are not given and there is no official record of the same.  His bounty claim was allowed upon hearsay testimony.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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57,525-160-'55
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57,525
Rev army

Lindenwood [] apr 30

Rufus Phelps
[] May 12/57

Penson Office Washington  D. C.
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Official Business

Hon J. Minott
Comm of Pensions
Washington D. C.

{Stamp Binghampton N.Y. AUG 8
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3-595
CONGRESSIONAL
O. W. AND N. DIVISION,
Department of the Interior,

BUREAU OF PENSIONS,

Jan 22 1907

Searched by Gill
Original No.
Certificate No.
Claimant,
Soldier, Rufus Phelps

Service Rev. War

Remarks,
No Pension Claim

Chief of Division.
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Binghamton N. Y.
Aug. 7 1856

Sir

I have the honor to send herewith the application of Rufus Phelps for Bounty Land
Yr Obt Servt
D. S. Dickinson

Hon J Minot Com []
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25399

Rufus Phelps

AO 57525

56 160 acres

See B. L. Papers with the letter

Original 

Cole

255087 Joel Knight
Ms Sr Jany 7 17 []
Ima Jade hand such this letter Mr. Adams in Chief Clks room  [] rev pending by B Yates
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Binghamton
April 11 1857

Sir

I had the honor some time since to file thee papers of Joel Knight in the pension appe. for a land warrant allow me to enquire for [] (over)
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Rufus Phelps to whom a land warrant was [] issue for Revolutionary services now, upon the same service on file applying for a pension for a Revolutionary soldier

I have the honor to []
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[be] Your obt Servt

D. S. Dickinson

Hon J Minot
Comm of Pensions
Page 21

{Stamp 1202029  WAR DEPARTMENT MILITARY SECRETARYS OFFICE JAN 21 1907}

H of R
Jan 19/07

Rufus Phelps, N. Y.  Rev War

Hon Frank O. Lowden M. C. desires the military record of abovementioned who rvcd a land warrant in 1853 and was a claimant for pension

1 inclo. Ms.
Received MSO JAN 20 1907

[] Address: "The Military Secretary, War Department, Washington D.C."
1 incl

WAR DEPARTMENT,
THE MILITARY SECRETARYS OFFICE.

WASHINGTON,  January 21, 1907.

Respectfully transmitted to the Commissioner of Pensions,

with reference to the statement that Rufus Phelps received a land warrant, and that he was an applicant for a pension at the date of his death.
The Hon. Mr. Lowden has been advised of this transmission, and has also been informed that the name Rufus Phelps has not been found on the rolls, on file in the Department, or any organization of New York troops in service during the war of the Revolution.

{Stamp PENSION US H OFFICE JAN 22 1907}

FP  Ainsworth The Military Secretary.
(800c) per 4
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FRANK O. LOSDEN M.C.
23th Dist. of Illinois
ranscription

Close
Updated by (just now)

Committee on Foreign Affairs
House of Representatives United States
Washington D.C.

January 19, 1907.

Sir:

I would greatly appreciate it if your Department can furnish me with a complete military record of the ancestors of Mrs. Joseph Sheaff, who signs the enclosed communication, and any other information that would be of value to her.

Respectfully,
Frank Lowden

Enc. 
Major General F. C. Ainsworth
Military Secretary, War Department,
Washington, D. C.

{Stamps DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JAN 22 1907
US Pension Office.  CONGRESSIONAL JAN 22 1907 U.S. Bureau of Pensions PENSION OFFICE H US Jan 22 1907}
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Speakers Room,
House of Representatives,
Washington D. C.

Jan. 16-07
{Stamp 1202039 MILITARY SECRETARY WAR DEPARTMENT JAN 21 1907}

Respectfully referred to

Lowden, M. C., for his attention and reply to writer.  This seems to be one of your constituents and not a resident of Mr. Cannon's district.

Don

{STAMP PENSON H US OFFICE JAN 22 1907}

Respectfully,
L S W Busbey
Secretary to the Speaker.
Inclo 1 MS
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Sheriff

Holcomb, Ills  {STAMP O.W.& N. DIV Jan 22 1907 OFFICE} 

July 22nd 1906,

Hon. Joseph G. Cannon

My dear Sir,

I have been advised to write you for information regarding Rufus Phelps identity as a Revolutionary Soldier That a marker might be erected over his grave to show he rendered such service in the American Revolution I have one letter written by H. G. Phelps a grandson of Rufus Phelps He writes me his Grand father Rufus Phelps born 1767 & died 1859, served in the American Revolution, was wounded in one of his feets & by special act of Congress through the efforts of Daniel S Dickinson of New York was awarded a land warrant about the year 1853 on account of his having been a Revolutionary soldier, & sold the land warrant to Dr. Gifford the family physician who was living  in the town of Lynnville Ogle Co. Ills. This same Dr. Gifford was afterwards engaged to assist in obtaining a pension.
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Mr. Phelps died before his pension was granted.

H. G. Phelps telk me his grandfather was not in the service long but had forgotten the length of service.

This Daniel Dickinson was an ex congressman at the time mentioned of his assistance.  Also an old neighbor & friend this Rufus Phelps.
I have written many different departments. Please can you assist me.  I am a member of the Rockford Ills Chapter D.A.R. & as i is known by the relative that this Rufus Phelps was a Revolutionary Soldier I feel ambitious to mark the grave to show in times to come he rendered service in Revolution. Rufus Phelps was for may years Justice o the Peace in New York, Olsego Co. & Chenango  etc

I have written the Library of Congress during Mr. Hitts time as he was from out County & friend indeed.  Hon R. R. Hitt was sick at the time I wrote him & his secretary might not have taken the time.

I trust you may be able to assist me kind sir, & oblige.
I have written War Dept Washington D.C. did not find the name.
The Illinois officers accepted the information I gave But when the marker was sent for the Washington Official refused
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In all my attempts heretofore I have won appropriations in Legislature & all that.  The last work as mentioned before was the Fort Hassac of Ills.

Please favor me with reply soon as conveinant
Very Respectfully

Mrs. Joseph Sheaff
Holcomb
Ogle Co. Ills
Box 91.

Dec 30th 1906

Please Daniel S. Dickinson was an ex congressman from the state of New York who used his influence in obtaining the land grant for Rufus Phelps about the time of 1853.

P.S. If you can advise me, or assist in anyway it would seem as though if a land warrant had been granted about the year 1853 that there would be some record of it.  Pardon me for interruption & oblige me with a reply.