Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14935, Silas Beers, Conn.
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Conn. Beers, Silas S.14935
carded

[Be warned, dear reader, that the following transcriptions are very incomplete because of the illegibility of the writing. I did my best but you may want to find another person to try as well. DCN]
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Connecticut 9459
Silas Beers
of Woodbury in the State of Conn. who was a private[unclear] in the company commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt. commanded by Col. Whiting in the Connecticut line for 12 months [illegible] 40.00. 12 months priv.: 40.00.
$100.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn. at the rate of 100 Dollars --- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1931.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21. day of May 1833. and sent to Pensioner, Roxbury, Ct.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 -- 200.00.
Semi-an. allowance ending 4 Sept. 50.00
$250.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by T. F. Franciosi Clerk,
Book E. Vol 3rd Page 4.
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Silas Beers
Connecticut

 Admitted

Pensioner
Roxbury
Connecticut
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Brief in the case of Silas Beers
District of Woodbury 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? 76
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
[Follow information across in chart:]
In 1775 6 months as a Private Gen Col Whiting
May 1776 1 year 6 months Private Capt. Smith
1781 [too faint to decipher] Sergeant Capt. Jarvis

5. In what battles was he engaged? at the taking of Chermblu [sp ???]
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Connecticut
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary and two living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. George Taylor Examining Clerk.
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Silas Beers
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State of Connecticut,
Court of Probate ss} District of Woosbury
On this 7th day of August 1832 personally appeared, in open court, before the Court of Probate for the District of Woosbury [illegible]and Woosbury in Litchfield County
now sitting, Silas Beers a resident of Roxbury seventy six years, who being first sworn according to law, doth, on this 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 state. I was born in Stratford Connecticut on the 17January 1750 and continued to live at said Stratford until June 1775 when I enlisted into the army of the Revolution into the company commanded by Lieut. Col. Whiting. Col Mead was full colonel. The colonel had at that time command of companies. Robert Taler was Lieutenant in the company and {illegible] Whiting was Ensign. I enlisted for six months and immaualty [immediately?] joined said company at Hartford went by water to New York then up the North River to half moon point then to [illegible] Ticonderoga. [next sentence very unclear so not transcribed...] Our company was under the control of Col Mead who was full colonel to Col. Whitney. I was at the taking of Chermblu [unclear???] and Ft. John and was left in garrison at Ft John while the American army went to Montreal about middle of Nov 1775. After the return of the army to Ft John the army broke up in Dec as I believe and I returned to Connecticut. I joined out the time I enlisted for [remainder of sentence is illegible to me].
In May 1776 I inlisted again for six months into Capt. Muths Company of [illegible] was Thomas Tanner, Ensign [illegible to end of sentence] his name. I joined this company New Jersey and was stationed there
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[this text is very difficult to decipher as the writing is full of spelling errors, run-on words, & nearly illegible handwriting all at once...] and afterwards at English Town [next three words illegible] under Lieut. Tanner to garrison duty and went into garrison at Fort Washington and was there in Nov 1776 when it was captured and was taken prisoner. I remained a prisoner until Jan 1777 when I was paroled and returned to Hartford.
In the beginning of the year 1781 and in January or Feb. I enlisted into Capt. Jarvis company for one year to [illegible] the battery at Black Rock Hartford. Company Aaron Surniy was Lieutenant. I made this enlistment with [illegible to end of sentence -- sorry~!]  I joined immediately the company and was appointed a sergeant in said company and as such [illegible] for the whole year. I enlisted for and was discharged in Jany. 1782  as I believe. It might be as late as Feby.
I was out on claims a few days at a time. I never had any discharge except from [illegible] company. I do not know whether I had a sergeant's warrant of not. Of those it is lost as is the discharge.
Capt Tanner's company was [illegible] by authority of the State of Connecticut as I remember. The other companies in which I joined & [illegible] to be continental after I left. The [illegible] at Black Rock ??? to Stonington removed a few months then I removed to Lexington [illegible] in Chatham & then about ten years. Then I moved to New Haven Conn.
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about a year. Then removed to Roxbury Con. where I now live, being in the care of the town of Roxbury.
I am acquainted with Rev. Tovalie Harrison, Phineas Smith, Davie Rothwel, [???] Leavenworth and many others in Roxbury and with Joseph F Rothwell of Woodbury & known [illegible] of Roxbury and David Rothwell of same place.
I know of no record of my [illegible] and of no other proof than the annexed depositions of Joshua L Rothwell and Phineas Beers although ["diligent inquiry was made" seems to be the meaning of these last illegible words...]
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The said Silas Beers 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. Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Silas Beers. B. Phelps Judge of Probate
We, Fordie Harrison a clergyman, residing in the town of Roxbury and [signature illegible] residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Silas Beers who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 76 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. Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Judson Ward Fordie Harrison
L B Phelps Judge of Probate District of [illegible]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Fordie Harrison who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Roxbury and that Judson Ward who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Roxbury and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. H B Phelps Judge of Probate District of Woodbury

I, Nathan Preston Clerk of the court of Probate for the District of Woodbury do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Silas Beers for a Pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of --- Office, this sixth day of September 1832
Nathan Preston Clerk
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14935
INVALID ["Rev War" written in upper left corner]
File No. 14.935
Silas Beers
Sergt. Rev. War
Act: June 8th 1832.
Index:--Vol. 1, Page 38.
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of Connecticut
Probate Court
District of Woodbury
August 7 1832
Be it remembered that on the day and year aforesaid before the said Court of Probate uttering at Woodbury personally appeared Joseph F Brothwell of Woodbury whom the Court certify to be a credible witness who being first duly sworn on oath declares and verifies that he had known Silas Beers of Roxbury since the year 1778 or 1779. That the deponent during the whole of the year 1781 was an orderly sergeant in Capt. Davis [???] Company stationed at Black Rock battery Con. In year 1781 this deponent was transferred by Capt Davis to make enlistment into said company for one year with the encouragement that he should be apprentice [illegible] said Beers enlisted a private [illegible] the company at Black Rock. And [illegible] soon after in a [illegible] appointed a sergeant in said company by Capt Davis and continued in said battery with the deponent serving duty as a Sergeant until the expiration of the year he enlisted for. The company at Black Rock was a State company and Capt Davis held the power to appoint sergeants  there being no higher officer there than said Davis.
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This deponent  [illegible] a frequent warrant for said Capt Davis. [this whole sentence is a guess...] Joseph F Brothwell
Sworn in Court B Phelps Judge of Probate
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Silas Beers

Admitted
12 months Sergeant Inftry. 12 da Private dv
Conn. Line
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State of Connecticut
Court of Probate
District of Woodbury
August 13, 1832

Be it remembered that on the day and year aforesaid personally appeared in open Court Phinehas Beers of New [illegible] in Litchfield County whom the court certify to be a credible witness and being first only sworn on oath declares and says that he is seventy four years of age and has been well acquainted with Silas Beers now of Roxbury in said county. Since early [illegible two words] having been brought up together [illegible] remembers said Silas served in the army of the Revolution at New York in the summer of 1776. This Deponent was in the army and was in New York in same 1776 and saw the annihilation of the British at [illegible two words] and knows said Silas was then a private in another company from the deponent's error said Silas continued in said service until the taking of Fort Washington in the [illegible] of Nov 1776 when said Silas was taken prisoner by the British. This deponent remembers [illegible two words] him when he was discharged from the British in January 1777 as the deponent believes and well recollects his emaciated and miserable appearance. Said Silas returned from New York to Stratford Connecticut. This Deponent has since often
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[illegible] with said Silas on the events of and transactions of the Service. This deponent and Silas are cousins and have always known each other. Phineas Beers
Subscribed and Sworn this day & date aforesaid
B Phelps, Judge Probate
[illegible two words following the above]