Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8397, for John Powell, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Md.

Powell, John
or Powel

NUMBER
R. 8397

CONTENTS
Page 2

John Powell
21708
Page 3

State of Connecticut New Haven County ss.
On this 10th day of Novr 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven in said County, at County in said District now sitting, John Powel a resident of Huntington in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, aged 87 years, who being first sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit o 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 stated, that is to say, I enlisted in the summer of 1775 or 1776 I am not certain which at Baltimore in the State of Maryland for the term of three years into a company of which one Allen was Captain & one Baker was Lieutenant. I cannot remember their Christian names. I had at this time been about 4 years to half residing residing with one Esquire Carroll in Queen Arms County having first diserted from the British sloop of War Nancy while lying at Baltimore. I joined the Regiment at Philadelphia but I cannot recollect the names of its officers. of the company I remember one William Smith & one John Biggs & I think the name of the Lieutenant was John Baker. We were marched through the state of New Jersey, were at Catskill, remember crossing the North River was at Peekskill, Valley Forge & in the battle of Brandywine. I was retreating with the other troops & remember it was said that General Washington was on the hill. In this retreat I was, with many others taken prisoner by the British & taken to the College at Wilmington where I was kept about two months & then put on board a prison ship at Philadelphia. I remained here about 3 weeks when the vessel with the prisoners about 50 in number was sent to Pensacola. Here I deserted, but was retaken again at St. Augustine. Again conseiving a favourable opportunity I deserted & was retaken & ordered 500 lashes of which I received 250. After leaving Pensacola myself & 5 others, who were my companions in attempting to escape were more than 6 months in seeing the face of a white person being in an open boat along shore & underwent great hardships & privations. I was with many others transported from St. Augustine  to Long Island in a sloop & landed at what was then called Olde Mans harbour. From this place myself & 11 others escaped in the night & came over to Branford in Connecticut & thence I came to Stratford now Huntington. It was winter & I crossed the Outatonic on the ice. I have resided in Huntington ever since I served before the battle of Brandywine according to my best recollection 2 years & one half & was detained prisoner about as many years but of the time I cannot be certain. I returned there before the close of the war I do not know any one living who is acquainted with my services and
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sufferings above related.  I am old & poor & cannot go to Queen Annes, 
nor search for the soldiers & officers with & under whom I served.  I do not know 
whether the company I was in was State troops of Maryland or Continental.  If the 
latter I hope my name will be found on the Muster Rolls.

I was born in London on the 12th day of August 1745, was impressed into 
the naval service at 15 & continued in it untill [until] I deserted as aforesaid 
I have no record of my birth.  I am acquainted with Revd Thomas Punderson, 
David B. Newton, Ephraim Wooster Esquire of said Huntington & Hon. 
Gideon Tomlinson Senator in Congress who will testify to my character 
for truth & their belief of my Revolutionary services

The said John Powel 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.
Anthy P Sanford Clerk | John Powel

We, Thomas Punderson a clergyman, residing in the town of Huntington 
and David B. Newton residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well 
acquainted with John Powel who has subscribed and sworn to the above 
declaration, that we believe him to be 87 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.
Thomas Punderson
Anthy P Sanford | David B Newton
Clerk

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 Thomas 
Punderson who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the 
town of Huntington and that Daniel B Newton who 
has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Huntington and is a credible 
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.  And the Court do further certify that the 
above mentioned declarant is old and infirm, & that it is difficult for 
him travel, and that it is much more convenient for this applicant on account 
of the distance, to make his declaration before this Court, sitting at Danbury 
which is adjoining Huntington, than it would be before any Court sitting in the 
County of Fairfield. For the truth of which reference is made to the Hon.  
G. Tomlinson a Senator in Congress.  Chas A. Ingersoll
Judge of the Court

I, Anthony P. Sanford Clerk of the Court 
of Probate for the District of New Haven 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the 
application of John Powell for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of [blank] Office, 
this 10th day or Novr 1832
Anthy P Sanford Clerk
Page 5

Connecticut
John Powell
rejected
See letter C A Ingersol
30 Sept 1838
Page 6

8397
P. O. ___
John Powell
Service: ___

REJECTED [stamped horizontally across the below]
Enlisted: ___, 18 __.
Discharged: ___, 18 __.

Application filed: ___, 18 __.

Alleges: ___

Re-enlisted: ___

Attorney: ___
P. O. ___

___ Recognized. ___ Contract.
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Land Office, Annapolis, July 11th, 1833
I certify, that it appears by the master rolls remaining in this office, that John Powel, enlisted as a private in the 1st Maryland Regiment, on the 10th day of December 1776, and that the time of his discharge upon said roll is blank
George G Brewer
Regt Land Off W. S. Md.

N.B. His name does not appear upon any of the pay rolls,
G. G. Brewer
Page 8

[Envelope with notes]

[Math calculation vertically left margin]
46
73
50
___
169

[Address]
[Circular mail stamp]
CITY OF WASHINGTON 
JUN 
21

J L Edwards
Comr. of Pensions
FREE

Geo. G. Brewer Esq.
Regr. of Land Office 
Anapolis [Annapolis]
Md.

[Struck out: Annapolis June the 1st 1833
I am [illegible]]
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War Department 
Pension Office
June 19th 1833

Sir

Please transmit to the Commissioner 
of Pensions any evidence you may have 
in your office of the services of John Powell
as a Soldier in the Revolutionary War

I am Sir
Yours respectfully

J L Edwards

G G Brewer Esq.
Register of the Land Office 
Anapolis [Annapolis]
Maryland
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21708
John Powell

Claimant
Huntington
County
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8397
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office, 
July 15 1833

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has 
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of 
your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and 
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, 
before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will show what is 
necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, 
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ).  You will, when 
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and 
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your 
claim.
______________________________________________________________________________
A Statement, showing the Service of John Powel
===================================================================
Period when the |
service was |
rendered. |
_______________ |
Duration of the |
claimant's service. |
________________ |
Years. | Months. | Days. |
____________________ |
Rank of |
the 
claimant. |
________ |
Names and rank of the Field of |
ficers under whom he served. |
__________________________ | 
Age at present, |
and place of abode |
when he entered |
the service. |
_______________ |
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
______________________________________

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant, 

J. L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, 
and to include under the terms "Continental Line, " "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all 
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who 
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such was Clerks to Commissaries and to 
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c.  Persons who served on board private armed vessels are 
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged 
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.  The Regular Troops.  
2.  The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3.  Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4.  Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first 
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of 
Record of the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is 
considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of } ss.
County of }

On this     day of     personally appeared (a) before    
A. B. a resident (b) of     in the county of     and State, Territory or District 
of     aged (c)     years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the 
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed 
June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)    , with     and 
served in the     (e) regiment of the     line, under the following named officers:

[Braces have been placed on the left and right margins of the below paragraph]
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he ser
ved under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the 
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, 
and the country through which he marched.  👉This form is to be varied as to apply to the cases of officers and per
sons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he 
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of 
the Agency in the State of   
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolu
tionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I   of the Court of 
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of 
the application of   for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this 
   day of  &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be 
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, 
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and 
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the   and C. D. residing in (the same) 
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with   , who has 
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a solider 
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after 
putting the interrogatories by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revo
lutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. 
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the 
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the 
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing 
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of 
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal 
of office, this  day of  &c.

[Braces have been placed in the left and right margins of the next two paragraphs]
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commis
sion; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if 
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the ser
vices of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light 
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will 
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful 
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 14

3

[Braces continue on the left and right margins of the remainder of this paragraph and begins on the left and right margins of the 
following paragraph.]
alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person 
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal 
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at
tempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be ex
expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and 
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his 
case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of 
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State 
troops of Virginia.

1.  Where and in what year were you born?
2.  Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3.  Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary 
war, and where do you now live?
4.  How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? 
And if a substitute, for whom?
5.  State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such 
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giv
{ en, and what has become of it?
{ To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what 
{ has become of it?
7.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testi
fy as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier in the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are 
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, 
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be 
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from 
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed 
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. 
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character 
and standing of other persons giving such certificates. 

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct 
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the 
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before 
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper 
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, 
and will also certify that the applicant, cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, 
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper 
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a 
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is 
his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before 
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the 
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can pro
cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period 
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the 
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
____________
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will fol
low the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides.  If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not 
conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom her served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the 
claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, 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.  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."

[Braces have been placed in the left and right margins of the following paragraph.]
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 three or four months, 
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years 
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the name of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is 
highly objectionable.  It must, in every case, be clearly shown 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 embodied corps called into service by competent au
thority; 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.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required. 
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if he has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no pub
lic seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the 
papers.

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 con
tains the affidavit, or other papers 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.

Proof of Service.

[j] 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 claimant's 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 oaths must certify to the credibility of the wit
nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
👉The notes from [a] to [i] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rule in 
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 15

State of Connecticut County of New Haven SS.
On this 7th day of August A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven at New Haven now sitting, John Powell a resident of Huntington in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, aged 87 years, who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following supplemental declaration, in addition to the one made by him on the 10th day of November A.D. 1832, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 1832 - The declarant 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 for not less than two years, in the manner stated in his original declaration. The declarant is certain, and states the fact positively, that from the time of his enlistment at Baltimore as stated in his original declaration, to the time of his being taken a prisoner at the battle of Brandywine in September 1777, was not less than two years. The declarant saith, that by reason of old age, he cannot state more particularly then he has done in his original declaration, the
Page 16

names of the officers under whom he served. He recollects well, that he enlisted at Baltimore in a company commanded by Captain Allen: the name of the Colonel I have forgotten - The declarant enlisted for three years, and he believes that it was in the Continental line: though of this he will not be positive. It was either in the Continental line or in the Maryland State Troops. The declarant cannot be more particular than he has been, in his original declaration, in stating the country through which he marched, and the battles, in which he was engaged. He knows that the time of leaving the service, was at the battle of Brandywine, then he was taken a prisoner, in the manner stated in his original declaration. And he knows and is positive that when he was then taken prisoner he had been in service according to the time of his enlistment, as a private, for not less than two years. He declarant never received any written discharge, and can produce no living witness, to prove his services. He knows however that he served as stated in his original declaration, for not less than two years, and for such service he claims a pension. The declarant saith, that from the time, he escapted from the British, after his capture at the battle of Brandywine, as stated in his original declaration
Page 17

he has lived at Huntington in the State of 
Connecticut, where he is well known, and where 
he has acquired a character, well reputed. 
His character for truth will not be disputed 
where he is known.  He knows that he served 
for not less than two years, and that during 
his service, he was not engaged in any civil 
pursuit. The declarant saith, that the town 
of Huntington, adjoins the New Haven Probate dis
trict, and that it is much more convenient 
for him, he being old and infirm, to make 
his declaration before the New Haven Probate 
Court, than before any Court in Fairfield County. 
Sworn and subscribed | John Powell
the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Anthy P Sanford 
Clerk

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 above named applicant, was a 
revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Chas. A. Ingersoll
Judge of said Court
Page 18

I Anthony P. Sanford Clerk of the Court 
of Probate for the District of New Haven do certify, 
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the 
said Court, in the matter of the supplemental declaration 
and application of John Powell for a pension.  And I 
do further certify that Lemuel Beardslee, Thaddeus 
Beardslee Jnr and Hezekiah Marks, the witnesses to the 
depositions, hereto annexed, are each Justices of the Peace 
for Fairfield County, residing in the town of Hunting
ton, and men of truth.  And I do further certify that 
Isaac J. Gilbert, before whom the four depositions 
hereto attached, were taken, is a Justice of the Peace 
for the County of New Haven duly commissioned and 
sworn, and that the signature to the certificates, at the 
bottom of each of said depositions, is in his own 
proper hand writing.  In testimony whereof I have 
hereto set my hand, and seal of office this 10th 
day of August A.D. 1833.
Anthy P Sanford Clerk
Page 19

I Hezekiah Marks of Huntington in 
Fairfield County and State of Connecticut 
being of lawful age and duly sworn depose 
and say that I have lived in said Huntington 
fifty two years & have been acquainted with 
John Powel of said Huntington for about 40 
years.  He had been in the county a few years, but 
how many I know not, when I became acquainted 
with him.  He was about that time employed 
to work for my Father & married a girl who 
also workd. at my Fathers.  I have always understood 
from him [struck out: that] & it is associated with my earliest 
recollection of him, that he was a solider in the 
war of the Revolution & was taken prisoner by the 
British & serve time in their custody.

He has always been a man of good character for 
truth.  He has now become old & infirm & 
his memory is impaired.  But the story he relates 
so far as he can recollect, will be believed by 
all who are acquainted with him & further 
saith not.  Derby August 10. 1833.
Hezekiah Marks
one of the Justice of the Peace 
for the County of Fairfield 
& State of Connecticut
Page 20

New Haven County Ss Derby August 10. 1833
Personally appeared Hezekiah Marks Esqr
signer of the within Deposition, & made solemn 
oath that the same contains the truth 
I further certify that the said Marks possesses
a good character for truth
Isaac J Gilbert Justice of the Peace
Page 21

I Lemuel Beardslee of Huntington within 
County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut being 
of lawful age & duly sworn depose and say 
that I have resided in said Huntington about 
forty years & during about twenty years last 
past have been acquainted with John Powel 
About five years ago sitting in my shop he 
gave me a history of his life, and among other 
things stated that he was a soldier in the 
American army during the early part of the 
war of the Revolution & was taken prisoner by 
the British at the battle of Brandywine & that 
he escaped from the enemy by running way.  His 
story then concurred subsequently with that 
related in his application for a pension taken before 
the Court of Probate for New Haven District on 
the 10th day of Novemr 1832 which I have heard 
read.  Mr. Powel, tho' a poor man possesses a 
good character for truth & his story will be believed 
by his acquaintance & further saith not.
Derby August 10. 1833.
Lemuel Beardslee 
one of the Justices of the Peace for Fairfield 
County 

New Haven County Ss Derby August 10. 1833
Personally appeared Lemuel Beardslee Esq
signer of the foregoing Deposition & made solemn 
oath that the same contains the truth.  I further 
certify that said Beardslee possesses a fair character 
for truth  Isaac J Gilbert Justice of the Peace
Page 22

I, Algernon Sidney Jones of Huntington 
in Fairfield County & State of Connecticut 
of lawful age depose & say that I have 
lived in sd town of Huntington & been acquainted 
with John Powel of sd. town since the year 1819. 
He has been regarded as a respectable man 
& has a good character for truth.  His memory 
is impaired by reason of age.  I have occasionally 
visited him as physician since I have lived in 
Huntington.  I have no doubt that the story 
he tells of his Revolutionary services is true 
& further saith not.  Derby August 10. 1833
Algernon S. Jones

New Haven County Ss Derby Augt. 10. 1833
Personally Doctor Algernon S. Jones signer 
of the foregoing Deposition & made solemn oath 
that the same contains the truth. I further 
certify that said Jones possesses a fair character 
for truth
Isaac J Gilbert Justice of Peace
Page 23

I Thaddeus Beardslee Jr, of Huntington in 
the County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut 
of lawful age depose and say that I have 
been since the year 1825 one of the Selectmen 
of said Town of Huntington & as such have 
had the duty of dispensing the public 
charities of said Town to its poor.  That John 
Powel has been one of their number, having 
received assistance from the town occasionally during 
said period, being himself destitute of property & too 
infirm to earn his living.  He is old & feeble, but 
his reputation for integrity & truth is good & what 
he can remember will be readily believed by 
his acquaintances & further saith not.
Derby August 10, 1833
Thaddeus Beardslee, Jr

New Haven County Ss Derby August 10. 1833
Personally appeared Thaddeus Beardslee Jnr. 
signer of the foregoing Deposition & made solemn 
oath that the same contains the truth & I 
certify that he is of good character for truth
& to be believed as a witness.
Isaac J Gilbert Justice of Peace