Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6405, for Reuben Lockwood, Connecticut
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Reuben Lockwood
Papers
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State of Connecticut }
County of Fairfield }
On this 3d day of August 1832 personally appeared, before the Court of Probate now in Session at Warton in the District of Weston in the County aforesaid, in this Court, & being a Court of record- Reuben Lockwood of the Town of Weston in the County & State aforesaid, aged seventy years and a few months, who being first 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, namely that in the latter part of the month of August 1778 he entered the service of the United States under Captain Peter Sturges in the town of Newark in said County, as a substitute for one Gideon Lockwood of said Weston, in the team service for the term of four months, that said Lockwood who is now dead had enlisted himself and entered his team & this declarant, went into the service as his substitute, & actually served four months & was discharged about Christmas following the time he entered the service; that he took said Lockwood team & went to Danbury in said County, when the team was apprized by order of Major Storr who was over the Commissary Department in that place; that there were ten teams, under the command of said Peter Sturges, & the Team
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which this deponent drove & took charge of as assessed was one of them, he drew the same way & received daily the same rations from the public stores, as was chosen by an enlisted soldier, that he was employed in team putting provisions for the army - that he, with the team which he drove was chiefly employed in transporting provisions from said Danbury to Peekskill on the Hudson or North river, when he with the teams carried provisions or Liquors, they were generally allowed a guard, a corporal [illegible] Man - One time, when he & Morris went to Peekskill they guarded themselves, & took their turns in standing sentry every night - That during said four Months service, he, & the other teams in said Company of teams, was ordered to go to Boston to carry clothing for the army and all the ten teams, including this deponent started for Boston, when we arrived at Hartford in said State we found the army, & did not go any father, we remained at Waterford about three weeks & corded wood for the army, the following [illegible[ - General Gates was at Hartford in command,  a part of the time, that he saw him the morning he started for the South - General Putnam he [illefible] was left in command, though he does not recollect of seeing him - after they had been in Hartford about three weeks the teams
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and in one he drove during the rest were ordered back to Danbury & we brought back to Danbury preped hay which we took in at Wethersfield near Waterfield, for after our return to Danbury General Putnam with several Regiments came to Redding & went into winter quarters - and he further says that during all the time he served as aforesaid he was subject to the orders of said Captain Sturges & he Sturges received his orders from the aforesaid Major Starr; that at one time when he was in said service, he was ordered to go with the team he drove & one other team go with him, after a regiment which marched through Danbury towards Peekskill, we followed them & overtook them at Jones' Bridge so called in or near Farmer's Evens in the State of New York, the other team which was with him was then unloaded, & returned, we were both loaded with provisions for the regiment that he continued with the team he drove on as far as Peekskill, where he unloaded then were the teams with us, the two refered to were taken from the ten which were under Captain Sturges & when, he, the deponent went as far & aforesaid, he was put under the order of the Captain of the other teams for this tour, & when he arrived at Peekskill, he well remembers that he was detained about two weeks at Peekskill, the caption to whom he was subject
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would not permit him to return; that he was much troubled to obtain his rations, though the obtaining of the the captain he refused to permit  him to have his rations until he mustered to go with his company  to head quarters then he complained-- that in performing the service of said he was, at all times subject to go wherever he was ordered, and was at all times subject to the same punishment for
disobedience of orders, as an enlisted soldier in
the United States force, would have been, and
I was not a service in any force, under a man
civil contract, which he would have broken at any time, & been subjected to the payment of damages only, he would neither above his place, or disobey his woods without subjecting himself
to a court Martial
And he further says that after he was discharged from the service aforesaid, & when he
belonged to a company of Connecticut the state militia 
commanded by Captain Daniel Godfrey to
wit, in the year 1780 he believes  he was drafted into the service of the United States and entered a company of Connecticut state drafted troops to go to Stratford Inn said County to guard the coast, was drafted for the term of two months & went to said Stratford under the said Captain Daniel Godfrey one (illegible), was
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the Lieutenant & Jon Marr Squire of said Weston was Ensign, that he accordingly went, & served about three weeks at Stratford aforesaid, & was then ordered to Bridgeport in said County when he served about three weeks more & then he & the rest of the company to which he belonged were ordered to Germantown in said Fairfield when he served the residue of the two months for which he was drafted as aforesaid that all the time during which he was drafted aforesaid at last Fairfield, he was employed in guarding the Coast, & this he actually served under said draft the term of two months & he [illegible] to the aforesaid team service he recollects that when his time was out by order from Major Starr, the team he drove was again apprized, & valued at $20 less than when he entered the service, & this $20 was allowed by the Government to said Gideon Lockwood, for whom he served as substitute, a claim was lost during the service & said Lockwood was allowed & paid for by Government to the following interrogatories propounded by the Court he gives the answers [illegible] - viz -  By the Court - where, & in what year were you born? [illegible] by Declarant - That he was born in that part of the town of Fairfield aforesaid, which found his birth has [illegible] off & made a error by the name of Weston - & he was born the 17th day of April 1762 as he always understood & believes -
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& that Major Starr was superintendent of the Commissioner department at Danbury where said teams were
stationed, & give orders to Sturges - and he does not recollect the colonel of the Regiment to which he belonged  when he was drafted, & in the service said two months he never named a commissioner -
By the Court - State the names of some of the persons to whom you are known in your present nieghbourhood who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution -
Answer -  that John Noyer, Ezekiel Sturgges Esqr Eli B Godfrey - 
By the Court - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service & if so by whom was it given what has become of it -
Answer - that he never received a written discharge, when the term of his engagement and draft expired he was told he might go home, he went - 
and further declares that he has no written documents, or documentary evidence; 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
Reuben Lockwood
sworn to & subscribed  on the day & year aforesaid in open Court
Att Oliver C Sanford Clerk
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I have long been well acquainted with said Lockwood
who has subscribed & serve the above declartion &
pertains a good character for truth wenty
to & subsented
the day year and
John Noyes
in open Court
Att Ohion C Sanford Clerk
the
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after 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 And the Court further certifies
that John Nayes who has signed the above certificate is a Clergyman
residing in said Town, Prish of Norfield, and that Ezel Ranges
of William E. God who has signed another but
ents of said and are credible persons and that
then statement is entitled to credit
Bradford Winton
Judge of said Court
I Oliver C. Sanford Clerk of the said Court of Probate do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of
the said Court in the matter of the application of Pember
Lackwood of Weston for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of
Office this 4th day of August 1832
Att. Olen C. Sanford Clerk
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State of Connecticut }
Fairfield County } ss I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Fairfield State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Erastus Sturges Esquire is now and for more than one year last past, has been a Justice of the Peace for said Fairfield County duly commissioned & duly authorized to administer oaths & take Depositions &c. I further certify that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Erastus Sturges Esq & that I verily believe that the official signatures to the Certificates on the other side hereof, purporting to be his are genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 4th day of October AD 1832
Thomas B Osborne Clerk
aforesaid County Court
14,104
Reuben Lockwood
Pension Papers
Connecticut
Fairfield County
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Reubin Lockwood Fairfield County Connecticut
[illegible]
E. Swift Saugatuck Connecticut
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
183
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 shew 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.
Statement, shewing the service of Reuben Lockwood Fairfield County Connecticut 
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 officers under whom he served. | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Entered 1778 | - | 4 } - | teamster | Genl. Gates & Putnam Cap Sturges | 70 years
County of Fairfield Connecticut | Traditionary evidence certified credible & Clergymans certificate one witness certified credible papers not properly attached
Drafted 1780 | - | 2 | - | private | Cap Godfrey
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of 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, claiming
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
County of ss
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:
(here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
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,
sons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c. )
He hereby relinquishes every (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 revolutionary
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 soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the say 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 prescribed 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 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.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
but 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 services
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 the
narrative with the events of the period of his
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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 attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be 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 given
and what has become of it?
( to an officer) a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he 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 some 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 procure
, 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 follow
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 he 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 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."
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 month
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 names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of 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 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.
(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 it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
Mode of authenticating papers. } done as required
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 papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the cads 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 witnesses,
and signature of the the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from (a) to (i) are all 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.
Then papers [illegible] E Swift