Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23843, for Beriah Phelps, Connecticut
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SERVICE   Conn.
Phelps, Beriah  
NUMBER   S. 23843
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24423
New York 
Beriah Phelps 
of Columbia in the State of New York who was a private in the company commanded by Captain  --   of the Regt commanded by Col. Cook in the Conn line for 9 Mos 
Inscribed on the Roll of New York the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 
Certificate of Pension issued the 18, day of Dec’r  1833 and sent to Hon  A Vanderpool H. Reps.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833  $75.00
Semi anl. allowance ending 4 March 34   15.00 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}  
Recorded by W. L. Williams  
Book E Vol. 4 Page 113
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In the matter of
Beriah Phelps who
applied for a pension 
Admd [admitted]
9 mo pri
30$
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State of New York
Columbia County
On this twenty fourth day of July in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before Mr. William Niles a Justice of the Peace of the Town of Austerlitz in the County of Columbia and State of New York. Beriah Phelps a resident of said Austerlitz in the County of Columbia and State of New York aged Seventy Three years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the forthcoming declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress Passed June Seventh 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hired status. The claimant was born at Hebron in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, and that he was drafted as a Militiaman in the month of August 1776 and actually entered the Army the same month. In the company commanded by Captain Joshua Phelps in the regiment commanded by Col Obadiah Hosford, Lieutenant Samuel Tilse, Ensign Asa White, and after being drafted as above stated (unknown) immediately to Hartford where he was mustered under the above named officers, with the above company.
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and regiment were marched to New Haven from thence to Norwalk from thence to Nye in Connecticut & thence Mamaroneck and thence to New Rochelle from thence to Kingsbridge and thence to Harlem where they met with the continental army who were retreating. The regiment then received orders to retreat back over Kings bridge to New Rochelle where the Regiment were Stationed to guard the seacoast where the Claimant remained with the Regiment until they were drove off by the enemy and retreated to a place called Snuff Mills from thence to Mamaroneck when the regiment and the Claimant were engaged in a battle with the enemy under the command of Col Obediah Hosford. The soldiers & this Claimant lost all of them their packs. The regiment then retreated to Fort Pitt on the Neck & then there remained. After months he was discharged with the whole of the regiment at Abirams bridge, and thence returned home to Hebron having served three months the period for which he had been drafted and this Claimant has no written discharge.  In the month of August 1777 - the Claimant went as a substitute for Joel Marr with the Connecticut militia in the company commanded by Captain
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John Skinner,  Col Latimers Regiment and was marched from Hebron to Hartford and from thence through Canaan in Connecticut to Albany & from thence to Stillwater to Saratoga & to Hubbardton [unreadable],  where he joined the main army, which was then on the retreat from Canada at or near Hubbardton & then retreated to Saratoga at Bemis Heights and was there engaged in building a long Breast work. The Claimant was in the Battle on the 7th October 1777 at Saratoga in Col Latimers regiment under General Arnold when the Hessians were driven from their breast work & was present at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. Col Cooks regiment was stationed on the right & Col. Cortlandt’s regiment on the left at Bemis Heights when the Army was stationed before the battle.  After the Battle was over and Burgone's[Burgoyne's] surrender the Claimant with his regiment was marched back to Albany & from thence to Kingston or [unreadable] on the Hudson River & was there discharged from service having served three months the term for which had engaged and returned to Hebron and at the time the regiment was discharged.   In November 1777 the Claimant went to Rhode Island as a Volunteer for three months in the company commanded by Captain Daniel Dewy
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in Col. Johnson’s Regiment, General Skinner commanded, and was stationed at  Providence in Rhode Island where he remained through the winter and was there three months & was discharged with the Regiment and returned to Hebron, making the whole nine months of actual service. The claimant Court State the day on which he entered the service at Either of the times above mentioned. 
He never had any written discharge or any other documentary evidence of his service and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.  
He was born in said Hebron as before stated in the year 1759 - where he resided untill the year 1783 & then moved to Hillsdale now Austerlitz then  Abbory now Columbia County in the State of New York where he had resides and has the whole of the time since 1783 excepting one year which he spent at Stockbridge in Massachusetts.  
The claimant has no record of his age other than minutes transcribed from his Fathers Bible where he is stated to have been born 2nd January 1759 & 
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 of And that he this Claimant
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is in a very poor and miserable State of Health, is almost confined to his house and is entirely unable to go from where he resides to Hudson the place when the Court is held and the only one where there is any court of record in the County of Columbia where the claimant resides and that he resides about Eighteen miles from any Court of record. 
Beriah Phelps
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me 
William Niles Justice of the Peace
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State of New York 
Columbia County 
Town of Austerlitz 
We Abraham P. Holdridge & Ebenezer Reed both of the town of Austerlitz in the County of Columbia being duly sworn do hereby certify that we all well acquainted with Beriah Phelps of said Austerlitz who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed  declaration and that we believe him to be seventy four years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion & that we verily believe the said Beriah Phelps from his advanced age and poor State of Health and impoverished situation to be entirely unable to go from where he resides in the town of Austerlitz to the City of Hudson where the court for this County sits and further say not 
Ab. P. Holdridge 
Ebenezer Reed
Subscribed & sworn to this 24th day of July 1833 before me 
William Niles 
Justice of the Peace
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State of New York    We Timothy Woodbridge a Clergyman resident of the town of Austerlitz in the County of Columbia and Story Gott of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Beriah Phelps who resides in the town of Austerlitz in the County of Columbia and has for many years (except one year while he lived at Stockbridge) who has subscribed sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be seventy four years of age that he is reputed and believed the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier the revolution and that we concur in that opinion 
Timothy Woodbridge
Story Gott
Sworn & subscribed this 24 - day of July 1833, before me 
Anson Brown Justice of the Peace
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State of New York 
Columbia County 
Town of Austerlitz  I James Platt of the Town of Austerlitz, in the County of Columbia Being Duly Sworn doth hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Beriah Phelps of said Austerlitz and have been for a grate Number of years (say above forty) who has subscribe and sworn to the annexed Declaration and that I believe him to be Seventy four years & over of Age, and that he is reputed and believed in the Nabourhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion & that I verily believe the said Beriah Phelps from his advanced age and Infirm State of Health and impoverished situation to be entirely unable to go from whair he Resides in the Town of Austerlitz to the City of Hudson whaer the Court for this County Sits and further say not  
James Platt
Subscribed and sworn to this 27th day of July 1833 Before me
Anson Brown Justice Peace
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State of New York 
Columbia County }ss  On this 27th day of June 1833 before me William Niles a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Came Beriah Phelps a person to me well know, and on my propounding to him the several Interrogatories from 1 to 7 inclusive prescribed in the "Interrogatories of the war department" made the following answers 
To the 1st Interrogatory - Hebron, Connecticut 
The 2  The only Record of my age is in my Bible, taken from my Fathers Bible which States my birth 2nd day of January 1759 
3 in Hebron Connecticut and what is now Austerlitz Columbia County New York, except about fifteen months in Stockbridge Massachusetts - Now lives in said Austerlitz
4 Drafted once, Substitute once, Volunteered once, was a substitute for Joel Mann. 
5 the first time I served in Col Hosford’s Regiment.  Capt. Phelps Company - The second time under Col. Lattimore, Capt John Skinner, the third time under Col Johnson,  Capt Dewey,  Gen. Spencer.
6 I was discharged with the Regiments and received no individual discharge 
7  Abraham P Holdridge, Ebenezer Ruel,  Story Gott, James Platt and Timothy Woodbridge.   And having examined the accompanying statement made by said Beriah Phelps on oath before me do find therein the substance of the above answers.   
And I the said Justice do hereby certify that from a long acquaintance with said Phelps the applicant for a Pension, I have no reason to doubt his credibility but do believe his said Statement to be substantially correct. 
And I further certify that I am well acquainted with the P. Timothy Woodbridge who is entitled minister in good
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Standing of the Parish where the said applicant resides, and the nearest Minister - with Story Gott, Abraham P. Holdridge Esq., Ebenezer Ruel M.D. and James Platt late a Judge of Columbia Common pleas, all of whom reside in Said Austerlitz where the said applicant resides and they are each and all of them of good moral character and are each of them Credible, and their statement is entitled to credit. 
I further certify that I never heard his,  the said Phelps statement as to Revolutionary services doubted; but that he is reputed in this town to have been a Revolutionary soldier and I concur in that opinion.
And I the said Justice further certify, that said Phelps the applicant, from Bodily infirmity was not able at the time of his making the accompanying Statement on oath or is he now able by reason of his continued infirmity by any conveyance at his command to travel the distance of Seventeen or eighteen miles which is the shortest distance to any Court of Record from the residence of him the said Applicant. 
William Niles Justice of the Peace
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State of New York 
Columbia County }ss   I Joseph D Morrell do hereby Certify William Niles and Anson Brown, before whom the preceding and annexed affidavits purport to have been sworn, were at the dates of the same. Justice of the Peace, in and for the said County, and that I am acquainted with their hand writing and verily believe their names subscribed to the said affidavits to their proper hand writing and signature, and also that the name of William Niles subscribed to the forgoing Certificate of Credibility, is his proper hand writing and signature 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 29th Nov. 1833. 
J. D. Morrell Clerk
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I 23,843  L. W. B. 
Replying to your request for intercession concerning the military record of Beriah Phelps, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised the he made an application for Pension on July 24, 1833, at which time he was 74 years of age and residing in Columbia County N. Y. and his pension was allowed for nine months’ actual service as a private in the Conn. troops, Revolutionary war;  a part of the time he served under Capt. John Phelps and Col. Horsford.  He  enlisted in Hartford County, Conn.
Very respectfully 
Commissioner
Dr. Charles W. Skiff, Danbury, Conn.
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To L. W. B. 
Revolution 
23843. 
INVALID. 
File No. 23,843 
Beriah Phelps 
Pri Rev War 
Act: June 7” 32. 
Index:- vol 2 Page 321 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
Jan. 14. 1897 - History to Mr. Charles W. Skiff Danbury, Conn
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[unreadable] papers  
Spencertown N. Y. 
Dec 6, 1853 } 
N. Y.
Aaron Vanderpool Esq 
Direct to A Vanderpool M. C.
Member of Congress Washington
House of Reps.
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Beriah Phelps
Pension [unreadable]
Spencertown December 4th 1833  
A Vanderpool Esquire
Dr. Sir
Upon the enclosed papers Beriah Phelps has once applied for a pension the papers were returned to me for the reason that Mr. Niles who certified as to the witnesses did not certify that they were credible - he has made a new certificate & Certified as to the Credibility of the witnesses, you will know them all, the papers are all,  I believe, correct, the objection made when they were at Washington I have cured by the Niles Certificate. Major Phelps, the applicant I know well - he is in poor health and [unreadable] in the poor house.  If the Government will grant him a pension it will be well [unreadable] & if you will attend to this matter immediately It will be a [unreadable] thankfully and by poor will aid the cause of suffering humanity. Let me hear from you as soon as possible -  have [unreadable] &c &c
Yours &c  A. P. Holdridge
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28,220
Binah Phelps
New York
Return S. 
Admd [admitted]
Hon A. Vanderpool
H. R.
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WAR DEPARTMENT 
Pension Office, 
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 compling with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 
A Statement, showing the Service of
Period when the service was rendered.    Duration of Claimant’s Service.   Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers 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 
JAMES L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
Witness not certified to be credible – See note j
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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 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 in stance, 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) 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, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons 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 that of 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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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.                 
[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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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 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 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 his narrative with the events of the period of his  alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3
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. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what Town officer has become of it?              
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 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. 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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 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 - months and --- days, I served as 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 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 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 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.              
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 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 witnesses, 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 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.
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B. P. 
I am a descendant of Major Beriah Phelps of Hillsdale Columbia Co. New York , who was a pensioner after the war of the Revolution and died at Cohoes New York.   
I am the son of Charles Herbert Skiff [unreadable] and Rachael McKinstry his wife and grandson of Herman Skiff and Ruby Phelps his wife, who was a daughter of Major Beriah Phelps of Hillsdale Columbia Co. New York
Chas W. Skiff 
Danbury Conn
Page 24

GREAT SACHEM. 
DEWITT P PRESTON HARTFORD. 
GREAT CHIEF OF RECORDS 
CHAS W SKIFF, DANBURY 
Grant Council of Connecticut
OF THE IMPROVED ORDER OF 
Red Men
[seal] GREAT COUNCIL CONNECTICUT IMP’D ORDER OF RED MEN INST. 30TH STURGEON MOON C. S. D396
WIGWAM OF THE GREAT CHIEF OF RECORDS
Hunting Grounds of Danbury 1st Sun Cold Moon G.S.D. 406 
The Chief Clerk of the Bureau of Pension 
Washington D.C.
Respected and Dear Sir:
I am trying to work up my ancestor in the Revolutionary war with the idea of making application for membership in the “Sons of the Revolution”. 
In corresponding with Ira C. Isham of New York City, he advises me to apply to you for official information on the enclosed imperfect memorandum of one of my ancestor. 
Any information you can give me at your convenience will be sincerely appreciated by
your most obedient Servant 
Chas. W. Skiff
Danbury Conn
[stamp] O. W. & N. DIV
JAN 2 1897
CHIEFS DESK