Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 17699, John Davis, Conn.
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SERVICE                                NUMBER
Conn            Davis, John        W17699
                               Eunice

CONTENTS
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17183
Connecticut
John Davis
Redding in the State of Con
who was a Pri of In in the Com commanded
by Captain
of the Reg command 
by Col Bradley in the Con
line for & Cav. 14 mo 5 ay

Inscribed on the Roll of Con
at the rate of 50 Dollars 68 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of
Augt
1833 and sent Hon G. 
Tomlinson, Fairfield Ct

Arrears to the 4th March '33 $101.36
Semianl. allowance ending        25.34
                                               $126.70

(Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832)

Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk
Book 8 Vol 3 Page 10
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State of Connecticut SS
County of Fairfield
On this 6th day of December 1832 personally appeared 
in open Court before the Court of Probate within and for 
the District of Danbury, Now sitting at Reading in the said 
District, the same being a Court of Record in said County and State 
now sitting, John Davis a resident of the town of Redding 
in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, aged 
Seventy three years, who being first 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
That he entered the service of the United States under the following 
named Officers, and served as herein stated; that in June
1776, while residing at sd Redding he enlisted for six months in a company of Connecticut State Troops commanded by Capt 
Zalmon Read, Col. Sillimans Regt & Genl Wadsworth's
Brigade, and joined Genl Washington's Army at New York 
the latter part of the month, a few days after joining the 
main Army at New York, he was with a part of the Regt to which
he belonged detached to join Col. Bradley's Regt to keep guard 
at Bergen point, on the Jersey side, the British fleet then
lying in the Bay between Staten Island & Bergen point 
after being on guard about two weeks, that part of the Regt 
to which he belonged returned to New York, where he remained 
till the main army retreated to Harlem heights which was about the middle of September. The Regt to which 
he belonged were among the last which left the City
That he was with the Army at Harlem heights some time 
till Genl Washington moved Northward to White Plains 
from White Plains, part of the Army and the Regt to which 
he belonged moved to Peekskill, at which place they 
remained till the army went into Winter quarters at 
North Castle, that the Regt to which he belonged and 
in which he served was verbally discharged the 24th or 
25th of Decemr that he perfectly remembers that he came 
home Christmas day
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That in the Spring of 1777, being a resident of Redding, he enlisted 
in a company of Militia Cavalry commanded by Capt Ezekiel 
Hull of Fairfield; that in the latter part of Septem following 
at the time the British fleet ascended the Hudson, to relieve 
Burgoyne, he served as a volunteer under the command of 
Capt Hull, Genl Silliman's Brigade and marched to 
Fishkill & up the River to Red Hook where the Troops remained, 
watching the movements of the Fleet till it returned 
this tour of service was about six weeks
That in the Summer of 1778, while residing at Redding 
he was drafted to serve on guard at Horse neck, and that 
he served six weeks under the command of Capt Nichols 
who commanded a Company of Cavalry, detached
to serve in Col. Hooker's Regt of State Troops, then 
stationed at Horse neck. He does not know that 
he can make proof of this service, as there were only two 
men besides himself belonging to Redding, drafted to serve
at that time & both of them are dead
That in June 1779 he was again drafted to serve on guard 
at Horse Neck in a detachment of Horse commanded 
by Capt Hull. The Militia at that time stationed at Horseneck were under the command of Genl. Mead 
and that he served six weeks; he has no evidence 
of this service. That in the latter part of 1779 & beginning 
of 1780, he served three months on guard at Greens farms in Fairfield, as a substitute for Seth Meeker, under the
command of Capt John Gray, in Col. Canfield's Reg. 
the Draft was made the last of November
That in 1780 he was drafted to serve on the lines 
in a detachment of Horse commanded by Lieut. Hoyt 
this detachment was made to serve with the State Troops 
commanded by Col Wells & Beebe, at that time 
stationed at Horse Neck, that he served one month 
being part of August and September
That he was born in Redding, Connecticut the 20th of December 1759. as appears from the family Record, does
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not know of any other record of his age 
Since the Revolutionary 
War he has resided in sd Redding except about two years, which time he resided within the limits of the
adjoining town of Weston, and that he still resides 
in Redding
Being examined by the Court, the said John Davis 
saith that the said family record of his age, is a record copied by himself from his fathers family 
record
He also saith that said Regiment of Colonel
Silliman in which he served in 1776, was raised
by the State of Connecticut for the general
defence 
That although he hath made extensive
and diligent enquiry, he can produce no
other evidence of his said service than that
which is hereunto annexed 
The
word Connecticut on the first page
underlined before signing
John Davis
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The said John Davis 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
John Davis
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk 

We Jonathan Bartlett a clergyman, residing in the town of Reading
 and Benjamin Meeker residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well 
acquainted with John Davis who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; 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.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
Jonathan Bartlett
Benjn. Meeker

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 Jonathan Bartlett who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of 
Reading and that Benjn Meeker who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Reading and is a credible 
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk

I Edward Taylor Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District 
of Danbury do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Davis for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my said Office,
this 6th day of December 1832
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
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State of Connecticut
Fairfield County ⎬ SS
I Reuben Booth of Danbury
in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut
Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the District 
of Danbury in the said County and State, do hereby 
certify and known that Edward Taylor 
Esquire who hath certified the foregoing proceedings 
of said Court is Clerk of said Court of Probate and was clerk as aforesaid at the time of signing 
and certifying the same, duly appointed and known that the preceding signatures
purporting to be the signatures of the said Edward 
Taylor are in his proper hand writing, and that full faith and credit are due to his attestations as a Justice of the Peace
in testimony whereof 
I have hereunto set my hand 
at Danbury aforesaid this
13th day December 1832
Reuben Booth Judge of
the Court of Probate for the
District Danbury Connecticut
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3591
Connecticut
Eunice Davis
Widow of John Davis, deceased
who died on the 19th October 1840
of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Conn of the regt commanded
by Col. Bradley in the Connecticut
line for 14 months 5 days,

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 50 Dollars 68 Cents per annum
to commence on the 19th of October 1840

Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of August
1841 & sent to Hon T.B. Osborne
House of Representatives

Arrears to the 4th of March '41             $19.12
Semiannual allowance ending 4 Sep '41 25.34
                                                               $44.46

Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the 3C

Recorded by Theodore L Moody Clerk
Book C Vol 3 Page 73
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State of Connecticut   s.s Redding
Fairfield County
On this Second day of August AD 1841 personally 
appeared before the Probate Court within and for 
the District of Redding in said County and State aforesaid Eunice Davis a resident of the Town of Redding aforesaid aged Eighty one years 
who being first duly sworn according to Law doth 
on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit or the provision made 
by the act of Congress passed July 4th AD 1836 
that she is the Widow of John Davis deceased who was a private soldier of the Infantry and Cavalry 
during the Revolutionary War and served in said 
War as her husband has stated in his application 
for a Pension under the Act of Congress passed the 
7th June 1832 and obtained a Certificate authorizing 
him to receive fifty dollars and sixty eight cents per 
annum during his natural life To which application 
she refers She further declares that she was married 
to the said John Davis on the twenty first day of  
October in the year of our Lord One thousand seven 
hundred and seventy nine that her husband the 
aforesaid John Davis died in the Town of
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Redding aforesaid on the 19th day of October AD 1840 of the Dropsy and old age and that she has remained his Widow ever since that period as while mornfully  
appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed 
and that she well understood her husband to have 
done the service in the Revolutionary War which he 
stated in his application aforesaid  and that she well 
remembers that he went together with his father to the 
Town of Fairfield on guard after they were married 
before she went to keeping house for herself while she 
was at home the first year after they  were married  
She cannot remember how long he was at Fairfield at 
that time or who was his officers she does not recollect 
distinctly any other time but must depend on the 
proof now at Washington as her memory and hearing is very poor to establish her claim 
That she was born in said Town of Redding on the 15th 
day of March AD 1760 and that her name was Eunice 
Grey before she married that she was married to the 
aforesaid John Davis by the Congregational  minister 
of said Parish by the name of Nathaniel Bartlett 
on the time aforesaid she further states she has no further 
recollection of his service than she has before stated but depends 
on the documents at Washington in his application aforesaid
Eunice Davis

Signed in presence of Benjn Meeker  John Gray

Sworn to and Subscribed on the day 
and year before mentioned before me
Thomas B Fanton Judge
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We the subscribers do certify that John Davis
and Eunice Gray was joined together in
marriage by the Revd Mr Nathl Bartlett the
twenty first day of October A.D. Seventeen hundred 
and seventy nine 
Joel Cray
Rechamah Gray
A true Record Test, Leml Sanford, Regis

I Jonathan R. Sanford Clerk of the town of Redding 
in the County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut 
do certify that the foregoing is a true Copy of the 
Record with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record in fair legible figures 
as follows  21st October 1779.
Jonathan R. Sanford 
Town Clerk

I Jonathan R. Sanford above named depose &
say that I hold the office of the Town Clerk
in the Town, County & State aforesaid
and that the above is a true extract from
the Records of said town, with the exception
above named as certified by me
Jonathan R Sanford
Clerk of the Town 
of Redding
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State of Connecticut SS.
Fairfield County
Redding
Be it known that on the 2nd day of August 1841
before me Judge of the Court of Probate for the
District of Redding Personally appeared Jonathan
B Sanford within named and made solemn
oath to the truth of the within Deposition by him
subscribed and I certify that I am well acquainted with him and know that he is to be believed 
and a man of truth
Thomas B. Fanton Judge
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Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17699
Eunice Davis
Wid of
John Davis
Priv. Rev. War
Act July 4, 1836
Index: Vol. A, Page 171

[Arrangement of 1870.]

May 26, 1904       His
N. J. Sherwood, Geo
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I Benjamin Meeker of Redding in the County of Fairfield and state of Connecticut of the age of seventy 
years being duly cautioned and sworn on oath depose 
and say that I was well acquainted with John Davis 
of said Redding deceased who was a Pensioner of the 
United States who died at said Redding on the 19th 
day of October AD 1840 I was with him on the day of 
his death before and after he died I am well acquainted 
with Eunice Davis his widow who is now living in 
said Redding and she and her husband the said 
John Davis deceased I have been well acquainted with 
for more than fifty years last past 
Benjn Meeker

State of Connecticut  S.S.
Fairfield County
Be it known that on the 2nd day of August 1841 before me 
Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Redding 
personally appeared Benjamin Meeker above named and 
made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him 
subscribed and I herein certify that I am well acquainted 
with him and know him to be a man of truth & veracity
Thomas B Fanton Judge
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I John Gray of the Town of Redding in the County 
of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of the age of 
Seventy years being duly sworn on oath depose and 
say that I am now and have been from my childhood 
well acquainted with Eunice Davis of Redding aforesaid 
the widow of John Davis deceased a who was a 
Revolutionary Pensioner I well remember I was present when the said Eunice was married to the 
said John Davis as it was when I was a boy and the first wedding I ever witnessed They were married 
by the Revd Nathaniel Bartlett of said Redding the Congregational Clergyman of this place at that 
time which was as near as I can estimate more than sixty years ago 
She was married at my fathers house and I have a 
record in my possession in my fathers account book 
which he made of the marriage where he kept the 
ages and marriages of his children which is as follows 
to wit My Daughter Eunice Gray was married to John 
Davis the 21st day of October 1779 and is in the hand writing of my father
John Gray
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State of Connecticut
Fairfield
County
S.S.
Be it known that on the second day of August
1841 before me Judge of the Court of Probate for 
the District of Redding personally appeared
John Grey within named and made solemn
oath to the truth of the within deposition by him
subscribed and I certify that I am well acquainted with him and know him to be a man of truth
and veracity
Thomas B. Fanton Judge.
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At a Court of Probate holden at Redding
within and for the District of Redding
of Redding on the 2nd August AD 1841
Present Thomas B. Fanton Esq 
holding said Court
On the day and year herein named
the foregoing application of Eunice Davis
widow of John Davis decd was heard
and her declaration & the depositions
offered thereto for obtaining the Pension
allowed the said John Davis, during
his natural life under the act of
Congress passed July 4th 1836
In witness whereof I Thaddeus M Abbott
Clerk of said Court sign these presents
and affix the seal of the said Court
thereto the day and date above 
named
Attest Thaddeus M Abbott Clerk
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House of Representations
August 11, 1841
I certify that Thomas B. Fanton Esquire is now & for more 
than one last past has been a Justice of the Peace for Fairfield 
County in the State of Connecticut & that all the signatures to the Certificates on the foregoing Depositions
purporting to be his are genuine
Thomas B Osborne

Hon T B Osborne HR
No 5424
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No 5424
Eunice Davis
Wid of John
Conn
July 4, 1836
Allow $50.68 per an
from Oct 19, 1840
Hon T B Osborne
Ho Rep
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John Davis Conn June 7 $50.68
d. 1840, when paid
HHS  
Aug 14, 1841
M Harry Deier 19th Oct 1840 pd to that period
J H
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State of Connecticut  S.S.
Fairfield County 
On this 30th day of 
July 1833 before the Court of Probate for the district of Danbury in the said County and State the same being a Court of record 
and now sitting at Reading in the said 
District and County personally appeared 
in open Court John Davis a resident of 
Reading in the said County aged seventy four 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 Act of Congress passed
June 7th 1832 supplementary to his 
original declaration made before said 
court for the same purpose on the 6th 
day of December 1832 and in amendment thereof  to wit
I  That in the term of service of six months mentioned in his said original declaration 
he served six full months He joined the Company of said Captain Read on the 
24th day of June and was discharged on 
the 25th day of December 1776 at North Castle 
in the State of New York and upon 
examining the said original declaration 
and the Remarks of the War Department relative to his application he is confident 
that none of the rejections apply to his statement 
of this term of service
II  That in the terms of service secondly
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mentioned in his said original declaration 
he served six weeks That by 
orders of the Continental officers commanding the troops of the United States on the 
Hudson the militia of that part of 
Connecticut in which he resided was 
called out en masse at the time Stated 
in his said original declaration as 
it was supposed that the British Troops 
at New York would endeavor to 
effect a junction with General 
Burgoyne The whole Company to 
which he belonged being cavalry 
under command of said Captain Hull 
entered the service and served as therein stated Major Hill of the Connecticut 
militia commanded the Regiment of  
Cavalry to which he belonged He 
joined said Regiment in the month 
of September and was discharged late 
in the month of October or early in 
November 1777 And he is confident 
he served on this tour six weeks

III  That he served as stated in his said 
original declaration six weeks at Horse 
Neck in the State of Connecticut He belonged to said Company of cavalry commanded 
by Captain Hull and was drafted 
That he entered the service in the month of August and was discharged in the month 
of September 1778  the day of the month when he entered & left the service he 
cannot recollect The said Captain 
Nichols under whom he served was an 
officer in the Connecticut militia cavalry 
Col. Hooker who commanded the post 
was an officer of Connecticut State troops
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2
the whole Regiment of troops commanded
by said Hooker held at said Post during
said term of service. The said Horse Neck
was a military post on the lines
and an embodied corps was stationed
there during the whole war
IV  That he was drafted in the month of
June 1779, as stated in his said original
declaration to serve at said Post at
Horse Neck and served there another
term of six weeks in a company of 
Cavalry commanded by said Captain
Hull the whole number of troops at 
said
Post did not exceed three hundred
and were all militia, commanded by
Gen. John Mead of the Connecticut Militia
He was dismissed the latter part of the
month of July 1779
V  That in the month of November
of the same year 1779 he entered the
service as stated in his said original
declaration as the substitute of Seth Meeker
who was drafted, and belonged to the
Connecticut Militia and he served
three months in said Company
commanded 
by Captain John Gray in 
the Regiment of Connecticut militia
commanded 
by Colonel Samuel Canfield
said Regiment was posted at Greens 
Farms in the Town of Fairfield in said
Fairfield County A military post was
maintained there during the war to guard
and protect the persons and property
of the inhabitants. He was verbally
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dismissed by said Captain Gray, the 
latter part of the month of February 
1780 
VI  that in the month of August 1780 
he was drafted to serve one month at 
said Horse Neck He immediately joined 
the company of cavalry belonging to the Connecticut Militia commanded by 
Lieutenant Elijah Hoyt. There was 
but one company of Cavalry there at
the time of his said last mentioned  
service and no Continental Troops 
But the Post was garrisoned by 
two Regiments of State troops under 
the command of Colonels Wells and
Beebe Colonel Wells being the 
senior officer commanded the whole 
Having served the said term of one 
month, he was dismissed verbally in 
the month of September 1780 
That in each of the terms of Service 
aforesaid he served as a private soldier 
and in embodied corps called into 
service by lawful & competent authority 
and during the said terms he so served 
he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
Sworn and subscribed in open Court
John Davis
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
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I Edward Taylor Clerk of the Court of
Probate for the District of Danbury in Connecticut 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in 
the matter of the application of John Davis 
for a Pension In testimony whereof I 
have hereunto set my hand and seal of my 
said office this 30th day of July AD 1833
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk

I Reuben Booth of Danbury in the
County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut
Judge of the Court of Probate for the District
of Danbury in the said State do hereby
certify that Edward Taylor Esq. who hath
Signed and certified the foregoing proceeding
of said Court is Clerk thereof duly 
appointed and Sworn and that the 
preceding signature purporting to be 
his, is in his proper hand writing 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand this 30th day of July
 1830 
Reuben Booth Judge of 
the Court of Probate for the 
District of Danbury Conn
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I Asahel Salmon of Redding in the County of
Fairfield & State of Connecticut of the age of Seventy 
four years depose and say that in June 1776 John 
Davis of Said Redding enlisted in the service of the 
United States in Capt Zalmon Reads company Col Sillimans Regiment of State Troops that he served in said Regiment at New York till the British took possession of that place that said Davis was at White Plains at the time when the battle was fought between the British & Americans 
that he served in the army six months and was discharged at North Castle that said Davis served six 
weeks in 1777 as a volunteer in Capt Ezekiel Hulls Company & being at the time the British fleet ascended the Hudson River that he was with 
the American Troops watching the movements of 
the enemy till after the fleet returned at the time 
of the capture of Burgoynes army and I further
certify that during the aforesaid terms of service of 
the said Davis I was myself in the United States service & saw him frequently
Asahel Salmon

State of Connecticut Fairfield County  SS
on this 10th day of December 1832 the above named 
Asahel Salmon made oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed & I further 
certify that the said deponent is personally well 
known to me & sustains a good character for truth & is a credible witness
Jared Olmstead Justice of Peace
Page 27

State of Connecticut SS
Fairfield County
I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the County
Court within & for the County of Fairfield
and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Ebenezer Hill 
Esq whose own proper signature known to me to be genuine is 
annexed to the foregoing Depositions of Milleson Meeker Ezra Bates 
Ebenezer Sanford, is now & for more than one year last past 
has been a Justice of the Peace for sd County duly commissioned &
duly authorized to administer oaths & take Depositions I further certify 
that Jonathan R Sanford Esq before whom the foregoing
Deposition of Zalmon Read & others was sworn, is now & for more 
than one year last past has been a Justice of the Peace for sd County 
duly commissioned & authorized to take Depositions and that the 
signature on sd Certificate or sd Deposition purporting to be his is genuine & 
in the proper hand writing of the sd Jonathan R. Sanford. I further 
certify that Jared Olmstead Esq before whom the foregoing Deposition of 
Asahel Salmon was sworn is now & for more than one year
last past has been a Justice of the Peace for sd County duly commissioned 
& duly authorized to administer oaths & take Depositions &c I
further certify that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the 
sd Jared Olmstead & verily believe the signature to the Certificate on 
sd Deposition purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & affixed the seal of said County Court
in Fairfield this 11th day of December AD 1832
Thomas B Osborne Clerk 
of said County Court
Page 28

We the undersigned Inhabitants of the Town 
of Redding in the County of Fairfield & State 
of Connecticut hereby certify and declare that we have for many years been acquainted with Capt John Davis who hath applied for a pension 
for revolutionary services that he is a man of good character for veracity and that we fully believe that he served in the Revolutionary War
Zalmon Read
Jonth Thorp
Eli Sanford
Asahel Salmon
Edward Couch

Sworn & subscribed before me this 5th day of November 1832 And I do hereby certify that 
I am personally acquainted with the subscribers 
of the foregoing declaration and that they are all persons of good character and respectability 
for truth and veracity
Jonathan R Sanford Justice of Peace
Page 29

Ebenr Sanford for
 John Davis
Page 30

I Ebenezer Sanford of the town of Redding County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut aged sixty nine years being duly sworn, do depose and say that in the months August and September 1780 John Davis entered the service as a horsman at Horse Neck on the
lines under Colonel Wells in Lieutenant
Hoyts company and served the term of one month under sd Officers as near as I can remember being there the same time
Ebenr Sanford

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss At Redding in said County Sworn and subscribed before me this 15th day of August 1832 and I certify that the deponant is a credible witness
Ebenr Hill Just of Peace
Page 31

I Ezra Bates of Redding in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut aged seventy four years being duly sworn do depose and say that in June 1776 John Davis enlisted in the service of the United States in the Company commanded by Capt Zalmon Read in the  Regiment commanded by Colonel Goold S Silliman in State troops was drove out of N York by the british I belonged to same company with sd Davis and after having served six months at N York and its vicinity was discharged at North Castle
Ezra Bates
 
State of Connecticut Fairfield County  Ss at Redding in said County Sworn and subscribed before me the 10th day of December 1832 and I certify that that the above Deponent is a credible witness
Eben Hill Just of Peace
Page 32

Millison Meeker
for John Davis
Page 33

I Millison Meeker of the town of Redding Fairfield Co 
and State of Connecticut aged seventy eight years 
do depose and say that John Davis 
of sd Redding took my husbands place he being 
drafted for 3 months in November 1779 
and that sd Davis served in his stead at Greens Farms on gard commanded by Capt John Gray of sd Redding and I beleave served sd term 
in Colonel Canfields Regiment and then was discharged 

Her
Millison X Meeker
Mark

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County
SS At Redding in sd County 
Sworn and subscribed before me this 15th day of August 
1832 and I certify that the Deponant is a Credible 
witness in my opinion
Ebenr Hill Just of Peace