Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,868, John Wood, Conn. Continental Privateer
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SERVICE   Conn. 
Continental
Privateer
Wood, John
NUMBER  S. 11,868
Carded
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Date of death May 4 – 1834 – AB [agency book] J. L.
1077 
Connecticut
John Wood
of East Windsor in the State of Conn’t who was a Ser’t in the Com commanded by Captain Ellsworth of the Reg commanded by Col. Huntington the Conn’t line for 21 mo.
Conn, Continental & Privateer *
Records completed May 31/ 0 J.S.
 Inscribed at the rate of 105 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of March 1833 and sent to Jesse Charlton, East Windsor Ct.  
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $ 210.00 
Semi-anl allowance ending Sep ‘33 52.50
$262.50 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by E. D. Bullock Clerk
Book  E  Vol 3  Page 45.
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Declaration of John Wood of East Windsor in order to obtain the benefit of the act of 7th of June AD 1832 
State of Connecticut  
SS East Windsor 
County of Hartford} On this 27th day of July 7th 1832 Before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor in the County & State aforesaid, being a Court of Record, having by Law Seal and Clerk, Personally appeared in open court John Wood of East Windsor County of Hartford aged 90 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 
I John Wood declare and say, that I was born in Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut in October 1742 O. S. I do not know that the family or town record will attest the fact, I have it from my parents from tradition that this is my age, and my Blindness & Palsy do not contradict it, I shall be Ninety next October. 
I entered the service of the United States in the year 1775  In the month of June, 1st I think, the the 1st  of the month;  I enlisted with Lt. Samuel Bancroft of East Windsor into a company of State troops commanded by Capt Charles Ellsworth of said East Windsor, The Regiment was commanded by Col. Jedediah Huntington of Norwich Connecticut, our Adjutant first was Tracy, he died and was succeeded by Brewer, I think.   Our Company marched & I with them thru Somers,  on to Worcester, thence to Roxbury Near Boston where I did duty in the said Company as orderly Sergeant and had my regular warrant.  I enlisted for Six months but the recruits not coming on as was expected I staid five or six weeks longer, and was then discharged,  but have lost my warrant & my discharge as well as everything else. Nathaniel Strong & Jonathan Sloughton my evidences and I have no Documentary evidence
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2 
And furthermore I declare and say, that in the month of February AD 1776 I I again entered the service of the United States of February 1776, I again entered the service of the United States, I enlisted in said East Windsor into a Company of State troops or Militia commanded by Capt Simonds of Enfield in Connecticut.   The Regiment to which we belonged was commanded by Col Erastus Wolcott of said East Windsor, we marched on to Roxbury by the same rout we went the former campaign, I did duty this campaign, as well as the former campaign as an orderly sergeant, was with the army two months, was then discharged by Col Wolcott but have lost my discharge. My witnesses were of said East Windsor.  I have no documentary evidence.  His friends called on one survivor but his memory is so broken that he did not recollect the service of the applicant.  He has no testimony.  
And furthermore I declare and say, that in the month of May I think in the year 1776 I again Enlisted in the service of the United States, I joined the company commanded by Capt Simon Wolcott of said East Windsor whether of Militia or State troops I do not remember, Coll Gay from Farmington was our Coll, he died at New York Soon after I joined, our Regiment was then  commanded by Col Hart, he was taken prisoner in York land and our Regiment was then commanded by Maj Mott.  We marched from East Windsor the Wetherfield to New Haven where I was appointed Sergeant Major, had my Warrant which is lost, was in this service eight months was discharged by Major Mott but have lost my discharge. I have no documentary evidence.  Hezekiah Murnsell is my witness - his Affidavit is sent,
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4 
And furthermore I declare and say that I again entered the Service of the United States in the  year 1778, Jan 8th, while the British held Newport in Rhode Island I went with a Company of Militia or State troops of said East Windsor under the command of Capt Roswell Grant of East Windsor, the Regiment was commanded by Col Johnson, of what place I do not know, we marched  from East Windsor through Bolton,  Lebanon, Norwich, Canterbury & Hamfield to Providence in the State of Rhode Island.  I was in the service this time two months; Coll Johnson gave me a discharge but it is lost. I here did duty as Sergeant.   Capt Grant & Roger Burnham are my witnesses & I have no documentary evidence except that my name is on Capt Roswell Grants Muster Roll probably sent from Hartford with Grants application for a pension to the war department.  And furthermore I declare and say that in the month of June AD 1780 I was drafted into the Militia Company commanded by Capt Borth of Enfield in Connecticut in the Regiment commanded by Coll Hezekiah Wyllis of Hampton, That we Mustered in East Hartford in Connecticut and Marched thru Glastonbury, Chatham & East Haddam & then received orders and Marched to New London (thru Colchester) we went up to Mohegan, and over to Poguelanock to cut Fascines & Gabions for the Army. I was in the service this time three months, as orderly Sergeant was then discharge but have lost it.  Jenjah Bessell of East Windsor is my witness and I have no documentary evidence.
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And I furthermore declare and say That I again entered the Service of the United States That in the year AD 1781 I enlisted on board a privateer Schooner called the Raven commanded by Capt Giles Hollister of Westenbury in on Connecticut.  That we sailed out of Haddam on Connecticut River, went round Montaug Back of Long Island,  captured an Eight [unreadable] Boat & Nine men carrying dispatches from New York to the Chesapeake as we understood,  which they destroyed before their Surrender.   In this Service Timothy Anderson is my Witness.  In this tour I was engaged two months & that I shall have no documentary Evidence  was honorably dismissed.
East Windsor
July 16 A 1832
First Tour  7 ½ months
Second Tour 2 Months
Third Tour 8 Months
Fourth Tour 2 Months
Fifth Tour 3 Months
Sixth Tour 2 ½ Months
25 + Months
I have passed my life almost entirely in East Windson except when In the service of the United States & at Sea which I followed for a number of years. I have a certificate from the late Rev David McClure Clergyman & from my Lieut. Samuel Bancroft which is annexed and I am known by Capt Aaron Bissell, Doct. Elijah F. Reed both of East Windsor who can testify for my character and their belief of my services.
John Wood his mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Esquire Kessrell  Clerk
John Wood
East Windsor
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11868
Rev War 
INVALID. 
File No. 11,868
John Wood 
Sergt Rev. War 
Act: June 7th  1832 
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 415 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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We the Subscriber certify that Mr. John Wood, a Soldier in the Revolutionary Army, a native & resident in this place, has for many years been an infirm Invalid and is in needy circumstances and universally respected man of honesty & integrity 
East Windsor  
April 13. 1818. 
David McClure 
his Lt. Samuel Bancroft 
Elisha L Bancroft 
E. Burnham
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This is the certificate of the late Doct David McClure who for thirty years was the highly respected Clergyman of this Society & of the Lieut Samuel Bancroft under whom the within named John Wood enlisted into the service of the United States given at a former period when Mr Wood made some trial to get a pension
Jesse Charlton of East Windsor for said John Wood
Doct. McClure
Lieut. Bancraft
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Hon Lewis Cass 
Secretary of War 
Sir, 
I herewith return the papers of Serg John Wood of East Windsor Conn, amended, (I think, as directed).   
As he is the oldest man in this town; Blind and needy; yet having sufficient mind left for some enjoyment, from the bounty of his country And feeling, abroady, something of that Sickness of the heart which arises from hope deferred; 
I cannot but think your you will take pleasure in being the instrument of relief to him as soon as you shall Judge consistent with your other duties
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With great respect Sir, 
I am your humble Servant 
Jesse Charlton 
East Windsor Connecticut 
December 8th AD 1832 
Hon Lewis Cass 
Secretary of War
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John Wood
Serg 21 mo
$105
Jesse Charlton
East Windsor Ct.
Page 88
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Wood which require further proof or explanation. 
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? 
II   Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides 
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? 
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 
V. Has he mentioned 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?  [unreadable]
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served,  in conformity with the regulations? 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed. And if so, has it a device or in from any other seal? No
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? 
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes 
XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 
XIV.  If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service  The necessary facts are stated in every case.  
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  
No except by an insufficient seal 
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. QUERE V. 
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 months and --- days, I served as a For months and --- days, I served as a   -  and for such service I claim a pension.
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3  
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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. 
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service. 
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 claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be 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.   
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.
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4th Tour 
Roger Burnham 
Affidavit for John Wood
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State of Connecticut 
County of Hartford } Ss 
East Windsor 
On this 4th day of August AD 1832 - Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor in said County now sitting Roger Burnham a resident of East Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged 71 years who being for duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declarations, I Roger Burnham of East Windsor aforesaid aged 71 years declare, that I am well acquainted with Capt John Wood now residing in said East Windsor an applicant for a Pension under the pension act of June 7th AD 1832 
That he was in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, he was in a Company of State troops commanded by Capt Roswell Grant of said East Windsor in the year 1778 in the Regiment commanded by Coll Obadiah Johnson the said Wood was an orderly Sargeant in said company which marched from East Windsor to Providence in Rhode Island thru Canterbury Plainfield &c,  said Wood was in the service this time two months, he was many years a Neighbor to me and is a man of integrity & veracity.  I was with the applicant thru this tour of service.   Further this deponent saith not 
Roger Burnham 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Edgar Bissell Clerk 
State of Connecticut 
Hartford County 
East Windsor Decem 7 1832 
At a court of of Probate for the District of East Windsor holden the day & year aforesaid said Court hath direct that it be certified that one Roger Burnham the signer of the foregoing is a person of veracity 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set our hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid
Edgar Bissell Clerk
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I Hezekiah Munsell of the town of East Windsor County of Hartford State of Connecticut being of lawful age being 79 years of age depose & say that I know Sergeant John Wood of East Windsor that he was in the Service of the United States in the Summer of AD 1776 in a Company of State troops commanded by Capt Simon Wolcott of East Windsor in Call Gays Regiment.  I was then a member of said Company and knew the John Wood as orderly Sergeant of said Company.  
We went from East Windsor to New York and I believe our tour of service was seven months. Serj Wood was respected in his place & is I believe a man entitled to credit as a man of integrity & veracity 
Hezekiah Munsell 
State of Connecticut 
Hartford County} ss East Windsor 
On this 4th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the court of Probate for the District East Windsor now sitting Hezekiah Munsell a resident of the town of East Windsor aforesaid a person of veracity and made solemn oath that he is well acquainted with John Wood of said East Windsor an applicant for a pension under the pension act of June 7 1832 and to the truth of the above certificate by him 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Edgar Bissell Clerk
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State of Connecticut 
County of Hartford Ss 
East Windsor On this 29th day of July AD 1832 Before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor personally appeared Hezekiah Munsell of East Windsor in said County aged 79 years a person of veracity and being duly sworn according to law made solemn oath to the truth of the within declarations and that he is well acquainted with the said applicant John Wood of said East Windsor 
Hez Munsell
For J Wood 3rd Tour
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Jerijah Bissell
Affadavit
for John Wood
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I Jerjah Bissell of East Windsor in Connecticut aged 81 years Depose & say that I was acquainted with Sergeant John Wood of said East Windsor That in June 1780 I was in the Company of Capt Booth of Enfield & the said John Wood was orderly Sergeant of our Company that he went with us to New London various places in the vicinity where we were preparing materials for the Army and Sergeant Wood continued with us thro the tour of Three months and the said Sergeant Wood now called Capt Wood is esteemed a man of veracity 
Jerijah Bissell 
State of Connecticut 
Hartford County} East Windsor 
on this 4th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court before the court of Probate for the District of East Windsor now sitting Jerijah Bissell a resident of said Town of East Windsor Streets of veracity and made solemn oath that he is well acquainted with John Wood now residing in said East Windsor an applicant for a pension under the pension act of June 7th 1832 and to the truth of the above certificate by him signed Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Edgar Bissell Clerk
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State of Connecticut 
County of Hartford } Ss East Windsor 
on the 27th day of July 1832 before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor personally appeared Jerijah Bissell of East Windsor aforesaid aged 81 years a person of veracity and being sworn according to law made solemn oath to the truth of the within declaration and in the opinion of the Court they are entitled to Credit
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John Wood
No 3570
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Asahel Green Affidavit for John Wood
We Aaron Bissell and Elijah Reed both of East Windsor in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut hereby certify 1 that we are well acquainted with John Wood of Earl Windsor who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 90 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion 
Sworn to subscribed the day year aforesaid 
Aaron Bissell 
Elijah F. Reed 
Edgar Bissell Clerk 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above applicant is a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that there being no Clergyman in this Society the said applicant applied to Capt Aaron Bissell and Doct Elijah F. Reed both of said East Windsor who are both credible persons the former a Town Clerk in Town of East Windsor the latter the principal Physician said town for more than thirty five years who signed the certificate above and their statement is entitled to credit 
I Edgar Bissell Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Wood for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 7th day of July AD 1832
Edgar Bissell Clerk
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I Asahel Green of East Windsor in the County of Hartford in Conn deposeth & say in AD 1776 that I knew John Wood then now of East Windsor and that I was with him in the service of the United States in Capt Simonds Company in Col Erastus Wolcott Regiment that the said Wood was orderly Sergeant in our Company and [unreadable] most of the campaign in Roxbury that I belive the said Sergeant Wood served thro the tour and was and is respected as a man of fair character our tour of duty was two months.  
Mr Greens Deposition was begun to be written but is now withheld Documents dishonest
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I Nathaniel Strong of East Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut of lawful age, viz 76 years of age,  Depose and say that I knew Sergeant John Wood of said East Windsor in June 1775 - That at that time I was in the service of the United States and belonged to the same company with Sergeant Wood a company of State troops - and saw him almost daily - entered the service about the same time with him and was dismissed at the same time he served this campaign seven months and a half and was a man respected in his place – is a man of truth entitled to credit,  our company was commanded by Capt Charles Ellsworth of East Windsor & our Regt by Coll Jedidiah Huntington of Norwich in Conn the said John Wood was orderly Sergeant of said Company which marched from East Windsor to Roxbury where it was employed most of the campaign the said John and in said East Windsor at the time of his enlistment & has passed most of his life since my memory in said East Windsor where he now resides he is now in his 90th year 
Nath’l Strong  
State of Connecticut 
Hartford County} SS East Windsor
On this 27th day of July D 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the court of Probate for the District of East Windsor now sitting Nathaniel Strong a resident of Windsor person of veracity and made solemn oath that he is well acquainted with John Wood of said East Windsor an applicant for a pension under the pension act of June 7 AD 1832 - to the truth of the above certificate by him signed.  
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Edgar Bissell Clerk
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Nathaniel Strong Affadavit
1st Tour  
For Serj Wood
State of Connecticut
County of Hartford} SS East Windsor
 July 27 1832 Personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor Nathaniel Strong of said Town & County and being sworn according to Law made Solemn Oath to the truth of the within deed and in the opinion of the court they are entitled to credit.
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Timothy Anderson
Affadavit
for John Wood
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State of Connecticut 
Hartford County} SS East Windsor
On this 6th day of December AD 1832 Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for Hartford County, Timothy Anderson a resident of East Hartford in the County aforesaid  aged 69 years a person of veracity who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, 
That he is well acquainted with John Wood, a resident of East Windsor aforesaid an applicant for a pension under the Pension act of June 7th AD 1832 That he served with me in the revolutionary War, in the year 1781. 
On board a private Schooner, called the Raven, Commanded by Capt Giles Hollister of Glousterbury in Hartford County Connecticut. 
That we sailed out of Haddam in the County of Middlesex & State aforesaid. 
That we went round Montaug & Cash of Long Island where we captured an Eight sard boat belonging to the British carrying nine men (and as we understood despatches from New York, or Long Island to the enemy in the Chesapeake, which they were careful to destroy before they surrendered - we were engaged in this service for the term of two month and a half, the applicant served that term of time and was honorably dismissed & he is a person of good character for veracity.
Timothy Anderson 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me 
Eli B. Haskell Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut 
Hartford County} Ss  East Windsor December 7th AD 1832
I Edgar Bissell Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor do hereby certify and make Known That Eli B Haskell Esqr before whom the within affidavit of Timothy Anderson was taken is and at the time of such caption was a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hartford in said State duly appointed Commissioned and qualified having full power and authority by the laws of said State to administer oaths to witnesses and to take affidavits and depositions out of Court and to give certificates thereof that I verily believe the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine and that full credence is due to his official acts and attestations 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the day and year aforesaid - Edgar Bissell Clerk