Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2,049, Abner Backus, Conn.
Page 1

Service                                            Number

Conn.        Backus, Abner         W.2,049
                            Jemima     B.L. Wt. 3794-160-55
Page 2

Connecticut Roll
1,255
Abner Backus, Private, Connecticut line
In the Army of the United States during the 
Revolutionary War. Inscribed on the Roll of
handwritten [Connecticut} handwritten end
at the rate of handwritten [8] handwritten 
dollars per month, to commence on the
handwritten [7th of May 1818]. 
Certificate of Pension issued the handwritten
[the 20 of June, 1818 and sent to Sylvester Gilbert, Esq. Tolland, Conn] end of handwritten
Arrears to 4th of handwritten September,1818. Three months 25/31 $31.51] end of handwritten
Revolutionary Claim Act 18th, March, 1818
handwritten [May,78 till 5 May,81
Bolton, Tolland Co [end of handwritten}
Page 3

Abner Backus

Declaration (illegible)


Durkees Connecticut Regiment

Connecticut
Page 4

District of Connecticut, ss, County of Tolland
     On this Seventh day of May 1818, before me the subscriber presiding judge of the county  court within and for said  county personally appears Abner Backus aged 55 years, resident in Bolton in (illegible) county in said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law,
"An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," that he said Abner Backus enlisted in Windham in the revolutionary war in the state of Connecticut in May 1778 in the company of Captain Nathaniel Webb of so (illegible) Windham of the regiment commanded by Colonel
 John Durkee in the Connecticut line of the Army and that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until about the 5th day of June 1781, when he was discharged from service in the High Lands in the state of New York that he has lost his discharge and believes that it is not in existence, but he served the full term of his
enlistment (viz) three years and was honorably 
discharged and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in the need of 
assistance of his country for support; and he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
     Sworn and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid
     Sylvester Gilbert, Presiding Judge of County Court
I, Sylvester Gilbert Judge, and c, as aforesaid, do certify that it appears to my satisfaction, that said Abner Backus did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the direction of the aforementioned act of Congress, County of Tolland
     May the 7th 1818
Sylvester Gilbert, Presiding Judge as aforesaid
Page 5

County of Tolland/Hebron May 7th, 1818
Joseph Tucker of Bolton in said county personally appeared and made solemn oath that the aforesaid Abner Backus of Bolton is a poor man destitute of property, and that he is a man of truth and veracity and unable to support himself by reason of bodily infirmities.
Before me Sylvester Gilbert Judge of Court Common
Page 6

Abner Backus

1255

Bolton


Sept (September) 1818
Page 7

Sworn and declared by said Abner Backus on the 28 day of June 1820 before said Court, and it is the opinion of said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited is the aforesaid  schedule is

                  /dollars and       cents    and
that his (income status) illegible are as here in stated
1, Elisha Stearns
Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Tolland aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of said Court. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 28th day of June 1820
                  E Stearns
Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common  Pleas in and for said County of Tolland
Page 8

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, County of Tolland
ss County Court, or Court of Common Pleas
                  June (illegible) 1820
On this 28 day of June 1820, personally appeared in open Court, the same Court being a Court of record for said County, having the power of fine and imprisonment, Abner Backus aged 57 years, resident Bolton in the County of Tolland
who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: Three years in Captain Nathaniel Webb, Company John Durkee, Regiment or may appear from his Dismissal declaration date this 7th day of May 1818 that he is inscribed on the pension lists and noted ( illegible) a certification number 1255
"And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any say manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not, nor any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I say income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed."
One (illegible) check
                                his
         Abner            x      Backus
                          mark
The declarant is by trade a shoemaker and sometimes laborer of farming but from want of health is not able to steadily to pursue any business. He has no wife with whom he lives, nor children under age or dependent upon him-He is poor and needs support from his country
Page 9

                         88   2
Connecticut
Jemima Backus
Widow of Abner Backus,
who served in the Revolutionary War, as Private 
             Connecticut Line
Inscribed on the roll at the rate of
96 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 3rd February 1853 and sent to 
                               W G Wade
                                    Rose (illegible)
                                          New York
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act Page 57 Vol (illegible)
Page 10

Jemima Backus
       widow of
               Abner -
Act 3rd February 1853. -
Revolutionary claim

 W G Wade
    Attorney
           Rose, (illegible)
                     New York
Page 11

                          DECLARATION
     In order to obtain the benefits made by Act of Congress of the 3d of February 1853.
State of Connecticut
County of Hartford on the 28th day of March 1853 personally appeared in open Court [1] before the [2]  (illegible) of Court Probate
Jemima Backus [3] a resident of Manchester in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged sixty five years, who being fist duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 3d of February, 1853, entitled "An Act to continue half pay to certain widow," and orphans,"-That she is the widow of [4] Abner Backus who was a [5] United States pensioner at the rate of $96 per annum
She further declares that she was married to the said [6] Abner Backus, on the second day of February one thousand eight hundred and twenty three at the house of (illegible) in the town of Bolton in the  county of Tolland in the State of Connecticut, by Jabez L White, Esquire who was a (illegible) and who resided in the town of Bolton is the county of Tolland at the time of such marriage, that the dependent's name before her marriage was Jemima Lyman, that her said husband Abner Backus died in the town of Bolton County of and State of Connecticut, on the 3d day of May 1845. The only last evidence she knows of he marriage to said Abner Backus is [7] the record in the town clerks office, at Bolton.
                                        her
                 Jemima x Backus
                                        mark
Sworn and subscribed before Mr. Ralph Cheney Judge the day and year above written
I certify that on account of the infirmities of age and ill health Jemima Backus above named, is unable to appear at Court.

Directions for executing the above declaration. If executed before a Court at No. I write "in open court," at 2, District Surrogate's, or Probate Court, as is the case_ If executed before a Judge, as it may be 'f the claimant is unable to attend Court, at No 1, leave blank, at 2, write "subscriber, Judge" of county or other court. At 3 the name of the claimant, at 4 and 6 name of claimant's late husband, at 5 the annual pension of claimant's late husband and his residence when pensioned- if never pensioned, describe the service for which the widow claims pension. At 7 add such facts as the claimant is able to give respecting her marriage, if she has a certificate or record of marriage in the family Bible or elsewhere, it must be attached_ the old, original document itself- to the above declaration; and the claimant must state is whose handwriting the record is, and the length of time it has been in use. The other blanks are to be filled as the facts may require. If the claimant is unable to write, the Judge must so certify.
Page 12

STATE OF Connecticut at Hartford COUNTY) SS Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of Peace the Town of Manchester duly authorized by law to administer oaths Frey[illegible], resident of the town of Manchester and State of Connecticut aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to deposeth and saith, he is personally acquainted with a Jemima Backus for a pension as the widow of Abner Backus, late a United States pensioner, from Tolland County Connecticut

Is hereto annexed, that deponent was personally acquainted with the said Abner Backus late her husband, and has been personally acquainted with said widow and her late husband from the year 1835 and knows they lived together as man and wife, and was so reputed and believed to be where they resided that he knows said Abner Backus died about the 3rd day of May 1845 and that he left Jemima Backus the applicant for a pension his widow, who has not intermarried since his death but still remains his widow. 

Sworn and subscribed before me this 28th day of March 1853 I certify that Eleazer Hoy the above affidavit is a creditable witness. who executed Ralph Cheney Justice of the Peace

STATE OF Connecticut [illegible] County SS Personally appeared before the subscriber [illegible] at of the form of duly authorised by law to administer oaths Henry Backus, a resident of the town of Manchester in the County of [illegible] and State of Connecticut thirty one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, he is personally acquainted Jemima Backus with whose application for a pension as the widow of late Abner Backus late a United States [illegible], that deponent was personally acquainted with the said late her husband, and has been personally acquainted with said widow and her late husband from the year 18*5[illegible] and knows they lived together as man and wife, and were so reputed and believed to be where they resided ; that he knows said Abner Backus died about the 8th day of March 1845, and that he left Jemima Backus the applicant for a pension his widow, who has not intermarried but still remains his widow. Henry  Backus 
 Sworn and subscribed before me this 28th day of March 1853 I certify that Henry Backus, the above affidavit is a creditable witness, Ralph Cheney, who executed Justice of the Peace
Page 13

Washington, D.C.
July 7, 1853
Pension Office
I certify, that I am well acquainted with the witness named Ralph Cheney. I know that he is an active Justice of the Peace of the Town of Manchester, Hartford County, State of Connecticut. War commissioner from July 4, 1852 to July 4, 1854.

                                             L P Waldo
                                      Commissioner of Pensions

Jemima Backus
    widow of Abner
Act 3d Feb 1853
Revolutionary claim


                                   W G Wade,
                                    Attorney
                                           Rose,
                                               N.Y.
Page 14

State of Connecticut
                                        Town of Bolton
Tolland County

Tolland County in Bolton on the evening of the second day of February one Thousand and Twenty three I joined together by marriage Abner Backus and Jemima Lyman both residing in Bolton agreeable to the laws of this State.
                         Attest, Jabez L White
                          Justice of the Peace
Entered February Eleventh, Eighteen Hundred and Twenty three
                    By M Hammond, Town Clerk
I, E.K. Williams depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the Town, County and State above named, and that the above is a true Extract from the records, of said Town as copied from a book in my office, with the exception that the dates above written as
expressed on the records in fair legible figures.
Sworn and subscribed before me.
the 31st day March 1853
                    Samuel Ruggles Justice of the Peace
Certificate of Marriage
Abner Backus
Page 15

Certificate of the Marriage of Jemima Backus
From Town Clerk
Duly Authenticated
Page 16

CERTIFICATE OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
                    Elihu Geer, Stationer and Steam  Printer, 10 State Street Hartford
State of Connecticut
Tolland County         88
County Clerks Office,
I Joseph Bishop Clerk of the County Court, within and for the County of Tolland and keeper of the Seal thereof, 
and of the Commissions of the Justices of the Peace for said County, hereby certify, that
Samuel Ruggles Esquire, was on the  31st day of March 1853, ever since has been and now is, a Justice of the Peace within and for the said County, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, with power by the laws of this State, to administer Oaths, and take the acknowledgement of Deeds and other Instruments, that I am acquainted with his handwriting, and that the signature to the instrument hereto annexed, purporting to be his, is his genuine, official signature.
     In Testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and the seal of said Court, at Tolland this 
7th day of April, 1853
                                       Joseph Bishop Clerk
Page 17

31.337/                      Act March 3/55
                                  April 2/55
Connecticut
February 53 number 882
Jemima Backus, widow of
Abner Backus, pensioner
Connecticut Continental Line,
War of Revolution
Received Pension Act July 3, 1853
[illegible} August 14, 1855
                         Boynton
           [illegible]

3794 [illegible] August 17/55
Henry Fowler
Hartford, Connecticut
Volume B-4
Page 18

Manchester, March 24th 1855
State of Connecticut
Hartford, County SS
     On the 24th day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Jemima Backus aged 67 years a resident of Manchester in the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut who being duly sworn according to law Declares that she is the Widow of Abner Backus deceased who.
 was a Private in the Army of the Revolution and a pensioner of the United States under Act of 18 March 1818 at Eight dollars per month and died on the 3rd day of May in 1845. She further states that she is now a pensioner on the roll of the Connecticut Agency of Hartford under the 2nd Section of the Act of February 3, 1853 at $96 dollars per annum. Her pension certificate bears date at the Department of the Interior the 8th day of July 1853 and she refers to her application for a pension under said Act for proof of her husband's service and death and of their marriage-that her said husband died in the Town of Bolton in Tolland County on the 3rd May 1845 and that she has ever since remained and now his Widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the County land to which she may be entitled under the act approved May 3,
                 her mark
                      x
              Jemima Backus
We the subscribers and witnesses                                                 residents of
Page 19

31.337
County land claim of
Jemima Backus
Widow of Abner Backus
Revolutionary service
under Act 3 March 1833
Page 20



State of Connecticut
I, Oliver H Perry - Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and Keeper
of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern
That
Artemas L. Strong
was, from the fourth day of July, A.D.
1854, to the fourth day of July, A.D. 1856, a Justice of the Peace within
and for the County of
---
Hartford
in said State, duly appointed and com-
missioned having full power and authority by the laws of said State, to take the Acknowledgment of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer Oaths, to take Affi
davits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full faith and
credit may and ought to be given to his official acts and attestations
And I further certify, That I believe the foregoing signature of the said
Artemas L. Strong
to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the Seal of said
State, at Hartford, this 31st day of
March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and fifty five
O H Perry
Secretary of State
Page 21

Manchester in the County and State aforesaid upon our oaths Declare that the foregoing Declaration was signed and acknowledged by Jemima Backus in our presence; and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the Applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be
              Henry Backus
              Cornelia A Backus     witnesses
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the applicants to be credible persons: that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.    
                  Artemis L Strong, Justice of the Peace
Manchester, March
24th, 1855

31.337
County land claim of
Jemima Backus
Widow of Abner Backus
Revolutionary service
under Act 3 March, 1835
Page 22

Feby 19-1901
Mrs. W. A. Bisbee
Savannah Ga.
 2049

WIDOW, &c.
File No2049
Jemima Backus,
Widow
Abner Backus,
Private Revolutionary War

Act:
Index:----Volume A, Page 29
[Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 23






                   3794





            Revolutionary Army [illegible]
Page 24

May 7, 1853
Number 1299
Application of Jemima Backus widow of Abner
Hartford County
Connecticut: 18
2,18
Act 3 February; 1853
$96.00 per annum
Commencing February 3rd, 1853
Revy: [illegible]
W.G. Wade,
Rose, New York

Department of The Interior
Pension Office, Official Business
Page 25

Number 31, 337
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855

Received April 2nd, 1855

Jemima Backus widow of Abner Backus, private Revolutionary War

Warrant 3794 - 160-55

Henry Fowler
Hartford, Connecticut
Page 26

STATE OF Connecticut 
County of Hartford
ss. Manchester Jemima Backus being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that she is the widow of Abner Backus a pensioner deceased, to whom a pension was probably due more pension, that this deponent is directly interested in said claim.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of December 1854 and (I do hereby certify that the said Jemima Backus is a respectable person, and that I have full faith in the truth off the above statement sworn to by her as being directly interested in said claim.)

             Artemas L Strong Justice of the Peace
Know all Men by these Presents, That I Jemima Backus the widow of Abner Backus - deceased, to whom a pension was probably due, do hereby constitute and appoint Arad Joy, of Ovid, New York, my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name as one directly and personally interested in the claim or application for a pension
Witness my hand and seal, this 24 day of December 1854
Jemima x Backus ss
        her mark
Sealed and delivered in the presence of 
Artemas L Strong
Henry Backus
STATE OF Connecticut
County of Hartford 
Be it known on the 24 day of December 1854 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, duly authorized by law to administer oaths and take acknowledgements, personally appeared Jemima Backus above named, and duly acknowledged the above power of attorney and affidavit to be lawful act and deed.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand the day and date above mentioned.
Before me Artemas L. Strong Justice of the Peace
Page 27

Jemima Backus
Pensioner of Connecticut
Law of 1853
from
Arad Joy
Page 28

Samuel Burdwin of Coventry in Tolland County of Lawful age testifieth and sayeth that he was in the  army and was knowing to Abner Backus being in the Continental Army the year that is in the year 1778-1779 in a Regiment commanded by Colonel John Farger and a com, commanded by Lieutenant Nathaniel Webb said Backus then was an inhabitant of Windham, Windham County but now of Bolton in said Tolland County and further the deponant sayeth not 
Dated County April 28th 1818
Samuel Burdwin      Samuel Baldwin
Tolland County in Coventry April 28th 1818
Personally appeared Samuel Burdwin and made oath to the truth of the facts stated in the above deposition sworn before are
Joseph Talcott Justice of Peace
Page 29

Abner Backus
Pensioner - 1818, Connecticut


W G Wade
[illegible]
Page 30

                 POWER OF ATTORNEY
State on Connecticut
                                       ss Manchester
County of Hartford
Be it known, that before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the  county aforesaid, duly authorised by law to administer oaths, personally  appeared [illegible] a resident of Manchester in the county of Hartford in the state aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, states the his [illegible] of Abner Backus of [illegible] in the county of [illegible] and State of Connecticut who was a revolutionary and that he believes the United States are still indebted, under existing laws, for the pension that was due under the application heretofore made, and that he is directly interested as a claimant in the pension for which application was heretofore made as aforesaid, and constitutes and appoints Willis G. Wade, of Washington, D.C. true and lawful attorney, with irrevocable power to examine into, investigate, and establish the claim for said pension, and do all acts necessary thereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,      has on this twenty eighth day of  March 1855, hereunto signed
name, and affixed seal
Witness            Jemima Backus Mark
Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me, on this 28th. day of March 1855
Ralph Cheney, Justice of the Peace

__________________________________________________
 
 * Here, if the soldier or officer is living, insert his name; if he is dead, and the widow is living, insert her name; if both dead, insert one of the living children's names; if the children are all dead, and either of them survived the former unsuccessful applicant, insert the name of the administrator of that former applicant,
* Here, if the soldier or officer is living, insert his name again; if the widow is living, insert the words "widow of," and the name of the former unsuccessful applicant.
* Here insert the word "soldier," or "officer," whichever he was.
Note - When a female is the person who executes this paper, please put the letter s before the word he in every place where it occurs.
Page 31

Brief in the case of Jemima Backus, widow of Abner, Hartford County and State of Connecticut.
                act 3rd February, 1853


Claim, (original)

Proof exhibited, (if original.)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? It either, state the substance.

Husband was a pensioner, under the Act, of 18th March, 1818 [illegible]
Marriage proven 
by recant widower.
(If for increase.)
     Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?

W. G. Wade, Esquire,
Rose, New York
Name and residence of Agent
S. C. Boynton,
Examining clerk
Page 32

                                  Rose, New York
                                   May 4th, 1853

Sir,
     I herewith enclose the Declaration of Jemima Backus, claiming the benefits of the Act of 3rd February 1833.

                                   I am Respectfully,
                                   [illegible]
                                   W. G. Wade

Honorable L P Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions