Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 214, John Andrews, Conn Continental
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn
Continental
Andrews, John
NUMBER
R. 214
CONTENTS
Page 2

I Hezekiah Ripley of Fairfield, in the County of Fairfield
& State of Connecticut on my Oath declare that I have long 
been acquainted with John Andrews of said Fairfield and know 
that he was in the service of the United States as a soldier in 
the Revolutionary War, and that ever since he left said
service he has been partially lame in both his feet, and more 
particularly so in the winter season of the year, and that many 
years ago, he told me his lameness was occasioned by his feet 
being frozen while he was doing his duty in the service of 
the United States in the Revolutionary War, and that they 
had continued to be tender & sore, and in the winter season 
very painful and at the present time his lameness 
has very much increased. His mode of life and employment 
since he left said service has been that of a Farmer and
he has resided in said Fairfield ever since.
Hezh Ripley
I John Phillips of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield & State 
of Connecticut, on my Oath declare that I have lived a neighbor 
to John Andres of said Fairfield ever since he was a child, 
and know that he enlisted into the service of the United States in 
the revolutionary War, and that he has been lame in both his feet 
at times, particularly in the winter season almost ever since he 
left said service and he told me soon after he left said service 
that his lameness was occasioned by his feet being frozen while he 
was procuring forage for the use of the Regiment to which he belonged. 
And his feet have been growing worse for several years. His mode 
of life & employment since he left said service has been that of a Farmer 
and he has resided in said Fairfield ever since. 
John Phillips
Page 3

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield ss: Be it known, that
on the 5th day of April 1821 Personally appeared the Reverend
Doct Ripley, and on the 9th day of said April, also appeared
John Phillips, subscribers to the foregoing depositions and
severally, made solemn Oath that the matters contained in
said depositions (Respectively) are true before me
David Judah, Commissioner
certify that the Rev Doct Hezekiah Ripley and
Mr John Phillips who have sworn to their respective depositions 
herein contained, are men of the first respectability
and that full faith and credit may, and ought to be given
to their testimony. And I further certify that John Andrews
herein named is generally considered as being a man
of truth and veracity, and I am of opinion that his
Oath is not to be doubted 
David Judah
Commissioner
Page 4

I John Andrews of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield & State of
Connecticut aged sixty two years, on my Oath declare that in the
month of March 1776 I entered as a volunteer to serve in the
Revolutionary War in Capt Eliphalet Thorp's Company, in the Regiment
commanded by the late General (then Conl) Gould S. Silliman went to N. York
and remained there until the American Troops came on from Boston
in August 1776 I went in my Father's, Capt John Andrews's sd company
of Malitia in said Silliman's Regt to New York, and remained until
the American Troops retreated, when the Brittish took possession
In April 1777 I enlisted in said Capt Eliph Thorps company Conl
Waterburys Regt for nine months, was in the Battles at Ridgefield
and Compo when the Brittish burnt Danbury. In March 1778 I
enlisted in Lieut John Odle's Company, said Waterbury & Regiment
for nine months & was stationed at Black Rock Fort. In July 1779
was in the Battle at Fairfield when the Brittish burnt the Town
In Sept following I was employ'd by Commissary Gayer in the same
service to east provision to Danbury and Bradford for the use of the
Army. In March 1780 I enlisted in the Continental service to
serve during the war in Capt Stanton's company Conl Elisha Seldons
Regt of Lt Dragoons and served therein until the close of the 
Revolutionary war having been appointed a Corporal in March 1781 was in the Battles at
Valentine Hill and
east Chester Mill, I was one who composed a party detached from
the Infantry commanded by Major Tallmage who boarded and took
a Brittish Privateer in long Island sound of fourteen carriage
Guns, commanded by Capt Johnson. In the winter of 1781 the
Regiment & which I belong'd being stationed at Greenfield I was deputed
by Comt (then Major Tallmage to procure forage and employ Teams
transport it for the use of the Regt and while in that service
and in the line of my duty, (having procured several Team loads
of forage) and the weather being extreme cold, the roads very bad
and being overtaken by night several miles distant from our
Station by reason of the difficulty in passing the Road
Page 5

I found on arriving at my station, that my feet were actually frozen
notwithstanding; the effect did not operate so immediately as
to prevent me from doing my duty, although they were very tender
and considerably sore and concluded the warm weather
advanced, that my feet would recover their usual strength &
firmness; but in that I was mistaken, although they were usually
better in the summer, yet in the winter season they became
more sore & painful & frequently swelld to that degree
that it was with difficulty I could wear a shoe any other
way than slip shod. then again as the weather grew warn
my feet grew better, so that I could do considerable labour,
and so alternately, as regards the seasons. But of late years
notwithstanding various application of remedies 
prescribed by different Physicians, they continued to
grow worse, and have become ulcered sometimes
appearing to be healing, so that I was more comfortable at
other times, breaking out in sores, so that I could not wear a shoe
for several weeks, and as I advance in years, my feet increases
.in lameness, and as it has been of such long standing, there is no
probability that my feet will ever be any better, and so say the
Physicians generally, to whom I have applied; having apply'd
to a number and expended a great deal, in hopes of obtaining
a cure And having heretofore been impressed with a belief
that a final care of my feet would be perfected, was one reason
why I did not make application for a Pension before another
reason was that for a number of years after I was discharged from
the United States service, notwithstanding the lameness of my feet,
I was able to do considerable labour in the warm seasons, and 
I had two sons growing who assisted me in working on what little
land I then possessed, so that I was enabled to live comforably as
regards necessities for the support of nature. But my son's
(wishing to pursue some other business) left me, at an age when they
Page 6

might have rendered me greater service; and my lameness, instead
of growing better, continuing to increase with my age, I was less
able to earn a sustenance for my self & Family by manual labour
and my eldest son having taken to the sea with a view to obtain
a living; and having in the purchase of a vessel, and otherwise
become considerably involved in debt applied to me to assist him
in his difficulties, and with that view I made myself Jointly responsible 
for the payment of his debts; and before any of said debts
were paid, he, my said son while pursuing his business in North
Carolina was taken sick and died, which circumstance compelled
me to dispose of my property sufficient to discharge the debts for
which I became responsible, which has stripped me of the principal 
part of what I possess'd , and has left me poor; setting aside
all my corporeal sufferings; in addition to which (while exercised with
mental troubles) I had the misfortune to fall from
a Horse, which broke one of my legs; those circumstances I considered 
sufficient to obviate the foregoing reasons, and I had
determined to make application for a Pension under the Law which
I now make it, but I found there were various opinions entertained
respecting the construction of the Law, and I was told by some persons 
whom I had reason to suppose understood the Law better than I
did, that from the nature of my disability and the manner in which
it was occasioned, my case would not come within its provisions,
I therefore declined making application then; which is another reason
why I did not make application for a Pension before
When the act of 18th March 1818, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons
engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary 
War" was published, I made application for a Pension in conformity
with that act; conscientiously believing, that from my age,
infirmities, and inability to labour; together with my reduced
circumstances, (occasioned as herein mentioned by being bound for
the debts of my eldest son) I came clearly within the meaning of
said act, and from the evidence adduced in support of my claim
receiv'd a certificate for a Pension of eight dollars per month
Page 7

from the Secretary of War, dated the fourth day of February 1819
and was (as appears by said certificate) Inserted on the Pension
List of the United States, but on application for my second payment
to the Agent at Middletown, I was informed that he was directed 
by the Secretary of War to stop the pay future payment until he reeiv'd further
orders I shortly after, heard that such direction was
given to the Agent, in consequence of some voluntary information
having been rec'd by the Secretary, respecting the value of my property
and that the Secretary relying on the truth of that information, decided that
my property was worth to much to bring me within the provisions of the Law
and therefore struck, me off the Pension list Altho' I do not know the criterion, by which the Secretary decided in such
cases; I am, nevertheless, confident, that the information he record (as regards
the real value of my property) was derived from an incorrect source
I think I know my own situation better than those from whom the information 
proceeded. And had I not conscientiously believed that I was clearly
entitled to a Pension, under the law of the 18th March 1818 I should not have
apply'd, And I can now say that I am not on the Pension list of any
State. I therefore now make this application, having been advised that 
the manner of my receiving a wound or being disabled in the Revolutionary war
makes no difference or regards the true meaning and intent of the
Law, under which this application is made provided it happened while
I was in actual service and in the line of my duty. This I have made
out by such evidence as is now in my power to procure. As I was not
aware of the consequences that would follow from the original cause of
my disability; I thought but little of it, at the time it happened yet
it was publicly (tho' not generally) known throughout the Regiment that
my feet had been frozen at the time mentioned; but it was more particularly 
known by the Teamsters, and others who were with me at the time
but who are now by death, and the lapse of time, placed beyond my
reach, for any further evidence as regards the substantiating my said
I refer to my discharge from service deposited in the office of the department 
of War.
John Andrews
District of Connect. Fairfield County ss on the 19th day of April 1821
Personally appeared John Andrews, subscribed to the foregoing
deposition, and made solemn oath that the matters therein declared
by him are true, before me David Judah, Commissioner
Page 8

I David Richmond of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield
& State of Connecticut, on my Oath declare, that I have been
acquainted with John Andrews of said Fairfield for a considerable
length of time; that in the year 1803 I was call'd upon (as a Surgeon)
to visit him; I found him very lame in his feet, he inform'd me
that his lameness was occasioned by his feet being frozen 
while he was a soldier in the service of the United States in the
Revolutionary War. I then administered and prescribed to him such
remedies as I thought best adapted to afford him relief; and
I have occasionally attended him as exigencies and required
ever since, one in particular on account of a broken Leg
with which he was laid up a considerable length of time
It evidently appeared to me in the course of my attendance on him
that his feet had been affected by frost, as they were uniformly
better in the warm seasons, notwithstanding the affliction appearing
to be of long standing: and such, is the nature of disability, proceeding
from wounds occasioned by frost. The wounds or sores in his feet, have
of late years been growing worse, and from a late examination I
find those wounds deep seated ulcers, which have
affected the tendons and bones of his feet, and from which (undoubtedly) 
his disability is derived, and I am fully of the opinion
from the nature of his disability
proceeding from the wounds in his feet and other
infirmities of body, combined with his age, that he is prevented three
degrees out of four from obtaining his sustenance by manual
Labour.
David Richmond
District of Connecticut, Fairfield County ss in Fairfield on the 19
day of April 1821, personally appeared Doct David Richmond
subscribed to the foregoing deposition, and made solemn Oath that
the matters contained therein are true before me David Judah
Commissioner
I certify that Doct David Richmond herein named ranks among
the first of his profession as a Physician Surgeon, and that he is very
reputable in his profession. David Judah: Commissioner
Page 9

I certify that the testimony herein adduced in support
of the claim of John Andrews, closed on the nineteenth
day of April 1821
David Judah Commissioner
803
John Andrews
served as a 
private in Revy War
Inadmissible the party having
been frost bitten do see
letter David Judah Esq
Saugatuck, Connecticut
May 8th 1821
Connecticut
214
Page 10

No 214
REJECTED
John Andrews
P. O.
Service:
Enlisted: , 18
Discharged: , 18
Application filed: , 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P, O,
Page 11

David Judah Esq
Saugatuck - Green Farms
Society - Fairfield
Page 12

This certifies that John Andrews served in the 2d Regt
Lt. Dragoons as a Corporal from the 3d of March 1781
to the close of the Revolutionary War, during which
period of service his conduct while under my immediate 
command, was very proper & commendable
in the Station he was called to fill
Given under my hand at Litchfield this
19th Day of March 1821
Benj Tallmadge
late Major 2d Reg. L.D.
To the Hon Jno Calhoun
Secy of War
Page 13

Litchfield March 19th 1821
Sir
Your favor of the 15th instant has been this day
prefixed hereto will be found my Certificate which
will substantiate the service of Mr Andrews. The act
of April 10th 1806 provide for "persons disabled by known
wounds recd in the revolutionary War". Altho Mr Andrews
may fully prove his service, as well as his disability, 
I fear he will fail on accot of the nature of his wound
& the manner of receiving it. If he needs the assistance
of the Govt for his support, why does he not apply
for the benefit of the act of March 18th. 1818? My
Certificate will bear him out, under that law, unless he is
worth too much property. I am Sir
Your most Obedt Servt
Benj. Tallmadge
David Judah Esq
Page 14

Saugatuck (Fairfield) April 25th 1821
Honbl. John C. Calhoun
Sir, When Mr John Andrews first
handed me the annexed Commission, I asked him if he could
produce such proof (as the law under which he was about to
apply for a Pension) made necessary to support his claim, he
observed that he did not know that he could obtain direct proof
to the facts unless they could be recollected by Conl Talmage, who
he believed was the only officer or person living, within his knowledge
that were immediately knowing to them. I advised him to go to Litchfield 
& fee Conl Talmage & obtain his certificate; he observed
that he was too lame to go himself & wished me to write, which
I did Conl Talmage's certificate and answer to me are Annexed, 
I did not mention to Conl Talmage that Mr Andrews
had applied for a Pension under the law of 18th March 1818,
but left it for him to draw the inference. I therefore thought I
would not seperate his answer to me from the certificate, that
you might see his remarks. I am yr obdt sevt
David Judah
B. W. Andrews said that the circumstance 
of his freezing his feet was known to Conl Tallmage
at the time, but he did know whether Conl Tallmage could now
recollect it
Page 15

David Judah Esq
Saugatuck
Page 16

To David Judah of Fairfield in the County of
Fairfield, in the District of Connecticut Greeting
Pierpont Edwards of Stratford in said County
District Judge of said District
do hereby
appoint and commission you the said
David Judah - to take all the evidence
that shall be offered by John Andrews of
said Fairfield, Stafford Corporal in the
6th Company commanded by Capt Stanton in
Col Elisha Sheldons Regt of Light Dragoons, in
the service of the United States who claims
to be placed on the pension list of the United States on the ground of a disability, the
effect of a known wound received while
in the actual service & line of his duty
against the common Enemy during the
Revolution of the American War
the nature
of such disability, and in what degree it
prevents said claimant from obtaining his
subsistance, must be proved by the affidavit
of some reputable physician or Surgeon
stating his opinion, either from his own
knowledge and acquaintance with the claimant
or from the examination of said claimant
on oath or affirmation, to be administered
Page 17

to said claimant, by the District Judge of
said District, or by you the said David
Judah & the said Physician or Surgeon, must
in his affidavit particularly describe the
wound or wounds, from whence the disability
appears to derive, said claimant must have
by at least one credible witness that he
continued in service for the whole time for
which he was engaged and must also prove
his mode of life & employment since he
left the service, & the place or places where
he has since resided & his place of residence at the
time of his taking such testimony, and said
claimant must, by his affidavit, give
satisfactory reasons why he did not make
application for a pension before & that he is
not on the pension list of any State; and
you the said David Judah must certify
in writing your opinion of the credibility
of
said witnesses, whose affidavit you shall
take & you must also certify that the examining 
Physician or Surgeon is reputable in his
profession and you the said David Judah
must transmit said claim, accompanied by
the evidence, affidavits, certificates &
proceeding
had thereon in pursuance of an act of the
Page 18

Congress of the United States entitled an act
to provide for persons who are disabled by known
wounds received in the Revolutionary War,
approved the 18th day of April 1806 & you will
in the execution of this commission, regulate
your proceedings according to the direction
given in the 2d & 3d Sections of said act, in
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
& Seal in Stratford this 22d day of Feby Ad
1821
Jno L Edwards