Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10364, James Birge, Conn.
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Conn.     Birge, James     S. 10364
carded
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Connecticut  No. 9,050
James Birge of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut who was a private in the compy commanded by Captain [illegible] of the Regt commanded by Col. Bradley in the Conn Troops line for 9 months
(special)
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 30 Dollars      Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.  36.66
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Mar 1834 and O. S. Seymour, Litchfield C.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1834   90.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1834   15.00
$105.00
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk,
Book E2  Vol.       Page 3
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of the Congress passed June 7, 1832
State of Connecticut county of Litchfield
Litchfield July 24, 1832
On this 24th day of July 1832 personally appeared in open court before Frederick Wolcott Esquire [illegible] of the court of probate for the District of Litchfield in the said county now sitting James Birge a resident of the said town of Litchfield aged 74 years who being first duty 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated viz. in the spring I think in the latter part of March 1776 I enlisted as a private in the company of Captain Berzelell [Bezaleel] Beebe of said Litchfield in the Reg of Col Phillip Burr Bradley for the term of nine months and immediately entered the service of the United States in said company at Litchfield aforesaid where I then resided soon after my enlistment  I marched with the company to the City of New York from which place after a few weeks we were ordered to cross and did cross to Berghen [Bergen] Point with the whole of our regiment. We continued as a guard upon Berghen  [Bergen] Point until the British landed on Long Island. We were then ordered to Bergen town and soon after to Fort Lee where we were employed in the entrenching that Fort Lt Colonel Bradley from sickness left the regiment before this and we were under the command of Lt Col Hobby. Col Hutchinson's regiment was with us at Fort Lee. At the attack upon Fort Washington I was on a week's guard with a small number of our company at Hoboken.
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Part of Col Bradley's Reg and of Col Hutchinson's reg went on to the succor of Fort Washington and Capt. Beebe and our Lieutenant [illegible] were there taken prisoner with about half of the company. Our Lieutenant Smith had gone home before this and ensign Breach of Tonington, Connecticut took command of the company and after the taking of Fort Washinton Hutchinson's and Bradley's regiments were united into one Regiment under the command of Col Hutchinson. I remained with company at Fort Lee till news was brought that the British had landed above Fort Lee. We were then ordered to retreat which we did and were compelled to leave our knapsacks. I went with the body of the American Army behind Hackensack creek where we made a short stand. We then retreated to New Brunswick where we made a short stand but soon fell back to Trenton where after a few days the whole army crossed the River. the Time of enlistment in our company expired on the 25th of December and we were dismissed that day at Corial's [Coryell's] Ferry without any written discharges. We were however requested to remain by Gen'l [General] Washington and I with the Ensign and a handful more of the company did remain and were stationed at Corial's [Coryell's] Ferry on the night when our army recrossed the Delaware and surprised the Hessians at Trenton. I arrived home on the 15th of Jan 1777. Of the foregoing [illegible] I have the affidavit of witness which are herewith sent.
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At the Dabury [Danbury] alarm in April 1777 I went to Danbury as a private in Capt Osborn's Company Connecticut militia in Col Adams regiment. I was at the time about half a month in the service of the United States. I was among the troops which followed the British until there were on board their shipping at or near Wilton. In the following summer 1777 I marched from Litchfield to Stony Ridge in the company of Capt John Osborn Col Adams Reg Connecticut militia and did duty about two months at and near said Stoney Ridge. Reuben Stone was our lieutenant. I do not distinctly remember whether we were drafted at this time or whether the whole of our companies were ordered to go. The object of our going was the fear that the British fleet would come up the Hudson. According to my best recollection we left home upon this town
in the latter part of the summer. Affidavit,
of witnesses are herewith sent to prove this service but I have no discharges & none were given. I was born in Litchfield Connecticut December 16, 1758. There is a record of my age in the Family Bible & in the Town Clerk's Office in Litchfield. I was living in Litchfield when called into the service & have ever
since lived here & still do. I never served as a
substitute. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any
State. The day & year aforesaid Sworn to & subscribed before me Frederick Wolcott Judge of Probate District of Litchfield, State of Connecticut.
James Birge [signature]
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We Truman Marsh a clergyman residing in the town and County of Litchfield and Samuel Seymour residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Birge Esq who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 73 years of age that he is reputed & believed
in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion said Birge is a gentleman of undoubted veracity. Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. 

Truman March [Signature]
Sarvant Sayne [Signature]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatory prescribed by the war department that the above named
applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states of the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the Revd Truman March who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Litchfield aforesd & that Samuel Seymour who has also signed the same is a resident in said Litchfield & is a credible person & that their statement
is entitled to credit 
Frederick Wolcott [Signature]
Judge of Probate, District of [illegible] and State of Connt-

I Phinchas Miner Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of James
Birge for a pension. In testimony whereof hitherto set my hand & the seal of sd Court
this 28th day of July AD 1832
Phinchas Miner Clerk [Signature]
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State of Connecticut 
County of Litchfield 
Litchfield Nov 15,1832
On this 15th day of November AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon Court of Probate for the District & in the County of Litchfield now sitting the aforesaid James Birge a resident of said town of
Litchfield aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in addition to the foregoing in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 (viz).
I enlisted in Capt Beebe's company as in my
former declaration is stated for a nine months
service and served that period in the same. 
At the Danbury alarm aforesaid I was in the
service of the United States in Capt Osborn's
company at least two weeks. As to my service at Stony Ridge spoken of in my former declaration under Capt Osborn
cannot state more definitely than I did in
my declaration the precise time of entering &
leaving it. I know that I was in the service
of the United States at this time the full
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period of six weeks. I believe we were drafted
for two months & served that time, but the
event is remote and has not until recently been
a subject of much thought and I am unwilling
positively to swear that I served at that time longer than six weeks.  James Birge (Signature)
Sworn to & subscribed the 15th of Nov 1832 before me.

Frederick Wolcott [Signature]
Judge Probate of Litchfield County 

and said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter that the
afore named applicant did serve as he states in this addition to his former declaration. 

Frederick Wolcott [Signature] 
Judge of Probate Litchfield County

I Phinehas Miner Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of James Birge for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & the seal of said Court this 15th day of Nov 1832.

Phinehas Miner Clerk [Signature]

[Note written across the page] [Illegible] $36.66 
OS Seymour [Signature]
Litchfield Ct
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December 29, 1932

BA-J/RL
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
James Birge-S.10364

Mr. Elmer Jacobs
25 S. College Street
Athens, Ohio

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to James Birge, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 10364, based upon the military service of James Birge in that war. James Birge was born October 16, 1758, in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut. While a resident of his native town, he enlisted in March, 1776, and served until in January, 1777 as a private in Captain Bezaleel Beebe's Company, Colonel Philip Burr Bradley's Connecticut Regiment and was at the evacuation of Fort Lee. He enlisted in April, 1777, and served two weeks as a private in Captain Osborn's Company, Colonel Adams' Connecticut Regiment and was at the Danbury raid, after which, in the summer of that year, he enlisted and served two months in Captain John Osborn's Company, Colonel Adams' Connecticut Regiment. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 24, 1832, while a resident of Litchfield, Connecticut.

There are no data as to his family.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator

Date of Death [illegible] an AB [handwritten]
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[Completed form]
10364 
INVALID.

File No. 10364
James Birge
Priv Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: Vol A, Page 32
[Arrangement of 1870]

[Handwritten notes]
1915 Oct 5 Hist. to Dr. Williams
James Birge 
1918 Feby 2 to C.B. Mathewson MD
1925 Dec 22 Hist to Mrs. Edw. S. Perry {illegible]
1928 Hist to Louise B July 30 Hutchison A.D.Y
1932 Dec 29 Hist. to Elmer Jacobs [illegible]
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[Completed Form]
905 0
Connecticut
James Birge of Litchfield in the State of Connt
who was a Priv in the Com commanded by Captain Osborn of the Regt commanded by Col Bradley in the Connt militia 11 mo
--
Inscribed on the Roll of Connt at the rate of 36
Dollars  66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
--
Certificate of Pensions filed the 20 day of March 18[illegible] and cert O.S Seymour [signature]
--
Arrears to 4th March 1833  $73.32
Semi-anl. allowance Sep. [illegible] 33 - 1844
--
$91.76
--
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by E. D. Bullock [signature] Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 3

See letter to Seymour 27 Nov 1833 & letter Enode Parson same date
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I John Hall of Litchfield in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut being duly sworn do depose and say that in the latter part of the summer of 1777 I resided in Litchfield and was then drafted to go with a Regt of Connecticut militia to Stoney Ridge.  I went as a private in the compy of Capt Alexander Waugh in Col Adams Regt. Capt Osborn's Company belonged to the same Regt and went and returned to from Stoney Ridge at the same time my company did. I was then and still am well acquainted with James Birge Esq of sd Litchfield he was a private in Capt Osborn's Company and he was with his company at Stoney Ridge until our Regt was discharged. The Regt was in the service of the United States at Stoney Ridge about two months at this time.

John Hall [signature]
State of Connt Litchfield, County of Litchfield July 24. 1832

When personally appeared John Hall to me well known to be a man of truth & entitled to full credit & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing
deposition by him in my presence subscribed before me
Origin Synon Seymour [signature]
Justice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut Office of the Clerk of the County Court of the County of Litchfield. I Frederick Wolcott Clerk of said Court hereby certify that Nelson Brewster Esq. now is & for more than year last passed has been a Justice of the peace for said County & that his signature to the foregoing affidavit of Frederick [Illegible] genuine, also that Hugh P. Welch Esq now is & for more than a year last passed has been a Justice of the peace for said County & that his signature to the foregoing affidavit of Gershom Gibbs is genuine, also that Origen S. Seymour now is & for more than a year last passed has been a Justice of the peace for said County & that his signature to the foregoing affidavit of John Hall is genuine, & that the said Nelson Brewster Esq. Hugh P Welch E & Origen P. Seymour Esq as Justices as aforesaid, are by the laws of this State respectively
qualified authorized to administer oath In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the seal of said Court this 28th day of July AD 1832

Frederick Wolcott, Clerk [signature]
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I Gersham Gibbs Litchfield Town & County
State of Connecticut on oath depose and say
that James Birge of Litchfield in the
year 1776 enlisted into Capt Bezaleel Beebe's
Company of Col Philip B. Bradley, Regiment
of the Connecticut line of the Army of the
Revolution, and served in sd Company and
Regiment for the period of nine months
and that the James Birge was discharged
from service on the 25th day of December 1776
at Coryell's Ferry on the Delaware river in Pennsylvania
Gershom Gibbs [signature]

Litchfield County [illegible] Litchfield July 13, 1832
Personally appeared Gershom Gibbs and made
oath to the truth of the above deposition by
him subscribed before Hugh P. Welch Justice of the Peace
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I Frederick Bigalow of Goshen in the County
of Litchfield and State of Connecticut depose
and say, that I was acquainted with James Burge
of Litchfield in said County in the year 1776. that he enlisted under Capt. Bezaleel Beebe then of said Litchfield, and that he joined the Regt Commanded by Col. Phillip Burr Bradley, at New York, and he remained therein in the service of the State Troops during nine months, that we were dismissed opposite Trenton in the State of Pennsylvania and that I served in the same company with the said Birge and further the deponent saith not. 
Fredrick His Mark X Bigalow
Sate of Connecticut Litchfield County at Goshen July 23d 1832 person appeared before me
Frederick Bigalow to me known to be a man
of truth and veracity, signer of the foregoing
deposition and made oath to the truth of the
the facts therein stated before me.
Nelson Brewster Justice of the peace
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[Envelope postmarked Mar 5 from Litchfield Connecticut addressed to]
 The Honl Commissioner of Pension
Washington City

[Writing across the envelope] Certificate Enclosed
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Litchfield March 4 1832
To the Hon. the Commissioner of Pensions
Sir, Agreeably to your request I inclose the ┃
pension certificate of James Birge Esq. for alteration. He was allowed for nine months service in Capt Beebe is company Col Bradley's Regt. In your letter you say that that Capt Beebe's company was in actual service only seven months. May there not be some mistake in your information on that subject? Mr Birge & others have taken considerable pains to investigate the matter & they still remain
firm in the belief that they enlisted in March 1776. Mr Birge has drawn his pay under the inclosed certificate to September 4 1833
Very Respectfully
your obt serv

O. S. Seymour [Signature]
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[Back of envelope]
OS Seymour Litchfield Con
Nov 27 1833

[Signature] OS Seymour Litchfield, Conn

Rec Vol 29 [illegible] 164
Page 19

[illegible]
P.C.
November 27th 1833
Sir, on reexamination of the Ezekiel Bissell who
originally claimed to have served nine months as  a  private in Bradley's Regiment and who in his
supplementary declaration alleged that he served as a Corporal without alleging, when, by whom in that manner he was appointed, only the original  rank claimed can be allowed.
But as it appears from a certificate recently
received from E. Phelps Esq  [illegible] of Public
accounts that Bradley regiment was not raised
until may i1776 instead of March 1776 as alleged by the claimant was discharged the end 
1776. The allowance has been reduced to 7
months serve as a private for which a certificate
is herewith enclosed. 
O.S. Seymour Esq Litchfield Ct
on  examination of the paper of James Birge
Page 20

The witness who testifies for Mr. Bissel it was found that he was in consequence of his
[illegible] that he served nine months in COl Bradley's regiment allowed that term. The pension agent at Hartford has been drected to make no further payments on account of Mr Birge pension until he receives further instructions from this office. You will be pleased to notify in Birge that his pension certificate must be returned to this office for correction before these instructions will be issued.
O. S. Seymour
Litchfield, Ct
Nov 27 1833

recvd Vol 29 [illegible] 164
Page 21

Payments to be made at Hartford by Pres. W.S. Br Bank Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Connecticut. Recorded in the Pension office, in Book E  Vol 3 Page 3  by E. D. Bullock
Clerk.
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, James
Birge of the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Thirty Six dollars and
Sixty Six cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year. Given at the War Office of the United States Examined and
Countersigned, this 20th day of
March one thousand eight hundred and thirty three 
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Secretary of War.

[Written across the document] Cancelled
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James Burge [Birge]
Dr. William 17 Burlington Street Providence RI
Surgeon US Navy Civil War
Personal request of Oct 2, 1915
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62 Sandford Ave.,
Plainfield, N. J.,
Jan. 21st, 1918.

Pension Department,
Washington, D. C.

I am anxious to procure information of  James Birge, of Litchfield, Conn., and have been referred, by the Superior Court of Litchfield County to you. The record says that James Birge's name appeared in a list of pensions  granted but that no record of the nature
or extent of his services was given. There is also a document which is a copy of the application of one Jonathan Wright for a pension. One of his witnesses was James Birge, who deposed as follows: " I, James Birge, of Litchfield, Conn. etc. " "In the latter part of the summer of 1777 I was a member of Capt. Osborn's Company of the Conn. militia, was at Stony Ridge and Danbury alarm where Wright was also. Signed, James Birge." If you will kindly send me a copy of James Birge's application and also specify what service he rendered I will be very greatly  indebted to you and will be glad to pay any charge that may be customary for such accommodation

Yours respectfully,
C. B. Mathewson, M.D.
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Putnam Conn. 
Nov. 13, 1925
Department of Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D C
Kindly give me the pension record Revolutionary War of James Birge #S. 10364 of Litchfield County Conn. Also Joseph Mathews died Killingly March 17. 1842, served in the Revolution. 
Very truly
Mrs. Edw F. Perry
148 Grove Street
Putnam Conn.

[Stamped] U.S. Pension Office Nov 16 ,1925
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 3 Holman St.
Glens Falls N. Y.
Com of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me all data, not merely
military, concerning James Burge (Birge or Berge) who probably once lived in Lebanon, Conn? His daughter, Jerusha, Married David Webster about 1774, I wish this date for genealogical use, since
I am a direct descendant of his.

Yours truly,
Louise B. Hutchinson
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[Stamped] Received Dec 14 1932 Mail Sub-Div Reader 16 Vets. Adm.

25 S. College St
Athens, Ohio
Dec. 9, 1932
Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs:
I would like to have the record of James Birge, who is said to have been a soldier of the Revolution. His place of residence was
Litchfield, Conn. 
Sincerely yours,
Elmer Jacobs
25 S. College St.
Athens, Ohio

[Handwritten note] signature?
Page 28

In reply to your request [illegible], received [illegible] of a statement of the military history of James Birge, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.

[Table Column headings (1) DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT, (2) LENGTH OF SERVICE, (3) RANK. (4) OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED- CAPTAIN, (4) OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED - COLONEL, (5) STATE]
[ROW1] March 1776 to Jan 1777 | Private | Bezaleel Bebee | Philip Burr Bradley | Conn.
[Row 2] Blank | Blank | Blank | Hobby | Blank | Blank
[Row 3] Stoney Ridge Danbury Raid| Blank | Blank | Blank | Blank | Blank
[Row 4] [illegible] 1777 | 2 wks | Blank | Osborn | Adams | Blank
[Row 5] Summer 1777 | 2 mons. | Blank | John Osborn | Adams | Blank
[Row 6] Blank | Blank | Blank | [illegible] at Stoney Ridge | Blank

Battles engaged in, Evacuation of Fort Lee. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Litchfield, Conn. Date of application for pension, July 24, 1832, His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Litchfield, Conn. Age at date of application, born Oct 16, 1758 at Litchfield, Conn. Remarks: Solider stated "at attack upon Fort Washington I was on a week's guard with a small number of our company at Hoboken" and that Captain Benee + Lt. Cook were taken prisoner at Fort Washington.  

Respectfully, Commissioner.
6 -- 2856
Page 29

July 30, 1928

Louis B. Hutchinson,
3 Holman Street, 
Glens Falls, New York.

Madam:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 10364, it appears that James Birge was born October 16, 1758 in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
While a resident of his native town he enlisted in March 1776 and served until in January 1777 as a private in Captain Bezaleel Beebe's Company, Colonel Philip Burr Bradley's Connecticut Regiment and was at the evacuation of Fort Lee.
He enlisted in April 1777 and served two weeks as a private in Captain Osborn's Company, Colonel Adams' Connecticut Regiment and was at the Danbury Raid, after which in the summer of that year, he enlisted and served two months in Captain John Osborn's Company, Colonel Adams' Connecticut Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
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July 24, 1832 while a resident of Litchfield, Connecticut.
There are no data on file as to his family.
The above history is that of the only James Birge, or similar spelling, found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Page 31

Rev.&1812 Wars Section

December 22, 1925

Mr. Edw. F. Perry
148 Grove St.,
Putnam, Conn.

Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 10364 it appears that James Birge was born October 16, 1758 in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
While a resident of his native town he enlisted in March 1776 and served until in January 1777 as a private in Captain Bezaleel Beebe's Company, Colonel Philip Burr Bradley's Connecticut Regiment and was at the evacuation of Fort Lee.
He enlisted in April 1777 and served two weeks as a private in Captain Osborn's Company, Colonel Adams' Connecticut Regiment and was at the Danbury Raid, after which in the summer of that year, he enlisted and served two months in Captain John Osborn's Company, Colonel Adams' Connecticut Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 24, 1832 while a resident of Litchfield, Connecticut. 
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner