Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,655, Lemuel Drake, Conn.
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Service: Conn.
Drake, Lemuel
Number: S. 31.655
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1834 dup. certif. [duplicate certificate]
to [?] H. P[???]
Hartford County


17.313

Connecticut
Lemuel Drake
Windsor in the State of Conn
He was a Private in the Com commanded by Captain Wadsworth of the Reg commanded by Col. Cook in the Conn line for service 8 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of Conn
At the rate of 26 Dollars 66 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Augt. 1833 and sent [Saml?] H. Parsons, Hartford Ct

Arrears to the 4th of March: 3[?] $53.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep 4 " 13.33
$66.65

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by AD Bullock Clerk,
Book [E?] Vol [?] Page 10
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PENSION ACT OF 1832.

Declaration of Lemuel Drake in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
COUNTY OF Hartford
SS. Hartford

On this 24 day of August 1832, before the Probate Court for the District of Hartford in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut being a Court of Record, having by law a Clerk and Seal, personally appeared Lemuel Drake a resident of Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged seventy seven years, who being first duly worn, 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 United States as a private in a company commanded by Benjamin Allen 1st Lieutenant & Austin Phelps 2nd Lieutenant at Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut on or about the 15th day of August 1776; that said company belonged to a regiment of militia commanded by Major Roger Newbury. That he the deponent was a volunteer for two or three months, and continued to serve in the said Corps, until on or about the latter part of October 1776 when he was dismissed from the service, at or near a place called Valentines  Hill in the State of New York that when he entered the service he resided in Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut and was marched from Windsor to Wethersfield and sailed from there to New York. On his arrival at New York the company was stationed at a place called "Little Dock Street" near the East river; and at the time of the battle on Long Island, the company and regiment in which he the deponent served were stationed and paraded upon or near the wharf ready to cross over to the Long Island Shore whenever boats should arrive or orders given for that purpose but after remaining there until night, the regiment was ordered to their quarters. That he recollects one Captain Ebenezer Barnard from Hartford commanding a company there at that  time. Reuben Barber of Windsor knows that he started from [illegible] Windsor with his brother. Then as[?]  Barber who died many years ago - and returned after performing the above mentioned service. And he has hereto annexed his affidavit and also as to two subsequent tours of service in 1777 & 1778.
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2nd: And the deponent further declares that he was drafted at said Windsor and served as a private in the company of militia commanded by Jonathan Wadsworth of Hartford Connect. One Phelps of Windsor was Lieutenant and one Colonel Cook of Wallingford, one Woodbury[?] was Lieutenant and Colonel & one Kent was Major from about August 1777 to the latter part of October or beginning of November 1777. The company was marched at Hartford Connt. and marched forthwith to Stillwater in the State of New York. That he the deponent was in the battle, under General Gates and was at Saratoga about the 17 of October when General Burgoyne surrendered. That he was marched to Albany with the troops and remained there about a week. When he was ordered [illegible] several others to guard about 100 British prisoners to Hartford. The guard was commanded by Captain Blake. Austin Phelps was Lieutenant. Reuben Wadsworth was orderly Sergeant. He is now living in Hartford and has hereto annexed his affidavit. The deponent was dismissed [illegible] Hartford having served three months. 

3rd & upwards - And the deponent declares, that about the month of September 1778, he was drafted at Windsor to go to New London and served at New London between two and three months in the Militia Company commanded by Captain Allen of New London, one Bissell of East Windsor was Sergeant. Was employed in keeping guard. "Fort Nonsense" was built at this time upon the high ground of New London, North West of the place where 'Fort Trumbul' stands. That he was dismissed at New London about the later part of November 1778. And returned home in company with one George Loomis who is now dead. Reuben Barber, now living in Windsor knows that he went & returned, & has annexed his
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And in reply to certain interrogatories prescribed by the War Department and propounded by the Court, the deponent further declares,

1st. That he was born at Window in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut on the 7th day of September 1754

2d. That the day and year of his birth is recorded in his own family bible with the dates of his marriage & the births of his children.

3d. and 4th. That when he was called into service, he resided at the place or town as herein stated; and served in the manner set forth in the preceding declaration. viz at Windsor in Connectivut

5th. That the general circumstances of his service are detailed in the preceding declaration, and also the names of such officers, &c. as he distinctly recollects.

6th. That he never received a written discharge from the service but was dismissed by the officers at the expiration of each term of service

7th. That he is personally know to the Red. Frederick Chapman as the clergyman of Windsor, & George Belden & many others who are respectable persons in the neighborhood where he now resides, and can testify as to his character for veracity, and also their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.

And the said Lemuel Drake hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Lemuel Drake

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary solder, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that The Revd. Frederick Chapman a clergyman in Windsor, and that George Belden, Reuben Barber & Reuben Wadsworth whose affidavits are hereto annexed are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.

I, William Whitman Clerk of the Probate Court for the District of Hartford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Lemuel Drake for a pension. I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 24 day of August 1832.

Wm. Whitman, Clerk of Court of Probate for district of Hartford
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Washington, D.C. ____, 19 ____
S.T. 31.655

In reply to your request of ____, received ____ for a statement of the military history of Lemuel Drake a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment:
Aug. 15, 1776
Aug. 6. 1777
Sept. 1778

Length of Service:
2 1/2 mos.
3 1/2 mos.
2 1/2 mos or 3 mos

Rank: Pvt.

Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered -

Captain: Benjamin Allen, Jonathan Wadsworth, Allen

Colonel: Roger Newbury, Cook

State: Conn.

Battles engaged in: Stillwater and Surrender of Burgoyne

Residence of soldier at enlistment: Windsor, Conn.

Date of application for pension: Aug. 24, 1832 [illegible]

Residence at date of application: Windsor Hartford Co. Conn.

Age at date of application: born Sept. 7, 1754 at Hartford Conn.

Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully,

Commissioner.
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31655
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 31,655
Lemuel Drake
Priv Rev War
Act: June 7th 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 114

Arrangement of 1870.
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Service etc copied from papers by Mr. Pierce [before?] [??]
1918 July 30 [??] to Alice [??]
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6553
Lemuel Drake

8 [illegible] private
26.66

Saml H.  Parsons

Hartford Conn [line appears to be drawn through Hartford Conn]
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Lemuel Drake which require further proof or explanation. 

1. Does the declaration show where the application resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

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? yes

V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as the enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? ~

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one 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? yes 
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? no

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? yes

SVI. *Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no no

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

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 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: For ___ year ____ ___ 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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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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Application for a new certificate.

State of Connecticut
County of Hartford
S. Hartford

On this 22nd day of April AD 1834, before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public for said county of Hartford personally appeared Lemuel Drake of Windsor in said county of Hartford who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Jonathan Wadsworth in the regiment commanded by Colonel Cooke in the service of the United States during the revolutionary war. That his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of Connecticut under the act of 7th June 1832. That he received a certificate of that fact, under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War which certificate was left at the house of one Hezekiah Hill in Windsor by the deponent on or about the 7th of September 1833 soon after receiving his semiannual stipend at Hartford. That he has since [illegible] diligent search and enquiry for said certificate but has not as yet succeeded.
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in finding the same. He would therefore respectfully request that a duplicate may be found in his favor in order to obtain the semi annual stiped due him to March 4, 1834

Sworn and subscribed this 22d. day of April 1834
Lemuel Drake

Before me:
Samuel H. Parsons
Notary Public

I am personally acquainted with Lemuel Drake of Windsor who subscribed the above statement in my presence & know him to be a pensioner of the United States on the roll of the Connecticut agency under the act of June 1832 and have the fullest confidence in the truth of his statements.

Samuel H. Parsons
Notary Public

Please direct your reply to Sam H. Parsons Hartford [Court?]
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I Reuben Wadsworth of Hartford in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged seventy eight years, do depose and say, that I am well acquainted with Lemuel Drake now living in Windsor in said County of Hartford an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7. 1832; That I knew the said Lemuel Drake in the revolutionary war and served with him between two and three months in the company commanded by Captain Jonathan Wadsworth of Hartford, one Phelps of Windsor was Lieutenant and one Owen Ensign in the regiment commanded by Colonel Cook. H. Woodbridge of [?] [?] was an [?] & one Kent was our Major. That we we were drafted about August - September 1777. I was a Sergeant in said Company & said Lemuel Drake was a private. The company was marched at said Hartford and marched forthwith to Stillwater in the State of New York & [?] were in the battles under General Gates in September and October when Burgoyne and his whole army surrendered as prisoners of war. The troops then went to Albany and in a few days afterwards, said Drake myself with several others was ordered on the guard to conduct about one hundred of the prisoners to Hartford. The guard was commanded by Col. (then Captain) Blake of Chatham and on our arrival at Hartford, we were both dismissed the latter part of October or the beginning of November 1777. And further the deponent saith not.
Reuben Wadsworth
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State of Connecticut
County of Hartford
S.s. Hartford

On this 24th day of August 1832 before me the subscriber a notary public for the county of Hartford personally appeared Reuben Wadsworth a person of veracity and made oath that the preceding certificate by him subscribed is true.

[??] my hand and seal of office this 24 day of August 1832.
Samuel H. Parsons
Notary Public
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State of Connecticut:
Secretary's Office. June 8, 1833.

I, Thomas Day Secretary of said State, and keeper of the seal thereof, do hereby certify that William C. Gay Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Lemuel Drake was taken, that Henry Sill Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Rev. Frederick Chapman and George Belden were taken; and that James Loomis before whom the foregoing affidavit of Reuben Barber was taken, severally are, and when said affidavits were taken, were Justices of the Peace within and for the to only of Hartford; and that Samuel H. Parsons Esq. before whom the foregoing affirdavit of Reuben Wadsworth was taken, is, and at such caption was, a Notary Public within and for the County of Hartford. Each of said officers having been duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, having power and authority to administer oaths and to take affidavits out of court and to certify the same; and that I verily believe the foregoing signatures purporting to be theirs, respectively, are genuine. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said State, the day and year above written.

Thomas Day
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I Reuben Barber of Windsor of Lawfull age, depose and say that I have been from childhood acquainted with Lemuel Drake was born within forty rods of him (by report) and always lived within that distance. That in the summer of 1776 and I should think at or near the month of August Mr. Drake with the militia started for New York in Company with my brother Thomas they were in the service and returned together & as I believe in the latter part of October or about that time. That he went in the militia with my brother and returned at the same time with him I well recollect and the time that they were about according to my best recollection and belief was about two months and a half. For this [illegible] am knowing that Mr. Drake did in the summer of 1777 start and left Windsor for in the militia for the northward at the taking of Burgoyne as much as I can recollect in the month of August and came back in the month of Novr. [November] or Decr. [December] following and am clearly in the belief that he was absent at that time three months or more to four months. Further more according to my recollection the next summer and think that about the month of Sepr. [September]
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1778 Mr. Drake was in the United States service at New London in militia and was there as I believe about two months and further the deponent saith not.
Dated at Windsor July 10, 1832
Reuben Barber

State of Connecticut
County or Hartford
S.s. Windsor
July 10, 1832

Personally appeared Reuben Barber to me known subscribed the above affidavit and made solemn oath for [?] contained before me
James Loomis Just. of Peace

State of Connecticut
County of Hartford
Windsor July 10, 1832

I certify that the deponent Reuben Barber is a resident of said Windsor, is well known to me, is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
James Loomis Just. of Peace

Reuben Barber
For Lemuel Drake
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State of Connecticut   }
County of Hartford      } Ss Hartford

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace for said County of Hartford Lemuel Drake, 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: 

For two months and fifteen days at least I served as a private in Captain Benjamin Allen's company of foot and (Colonel or) Major Roger Newbury's regiment.

2nd - For three months and fifteen days at least I served as a private in Captain Jonathan Wadsworth's Company of foot in Colonel Cook's regiment.

3rd - For two months and fifteen days at least and I think 3 months I served as a private in Captain Allen's company of foot The Colonel's name is I not recollected - my services as a private soldier in the war of the revolution amount to eight months
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and 15 days at least and I feel [perfectly?] confident that they amount to nine months, but I cannot swear positively to the fact from the long lapse of time & the consequent imperfection of my memory & having no minutes to refresh my memory as to dates. For the service I claim a pension under the act of 17 June 1832.

Lemuel Drake

Sworn to & subscribed this 25th day of May 1833.

Before me: W.C. Gay
Justice of Peace
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We, Frederick Chapman a clergyman, residing in the town of Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut and George Belden residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Lemuel Drake a resident of said Windsor who is an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is generally reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he now resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion and that he sustained a fair character for truth and veracity.

Frederik Chapman

State of Connecticut
County of Hartford
S.s. Windsor

On this 20th day of August 1832 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, personally appeared The Revd. [Reverend] Fredk. Chapman who is a clergyman residing in the said town of Windsor and George Belden by who is a credible person residing in the same town -- and made oath that the preceding certificate by them subscribed is true, and I further certify that their statement is entitled to credit.

Henry Sill Justice of the Peace
George Belden
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Clergyman Certificate
[?]
Lemuel Drake
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Pension Office
Jul 23 1918

[??]
To the Pension Office
Revolutionary War Dept.
Washington, D.C.

Will you be so kind as to send me the Revolutionary War record of Ebenezer Drake Connecticut pensioner residing in Vermont 1818. And of Lemuel Drake pensioner of 1832 residing in Hartford Co. Conn.

And oblige yours very truly
(Miss) Alice M. Gay
256 Ashley Street
Hartford Conn.