Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16919, for Jedediah Leavens, Connecticut
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SERVICE   Conn.
Vt.
Leavens, Jedediah
NUMBER  S. 16919
Carded
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Connecticut 17066 
Jedediah Leavens 
of Windham in the State of Connt who was a pri & Sergt in the company commanded by Captain Cady in the Connt line for 6 months and Vt. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Connt at the rate of 25 Dollars. per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of July ’33 and sent Thos Backus Killingly Connt 
Arrears to the 4th of March ‘33   50.
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept ‘33  12.50 
$62.50
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk
Book E  Vol. 3 Page 24
1833
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 
State of Connecticut 
County of Windham } ss  On this Sixth day of August AD 1832 Personally appeared in Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Killingly now sitting Jedediah Leavens a resident of the town of Killingly County of Windham & State of Connecticut aged 76 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832  
That he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated viz --- 
That in the year 1776 he belonged to a militia company in the said town of Killingly and that he was called out with said company and went to Norwich Ct.  Joseph Cady Capt,  Jonathan Cady Lieut & Elihu Lawrence Ensign, does not but how long he was out, but thinks it was not more than 8 or 10 days.   
The same year was called out again under said officers & went to Bergen New Jersey does not  recollect the exact date but thinks it was in July & returned about November - was out as as he can remember 3 1/2  months.  
 In a few days after returning from New Jerry was called out with the same officers to Providence in the State of Rhode Island, and after
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staying in Providence two weeks he enlisted for four months as Sergeant under the following officers viz  Payne Convers Capt,  David Cady 1st Lieut,  Asa Lyon 2d Lieutenant, & Web ensign.  The Regt to which we belonged was commanded by Ely of Say Brook Col,  Saml McClellan of Woodstock Lt. Col., Clark of Ashford Major.  Set out for New York but before we arrived at the City were ordered back to Providence,  there served out the time.  
Was called out again in 1777 to go to New London under Joseph Cady  Capt,  Jonathan Cady Leiut, and Elihu Lawrence Ensign.  Went no further than Norwich - was out but a few day or probably one week.    
In the fall of 1779 or 80 residing in the town of Redding in the State of Vermont was Lieutenant of a company of Militia commanded by Joseph Lawyer Capt (Ensign Vincent) was called out by order of Col Ward to whose Regt we belonged for the purpose of intercepting Tories and was engaged in this service three Weeks and in the following year was then called out in the same Company as Lieutenant about one week each time.  That he has no documentary evidence of any part of his services and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure except those whose depositions are herewith transmitted.   
He hereby relinquish 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
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The following interrogatories were by said Court propounded to said applicant 
1  When and in what year were you born? 
In the town of Killingly in Windham County in the year 1755 
2 Have you any record of your age & if so where is it? 
I have a record of my age in my family bible.   
3  Where you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?    I now in said town of Killingly and during my services in the Revolutionary War I lived in said town of Killingly and in said town of Redding in the State of Vermont as above stated.  
4    How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute for whom ?  as above stated 
5   State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.  
Gen Nath Green, Gen Roberdeaux,  Gen Spencer & Gen Cornell 
6  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service if so by whom was it given,  & what has become of it?  I received a discharge, in Providence in the year 1778 signed by Gen Spencer but have lost the same.  
7  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief in your serving as a soldier in the revolution.  
Ebenezer Young and Hazel Peckham 
Sworn to & subscribed in the day & year aforesaid, by the Court of Probate for the district of Killingly in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut 
Jed’h Leavens
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Jedediah Leavens 
We Ebenezer Young & Hazael Peckham residing in the town of Killingly County of Windham  hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jedediah Leavens who has Sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be 76 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion 
Hazael Peckham 
Ebenezer Young 
Sworn and subscribed on the day & year aforesaid before the Court of Probate for the District of Killingly in the State of Connecticut 
David Chase Clerk 
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 soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the Hon Ebenezer Young and Doct Hazel Peckham who have signed the foregoing certificate one credible persons and that the statement is entitled to full credit.   
I David Chase Clerk of the Probate Court for the Killingly, Do certify that the foregoing is the original  of the matter of the application of Jedediah Leavens for a pension - In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 10th day of January AD 1833  
David Chase Clerk
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16919 
INVALID.  
File No. 16,919
Jedediah Leavens
Sergt Rev War 
Act: June 7" 32
Index: -- Vol.  1 Page 222 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
Feby 11. 1897. History to Miss Frances D. Leavens Norwich Conn
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[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE JAN 21 1897
[stamp] O.W. & N. JAN 25 1897 RECORDS
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R L
152 Broadway 
Norwich Conn 
Jan. 19th 1897 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Dear Sir 
Please send me the Revolutionary War record of Jedidiah Leavens, of Killingly. Connecticut. He belonged to Capt. Cadys Company in the 11th Regiment of the Connecticut Militia, and in 1832
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received a pension.
Frances D. Leavens
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1940 J. Leavens 
P 47
Admitted 
Private 3 mo 
Sergeant 3 mo 
T. Backus  
Thomas Backus Killingly 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 Jedidiah Leavens which require further proof or explanation.
 I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?   
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason signed for his not doing so? 
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No 
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? not fully 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? No has not
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2 
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? No 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain ing 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? not directly 
XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or with nesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Not fully
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For - year months and - days. I served as a -. For - months days, I served as - 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. 
3 mo Sergt
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I John Wilson of Thomson in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut now in my 84th year of age, and duly engaged according to law do testify and say, that I have known Mr Jedediah Leavens, now of Killingly in said County, from his youth that, in the 1776, I enlisted as a  Soldier, in the Revolutionary war in a Company, under Capt Paine Convers,  David Perry Lieut, Asa Lyon 2d Lieut,  which company was attached to Col Ely Regt of which Sam’l  McClellan was Lieut. Col. and was stationed at Providence State of Rhode Island & quartered in the College, the said Jedediah Leavens was a Sergent in said Company and served out the time of three months.   I did the duty of a drummer during the said three months in said Company My enlistment was for three months and further the deponent saith not 
John Wilson
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I, John R. Wilson of Thompson in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut aged 73 and engaged according to law do testify and say, that in the year 1776, I enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary war for three months under Capt Paine Convers, Lieut. David Peny & 2d Lieut Asa Lyon, joined the Company at Providence State of Rhode Island & was in Col Ely Regt,  Lt Col. Samuel McClellan.  Was stationed at said Providence & quartered at the College & severed out the time of said Enlistment.   Jedediah Leavens now of Killingly, was a Sergeant in said Company & did his duty as such during said three months, I have always known him & been acquainted with same since service.  And further deponent saith not 
John R. Wilson
State of Connecticut 
Windham County Ss  Thompson December 26 1832 
Then personally appeared John Wilson & John R Wilson, signers of the foregoing depositions and made solemn oath to the truth of and by each subscribed. Before me 
Simon Davis Justice of the Peace
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And I do further certify that I am well acquainted with the aforesaid deponents John Wilson & John R. Wilson and that full faith & credit is due their attestation.   Attest Simeon Davis Justice of the Peace 
I Armin Bolles Clerk, the County Court within and for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Simeon Davis on whom the foregoing affidavits were made is duly enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for said Windham County that the premise signature of his name is in his hand writing, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such.   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afixed the seal of said Court at Brooklyn in said County this 9th day of January A.D. 1833 
Armin Bolles Clerk
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Killingly April 24th 1833 
Sir
I return to you the application of Mr Jedediah Leavens for a Pension. He is at present in a very feeble state of health and not able to attend to any further preparation of his papers.   At the time his supplementary declaration was prepared I recollect asking him for his Lieuts Commission and Sergeant's 1 warrant, and his replying that they were lost.   I did not however deem it important that the loss of them should be stated in his declaration as his application had not been objected to on account of a similar omission in  his original declaration.   (See list of objections herewith retransmitted).   I understood by your letter accompanying said list that the papers were complete in every respect except those noted on said list. Mr Leavens in his present feeble and low State of health does not feel particularly anxious about his pension, but having as he apprehended fully complied with the rules prescribed by the War Department as it regards at least a part of his service he thinks he has a right to claim a pension for that part.   See the affidavits of John Wilson and John R Wilson proving three months service as a Sergeant and the affidavits of John Day and William Barrett to the term of service in the State of New Jersey, one declaring it to be three, and the other three and a half months as a private soldier. He has no proof and can procure none of the rest of his service and if it must therefore be rejected he must be content.   Respectfully Yours 
Thomas Backus 
J. L. Edwards Esqr
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John Day & William Barrett
Deposition for Jedediah Leavens
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I John Day of Killingly in the County of Windham aged 74 years do testify and say that in the month of August 1776 Mr Jedediah Leavins (with whom I was then and still am well acquainted) was called out with a body of Connecticut militia to perform a tour of military service in the State of New Jersey and that he served under Capt Joseph Cady and Col. Williams according to the best of my recollection about three and a half months. I served at the same time in the same regiment in Cap Ephraim Warren's company and frequently saw said Leavens during said term of service. In my declaration made before the County Court for the County of Windham on the 30th day of July last in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of passed June 7th 1832, I believe I stated said term of service to be only three months but upon further recollection I am now confident that it was at least three months and a half as above stated and further the deponent saith not.   
Dated at Killingly this 6th day of August 1832 
John Day
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State of Connecticut 
Windham County }  Killingly Aug 6. 1832 
Then John Day who hath subscribed the foregoing deposition personally appeared and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me. And I do also hereby certify that said Deponent is a man of truth and veracity and his testimony entitled to full credit.   
Thomas Backus Justice of the Peace  
I Armin Bolles Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Thomas Backus Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is duly enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for said Windham County, that the foregoing signature of his name is in his hand writing and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such.   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court at Brooklyn in County this 10th day of August A.D. 1832 
Armin Bolles Clerk
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Windham County ss. Killingly December 4th 1832 – 
I do hereby certify that the words "of lawful age" in the second line of the foregoing affidavit were by me stricken out, and the words "aged 74 years” inserted, at the request of the said John Day the deponent alteration again made solemn oath to the truth of said affidavit before me 
Thomas Backus Justice & the Peace
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I William Barrett of Brooklyn in the County of Windham aged eighty one years engaged according to law do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Jedediah Leavens of Killingly in said County and have been well acquainted with him for nearly sixty years last past, that for three months from the fifth day of September 1776 as near as I can recollect I performed a tour military duty in the State of New Jersey viz at Bergan and the English Neighborhood the company to which I belonged was commanded by Capt Joseph Abbot and the Regiment by Col Ebenezer Williams of Pomfret Connecticut.  William Danielson of Killingly was Lieut Col,  Samuel McClellan was Major. The said Leavens also served in another company beloving to the same regiment so during said term - His captain was Joseph Cady and Davis Cady was Lieutenant of said company/   I frequently saw the said Leavens during said period of service and was intimate with him and have a most perfect recollection of all the facts above mentioned.  I cannot recollect the names of any of the General officers under whom we served as aforesaid except Gen Green who commanded our Division and further with the deponent saith not.  
William Barrett
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State of Connecticut 
Windham County } ss Killingly Jan 9th 1833
Then William Barrett who hath signed the  foregoing affidavit personally appeared before me and made solemn oath to the truth of the same. I further certify that I am well acquainted with said Barrett and that he is a man of fair character for truth and veracity and his testimony entitled to full credit. 
Thomas Backus Justice of the peace
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I Armin Bolles Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Thomas Backus as before whom the affidavits annexed hereunto were made is duly enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for said Windham County, that the signatures of his name annex to said affidavits & said Certificate are in his hand writing, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such.   
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Brooklyn in said County this 9th day of January A.D. 1833 
Armin Bolles Clerk
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Jededia Leavens
Declaration
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At a Court of Probate holden at Killingly within and for the District of Killingly on the 25th day of December D 1832  - 
Present Thomas Backus Judge 
Personally appeared Jedediah Leavens of said Killingly aged 77 years and in addition to the declaration made by him before this Court on the sixth day of August 1832 in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 doth on his oath make the following declaration  Viz – 
That by reason of old age and 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 four months and fifteen days he served as a private,  for four months he served as a sergeant,  for one month and seven days he served as a Lieutenant and that for such service he claims a pension.   
Being required to make a more full statement of officers under whom he served as aforesaid says  that during his first period of service at Norwich he cannot recollect in addition to the officers before named except the Col of his regiment who was Williams of Pomfret, Col William Danielson of Killingly (Conn),  Lieutenant Col. Samuel McClellan was major of the regiment to which said Company belonged but was not with us during said term of service. Said applicant cannot recollect the name of any general officers connected with said period of service.  
During the second term of service his company and regimental officers were the same, Gen Green was commander of the Division & Gen Roberdeau of the Brigade
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to which said company belonged. He also recollects that Daniel Larner of Thompson (Conn) was adjutant,  Oliver Grosvenor of Pomfret was Quarter Master & Doctor Albigence Waldo was Surgeon of said regiment.    
During his third period of service at Providence he was under the same regimental and company officers, General Spencer Commanded the troops at that place.  
During his fourth period of service he has already named all his regimental and company officers  except Lay was adjutant,  William Morris was Quarter Master and Benjamin Goodel who was Sergeant Major, and Spencer Child who was Quarter Master Sergeant.   
During his fifth period of service at Norwich he cannot recollect in addition to those already given only the name of the Col who was William Danielson.  
During his sixth period of service as Lieutenant in Vermont he has already given the names of all the company and regimental officers which he can recollect.  The office of Lieut Col was vacant, as was also that of Major.  
During his two last short terms of service of a week each as Lieutenant in the State of Vermont his company officers were the same as before -  his Lt was Benjamin Wait,  Eber Robinson Lieut  and Safford Major  
Said applicant says he has no documentary evidence to prove any part of his service and that he knows of none, and that he knows of no person or persons living who can testify to the same except John Day
Jedediah Leavens
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Sworn to and subscribed by the said Jedediah Leavens in open Court before said Court of Probate the day and year first above written 
Attest Thomas Backus Judge 
David Chase Clerk 
I Roswell Whitmore a Clergyman residing in the town of Killingly in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that I am well 1 acquainted with Jedediah Leavens of said Killingly who hath subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that I believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed and  believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion.   
Roswell Whitmore 
Subscribed and sworn to by the said Whitmore in open court before said Court of Probate the day and year first above written And said Court hereby certifies that the said Roswell Whitman is a Clergyman resident in said town of Killingly and that his statement is entitled to credit.    
I David Chase Clerk of the Probate Court for the District of Killingly do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of said Court in the matter of the application of Jedediah Leavens for a Pension.  In Testimony December AD 1832 to set my hand and whereof I have here the seal of said Court this 25th day of December 1832  
David Chase Clerk
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 
Form VAM-51 
12-5-41 
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD* 
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives 
NAME   Leavens, John (Noah)   GRADE  private  LINE   New Hampshire
WARRANT NUMBER  3274  ACREAGE  100  ISSUED   Mar 25, 1790 
To – not shown -
The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives. registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.  Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.