Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,558, for Moses Mathews, Connecticut
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn
CONTENTS
Mathews Moses.
NUMBER
S. 17558.
carded
Page 2

17.808
Connecticut
Moses
Mathews of
Southhampton in the State of Con
who was a
Pri in the com commanded
by Captain ---of
the Regt commanded
by Col Cook in the Con troops
for 16 mo-
Inscribed on the Roll of Con
at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept 1866 and sent to 
Lowry Southington
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $133.3
Semi-anl. allowance ending May 24
2666
$159.98
Recorded
Book
by
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
17.808
Connecticut
Moses
Mathewsof

Sautherdon in the State of Con
who was a
Pro in the law commanded
by Captainof
the Regt commanded
by Col Cook in the lear Hoops
for 16 mo-
Inscribed on the Roll of Con
at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept
Lowand

sent-
Southington
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $133.3
Semi-anl. allowance ending May 24
2.666
$1
59.88
Recorded
Book
by E D Bullock
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Book E Vol. 3
Page 28
Page 3


Declaration of Moses
Mathews of Southington
in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress passed June 7, 1832
State of Connecticut
ss Southington
Southington Probate District 
On this 24th day of Aug A.D. 1832 Personally appeared
in open Court before the Court of Probate for
the District of Southington in Connecticut, now
sitting at Southington in sd District and in the
County of Hartford in the State aforesaid
Moses Mathews a resident of said Southington aged

Seventy five years, who being first duly
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
7th 1832 That he was born at said Southington
June 4th 1757 as he supposes from the information
which he formerly received from his parents
but that he has no record of his age, that
he resided in said Southington untill long after
the Revolutionary war except when in the
Sevice of the United States during said war
and that he has resided most of the time
in said war and now resides in said Southington
that in the month of July 1776, upon an alarm
that the British were approaching New York
Page 4

he with others of the Connecticut militia of
Southington aforesaid, entered the company of
Lieutenant Elisha Root and the Regiment
commanded by Col Strong as volunteers to go
to New York in defence of that place, and
immediately went to New Haven and from
there to New York and there with said Company
and Regiment joined the main army- that
he was in New York when the Continental
army came from Long Island to New York
in the month of August 1776, from New York
he with the company & Regiment to which
he belonged went to Harlan & from there
to Kingsbridge when he was dismissed
after have been on duty as a volunteer
aforesaid for the full term of two months
and returned to said Southington - That his
duty for the greater part of the time when
out on this term of service was to keep guard
That Nathan Barnes is the only person whose testimony he can produce in relation to this term of service
That
in the latter part of
November
1776
he enlisted for the term of three months
into the Connecticut Troops in the company
commanded by Capt Asa Bray in the
Regiment commanded by Col Cook
and immediately went to Westchester in the
State of New York where he was stationed
a short time and continued stationed
at this place and at East Chester and
at the saw pits for the full period
Page 5

of four months and was discharged at Valentine Hill the latter part of
March 1777 having served out the full period of
said enlistment 
That at the time he entered this service he resided in
said Southington - And that Joel Bunnel whose Deposition is
annexed is the only person whose testimony relative to said
service he can provide
and he further states that in the month of
September 1777 being then a resident of said
Southington he was drafted from the militia
of said State as a private soldier, and immediately
went to burn pond in the State of New York
near Picks hill and joined the company of
Capt John Langdon in the Regiment commanded
by Col Noadiah Hooker of the Connecticut
militia that while at burn pond he & the
Regiment to which he belonged was engaged
in guarding the stores of the continental
army, and continued there a short time
then marched to Peeks hill, and from thence
to the Highlands, when they were stationed
when Fort Montgomery was taken, from
this place they marched to Fish hill, and while
at Fish hill the British shipping went up
the river, and he and the Regiment to
which he belonged went up as far as
Red Hook, and continued their untill
the British sailed down the river and
Page 6

then their
regiment marched down the
river and stopped at continental Barracks
at the Highlands where about the 1st of
December 1777 he was dismissed having served
out his draft which was for the Term of
Three months, and then returned to said
Southington - that he knows of no person whose
Testimony relative to said last mentioned tour he can
procure except that Samuel Hitchcock who deposition
is annexed
and he further states that in the month of May 1778
he enlisted for one year unto the Connecticut State
Troops in the company commanded by Capt Asa
Bray in the Regiment commanded by Col Roger Eno
that he and the rest of the Company enlisted as
minute men and were obliged to be ready on the
shortest notice to enter upon duly that they were
to draw half pay when not in actual service
and that soon after they enlisted their company was
called out and he with said company went to
horseneck in Connecticut and joined their Regiment
From Horseneck they marched to White Plains
and from thence to West Point and at the expiration
of three months from the time he was called into
service on said enlistment he was dismissed at
West Point and returned home to Southington
aforesaid where he then resided-- and that later
in the fall of the same year 1778 he
and the company aforesaid were again called
out under said enlistment and marched to
Page 7

Horseneck in the State of Connecticut when he
again joined his Regiment and continued stationed
at that place for the term of three months and was
dismissed late in
the winter or early in the spring
of 1779 having been in actual service under said
enlistment six months - That he recollects when at
White Plains that Congress Regiment Col Wyllys
Regiment and Col Miegs Regiment were menthat
and Hart is the only person whose testimony 
relative to said service he can conveniently provide
The applicant enlisted and served as a private
And he further states that in the month of
June 1780, he was drafted into the service of the 
United States from the Connecticuy militia and was
immediately ordered to Horseneck in Connecticut
when he joined the company commanded by
Capt Peter Curtis and in the Regiment
commanded by Col Beebe, and continued on
duty on said draft for the term of two month
stationed at Horseneck and its vicinity, and that ┃
Nathan Barnes whose Deposition is annexed is
the only person whose testimony relative to said
service he can procure
That he was residing at said Southington at the several
times when called into service, and served as a private
in each of sd tours, and that the circumstances
relative to his service are stated above as minutely
as he can now recollect, that he never received
any written discharge. That he is known to
Josh Indel and Benoni Plumb Jr of said Southington who
Page 8

can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution

He hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension or annuity [last two words inserted] except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State

                     [Signed]  Moses Mathews

Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid

We Josh Judd & Benoni Plumb Jr
residing in the Town of Southington in Hartford County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Moses Mathews who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be about seventy five 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 we concur in that opinion and believe that his statement is entitled to credit -  [Signed]  Josh  Judd
                           Benoni Plumb  Jr

Sworn and subscribed 
the day and year aforesaid
Page 9

and the said Court does hereby declares its opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented 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 the Court that Josh Judd and Benoni Plumb Jr who have signed the foregoing certificate are residents of the Town of Southington [last three words underlined] aforesaid and that their statement is entitled to credit -
              [Signed] Romeo Lowry Judge of
                           the Court of Probate for the
                             District of Southington in CT

I John Wightman Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Southington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Moses Mathews for a pension, and that the annexed Depositions signed by Nathan Barnes, Samuel Hitchcock & Ard Raft were taken & sworn to in sd Court -

               In testimony whereof I have hereunto
Sea           set my hand and seal of said Court
affixed      this 24th day of October A.D. 1832
here             [Signed]       John Wightman
Page 10

I Nathan Barnes formerly of Southington in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut now residing in the Town of New Hartford in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut depose and say that I am seventy three years of age and that in the month of June A.D. 1780 I was drafted into the service of the United States from the Connecticut militia and immediately went to Horseneck in Connecticut and remained on duty from the time of leaving home two month, in the Company of Capt Peter Curtiss and in the Regiment commanded by Col Bebe, and I further state that Moses Mathews of said Southington was drafted at the same time and served in said company for the same period that I did and as I believe it was called a two months Tour -   
                                  [Signed]  Nathan Barnes

And I further state that in the month of July or 1st of August 1776 upon an alarm that the British were approaching New York,
Page 11

I with many others of the militia of Southington aforesaid and the towns adjoining entered the company commanded by Lieutenant Shiloh Raft and the Regiment commanded by Col Strong as volunteers and immediately joined the main army at New York, when I continued in the service in sd company for about two months and I recollect that Moses Mathews of said Southington was with me as a volunteer in said company and continued there as long as I did and I believe for the term of two months
                     [Signed] Nathan Barnes

Sworn and subscribed
   Before me in Court
            [Signed] Romeo Lowery Judge
                          of Court of Probate for the
                           District of Southington
Page 12

I Samuel Hitchcock of the Town of Southington in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut of the age of Seventy five years depose and say that in the forepart of the month of September 1777, I was residing in said Southington and was Drafted from the militia  of said State to go to the state of New York, to serve in the Revolutionary war, that immediately after I was Drafted I went in the company commanded by Capt John Langdon, to [illegible word] in the State of New York near Peeks Kill from this we went to the highlands, and to Fishkill and to Red Hook. that after news reached us that Burgoyne had surrendered, I with the Company to which I belonged and the Regiment to which we belonged commanded by Col Nodiah Hooker, went down the River to Continental Barracks on the Highlands and was there dismissed after having been out about three months, and I think we were dismissed about the 1st of December - 1777 -

I further state that Moses Mathews of said Southington, was in the company of said John langdon [sic] and continued in the service in said
Page 13

company as long as I did and was dismissed at the same time and as I believe was on duty three months  
   [Signed]  Samuel Hitchcock

Sworn to and subscribed in Court
              Before me  Romeo Lowry Judge
       of Probate for Southington District

State of Connecticut
Southington District} Js  Southington June 19, A.D. 1833

I hereby certify that Nathan Barnes, Samuel Hitchcock & Ard Hart who have subscribed the accompanying Depositions and sworn to the same before me, are known to me to be credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit

   [Signed]  Romeo Lowry Judge of the
                  Court of Probate for the District 
                   of Southington in Connecticut

I, John Wightman Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Southington do hereby certify that Romeo Lowry whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificates, was a Judge of the Court of Probate and that the several accompanying signatures purporting to be his are his genuine signatures and that sd Court is a Court of Record 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 19th day of June 1833

                                [Signed]  John Wightman
Page 14

I Ard Hart of Burlington in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut of the age of Seventy one years depose and say that in the spring of the year A.D. 1778, I enlisted for the term of one year into the Connecticut State Troops to serve in the Revolutionary war, in the company commanded by Capt Asa Bray in the Regiment commanded by Col Roger Eno, the terms of Enlistment were that we should not be called into actual service for a longer term than three months at one time, we were called minute men, but whether we drew pay when not in actual service I cannot state - soon after I enlisted our company was called into actual service and marched to Horseneck in the State of Connecticut our company and Regiment was stationed at Horseneck White Plains and West Point, and perhaps some other place, but after having been out on duty I was dismissed at the end of three months at West Point, and returned home to Southington in the State of Connecticut where I then lived - sometime in the fall
Page 15

of the same year 1778. I with the rest of our company was again called out on sd enlistment and marched to Horseneck in Connecticut, where I staid with the rest of the Company and Regiment for a month or two and them in consequence of sickness returned home by the advise of my officers -

I further state that Moses Mathews was them and now of said Southington enlisted into said Company about the time that I did, and was out on duty in said Company in both of said tours during the time I staid, and as the rest of the Company staid in the last tour for the Term of Three months, I presume he was in actual service on sd Enlistment for the term of Six months in the whole- but as I was absent from the army part of the last term I cannot state with regard to his service for any longer term than I was on duty

And further the Deponent saith not
                                          [Signed Ard Hart
Page 16

Joel Bunnel of Berlin in the County of Hartford and saith that in the year 1776 he enlisted under Capt Asa Bray and that he well remembers that Moses Mathews of Southington in the County and State aforesaid enlisted at the same time  we marched together from Southington to Horseneck and from Horseneck we went to East Chester at the end of four months we were discharged together
                                         [Signed]  Joel Bunnel

Hartford County Berlin Septem 8th AD 1832
there appeared Joel Bunnell siner [sic] of the above deposition and made solemn Oath to the truth of the same

                      [Signed]  Norman Winchell Justice of the Peace

I certify that Joel Bunnel siner [sic] of the above Depposition [sic] is a man of Veracity and truth and that his testimony may b relid [sic] upon

                      [Signed] Norman Winchell Justice of the Peace

                     I John Wightman Clerk of the Court of Probate 
Seal              for the District of Southington in Connecticut 
                     hereby certify that Norman Winchell 
affixed          who hath signed the foregoing certificate 
                     is a Justice of the Peace, and I believe that 
here              the above is his genuine signature     In      
                     testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and 
                      the seal  of sd Court this 26th day of Octr 1832

                         [Signed]  John Wightman Clerk
Page 17

17.588

INVALID.
____________

File No.    17.558
Moses Mathews
Pri    Rev War
______________

Act:   June 7"  32

Index:---Vol.   1,    Page 241

[Arrangement of f1870]
Page 18

No. 16.677
Moses Mathews

[     ]  private


53.33

R. Lowry Esq.
Southington      Ct
Page 19

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claim, of which those answered. in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Moses Mathews  which require further proof or explanation.

I  Does the declaration show where the applicant 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 to enable the department to determine in what amount of pension he is entitled?   Yes
VI.  Has he given the names of 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
Page 20

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and other 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 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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?Yes
If he produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?  Yes
XV.  Does it appear from any papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  Yes

                                        ________________________
                                         EXPANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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, etc., 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_______- month,  and ______ days, I served s a __________________   For _________ months and  __________ days, I served as a _________________; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 21

                             3

     It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each 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.  Some person who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.   This form of declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

+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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
              In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.