Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19166, Joel Wills, Conn.
Page 1

(3--1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Wills, Joel

NUMBER
S. 19166

carded
-----------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
Page 2

Vermont 28.472  
Joel Wills of Rutland in the State of Vermont, who was a pr. in the company commanded by Capt Brown  of the – commanded  by - in the Cont. line for 7 months. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of June 34 
and sent to  Hon W. Slade  H.R.  
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 34 76.00 
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 4 Sept    11.66 
$87.66 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by Nath. Rice Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 3 Page 99. 
Order to pay 4 Dec 1837 
Order to pay 1 Oct 1838
Page 3

Zilpha Rollins
Aff. [affidavit]
Case of Joel Wills
With paper of Enos Dean
Hon H. Evans
Page 4

I, Zilpha Rollins of Pittsford in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont of lawful age testify and say that I am now about Seventy two years of age, that when I was a girl and living with my father John Wills in the Town of Norwich State of Connecticut in the time of the Revolutionary War, my Brother Joel Wills, served several times in the Militia against the British one time he was drafted. I should think he was out in the service in all six or seven months, I recollect of his coming home one time on a Furlough, I recollect of hearing his furlough read, I should say he staid at home only a few days, and then returned to the service - I recollect that my father sent my Brother Jacob Wills with a horse to help my Brother Joel home after he had finished his term of service.  
Zilpha Rollins her mark 
State of Vermont 
Rutland County } Pittsford 11th Jany 1834  
Personally appeared Zilpha Rollins signer of the foregoing Deposition and after being duly cautioned, and carefully examined made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by her subscribed on as the Truth whole truth and nothing but the truth according her best recollection
Before me G. F. Hindes Jut Peace [Justice of the Peace] 
On the day and year above mentioned
Page 5

personally appeared Caleb Hindes & Simeon McCannon and made oath that they had been personally acquainted with the before named Zilpha Rollins for about twenty years and that they consider her to be a woman of truth and veracity
G F Hindes Just Peace
Page 6

STATE OF VERMONT. 
RUTLAND COUNTY, SS.} 
On this 29 day of March A. D. 1834 personally appeared before the Probate Court of the County of Rutland Joel Wills a resident of the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 69 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, in the year 1781 and served in Gen’l Tyler & Col Parson's Regiment of the Connecticut line under the following named officers. In 1781, he lived at Norwich Conn. and belonged to Capt Carew’s company of Militia, and soon after New London was burnt, he was drafted for one month & marched to New London under Capt Carew, Lt. Laduess, & served there one month, & was discharged the latter part of Oct. but received no written discharge. He had been at home but a few days before he engaged as a substitute for Elijah Badcock for two months, & marched to New London the last of Oct or 1 Nov. & served under Capt Simeon Edgerton, Lt. Buell, Ensign Chamberlin & occupied a house owned by one Heisman, with the keep to which he belonged [unreadable] & served two months there & was discharged about the 1 Jan 1782, but received no written discharge.  About the middle of Jany. 1782 he engaged as a substitute for one John Hines, in Capt. Christopher Brown’s Company Ensign Ebenz’r Johnson -  has forgot his Lt’s name & lived two months at Fort Trumbull, New London.  Col McClellen commanded the Fort at the time, & was discharged about the middle of March 1782. About the 1 Apr 1782, as near as he can recollect, he engaged for two months as a substitute for Dan’l Ladd in Capt Abner Comstock’s Company Lt. Ros Randall, Ensign Jos Whitford & served two months at Fort Trumbull Col. McClellan had the command & was discharged about 1 June 1782, but rec’d no written discharge. He served under Adjutants Morgan & Root. Quarter Master Sears. Serg Major Griffin - Stevens Brigade marched thro' whilst he was there – Col. Well's Regt was there. He does not remember so as to give the names of other officers whom he knew in service, nor as to distinguish other corps with whom he served.   He was born at Norwich Conn. 1. Dec. 1764 - he believes.
Page 7

his age was recorded there - he has no record of his age .  
Soon after the revolutionary war he moved to Chelsea with his father & lived there seven years - since which he lived in German Flats & other places in New York -  12 years hence which he has lived in Middlebury, Weybridge, Lester.  Pittsford & Brandon, & for the last 19 years in Brandon. He is known to the Rev Ira Ingraham of Brandon, Danl Farrington Esq. & most of the inhabitants. He has no evidence of his services, except the affidavit of his sister Zilpha Rollins, which he now offers, and he has made diligent search & enquiry & can find no further testimony, never having rec’d a written discharge/
State of Vermont 
Rutland SS} 
We Ira Ingraham a Clergyman residing in Brandon in the County of Rutland & Daniel Farrington residing in the same Brandon, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joel Wills who has subscribed & sworn to this declaration, that we believe him to be 69 years old-- 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 
Ira Ingraham
Daniel Farrington
Subscribed & sworn the day & year aforesaid 
F. W. Hopkins Reg.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Joel Wills 
F W Hopkins Reg 
And after the investigation of the matter, after the interrogatories as proscribed by the War Dept the said Court do hereby declare their opinion 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 Ira Ingraham who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Brandon aforesaid & that David Farrington Esq who has also signed the same is a resident of Brandon is a credible person & that their statements is entitled to credit.
I Frederick W. Hopkins Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joel Wills for a pension 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and of office at Rutland this 31st day of March A.D. 1834 
F W Hopkins, Reg.
Page 8

Joel Wills 
7 months 
31.173. 
Admit as private 
7 mo. $23.33 
Hon W. Slade
Page 9

19166 
INVALID. 
File No. 19,166
Pri Rev War
Act June 7” ‘32
Index: -- Vol.  1  Page 422 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 10

H of Reps 
June 18. 1834 
J. L. Edwards Esq. 
Dear Sir
 I send herewith the pension papers of Joel Wills which I have rec’d from Mr. Temple. I also send his letter to me which compound the papers, by which you will perceive that testimony touching this case has been before transmitted to me.  I recollect that I rec’d something from Capt Farrington soon after Temple left here, and my impression is that I sent or handed it to you. I cannot find it among my papers. If you can find nothing connected with the case please inform me.
Very respectfully 
W. Slade
Page 11

Bank of Burlington 
Sept 20. 1838 
J. L. Edwards 
Com of Pensions 
Sir
Herewith I forward the vouchers of 
Joel Wills
Ebenezer Giles Esq} 
For your authority to pay 
Very Respectfully 
Yr Obt Servant 
For E. S. English 
English Pension Agent
Page 12

R. Temple
June 10, 1834
Enclosed Joel Wills pension papers
[stamp] RUTLAND VT JAN 10
Hon. William Slade
M. C.
City of Washington
Page 13

Rutland 10 June 1834 
D. Sir
Capt Farrington has just informed me that he enclosed some testimony to you to support the claim of Joel Wills - but as you did not get it in time to hand it to me at Washington, I did not present the declaration at the Pension office.  I now enclose it & will thank you to and it with the proof to the office & inform of the result.   
Respectfully 
Your Sevt
R. Temple
Hon Wm Slade
Page 14

Dec 2d
Mr. Evans
[stamp] BURLINGTON VT NOV 28
FREE
J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Page 15

Bank of Burlington 
Nov 27th 1837 
J. L. Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
Sir
Herewith I forward for examination the papers of Joel Wills to whom a years stipend is due.
Respectfully Yours
E. T. Engleby 
& W. F. Griswold
Page 16

Comptrollers Office 
April 9th 1834 
I Elisha Phelps Comptroller of Public accounts of the State of Connecticut, do certify that it appears by the Journal of the Council of Safety under date 26th September 1777 that Christopher Brown was appointed Captain & Joshua Whitford Ens.  of the 6th Co. 8th Regt of Connecticut Militia & that  I find no pay roll of his company charged to the United States. If in service, the pay roll may have been charged in pay abstract of the regiment in which he served.
That the pay roll of Capt. Simeon Egerton is charged to the United States under date November 2nd 1779. 
That the pay roll of Capt. Joseph Carews companies are charged, one under date August 27th 1779, & the other Nov 16th 1780, & for service at New London. 
That the pay roll of Capt Abner Comstock company at New London in charged to the United States under date May 29th 1782.
Page 17

That no rolls of either of these companies have been found, or evidence of the duration of their service. And that it appears by the journal of the Council of Safety & books of the Pay Table that Col Samuel McClellan served at New London in the years 1779 - 1780 - 1781 & 1782. 
E Phelps
Page 18

Joel Wills
applicant
------------------------------
Deposition of Zilpha Robbins



Hon. W. Slade HR
Page 19

I Zilpha Rollins of Pittsford in the County of Rutland and State of Vermont of lawful age testify and say that while I was a girl and living with my Father John Wills at a place called the west Farms in the State of Connecticut my Brother Joel Wills next younger than myself went twice or more as a soldier in the Revolutionary War six months or more - I should say each time, I recollect of his coming home once on a furlough as he called it and returned again to the Army.  I am now seventy two years of age, my Brother Joel now lives in the town of Brandon in this County is a Single man & never was married 
Pittsford 23d Apl 1834
Zilpha Rollins her mark
State of Vermont
Rutland County SS}
Personally appeared County before me the Subscriber authority on the day & date above mentioned  Zilpha Rollins and after being duly cautioned & carefully examined made oath that the above Deposition by her subscribed contains the truth & nothing but the truth 
G. F. Hindes Just Peace
Pittsford Apl 23 1834 I hereby certify say that I have been acquainted with above named Zilpha Rollins for many and consider her a person of truth & veracity
C. Hindes 
Sworn before me G. F. Hindes Just Peace
Page 20

State of Vermont}
Rutland County ss}
I, Robert Pierpoint clerk of the county court for the county of Rutland, certify that German F. Hindes is a Justice of the peace for the county of Rutland ,  duly commissioned and that his signatures to the within {unreadable] are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court of Rutland this 28th day of April  A.D. 1834.
                 R. Pierpoint     Clerk