Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12149, Thomas Beckwith, Conn. Conn. Sea Service
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(3-1776)

SERVICE  NUMBER
Conn.  Beckwith, Thomas  S.12149.
Conn. Sea Service

Carded
CONTENTS
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14712
New York

Thomas Beckwith
of Geneva in the State of N. York who was a Pri & Seaman in the Company commanded by Captain Lay of the Regt commanded by Col Parsons in the Con Militia line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of N York at the rate of 84 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of June 1833 and sent H. U. Soper
Batavia NY.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $168:00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 $42:00

$210:00

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Geo B Whiting Clerk,
Book E Vol. 4 Page 45

1836 Augt 19 Paul Beckwith

Decd Feb 14 1854
See A. B.
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Thomas Beckwith's Declaration -

18379
2

Please make returns to H. U. Soper, Batavia
New York. -

admd
6 mo. Sailor
18 mo pri
24

the day and year aforesaid in open court  Thomas Beckwith 
Timothy Fitch Clerk 
State of New York
Genesee County } ss: I, Timothy Fitch, clerk of said court certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of said court in the case of the Annulment to etc. Declaration of Thomas Beckwith.-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th Feby 1833.
Timothy Fitch
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State of New York
Genesee County Ss
Ithamer Smith being duly sworn saith that he is Seventy four years of age, that he now resides in the town of Covington Genesee County & State aforesaid that he is well acquainted with Thomas Beckwith, that he knew said Thomas at New London in the State of Connecticut during the revolutionary war, that in the winter of the year 1777 - he this deponent together with said Thomas were engaged in the defence of the United States at said place that they both belonged to Capt Lee Lay Companys of Militia Col Dyer Throops Regiment, that said Thomas served during said [illegible] at said place as aforesaid for the term of four months and was regularly discharged at said place - said Smith further says that he was knowing that said Beckwith did serve a second campaign at New London in the year 1778
Ithamer Smith

Subscribed & sworn this 29 day of September 1832 before me }
James Sprague Jr Justice

And I further certify that Ithamer Smith who made the foregoing affidavit before me is well known to me and that he is a man of credibility and his affidavit is entitled to credit.
James Sprague Jr Justice
State of New York
Genesee County Ss: } I, Timothy Fitch, Clerk of said county certify, that James Sprague Jr, before whom the above affidavit purports to have been taken and made on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said county. And that I am well acquainted with the signature of said Justice subscribed to the said affidavit and verily believe the same to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my official seal this twenty fifth day of October 1832.
Timothy Fitch Clerk
By B. Pringle Dep Clk
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State of New York
Genesee County } ss: I, Timothy Fitch, Clerk fo the county of Genesee hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of James Sprague Jr. a Justice of the Peace of said county and verily believe his signature to the certificate of the credibility of the person making the affidavit, to be his own hand writing. -
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th. Feby. 1833
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Declaration of Thomas Beckwith, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, present June 7. 1832-

State of New York
Genesee County ss }
On this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said county of Genesee, being a court of Record and having a seal, now sitting in the town of Batavia in the said county of Genesee, Thomas Beckwith, a resident of the town of Batavia in the county of Genesee and State of New York, aged 73 years on the 3d. day of April 1832, 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 present June 7. 1832-
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That at the time of his first enlistment he resided in the town of Lime [Lyme] in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, that he enlisted in the Ct. State militia on the ninth day of September 1776 into Capt Lee Lay's Company and was enlisted by Lieut. John Griswold and that the Ensign of the Company was Sylvanus Smith, that two fo the seargeants [sergeants] were Joseph Hait and Sands Champlin - that the Company was attached to the 3d. Regiment of Connecticut line commanded by Col Marshfield Parsons and Major John Ely - that he enlisted for four months and that he immediately went with the Company to the mouth of the Connecticut River as a Guard and that the Company was called the Governors Guard - that he remained there until the 10th January 1777 after having served four month when he received a regular discharge; which he has lost and then returned home where he remained a few days and on the 15th January 1777 he volunteered to go to New London, the lot fell upon Capt Lee Lay to take the command of the Company, which was attached to Col. Dyer Throop's Regiment of the Connecticut State line - Nathan Gallup of Groton Ct. was the Major John Griffin, 1st. Lieut. of Company, Daniel Lout 2d. Lieut. Daniel Hall, Ensign, Seth Smith and John Ayers, seargeants [sergeants]
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and Enoch Sill, Seargeant [Sergeant] Major, - marched directly to New London and remained there four month in Col. Throop's Regiment, which consisted of eight companies, to guard the fort, when he was discharged regularly by the commanding officer and went home. - that he remained at home until the last of April 1777 when he volunteered again for two months in the state service, in Capt Salish Beebe's Company, Lieut. Thomas May, Ensign William Perkins, in Col. Throop's Regiment, under the same field officers as before, and marched directly to New London and was stationed there for two months when he was again discharged verbally and went home, where he remained until about the first of July 1777 when he was again called and and was enlisted into the State service of Connecticut by Lieut John Griswold in Capt Asa Palmer's company - 1st. Lieut. Richard Chapman, 2d. Lieutenant, Chapman, whose christian name he cannot recollect, Ensign, John Shipman and was attached to Col. John Ely's Regiment, Major Buell, whose first name he does not know - that he enlisted for six months and marched immediately to New London and remained there until September following, when he marched to the Island of [crossed out] Rhode Island and was stationed at Tivertown [Tiverton] and remained there until about the 20th October 1777 when they received news of the surrender of Burgoyne and then marched back to New London by the way of Providence and remained there a short time on Guard when Gen. Samuel H. Parsons came and ordered Col. Ely to march with his Regiment to the town of Norwalk in the County of Fairfield Ct. - immediately marched to Norwalk and there were embarked on board of sloops and schooners on a scout expedition for the purpose of surprising a fort in the possession of the British in the town of Brookhaven on Long Island and about 18 or 20 miles east of the town of Huntingdon. After embarking we were discovered by two British ships who took one of our vessels in which were Col. Ely and Col. Webb who were taken prisoners and that the remainder of the vessels were driven on shore - that he landed on Long Island and with the others who had embarked with him, marched 60 or 70 miles to [illegible] Point and was then taken off and carried to New London and soon after in December, he thinks, was discharged verbally after having served the six months for which
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he enlisted, when he went home and remained until some time in January 1778 when he was drafted from the company to which he belonged and marched immediately to New London Ct. and was put into a company commanded by Capt Joseph Davis, Lieut Reymond, Ensign Bradford whose christian name he cannot recollect, that he was attached to the 3d. Regiment commanded by Col. Jonathan Latimer, Major Ledyard, and was stationed at Fort Griswold on Groton Hill, opposite to New London and remained there four months until the last of April, when he was paid off and verbally discharged and went home, where he remained a few days, until some time in may 1778, when he was enlisted by Lieut. James Angel on board of a State Brig in the State service of Ct. called Defence, mounting 16 guns and carrying 120 men. Seth Harding was Capt. Samuel Smedley was 1st. Lieutenant, he was an assistant to Nehemiah Whiting, the Surgeon of the Ship.- we sailed from New London some time about the last of June, or the first of July and cruised to the south of the Bermuda Islands and remained in that latitude about one month and captured one ship that had been to Guinea and one from Jamaica, their names he does not recollect - they were manned and sent into New London, where they were sold at auction and one sailed off Newfoundland and cruised in that latitude a few days on the look out for fishing vessels when we came back into New London - While we were in Port, Capt. Harding left the vessel having been promoted, and Lieut Smedley took the command and we cruised again to the south near the Bermudas and remained there between 40 and 50 days - took no prizes and had no battles - were chased by a British Frigate when we escaped by fast sailing and the approaching darkness, that the vessel then returned into Port at Boston when he was discharged which he thinks was on the last of November or the first of December 1778 and then went home, where he remained until some time in the last part of the winter of 1779 but the month he cannot recollect, he was again drafted into the state militia of Connecticut and marched to New London and served two months under Capt. John Hampstead, Lieut. Harner, Ensign, George Hay in the 3d. Regiment of Ct. militia, commanded by Col. Ledyard does not recollect any other officers - served two months

[in margin] 4 mo.

2 mo.
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and was discharged and he went into the naval service on board of a Privateer and served about one year - That he was born in the town of Lime [Lyme] in the county of New London and state of Connecticut on the 3d. April 1759 - that there is a Record of his age in the town clerk's office of Lime [Lyme] aforesaid as he verily believes - that he lived in the town of Lime [Lyme] aforesaid after his service in the Revolutionary war until the year 1807 when he removed to the town of Batavia in the County of Genesee and State of New York where he has resided ever since that he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. - He 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. - that the Rev Theophilus Crocker - and Col. Samuel Huntingdon live in his neighborhood, are well acquainted with him and can testify as to the character of the said applicant for veracity and their belief in his services as a revolutionary soldier. -
Thomas Beckwith

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
Timothy Fitch Clerk

We Theophilus Crocker a Clergyman [crossed out] residing in the town of Bethany in the county of Genesee and State of New York and in the neighborhood of the said Thomas Beckwith and Hugh Wallas a clergyman ["Samuel Huntingdon" crossed out] residing in the town of Pembroke in said county ["same place" crossed out] hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Beckwith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion -
Theo. Crocker
Hugh Wallis
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
Timothy Fitch Clerk

Thomas Beckwith
Declaration
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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 Hugh Wallis who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Pembroke in the County of Genesee and state of New York and that Theophilus Crocker who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Bethany in the said County and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Isaac Wilson
Robert Carll jr
William Mitchell

I, Timothy Fitch, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county of Genesee in said State, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the ["opinion" crossed out] application of Thomas Beckwith for a pension.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this sixteenth day of October 1832.-
Timothy Fitch Clerk

Amendment to the Declaration of Thomas Beckwith.-
State of New York
Genesee County } Ss: On this eleventh day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, now sitting in the town of Batavia in and for said county, Thomas Beckwith, who being duly sworn deposeth and doth on oath make the following amendments in explanation of his foregoing declaration - that he served in the militia during all
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the periods of his service twenty two months as a private soldier - That he enlisted on board the Brigg [brig] Defence for two terms of three months each as a common sailor and that he served the whole term of six months as a common sailor and received pay as a common sailor except that during a part of the term of his first enlistment he assisted the surgeon in his duties, although he was a sailor and received pay as a sailor. - That immediately upon the expiration of his first term of enlistment, while he was in the port of New London and when Lieut. Smedley took the command of the Brigg [brig], he enlisted for the second term of three months as a common sailor and served during the term as such - that, at the time of making his declaration he did not think it necessary to mention these two terms of service as distinct, as one immediately succeeded the other and he enlisted and served during the second term without leaving the service -
Thomas Beckwith

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court
Timothy Fitch Clerk

State of New York
Genesee County } ss: I, Timothy Fitch, Clerk of said court certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of said court in the case of the Amendment to the Declaration of Thomas Beckwith.-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th Feby. 1833.
Timothy Fitch Clk
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November 1, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thomas Beckwith, S. 12149
BA-J/MCS
[illegible]

Mrs. M. M. Lewis
80-90 Eighth Avenue
New York City

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information relative to a Revolutionary War soldier, Thomas Beckwith, who was born about 1747 at Lyme, Connecticut, served under Captain Lay and Colonel Parsons and on the brig Defiance, and who died at Burlington, Connecticut, October 22, 1829.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 12149, based upon the service of the only Thomas Beckwith that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Thomas Beckwith was born April 3, 1759, in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut. The names of his parents were not given.
He enlisted and served as private with the Connecticut troops as follows: from September 9, 1776, until January 10, 1777, in Captain Lee Lay's company in Colonel Marshfield Parsons' regiment; from January 15, 1777, until sometime in April, 1777, in Captain Lee Lay's company in Colonel Dyer Throop's regiment; from late in April, 1777, two months in Captain Jabish Beebe's company in Colonel Throop's regiment; from about the first of July, 1777, six months in Captain Asa Palmer's company in Colonel John Ely's regiment; from January, 1778, until the last of April, 1778, in Captain Joseph Davis' company in Colonel Jonathan Lattimer's regiment. In May, 1778, he went on board the Connecticut State brig, Defence, which was commanded by Captain Seth Harding, and served as common sailor with the exception of the time when he served as assistant to Nehemiah Whitney who was surgeon of the ship; they sailed from New London, Connecticut, about the last of June or first of July and cruised to the south of the Bermuda Islands, captured two ships, sailed off Newfoundland and from there returned to New London; Lieutenant Smedley then took command of the ship and they again cruised near the Bermuda Islands, returned to port at Boston where Thomas Beckwith was discharged the last of November of the first
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of December, 1778. The last part of the winter of 1779 Thomas Beckwith served two months as private in Captain John Hempstead's company in Colonel Ledyard's Connecticut regiment. He then went into the naval service on board of a privateer and served about one year, no details given.
Thomas Beckwith lived in Lyme, Connecticut, until 1807 when he moved to Batavia, Genesee County, New York.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 16, 1832, at which time he was living in Batavia, Genesee County, New York.
Thomas Beckwith died February 14, 1854.
There are no data on file relative to the family of this soldier.
Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 14

19[illegible] Nov. 8. History to Miss Lonnie M. Beckwith.
1937 Nov. 1. hist to Miss M. M. Lewis M. C. S.

12149
INVALID.
Rev War

File No. 12,149
Thomas Beckwith
Seaman, Rev. war

Act: June 7th. 1832
Index:-Vol. A, Page 29
[Arrangement of 1879.]
Page 15

Letter-
H. M. Soper
to
Pension Office -

Conn-
Simeon Catlin -
Thomas Beckwith -
Leonard Reed -
Samuel Kelsey -
John Burnham -
Page 16

Batavia N. Y. April 4, 1833~

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions,

Sir,
I enclose the amended papers of Thomas Beckwith. I see, by endorsement on back that the claim is admitted and could see no defect in papers except the manner of attaching seal and have corrected them in that respect. -
Also of Leonard Reed with the same defect corrected. -
Also a letter from Department. I have received the certificate of Mr. Huntingdon - increased pension - and presume there must have been some mistake in the office. -
I enclosed some time since the certificate of John Burnham with the necessary affidavit for an increase of Pension and have not yet heard from it. - Did his papers arrive safe at the Department? -
Also of Samuel Kelsey - with certificate of credibility -
Also of Simeon Catlin - do -
If the claims are now correct you will please forward certificates to me as soon as convenient-
I am very Respectfully
Yr. Obt. Servt.
H. U. Soper

Thomas Beckwith
Leonard Reed
John Burnham
Samuel Kelsey } & Simeon Catlin }
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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 Thos Beckwith 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 to what amout [amount] of pension he is entitled? - No
The term & grade of service on board the Defence should be specially set forth

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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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?
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?
Serving for 2 terms of 4 Months each Knows of no one who can prove the balance
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? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been 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?

XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? ["No" crossed out]

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 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 and - - days, I served as a - -; and for such service I claim a pension."
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THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Publishers
80-90 EIGHTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.
October 26, 1937

M. M. LEWIS
RESEARCH AND STATISTICS
Genealogical Service
With Cited Authority

TELEPHONES WATKINS { 9-7751
{ 9-7752
CABLE ADDRESS { 9-7753
LEWHOSO - NEW YORK { 9-7754

STEVENS C & R LIN. WSF-1

Dear Sirs:
Will you please send us any and all available Revolutionary War records on the following:
THOMAS BECKWITH, son of Philip and Abigail (Harvey) Beckwith, was born about 1747 at Lyme, Connecticut, and died at Burlington, Connecticut, October 22, 1829. He married about 1768 Parnell Brockway. He enlisted, 1776, in the Revolutionary Army, Capt. Lay's Company, Colonel Parson's Regiment, Third Connecticut Line. He saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and re-enlisted in 1777 for two months, and in 1778 for four months. He was drafted in 1778, on the brig "Defiance" for three months and served in the privateer service for six years.
Thank you.

Very truly yours,
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
M M Lewis
M. M. Lewis

MML:AC:DMD

M 4.

Bureau of Pensions
Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C.

[stamp] RECEIVED
OCT 27 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM.
READER No. 16

Publishers
HISTORY
GENEALOGY
BIOGRAPHY
HERALDRY
Page 20

[stamp] PENSION
O
[illegible]
U. 1. S.
1906
OFFICE

[stamp] O. W. & N. DIV.
NOV
1
1906
[illegible]

29 N Pleasant St.
Oberlin Ohio.
Oct. 31, 1906.

Pension Office.
I would like to know if Thomas Beckwith, born at Lyme Conn. 1746, enlisted in the Revolutionary Army 1776, drafted 1778 on the brig "Defiance" & served in the privateer service six years, received a pension.
If so can you send me a paper certifying to the fact, that I
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can present to the Registrar General of the D. A. R.
If there is any expense in connection with the matter I will remit.
Yours Resp.
(Miss) Lonie M. Beckwith

[stamp] PENSION
O
NOV
U. 1 S.
1908
OFFICE.
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Sur. File 12149.
Thomas Beckwith
B. Lime [Lyme] Apl. 3. 1759
Page 23

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

Division of Veteran's Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME Beckwith, Timothy GRADE Private LINE Connecticut

WARRANT NUMBER 5458 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Nov. 15, 1791
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 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 application 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.