Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,740, Reuben Tucker, Conn.
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(3--1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Tucker, Reuben

NUMBER
R. 10.740
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CONTENTS
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Reuben Tucker
" 1918
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Declaration
In order obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832
State of Connecticut State 
County of New-Haven,
Probate District, New Haven

On this 3d day of August 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Probate Court of 1st District at Derby now sitting, Reuben Tucker, a resident of the Town of Derby in the County of New-Haven, and State of Connecticut, aged 89 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 7, 1832--That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:- that is to say
In April 1777 He march as a volunteer to Danbury when an also was made that that place was invaded by the British arranged under Capt Nathaniel Johnson, he with others followed the enemy to Saugatuck Bridge when was a skirmish & them till they re-rembarked & was absent about a week
While he was at Danbury a quantity of Continental Stores said to be 300 Barrels were deposited my house for safe keeping. It consisted principally of Pork. On my return undertook the care of it & for about to weeks guarded it alone. After this men were sent to assist me who were relieve every 3 or 4 weeks, untill the stores were principally removed; which was done gradually being carted to Woodburg  & thence to the Lines. The last was taken away in the the part of the month
of October the same year. About the first of June, on Wednesday night about 12. O. Clock, leaving the guard at my house I went out to reconnoiter alone, having reason to suspect an attempt might be made to destroy the provisions. Having discovered & secured one man & obtaining from him a knowledge of nearly 30 more secreted in the immediate neighborhood at a place a little more than a quarter of a mile distant but who had now become alarmed. The applicant gave notice
to different individuals & the authority, of the town so that by morning they were guards at the passes to Waterbury whence they came &
were endeavoring to return in 3 or 4 places at the distance of 4 or 5 miles. The consequence was that from 20 to 30 were secured the next day & brought together at the Town House in Derby, where they were guarded for a month or more during which new discoveries were
made by which it appeared that they were enlisted by
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one Lake or Blake lately a deserter to the British from our own army had contrived to burn the provisions at my house & escape to Long Island. After the examination
of the Town House Lake was sent to the army, (by advice of Col David Humphreys then at Darby)  where I have understood the said Lake was tried & hung & a large number of the other prisoners were escorted under guard
to Hartford & confined in jail. It ought to have been related that lake did escape to Long Island and was retaken & brought back by a party from Stratford.
Thomas Horsey acted as Commissary over the provision at my house. But it is not recollected, if it was ever known whether he received his appointment from the State
or from Congress. The applicant was employed in the public service in this manner for six months *
About the middle of April 1779 according his best recollection this applicant was drafted as a private in the Militia & sent to Oyster Run a place between New Haven & Milford on the sound for two months. Silas Kimberly was Captain, one Higgins Lieutenant & one Booth
Ensign of said Company. The two former belonged to New Haven & the latter to Woodbridge in this County. He performed guard duty all the time. A few barrels of pork 
were found secreted in the woods doubtless intended to be carried to Long Island. No persons of this Company are remembered except Robert Pope & Noah Tomlinson both
of whom are dead.
On the 5th of July 1779 Applicant marched as a Volunteer to New Haven, met the British on the hill below in Haven & fought them all the way till they entered the town. A neighbor of mine Enos Bradley was shot through the head not far from him. Seeing in British soldier stalking beihind a fence with a view to fire upon a collection of people near a House in
place now called Hotchkiss town he was fired  on by two of us & killed. He had money in his pocket of which I had a dollar or two, which with mine shilling & six pence paid by Capt Nathl Johnson was all  this applicant ever received for  revolutionary services. While at New Haven fearing
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the enemy would land at Milford, he marched thither with some others & having been absent about a week returned home

He was born in Derby March 14, 1743 & has always lived in Derby. He believes the time of his birth is entered on the Town Records of Derby.

I am known to the Rev. Zephaniah Swift, Lemeul Stone, John L. Tomlinson and others of Derby, who testify to my character or veracity, and the belief of my service as a soldier of the Revolution
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any 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 Reuben Tucker
Attest- Anthy P Sanford Clk

We, Zepheniah Swift, a Clergyman, residing in 
Derby and Lemuel Stone residing in Derby do certify that we are well acquainted with Reuben Tucker who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be 89 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Zephaniah Swift
Attest -  Anthy P Sanford Clerk L Stone

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 Zephaniah Swift who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Derby and that Lemuel Stone who has also signed the same, is a resident in Derby and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit, & that Zephaniah Tucker and Ethely Kinney RE credible persons.

I, Anthy P. Sandford Clerk of the Probate Court of New Haven district do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the
matter of the application of Reuben Tucker 
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 3d day of Aug
1832 and as further certify that John L. Tomlinson Esq before whom the depositions  had been taken & is a Justice of the Peace for the County of New Haven duly commissioned and sworn and that full
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faith and credit, and to his official [illegible]
Anthony P. Sanford Clerk
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I, Zephaniah Tucker of Derby in New Haven
County of lawful age being duly sworn depose and say that I am in my 73d year & have always lived in Derby within about mile of my brother Reuben Tucker. I well remember
that the said Reuben Marched as a volunteer under Capt Johnson to Danbury & Saugatuck in April 1777. I was in the same company with him. I also went went with him to New Haven  in July 1777 when the British landed at Wilton
& marched thither.
I also know that he was detached & served a tour at Oyster Point below New  aven but cannot remember how long he served there nor the precise year of the service
I very distinctly remember that public Stout were deposited & guarded & drawn from the said Reuben House in 1777 & that during this time a number of Tories were taken thro [through] his vigilance & secured. But I cannot tell how much time he was engaged about them. I know generally that he was very active in watching the Tory & guarding the public inst at that time --- --- & further saith not

Derby July 31, 1832
Zephaniah Tucker

New Haven County Derby July 31. 1832
Personally appeared Zephaniah Tucker well known to me as a man of truth, signer of the foregoing Deposition & made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me
John L Tomlinson Just of Peace
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Zeph. Tucker Dept
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I, Ethel Keeney of Derby in New Haven County
State of Connecticut being duly sworn depose & say that in the summer of 1777 according to my best recollection I understood a quantity of public stores, which were put
up in this town under the directions of Thomas Horsey then acting Commissary (but whether under a Commission from Congress or the State of Connecticut this Deponent does not know) were deposited at the Dwelling House of Reuben Tucker in this town about two miles from my place a residence. An attempt to destroy these Stores, wa  defeated by a discovery by said Tucker, in
consequence of which many persons were arrested & confined under guard at the Town House in Derby.
Having been one of the guards, I frequently saw said Tucker at the Town House. I know he was an active man at that time against the enemy & was much engaged to forward the objects of the revolution. But I do not know how long said provisions they were at his house, nor how much he was engaged in arresting & securing prisoners
But his time was almost wholly taken up in this way while I was acting as guard as aforesaid & further saith not. Derby Augt 9, 1882
Ethel Keene
Subscribed & sworn on the date above before me
John L Tomberson Just of Peace
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No 11
Reuben Tucker
Weaver & Caffe, Atty
Feb 1853 Present
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AFFIDAVIT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF Connecticut
COUNTY OF New Haven
.
Be it remembered, That on this Twentieth day of November A.D. 1852, I, Daniel Tucker do make known and declare that I am the nephew and heir-at-law to Reuben Tucker
who was a Revolutionary soldier, who served some years, under the command of --- in the forces raised by the State of Connecticut that he died about the month of October A.D. 1842 and that no pension was drawn by said
Reuben Tucker on account of said services,
nothing has been received by either, or the heirs of either of said parties up to this time. Application was made by said Reuben Tucker under the act of 1832, but the same was not granted
And that claimant is now 70 years of age; and it is understood and believed that there
are arrearages of Pension, and other claims due for said service: NOW, THEREFORE, the true intent of all this is to qualify and irrevocably appoint and empower ALFRED J. WORKS, of New Haven City and County, State of Connecticut, as my Attorney, with power of substitution, to investigate, substantiate, demand, and receive the avails of said claim or claims, and to say and do all things relative thereto, as amply as I might do: hereby ratifying every thing said or done by my said Attorney, or his substitute, in virtue hereof; ALSO, revoking all Powers of Attorney, or other authority previously given for any such purposes.
Attest, Wm Goodwin  Henry Seck Jr
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, day and date first above named.
Daniel Tucker

Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me, the day and year first above indicated.
Wm Goodwin
Notary Public
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1918
Connecticut
Reuben Tucker
Rejected
act 7 June 1832
See letter to Chas A [illegible record]
13 Nov 1832
St A Tibbatts July 12/53
10740
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P. O.
10.144.
Reuben Tucker
Service:
Enlisted: REECTED, 18
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To whom it may concern
This certifies that at & previous to my settlement over the Church & Society in Winchester Centre Connecticut, a man
by the name of Reuben Tucker lived in this parish, & with whom I was acquainted as one of my parishioners; also that he died July
4th 1841. He is spoken of as a revolutionary soldier. I have been many years acquainted with the said Tuckers oldest daughter, & for near twenty years was well acquainted with his son Isaac Tucker, who did several years ince in Michigan. His eldest daughter Martha, (above alluded to) died in this place June 4, 1852 His oldest son Reuben removed to Vt & his only other son moved to Pennsylvania & died
some 30 years ago.
I hereby certify also that Lucy Beckley a daughter of the above named Martha, is an inhabitant of this place, with whom I have
been acquainted from her childhood
Attest, Frederick Marsh
Winchester Centre
December 16. 1852
The above statement I know to be perfectly correct by personal knowledge was personally acquainted with the said Reuben Tucker
Pliny Foot of Norfolk
I recollected of hearing the said Reuben 
Tucker relate circumstances that took place
when he was on duty in the revolutionary
Pliny Foot
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State of Connecticut County of Litchfield
Norfolk April 8th 1843
Hon E Heath Esqr Sir
In behalf of Mrs Beckley Grand daughter of Reuben Tucker a Revolutionary Soldier Deceased being destitute of means to procure legal depositions to prove that she is grand daughter to the said Reuben Tucker Deceased - I enclose a statement of the Rev Frederick Marsh & Pliny Foot Persons well known to me as respectable citizens credible witnesses in order to show to the department that her
Beckley is lawful heir to Reuben Tucker in consequence of an Advertisement in a publick [public] News Paper that there is Pension due the heirs of the said Tucker & Also that
application has been made to A L Worth Esq of Newhaven to establish a pension for the said Tuckers heirs
And I further state that in case there is now due the said Tucker Heirs: Legal proof will be produced that Mrs Beckley is legal heir to the said Reuben Tucker Deceased
Most Respectfully your Obedient Servant
Aaron TIbbetts 
for Commisioner of Pensions