Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14914, Abraham Adams, Conn.
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn.
Adams, Abraham
NUMBER
S. 14914
carded
CONTENTS
Dec. 2. 1745 at Reading Fairfield Co Conn
Atire april & ni 1833
Page 2

9946
Connecticut
Abraham Adams
of Fairfield in the State of Court
who was a Private in the Camp commanded
by Captain of the Regt commanded
by Col Silliman in the Court
line for 13 mos
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of June
1833 and trutto Claimant
Fairfield
1832
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 $86.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept '33 21.66 
$108.32
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Go. C. Stiles Clerk
Book E. Vol. 2. Page 1.
Page 3

State of Connecticut,
County of Fairfield
On this 16th day of March 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before
the Court of Probate for the District of Danbury
in the said County and State the same being of
Court of record and now sitting at Reading in the
said district and county
Abraham Adams a resident of
Reading in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut,
aged Eighty seven years, who being first 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 early in the month of May 1775, and
he believes about the 12th of said month, he enlisted
as a private soldier, or the term of six months
in the Regiment of Connecticut State troops commanded 
by Colonel [illegible] in the army in the Company
commanded by Captain Ramon Read that
immediately after he so enlisted, he joined the said Regiment at [illegible] ford in said County 
of Fairfield and there proceeded to the City of
New York. After remaining there a short time
the said Regiment proceeded up the Hudson
River to a place then called Hatz moon point 
name Waterford in the Said State of Newyork
He then proceeded with the said Regiment
the same having been joined by a [illegible] of
New York State troops of North [illegible] to St Johns
in Canada was engaged in skirmish with
Indians near the latter place and served
in the capture of the Fort of St Johns
he then marched with the said Regiment
to the City of Montreal and was in the same
at the capture of that place. he was then
discharged the latter part of the month of
November or early in the month of December
1775, and arrived home at his place of
residence on the 20th day of December
of that year. After the troops left the isle
Aux noix in October or November the
whole were under the command of General
Montgomery - A part of the time [illegible]
to General Montgomery's of [illegible] the
command the expedition was commanded
by General Schuyler He knows Captain
Page 4

Simon and Benedict of the same Regiment
in this term of service he served more than
seven months. He has not a distinct recollection
of the term for which he enlisted, although he
has stated above that he enlisted for six months
and he finds, different opinions exist among
the soldiers of that expedition, for how long a
time said Regiment was raised - but he
knows he served more than seven months as
the said That he was discharged attested
aforesaid verbally, and received no written discharge
II
That on the 20th day of June 1776 he
again enlisted in the Regiment of Connecticut

That on the 20th day of June 1776, he
State troops commanded by Colonel Gold S.
Silliman in the company commanded by
Captain Zalmon Read as a Private
soldier for the term of six months. He
joined said company immediately, and
marched with said Company to Long
Island found at Mill River in said Fairfield
County, where they embarked on board a
Sloop and arrived in the City of New York
about the 5th of July. In this campaign
he served as a Private in the said Regiment
and Company, the full term of six months
for which he enlisted. He was in the battle 
of Flat bush on Long Island in the month of
August and in the battle of White Plains
and was discharged at North Castle in
the State of New York on the 25th day of
December 1776. He received no written discharge
the Regiment was paraded and verbally
dismissed
That he was born in said Reading on the
2d day of December 1745. and has resided
all his life time in said Reading and resided
there at each time when he entered the service of the
United States as aforesaid. That at both times when he entered the service he entered by enlistment. He has no record of
his age, but the time of his birth as stated above, he believes
to be correct from information from his parents and also
from a record formerly in the possession of the Reverend
Page 5

Mr Beach an Apiscopal Clergyman have deceased
The Said Mr Beach having been dead more than forty
years he does not know where the said record
may now be found. That he now resides in said
Reading and has resided there ever since the Revolutionary
War, that being extremely aged and confined to his room He
has been unable to make personal enquiries for evidence in
support of his claim for a Pension, but has employed Thomas
B. Stanton Esquire as his agent who has been engaged in searching
[illegible] in his behalf [illegible] July 1832 and he knows of no other evidence
than what is said with exhibition
The said Abraham Adams 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.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
Abraham Adams his X mark
We, Hawley Lanford a clergyman, residing in the town of Reading
and John R. Hill residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well
acquainted with Abraham Adams, who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be eighty seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the
neighbourhood 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.
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
Hawley Sanford
John R Hill
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier,
and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Hawley
Sanford who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of
Reading and that John B. Hill who
has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Reading
and is a credible
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
I Edward Taylor Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District
of Danbury do hereby certify that the foreging contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application
of Abraham Adams for a Pension.
in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my said
16th day of March 1833
Attest Edward Taylor Clerk
Page 6

State of Connecticut
Winfield County SS
I Reuben Booth of Danby
the said County Judge other Court of Probate in
and for the District of Danbury in the said County and
[illegible] do hereby certify that Edward Taylor Esq. who
[illegible] certified the foregoing proceedings of the said
[illegible] is Clerk thereof duly appointed and Sworn
and was such Clerk then the same purport
& have been signed and certified by him that
the preceding signature purporting to be his
are genuine and that full faith and credit
are due to his final acts as such Clerk
the testimony whereof have hereunto
set my hand this 25th day of March
in the year 1833
Ruben Booth Judge of
Probate for the District of
Danbury Connecticut
Page 7

Admitted
Private 13 months
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: ⎬)
You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, shewing the service of Abraham Adams, of 
Fairfield Co Con.
Period when service was rendered
Enlisted 1775
Enlisted 1776
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years.
Months
7
6
Days.
Rank of the claimant.
Private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Colo Waterbury
Genls Schuyler  &
Montgomery
Colo G. S. Silliman
Age at present, and place of abode
when he entered the service.
Reading
Connct
Aged 87
Proof by which the declaration in supported.
Traditionary & living witness
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 9

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians [musicians] or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.

On this
day of
A. B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District of
   aged (c)    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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
  , with   and
served in the
(e) regiment of the   line, under the following named officers:
{Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.}
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
{And then will follow the certificate of the Court.}
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
I        of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C.D. residing in (the same)
who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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 days and year aforesaid.
{And then will follow the certificate of the Court.}
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 A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission:
but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 10

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
substitute, for whom?
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 services.
To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
, and what has become of it?
To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has become of it?
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, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow
the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 for
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."
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 persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or place 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.
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required. 
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i) The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
(j) 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 claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which he 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.
The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is
note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration
Page 11

In reply to your request of 5 inst, received 7 inst
for a statement of the military history of [underlined] Abraham Adams [/underlined]
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his [crossed out] (or his widow's) [/crossed out]
application for pension
on file in this Bureau.
[underlined] S. 14914 [/underlined]
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
May 1, 1775
June 22, 1776
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
Mass
7 mos
6 "
RANK.
Pri
"
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Zalmon Read
"   "
COLONEL.
Waterbury
Gold S. Silliman
STATE.
Conn
"
Battles engaged in, St Johns, Montreal, Flatbush, White Plains
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Reading Fairfield Co., Conn
Date of application for pension, Mch 16, 1833. His claim was [illegible]
Residence at date of application, Reading, Conn
Age at date of application, Born at Reading Conn Dec 2, 1745.
Remarks: No family data
Page 12

[handwritten]
May 1899
W E Grunmean
Hartford Conn
Jan.15.08. History to
Josiah Curtis
____________________
14914
INVALID.
File No. 14,914
Abraham Adams
Priv. Rev. War
---
Act: June 7 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 3
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 13

Record Division.
[crossed out] O. W. AND N. DIVISION. [/crossed out]
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Jany 10, 1908.
Searched by L.D. Lamparter
Original No.
Certificate No.
Claimant,
Soldier, Abraham Adams
Service, Com
Rev. War
Remarks: No claim as above
found except [illegible] #14914
Page 14

[handwritten]
State of Connecticut
Fairfield County ss
I Thomas Osborne Clerk of the County
Court within & for the County of Fairfield
and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Thomas B Fanton
Esquire whose
official signature appears to each of the foregoing
Certificate annexed to the Depositions of Joseph Jackson & Samuel
Mallery, was on the 27th day of August last & ever since has been
& now is, a Justice of the Peace for Fairfield County duly commissioned
& duly authorised [authorized] to administer oaths & take Depontions [depositions] &c. I further certify
that I am aquainted with the handwriting of the said Thomas Fanton Esq
and that I verily believe that signatures to Certificates
purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof
I have hereto set my hand & affixed the Seal of
said County Court in Fairfield this 19th day of
March AD 1833.
Thomas B Osbourne Clerk
of said County Court
[seal in lower left corner]
Page 15

[handwritten]
6
I Samuel Mallery of the Town of Redding in the County
of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of the age of eighty
one years, being duly cautioned and sworn, depose
and say that I am well acquainted with Abraham
Adams of said Redding & was during the Revolutionary war,
and that the said Adams enlisted a private
soldier in the Connecticut State troops of the Revolution
army for six month[s] some time in the month of June
AD 1776 in the same company which I served as orderly
Sargent commanded by Capt Talman Read and in
the Regiment commanded by Col Gould S. Silliman
and that the said Adams went with me from the place called
[illegible] in a [illegible] to New York & arrived them
[missing text] fore part of July where we encamped some time
and did the service at the different stations contiguous
thereto and was discharged at at Northcastle
on the 25th day of December of the same year
Saml Mallery
State of Connecticut   S.S. Redding 22 February 1833
Fairfield County        ⎬ 
On the day & year aforesaid personally appeared the
within named Samuel Mallery before me & made oath
to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed and
I certify that I am well acquainted with the said deponent &
that he sustains a good character for truth and is entitled
to full credit
Thoms B. Fanton Justice of the Peace
Page 16

[handwritten]
7
To Joseph Jackson of the Town of Arcadia, Warren County
and state of New York of the age seventy six years, being
duly sworn according to law, do depose and say that I am
well acquainted with Abram Adams of Ridding, Fairfield
County and State of Connecticut and was during the Revolution
War. And that said Adams enlisted in the month of May
or first part of June in the year 1775 in the state troops of
Connecticut in the Regiment commanded by Col Waterbury
of Hartford in said County in the company commanded
by Capt Talman Read of said Redding. I enlisted at the same
time and in the same company and was discharged at the same
time and place with the said Adams in the same
year after the time of enlistment expired which was for six
months.  We went to New York from thence up the north [illegible] to Albany
and from there on to the Canada lines and was at the siege of
the taking the Fort of St Johns and was in skirmish of about 60
Indians when some were killed on both sides, we are
discharged and got home in the month of December following.
[illegible] was commanded by Montgomery and further
say not.
Joseph Jackson
State of Connecticut
Fairfield County S.S.
Redding 27th August AD 1832
On the day and year aforesaid personally appeared the within
named Joseph Jackson and made solemn oath to the truth of
the within by him subscribed after being duly cautioned & I
certify that I am well acquainted with the deponent & that he is
entitled to credit in full & sustains a good character for truth
Thoms B. Fanton Justice of the Peace
Page 17

[Rev]             [?]

Addison N. Y.
January 5, 1908

To the Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington D. C.

Dear Sir;
Will you
kindly inform me if the names
of Stephen Beers and Abraham
Adams appear on roll of your
office as Pensioners of the
Revolutionary War.  They both
enlisted from Fairfield County
Conn. and probably from
Stratford.  If their names
appear will you give me the
full record of each man.

Very Respt Yours
Josiah Curtis

Dict.