Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13474, for Russell Hunt, Connecticut
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Hunt, Russell

NUMBER
S.13474

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

[left column] 
Hon. Truman Smith 21 May 1850

[right column]
31.193
Connecticut
Russell Hunt
of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut
who was a private in the compy commanded
by Captain Burrall of the _____  commanded
by _____ in the Connt, State troops
for 12 mos private

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of August,
and sent to Wm. M.
Burrill, South Canaan, Connt
-
Arrears to the 4th of March, 37 = $240.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "20.00
$260.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk
Book E2 Vol. 3, Page 19
Page 3

33314
Page 4

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of Connecticut Court of Probate District
County of Litchfield Sharon
6
On this 25th day of July AD 1834 Personally
appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate within
and for the District of Sharon in the County aforesaid
now sitting, Russell Hunt now a resident in the Town of
Litchfield in said County aged Seventy two 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 entered the service of the United States under the
following named Officers and served as herein stated

I was born in the Town of Canaan in the County of Litchfield
and State of Connecticut on the 11th day of October AD 1762
and continued to reside in said Town of Canaan untill
the first of May AD 1778 at which time I was drafted
for six months service in the revolutionary war into a
company commanded by Captain John Ensign of said
Canaan Lieutenant Pratt of Goshen and the name of
the Ensign I do not recollect but well remember that
Harmon White then of Salisbury was a sergeant as was
also a Mr Pattison of Cornwall in said County of Litchfield 
I served in said Company as a Fifer and
we were immediately marched to Danbury in the
State of Connecticut and after remaining there a few
days we marched to Stamford in said State and
were there employed in defending the Coast and
guarding the place, and lines between the American
and British Army untill sometime in August
when were marched to West Point and assisted in
fortifying that place and in building and repairing
Fort Putnam and in November 1778 having served
six months I was discharged and returned home
Page 5

during the above campaign, and while we were on
the Hudson river in the vicinity of West Point two of
our Company to wit. Herman Theo Knickerbocker and Benajah
Tickner were taken in a skirmish with the enemy
or were killed, they both were from Salisbury in said County 
and were never since heard from by their families
As A Private I then continued to reside with my Father untill the
first of August AD 1779 when I was drafted to serve
two months in a company of State Troops or militia commanded 
by Capt Seth Pierce late of Cornwall deceased and by
Lieut. Jeremiah Hogeboom State of Canaan deceased and by
an Ensign Holt of Norfolk deceased all in said County of
Litchfield in this Company I served as a private soldier
we were marched from said Canaan to Stamford in said
State of Connecticut and after remaining there a few days
were marched to the Town of Fairfield and were there
employed in guarding the coast and Town untill we
were discharged having served but six weeks. and then
returned home

Soon after this I enlisted as a private in a company raised in said Town
of Canaan and Salisbury who were called minute men, and we
liable to be called out upon duty at any time when wanted
I continued a member of this Company untill peace was declared
and was during said time once marched to Red Hook
in the State of New York and was absent two weeks and we
were of several other times called out & embodied and marched 
into the State of New York and then discharged and I have
no doubt but that I served as a minute man at least
six months in the whole in actual service, the above mentioned
Company of minute men was commanded by Captain William
Burrall Lieutenant Thomas Harmer and Ensign Joseph Beckley 
all then residing in said Town of Canaan but who
are all now deceased

And I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present and declare that my name
is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State
And I further declare that I have no documentary evidence
and that I do not know of any person whose testimony I can
procure who can testify to my service excepting those whose
Page 6

Depositions are annexed to this Declaration
Russel Hunt

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate

We Charles Prentice a Clergyman settled in and residing
in the Town of Canaan in the County of Litchfield and
Chauncey Horsford a Constable of said Town of Canaan &
residing therein and a deputy of the Sheriff of said County
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Col Russell
Hunt who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
and that said Russell Hunt has resided from his birth in
said Town of Canaan untill within a few years past when
he removed to the Town of Litchfield in said County to visit
with a daughter that we believe him to be Seventy three year
of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood 
where he has resided in said Canaan to have
been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in
that opinion
Charles Prentice
Chauncey Horford

Sworn to and subscribed at Canaan October 13th AD 1835
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate

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 above Court further certifies that it appears to them
that the Revd
Charles Prentice who has signed the preceding certificate
is a Clergyman resident and settled in the first Ecclesiastical
society in the Town of Canaan aforesaid. And that
Page 7

Chauncey Horsford who has also signed the same is a constable 
and resident in said Town of Canaan and a Deputy
of the Sheriff of the County of Litchfield and is a credible
person and that their statement is entitled to credit
And this Court doth further certify that the Depositions
of Rufus Landon and Abraham Holcomb and Salmon
Hunt hereunto annexed were taken by the Judge of
this Court as a Justice of the Peace within and for the
County of Litchfield which office he then and still holds
And this Court doth further certify that it appears to this
Court that the reason the aforesaid Russell Hunt has
delayed making his declaration and application to this
time is that for a year past he has been confined to his
room and bed with the Rheumatism
And this Court doth also certify that said Russell Hunt
is and has been through life a man of Reputable character 
and a credible Witness
William
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate

I William P. Burrall Clerk of the Court of Probate
within and for the District of Sharon, Do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Russell
Hunt for a Pension. In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and seal of
Office this 15th day of October AD 1835
Wm P Burrall Clerk
Page 8

I Rufus Landon of Salisbury in the County of Litchfield
and State of Connecticut of lawful age testify and say
That I am now seventy five years of age and was born and
ever resided in said Town of Salisbury within 
one mile of the Town of Canaan in said County and have from
youth to this time been well acquainted with Col
Russell Hunt late of said Canaan but now residing in
Litchfield in said County. And I well recollect that in
the month of May AD 1778 that the said Russell
Hunt was either drafted or enlisted in a Company of
militia or State troops as a Fifer to serve a tour of duty
in the revolutionary war, said Company was commanded
by Capt John Ensign then of said Canaan. I do not
recollect the names of the Lieutenant or Ensign but Harmon 
White, a neighbor of mine, was a Sergeant in said company. 
I also remember that Herman Knickerbocker and
Benajah Tickner both of said Salisbury were private
soldiers in said Company, and were both killed or missing
as they never returned home, or were heard of afterwards
the said Russell Hunt went away with said company &
returned, but I do not remember how long he was absent
I also will recollect that in 1779 & 1780 there was a
Company raised who were called minute men
& I then understood said Russell Hunt belonging to it
but I do not know the fact as I was absent most of that
time in the revolutionary service
And further the deponent saith not.
State of Connecticut
Rufus Landon

State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield ⎬ Canaan July 25th 1834
Personally appeared before me the subscribing Authority
Rufus Landon the above named Deponent and subscribed
the foregoing Deposition and made solemn oath that the
same contains the truth and nothing but the
truth. And I further certify that I am personally acquainted 
with the said Rufus Landon and that he is a credible Witness
William M. Burrall Justice of the Peace
Page 9

I Abraham Holcomb of Canaan in the County of
Litchfield and State of Connecticut of lawful age testify
and say that I am now seventy two years of age and
that I have from my earliest youth been well acquainted with
Colonel Russell Hunt late of said Canaan, but
now residing in Litchfield in said County and on or
about the first day of August AD 1779. I was drafted
into a company of militia or troops raised by the State of
Connecticut commanded by Capt Seth Pierce late
of Cornwall deceased as Captain and by Lieutenant
Jeremiah Hogeboom late of said Canaan deceased
and by an Ensign Holt late of Norfolk deceased, and
the said Russell Hunt was also drafted at the same time
to serve in the same Company. We were immediately
marched from said Canaan to Stamford in said
State of Connecticut and were stationed there a
few days, & from there, were marched to the town of
Fairfield in said State, and where we remained untill
we were discharged having served six weeks. And 
the said Russell Hunt was during the whole of said
time as a private soldier in said Company and
continued with us & performed his duty as such
during said Term and further the Deponent saith
not
Abraham Holcomb

State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield S. Canaan July 25th 1834
Personally appeared Abraham Holcomb the above
named deponent and subscribed the foregoing 
deposition and made solemn oath that the same conta
Page 10

I Salmon Hunt of Canaan in the County of Litchfield 
and State of Connecticut of lawful age testify
& say. That I am now Sixty nine years of age and
was born & have we resided in said Town of Canaan
and am a brother of Col Russell Hunt late of said
Canaan but now residing in Litchfield in said County 
And I remember perfectly well that in the month
of May AD 1778 the said Russell Hunt enlisted or
was drafted to serve in a company of State Troops as a
Fifer which company was commanded by Capt John
Ensign then of Salisbury in said County & by a Lieutenant 
Pratt then of Goshen in said County, but who are
now both deceased the said Russell Hunt left home
immediately with said Company & did not return
untill late in the fall of the year having served
as I then under understood Six months.
I also remember that he served at several other 
times for short periods, but I cannot tell for 
how long as I was absent from my fathers family
when he performed the other tours of duty & living in
Litchfield at that time myself

I also remember that towards the close of the war
there was a company of men raised in Canaan
called minute men  I understood my brother
Russell Hunt was a member of it, but I do not know
it as a fact as I then also lived in Litchfield
and further the Deponent saith not 
Salmon Hurd

State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield S. Canaan July 25th 1834
Personally appeared Salmon Hunt the above named deponent 
and subscribed the foregoing Deposition and made
solemn oath that the same contains the truth and nothing
but the truth Before me William M. Burrall Justice of Peace
And I the subscribing authority do hereby certify that I
am personally acquainted with Salmon Hunt the aforesaid
deponent and that he is a man of respectable character
and a credible witness
William M. Burrall Justice of the Peace
Page 11

No 33304
Connecticut
Russell Hunt
Suspended
Let to Wm M Burall Oct 1835
Let Col Hunt July 14 1837
Page 12

13.474
Rev War
INVALID
File No. 13.474
Russell Hunt
Pri Rev War
Act June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1 Page 185
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 13

Washington City May 6th 1850
Dear Sir
Will you please inform me whether
Russell Hunt late of Canaan Litchfield 
County Conn who drew a pension for Revolutionary
service from 1828 up to the day of his
death was yet entitled to bounty lands
for such services & whether he ever drew the 
same or had benefit of such bounty. With
Much respect I am truly yours
Herman Smith

Hon James L Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Washington

P.S. Please return this letter
with your answer
Page 14

Russell Hunt
Cont
[illegible]
[illegible]
Adm private
12 mo. $40  John L.
[illegible]
Cont State troops
Capt Burrell

Wm M. Burrell Esq
South Canaan CT
Page 15

Free
Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City 
Didtrict of Columbia
Page 16

South Canaan Ct October 15th 1835
J. L. Edwards Esqr

Dear Sir
at the request of Col.
Russell Hunt I inclose his application for
for a pension. Pleas to enclose to me his Certificate
if granted or any communications on the
subject of his pension
I am Respectfully
Wm M. Burrall
Page 17

Charles Hunt
South Canaan Con.  July 10
Page 18

State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield
Canaan in the Probate District of Sharon

On this 24 day of June 1837 personally appeared in open
Court before the Court of Probate within and for the District of
Sharon in the County and State aforesaid the same being a Court of
Record and now sitting, Harmon Deming a resident of the
Town of Canaan within said district, aged seventy years, who being
first duly sworn according to Law doth make the following affidavit 
in the matter of the application of Russell Hunt for a
pension, viz

I was seventy years of age in April last and was born in said
Town of Canaan where I have always resided from my birth till the
present time excepting four years. In my youth I was well acquainted 
with Russell Hunt then of said Canaan who is making 
application for a pension, and whom I have always known from
that time to the present. I knew very well at certain times during
Revolutionary war that said Russell Hunt was in the service
of the United States as a soldier in the army, as well as I could
of any fact by information from other persons, and from circumstances 
which I now well recollect, particularly. I recollect that
one season the said Russell Hunt was absent from home
considerable time, I should think for six months at least
when it was said that he was in the service in a company commanded 
by Capt. John Ensign. He then went as a substitute
for one Jonathan Brown of said Canaan, by whom he was hired
I was well acquainted with the Brown family and saw them frequently 
during that season, and was told by the said Jonathan and
the members of the family that the said Russell Hunt was in
Army as a substitute for said Jonathan and that he was
in sheep by sd Brown for going for him as aforesaid, and
I well recollect that in the succeeding winter after the said
Russell Hunt came home, a part of the sheep which he had
of sd Brown got strayed and came to my fathers, and said
Russell came after them. I have a perfect recollection of
circumstances and therefore a confident that said
Page 19

Russell Hunt was in the Army during that season as a substitute
for said Brown. I also recollect that I was at that time learning
to play on a fife and was very anxious to obtain an English fife
which were very care and difficult to be got. and when the said
Russell Hunt came home at the end of the service herein before 
mentioned, he brought with him an English fife which with some
difficulty I succeeded in obtaining, and I recollect perfectly that
on the side of said Fife were printed by cutting or pricking the words
Russell Hunt White plains, This Fife I kept a great many years
Harman Deming

Sworn and subscribed this day and year first aforesaid and I do
further certify that said Harmon Deming is a man of good character
for truth and veracity and is a credible witness
William M. Burrall Judge

I William P Burnall Clerk of the Court of Probate within
and for the District of Sharon in the County of Litchfield
and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter
of the affidavit of Harmon Dining regarding the application 
of Russell Hunt for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and the seal of said Court this 24th
day of June 1837
W P Burrall Clerk
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Comptrollers Office,
Hartford, Connecticut
9 August 1837

On application for evidence of the Revolutionary service
of Russell Hunt, the books and papers remaining in this office
have been examined, by which the following facts appear 

The following entry, in an account in "Haskells Receipts
headed - "The United States Dr to the State of Connecticut, for
Sundry Expenditures for Wages, Hospital Expense, Lost Baggage &C. of
Prisoners taken by the Enemy,"
1778 Sept. 8 - Russell Hunt - Bradley's L4 Wages - L6.12 losses

In the books of the "Pay Table Committee, this entry.
1778 June 17 - "Cap. John Ensign Dr To order on Treas in Acct his Co. Mil.
detach'd pr rec. L100."

In Haskells Receipts, under head of "United States Dr
to the State of Connecticut for Sundry expenditures &c. &c of Troops
from said State who served with the Army in West Chester County
in the State of New York this entry.
1779 May 27- Cap. John Ensign - Col. Mosley's (Wages & sundry other item) Specie Value L40.0.8

Also, in the same book these entries:
Under head of "Militia Service from April to November 1779.-
Cap. Seth Pierce - Amt paid in nominal money- L3.127.15.7
computed value of service &c. L211.8.10 - And Noml Money &c L280.18.3, 
and, computed Value &c. L6.19.1 -  And also in the same book under
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he head of "Contingent expence of Coast Guards &c. "this entry
1780 Nov. 1-- Cap. Seth Pierce-- Transporting Baggage-- L1.10.0-

Also, in the same book, this entry: (under head of
The United States Dr to the State of Connecticut, for services &c of
Militia guarding the convention Troops through said state in
1778 when they marched from Massachusetts to Virginia)
Cap. Wm Burrell, Guarding Convention Troops - House Expense &c. Wags
&c L24.5.8- Specie value.

I also certify that the names of the officers herein
mentioned have not been found, except as here stated. And
that the name of Russell Hunt has not been found except as
before mentioned. And that there are no Pay Rolls remaining
in this office of those Captains

I certify the above statements and extracts to be
correctly made.--
In absence of the Comptroller
Roy R Hinman Secretary of State

Having made the examination, and the foregoing certificate, I
certify the same to be truly and exactly stated
Edwin Benjamin, only Clerk in
the Comptrollers Office
Page 22

State of Connecticut 
County of Litchfield ⎬ . District of Sharon
On this 15th day of August AD 1837. Personally appeared 
in open Court before the Court of Probate within
and for the district of Sharon in the County and State
aforesaid now sitting, Russell Hunt a resident of
the Town of Canaan in the District aforesaid, aged
Seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to
law doth on his oath make the following additional 
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

I served in the revolutionary army under Capt John
Ensign in the year 1778 six months and I also served
Six weeks in AD 1779 in a Company commanded by
Capt. Seth Pierce and for the particular details of said
service for both of said term I refer to my former declaration 
made in 1835 and now the annexed affidavits
now in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions in
the City of Washington. And as to my further services
I declare that immediately after I was discharged
from Captain Pierces company I enlisted in a company 
of minute men commanded by Capt William
Burrall of Canaan but now deceased I enlisted as a
fifer and we were drilled once a week through the
fall and winter, but were not called into actual service
untill the next spring. viz 1780. when about the first
or forepart of the month of June I marched with the
company aforesaid to Red Hook on the Hudson river
and from there down the river to West Point and
to Fort Montgomery we lay in the vicinity of West
Point about a month, and about two weeks near the
Fort Montgomery had stood as it had before that
time abandoned the company was then marched
Page 23

back to Canaan and discharged having been absent
Seven weeks and a few days after this the Company
were called together very often for exercise and drill
untill the close of the war and were often called together
on account of Alarms and once I recollect were marched
as far as Sharon and were then dismissed. Capt Burral 
having recd counter orders

I have not doubt my services in said company exceeded
Six months in the whole but I have no other proof of
it excepting my former and present declaration and
the documents thereto annexed

In explanation of the long delay in pursuing my
application for a pension. I further declare that
after I made my former declaration in 1835 before the
Court of Probate for district of Sharon and before an
answer was returned to it. I removed from said Town of
Canaan to reside with my daughter in Litchfield
a distance of twenty miles and soon after I was taken sick
and confined with the Rheumatism and have been
confined to my room and bed with it the greater
part of the time untill this spring when I returned
to said Town of Canaan, and during my residence
in Litchfield I had no property or means of paying
any person for procuring the certificate of the Comptroller
or any other evidence in support of my application
for a pension, and since my return to said Canaan
I could not have done it without aid from others
Russell Hunt

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day of the date
first mentioned Before me
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate
Page 24

at the same Court
Russell Hunt the aforesaid applicant
presented to this Court a certificate from the office
of the Comptroller of the public accounts of this
State, to be and his evidence in his application
for a pension which certificate is received and
ordered to be annexed to this the additional 
declaration of the said Russell Hunt and I hereby
Certify that I have been personally acquainted with
the said Russell Hunt from my earliest
childhood, and he has ever sustained a fair
and unspotted character for honesty and integrity
 and that he is a credible witness
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate

I William P Burrall Clerk of the Court of Probate within
and for the District of Sharon in Litchfield County and State of 
Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the supplementary
declaration of Russell Hunt for a pension
In testimony whereof share hereunto set my hand
and the seal of the said Court this 15th day of
August AD 183
William Burrall Clerk
Page 25

So Canaan Ct
August 24   Free
Hon J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[sideways]
Ct
[illegible]
Act 1832
Page 26

South Canaan Ct Augt 19th 1837
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Sir I enclose the supplementary
declaration of Col Russell Hunt of this place
for a pension. Col Hunt has was been one of
our most respectable citizens, he was for many
years at the head of one of our greater Iron
manufactories, and many if not most of
the largest Anchors now in use in the U.S.
navy were made by him and his Brothers
and among others, those of the Ohio, but he
was unfortunate in his business, and failed
several years since, and is now very much
broken down both in body and mind with
sickness and misfortune. On this account
it is difficult for him to recall to his memory 
particular dates, or events, as well as he could formerly 
and from the lapse of time since he
served, it is extremely difficult to find any
persons who were living and of an age to
serve in the army of the revolution

The company in which he claims to have served
as a ""minute man" was commanded by
my Father and I have often heard him
speak of Col Hunts being with him at Red
Hook &c as his fifer, but my Father and the
other officers of the Company are long since
deceased, and I do not know of any of the
privates who are now living and my Father
papers & Rolls of his company had all been
thrown away as useless or destroyed before any
pension law was made by Congress I am
therefore satisfied Col Hunt cannot procure
any more evidence respecting his service he
therefore wishes to have it his application 
considered as soon as it can be and
Page 27

to have the certificate sent to me by mail
directed to South Canaan Post Office
Connecticut, for such sum as may be
allowed him
I am very Respectfully
William M. Burrall