Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17610, David Chichester, Conn
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Service                                              Number
Conn             Chichester, David       W17610
                       Mary


Contents [remainder of page blank]
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[left hand page]

1886 Nov 1 Rev.  C.E. Chichester with history [illegible]
1886 Nov 4 Rev C.E. Chichester that no person now living is entitled to a [illegible] or [illegible] of pension.

[right hand page]
2640  ref

[in pencil] wife died May 23 1839

Connecticut
Mary Chichester
widow of David Chichester, Decd:
who was a pensioner under the Act of [line]
and who died on the 17 November 1803 of Fairfield Co in the State of Conn
who was a private in the company commanded 
by Captain Scofield of the Regt commanded by 
Col Mead in the Conn troops serve for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of May, 1839 and sent to Benjamin Isaac, Norwalk, CT

Arrears to the 4th of March 1839 $240.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sept: 40 -
$280.00
[in pencil d. Aug 23 1839 on A.B.]

{Act July 7, 1838}
Recorded by [illegible] Clerk
Book A Vol. 1 Page 172
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State of Connecticut
Fairfield County
On this Sixth day of October 1838 Personally appeared before this Court of Probate within and for the District of Norwalk in said County and State being a Court of Record Mary Chichester of New Canaan in said Fairfield County age Seventy eight years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the pension made by the act of Congress [illegible] July 7 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows" That she is the widow of David Chichester late of said New Canaan who was according to her best knowledge and belief entered the service in the Revolutionary Army as follows 
That on the first of March 1779 he entered in said New Canaan  as a private Soldier in Capt. Reuben Scofields Company of State troops under Col John Mead and was in the service of this United States Nine Months
That on the first of March 1780 he entered the service of this United States as a Private soldier in said New Canaan in Capt Reuben Scofield Company under Col John Mead and was in said service Nine Months
That on the first of March 1781 said David entered the service of this United States in said  New Canaan as a Private Soldier in Capt Reuben Scofield Company under Col Stephen T John  & Mead and was in said service Nine Months
That on the first of March 1782 said David entered the service of the United State in said New Canaan as a private Soldier in Capt Reuben Scofields Company Col St John Regt and was in said service more than three months
does not know that said David was in any regular battle but had heard him say that he was in the skirmish at Ridgefield when [illegible] Wooten was killed and had a ball that went through his clothes but no documentary evidence of his services
She further declares that she was married to the said David
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Chichester on the Seventeenth day of February in the year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty four that her husband the aforesaid David Chichester died on the Seventeenth day of November Eighteen Hundred and Three that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the Service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen Hundred and Ninety Four [illegible] at the time above stated

Mary (her mark) Chichester

Sworn to and Subscribed on this day and year above written before said Court of Probate
Benj Isaac Judge
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At the same Court personally appeared before said Court being a Court of Record Alanson Chichester who being duly sworn according to Law disposes and says that is is Forty Seven years of age and is the fourth child of David and Marcy Chichester and well remembers that said David Chichester died in New Canaan in said Fairfield County of the Seventeenth day of November Eighteen Hundred and three and three and that said Mary Chichester has remained his Widow since that period and is now his Widow
(signed) Alanson Chichester
Sworn and Subscribed on the dasy and year aforesaid that I am acquainted with said Alanson Chichester and that he is a respectable and credible person
(signed) Benjamin Isaac Judge

At the same Court personally appeared Polly Chichester of said New Canaan who being duly sworn according to Law disposes and says that she is Forty years of year and well remembers that David Chichester died in said New Canaan on the Seventeenth day of November Eighteen hundred and three and that Mary Chichester has continued his Widow since that period and is now his Widow
(signed) Polly Chichester
Sworn and Subscribed on the day and year aforesaid that I am acquainted with said Polly Chichester and that she is a credible person
(signed) Benjamin Isaac Judge
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At the same Court Personally appeared before said Court, being a Court of Record Enoch St John of New Canaan who being duly sworn according to Law deposes and says he is Seventy three years of age was well acquainted with David Chichester late of said New Canaan  [illegible] and also with his Widow Mary Chichester and well remembers seeing said David Chichester out in the service of the United States for some years before he entered the service as said David Chichester was about Eight years older than this deponent but can not state the length of his service until the year 1780 but well remembers that on the first of March 17800 said David Chichester entered the service of the United States in said New Canaan as a private soldier in Capt Reuben Scofields Company under Col Mead and was in said service Nine Months
That on the first of March 1781 said David Chichester entered in the service of the United States in said New Canaan as a private soldier in Capt Reuben Scofields Company under Col St. John and Mead as was in the service Nine Months.
That on the first of March 1782 said Chichester entered the same service in the same town under the same officers and was in the service for more than three months the deponent was a Soldier in Capt Scofield Company in the aforesaid  times of service
(signed) Enoch St. John
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid that I am well acquainted with said Enoch St. John Esq and that is a reputable and Credible person
(signed) Benjamin Isaac Judge
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This may certify that I find on the Church Records kept by the late Rev Justus Mitchel while he was pastor of the Church at Canaan now New Canaan in the County of Fairfield, State of Connecticut whose Records are now in the keeping of the undersigned the present pastor of the above named Church and on the Record of Marriage
Seventeenth Febr Seventeen Hundred Eight four David Chichester of Canaan and Mary Nichol
(signed) Theophelus Smith, Pastor of the Church in New Canaan
I Thoe Smith above named depose and say that I hold the office of the Pastor of the Church of New Canaan in the County of Fairfield, State of Connecticut and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Church with the exception of the date which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows 17 Febr 1784 David Chichester of Canaan and Mary Nichol
(signed) Theophelus Smith, Pastor of the Church in New Canaan
Sworn to and subscribed before said Probate Court the 24 day of October 1838
(signed) Benjamin Isaac Judge
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O. W. & N. Div.
W 17610
L. W. E. (initialed)

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,

November 11, 1896

Madam:

Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of David Chichester, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that Mary Chichester, widow of David Chichester, made application for pension October 5, 1838, at which time she was 78 years of age and residing at New Canaan, Conn., and her pension was allowed for the actual service of her husband as a private in the Conn. troops, Revolutionary War, for a period of two years, a part of the time he served under Capt. Reuben Scofield and Col. John Mead.  He enlisted at New Canaan, Conn.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.
Mrs Sarah A. Austin
146 White Street
Danbury, Conn.
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2857
Mary Chichester
wid of David
Cong
Act July 7 1838
Married 1784
Died 1803
Allow $80 per anm
In Conn State Troops
Capt Scofield Col Mead


Benj Isaac
Norwalk
[illegible]
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I Richard B Isaac Clerk of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Mary Chichester Widow of David Chichester for a Pension and that Benj Isaac is Judge of said Court of Probate Commissioned and Sworn and that his signature hereto  arrayed is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of said Probate Court this 24 day of October 1838
(signed) Richard B Isaac Clerk
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Mary Chichester of David Mar 84 dc 1803

1779 9 Capt Scofield, Mead
80     9      "                    "
81      9     "                    "
82      9     "                    "
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Oldwar Div.

Department of the Interior
Pension Office
Washington. D. C.  November 4th, 1886

Return this letter with your reply

Sir,
In reply to your enquiry of the 2d inst. relative to the pension of Mary, widow of David Chichester, I have to state that she was allowed Eighty dollars per annum, the maximum rate for a private and has (crossed out) was apparently, been (crossed out) paid to May 23, 1839 the date of her death.  The law granting pensions to Soldiers and their widows for service in the war of the Revolution, only provides for the Soldier and his surviving widow during the life of each, without giving, at their decease, the revision of the same, to their children or other heirs
There are (crossed out) is not now any person living who are (crossed out) is entitled to claim the benefit of a pension, or arrears of pension on account of the Services of David Chichester in the Revolutionary war. The papers from this office under date of the 1st inst are returned enclosed.

Very respectfully

Commissioner

Revd C. E. Chichester
Metropolitan Hotel
Present
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W. H. Austin
Carpets Furniture
Oil Cloths
Window Shades
Draperies, Etc.
11 White Street,

Danbury, Conn., November 2 1896

Honorable D. Murphy
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Sir.  I have the honor to respectfully request information from the Records of the "Old War
 (Revolutionary) in your office upon the following matter.

1st What do said Records show relative to service in the Revolutionary war, of David Chichester, Private under Captan Reuben Scofield, in the command of Cols John Mead, and Stephen St. John?

2nd Was the petition of Mary, widow of David Chichester, asking for a Pension granted?  If so, to what amount annually, and how long did she continue to draw the Pension?

Your answers to the above questions will greatly oblige.

A descendant of the line.

Sarah A Austin 146 White Street Danbury Conn
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The Charleston Port Society
For Promoting the Gospel Among Seamen
Sustains
The Mariners Church on Church St., near Water;
The Seaman's Chapel at the Sailors' Home, Market Street.
The Marine Total Abstinence Society; and Two Scandinavian Services Every Week.

Rev. C. E. Chichester, Chaplain
Residence 55 Meeting Street

WM. Roach, President
R. N. Gourdin, Treasurer

Charleston, S. C. ..................188

From History of Fairfield Co. Connn. p 453 "David Chichester was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and took part in the Battle of Ridgefield. The action was quite severe, David, however, escaping with no greater damage than two bullet holes through his coat.  His widow, after his death was a pensioner of that war."
The battle of Ridgefield as fought April 27 1777.

Davie Chichester died Nov 17th 1803, Mary widow of David Chichester died August 23rd 1839.

"Abraham Chichester, with his four sons David (the one mentioned above) Abraham, Nathan and Stephan, were in the battle of Ridgefield. The alarm came and they assembled at the church door and marched all night, through the rain and mud. Abraham stood near Gen Arnold
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when his horse was shot from under him, and would have been killed but for the courage of these and others."
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Rev
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 17610
Mary Chichester
widow of 
David Chichester
Pri Rev War

Act: July 7th 38
Index: - Vol. a, Page 131

{Arrangement of 1870}

Nov 11 '96 [illegible]
passed to Mrs. Sarah A. Austin
146 White Street
Danbury Conn.
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State of Connecticut
Fairfield County

Be it remembered that on this Sixth day of October 1838 Personally appeared before this Court of Probate within and for the District of Norwalk in said County being a Court of Record Jesse Richards of New Canaan in said county being duly sworn according to Law deposes and says that he is Seventy five years of age was well acquainted with David Chichester late of New Canaan and also with his Widow Mary Chichester and well remembers that on the 2nd day of July 1779 entered the service of the United States in said New Canaan in Capt Reuben Scofields Company of State Troops under Col John Mead and at this time he entered the service the aforesaid David Chichester belonged to the said Company as a private soldier and believes he entered in said Company on the first of March in the same year and was in said service None Months
That on the first of March 1780 said David Chichester entered  [illegible] in said New Canaan as a private Soldier in Capt. Reuben Scofields Company of State troops under Col John Mead and was on guard at Norwalk and on the lines at [illegible] Neck and was in said service Nine Months the deponent belonged to the same Company at this time
That on the first of March 1781 said David Chichester entered the service of the United States in said New Canaan as a private soldier in Capt Reuben Scofields Company in Col St John Regt and was on guard at Norwalk and on the lines at [illegible] Neck Nine Months this deponent belonged to the same Company at this time
That on the first of March 1782 said David Chichester entered the service of the United States at the same place.
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under the same officers and was in said service for more than three months the deponent belonged to the same Company
(signed) Jesse Richards
Sworn and Subscribed on the day and year aforesaid that I am well acquainted with said Jesse Richards that he is a Reputable and Credible person
(signed) Benjamin Isaac Judge

At the same Court Personally appeared before said Court William Pennoyer of New Canaan in said County who being duly sworn according to Law deposes and says that he is Seventy three years of age and well remembers that on the first of March 1781 David Chichester of New Canann now dec enlisted in said New Canaan in Capt Reuben Scofields of Coast guards as a private in (inserted note) Col Mead Col Stephen St. John Regt for Nine Months the deponent belonged to the same Company and was taken a Prisoner by the enemy the last of July following and was carried to Long Island in the State of New York
(signed) William Pennoyer
Sworn and Subscribed on the day and year aforesaid that I am acquainted with said William Pennoyer that he is a Credible Witness
(signed) Benjamin Isaac Judge