Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 20435, for Aaron Smith, Connecticut
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(3-1776)
SERVICE                           NUMBER 
Conn.    Smith, Aaron     R20435

CONTENTS
resi(dence) New York City in 1830
Litchfield, Conn. in 1831
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REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS 1918.
--------------
[B.]
Form of a declaration to be made by the Non-Commissioined Officers, Musicians, and Privates.

For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the act entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May, 1828, I, Aaron Smith of City of New York, In the County of New York, in the State of New York, do hereby declare, that I enlisted in the Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued in its service until it termination; at which period, I was a *Soldier in Captain James Morris' Company, in the seventh Regiment, of the Connecticut Line.  And, I also declare, that I afterwards received certificates for the reward of eighty dollars; to which I was entitled, under a resolve of Congress, passed the 15th of May, 1778.

And I further declare, that I was not, on the fifteenth day of May, 1828, on the Pension List of the United States.†

Witness my hand, this Eighteenth day of October in the year One thousand Eight hundred and Thirty.
Signed) Aaron Smith

Note. The most convenient Branch Bank of the U. S. is at New York.
The most convenient Post Office is at New York.
____

Before me, ‡ James Flanagan, Justice of the Peace in the County of New York in the State of New York personally appeared, this day, James Dows and Stephen Earl of the said County, persons known to me as credible witnesses, who did severally make oath that Aaron Smith by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to have been a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated. 

Witness my hand, this Seventh day of December in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty. 
James Flanagan, Justice of the Peace

I, Nicholas Dean, Clerk of the County of New York in the State of New York do hereby certify, that James Flanagan, before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn, was at the time, a § Justice of the Peace and duly empowered to administer oaths. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, this Eighth day of December, 1830.

(Signed) N. Dean

page folded, some not legible. 

*  Corporal, Musician or Private, as the case may be
†  Applicant, though not on the pension list on the 15th May, 1828, may have been on the list on or since the 3d of March ... and afterwards stricken off; if so, he will add, and that I have received of the United States, as a pensioner, since the ....of March, 1826, the sum of _____________ dollars, paid to me by the Agent for paying pension in the  State of _____________________.
‡  Here insert a Justice of the Peace, or other Magistrate duly empowered to administer oaths. ...,
§  Justice of the Peach, or otherwise, as the case may be. 

I Stephen Earl, Deposed, say that for many years I have been acquainted with Col. Aaron Smith who signed the above declaration, and I know that he served as a soldier in the Continental army during a part of the Revolutionary War.
Step'n (Stephen) Earl
Sworn to before me this 7th of December 1830, James Flanagan, Justice of the Peace
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1918.
Revolutionary Claims.
Hand written
"Not allowed" 
"Oct 1828" 

Treasury Department
14 Dec 1830

Aaron Smith of the city of New York in the State of New York has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution," approved the 15th of May, 1828.  He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termination, at which period he was a Private in captain Morris' company, in the Seventh regiment of the Connecticut line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing.

The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the records in his office. 

By Order of the Secretary
F. A. Dickins

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Third Auditor's Office,
15th December 1830

Ref. # 9.687
#16.729 Units
#19.697 Inv
#20.966 Inv.
#38.388 Inv.

[(Following printed line is crossed out)
It appears by the records in this office, that a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars has been issue to _____]

It further appears that a man in the name of Aaron Smith is now on the pension list of the New York agency, and has been so since the 3rd March 1826 at the rate of Eight(y) dollars per month. and He has been paid to the 4th March 1830.

The name of Aaron Smith cannot be found among those of the Connecticut line to whom Certificates for the gratuity of Eighty Dollars, were paid - nor does his name appear in the Register of Musters of that line - 
Peter Hagner, Auditor
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War Department
Bounty Land Office
17 Dec 1830

The name of Aaron Smith is not returned on the records of the Connecticut line, among those entitled to bounty land of the U States - nor has a warranty issued for him. 

Wm Gordon (William Gordon)
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Rec'd 13 Dec 1830   .2276

New York, December 9th, 1830

Honorable Samuel D. Ingham

Behooved Sir, Enclosed I take the liberty to send you the Evidence of my having served as a Soldier in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, which under the Law of Congress entitles me to a Monthly compensation. I need not apologize for giving the Sec'y (Secretary) thy trouble as I am sure that it must to him be a complexing task to be the dispenser of the bounty of his Country to the few survivors of those who served in that glorious struggle which terminated in such criminal advantages to the Country, and led the way to Free the Human Family from the degraded hate into which by Fraud and Force, they were placed and to restore them to Liberty. If I read the act, which you were so good as to send to me, correctly, I am entitled to receive back pay since the 3rd of March 1826. At the the Law of 1828 was passed, I was confined with severe illness to my bed, and it continued for more than two years, and I should probably never have seen the act but, for the kindness of the late Major Fairley who a few months before his death spoke to me upon the subject, saying "You Sir are entitled to a monthly compensation under the Law of Congress, permit me to request you to give the subject your early attention," I joined the Regiment, which at that time was commanded by Col. Herman Swift, Lieutenant Col. Johnson of Middletown, Connecticut, David Smith as the first Major ...
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John Allen Wright the second Major, Abraham Baldwin late member of Congress from Georgia was the Chaplain, all of whom are long timed dead. Indeed at a late celebration in the City in which officers and Soldiers of the revolution joined: there were not more than ten or twelve of us altogether, most of those who where actually engaged are gone, in that end or any circumstances, the Country would not be long called upon, to pay one dollar to those who served now surviving that severe conflict. I joined the army in the autumn of 1783 or very early in the Winter.  it must have been in November as I clearly recollect that, that immediately after I joined the Regiment, I was detached to do fatigue duty, and my employment was to aid and prepare paper which was substituted for glass, to cover the sashes, for windows to the officers huts.

I am Sir very respectfully your most but very humble servant AS
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Revolutionary claims
FREE (stamped below title)
The Hon'l (honorable) Samuel D. Ingham
Sec'y (Secretary) of the Treasury of
City of Washington

Postmark : New York, Dec 13
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2282.

Rec'd 15 December 1830

Duplicate

New York Dec.9th, 1830 Honorable S(amuel) D. Ingham

Behooved Sir, Enclosed I take the liberty to send you the Evidence of my having served as a Soldier in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, which entitles me to a Monthly compensation, under the Law of Congress. I need not apologize for giving the Sec'y (Secretary) thy trouble as I am sure that it must to him be a complexing task to be the dispenser of the bounty of his Country to the few survivors of those who served in that glorious struggle which terminated in such criminal advantages to thy Country, and led the way to Free the Human Family from the degraded hate into which by Fraud and Force, they were placed and to restore them to Liberty.  If I read the act, which you were so good as to send to me, correctly, I am entitled to receive back pay since the 3rd of March 1826. At the time the Law of 1828 was passed, I was confined with severe illness to my bed, and it continued for more than two years, and I should probably never have seen the act but, for the kindness  of the late Major Fairley who a few months before his death spoke to me upon the subject, saying "You Sir are entitled to a monthly compensation under the Law of Congress, permit me to request you to give the subject your early attention," I joined the Regiment, which at that time was commanded by Col. Herman Swift, Lieutenant Col. Johnson of Middletown,  Connecticut, David Smith as the first Major, John Allen Wright the second Major, Abraham Baldwin late member of Congress from Georgia was the Chaplain, all of whom are long timed dead. Indeed at a late celebration in the City in which officers and Soldiers of the revolution joined: there were not more than ten or twelve of us altogether, most of those who where actually engaged are gone, in that end or any circumstances, the Country would not be long called upon, to pay one dollar to those who served now during that severe conflict. I joined the army in the autumn of 1783 in camp early in the Winter. I believe it must have been...
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continued from previous page (8)

in November as I clearly recollect that, that  immediately after I joined the Regiment, I was detached to do fatigue duty, and my employment was to aid & prepair (prepare) paper which was needed instead of glass, to cover the sashes, for windows to the officers huts. 

I am Sir very respectfully your most but very humble servant AS

Aaron Smith
46 Walker

Sir, whom I commend thy, I had it in writing that I'm to have forwarded a copy of the Didoness?  which I forwarded in my letters, on repetitions of happened to me, that there is no probability, that the Department could act when a cospond I awill as for that  I understand what is againidley the department; I have strictly complied with the prescribed rule with the addition that me in the Witnesses sworn to the fact, of my serving and as a soldier in the Continental army during a part of the Revolutionary war that my letter is to the milsware by my hence not reach the Department. I shall be obliged if  the Sec'y will have the goodness to forward me a blank form.  
Respectfully
Aaron Smith
46 Walker
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Rec'd 28 Nov 1831
Litchfield Connecticut November 22'd 1831    4207.

Honorable Louis McLane

Respected Sir, your forms of 7th November have been recd. I am obliged by your enclosing the act,  of the same time I may be permitted to say, that I am not a little disappointed of the matter of my application, you will please to bear in mind that I had long since made a statement, that I did intake as a soldier in the Continental army & served through the war agreeable to the terms of my enlistment.  I know that under the Law of Congress of 1828 I am entitled to an allowance.  I am Solicit your Honor to once more amend to my claim, and forward to you enclosed the Deposition of the Honorable Daniel Ford who testifies to the fact of my having entered in the Continental army for and during the War & that I stayed in it until discharged on the conclusion of the War by Peace. I beg to refer you to the certificate of the Clerk of the County of Litchfield, that Elihu Harrison before whom Ford's Deposition is taken & who testifies that he is known to him as a man of integrity, in which Certificate, [margin note(residing? in your office?)] I forwarded to you before, is a Justice of the Peace for this County. I did not suppose it could be necessary to furnish another. I beg to solicit your early attention. I am entitled under the Law of 1828 to money on or from 3 March 1826.. 
Very respectfully yours,  Aaron Smith.
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owRej
#20.435  "FREE" stamped to right.
The Hon'l (Honorable) L. (Louis) McLain (McLane)
Sec'y (Secretary) of Treasury U  States
City of Washington

Postmark reads Litchfield date illegible
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Recd 7 Nov 1831.

4174
Litchfield Oct 6th 1831

Col James McLaine

Respected Sir

I enclose to you the Deposition of Mr Daniel Ford, a respectable old Gentleman of this  place, stating that I served as a soldier in the Continental Army during a part of the Revolutionary War. I transmitted the late Secy Mr Ingham testimonials, which I deemed sufficient & which were drawn & authenticated in strict conformity with the Printed forms, which he as Secretary of the Treasury had furnished with the addition of the positive testimony of one creditable Witness who knew that I served as a Soldier, to which document I beg leave to refer you Sir, Mr Ingham, very much to my surprise rejected my claim, because as he stated in his letter, to me, I had not proved my actual enlistment, I then thought his demand was most unreasonable
as that fact is not required in his instructions, neither can it be expected that after a lapse of more than fifty years, any person can be found alive by whom such a distinct isolated fact can be proved, I cannot be required as I conceive by any fair constitution of the Law and is a construction which I am sure no liberal minded man could make, All that the Government can require, is I must be that no impositions are practised [sic], I am fully sensible, that in our own case, we are apt to new evidence in the strongest light. but in this case it appears to me I do not judge unreasonably, A few days since before I left N. York, It was decided judicially by the Recorder, M Riker, upon the Testimony which I had before forwarded
that it was conclusive Evidence that I served in the Continental Army as a Soldier, & that upon application, under a Law of the State of New York to be discharged from arrest upon civil process M Ingham at the same time informed me that any other Evidence which I might discover would lead to a reconsideration. The
Testimony I now enclose is of that character, I must solicit your Attention to my claim, I am most certainly entitled to the benefit of the Law of 1828 to commence the 3d of March 1888 I shall probably reside for some time in this place
Most Respectfully yours
Humble Servt
 Aaron Smith
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Rec'd 6 March 1832


Litchfield, March 2nd, 1832  4353.
   
Hon'bl (Honorable ) Louis McLane, 

Sir, I have the Honour to enclose to you the Documentation of Miss Phebe Ford which I should believe marks the conclusion of my being entitled on the act of Congress to prove foundation as a Soldier of the Revolution, her eye sight because of her age is so dim, that she cannot write her name which surely that cannot be deemed of any importance when once confirmed by the certificate of the Justice of the Peace. I hope I may entreat your early attention to it. 
Respectfully yours, 
Aaron Smith
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Rec'd 6 March 1832.

I, Phebe Ford, of a lawfull age, Depose and say that I have known and been acquainted with Col. Aaron Smith who lately resided in the City of New York and who now resides in Litchfield in Connecticut, from his childhood and I further Depose and say, that, I know that he, said, Aaron Smith enlisted and served in the Continental army for and during the War, and that he served in the same.  I can not recount the length of time that he served but according to my best recollection and belief he served about three years, he served until the army was disbanded of the Peace when he returned home with the rest of the Soldiers and further this Deponent says met.

Phebe "X" Ford, her mark
Town of Litchfield , County of Litchfield Connecticut. March 2nd, 1832
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the County of Litchfield, Phebe Ford, a person formally known to me as a person of good character & in kind has heard to & made oath in the Truth of the above Deposition by her ink marked.
Elihu Harrison, Justice of the Peace.
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Rec'd 28 Nov. 1831   Revolutionary Claims

I Daniel Ford of Lawful age, depose and say that from early life and to this time, I have been well acquainted with Col. Aaron Smith who lately resided in New York, but who now resides in the Town of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut.  I further Depose and say that during the Revolutionary War I know that the said Aaron Smith enlisted as a Private in the Continental army for and during the War and continued Service until it's termination by the Peace, when he was discharged, returned home, with his Father, who also served during the whole War, and further this Deponent says met.
(signed) Daniel Ford

Before me, Elihu Harrison, Justice of the Peace, in the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, Personally appeared this day, Daniel Ford, a known man to me as a credible Witness and did make oath that the above Deposition by him subjected, is the truth and nothing but the truth. 
(Dated) Litchfield, November 22, 1831, 
(Signed) Elihu Harrison, Justice of the Peace
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Rec. 7th Nov. 1831

Daniel Ford, of Lawful age Deposes and says that he has been well acquainted with Co.(lonel) Aaron Smith from his youth to this time, and knows, that he served as a Soldier in the Continental army during  a part of the Revolutionary War.  This Deponent cannot tell precisely at what time the said Aaron Smith joined the army, but according to his best recollection it was near the close of the War.  The Deponent knows that the said Aaron Smith served until the army was disbanded after Peace when he returned home with his father who served as an officer during the War and further this Deponent says met. 
Daniel Ford

Before me Elihu Harrison, a Justice of the Peace  and from the County of Litchfield State of Connecticut, Personally of here, Daniel Ford, one being duly sworn, made oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him Subscribed the said Daniel Ford is a person known to me as a credible Witness.

The County of Litchfield, October
 31, 1831.
Elihu Harrison, Justice of the Peace

I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, certify to whom it may concern that Elihu Harrison, Esq. whose signature is penned to the within Certificate was on this 31st day of October 1831 & that he now is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County legally commissioned & gratified, & that said signature is his known hand writing. 

Witness my hand & the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this first day of November A. D. 1831.   Frederick Wolcott.
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Rejected (written across top)
Ex'r. OLD WAR
File No. 20.435
REJECTED (stamped vertically)
Aaron Smith
Pri'. (Private)
Capt. Morris
Ct. Line.
Revy War
at
other claim
,187__.  Clerk
Application filed: , 18__ .
Written vertically across document: 
"Not allowed Act 1828."
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Rec'd 17 Dec 1831.   4227.

Hon'bl Louis McLain (McLane)
Litchfield Conn. Dec. 12th, 1831

Sir, yours, of 30th ell, is received, you are pleased to say that before any decision is made upon my claim and or the act of Congress leaving you the relief of the surviving officers & Solders, of the Revolution, it is advisable by whom you were discharged what duty, you prefer make & I learn from the Law which you had the goodness to forward to me, that it provided for those who enlisted served during the war in the continental army. & who served through the Peace. it is upon that ground that I make my claim, I was discharged at the end of the war. I believe my discharge was dated in June 1883, od unsifisly grounds of General George Washington, of the Camden headquarters at the New Windsor, also called Newburgh, I performed the ordinary camp duty of a Soldier most of the time. we called fatigue duty. I was particularly employed for many weeks and perhaps it was the nicer the lmre if I say more than first men the installing glass in the windows as we called it       in the officers huts & glass for the soldiers as   is very small as onliles they were slap in the rindorm april called it in the officers huts  *  and made for the soldiers as is very small on onlilies theu I are mentioned om tjat ;esser which was sold paper pasted from the sashes, since my first communication it was company form who was in this Line in this in Eighty two years it has decreased if being that person was for thy acquaintance with the last of my having enlisted in the Continental army for and resume? the War and that ive regularly discharged on the close of it, and believing I could lelave to have money of the faith in gateing it. I must raise? I learn of the death of some persons with whom I knew ordering that diasion? buried, it will be to me soon, or another of indifference, as, I am on the verge/edge of othe longest time allotted to human life. I doubt that I am making a claim for my delt, that hapens very long so surely Delayed; I have and do suppose that all in haih the history of the Treasury under the  Law condown the Law of that I sway as easily over some the Worming for common faam. I faced with dread to the fore of the Row and that I am entitled to re;oef amd tjat om coming to an a deception the orderinary rule of judging of faith will not be feports from . I have aluring and praying that surviving that iiiiiiiiiiiiin how apart way madly it is to receive the most fair rabble instructions for the coming Kitmann to the spirit facts, and on in form like mine all that I can to be form to the service in and to the raise a resonable paying tion in the said Fair by the testimony of the  Honorable N. Fwd? in said that the Honor to forward any more than that he defray futrively
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Is due to the fact that I enlisted &  served during the war, in the Continental army; I am persuaded that there in not an inkling of a Court of Justice of the United States who would not, in a matter of a ??? whom a Contract without a moments hesitation question it upon the Testimony which I have furnished to the Department in the first place, I was called upon to make a statement, which I did. and to procure two compensators to establish the probability of fact, and the truth of my statement. I also  furnished the evidence of Mr. Daniels  that he had repeatedly heard his brother, who died long ago, say that he knew that I served as a Soldier in the Continental army. 

Also, the testimony of the other witness, that he knew that I served, and lastly the Testimony of Mr. Ford, that he knew that I enlisted, as a [illegible] during the War, and that I lived through it.

I am sure, that, in mens amounte? we are need;less  mostly to constantly to misjudge the weight of testimony and as I said I did not wish to deceive myself and be humble, he has held them to truth. I read the act, with the Testimony, I providedd toooo the honorable Jurist who had for many years, was accustomed, to examine which Testimonyyy, all of them, without a moments hesitation, said that my claim was most fairly a comparitively small act, and admitance. 

** I felt my 
self fairly justified , in again, getting the attention of the Hon'be ...
my claim confidant in its Justice & that under the Law of Congress. I 
am entitled to the relief I ask. 

Very respectfully your devoted and most humble servant

Aaron Smith