Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8429, for Russell Pratt, Connecticut
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Pratt, Russell

NUMBER
R.8429

CONTENTS
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State of New York
Seneca County
Russel Pratt of the town of Waterloo, in the county of Seneca in said state being duly sworn deposth and saith, that in making out his declaration, and application hereto annexed by mistakes and inadvertencies it was omitted on said declaration to state how long applicant enlisted for in 1781 & how long he served as a sergeant, and how long he served as a provo master, and this deponent further says, that in addition and as amendatory to the same declaration that he the deponent  in the month of March AD 1981 entered for the term of one year as 1st Sergeant in Capt Samuel Granges company of Connecticut State troops in Col Cornelius Humphrey\s regiment, belonging to General Waterbury's [illegible] in the service of the United States. that this deponent served in said company in the service of the United States as first sergeant from the day of his enlistment untill some time in the month of September following. that in the said September following this deponent was appointed Provo Master in which office applicant served the remainder of the time of the aforesaid enlistment. that is untill the month of April AD 1782
Russell Pratt
Subscribed and sworn before me Seba Humphrey clerk of the county of Seneca 31 May 1833
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State of New York
Seneca County

On this fifth day of October A.D. 1831 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County ---now sitting.   Russel Pratt a resident of the town of Waterloo in the County and State aforesaid, will be aged Seventy two years the 22 day of October instant who being first duly sworn according to law, does on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress ?? June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States  under the following named Offices and served herein stated, towit, that in the month of October 1775 at East Hartford in the county of Hartford in the state of Connecticut, he enlisted in Captain   Martin Catlin's company, in Colonel John Ely's ridgment of Connecticut state troops for 12 months as a private, that he served out the said term of enlistment and was discharged at White Plains, in the State of New York about the 1st of November 1776-had no written discharge applicant served about 3 weeks over his time at the solicitation of the Commander & Chief in order to obtain recruits applicant joined Washingtons Army at Kings Bridge applicant with part of the ridgment to which he belonged was engaged in the Battle at White Plains he signed an enlistment roll at the time he enlisted.  Adriel Eley was his Lieutenant - About the month of December 1776 applicant enlisted in Captains Peter Curtis company in Colonel Gallapines ridgment of Connecticut State troops for the time of six months as a private and served out the said term of enlistment as a private. Applicant enlisted at East Hartford aforesaid and was discharged at [illegible] in the State of Connecticut about May or June 1777. Applicant was the siege of Fort Independence at which place applicant saw General Woster & Gen Parsons. David Marsh was Lieutenant in his company. Applicant has no written discharge, but signed a roll at his enlistment. About the last of June 1777 appli [continued on next page]
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[continues from previous page]
plicant enlisted as a teamster in the service of the United States under Capt. William Matson this was at East Hartford aforesaid. That applicant served two years & six months as such teamster in the said service of the United States under the said enlistment between the time of enlistment and the month of December 1779 This service was performed in carting from places of deposit to the army. In the month of March 1780 applicant enlisted on board of privateer sloop Hawk of sixteen tonns under Capt Gidion Olmsted. David Demming was Lieutenant of Marines the enlistment was for a cruise. She sailed from New London in the month of March. Applicant was out about 40 days. applicant was on board & served as a marine during the cruise. She returned into the port of New London. In the month of March 1781 applicant enlisted as first Sergent with Capt. Samuel Graingers company state troops om Col. Cornelius Humphreys ridgment belonging to Gen. Waterberrys brigade in the service of the United States. This last enlistment was at East Hartford aforesaid.
   Smith was lieutenant in that company applicant served out said time of enlistment he marched to Fossenick. In September following said enlistment applicant was appointed Provo Master by a warrant from Gen. Waterberry. Said appointment made at Fossnick. during this campaign applicant was in skirmish to drive the enemy off of Frog Point. was discharged at Stanford Connecticut. had no written discharge. Applicant soon after enlistment rec'd a sergeant's warrant signed Col. Cornelius Humphrey. At the time applicant was appointed Provo Master he received his commission from Genl Waterberry. That the said commission appointing his Provo Master & the warrant appointing him Sergeant & a muster roll of the company were carefully retained by the applicant until 1818 at which time they were all destroyed by accident at the Cayuga Bridge Seneca County by fire. Applicant has no papers showing his services nor any witnesses here.
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That there are two witnesses to applicants services residing in the state of Connecticut, to wit, Elisha Roberts and Eliab Pratt that their testimony of applications services has heretofore been obtained and is now on file as applicant believes, at Washington to which applicant would refer applicant resided at East Harford and the conclusion of his services until about November 1799 at which time he removed to the Cayuga Bridge in the state of New York now in the county of Seneca and has resided at that place principally hitherto a applicant hereby ??? every claim whatever toa pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state or territory (signature Russell Pratt)
sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year of one said
Seba Murphy Russell Pratt

we Jacob L. Lazelere and Henry Mojes

hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Russel Pratt who has subscribed &sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age the 22 day of this present month as he has above stated that he is respected & believed in the naberhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid   in open court before me Seba ??clerk Henry Mares
and the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting
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the interrogations prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states and the court further certifies that is ??to them, that Jacob Larzelere and Henry Moses
who have signed the proceeding certificate and residents in the county of Seneca 
that they are ??? persons & that their statement is entitled to credit Seba Murphy clerk
State of New York
Seneca County
I Seba Murphy Clerk of the court of common pleas of said county do hereby final proceedings of the said court in the one matter of the application of Russel Pratt for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereonto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of this said county this fifth day of October in the year 1832 
Seba Murphy clerk

14445
In the matter of the application Russel Pratt for a pension
John Knox Agt.
Filed 6th Oct.1832
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14.445
Rafiel Pratt
Seneca C. Nyork

5.16.P399
May 15 33
John Knox
Waterloo
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Brief in the case of Rafiel Pratt of Seneca C. in the state of N York (Act 7th June, 1832)

1 Was the declaration made before a court or a judge? open court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 72years
4 state his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period  Duration of Service  Rank  Name of General and field officers under whom he served

In 1775  1 year  private  Capt. Catlin Col. Ely 
Capt.  Curtis    Col Gellepins
1776  6 months   Capt. Curtis Col. Gellepins
1777 2 years 6 mo as a ???
March 1781 Time of service not ?? sarg  Capt granger Col. Murphy

5 In what battle was he engaged? white plains
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hartford Cont.
7. Is his statement supported by living witness, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
papers not attach in rec
X certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned
Richard Cutts
examining clerk
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Acts of July 14, 1802, and March 3, 1873.
8429
P. O.
Russell Pratt
Service:
Enlisted: (stamped) Rejected , 18
Discharged: , 18
Application filed: , 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
.P.O.
Recognized.   
Contract.
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Revo.
Act 7. June 1832
Russell Pratt
Suspended
See letter
to
John Knox Esqr.
Waterloo
N. York
8429
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Russell Pratt
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Russell Pratt Seneca Co N York
which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension he is entitled? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
Evidence in support of applicant's declaration required.
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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes
XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes 
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1 2
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. 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 following words:
**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.
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3
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 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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20.942
Pension
24. March, 1829.
Russell Prate,
Act March 18 1818
N. York
Rejected
See letter to Edward
Quin 29 April 1829
John H. Eaton
Department War
Washington City 
District Columbia
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Cathia Tioga County N.Y. March 17 1829
John H. Eaton
Sir
I enclose you the papers in the case Russell Pratt an extremely indigent soldier of the Revolution asking a pension.  The old man wished me to get them ready and send them before your immediate predecessor Mr. Porter was dismissed and supposed that from the intimacy between Mr. Porter and himself they would be kindly received. I do not mention this to have any influence on your mind but only in the hope that the old man may be satisfied that I did not mistake his interest in thus long delaying to present his case. You will
see in the old man's affidavit that a set of Papers were long since made out and I am suspicious they are among the papers of your Department. You will please search for them and ascerta[?] -er they were acted upon and if so what was the determination of the then [?] upon them if they never were acted upon and are sufficient to [?] place the
applicant on the list of pensioners We wish our case to rest on such former papers in order that the money may be drawn for the whole intermediate time. Please inform us of the result of your attention in this case as soon as practicable
Respectfully Yours Edward Quin
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N.Y.   June 7.
[?]
Free
Hon. Sec. of War
Washington City
(stamped) June 1 Waterloo NY
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Waterloo June 11th 1833
Hon. The Secy of War
Sir,  enclosed are the papers
of Russel Pratt, for a pension that have
been returned to him for amendment &
to which has been added his affidavit
& the Authentication of the Clerk of [illegible]
It will be seen that Pratt Went in to
the service  Oct 1775 + Served - 12... month
& from 1776 ..... 6 ..... month
March 1781 ...... 12 ..... month
30
this makes 30 month exclusive
of the 40 Days on board, the Hawk, and
2 years 1/2 as a  teamster - in the last year of
his service as provo master from Sept
to April, in what capacity, we suppose
he ranked with an Ensign 
[illegible]
John Knox
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20942
[Russell?] Pratt a et 18 March 1818
New York
E. [illegile]
Catlin
Tioga Co. [illegible]
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State of New York
Steuben County
Russell Pratt of Reading in said county being
duly sworn says that in the month of February in the year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three this
deponent enlisted in the Revolutionary service of the United States
for the term of one year in the company commanded by
Captain Samuel Granger in the Regiment commanded by
Colonel Cornelius Humphrey in the Connecticut Line and
this deponent further says that he regularly continued 
in the said service until the end of the War and that
this deponent was then honorably discharged by his 
superior officers with approving thanks, at Stamford in said
State in the month of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty three: And this
deponent further says that some time in the fall of the year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two
this deponent was appointed and commissioned as
Provo Master in said service which office this deponent
thenceforth continued to fill and execute until he was
to as above specified discharged from the said service
and this deponent further says that this deponents 
commission as such Provo Master was some years since
accidentally burned up in a trunk which was at the
time in this deponents dwelling which was partially
consumed thereby. And further this deponent says
not.
Russell Pratt [signature]
subscribed and sworn to
this 11th day of March
A.D. 1829 before me
Henry William a Judge of the
Courts of said County of
Steuben
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State of Connecticut Hartford County [illegible]
East Hartford March 2nd 1829
Elisha Roberts of East-Hartford in [illegible] February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two this [illegible] Pratt whom this [illegible] personally knew at that time and [illegible] knows to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the [illegible] hereunto [illegible] in the said town of East-Hartford for the term of one year in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Grayson in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Cornelius Humphrey and in the Connecticut [illegible], this component further says that some time in the fall of the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eight two the said [illegible] Pratt was appointed [illegible] Master in the said [illegible] which said office the [illegible] Pratt retained hence forth until the close of the Revolutionary War, and this [illegible] further says that said Pratt from [illegible] after his said establishment til the conclusion of Peace [illegible] the United State and Great Britain by which the War of the Revolution was closed as well before as after the time [illegible] said Pratt was appointed [illegible] Master as [illegible] aid he said Pratt continued regularly in the [illegible] service and was discharged [illegible] by his superior officers at the town of Hartford in said state in [illegible] in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three with the [illegible] of his superior officers: And this [illegible] further [illegible] that this [illegible] enlisted [illegible] the same time, for the same term, at the same place, continued regularly in the said [illegible] until the end of the War, and was honorably discharged with the said Pratt. And further this [illegible] says not satisfied and sword to this day of March [illegible] 1829 before me
Elisha Roborts
Elial Pratt
Daniel Easton Justice of Peace for Hartford County 
Hartford County is East Hartford March 2nd 1829 personally appeared Elial Pratt Signer of the foregoing deposition and being duly sword deposes and says that Russell Pratt the subject of this deposition is the same Russell Pratt who enlisted into the Revolutionary Reverie in East Hartford in the year one thousand seven hundred & eighty two & that said Russell Pratt returned at the close of said war to East Hartford afterward and removed from [illegible] into the State of New York further you [illegible] saith not before me.
Daniel Easton Justice of Peace Hartford County
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I Thomas Chester Clerk of the County Court of the County
of Hartford in Connecticut certify that Daniel Easton Esqr on the 
2d day of March 1829 was a Justice of Peace in and for said
County duly commissioned & by law empowered to administer
oaths & I believe that his name aforesaid was by him subscribed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed
the seal of said County Court at Hartford
this 3d day of March 1829
Thomas Chester Clerk
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State of New York
Steuben County 
Russell Pratt being the same Russell 
Pratt whose name is subscribed to the declaration or
affidavit hereunto annexed being duly sworn says that the
reason why this deponent has not procured affidavits
from the commandants of the Regiment and Company to
which this deponent was attached or either of said commandants
is that the said commandants as this deponent
was informed and verily believes to be true departed this
life some time before the act of Congress of 1818 relative to
Pensions was passed. And this deponent further says that the
Colonel of the Regiment mentioned in this deponents
Declaration hereunto annexed viz: Cornelius Humphrey
as this deponent was informed at the time and did
then and does now verily believe to be true departed
this life about the year one thousand eight hundred
and that the death of said Humphry was at
the time of his said supposed death a matter of public
notoriety in the County of Hartford in Connecticut where
this deponent then resided. And this deponent further
says that the reason why this deponent comes this late
in his application for a Pension is that shortly after the
passage of the act of Congress above alluded to this deponent 
had a set of Papers preparatory to an application
to the department of War which this deponent was
informed were sufficient to place this deponent on the pension 
list and which said papers were handed by this
deponent to a gentleman of the Law to be forwarded to
said Department. that soon after said papers were thus
handed over to said attorney he went on a visit to one of the
New England States on a where after languishing 
about a year he died, and this deponent says
that during the sickness of said attorney and ever since 
that time this deponent has been in suspense as to what
was done with said papers. And this deponent further
my that before this deponent utterly despaired of
hearing from said papers in the said deportment of
Was this deponent become insolvent was burdened 
with a large family at the advanced age of sixty
five years and very unable to earn the expense
necessary to make said application for such Pension
Russell Pratt [signature]
Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day
of March AD 1829 before me
Henry J Williams a Judge of the Court of said county & state
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State of New York 
Steuben County
Be it known that on this
Eleventh day of March
A.D. 1829 personally appeared before me Henry
Williams one of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas of said County Russell
Pratt whose name is inducted in the declaration 
and affidavit hereunto annexed and
deposed to the matters and facts contained
in the said affidavits and also presented,
to me the affidavit of Elisha Roberts the
official certificate of Daniel Easton and
the Certificate of Thomas Chester Clerk
the County of Hartford all of which on hereunto 
annexed and I being satisfied of the
truth of the matters contained in the said
several papers, Do adjudge that the said
Russelll Pratt served in the Revolutionary
War of America and against the
Common Enemy all of which I certify to
the Secretary of the Department of War
of the United States of America pursuant
to the act of the Congress of the 
United States aforesaid passed in the year 1818
relative to Pensions
Henry Williams