Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8095, for Butler Pinney, Connecticut
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE                            NUMBER
Conn       Pinney, Butler      R.8095
________________[double line]
CONTENTS
Page 2

State of Connecticut
Hartford County ss} District of Granby~
~
On this 8. Day of January 1833-Personally appeared in open
Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Granby
now sitting,
Butler Pinney late a Resident of [illegible]
in the County aforesaid now Residing in Granby aforesaid aged Sixty^nine[ word "eight" x'd out] 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 pass'd June 7, 1832- that he entered the service of the United States under the following nam'd officers & sen'd as him states-irr-that he enter'd the said service under Capt Jonathan Case, then of Simsbury, but
now de'd
Some time in the
month of October 1778,
the precise day he Cannot Recollect. He went to Suffield &
from thence to Sharon in the East line of the State of New York -in this town he belong'd to a Captains [illegible], [illegible] Burgoynes' troops, thu'd the State of
Connecticut - after having ser'd in this a term of
not less than three Weeks When he was Discharge'd at Sharon [illegible] & Return'd, home-
He again Went into the service of the United States under
Capt Samuel Barnard on or about the first of June 1779 for a time of six months, he went to Danbury in Con't. from there to man West point,
cross'd. the River at highland, from there into the State of - New Jersey
During this term
of service he was in no particular
Engagement, but were watching the
movements of the
Enemy, marching from place to place,
and after having
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Sen'd. his time of six months and he was Discharge'd man
Morristown in New Jersey on or about the first of December 1777 - having said not less than 6 months as a private
He again went into s'd service under Capt Amasa Mills, Lt. Echoid Mills & Ens Jon'a. Pinney about the first of April
1780 & Went a term of six months to West point & stay'd. at Westpoint keeping Garrison during the s'd term of
Six months, & was Discharg'd.  at that place on or about the Last of Sept.' 1780. We W at West point at the time Benedict Arnold made his Escape
 from that place. He saw Maj' Andre after he was taken, but came away a short time before he Was Executed.
[illegible]
He further declars that from and the aforesid service he
was regularly & honorably Discharge'd., but has not any Written Discharges to show- that he has no Documentary [illegible] of his aforesaid service and knows of no person who can [illegible] his service
He hereby Relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or Annuity & [illegible] the pursuant & 
Declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency of any State- 
Sworn & Subscrb'd.   the Day & year aforesaid
before me
Joab Griffin Judge
of Probate
Butler Pinney
And to the interogators put by the Court agreeable to the
Instructions from the Department of War,
the sd Butler Pinney
gives the answers as follows on his oath aforesaid-
First- He was born in Simsbury Aug 12 1763_
2.- He knows of [illegible] of his age_
3. He lived in Simsbury aforesaid when call'd. into service & which he has since lived untill Sept last, When he moved in to town of Granby
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4. first term He went as a Volunteer 2'd term He 
Enlisted- & the third term Was Draughted_
-
5. In consequence of age & Infirmities He cannot
Recollect much about [illegible] 2 [illegible] officers, but
Remembers seeing Gen'. Washington
at West point after Arnolds' treason.
_____
6. Dont Recollect Receiving any written discharges, if he did , he has lost them_
7. He wont^ mention the names of the Rev'd. Asa Cornwell, David
Latham & Joel Eno. as persons who can testify as to
his Character for truth & veracity_ 
We David Latham & Joel Eno both of Granby in Harford County
herby Certify that we are well acquainted with Butler Pinney who
has subscrib'd & sworn to the foregoing
Declaration that We believe 
him to be Sixty nine [word "eight" lined through] years of age,
& that he is reputed & believed
 in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been
a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscrib'd.  the day & year aforesaid
David Latham
Joel Eno
before me-
Joel Griffin Judge
of Probate
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and the said Court hereby declare it to be Their opinion, after
the Investigation of the matter & after putting the Interrogations
present'd.  by the Department of War that the above name'd.
applicant was a soldier of the Revolution & sai'd. as he states
& the [illegible] further certifies that it appears [illegible] that the
Rev'd. Asa Cornwall
a Clergyman Residing in the aforsaid town of Granby & that David Latham & Joel Eno
who have subsrib'd. & sworn to the foregoing certificate
& residents of town of Granby & that they are credible persons & that their statement is Entitled to credit
Attest Joshua R. Jewett, Clerk

I Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Granby do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Butler Pinney for a Pension - In testimony whereof I
have hereto  sett my hand & seal of office this 8 day
of January 1833 -
Joshua R. Jewitt-Clerk 
[seal affixed bottom left of page]

I hereby certify that Joab Griffin Esq is Judge of the said of Court of
Probate for the District of Granby,
duly qualified law as such, & that
the signature above preporting to be his is his genuine Signature
Joshua R. Jewitt, Clerk_
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[words "Acts of Jul 14,1832, and March 3,1870." lined through]
REJECTED
8095
P. O. Butler Pinney
[ name"Buttler Penney" lined through]
Service: Revolution
Enlisted:______,18
Discharged:______,18
Application filed:_____,18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
_______Recognized. ______Contract.     
____Cert. of Dis.  Searched for_____,18.
Page 7

Connecticut
Revol.
ButlerPinney
[name"Buttler Penney" lined through]
Suspended
See letter to
J. R. Jewett
16 Oct. 1832
8095
Act 7. June 1832
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Hartford County; Granby Jan y8th 1833
I hereby certify that for more than twenty years I
have been acquainted with Butler Pinney late of Simsbury
in Hartford County aforesaid, who now resides in this
town, and who is an applicant for a pension. And altho'
I have no knowledge of his Revolutionary services, yet I
consider him a man of truth and believe his declaration
respecting those services may be relied on as correct and true.
Asa Cornwall
Rector of
St Peter's Parish Granby
St Andrew's Parish Simsbury
Sworn & Subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
before me 
Joab Griffin Judge of
Probate for Granby District
Page 9

Butler Pinney
Suspended for
Original Declaration
[illegible]
best evidence 
 produced
not 16 years
[name"Joel Edward" lined through]
[illegible]
J.R. Jewitt 
Page 77
Page 10

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Butler Pinney
on which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
11. Did the declarant make the declaration in the tony there he resides? He does not
appear to have been made in open Court
III. If the applicant that rake 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?
No
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 amount of pension
he is entitled
No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
No
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate
-
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?
No
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their 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?
No
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office?
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?
No
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?
none

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a 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."
+ Does not appear that the best evidence
has been produced
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
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 be 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 authenticated 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 end 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.
names of Cdonels must be given a [illegible] be traced
Clergyman is not required to certify as
to knowledge of service - but as to reputation
in his neighborhood that claimant served.
[illegible]
Page 13

Ruth Pinney

J.R. Jewitt
Page 14

2380
Ruth Pinney
Declaration
you 
[illegible]
Page 15

State of Connecticut - Harford County- District of Granby,
On this 3d day of August 1832. Personally appeared ^in open court before 
Joab Griffin [illegible] Judge of the Court of Probate
for the District of Granby, now sitting, Butler  Pinney a
Resident of afsd town
of Simsbury aged sixty eight
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
pass'd June 7. 1832 - that he entered the service
of the United States under the following [illegible]
[illegible] & serv'd. as he stated, viz. that he
Entered the service under Capt. Jonathan Case of
Simsbury ^in oyo 1778    West to Suffield in Con't. & from there to
Sharon on East line of the State of New York ^ was discharged about [illegible] of Nov. 1778
in this town  He went to guard the troops taken
from Gen Burgoyne thr'o. the State of Cont,[sentence illegible] [ the sentence'"He was gone from home two weeks or three weeks  or mon according to the best of my recollection" is lined through]
He again went into the[illegible] service  under Capt Samuel Barnard^ on or about the first of June in the year 1779- He went a tour 
of six months to Danbury in Con't from there thru  to near Westpoint ^& crossed the Hudson Bay [illegible]
-from there into the into the State of New=Jersey &
was or the end of [illegible] in months ^ to [illegible][illegible]
Morristown in the State of New=Jersey_
He again went into the  s'd service under Capt
Amasa Mills, Lt Geo. Mills, Ensign Jon'u. Pinney
Page 16

above the 1-[illegible] 17X11
on a tour of six months at to West Point Stay'd there keeping Garrison during the 1'd time of six
months  &was discharge'd at that place at the end of - 1d ^ about the [illegible] turn - He was at [illegible] from at the time Benedict Arnold run away form that place
[sentence illegible]
That form all the aforesaid & was he was Regularly& Honorably discharge'd., but has no Discharges to there_ 
that he has no Documentary Evidence
of his aforesd Service-- that he was a Resident
of Simsbury in Harford County when he perform'd. [illegible]
---
He hereby relinquishs every claim claim, whatever to
a Pension or annuity Except the presence, and
Declares that his name is not on the Pension
Roll of any agency of any State
Sworn & Subsrib'd.  the day & year aforesaid
J. Griffin Judge
Butler Pinney[ signature]
We Abel Adams & William Mathison both now residing
in 1'd town of Simsbury hereby certify that we are
well acquainted with Butler Pinney who has subrib'd. 
Sworn to the above Declaration - that we believe him
to be sixty eight years of age - & that he is reputed & believ'd.  in the neighbourhood when he resides to have
been a soldier of the Revolution - & that we concur in
that opinion - Sworn & subscr'd. the day & year aforesaid_
Abel Adams
Wm Mitchelson
Page 17

And the 1d Court does hereby declare it to be his
opinion after the investigation of the matter
& after putting the interrogations present'd  by the
War Department that the applicant was a 
Soldier of the Revolution & serv'd.  as he states
and the1d court further certifies that it appears
to him that Abel Adams & William Mitchelson
Esq. are Residents of the 1d town of Simsbury
and are credible persons & that the their statement
is Entitled to Credit 
Joab Griffin Judge


I Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk of the Court of Probate
for the District of Granby do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the [illegible]
 in the matter of the application of
Butler Pinney
for a Pension_
In Witness whereof I have Sett my hand & seal
of office this 3d day of August 1832-
Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk
[seal affixed at left]
I hereby certify that Joab Griffin Eq is Judge of the
Court of Probate for the District of Granby & that
above
his genuine signature
Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk
Page 18

I Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk of the Court of Probate for the
District of
Granby do hereby certify that Amos Adams
Esq before whom the within Deposition was taken is a
Justice of the peace within & for the County of
Hartford in the State of Connecticut,
duly qualified
to act as such & that the signation within purportly
to be his, is his, Genuine Signature
Attest Joshua R. Jewett Clerk
---
[seal affixed with ribbon beneath, numbers written over it are 147 67 4_ 590.76_147.67 78_52]
Page 19

I Ira Clark of Granby [name "Windsor" lined through] in the County of Hartford &
State of Connecticut aged Seventy five years, after having been
duly sworn depose & say that I have been
acquainted with Butler Pinney for a great many years
I know that the  sd Pinney has usually resided in the
town of Simsbury in the County aforesaid untill
quite lately &
now as I understand lives in the town of Granby in the County aforesaid - I further depose &
say that I will know that the sd Pinney went into the 
Service of the United States in the War of the
Revolution & should say in the Summer of the
1779. He started from Hartford with me & several others
but have long he serv'd. in this town
I cannot at this Distant Period Recollect_
 I know of no one
living that were with us except the sd Pinney &
myself.
Ira Clark [signature]
Hartford County  sw Granby January
18th 1833 personally appeared Ira Clark and made
Solemn Oath to the Truth of the above deposition
by him subscribed before me
Andrew Adams Justice of peace
I hereby certify that the above named Ira Clark
is a credible & disintrusted witness
Andrew Adams Justice of peace
Page 20

We Jael Holcomb & Joel C Holcomb
residing
in the Town of Granby County of Hartford
and State of Connecticut hereby certify that we
are well acquainted with
Butler Pinney a Resident of the Town of Granby County of Hartford
and State of Connecticut who has sworn and
Subscribed the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be
70 years of age that he is reputed
and believe
in the Neighborhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the
revolution and that
we concur in that Opinion
Jael Holcomb
Joel C Holcomb 
Sworn & Subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Joab Griffin
Judge of Probate
[seal affixed to right of page]
and the said Court do hereby
declare that 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 service as he states.
And the Court
the
further certifies that it appears to them
Jael Holcomb and Joel C. Holcomb who have
signed the preceding certificate are residents of
the Town of Granby County of
Hartford and
State of Connecticut and are credible persons
and that statement is entitled to credit
Joab Griffin Judge
Page 21

I Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk of the Court of Probate for
the District of Granby Do hereby certify that the foregoing
Contains the Original proceedings of the sd Court in the
matter of the application of Butler Pinney for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand
Seal of Office this 16 day of September 1833-
Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk
[seal affixed left of page]
I Joshua R. Jewitt Clerk of the Court of Probate for the
District of Granby do hereby certify that Joab Griffin Eq
is Judge of the Court of Probate for the Probate for the District of Granby aforesaid & is who a Justice of the peace
within for the County of Hartford in the State of
Connecticut  duly appointed Commission'd.  & Sworn &
full faith & Credit and to be given to his official
last as Signature - and that the signature
was purporting to be his is his Genuine
Signature
-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
sett my hand & seal of office this 16 day of
September 1833
Joshua R. Jewett Clerk
Page 22

Sworn and Subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Joab Griffin
Personally appeared
before me the undersigned
a
Justice of the peace for Hartford County in the
State of Connecticut Butler Pinney 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
In 1778 --3 Weeks as a private
   1779   6 months- as a private
   1780   6 months- as a private
and for such service I claim a pension
Butler Pinney[signature]
Sworn and subscribed
16 day of Sept 1833
before me Joab Griffin Jus t peace
The Rev. Asa Cornwall the only Clergyman with
whom the applicant is acquainted has recently removed from this place- and his certificate cannot be attained
without trouble and  expense.
J. Griffin Judge
Page 23

State of Connecticut}
Hartford County}
on this 16 day of September 1833 personally appeared
in open Court before the Court of Probate for Granby
District now sitting Butler Pinney a resident of
Granby in the County of Hartford and State of
Connecticut aged 70 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 7, 1832
That he entered the service under the following
named officers and served as herein stated.
That in the month of October 1778 he
Volunteered as a private under Captain Jonathan
Case of Simsbury Marched to Suffield in Con and
thence to Sharon to guard the Troops surrounded by
Gen. Burgoyne through the State of Connecticut
and was discharged at Sharon in Nov. 1778 having
served not less than three weeks-
That in the month of June 1779 he [ words "was Drafted" lined through]
Volunteered under Captain Samuel Barnard
of Simsbury Con. in the 18th Regiment commanded
by Col. [ name "Noah Phelps" lined through] Jonathan Humphreys that
he marched to Danbury in Con. thence & near
West Point crossed the River and marched
to Trenton in New Jersey with the French Army
[illegible] to Morristown when he was discharged
in the month of December 1779 having served
not less than six months in this term
That in the month of April 1780 he was Drafted ^ as a private
under Captain Amasa Mills of Simsbury
Marched from Simsbury through Litchfield
Danbury New Milford and other Towns to
West point- where the troops were stationed and
the company was annexed to Col Webbs Regiment
his duty was in Keeping Garrison
Page 24

and was discharged in the month of October
1779 having served in this term not less than
six months-
That he has no documentary Evidence and that
he was of no person whose testimony he can prove
who can testify this service
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present and declares
that his name is not on the pension roll of
the agency of any State
Sworn and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Butler Pinney[ signature]
Joab Griffin
Judge of Probate

Interrogatories as put by the Court as prescribed by
the War Department & the applicant answers as follows

1st born in Simsbury Con. April 12. 1763
2  has no record of his age
3  he lived in Simsbury aforesaid when called into
service and where he has lived since until Sept last
when he moved into said Granby        
4   two first terms volunteered & last term was Drafted
& he served in all the terms as a private
5  He Remembers seeing General Washington at West
Point - Recollects seeing Gen Lafayette
6   never received a Discharge in writing
7  He would mention. Jael Holcomb David Latham
Joel Eno & Thomas Halcomb Esq to whom he is
known in his present Neighborhood and who can testify
to his character for veracity and their belief
of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
Butler Pinney[signature]