Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20847, Joseph Cheney, Conn.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn
CONTENT
Charge
Cerry, Joseph
Rebecca
NUMBER
W. 20847
Page 2

Connecticut
Rebecca Cheney
widow of Joseph Cheney, decd
of
and who died on the 26 July 1790
of New Haven in the State of Court
who was a private in the compy commanded
by Captain Douglass of the lot regt commanded
by Col
in the County
line for 6 months & 3 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Connect
at the rate of 20 Dollars 33 Cents
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
it
per annum
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of Dec
and suit to Hon. W.W.
Boardman House of Reps
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1841 $101.66
Son
Recorded by
Book A.
Act July 7,
1838.
Vol.
D.McCurdy, Clerk
Page 173.
Page 3

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven
On this Sixth
day of June 1840, person
ally appeared before the undersigned, Judge
of the Court of Probate for the District of
New Haven, Mrs Robert Cheney, a resident
of North Haven in said County and said
Probate District, aged Eighty seven
years, who
being first duly sworn according to law
doth on her oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the bene
fit of the provision made by act of Congress
passed July 7th 1838: That she is the ┃
widow of Joseph Cheney deceased who
was a private in the Sixth Company ┃
of the first regiment of Connecticut Forces
raised in May 1775, William Douglass Cap
tain her deceased husband the said Joseph ┃
Cheney enlisted on the 15th of May 1775, and ┃
was discharged at St. Johns on the 18th of
November in the same year, having served ┃
six months and three days in Capt. Doug
lass Company. After this discharge she
has reason to believe that he engaged
under General Montgomery and went to
sucher with him, as she remembers to have
heard him speak of being at Quille when
Gen. Montgomery was killed; but of this ser ┃
vice to Quebec she does not know that she
Page 4

can obtain proof to substantiate. She fur
the declares that she was married to the said
Joseph Cheney by the Rev. Benjamin
Trumbull of North Haven, on the 20
the
day of November, 1777, and that her husband
the aforesaid Joseph Cherney died on the 26th
day of July, 1790, and that she has remained
his widow ever since that period,
as will more fully appear by reference to the
proof hereunto annexed
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and
year
above written
Before
Rebecca X Cheney
me who assisted her hand
Mack
in making her make
Nathaniel A Clake, Judge of the
R
Court of Probate District of New Haven
of the Court of Probate for the Probate District No
June 6th AD. 1840. I certify that Rebecca Honey
the deponent, is well known to me, and that I consider
entitled to full credit as a
Judge Court of Probate
State of Connecticut
Mary Horn County
John Beach Clerk of the lot
of Probate, within and for the District of New and
Keeper of the Records and Seal thereof holy City
that Nathaniel Clark is Judge of Probate in
and for said Dickert duly commissioned and
Swan, and that the above is his genuine offi
signature - In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal
of said Court this 6th day of June AD 1840
An Beach Clerk
Page 5

Now
According to the Record of marriages
in my possession
kept by and in the
hand writing of the Rev. Benjamin Trumbull
now deceased but during his life Pastor of
Church in North Haven, County of New Haven, State of
Connecticut,
Joseph Cheny and Rebecca
Pely were married Nov. 20th. 1777.
I Leverett
Seventh Greggs
Griggs above named depose
and say that I hold the office of Pastor
of a Church in North Haven, County of
Newhaven State of Connecticut and that the
above marriage is a true extract from the
original record of Benjamin Trumbull diseased
as
Certified
by me
Seventh Juggs
Pastor of a Church in
North therein State of C.
Sworn Before me Daniel Purport
North Haven
Justice of the piece
May 4th 1840
Page 6

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20847
Rebecca Cheney
wid of
Joseph Cheney
Pri Rev. War
---
Act: July 7th
1888
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 132
Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 7

Blott
The
Page 8

Rebecca Cheney
Comedient
Act
July
W
N
Dovel appear with supor of
of either acts
Page 9

Jos. Cheney
Rebecca
1790
M. Nov.
77
pr 6th Co. 11th Regt Conn
May 75 durch 18 Nov 75
One 3d. Capt Douglass
Afterwards went to Quebeck
Page 10

Rebecca Cheney
5947
Wid of
Joseph
Conn
Act July 7 1838
Married
1777
died
1790
Allen O 3 days
Conn Militia
Capt Douglass
Hon W W Boardman
H R
Page 11

L. Edwards
by
-
Comr of Pensions
Page 12

H. Reps 10 Decr 1840
J. L. Edward E
Com
Sir
-
I send you the Enclosed papers,
with a request that you would examine them
at your earliest convenience and favour
me with your determination regarding them,
have also to return the accompanying letter
my respectfully your
Most Obt St
Wm W. Boardman
Page 13

1814
Hon Truman Smith
of
Member of Congress
Washington
D. C
N
Mrs Cheney
D
Page 14

New Haven, June 22nd 1840.

Hon Truman Smith

Sir
I take the liberty to trouble you with the enclosed papers, being the application of Mrs. Rebecca Cheney of North Haven in this county for a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of her late husband, together with the documents and evidence in support of her claim, which I will thank you to lay before the Commissioner of Pensions, and request his attention to the same with as little delay as possible.  Mrs. Cheney being in extreme circumstances as to means of support, and also in feeble health and infirm old age.  My reason for giving you, Sir, the trouble, is that I am not certain that Mr. Storrs, the Representative from this district, is now in Washington since his appointment as Judge of the Superior Court.  Should any objection be made or any defect found in these papers, I should wish to be informed of it as soon as possible, that the same may be remedied:  And should a pension be granted, I wish the certificate to be forwarded to me, as it is requested by Mrs. Cheney, who had made me her agent.

I have the honor to be, with much respect 
Your obedient servant
William Stover
Page 15

I, Levi Cooper, of the town of North Haven, in the County of New Haven, and State of Connecticut having been duly [illegible] & sworn; Do on my oath depose and say; That I am now in the sixty sixth year of my age; that I was well acquainted with the late Joseph Cheney, a Soldier of the Revolutionary War, having lived many years in the family of said deceased.  That the said Joseph Cheney died at East Haven in said County & State in the month of July A D. 1790; and that he left a widow, Mrs. Rebecca Cheney, who is now living in the said town, of North Haven, at the house next to my own residence, and that she never married again after the death of her said husband, Joseph Cheney, dec'd; and that she now remains the Widow of [illegible] Joseph Cheney, decd, and further this deponent saith not                Levi Cooper

New Haven June 9th 1840
State of Connecticut
New Haven County}  ss

New Haven, Probate District of New Haven.
June 9th A. D. 1840.
Personally appeared, Levi Cooper, the deponent, a Person well known to me, and entitled to full credit, does upon his oath, solemnly swear to the truth of the deposition made and subscribed by him as above.

Witness my hand day & date above written.

Nathaniel R. Clark, Judge of the Court of Probate, for the District of [illegible].
Page 16

I, John Douglas of the City of New Haven, in the County of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, having been duly cautioned, Do on my oath depose and say that I am the oldest Grandson of the late Colonel William Douglas, who commanded a Regiment of Connecticut forces in the War of the Revolution, that I have in my possession, sundry papers and documents appertaining to the Regiment commanded by him, and also to a company of forces, of which he was previously Captain, that these papers and documents descended to me, and came through my Father who was the only son of said Colonel William Douglas, and further that among the documents how in my possession is  one with the following words and figures at the beginning, namely.
"A Pay Roll of a Regiment of new Levies from Connecticut
"Commanded by William Douglas Esquire - Colonel. and an other, with the words and figures following to wit.

"A Pay Roll of the 6th Company of the [illegible] Regiment of Connecticut
"forces raised in May 1775.  William Douglas, Captain." and that I believe the documents and papers are the original documents, and further, that on said Pay Roll of said 6th Company, there is the name of Joseph Cheney, a private who enlisted on the 15th day of May & was discharged at Ft Johns on the 18th day of November, in said 1775, and further this deponent saith not.  Witness my hand this 11th day of June A.D. 1840.
John Douglas
Page 17

State of Connecticut
New Haven County} ss
Office of the Court of Probate, for the Probate District of New Haven, June 11th A.D. 1840
Personally appeared, John Douglas, signer of the within deposition, a person well known to me, and entitled to full credit as a witness, and made oath to the truth of the same, before me.  
Nathaniel R. Clark, Judge
of said Court of Probate. 

Office of the Court of Probate, for the Probate District of New Haven, June 11th A. D. 1840, I hereby certify that the documents referred to in the within deposition, now exhibited to me by said John Douglas, the deponent, and was carefully examined with the said deposition, and further that they have the appearance of being Original documents, and that I verily believe them to be the original documents as declared in said deposition., and I further certify that the same documents was exhibited to me by Benjamin R Fowler, now deceased, on the 9th day of July 1809, who declared that he had previously exhibited the same at the Pension Department of Washington.

Given under my hand, day & date above written.
Nathaniel R Clark, Judge [illegible] Court of Probate.
Page 18

STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
NEW HAVEN COUNTY,
COUNTY COURT CLERK'S OFFICE } SS.

I, Jn Beach Clerk of the County Court, within and for said County, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, and of the Commissions of Justices of Peace, within and for said County, hereby certify that 

William Stovar

Esq. is a [cross out] JUSTICE OF PEACE [/cross out] Notary Public

within and for the said [cross out] County [/cross out] State duly appointed, commissioned, and sworn, with power to administer oaths and take the acknowledgement of Deeds; that his Commission is dated the 10th day of June A.D 1840 and will expire on the 10th [cross out] twentieth [/cross out] day of June, A.D. 1842; that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and that the signature hereto annexed, purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court, this 15th day of June A.D. 1840

Jn Beach Clerk.
Page 19

I, Enos Hemingway of East Haven in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, a revolutionary pensioner of the United States on the Roll of the Connecticut Agency,  now in the eighty fifth year of my age, do depose and say that some time in the month of May in the year 1775 (the day I do not remember) I enlisted for seven months in a Company commanded by Capt. William Douglass. We marched from New Haven to Horseneck in the State of New York, whir we encamped for about two months; we then went over to the North River and embarked in board of vessels with Col Waterbury's Regiment and proceeded to Albany; from thence we marched to Sheensborough where we halted for one day and then forwards to Ticonderoga where Gen, Montgomery took command. At this place we were employed in building boats about two months and proceeded where we halted a few days, and there proceeded as before under command of Gen, Montgomery to St. Johns. After besieging the fort at that place about firth days the garrison surrendered, after which we were employed in raising a new schooner which we had sank while storming the fort; and after we had raised her we took the officers of the garrison whim we had captured on board the schooner and conveyed them to Crown Point. Captain Douglass' company was discharged at St. John's the latter part of November 1775, and we returned home where we arrived some time in December. Joseph Chaney I well remember was in the same company with me as a soldier during the whole of this service, but do not remember whether he came home with us or not. The time of the service stated above was, according to the best of my recollection and belief, about seven months from the time of enlisting until we returned home. The aforesaid Joseph Cheney, with him I was well acquainted belonged in North Haven.
Enos Hemingway
Subscribed and sworn to this 13th day of June 1840.
Before me, William Stover Notary Public
Page 20

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven Js.-
On this thirteenth day of  June Eighteen Hundred and Forty, Personally appeared before the undersigned Notary Public, in and for said State, Enos Hemmingway Esq of the town of East Haven in the County and State, aforesaid, Signer of the within Deposition, a person known to me, as a man of strict truth and veracity, and made oath to the truth of the same. On the day and year, last above written. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my Official Signature, and seal.
William Stover, Notary Public
[seal]
Page 21

[seal]
STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
NEW HAVEN COUNTY,
COUNTY COURT CLERK'S OFFICE.} ss.
I, Jno Beach Clerk of the County Court, within and for said County and Keeper of the Seal thereof, and of the Commissions of Justices of Peace, within and for said County, hereby certify that 
Davis Pierpont
Esq. is a JUSTICE OF PEACE,
within and for said County, duly appointed, commissioned, and sworn, with power to administer oaths and take the acknowledgment of Deeds; that his Commission is dated the 8 day of June A.D. 1839 and will expire on the twentieth day of June, A.D. 1840; that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and that the signature hereto annexed, purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this 15 day of June A.D. 1840
Jon Beach Clerk.
Page 22

STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
NEW HAVEN COUNTY,
COUNTY COURT CLERK'S OFFICE.} ss.
I, Jno Beach Clerk of the County Court, within and for said County and Keeper of the Seal thereof, and of the Commissions of Justices of Peace, within and for said County, hereby certify that 
Eleazer Warner & Nathl R Clark 
Esq. each is a JUSTICE OF PEACE,
within and for said County, duly appointed, commissioned, and sworn, with power to administer oaths and take the acknowledgment of Deeds; that his Commission is dated the 5 day of June A.D. 1840 and will expire on the twentieth day of June, A.D. 1841; that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and that the signature hereto annexed, purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this 26 day of Nov A.D. 1840
Jon Beach Clerk.
[seal]
Page 23

State of Connecticut
New Haven County} Js.
[seal]
I, John Beach, clerk of the Court of Probate, within and for the District of New Haven,  and keeper of the Records and Seal thereof- hereby Certify that Nathaniel R Clark is Judge of Probate in and for said District, duly Commissioned and sworn, and that the annexed is his genuine official signature. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court this 24th day of November A.D. 1840.
Jn Beach Clk
Page 24

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven ss. On the 14th day of November 1840, personally appeared in open Court, before the undersigned Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven Mrs. Rebecca Cheney a resident of New Haven in said County and Probate District aged 87 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838. That she is the widow of Joseph Cheney, deceased, who was a private in the 6th Company of the first Regiment of Connecticut forces, raised in may 1775, William Douglass Captain. Her deceased husband the said Joseph Cheney enlisted on the 15th of May 1775, and was discharged at St. Johns on the 18th of November in the same year, having served six months and three days in Captain Douglass' Company. After this discharge she has reason to believe that he engaged under General Montgomery and went to Quebec with him, as she remembers having heard him speak of being at Quebec when General Montgomery was killed, but of this service to Quebec she does not know that she can obtain any proof to substantiate it. She further declares that she was married to the said Joseph Cheney by the Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, at North Haven, on the 20th day of November, 1777, and that her husband the aforesaid Joseph Cheney, died on the 26th day of July 1790, and that she has remained his widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed. 
Rebecca Cheney (signed with X as "her mark")

Sworn and subscribed before me
Day and date above written

Nathaniel K. Clark. Judge of the Court
of Probate. District of New Haven
Page 25

I Enos Hemingway of East Haven in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, on the roll of the Connecticut agency now in the 86th year of my age, do depose and say that some time in the month of May 1775, (I do not remember the day,) I enlisted for seven months in a Company commanded by Captain William Douglass, and that Joseph Cheney was a soldier in the same Company. We marched from New Haven to House Neck int he State of New York, where we encamped for about two months, we then went over to the North River, where we embarked on board of repels with Col. Waterbury's Regiment and proceeded to Albany, from thence we were marched to Sheensborough, where we halted for one day and then proceeded to Ticonderoga, where General Montgomery took the command. At this place we were employed in building boats about two months, and then proceeded with our boats in regular order to Crown Point, where we halted for a few days, and then proceeded as before, under the command of Gen. Montgomery, to St. Johns. After besieging the fort at that place about forty days, the garrison surrendered; after which we were employed in raising a new schooner, which had been sunk in storming the fort. After repairing said schooner we took on board the officers of the garrison we had captured, once conceived them to Crown Point. Capt. Douglass Company was discharged at St. john's, the latter part of November 1775, and we returned home, several of us, where we arrived some time in December. Joseph Cheney I well remember was in the same Company with me serving the whole of the service related above, but whether he came home at the time I did, I do not now remember. The aforesaid Joseph Cheney, with whom I was well acquainted, belonged in North Haven. And further this deponent saith not. 
Enos Hemingway

State of Connecticut}
New Haven County} ss.  New Haven November 14th, 1840
Personally appeared before me Enos Hemingway, the signed of the foregoing deposition, a person well known to me, is entitled to full faith and credit, and made oath to the truth of the same.
Nathanial R. Clark
Justice of the Peace
Page 26

I John Douglass of the City of New Haven in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, aged 42 years having been duly cautioned and sworn, do on my oath depose and say, that I am the oldest grandson of the late William Douglass who commanded a Regiment of Connecticut forces in the War of the American Revolution, that I have in my possession sundry papers and documents appertaining to the Regiment commanded by said Col. Douglass , and also to a company of forces of which he was previously Captain; and that these papers and documents descended and came to me through my father, who was the only son of said Col. William Douglass. I further depose and say, that among said documents now in my possession is one with the following words and figures of the beginning, vis.-"A Pay Roll of a Regiment of New Levies from Connecticut commanded by William Douglass, Esq. Colonel," and another with the words and figures following, vis:- " A Pay Roll of the 6th Company of the 1st Regiment of Connecticut Forces raised in may 1775-William Douglass Captain," and that I believe the said documents and papers are the original documents. I further depose and say that on said pay roll of said 7th Company appears the name of Joseph Cheney, a private, who enlisted on the 15th day of May, and was discharged at St. Johns on the 18th of November 1775:-and further this deponent saith not.
John Douglas

State of Connecticut}
New Haven County} ss. New Haven, November 23d, 1840

Personally appeared before me, John Douglas, the signer of the above deposition, a person well known to me, as entitled to full faith and credit, and made oath to the truth (same_, of the same.
Nathaniel R. Clark
Justice of the Peace.
Page 27

I Levi Cooper of North Haven in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut aged 66 years, having been duly cautioned and sworn, do on my oath depose and say, that I was well acquainted with the late Joseph Cheney, who was a solder in the Revolutionary War, having lived several years in the family of said deceased:-that said Joseph Cheney died in East Haven, in said County and State, in the month of July 1790, and left a widow, Mrs. Rebecca Cheney, with whom I am well acquainted. and who is now living in the house next to my own residence in said town of North Haven, that she has never been again married since the death her husband the said Joseph Cheney, but still remains his widow, and further this deponent saith not.
Levi Cooper

State of Connecticut}
New Haven County} ss. New Haven, November 21st 1840
Personally appeared before me Levi Cooper, the signer of the foregoing deposition, a pension well known to me as entitled & full faith and credit, and made oath to the truth of the same.
Nathaniel R. Clark Justice of the Peace
Page 28

According to the record of Marriages now
in my possession, kept by and in the 
handwriting of the Rev. Benjamin Trumbull now
deceased, but in his life for a long time Pastor
of a church in the town of North Haven, County
of New Haven, State of Connecticut, "Joseph
Chene and Rebecca Selly were married
Nov. 20th 1777."
Leverett Griggs,
I Leverett Griggs above named depose and
say that I hold the office of Pastor of a Church ┃
in the town of North Haven, County of New
Haven and State of Connecticut, and the ┃
above marriage is a true extract from the
original record of Rev. Benjamin Trumbull
deceased, as certified by me this sixteenth ┃
day of Nov. A.D. 1840.
at North-Haven, State of Conn.}Leverett Griggs
Pastor of a Church in North Haven
State of Connecticut.
Sworn before me}
Eliaser Warner}      Justice of the Peace