Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11411, for Simon Smith, Connecticut
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
Smith, Simon
NUMBER
S. 11411
carded
CONTENTS
A Feb. 17, 1759 in Lyme, Conn.
res at [illegible] Norwich Conn.
res in 1832 Westfield, Hampden [illegible] [illegible]
Page 2

Date of death not on A.B. [illegible under letters]
79
Hampden
Massachusetts 27091
Simon Smith
of Hampden in the State of Mass
who was a Sergeant in the Compy commanded
by Captain Mills of the [blank] commanded
by [blank] in the Mass
line for 4 month Corporal
             8    "         Sergeant
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
the rate of 54 Dollars. 65 Cents per annum,
in commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of Jany
1834 and sent to E.B. Hamilton Esqr. Westfield Mas.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 4, 1833.            $136.65
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Mar 34      27.35
                                                                      $164.00
                                         {Revolutionary Claim,
                                            Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by. George Taylor Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 Page 80
Conn. Line [star above Conn. ]
Records corrected
Apr. 22, 1905
Page 3

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampden [1st 2 lines bracketed and initialed]  J [2nd initial illegible]
On this second day of October personally
appeared in open Court before
Oliver B Morris Judge of the Court of Probate for
the County of Hampden aforesaid now sitting
Simon Smith a resident of Westfield in the 
County of Hampden aforesaid aged Seventy three
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 7th 1832-
that in the year 1776 he volunteered
in a company of Connecticut Troops and marched
from Norwich through New Haven Stratford and
Horn Neck to a place in the State of New York
called Sawpit.   He does not recollect the officers
names belonging to the Company he was in his
Col. name was Mackintosh, he was stationed while
at the sawpit near a cove when repels came
up when the tide was in, he recollects that
at one time when the Light horse of the British
was expected to attack them they were marched
to a high spot of ground, & that his officers
pulled off their Cockades and put them in
their pockets in this tour of service he served
two months
That in August 1777 he enlisted
in the State troops of Connecticut and marched
to Stillwater in the State of New York, they marched
from Montville in the State of Connecticut
he was at Stillwater at the time of the battle
but was not engage his regiment was stationed
behind a breastwork about eighty rods from
the battle ground, that they expected to be
called upon every moment during the battle
to reinforce as reinforcements were frequently
passing them during the battle, the night
after the battle the wounded were carried to
Genl Gates' quarters & twenty six of the died
Page 4

& was buried in our grave the next Morning
Genl Arnold was in the battle and had his horse
shot from under him after the battle the
British army retreated to Saratoga, our army
followed & surrounded
them & soon the British Genl Burgoyne
surrendered, that he was marched back soon
after the the surrender of Burgoyne aforesaid
to the North river below Albany and
his regiment disbanded the time he
served in this tour of duty was two
months. he does not recollect the names
of the officers belonging to his company
but says his Colo name was Lattimon [Lattimore?]-
That in the year 1781 in the
spring he enlisted under Capt Henman
who commanded the ship dean [?] of thirty
six guns and served in said vesel [vessel?] three
months. that he sailed from New London
[illegible] near the banks of Newfoundland
took three prizes two Brigs & one Ship
the Brigs were loaded with french Brandy and were
sent into Boston the ship was loaded with
salt and was retaken by the British. at
the expiration of the three months their
Vesel [vessel?] came into Boston where he left the
service
That in the latter part of the
year 1780 or the fore part of 1781
he enlisted in a company commanded by
Capt Charles Miles in the state troops of Connecticut
John Bulkley was Ensign, when he first
enlisted he done the duty of a Corporal
& afterwards that of a Sergeant in 
said Company, his company was in
the Brigade commanded by Genl Waterbury
the field officers of the regiment were
Majr Shipman & Majr Humphrey he received
his Sergeants warrant from Majr Humphrey
Page 5

but have since lost it, he further states that
his company marched from Montville to
the White plains where he served his term of
enlistment out, it being one year, he
recollects an occurrence that took place
while in this service, he with others
was out on scouting party & came upon
a small party of the enemy fired upon
them one of the enemy was wounded &
taken, he had on a green Broad Cloth
coat trimed [trimmed] with gold lace, the coat was
taken from the wounded man & by consent
of the party given to him & he afterwards was
the same, that at the time of the
aformentioned [aforementioned]services he was an Inhabitant
of Norwich in the State of Connecticut. that
he was born in Lyme in the state of Connecticut
on the seventeenth day of February Anno
Domini 1759, Served his apprenticeship in
in Norwich & came to Westfield about fifty
years ago. where he has lived ever since
his age was recorded in in fathers family
Bible & also on the town records in New London
that he has taken great pains to find
living witnesses to prove the services
aforesaid but is unable to find any
except the accompaning [accompanying] Deposition of John Bulkley his Ensign. 
he never had
any written discharge, he is acquainted
with the Rev Isaac Knapp Hon James 
Fowler Col Isaac Wells, Jedediah Taylor Esqr
of Westfield aforesaid
He relinquishes
every claim whatever to a pension or
annuity except the present &declares that
his name is not on the pension Roll
of the agency of any state
Simon Smith
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W Isaac Kipp a Clergyman residing in the town of Westfield in said County of Hampshire & James Fowler of the town Westfield herby certify that we are well acquainted with Simon Smith who has subscribed & Sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age & that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the  Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Isaac Knapp
James Fowler

Hampeshuss [illegible] the Probate Court Oct 2 1832
Oliver Bliss [illegible]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the said Court further certifies that Isaac Knapp who has subscribed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman residing in said Westfield & that James Fowler who has also subscribed to certificate is a resident in the same Westfield & is credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit

I Justin Willard Register of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Simon Smith for a pension whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court this second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Justice Willard
Page 7

September 5, 1935.

Roelif B. Smith
1 Ten Eyck Avenue
Albany, New York.

BA-J/ILL
Simon Smith
S. 11411

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of Simon Smith, S. 11411.

A very careful examination has been made of the papers on
file in this claim for pension and the following data are found.

Simon Smith was born February 17, 1759 in Lame, Connecticut
the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Norwich, Connecticut, he enlisted in 1776 and served two months as private in Colonel Mackintosh’s Connecticut regiment; from sometime in August 1777, he served two months as private in Colonel Lattimer's Connecticut regiment, during which period of service he was stationed behind a breastwork during the battle of Stillwater and was at the surrender of Burgoyne. Subsequently , he went on board the ship “Dean”, Captain Hinman, and served three months on a cruise to the banks of Newfoundland, during which several prizes were taken. He enlisted early in 1781, served as corporal and sergeant in Captain Charles Wiel's company, under General Waterbury.

Simon Smith was allowed pension on his application executed
October 2, 1832, at which time he resided in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He had resided there about fifty years.

No reference was made to wife or children of the soldier.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly, the date of death of the
Page 8

soldier, Simon Smith, you should apply to The Compler General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following: 
Simon Smith 
Certificate 27091 
Issued January 16, 1834 
Rate $54,65 per annum 
Commenced March 4, 1831.
Act of June 7, 1832. 
Massachusetts Agency. 

Very truly yours, A. D. HILLER, 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 9

October 1, 1934

Edna S. Gilbert
Trellande
Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania.
[note in pencil - ? Called not read her name.  It looked like this, but returned “Unknown” by PO. Sent out again under her own Sig. Cut from her letter} 

BA-J/ILL
Simon Smith
S. 11411 6

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Simon Smith, your ancestor, who was a pensioner.

The record of Simon Smith is given herein as found in the papers on file in his claim for pension, S. 11411, based upon service in the Revolutionary War.

Simon Smith was born February 17, 1759, in Lyme, Connecticut
the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Norwich, Connecticut, he enlisted in 1776, and served two months as private under Colonel Mackintosh in the Connecticut troops; from sometime in August, 1777, he served two months as private under Colonel Lattimer in the Connecticut troops, during which period he was at the Surrender of Burgoyne. Subsequently, he served three months on the ship “Dean”, commanded by Captain Kinman, between New London, Connecticut and the banks of Newfoundland. He enlisted early in 1781, and served one year in Captain Charles Miel's Connecticut company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 2, 1832, at which time he resided in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

He had lived there then about fifty years.

There are no data relative to the soldier's family.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 10

Pension on file in this Bureau. Simon Smith S11411

1. DATES OF ENLISTMENT OF APPOINTMENT
2. LENGTH OF SERVICE
3. RANK
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
4. CAPTAIN		
5. COLONEL
6. STATE

1. 1776 
2. 2 months
3. -
4. Mackintosh
5. -
6. Conn

1. Aug 1777
2. 2 mos
3. -
4. -
5. Latimer
6. Conn

1. Spg 1781
2. 3 mos
3. -
4. Hinman on Sloop “Dean”
5. -
6. Conn

1. 1781
2. 1 yr
3. Corps Sgt
4. Chas Miel
5. Gen Waterbury
6. Conn

Battles engaged in, at surrender of Burgoyne
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Norwich Conn
Date of application for pension October 2 1832 His et al
Date of residence at date of application, Westfield, Hampden Co Mass
Age at date of application, born Lyme Conn Feb 17, 1759
Remarks: No data on family
Page 11

Trellande
Medowbrook, Pennsylvania 
September 9, 1934
U. S. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D C

Dear Sir,

A family record states that my great great grandfather Simon Smith who lived at Westfield, Massachusetts, served in the Revolution and was a pensioner.

If you will verify this record for me, I shall very much appreciate your effort in my behalf.

Very truly yours,
Page 12

Edna I Gillert

This is the way her signature looked.  We could not be sure it was a Capital G and the i not dotted, which may be j

Her letter was returned unclaimed, so I cut her record from her letter and pasted it on an envelope & returned it to same address on October 5, 1934

MMHJ
Page 13

SIMONDS SAWS AND KNIVES
SIMONDS FILES AND HACK SAWS
SIMONDS MANUFACTURING CO. LTD.
CABLE ADDRESS SIMONDS, NEW ORLEANS
CODES A B C 4th EDITION LIBERS
301-303 Tchoupitoulas St. Cor. Gravier St 
New Orleans LA

11/7/1907
United States Pension Office
Washington D C
Gentlemen:

I desire to obtain, if possible, the military record of my grandfather, Nathan Smith.  According to information I have on file, he served at North London, Conn. during the war of 1812, and was, I believe, on the pension list in 1832.  Wad let 25032 sent

I also desire, if possible, to obtain information covering the military record of my great-grandfather, Simon Smith, who served during the Revolutionary War, enlisting, I believe, from Norwich, Conn. in Captain Lathrop’s Company.  I understand he was with the Continental Army at Saratoga at the surrender of General Burgoyne’s Army and while I have no positive proof, I further understand that he afterwards drew a pension.

I do not know what the cost will be of looking this record up, but whatever it is, please obtain and advise me accordingly.

Respectfully yours,

G R Smith

GKB
V
PO Box 20

US Pension Office
Nov 9 1907
Page 14

ROELIF B. SMITH
1 TEN EYCK AVENUE
ALBANY, NY

Friday, July 12, 1935

Mr. A. D. Hiller,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator,
Veterans Administration 
Washington

Dear Mr. Hiller;

Sometime ago - March 7 - I received a letter from you in reply to mine requesting information in regard to the Revolutionary War record of Roelif Brinkerhoff. Your records did not include the name. But at that time you told me your Office has records of “claims for pensions and bounty land, made to the United States, based upon military service of soldiers in that war.”

That leads me to judge it may be possible for you to furnish me with a certified Revolutionary War record of my Great Grandfather, Simon Smith.

I have here a copy of a letter, dated Nov. 18, 1907, to a Mr. G. K. Smith from a. Commissioner, V. Warner, of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions.  It is as follows;

“Record	Division	3 - - 525 	G.C.K.W.			
A.W.	 		Department of the Interior,
Sur File 11411	Bureau of Pensions
Rev. War.		Washington, D C Nov 18 1907

Sir; In reply to your request of 7th inst., received 9” inst, for a statement of the military history of Simon Smith a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
______________
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT
LENGTH OF SERVICE
RANK
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVED CAPTAIN
COLONEL	
STATE

1776
2 months
“
“
Mackintosh
Conn

Aug 1777
2 mons
“
“
Latimer
Conn

Spring 1781
3 months
“
“
Hinman on ship “Dean”
-

1781
1 year
“

Charles Miel, General Waterbury
Conn
At surrender of Gen. Burgoyne,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Norwich, Conn
Date of application for pension, October 2, 1832 His claim was allowed
Residence at date of of application, Westfield, Hampden Co, Mass
Age at date of application, born in Lynn Conn, Feb 17, 1759
REMARKS; no data as to family

Very respectfully,
Mr. G.K. Smith
PO Box 20, New Orleans, La,

V. Warner, Commissioner
Page 15

ROELIF B. SMITH
TEN EYCK AVENUE
ALBANY, N. Y.

The foregoing indicates the original application for
this pension was on file in that Bureau in 1907. Would it also
be possible for you to let me have a copy of this application?

I would greatly appreciate receiving this record and this copy of the application, and will gladly remit whatever fee is customary for this service.

Very truly yours
Roelif B Smith
Page 16

1907 Nov 18 Hist to G. K. Smith and 1910 July 30. Hist to Addison L. Day, letter in S. File 29.674 Sherebiah Butts 1934 Oct. Hist. to Edna S. Gillen 1935. Sept. 3. Hist. to Rock B. - . INVALD. --- File No. 411 Simon Smith Let the war --- Act: June 7th 1832 Index:--Vol. A Page 27 Arrangement of 1870.) possesses
Page 17

I John Bulkley of Lyme in the County of New London and State of Connecticut aged Eighty eight years, on oath depose and say that I am well acquainted with Simon Smith formerly of Norwich in said County of New London, but now of Westfield in the County of Hampden in the State of Massachusetts and know that he served in the Revolutionary war the term of one year. I entered as an Ensign in Captain Charles Miles Company in General Waterbury's Brigade. Major Shipman and Major Humphrey were the Majors of the Regiment, but we had no Colonel- My commission as Ensign is dated February 21. 1781. I continued in that company until August of the same year, when I was appointed a Lieutenant in Capt Grange r’s Company in the same regiment. My Lieutenants commision was dated August 19 1781.- I continued to serve in these two companies one year - The Regiment, as my commissions state was raised for the defense of the part of Horse neck and the parts adjacent 

The said Simon Smith was at first a corporal in Captain Miles Company and afterwards was made a sergeant in the same
Page 18

company and continued to serve in that company the whole year. I was well acquainted with him then, and afterwards-- One circumstance in particular I remember - We were out one night when a scouting party. and the said Smith was with us.-- we discovered a small party and fired upon them. One of the party
we discovered, was wounded. He had on a very handsome green broadcloth coat, trimmed with gold lace-- The coat was taken and given to said Smith who wore it afterwards-
John Bulkey

State of Connecticut
County of New London Co Lyme
Be it remembered that on this 22nd day of August 1832 before me Henry M. Waite a Notary Public duly commissioned and sworn, personally appeared John Bulkley and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing deposition before me. The said John Bulkey is personally known to me, and is a credible person
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my official seal the day and year aforesaid
Henry C. Waite Notary Public
Page 19

23086 Simon Smith Mass
Page 20

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden County Ss. Westfield October 2nd 1843
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hampden aforesaid Simon Smith of Westfield in said County 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, as a Corporal & as a Sergeant, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades;
That is to say in the last term of service mentioned in the declaration by me subscribed and which is hereto annexed; for a few months I served as a Corporal, and for eight months I served as a Sergeant and for such service I claim a pension. Simon Smith

Augustus Collins Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
County of Hampden SS
I Justin Willard Register & Clerk of the Court of Probate the same, being a Court of Record within & for said County, do hereby certify that Augustus Collins before whom the foregoing deponent Simon Smith purports to have been subscribed & sworn to is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County & that I believe his name thereto subscribed is his proper hand writing & genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at this tenth day of December AD 1833

Justice Willard Clerk
Page 21

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampden ss
Westfield December 11th AD 1833

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hampden aforesaid Simon Smith of Westfield in said County who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot recollect the names of his captains or other officers in the two first terms of service in the declaration by him subscribed & which is hereto annexed, otherwise than as therein stated; that the reasons his captains in the two last terms of service in a declaration mentioned, were, as is therein stated, & further the deponent saith not.  Simon Smith

Augustus Collins Justice of the Peace
Page 22

23086 Simon Smith
A 4mo Corp
8 mo Sergeant
Cap Mills
Westfield Hampden Mass
The official character and signature of the Magistrate before whom he made his amended declaration must be certified by the proper office under his seal of office.
He must also mention the names of the Captains in every instance under whom he served.

 E B Hamilton
Index Westfield
Page 23

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Simon Smith which require further proof or explanation. 

1. 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 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 amount of pension he is entitled? no he must state how long he served in the capacity of a corporal & sergeant
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? 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? yes
Page 24

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? Yes 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain ing it? 
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? 1 witness 
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? 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? yes 
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
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 recolelection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; Foryear months, and --- days, I served as a -. For - months days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 25

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 objection able. 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. In 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 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 certifying officer, should accompany the papers.