Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,369, for Nathaniel Penfield, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE                                          NUMBER
Conn.          Penfield, Nathaniel      S 23, 369
Page 2

                    17038
Connecticut
__________________ 
Nathaniel Penfield
Danbury in the State of Connt
who was a Pri in the Com commanded
by Captain ____________ in the Reg commanded
by Col Butler in the Connt 
line for 18 mo 12 dys
___________
Inscribed on the Roll of Connt
at the rate of 61 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
____________
Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of July 1833 and Sent Thomas Lee Berlin Connt.
_______________ 
Arrears to the 4th March: 33             $ 122.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending                   30.66
                      Sept. 33                      __________
                                                          $ 152.32
d. Feb 6, 1838
                                       {Revolutionary Claim
                                         Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk,
Book E    Vol. 3   Page 34
Page 3

                    2084
 Nathaniel                     Penfield
                                   New Britain
                                                 Conn

P.O.
  on rolls Conn 24th  June 80
  & disd 6 Dec 4
    5 months & 12 days

Admitted
Private 18 months & 12 days
    $61.33
Page 4

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js        Berlin August 1st 1832    
     On this first day of August AD 1832 personally appeared , in open Court before the Court of Probate for Berlin District, in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut, now Sitting, Nathaniel Penfield a resident of said Berlin aged Seventy two years next November - 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 he entered the service of the United State under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, in the Connecticut State service.
    1st   In the year 1777 I was drafted into a company of State Troops commanded by Capt, Asa Bray  Served part of the time in this tour under Captn Stoddard we marched from Farmington in March [last two words inserted] by the way of Danbury to Peekskill in the State of New York. I was employed in a scouting party i that region. I served at this time two months, Gen Mc Dugle commanded the troops.
2- I went with Capt Samuel Hotchkiss' company which was all called out marched from Farmington by the way of New Milford to Fishkill, I served at this time one month. This was in the month of Septr & October in the year 1777.
3"    I enlisted under Captn Bray in March 1778 in Col Enos Regiment, we marched from Farmington by the way of Danbury, to White Plains, in the State of New York, from there to West Point. I served at this time one year.
Page 5

4th   I was drafted in July 1770 into Capt Asa Brays company, in Col Enos Regiment, marched from Farmington, by way of New Haven & Stratford, to Horse Neck, served at this time two months

5th    In September I went as a Substitute for Timothy Kilbourne in Captn Laderick Hotchkiss Company in Coln Nortons Regiment - moved by way of Fairfield to Norwalk, was stationed three, served this time two months, this was also [last word inserted] in 1779.

6th I enlisted into the Continental service to fill the vacancies in that army with others & went into Catn Benon Shipmans Company, Lieut Col. Wait commanded the Regiment, this was in June 1780  I served at this time six months.

   I have no documentary evidence of my service of the United States - I knew Gen Washington & Putnam,
Interrogatory   
   1st........ Answer     New Haven in year 176...
    2 ....        do   -    In New Haven & in a Bible
    3 ....        do    -    Farmington Berlin
    4 ....        do    -    In his declaration 
    5 ....        do    -    In his     no
    7 ...         do    -    John Andew  Thomas 
                                     Booth & Sam Smith

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declare that my name is not in any pension roll in the agency of any State.

     [Signed]   Nathll  Penfield
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

      [Signed]     Thomas Lee Judge of Probate
                                   Berlin District
Page 6

Hartford County Js  Berlin August 1st 1832
 This may certify that I am well acquainted with Nathaniel Penfield who has signed the forgoing declarations, have always lived near him, and in the years 1777  was in the Revolutionary service with him in Capt Asa Brays company of Peekskill, and know that he served as he has stated in two months. I am also knowing to Mr. Penfields being often called in the Revolutionary service, & I have no doubt but he served as stated in his several declarations, he is reputed in this town as having been often in the Revolutionary service, and he is a man if truth, and veracity, & sustains a good moral character.  I am 74 years old next November,
   [Signed]  John Andrews

Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid
                        Thomas Lee Judge of Probate
                                    Berlin District

Hartford County Js   Berlin
August 1st 1832, }

I Thomas Booth of Wethersfield in the County of Hartford Certify that I have always been well acquainted with Nathaniel Penfield of Berlin, I was in the sake Company with him in the year 1780 under Cpt Benoni Shipman. I well remember that Nathaniel Penfield was at various times in the service of the United States in the State Troops, & that he sustains a good character for truth & veracity. I have always lived in the same town with him until the last two years. I am Seventy Six years old.
   [Signed]    Thomas Booth

Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid

   {Signed]     Thomas Lee Judge of Probate
                                        Berlin District
Page 7

Hartford Cunty Js Berlin  August 1st 1832
  I Lemuel Smith of Berlin in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut, Certify that I am well acquainted with  Nathaniel Penfield who has signed the forgoing declarations, and in the year 1777 I was with him at Fishkill in the State of New York, and was in Captn Lemuel Hotchkiss Company of Volunteers with Nathaniel Penfield,  I have no doubt that he served the length of time he stated  [illegible word] month, I remember he was often in the Revolutionary war, & it is reputed of him that he did a great deal of service in the Revolutionary War -  I am 73 years old
                   [Signed}   Lemuel Smith

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
       [Signed]  Thomas Lee Judge of Probate
                                 Berlin District

State of Connecticut
Harford County} Js      Berlin August 1st 1832

I Phineas Penfield of Berlin in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut Certify that myself and my Brother Nathaniel Penfield during the Revolutionary War lived together with our Father in Farmington. That I well remember that Nathaniel went in the service in Capt Asa Brays company in the year 1777 and was in the service about 2 months at Peekskill - and the same year he went to Fishkill under Capt Leone Hotchkiss about one month.  I remember .also that he enlisted under Capt Bray in 1778 and was gone one year -and in 1779 he was drafted into Capt Brays Company & went to Horse Neck several months, on his return he went again as a substitute for Timothy Kilbourne 2 months more.

I remember also, that in the summer of 1780 my
Page 8

Brother Nathaniel Penfield enlisted into Capt Benon Shipmans Company with him as then to fill vacancies in the Continental army, as I understood at that time  in Col Waits Regiment, my Brother as in this Campaign Six or Seven months, as near as I can recollect, we having lived near each other ever since the Revolution, and have often talked over our gone days of service, in that War where we both often served - and and never realized any pay - except our Liberties.
 [Signed]  Phineas Penfield

Sworn to, and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
   [Signed]  Thomas Lee Judge of Probate
                            Berlin District

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Berlin August 1st 1832

We Jonathan Cogswell a Clergyman residing in the town of Berlin (Parish of New Britain) and Doctor Samuel Hart sd residing in the same, hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Penfield who has Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 77 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
                 [Signed]  Jonathan Cogswell
                                 Samuel Hart

Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
       [Signed]  Thomas Lee  Judge of Probate
                           Berlin District
Page 9

And in said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after [illegible] the interrogations prescribed by the War department that [last word inserted] the abovementioned applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.

And the Court further testifies, that it appears to them that the Revd Jonathan Cogswell who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Berlin, Parish of New Britain, and that Doctor Samuel Hart i.e. who has also [last word inserted] signed the same is a resident in the Said Parish of New Britain in aid Berlin, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitles to credit.
             Certified by me Thomas Lee
              Judge of Probate Berlin District

And the Court would further state that John Andrews, Samuel Smith and Phineas Penfield are residents in Berlin and Thomas Booth is a resident in Wethersfield & that they are men of truth, and of good moral character well known to the Court, and the statements signed & sworn to by them [last two words inserted] are entitles to credit, and that Nandiah Woodruff who has signed a certificate accompanying this, is a resident of Farmington and that Daniel Judd, who has who has [words repeated] also signed a deposition accompanying this, is a resident of Berlin, both well  known to this Court and men of truth and good moral character and their statements are entitled to credit Solomon Weldon who has signed a like certificate is to the Court unknown
Page 10

either personally, or by reputation. The Court would further state that Lorne Whitman of Farmington & Ira E Smith of Berlin before whom them those deponents were sworn are both of them Justices of the Peace for Hartford County.

          Certified by me
                          Thomas Lee Judge of
                           Probate Berlin District

[Seal affixed left of first paragraph]
            I George Washington Southworth Clerk
            of the Court of Probate for Berlin
            District do hereby certify that the
             foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the Said Court in
the matter of the application of Nathaniel Penfield for a pension. And I also certify that Thomas Lee, who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing is Judge of Probate for Berlin District.-
    In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 2nd day of August - AD 1832.
       [Signed]
           George Washington Southworth Clerk

NB  The applicant requests the return of the War department he made to the [word inserted] Post office in New Britain Hartford County Court to the case of the subscriber
                             Yours Respectfully,
                                       Thos. Lee

Hon L Cape  [?] Sent War
Page 11

In reply to your request of _____, received _______
for a statement of the military history of Nathaniel Penfield a soldier in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.   S.F. 23,369.
______________________________________
[A chart follows with five headings]

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED    CAPTAIN    COLONEL
STATE

[INFORMATION PROVIDED]

Mch. 1777.     2 mos   Pri.   Capts. Asa Bray, 
           Stoddard   Col. Nondiah Hooker   Conn.
Sept. 1777.     1 mo.   ....    Capt. Lemuel 
           Hotchkiss      Col Nondiah Hooker ....
Mch,. 1778      6 mos    ....     Capt  Asa Bray
            Col. Enos
July, 1779.      2 mos   ....    Capt. Asa Bray  
            Col. Enos
Sept. 1779.      2 mos  ....      Capt. Ladwick 
           Hotchkiss    Col. Norton
June, 1780.      6 mos. ....      Capt  Benoni 
           Shipman    Col. Norton
 
Battles engaged in _______________
Residence of soldier at enlistment,  Farmington, Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug.1, 1832. 
                        His ch was al.
Residence at time of application,  Berlin, 
                            Hartford Co Conn.
Age at date of application,  {Born in Nov, 
   1760 at New Haven  He died Feb. 6, 1838 
 
Remarks:  Soldier married in 1780, name of wife not stated. There is no date relative to children.

                      Respectfully,

                                         Commissioner.
(Date of death taken 
from Agency Books.)

d-285c
Page 12

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  March .....?.. 1833.

Personally appeared in open Court the Court of Probate for Berlin District Nathaniel Penfield of said Berlin who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration as an amendment of his former declaration dated August 1 1832 and January 21 [?] 1833.

He now states that in his tour of duty in the Summer & fall of 1780 he served as waiter to Capt Benoni Shipman in the Continental army for the term of six months as stated in his sixth tour of duty. he remembers that Baron Steuben was with the troops and he selected out the Infantry of the Connt Troops, and often called them out in the morning for exercise or maneuvering; Capt Stephen Bath Lieutenant Isaac Keeler of Fairfield County was in our ..... He thinks Keeler was Lieutenant of Capt. Shipmans Company, & Israel Strong Ensign, & he saw Majr. [last word inserted] Andre often and was at his execution during this tour of duty.   This tour of duty he sustains in addition to what evidence he had before, by the further testimony of his Brother Phineas, and his siter Irena Steel who both lived with their father with him.
   [Signed]  Nathaniel W. Penfield

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
  [Signed]     Thomas Lee Judge of Probate
                               Berlin District


State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Berlin April 22 1833
I Phineas Penfield of Berlin in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut do certify , & say, that I now remember that my Brother Nathaniel Penfield enlisted into Capt. Benoni 
Repern [sic] Company in the month of June1780 for the term of six months, & he returned home in the month of December following, having served the period for which he enlisted, he enlisted as I stated before with several others to fill up vacancies in the Continental army at this time in the Regiment commanded by Col  Wait.  I do not recollect what General commanded the Brigade but I understood that Gen. Washington was with the troops where my Brother served. I perfectly well remember this tour of duty of my Brother from the circumstances of my writing to him by request of the Lady he was Courting! as she [ word underlined] found after my Brother had gone, her situation was such [word underlined], it was very important for her to be married!! [last word underlined] my Brother returned on furlow [sic] - married, & immediately left, and joined the army again, we both lived at home with our father at this time. I am 77 years old next June.
       [Signed]  Phineas Penfield

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

   [Signed]  Thomas Lee Judge of Probate 
                                                            Berlin District
Page 13

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Berlin April 22 1833

I Irena Steel of Berlin in the County of Hartford and the State of Connecticut Certify, deposeth & say. That I well remember my Brother Nathaniel Penfield went into the Continental army in the Month of June1780 under one  Capt. Shipman [last four words inserted] and that he served in this tour six months, he returned home in the month of December 1780. I lived with my father at this time also my Brother Nathaniel & Phineas Penfield then went in the army. I remember my Brothers Nathaniel came home on a furlow and was married, and immediately left and joined the army - I remember this from the circumstances of my own marriage, I was married the next week after my Brother Nathaniel, I wished him to stay to my wedding, he would not, as his furlow would not allow of his staying so long a time - my husband went into the army the next march he had often been in the army before - he was a pensioner until he died under the act of 1818 - his name was William Steel.
I am 70 years old next may.
                                         her
                             Irena      X     Steel
                                         mark
Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
    [Signed]     Thomas Lee Judge of Probate 
                                         Berlin District

State of Connecticut
Hartford C0unty} Js  Berlin April 22 1833.

And the Said Court would certify that the above named Phineas Penfield, & Irena Steel, who have sworn to the preceding certificates are both well known to this Court, as persons of truth & sound moral character - one is a Brother, the other a Sister of the applicant. Their statements are entitled to the fullest credit.
Certified by me
   Thomas Lee Judge of Probate Berlin District

I George W. Southworth Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Berlin, certify that the preceding contains the additional proceedings of said Court at the matter of the application of Nathaniel Penfield of said Berlin for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand Seal of Office this 22 day of April AD 1833.

[Signed] Geo. E. Southworth CLerk
Page 14

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Berlin January 22 1833

I Moses Morse of Farmington in the County of Hartford testify, depose, and say, that in the year 1779 I was a private in Capt. Asa Brays Company of State Troops in the service of the United States, I entered by being drafted at this time and served in this tour two months, I well remember that Nathaniel Penfield of Berlin, whom I have ever since well known, and who is now an applicant for a pension, was in the same company, and served with me in said tour of two months -  I was a Baker for the Company most part of the time, and remember that Nathaniel Penfield often assisted me in that duty.. Arikel Hooker of Farmington was our Lieutenant - & Joseph Holland was our ensign - I am 81 years old last August
     [Signed]  Moses Morse

Sworn to and Subscribed this day
and year aforesaid
         [Signed]  Thomas Lee Justice of Probate
                                   Berlin District
Page 15

John Weldon

   Certificate

    Nath Penfield
Page 16

I Solomon Welton residing in Farmington in Hartford County and State of Connecticut do certify and say that I have been a long time acquainted with Nathaniel Penfield of Berlin in the County and State aforesaid, that I know that the said Penfield   served in the war of the revolution about two months in the Spring of the year 1777, a he and I belonged to the same Company of State Troops under Capt. Stoddard in the regiment commanded by Col Nondiah Hooker , and marched together from Hartford County to Peekskill in the State of New York, and were stationed there six weeks and then returned home. Gen. McDougal commanded at Peekskill - and I also certify and say that the said Penfield served in a company that was enlisted for one year from the last day of March 1778 commanded by Capt. Asa Bray.  I was enlisted in the same company - that we marched from Farmington on the day just last aforesaid to White Plains in the State of New York, served there, and at Westpoint and other places on the Hudson river, and at Horseneck and its vicinity and were discharged at the end of the year -
                                              his   
        [Signed]       Solomon     X     Welton
                                              mark

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js Farmington July 20, 1832 -

Personally appeared Solomon Welton and made oath to this truth of the above certificate by him subscribed - before me and I certify that said Welton is a credible person -
   [Signed]  Samuel Whitman Justice of Peace
Page 17

Nandiah Woodruff
  Certificate
Nathl  Penfield
Page 18

I Nondiah Woodruff visiting the Town of Farmington in Hartford County and State of Connecticut - do certify and say, that I have been a long time acquainted with Nathaniel Penfield of Berlin in the County and State aforesaid, that I know the sd Penfield served in the war of the revolution about two months in the fall of the year 1779 - he being at the time a private in the company commanded by Capt. Ludowicke Hotchkiss in the battalion commanded by Maj. Ichabod Norton, stationed at Norwalk in the said State - I being a private in the same company at the same time -
     [Signed] Nondiah Woodruff

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Farmington July 30 - 1832

Personally appeared Nondiah Woodruff and made oath to the truth fir te above certificate by him subscribed before me - and I certify that the said Woodruff is a credible person 
 {Signed] SamuelWhitman Justice of Peace
Page 19

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Berlin January 22 1833

And the Said Court would further state in addition to their former opinion, they Major Capt. Samuel Nash, and Moses Morse, are gentlemen well known to this Court as men of truth and good moral character -  and their statements which accompany this application are entitled to credit.  Col S. Nast is a pensioner - being in Southington in Hartford County [last four words inserted]   The Court would further state notwithstanding the misstatement of the said Penfield in his former declaration (viz, in his 3d declaration) that the applicant did the service he now states.  The belief is general in this town and no doubt how ever [illegible]  as to his being often in the revolutionary service, and he is esteemed as a man if truth, and respectability - he is somewhat deaf - very illegible] - and proud - but an honest man - an believe he was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states - and that the wrong statement was made by him, by misunderstanding his commander of the revolution with whom he was consulting about his services -  they having said as he enlisted for a year, & was always in .... he ought to be paid  etc.   The Court did not know of the fact, until his application was submitted
 Certified by me
   [Signed]  Thomas Lee Judge of Probate  
                         Berlin District

[Seal affixed]     I George Washington Southworth Clerk of the Court of Probate for Berlin District Certify that Moses, Leonard Whitman of Farmington, Roger Whittesary of Southingtn, & Ira E. Smith of Berlin, are  all of them Justices of the Peace for the County of Hartford, duly appointed & sworn, and their  official signatures to the several Certificates which accompany the foregoing application in their proper hand writing and duly attached according to the regulations of that war Department to the Seal of this office.  I also
Page 20

hereby further certify that the forgoing contains the additional proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Penfield for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 22 day of January AD 1833.

[Signed]   Geo. W. Southworth  Clerk
Page 21

Samuel Hart of Southington in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut deposeth and saith that in the year 1778 he served as a private in the army of the Revolution in the State Troops and upon application the Secretary of War of the United States his name has been placed upon the Pension list - that at the time of his said service in the year aforesaid Nathaniel Penfield then of Farmington now residing in Berlin in the county aforesaid served with the deponent as private in the same company with the deponent for the term of six months- that Asa Bray was captain of said Company in a Regiment under the command of Col. Enos - that the members of said company enlisted on terms which required them to be in readiness at all times during one year whenever warned to go immediately into service and continue in  in said service three months and when that service was completed and the person returned to his home he was to be readiness & he again called upon and served another term of three months  -and from the terms of the enlistment and the nature of the service - the men so enlisted were called "minute men" and the deponent saith that the said Nathaniel Penfield served with the deponent in the company aforesaid and in the service before described two terms of three months each in the army of the Revolution - and that the service of said Penfield was at Horse Neck, West Point and White Plains in the State of New York
       [Signed] Saml Hart

Hartford County Js  Southington Jany, 22d 1833
Personally appeared Samuel Hart the deponent above named and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition
   Before me 
  [signed] Roger Whittlesey Justice of Peace
Page 22

Daniel Judd
  [illegible word]
Nath. Penfield
Page 23

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Berlin July 16. 1832

Be it remembered that on the day aforesaid Daniel Judd who hath subscribed the foregoing Deposition, and who is well known to me the Subscriber to be  man of good Moral Character and a credible person, appeared before me and after being examined and cautioned to speak the whole truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the same Deposition before me. -
   [Signed]  Ira E. Smith Justice of the Peace
Page 24

I Daniel Judd of Berlin in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged Seventy One years do depose and say that from my boyhood I have always been well acquainted with Nathaniel Penfield now of said Town of Berlin, which was during the Revolutionary War [word inserted] a part of the Town of Farmington in said County, and that I have always resided in the same town with the said Penfield and knew him in the Revolutionary War.  That about the month of June 1780 we enlisted together into the Continental Army of the United States as recruits to fill the Connecticut line. We enlisted in the Town of Farmington aforesaid. and enlisted for the term of six months. We were placed in the Company commanded by Captain Benoni Shipman in the 2d Regiment of the Connecticut Line commanded by
Page 25

Colonel Butler, (his name I believe was Zebulon [underlined] Butler) but he being absent as I understood on the Western Frontier, the Regiment was in charge of Lieutenant Colonel Hoyt - We immediately proceeded to West Point, and soon after to Stoney Point from whence we proceeded with the Army under General Washington into New Jersey.  At the end of about three months I hired a Substitute and left  the Army - i well recollect that Mr. Penfield remained in the Army, and have ever understood and fully believe he served out the whole period of his enlistment.  It is also my understanding and I fully believe that Mr Penfield [name inserted] was in active service in the State Troops and in the Militia several different [last word inserted] times - but the particular times and the periods of service are unknown to me - and further this deponent saith not -

   [Signed]  Daniel Judd
Page 26

Nathaniel Penfield

  Enlsd.  June 24, 1780  bmo
Page 27

                                   War Department
                                   Pension Office
                                    9. April 1833

Sir,

The papers of Nathaniel Penfield are again returned. On examination of the Rolls of Col Buller's regiment of the Connecticut line of the Continental army, his name cannot be found.  He must, therefore prove this service by two credible witnesses who will state the time of his entering the service, as well as the time and manner of his leaving it- together with the Company, regiment, and line to which he belonged.

                                   I am, respectfully
                                           Your obt st
                                               J L Edwards
Thomas Lee, Esqr
    Berlin,
      Connt.
Page 28

Revolution
           23369
        INVALID

File No.  23,369
Nathaniel Penfield

Pri   Rev   War
_____________ 
Act:  June 7" 32"
Index:-  Vol. 2,  Page 318

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 29

Mar. 23. 1897  History
to Mr. L.D. Penfield
New Britain - Conn
(arr Im. 15.558)
____________________ 1917. Oct.25.  History to Prof.Saml. Wood-Geiser   Fwd
Page 30

                                                          Rev Sec
                                                               AZ 1
Samuel Wood-Geiser, B.A., B.Sc., F.C.S.Lond
                               ZOOLOGIST              BBN
Formerly Professor of Biology & Geology,
                                       Guilford Coll.
Upper Iowa University              9/30/1917.
Fayette, Iowa          
 The Revolutionary War Records Section
U.S. Bureau of Pensions

Sir: 
Have you a pension record of Nathaniel Penfield? If so, would you be so good as to send me copy of the same.


[Pension Office                   Respectfully,
stamp dated                 Samuel Wood-Geiser
Oct 10 1917]               
                        
[Underlined:] (Further data you asked for.)
Encl. VI/24/1780; discharged XII/6/1780, in Capt. Bray's Co. (enlisted for short-time service; only 20 yrs. old at time of Enlistment).
    I have all the data: all I want is an Official [word underlined] copy from you.
                          Faithfully,
                                 Samuel Wood-Geiser.
Page 31

Rev. War Section                                 Enc
                            3-1865
                        ___________
             DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                        BUREAU OF PENSIONS
                           WASHINGTON  
October 13, 1917
Professor Samuel Wood-Geiser,
Upper Iowa University.
Fayette, Iowa.                              

 [Note on right side of the above address] 
       Please give me pension record    
       of Joseph Disbrow of Fairfield, 
       Conn., in the Rev. War.

In response to your letter of the thirteenth ultimo, you are advised that in order to identify a claim, if on file, for Nathaniel Penfield, the subject of your inquiry, it will be necessary for you to furnish some of the following data in regard to him: name of some officers under whom he served, his places of residence at enlistment and after service, Middletown, Conn(?)  [last two words inserted] the approximate dates of his birth and death [1760 and 1838 inserted above words  "birth" and "death"], and the given name of his widow, [Eunice Kelsey inserted over "widow"] if                             
he left one.

                                      Very respectfully,
                                              G.M.  Saltzgaber
                                               Commissioner.

There are 3 of my ancestors: Nathaniel Penfield: 

The one to which I referred was Nathaniel. s of Nathaniel Penfield & Lydia Barnes, b, Nov. 14, 1760. d. 1838; m. Eunice Kelsey, Oct 22, 1780;
had by her 8 children; among  niece ]?] Eunice, born May 12, 1789, bapt. July 1, 1792, M. Wm. Penfield, son of Jesse, New Britain, Conn., 1804. She was raised at Middletown, Conn. Further data I do not have.
Page 32

Nathanl Penfield
  New Britain in
         Berlin Conn
Additiona[ proceedings of Court
to No 2085
Page 33

State of Connecticut
Hartford County} Js  Berlin January 22 1833

Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate in Berlin District now sitting Nathaniel Penfield of said Berlin who being first duly sworn according to law - doth on his oath make the following declaration, as an amendment and explanation of his former declaration dated August 1st 1832.

In my former third declaration I stated that I enlisted under Captn Bray & served one year, - I enlisted at the time mentioned for one year but I never recollect that I served at this time under Captn Asa Bray two tours of three months each only on [illegible word]  I enlisted in March 1778 under Capt. A Bray in the Regiment commanded by Col. Enos - we marched from Farmington by the way of New Haven to Hors neck [sic] encamped there about 2 weeks. then we marched to White Plains & encamped about 4 weeks - then we marched to West Point  we worked at the fortifications & encamped. there until discharged in June. I served at this time 3 months & returned home, & stayed at home in readiness for service, and in the month of October, I was again called out in the Company of Capt._ Bray in Col Enos Regiment, we marched again to Horse Neck, and remained there the whole time of three months, we were guarding the lines as our principal duty - which is proved by the certificates of Jonathan Welton and Col Samuel Hart     I returned home the first of January 1779. as near
Page 34

as I can recollect, I well remember that I served two tours in this year  o three months each, it was called the minute service - the reason I put the time one year in my first declaration was; I knew I enlisted for one year - and was always in readiness to go at a moments warning - and this prevented my engaging in  any business at home - I also, as I understood those whom I consulted,  as entitled  to pay for the whole year - but I now find I misunderstood them, being considerable hard of hearing in my old age.--

All my services in the different campaigns of the Revolution was performed as a private soldier.

I have now the evidence of Moses Moore to corroborate my 4th term & declaration - and have now produced all, & the best proof in my favor as to my services - my statements were all made from memory not having any memorandum of my services
   [Signed]  Nathal  Penfield

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
     [Signed] Thomas Lee Judge of Probate
                                              Berlin District