Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13012, Edward Fenn, Conn. Continental
Page 1

Conn. Continental
Fenn Edward
S.13012
Carded
Page 2

4605
Connecticut
Edward Fenn
Wallingford in the state of Connt
who was a private in the Comp commanded by captain Burkley of the Regt commanded by Col Webb in the Connt
line for 11mo
---------
Conn and Continental
Records complete Jan 29/06
---------
Inscribed in the roll of court at the rate of 36 dollars 36 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
---------
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Jany 1833 and sent to S.A. Fort Senate US
---------
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 1832 $54.99+18.33=$73.32
Semi=ant. allowance ending
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by E.D. Bullock Clerk
Book D   Vol 3   Page 42
Page 3

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of Connecticut County of New Haven
Probate District of Wallingford} Ss. Town of Wallingford
On this 4th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Wallingford said Court being a Court of record and having by the laws of this state a Clerk and seal and now sitting - Edward Fenn a resident of the town of Wallingford aged sixty nine years the 1st of September 1832 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 States under the following officers and served as herein stated.
In the year 1779 he entered the company of Captain Divan Berry of Meriden County of New Haven state of Connecticut as a substitute for Benajah Morse who had been drafted for the term of two or three months into said Berry's company. Job Yale of Meriden Lieut he thinks. Applicant marched to New Haven - late in the spring thru that place, Stratford, Norwalk and Stamford to Horse Neck, here we kept two guards, at Byram River - one was called Sherwoods guard, the other Byrams. He is very confident that this tour was three months and it was arduous service - just as the wheat was ripe. Both these guards were surprised by Maj. Barmons Troop of Refugee Light Horse and many of the guards were killed, and others dreadfully wounded - among the wounded was one man from Cheshire who was hacked to pieces named Josiah Smith. But he is still living in Ohio - Johns of Tolland was served in the same way by them. He was at the Guard House at the time but escaped without injury - soon after this we were withdrawn from Horse Neck to Stanwick Hill - while here the enemy burnt Norwalk. Then was a full regiment of militia there at that time and we were commanded by Col. Noadiah Hooker of the town of Farmington and he led us toward Norwalk. Before we reached there they had burnt Greens Farms and embarked onboard their vessels. We then returned to Stanwick and then there to Northfield in the state of New York and spent the whole tour in scouting & in August we were verbally discharged.
Page 4

at the town of Milford - for this tour he claims three months service.
In the month of June 1780 applicant enlisted under Col. Thaddeus Cook who through a militia had received orders to enlist men to fill up the regular army on the expiring of the terms of the three years men and I was enduced to enlist - by the County and every soldier who enlisted claimed such a number of household troops from  liability to draft. His term of enlistment he cannot precisely remember but he supposes it to be six months. After his enlistment he joined the Continental army to Hackensack. He was under the care of Capt. Ephraim Chamberlain untill he reached the army. He was put in to Captain Barkley's company and Colonel Saml. B. Webbs Regiment. Gen. Starks, Brigade. This Brigade was composed of three regiments, one Connecticut Col. Webb commandant, one Rhode Island Col Angell, one Massachusetts Col. Jackson. We lay in New Jersey untill news came of Arnolds treachery. Several Brigades among which ours was one under General Green were ordered to proceed up to West Point. We commenced our march immediately and found that the British forces had preceded us when below Peeks Kill a very severe North east rain beat upon us. we marched all night and overtook them before they had got up to Peekskill. When we had reached West Point we found the cannon dismounted and everything indicating Arnold's traitorous purpose. He had discharged the militia who had been left to garrison the fort and when we arrived there he does not think there were more than one hundred men there. We staid there only a few days and were ordered (one brigade) to return to Headquarters. We did so leaving at least one brigade at the fort. When we were at West Point we learnt that Andre was taken, and after our return to Headquarters I stood on guard over him eight or ten days after he had joined headquarters Andre was hung at Tanpon. He saw him executed. After Andre was hung our brigade was again ordered up to
Page 5

West Point and we mounted the cannon in the forts and Redoubts, which were very much injurious
- on the 8th day of December 1780 Applicant marched with 2000 men under Genl Stark down the River
down the river in what was called foraging party to went down the white Plains to East [illegible] 
North Castle &c and brought off about four hundred loads of Indian corn to the Village of Peekskill
We went back up to the Highlands when Huts were built to accommodate the army in winter quarters. Col Webb was not with the Regiment at any time while I was with it - but it is commanded by Col Huntington of Norwich. He understood that Col Webb was a Prisoner with the Brittish & when we were discharged Col Huntington was absent and he was discharged by Major Wylly on the 16th of December 1780, by a written
discharge at Winter Quarters. In the month of September 1781 applicant was drafted into the company commanded by Capt Norton Job Gale of Minden he thinks Lieutenant- He thinks Col. Arnold had charge of the Regiment & that the col Quarters were in New Haven two months was the term of this enlistment. In this tour he spent a few days in New Haven then the company was moved to West Haven - our quarters were here but we scouted the coast and once we went as far as Stratford-- we were verbally discharged in New Haven as late as November he thinks - In the middle of summer 1782 He was drafted and the Captain he cannot recollect and does not know that he had one-- but he was under the charge of Isaac Cook of said Wallingford then a Major. Cook led us down as far as Ridgfield & then we were ordered to halt, and Major Cook left and went on to the North River - pretty soon after Major Cook returned from the North River he verbally discharged as at Ridgefield

The reason of the draft was that an express came to inform that the Brittish were about
to attack Westpoint But Major Cook went on after the troops were halted and learnt that the
Brittish had left the River We were out on this tour applicant thinks at least one month - applicant
claims that the full term of all his
Page 6

service was twelve months or more

In reply to the queries of the Department applicant States first that he was born in the said town of Wallingford on the first day of September 1763. 2d He has a record in his Bible taken from his fathers
Bible - He thinks it is also on the town records in said town of Wallingford 3d He has always lived in town of
Wallingford 4th The fourth question he has answered in the body of his declaration - 5th The fifth question he has also fully answered in his declaration 6th Applicant was a private and always received a verbal discharge except when he was discharged by Major Wyllys from the six months service in the continental line. then he received a written discharge from said Wyllys, but applicant can not now find it in 7th. In reply to the seventh question applicant refers to Benajah Morse. Samuel Francis John Hall Elkanah Hall Esq. John
Andrew M.D. as to his veracity and reputation of having served in the Revolution. 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 
Edward Fenn [signature]

Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid-

We Sedgwick Rice a Clergyman residing in the town of Wallingford and John Andrews Physician residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Edward Fenn, who has subscribed and sworn
to the above declaration - that we believe him to be sixty nine of age. That he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revotution & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Sedgwick Rice
John Andrews -
Page 7

20272
Edward Fenn
2 of the witnesses to the facts are well known to me as credible  Saml A Foot
5. 16
 11 mo.
$36.66 per anu
Page 189
Hon SA Foote
Page 8

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Edward Fenn which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
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 and and the term he states positively he is mistaken in. He appears in the rolls to have enlisted into the Continental service on the 16th August 1780 instead of the time preceding
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
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?
Page 9

2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining 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?
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?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____ and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 10

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.
Page 11

Rev War
13.012
INVALID     our
File No. 13012
Edwards Fenn
Pri. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 1832
Index:-Vol. , Page
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 12

Edward Fenn
Declaration
No papers
Page 13

And the said Court do hereby declare be 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 served as he states

And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Rev Sedgwick Rice is who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Wallingford, and that Dr John Andrews who has also signed the same is a resident in said town of Wallingford, and is a credible person, and that their statement is
entitled to credit and the court further certifies, that the preceding declaration of Edward Fenn is sustained by the oral evidence given in Court under oath, of the following named persons to the following point from
their personal knowledge-- the tour of 1779 by the evidence of Benajah Moss and David Barnes, of 1780 by the evidence of Titus Francis of 1781 Benajah Moss
Jno. D. Reynolds Judge of Probate
for the District of Wallingford

I Randall Cook Clerk of the court of Probate for the District of Wallingford do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Edward Fenn for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 4th day of August 1832-
Randall Cook, Clerk,
Page 14

I Jeremiah Hull of Wallingford County of New Haven of lawful age depose and say that in the fall of the year 1781. I was drafted out of the same company and at the same time with Edward Fenn now living in said Wallingford for a two months tour into a company commanded by Capt Charles Norton - for particulars I
refer to my declaration for a pension at the War Office-- and we served out this tour together in Stratford and New Haven principally-- we passed thro West Haven on this tour and we might have remained there a while - we were discharged on the public Green in the City of New Haven both at the same time after having served two months.  and further deponent saith not
Jeremiah Hull [signature]

New Haven County S.S. Wallingford Sep 18, 1832
Personally appeared Jeremiah Hall, a credible person and made oath to the truth of the
above Deposition by him subscribed
before me
Jno A Foot  Just Peace
Page 15

I David Barnes of Wallingford, County of New Haven of Lawful age depose and say that in May or June 1779  I was a substitute for James Potter of said Wallingford who was drafted into Capt Divan  Berry's Company, and after reaching Horseneck where we served out our tour of draft I was transferred into Capt Bronsons Company - for a more particular description refer to my declaration for a pension on this tour. I served six weeks or two months and during all this time Edward Fenn now living in said Wallingford was a member of and private in Capt. Berry's Company aforesaid-- I was then and am now well acquainted with said Fenn & further deponent saith not
David Barnes [signature]
New Haven County S.S. Wallingford Sep 17th 1802

Personally appeared David Barnes a credible person & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed
before me J A Foot J Peace
Page 16

David Barnes
Dep for
Edwd Fenn
Page 17

I Samuel Blakesley of the town of Avon, County of Livingston State of New York of the age of seventy three years the 23 day of Novr 1832 depose and say, that I am a Pensioner under the act of 1818 &c. And during the last war I commanded as Colonel the New York Volunteers at Black Rock and Buffalo - In the month of June or July 1782 I went as a substitute for my father under Capt Charles Norton and then was more than one company I should think and Major Isaac Cook of Wallingford had charge of the whole. In this company Edward Fenn, now living, with whom I was then & am now well acquainted was a private in said Company of which I went as Drummer- We were
led thro Danbury and there halted-- and after being out not less than two nor more than three months we were
discharged-- said Edward Finn was out the whole of this tour and further Deponent saith not
James Blakeslee [signature]

New Haven County S S. Wallingford
Sep 18 1832
Personally appeared Samuel Blakesly a credible person and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
before me Jno A. Foot Jus Peace
Page 18

I Benajah Moss of Wallingford County of New Haven of lawful age depose and say that I am well acquainted
with Edward Fenn of Wallingford in said County and have always known him. In the month of May or June 1779 I was drafted into a company commanded by Capt Devon Berry of Meriden in New Haven County to
go to Horseneck-- I cannot say whether for two or three months - not wishing to go myself I hired said
Edward Finn to go as my substitute and he went and he was certainly absent all this time untill after the fourth of July-- I then was absent from Wallingford I cannot say therefore what time he returned but I do know that
he went and I satisfied him for the service - in the year 1781 I was drafted into Captain Norton's Company in 
the month of September I should say - for the term of two months and served out the tour in the town of New Haven and West Haven and we once marched as far as Stratford. in this tour the said Edward Finn was also a soldier and served in said Company and further deponent saith not
Benajah Moss {signature]

New Haven County Ss. Wallingford Aug 1832
Personally appeared Benajah Moss a credible person subscriber to the foregoing Deposition and made oath to
the truth of the same according to his best knowledge and belief
before me
Jno D. Reynolds Just Peace
Page 19

I Enos Allen of Wallingford New Haven County of the age of eighty years depose and say that in the
year 1779. I was drafted into Capt Berry's company of Meridien out of one of the militia companies
of the town of Wallingford and in this company I served a tour of about a week or more I was then transferred into Capt Bronsons -Company where I completed a tour of three months, for a more particular description reference is made to my declaration for a pension in the War Office, in this tour Edward Fenn of said Wallingford now living served a tour in Capt Berrys Company-- I think of three months altho I am not entirely sure as I am not certain when he left the post but I believe he did not leave untill the whole were discharged - I have ever been acquainted with Fenn from my youth - Capt Bronson's Companies were in the same Regiment commanded by Col Hooker & further Deponent saith not
Enos X  Allen [signature]

New Haven County S.S. Wallingford Sept 1832
Personally appeared Enos Allen a credible person and made oath to the truth of the above
Deposition by him subscribed
before me
Jno A. Foot Just Peace
Page 20

I, Titus Francis of Wallingford County of New Haven of the age of seventy two years depose and say that in the year 1780 about the first of the summer I enlisted in to the continental army of the United States
for the term of six months and belonged to the Regiment of Col Herman Swift and I served in Capt Chamberlain's Company.  Edw'd Fenn now living in said Town of Wallingford was in the Regular Army during
that Sumner & Season for the term of six months I believe. He was not in my Regiment or Brigade but I saw him several times in the army thro that Summer and further deponent saith not
Titus Francis [signature]

New Haven County SS.
Wallingford 18th Sept 1832
Personally appeared Titus Francis a credible person and made oath to the truth of the above
deposition by him subscribed
before me
J A Foot Just Peace
Page 21

I Randall Cook clerk of the Court of Probate
for the District of Wallingford, hereby certify that 
John A. Foot is a justice of the Peace and 
that the accompanying Depositions of Titus-
Francis, David Barns, Samuel Blakslee, 
Jeremiah Hull, Benajah Moss + Enos Allen
to prove the service of Edward Fenn and
purporting to have been sworn to before said
justice Foot and the Floor be, John D Reynolds who is also a justice of the Peace if that said
Reynolds + Foot are qualified to administer oaths - genuine signatures respectively in testimony whereof I have hereunto let my hand and seal of this Probate office this 19th day of September [illegible] 1832 -
Randall Cook Clerk-

In testimony of the [illegible] of the foregoing certificate and of the papers hereto attached 
I have hereunto a second time set my hand
and the seal of this probate office this 11th day
of January [illegible] 1833-
Attest Randall Cook clerk of the
court of Probate for the district of 
Wallingford-
Page 22

New Haven County S.S. Wallingford Jany 11th 1832

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the Peace for New Haven County, Edward Fenn of said Wallingford being the same person who signed the accompanying declaration, who being duly
sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot positively swear 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 grade of a private To wit- For two months I served in the year 1779 in the tour to Horseneck & Six months in the year 1780 I served in the regular army. I feel very confident of this and that I enlisted on this tour previous to wheat harvest which was got in after we got into the Jerseys-- but as I have not the evidence respecting this tour required to Correct the roles and as I am informed that it then appears that I enlisted in August. I wish the Department to allow me a pension for this tour agreeable to the rolls in the Department, for two months I served in the year 1781 in the town of West Haven - for one month in the tour of 1782- In all then I served according to my best recollection not less than the term of eleven months and for such service I claim a pension - But if my recollections are not sustained by the roll I am satisfied to be governed by the time there stated that I could not think it correct
Sworn and subscribed
Edward Fenn
the day & year aforesaid before me
Jno Foot Just Place
Page 23

I Randall Cook Clerk of the Court of Probate
 for the district of Wallingford, do hereby certify that John A'Foot Esqr before whom 
the within affidavit of Edward Fenn
 an applicant for a pension and whose 
original declaration for a pension is 
attached to said affidavit purports to have been taken is a justice 
of the peace qualified to administer oaths 
and that his signature to the same is genuine
 In testimony whereof I have hereunto
let my hand and seal of office
the 11th day of January 1833.