Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8444, for Samuel Prentiss, Connecticut
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SERVICE
Conn

Prentiss, Samuel
or Prentice
Lucretia

NUMBER
R. 8444
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No. 8026 [crossed out]
No 5469

Lucretia Prentiss
[illegible]
act. 4 July '38
m80-d1818

John Kintall Esq
Barton
[illegible]


5460
Lucretia Prentiss

[illegible]
Act 4 July [38 marked through] 36

[illegible] 80 d 18,

8 H H 4
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State of Vermont
Washington County ss
On this twenty ninth day of April in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and forty one, personally appeared before the Honorable Probate Court within and for the district and county of Washington aforesaid Lucretia Prentiss, a resident of Montpelier in the county and district of Washington aforesaid, aged eighty two 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 7, 1838, entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." (reserving the right to claim a pension under the act of the 4th of July 1836, provided satisfactory evidence shall be furnished to legally entitle her to the benefits of said act.  That she is the widow if Samuel Prentiss__formerly Samuel Prentiss, Jr.__who served one year, in 1776, in the war of the Revolution, in the capacity of waiter to his father, Col. Samuel Prentiss, who served during said time.  He afterward again entered the service which was the summer after marriage, and served as surgeon's mate, but she can not say for certainty how long or under what officers he served; he also, with many others instantly volunteered on learning the news of the burning of New London, and went to the scene of action and continued in the service at this time, at least one half, if not a whole month.  He resided at this time in the town of Stonington, County of New London in the State of Connecticut, at which place he
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resided during all of his said service.  She suppose her husband must have served as Surgeon's mate at the burning of New London, as there must have been much for surgeons to do there at that time.  She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel Prentiss, Jun. on the 2d day of April A.D. 1780 and that he, [markout] her aforesaid husband Samuel Prentiss Junr. died at Northfield in the State of Massachusetts on the 3d day of December A.D. 1818, that she was married to the said Samuel Prentiss Jun prior to the last period of his service as above stated, and they were married by the Rev d Joseph Fish of said Stonington, being the place where both herself and her husband lived at that time.  She further states that they removed to Worcester Massachusetts and afterwards to Northfield in said state where her said husband Samuel Prentiss Jun. died.  Since that she has resided in different places with her children, and for the last few years in Montpelier, Vermont, with her son Samuel Prentiss where is is now living.

Lucretia Prentiss

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written,
Before me Geo. Worthington Judge

State of Vermont
District & County of Washington
I George Worthington, Judge of the Probate Court, do certify that I am of opinion that the aforesaid facts set forth in the foregoing declaration are true and correct as therein stated and that they are entitled to full credit.

Geo. Worthington, Judge
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State of Vermont
District of Washington ss

I, Geo. B. Manser Register of Probate within and for the district of & county of Washington aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing are all the proceedings had in the case of Lucretia Prentiss for a pension before the Honorable the Probate Court aforesaid this 29th day of April 1841.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Probate Court at Montpelier this 29th day of April A.D. 1841.

Geo. B Manser
Register of Probate
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State of Connt. New London County
North Stonington Augt 6th 1841.
I Jeremiah Fellows Clerk of the Congregational Church in N. Stonington (formerly the 2nd Church in Stonington) I hereby certify that I have examined the records of said Church for Marriages by Rev d Joseph Fish Pastor and find the following April the second Seventeen hundred and Eighty Samuel Prentice Jun. and Lucretia Holmes both of Stonington [illegible] evening. And I the [illegible] Jeremiah Fellows do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date which is expressed in said record in fair legible figures as follows "April 2nd 1780"  I Jeremiah Fellows above named depose and say that I hold the office of clerk of said church in said Town, county and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said church, with the exception above named as certified by me.
Jeremiah Fellows

New London County S.S.  North Stonington Augt 7, 1841
Personally appeared Jeremiah Fellows signer of the above writing and made solemn oath to the truth thereof.
Sworn before me,  Elias Hewitt Justice of the peace

Probate District of Stonington SS
I am [illegible] Judge of the court of Probate for the District of Stonington hereby certify that Elias Hewitt Esq. before whom the affidavit of Jeremiah Fellows is taken is a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of New London State of Connecticut, duly qualified & that his signature above is genuine and I further certify that Jere
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miah Fellows, who signed said affidavit foregoing is to me well known & is a credible witness & that I believe he is the clerk of said church
Aug 10 1841

Asa Fish Judge of the Court of Probate of [illegible]

I John D Noyes, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington, in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that there is such court in existence. that Asa Fish is the Judge thereof, that the signatures purporting to be his, annexed to the affidavits of Jeremiah Fellows and Amos Gallup foregoing are genuine and I certify that the foregoing, contain the original proceedings of said court in the matter therein contained.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the deed of said court this 10th day of August A.D. 1840

John D. Noyes
Clerk of Probate
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Lucretia Prentiss
Mrs Livingston
Margaret Livingston
Vermont

paper filed [illegible] 8 to 12 yrs ago - what proofs are wanted?

Address - C. W. W. Prentiss  Montpelier  [illegible]
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[Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873 - marked out]

REJECTED

8444

P.O.
Lucretia Prentiss
Service:

Enlisted: ______________, 18   .
Discharged:  __________, 18  .

Application filed: _____, 18  .

Alleges: ______________, 18   .

Re-enlisted:

Attorney:
P.O.

___ Recognized.  _____ Contract.
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5460
[illegible]
Vermont
Lucretia Prentiss
let. to J. Kimball 12 Oct. 1841
same May 10th 1842
Hon. F. W. Williams Jun1 1842
[illegible Chs W. Prentiss, March 11/57

Act 4 July '36
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Montpelier, 8th Jany 1851

Hon. L. B. Peck
Dear Sir,
I wrote to you a short time ago as to Pension case of Mrs. Livingston.

I will, if not troubling you too much, ask you to look at the papers in case of Lucretia Prentiss application for a pension made say 12 years ago.

We should be glad of any information as to the state of the case & what further may be necessary to [illegible] the pension.  It is for service of my grandfather Dr. Prentiss.

Truly yours,

CDW Prentiss
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Comptroller's Office
Hartford Connt  April 28 1842

I certify that on application for evidence of the service of Samuel Prentice 2d., who claims service in the War of the Revolution, I have examined the Books and papers [illegible] in this office relating to the same, and find his name on a "Pay Roll of the 3d Company 6th Regt. raised [illegible] order Genl Assembly Connt 1773"  Samuel Prentice Major.  James Eldridge Capt. where he is entered as Sergeant.  Time of enlistment May 5, 1775.  Time of Discharge Dec 10, 1775 making 7 months and 6 days service.

Henry Williams Comp
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Ho, of Reps 30 May 1842

Sir,
I have just rec d the enclosed Deposition from Stonington & have annexed my certificate as the parties are well known to me, particularly the Prentice & Williams family _ although the name is by some now spelt "Prentiss [illegible] it is the same family who in Stonington spell it Prentice" as I was informed by the late Senator Prentiss from Vermont, & by his Brother the Honorable John H. Prentiss late a Representative from the State of New York.

I have been requested to deliver the enclosed papers to you & to request you to inform John Kimball of Barton, Orleans County Vermont

Your decision in the case, as he left with you the other papers, when here a few weeks since 
I am very respectfully 
M. W. Williams

P.S.  Please advise me of the rest of the enclosed
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Washington City May 5th 1842

James L. Edwards Esq

Sir enclosed is the Certificate of the Comptroller of Conn. showing service of Saml Prentiss 2d of 7 months and 6 days in 1775.  Whose Widow Lucretia Prentiss claims a pension for his service under the Law of 4th July 1836 and her papers were presented for that purpose during the last year.

A letter was received from you under date of Oct 12, 1841 saying that the witness stated Samuel Prentis to have acted as waiter to his [words "he might" are marked out] Father and said nothing of his acting in any other capacity, and he might be regarded as ["his" marked out] acting as a waiter without being liable to do soldiers duty, I have no doubt but it was often the case that officers took their sons for waiters when they were not attached to the army and probably often when they were boys and not competent to perform duty as a soldier.  But we cannot suppose that Samuel Prentiss for whose service a pension is claimed was but a mere boy in 1776 as we find he served as sergeant in 1775 but whither that service is mentioned in the declaration I do not recollect but think it was not, but I am fully of the belief that the old Lady said to me but a short time before her death that she was confident her husband served two [illegible] the forepart of the War.  
The old lady is now dead and cannot amend her declaration were it necessary.
  
Respectfully yours
John Kimball
now in Washington
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Barton Orleans County
Vermont Sept. 14th 1841

James L. Edwards Esq
Sir - enclosed is the papers of Lucretia Prentiss for a pension under the act of July 4th 1836.
It is said that Stephen Herrick is a man of uncommon memory and of undoubted veracity by whom one year as a private or waiter is proved.
It is also stated that Amos Gallup is a man of good Character & memory.  We have not been able to procure the testimony of any person but the widow' own statement as to the short service immediately after the burning of New London and unless you allow it upon the Statement of the widow we shall not expect to have it allowed.  The service of one year & the service of two months as Sergeon Mate are supported by persons of the first respectability.  
Please make return to me soon as convenient as probably the Old Lady (who is the Mother of Hon. Saml Prentiss Senator in Congress) will not probably live but a short time.

Respectfully Yours, John Kimball

P.S. At the time the declaration was made it was not known that the marriage could be supported by record proof, nor was it known that service could be shown after Marriage which was the reason of the declaration being wrote as it was but the affidavit of W Herrick had been taken before the declaration which added a little to strengthen the widow's recollection as to the length of the first service.
John Kimball
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I Isaac Williams of Stonington in New London County and State of Connecticut engaged according to Law. Testify and say that I was Eighty four years old in March last.  That I was well acquainted with the with Samuel Prentice late of Stonington Deceased who was Major in the Revolutionary Army in the year 1775, who was afterward Lieut Corp in said Army. and that I was well acquainted with Samuel Prentice 2nd son of said Corp. Samuel Prentice.  That my father & family and 
L. Corp. Prentice and family lived in the same Society and attending the Same Meeting.  said Samuel Prentice 2nd was about my age in August 1775 I was in said Army in Samuel Webb, Regt stationed at a Place called Plougher hill near Cambridge and at the same time said Major Prentice was in said Army in Col. Samuel H. Parsons Regt Stationed at Roxbury and that said Samuel Prentice 2nd was then in the same Regt with his father as I understood served in the capacity of Clerk or [word marked out] Sargent.  I saw said Major Prentice with about one hundred Men when they left Stonington for Roxbury among whom was his said son Samuel Prentice 2nd and a Capt (or Lieut) James Eldridge. Mr. Fish (the clergyman) preached to them before they marched for Roxbury.  I saw both of said Prentices while in said Army at Roxbury.  but cannot say how long said Prentices served on
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that town of Duty, but should say from recollection that they were detached for seven months. I again in the year 1776 I saw said Samuel Prentice 2nd in the Army and in the same Regt with his father at Harlems Head near New York and I understood that said Samuel Prentice 2nd now served in the same capacity as the year before at Roxbury how long he then served I cannot say, but understood the Regt was enlisted or engaged for a year. after 1776 said Samuel Prentice 2nd studied Physics with Doctor Turner. and afterwards Married Lucretia Holmes a girl with whom I was well acquainted. attended the same meeting.  I believe said Samuel Prentice 2nd afterward served in the army as sergeon's mate but cannot say as to this last service from personal knowledge.  I have no knowledge that any other Persons or Person by the name of Samuel Prentice served in the army of the Revolution except the Father and son above mentioned. and I know of no other Samuel Prentice.  and further the Deponent saith not Dated at Stonington 27 May 1842 

Isaac Williams

New London County SS Stonington 27 May 1842
Personally appeared Isaac Williams signer of the foregoing Deposition and after being duly cautioned made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition. Before me Benja Pomeroy Justice of the Peace
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Wash. 30 May 1842

Thereby certify that I am well acquainted with Isaac Williams Esq of Stonington, State of Connect. the signer of the annexed Deposition & I further certify that his testimony is entitled to full credit & that he is a man of the first respectability in the Town where he resided & considered by all who know him as [illegible] his faculties in a remarkable degree for one of his years, being a Man of uncommon activity & much intelligence when I last saw him, last Autumn

I also certify that as Mr. Pomroy the Justice of the Peace, is well known to me & that he is a Justice of the Peace, for the Town of Stonington State of Connect. 
M. W. Williams
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Hon Tho W. Williams
[illegible]
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I Amos Gallup of Stonington in New London County and State of Connecticut being engaged according to Law Testify and say that I was Eighty Six years old in August 1841.  That I was well acquainted with Corp. Samuel Prentice late of Stonington Deceased.  That said Samuel Prentice was Major at the commencement of the Revolutionary war to wit, in the year 1775. and that afterward he was appointed Col. and served in the Army of the Revolution both as Major and Corp and that I was well acquainted with Samuel Prentice son of said Col. Samuel Prentice afterward Doctor Samuel Prentice.  That Doc Samuel Prentice served as Sergeons mate in the year 1780 for two months in the same Regiment in which I then served, as I have before testified.  I cannot say from personal knowledge that said Doctor Prentice served at any other time during the Revolution but I know from Reputation that said Doct Prentice served two years or periods before at the time I served in the same Regt with Doctor Prentice in 1780  I was about Twenty five years old and I should think said Doctor Samuel Prentice was then (1780) a man Twenty years old or upwards
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I know that said Doctor Prentice was then a married man, he married Lucretia Holmes of Stonington a young woman with whom I was then well acquainted.  I have no knowledge that any other Samuel Prentice served in the Army of the Revolution except said Corp Samuel Prentice and his son Doctor Prentice as above said.  I was acquainted with James Eldridge late of Stonington but afterwards and (at the time of his Death) of Brooklyn, Ct. and know that said Eldridge served in the Army of the Revolution under said Major Prentice in the year 1775 as Captain (by the title of Capt Lieut.) and further the Deponent saith not.  dated at Stonington 27 May 1842
Amos Gallup

Sworn and subscribed before me at Stonington this 27th day of May 1842 and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the Deponent Amos Gallup that his testimony is entitled to full credit. he being a man of integrity and uncommon intelligence for a man of his years.

Benj. Pomeroy Justice of the Peace
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Washington City 30 May 1842
Whereby certify that Amos Gallup Esq signer of the annexed deposition is well known to me & that I consider him a man of integrity & uncommon intelligence for one of his years.

I also certify that Benjamin Pomroy Esq before whom the deposition was sworn to, is a Justice of the Peace for the Twon of Stonington, Connect. [illegible] & is well known to me

M. W. Williams
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I Stephen Herrick of Randolph in Orange County & State of Vermont, aged eighty one years, testify and say that during the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy six I served as a private solider in the Connecticut Line, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel H. Persons till he was promoted in July of the same year, & afterwards commanded by Col. John Tyler & Major Samuel Prentiss were promoted at the same time to the rank of Lieut. Col.  Samuel Prentiss, served during the whole of [illegible] year, in the capacity of waiter to his father while Major & Lieutenant Colonel as aforesaid.  I further testify that I have kept up my acquaintance with the [illegible] Samuel Prentiss Jr. & his family from that time to the present, & know that his widow is now living at the house of her son Hon. Samuel Prentiss, in Montpelier in this state, or at least that she was living there a short time since.  And further saith not. 

Randolph March 31, 1841

Stephen Herrick

State of Vermont
Orange County SS
At Randolph March 31. 1841
There the above named Stephen Herrick to me well known, personally appeared & made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed, contains the truth & nothing but the truth.  I further certify that the G. Stephen Herrick is a man of undoubted truth & veracity.

William Nutting Justice of the Peace
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State of Vermont.
Secretary of State's Office,
Montpelier, April 27, 1841.
I, Chauncey L. Knapp, Secretary of said state, do hereby certify that William Nutting, Esquire, whose name is subscribed in his own proper hand-writing, to the foregoing certificate, is and was at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county of Orange in said state, duly elected and qualified, and that, to his official acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit ought to be given.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of this office, at Montpelier this the 27th day of April, A.D. 1841.

Chauncey L. Knapp,
Secretary of State.

8444  R
Lucretia Prentiss
Samuel
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I Amos Gallup of Stonington, in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty six years, being duly sworn according to Law do on my oath, certify declare and say that in the year 1780 on or before the 13th day of July in said year.  I Enlisted for three months service as Sergeant in the Company, commanded by Capt Elijah Palmer, Isaac Gere Lieut John Stanton Ensign, in Colonel Benj. Richards Regt Conn. State Troops.  (Daniel Coon, was Major of said Regt in said Company was raised by enlistment & detachment from the Towns of Stonington, [illegible] and Preston in said County on the [illegible] of said July 1780, the company was collected together and marched to a place called Hadlyme adjoining Connecticut River where the G. Richard's regiment and the Regt commanded by Col. Hezekiah Wyllys joined and continued about two weeks, when orders having been received. both regiments aforesaid marched back to New London where we continued encamped about two weeks, on Winthrops Neck so called. Thence said Regiments were marched to a place called Poquetannuck about 7 miles northerly and on the easterly side of the River Thames where we continued about two weeks.  Thence said two Regiments marched to Mohegan, on the westerly side of the River Thames and there continued about two weeks.  our employment at all said four stations or places of encampment was cutting, collecting and making Fascines and Garbines, for the construction of quick Batteries.  On or about the 15th September 1780 deponent was honorably discharged at which time the said two Regiments were discharged having served as aforesaid fully two months.  the reason of being discharged before the expiration of three months, deponent believes to have been as follows.  He understood at the time that said two regiments were raised to join the main Army near New York City, then a Brit-
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ish Garrison for the purpose of dislodging the British from New York, as soon as the French Fleet, which was expected, should arrive blockade the Port of New York.

About three weeks previous to [illegible] time of discharge as aforesaid the deponent being Orderly Sergeant of said Company, received orders from the Commandant Colonel Wyllys who was the Senior Officer, for the Company, to be prepared to march at a moment's warning as the French fleet was hourly expected to arrive on the American Coast.

Information having been received (as was station in his G discharge) that said Fleet could no longer be expected. the said two regiments were discharged at Mohegan as aforesaid after serving two months as aforesaid.


Samuel Prentice Junior of Stonington (now North Stonington) with whom deponent was well acquainted, before and after said two months service, was Surgeon's mate and served as such.  the whole of said two months, he the said Prentice was with the Troops at all the stations and places of encampment aforesaid.  Said Samuel Prentice Junior afterwards removed from Stonington to the State of Vermont.  Deponent was also well acquainted with Lucretia Holmes, and her family previous to the marriage of Lucretia and Samuel Junior
Stonington August 10 1841
Amos Gallup

Probate District of Stonington SS August 10 1841
On this 10th day of August, aforesaid personally appeared Amos Gallup Esq. and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing deposition before me, the undersigned & I certify that said Amos Gallup is to me well known and is a credible person; and that his testimony is entitled to belief
Asa Fish Judge of the Court of Probate [illegible]
Stonington