Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36231, for Thomas Pilgrim, Connecticut
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SERVICE   Conn.
Pilgrim, Thomas
NUMBER  S. 36231
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395 
Connecticut Roll  
Thomas Pilgrim 
Capt Ell [Eells] Private 4 
Connecticut line 1777 3 years in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the Eight Dollars per month, to commence on 2d of April 1818 
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th of May 1818 and sent to Jeremiah G. Brainard Esqr. New London, Conn   
Arrearages to 4th Sept. 1818 5 months 3/31 $40.77  
{Revolutionary claims, Act 18th March, 1818,} 
Continued Act 1st May 1820. 
Lyme, New London Cty.
Examined with Orig [original] Rolls Sept 1883 M. G.
Continued on roll
Notification sent to Henry M. Wait Esqr
Lyme Connecticut  17th  July 1820
Date of death not on AB [agency book]
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State of Connecticut ss  Lyme April 2nd AD 1818 
Be it remembered that on this 2 day of April AD 1818 before me Jeremiah G. Brainard a Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut personally came and appeared Thomas Pilgrim of the Town of said Lyme in the County of New London and State of Connecticut and being duly sworn according to Law and the usage of this State did on his said Oath by me to him administered declare depose and say that at Colchester in said County of New London on or about the 10th day of May AD 1777 he enlisted as Soldier into Capt Edward Eells Company Col Samuel Wyllys Regiment in the Connecticut line in the Continental Establishment which Enlistment was for the term of three years,  that he faithfully served in said capacity the full term of his Enlistment & was honorably discharged at Springfield in the State of New Jersey on or about the 10th day of May 1780 that he is in the 65th year of his age that he now is & has ever been since the Revolutionary a resident Citizen of the United States & that his discharge was a written one is since lost & that from his reduced circumstances he stands in need of assistance from his country for support.  
Thomas Pilgrim  
Sworn before me  the Day and [unreadable] 
In witness whereby I have caused the Seal of the Supreme Court of the State of Carolina to be hereto affixed at New London in the State of Connecticut the Day, Month and year aforesaid
Jeremiah G. Brainard  Judge of the Superior County said State
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I Jeremiah G Brainard Judge &c as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Thomas Pilgrim did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceeding declaration against the common enemy and I now transmit the proceedings testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.   The foregoing declaration was made to me as the applicant declared in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war.  
New London   
April 2d 1818}   Witness the seal aforesaid Jeremiah G Brainard a Judge of Superior Court State of Connecticut
Thomas Pilgrim
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Thos Pilgrim
of Lyme
395
May 18
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State and District of Connecticut, ss. 
On this 27th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, before the County Court holden at within and for the County of London in said State, on the 27th day of June 1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding according to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having power of fine and imprisonment, Thomas Pilgrim aged 67 years, resident in the town of Lyme in said State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows: 
in the company commanded by Captain Edward Eells  in the regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Wyllys in the line of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment;    as more particularly stated in original declaration dated April AD 1818 that he has received a pension,  the certificate of which bears the No 395.   
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain March 1818 the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War,” passed the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, for have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. 
Schedule – [unreadable]  small house upon land that belongs to the town of Lyme which house belonged to my wife & in which I have only a life estate, a few articles of household furniture now in my said house.  Thomas Pilgrim 
I the said Thomas Pilgrim do also swear that my occupation has been that of a sail maker that by reason of a failure in my eye sight I am unable to labor at all in my trade.  That my family consists of myself & Lydia my wife aged sixty five & very infirm health.  We have neither of us been able to do more than a very little towards our support.  Our pension is necessary to prevent our being chargeable to the town.   
Thomas Pilgrim 
Signed Sworn to and declared on the 27th day of June 1820 before said County Court 
Charles Lathrop Clerk
I Charles Lathrop Clerk of the County Court for New London County, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is thirty dollars and - cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 27th day of June 1820  
Charles Lathrop Clerk  
Clerk of the County Court for the County of New London
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June 21, 1934 
Thomas Pilgrim-S.36231 
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Perley Pilgrim 
c/o Mrs. F. R. Porter 
Grinnell, Iowa 
Dear Madam:
As requested by Mrs. F. R. Porter of Grinnell, Idaho, you are furnished herein the Revolutionary War record of Thomas Pilgrim of Connecticut. The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 36321, based upon his service in that war. 
The date and place of birth of this soldier are not shown in the claim, nor are the names of his parents given. 
Thomas Pilgrim enlisted in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, May 10, 1777, served as a private in Captain Edward Eells'   company, Colonel Samuel Wyllys' Connecticut regiment and was discharged May 10, 1780 in Springfield, New Jersey. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 2, 1818, then a resident of Lyme, New London County, Connecticut. In 1820, he was aged sixty- seven years and his wife, Lydia, was sixty-five years of age. 
There are no further data in this claim relative to the family of Thomas Pilgrim. 
Very truly yours A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
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send history to 
Hon. William Kennedy
Ho. of Representatives
personal inquiry on July 11, 1914.
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[stamp] DEPT OF THE INTERIOR RECEIVED FEB 15 1926 TO BUR PENSIONS SECTY’S OFF., APPTS, MAILS & FILES
Smith Norwalk, Ct 2/14/26
Dept of the Interior
Gentlemen
Kindly give me all the particulars of “Thomas Pilgrim” “Rev War Regiment" “company,” compensation for Services, Records of placed he was sent to &c.  Anything pertaining movement while in the service as I want to make application to join the Sons of Am Revolution.   No doubt you know the fact & deed. It a singular fact, that there was 2 men in the war by his name one North & another South, one a German & my ancestor an Englishman, My Birthday 22nd February coming 78 years of age & and “just as young as used to be” & still in active business in Real Estate line & am anxious to get the above details as I can put my application in on my Birthday.   
Thanking you in advance for your [unreadable]  
Sincerely yours
Ben T. Nash
Gen Dcl S.N.
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only of conn 
Mrs. Perley Pilgrim wishes the pension record of Thomas  Pilgrim in 1st Regt Col. Meigs Co. Ref. Senate Doc. Vol. 9 p 549 
No. 5987
Wants the name of his wife and children and all information on file there. 
Mrs. F. R. Porter, Grinnell, Ia.
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information as contained in his (or his widow’s) application for pension on file in this bureau.  
Thomas Pilgrim S. F. 36231
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  May 10, 1777  LENGTH OF SERVICE   May 10, 1780   RANK.  Pvt.  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Edward Eells,  Colonel Samuel Wyllys   STATE.   Conn.
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment,  En. [enlisted] at Colchester New London Conn
Date of application for pension,  Apr 2 1818.  His cl. was al. [his claim was allowed]
Residence at date of application,  Lyme, New London Co. Conn.
Age at date of application,   64
Remarks:  In 1820 Soldier’s wife Lydia was 65 yrs.
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36231 
Revy INVALID. 
File No. 36231 
Thomas Pilgrim 
Pri Rev. War 
Act: 18” March 18” 
Index: --Vol. 2 Page 489 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
July 15 / 45  Hist to Albert Morehouse, 75 West Danbury, Conn 
1908 July 14 Hist to B. T. Nash VLM 
1914 July 13. To Hon. Wm Kennedy 
1914 July 17 duplicate 
1914 Oct. 20. Hon. Wm Kennedy refd, names of parents not stated AW
1926 Feb 16 - Hist to Ben T. Nash 
1934  June 21 Hist to  Mrs. Perley Pilgrim AWF
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P
[seal] SEAL OF THE CITY OF DANBURY INCORPORATED 1889
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. 
F. S. OLMSTEAD, Superintendent. 
Danbury Conn., July 6th 1895 
Hon. J. Lochran 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Dear Sir 
Will you please give me the required information of One Thomas Pilgrim an old Revolutionary Soldier. He enlisted May 22nd 1777 for a term of three years and was discharged May 22 1880,  Third Regiment Connecticut line, Captain Edward Eells Company was a Pensioner at Lyme Connecticut under the law of 1818 age 87 years. I also find Thomas Pilgrim as having enlisted in the war of 1812 as a Corporal from New London Connecticut from June 21 1813 to June 25th 1818 of Calvin Comstock Commander.  If You will please give me the information called for you will greatly oblige.   
Albert Morehouse 
Formerly C.F. 17th Regt Conn Vols 
75 West St
Danbury
N.B. Can you give me the time at which the pension ceased and the date it ceased with Widow.   I think the Widows Name was Lydia Pilgrim
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Ctf
Groton Conn July 7/08 
Mwk Pension Bureau Washington DC
Gentlemen – 
Will you kindly give me a copy of the Enlistment discharge of Thomas Pilgrim who enlisted during the Revolutionary War & all the Data you have pertaining to him. 
Very Respectfully 
B. T. Nash 
c/o Odd Fellows Home Groton Ct.
N.B. This Pilgrim he my Great Great Grandfather
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+jR
SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS. 
WILLIAM A. OLDFIELD, ARK. CHAIRMAN. 
MARTIN A MORRISON, IND.   HUNTER H. MOSS, JR., W. VA. 
FRANK CLARK, FLA.    AARON S. KREIDER, PA.
JOSHUA W. ALEXANDER, MO.  FRANCIS O. LINDQUIST, MICH.
OSCAR CALLAWAY, TEX.   JOHN I NOLAN, CAL.
HERMAN A. WETZ, N.Y.   CALVIN D. PAIGE, MASS.
ROBERT P. HILL, ILL.
WOODSON R. OGLESBY, N.Y.
WILLIAM KENNEDY, CONN.   CLARENCE E. KAY, CLERK. 
House of Representatives U.S. 
Committee on Patents, 
Washington, D.C.     October 19, 1914.
The Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir:  The enclosure was omitted from my letter to you of even date relative to Thomas Pilgrim, who served in the Revolutionary War. 
Kindly return same for files when you have completed your examination of the case, and oblige wants the name of his parents. 
Yours respectfully 
Wm Kennedy 
The enclosure was a report from the Adj. Gen. and was returned Oct. 20, 1914.
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SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS. 
WILLIAM A. OLDFIELD, ARK. CHAIRMAN. 
MARTIN A MORRISON, IND.   HUNTER H. MOSS, JR., W. VA. 
FRANK CLARK, FLA.    AARON S. KREIDER, PA.
JOSHUA W. ALEXANDER, MO.  FRANCIS O. LINDQUIST, MICH.
OSCAR CALLAWAY, TEX.   JOHN I NOLAN, CAL.
HERMAN A. WETZ, N.Y.   CALVIN D. PAIGE, MASS.
ROBERT P. HILL, ILL.
WOODSON R. OGLESBY, N.Y.
WILLIAM KENNEDY, CONN.   CLARENCE E. KAY, CLERK. 
House of Representatives U.S. 
Committee on Patents, 
Washington, D.C.     October 19, 1914.
The Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir:  
I am endeavoring to ascertain the parents of Thomas Pilgrim of Connecticut, who served in the Revolutionary War. The enclosure states the facts and particulars. Will you kindly give this matter your immediate attention, as I desire an answer by Wednesday morning if possible, because of leaving town on the evening or afternoon of that day to go home? 
Respectfully, 
William Kennedy
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section 
February 16, 1926
Ben T. Nash 
General Delivery, 
South Norwalk, Conn. 
Sir;  
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 36231 it appears that Thomas Pilgrim enlisted in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut May 10, 1777, served as a private in Captain Edward Eells' Company, Colonel Samuel Wyllys' Connecticut Regiment and was discharged May 10, 1780. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 2, 1818 while a resident of Lyme, New London County, Connecticut. 
In 1820 he was aged sixty-seven years and referred to his wife Lydia aged sixty-five years. There is no further data on file as to his family. 
Date of death not on AB [agency book]   
Respectfully, 
E. W. MORGAN 
Acting Commissioner. 
This inquiry had long ago had the stories of both the Northern the Thos. Pilgrim & the Southern Thos. Pilgrim.
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O. W. & N. Division. 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
Bureau of Pensions,   M.E.C.
Washington, D. C.,  July 10, 1895. 
Sir:
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of -- Thomas Pilgrim - a soldier of 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. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.   May 10, 1777  LENGTH OF SERVICE.   3 yrs.   RANK. Pyt    OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. Edward Eells COLONEL. Samuel Wyllys   STATE  Conn.
Battles engaged in,   none mentioned
Residence of soldier at enlistment Colchester, Conn. 
Date of application for pension, April 2, 1818. 
Residence at date of application, Lyme, Conn. 
Age at date of application, Sixty-five years. 
Remarks: In 1820 his family consisted of himself and his wife, Lydia, aged sixty-five years.  
Mr. Albert Morchouse, 
75 West St., 
Danbury, Conn.  
Very respectfully, 
Acting Commissioner.
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O. W. & N. Div. 
P. S. 
M. E. C.  
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS, 
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 15, 1835. 
Sir:-
Replying to your request for the military history of Thomas Pilgrim, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you will please find enclosed an official statement containing the desired information, The date when his pension ceased is not a matter of record in this Bureau, but it is possible that it may be ascertained by addressing an inquiry to the Auditor for the Interior Department, Treasury Department, giving the number of his pension certificate (395), the date when issued (May 6, 1818) and the agency at which paid (Conn.). His widow was not a pensioner 
Very respectfully, Acting Commissioner.
Mr. Albert Morehouse, 
75 West St.,  
Danbury, Conn.
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Rev. War Section. 
July 17, 1914
Hon. William Kennedy. 
House of Representatives. 
My dear Mr. Kennedy: 
In response to your personal inquiry of this date, I have the honor to furnish you the history of the only soldier named Pilgrim of Connecticut, found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau. 
The papers in claim Sur. File No. 36,231, Rev. War, show that Thomas Pilgrim enlisted at Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, for three years from I May 10, 1777 as a private in Captain Edward Eells' company, Colonel Samuel Wyllys' regiment of the Connecticut line, and served until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was discharged May 10, 1780. at Springfield, New Jersey. 
There are no other particulars of his service. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 2, 1818, at which time he was in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and a resident of Lyme, New London County, Connecticut.
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In 1820 he stated that he was a sail maker by occupation, and referred to his wife Lydia sixty- five years of age. 
There is no reference to the soldier's parents. 
For the date of last payment of his pension and to whom paid, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U.S. Treasury Department , giving him all of the following data: 
Thomas Pilgrim, Certificate No. 395, issued May 6, 1818, under the Act of March 18, 1818, for $8. per month from April 2, 1818, at the Connecticut Agency.”  
The volume entitled “Connecticut Military Record 1775 – 1848” Part I Revolutionary War, pages 177, 636 and 661, refer to the above soldier, and the two references in Part II page 102, relate to soldiers in the War of 1812. 
Very truly yours,  
G. M. Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
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Dup. July 17 
July 13, 1914.
Hon. William Kennedy, 
House of Representatives. 
My dear Mr. Kennedy:   
In response to your personal inquiry of the eleventh instant, I have the honor to furnish you the history of the only soldier named Pilgrim of Connecticut, found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau. 
The papers in claim Sur. File No. 36,231, Rev. War, show that Thomas Pilgrim enlisted at Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, for three years from May 10, 1777 as a private in Captain Edward Eells' company, Colonel Samuel Wyllys' regiment of the Connecticut line, and served until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was discharged May 10, 1780, at Springfield, New Jersey. 
There are no other particulars of his service. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 2, 1818, at which time he was in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and a resident of Lyme, New London County, Connecticut.
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In 1820 he stated that he was a sail maker by occupation, and referred to his wife Lydia sixty-five years of age. 
There is no reference to the soldier's parents. 
For the date of last payment of his pension and to whom said application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U.S. Treasury Department, giving him all of the following data: 
“Thomas Pilgrim certificate No. 295, issued 1818, under the Act of March 18, 1818, for $8. per month from April 2, 1818, at the Connecticut Agency.” 
The volume entitled "Connecticut Military Record 1775 – 1848” Part I Revolutionary War page 177, 636 and 661, refer to the above soldier, and the two references in Part II page 102, relate to soldiers in the War of 1812. 
Very truly yours, 
G. M. Saltzgaber 
commissioner.
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October 28, 1914
Hon. William Kennedy, 
House of Representatives. 
My dear Mr. Kennedy:  
In response to your letter of the nineteenth instant, relative to Thomas Pilgrim of Connecticut , who served in the War of the Revolution, I have the honor to advise you that on July 17, 1914, you were furnished the military and family history of the only Revolutionary War pensioner of Connecticut, named Thomas Pilgrim, (sur. File No. 36,231 ) 
The names of his parents are not stated in said claim. 
Very truly yours, 
G. M. Saltzgaber 
Commissioner.