Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17127, for Ebenezer Merritt, Connecticut
Page 1

(3 - 1776)


SERVICE                                     NUMBER
Conn          Merritt Ebenezer     W 17127
                               Hannah

CONTENTS
Page 2

1891
Apr 22 Dr C E Merritt history Prior
1892 Jan 4 Hist to  S
R B Lacey Bridgeport Con
Repd Agust 1

1267
Connecticut

Hannah Merritt
Widow of Ebenezer Merritt
who was a Private
in the Con. line
Conn for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
20  Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843

Certificate of Pension issued the
1st day of August 1843
and sent to Isaac Sherman
Bridgeport
Con.

Act of March 3, 1843.
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1
Page 72
Page 3


State of Conneticut  Novm 13th
AD 1824
Huntington now
To the Honorable Gentleman of the Congress
comes Ebenr Merritt of Huntington in Fairfield
County of the age of Sixty three years and
States to your Honnors that he served in the
Continental army in the Revolutionary war
in the following Manner
In October AD 1778 he enlisted into the Team
Servis to Carry Bagage for the Army for 4 mnths
under Capt Saml Taylor and was Discharged in Febr
AD 1779 and in the time by triveling with the
Team in a bad snow storm had his feet
frozen very bad and in April following
he
inlisted under left Eliphaled Thorp for one year
to serve at the battery at Black Rock and
[illegible] to be in more actual service he hired
[illegible] and give him one Hundred Dollars
[illegible] the server, and then inlisted into
the Continential army and when fairfield and
Norwalk was burnt he was in both Batles and
over heat myself in the Battles and was unwell for
some time as soon as I got better I went on
to West point and joined the army under
Capt Paul Bigeham in Col Russels Ridgment
in AD 1779 and was discharged Jan 14th AD 1780
Page 4

and was on Staton Island the 15 day of [illegible]
where my feet and Ears were so frozen that
I have never bin able to endure the cold
ever since and being now in a State of
Poverty and want and Laime and not
able to do any thing this is to ask your
Honnors to grant some Relief if it can be
done consistently with the Laws of our
Cuntry
Elenezer Merritt
Page 5

Ebenr Merritt & Hannah Merritt [crossed-out] Wheeler
was Married Novr AD 1782

Ebenr Merritt was born Octobr AD 1762
Hannah my wife was born Octobr 31 AD 1758
-
My Dahter Anna was born tuesday Feb 25th AD 1783
My Son John Burr was born wensday Febr 11th AD 1789
My Son Ebenezer was born Tuesday Jan 13th AD 1795

father Wheeler was born March 25th 1716
Mother Wheeler was born June 25th 1721
Ephan Wheeler [illegible] was born  March 25 1750
Page 6

1808  ofiders  Wahlie
April 20th AD
                                       L. ?. D
3 lbs of Tea                     0.10.6
& 8 gallons Rum 8th       2.1.9
26 to 1 lb of Sabard        0.1.0

A way to make Surrup 
for a pane at the breast
Takes a small handfull of Estch
Harts horn Angelico Spigmard
Solomon Seal Sausiperly Compfrvij
bitterest and Chersiel and
wild chestzo bark like and Senileye take it
and bake it 
in the Oven and then strain it
and Let it Cool and put in one
Pound of honey and 1 quart of good
Page 7

Merrill
moon of Ebenezer
Con.
-
Act 7 July 38
Adm
more
20
no deduction
Hon. J. T. Whittlesey
Page 8

Thomas Edwards of the Town of Bridgeport in
the County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut
nearly 76 years of age Deposeth and Saith that
he lived in the Town of Fairfield in said County
during the Revolutionary War and was at
that time intimately acquainted with Ebenezer
Merritt, the husband of Hannah Merritt and
remembers that said Ebenezer was in service
in the Con, State Coast Gaurds stationed at
Black Rock in said Town of Fairfield the
year 1779 being the same year that said
Fairfield & Norwalk was burnt by the Brittish
& as near as deponent can recollect said Merritt
commenced said service in the Spring of 1779
and that he remembers verry distinctly that
said Merritt was in said service at the time
the Brittish Landed & burnt Fairfield and
he testifies and says that he verily believes
that said Merritt was in said Gaurd service
from some time in the Spring of 1779 until
Fairfield was burnt deponent lived in the same
Neighbourhood with sd Merritt at the time he entered sd service
Thomas Edwards
His X  Mark


Fairfield County Ss Bridgeport Feb 20 1839
personally appeared Thomas Edwards and
Subscribed and made oath to the truth
of the above Deposition before me
who I certify is a credible witness well
known to me
Isaac Sherman Justice of Peace

John B Merritt of the Town of Bridgeport in the
County & State afforesaid 49 years of age Deposeth 
and saith that he is a son of Ebenezer & Hannah
Merritt and remembers of hearing his father the
said Ebenezer relate about his service in the
Revolution and particularly about his
being in service under Capt Eliphalet Thorp of
Fairfield in the year that said Fairfield was
Page 9

burnt which as appears by history was on
the 8 of July 1779 and Deponent says that
it his impresion that his father enlisted
under said Thorp in the spring of that year 
and continued to serve under him until
Fairfield was burnt and having been overheated
in that Battle he hired a man to take
his place in said Guard also remembers
of hearing him say that one Knight when he & one
Hyde was returning from of sd Gaurd they heard
the voice of a female as thy thought in a
Barn Singing and when they went to the barn
they could not find any person which verry
much alarmed them which circumstance he
Spoke of as having taken place in the Summer
Season, and Deponent says he has no doubt
from what he has heard his father say
about his service under said Thorp that he
served under him from April 1779 to until
the time Fairfield was burnt on the 8 July 1779
John B. Merritt

Fairfield County Ss Bridgeport Feb 20 1839
personally appeared John B Merritt and
Subscribed and made oath to the truth
of the above Deposition before me who
I certify is a credible witness well
known to me
Isaac Sherman Justice of Peace
Page 10

Anna Nichols of the Town of Bridgeport
in the County of Fairfield & State
Connecticut of lawful age Deposeth and saith that
Hannah Merritt is now residing with her
in said Bridgeport and is the mother of
Deponent who testifies and says that
her father Ebenezer Merritt. Died in Huntington
in sd County December 13 1826 of Typhus fever
and that said Hannah is his Widow and
has never married since his death
and that the Record of the Marriage of said
Ebenezer & Hannah & the Births of their
Children this day cut out of his account.
Book by A Hamlin Judge of Probate & attached
to her Pension Application is in the proper
hand writing of sd Ebenezer and has been in
the family for many years which Record
She believes to be a true Record of the
Marrige & the births of their children-

Anna Nichols

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield  Ss  Bridgeport October 18 1838
personally appeared Anna Nichols and subscribed
and made oath to the truth of the above
Deposition before me who I certify is a credible
Witness well known to me
Isaac Sherman Justice of Peace
Page 11

Thaddeus Hubbell of the Town of Fairfield
County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut
74 years of age Deposeth and saith
that he remembers that his brother
Onissimus Hubbell did served at Black
Rock Fort, and also that Ebenezer
Merritt was in service at said Fort with my
Brother and was intimate and used to
come home to the House of my father with
sd Onissimus while in service to gether
at said Fort, cannot say what year of the
or they served at said Fort but thinks it
was about the time Fairfield in Con was,
burnt, which was in 1779, nor can sd
deponent say how long they were in
service together at said Fort but the fact.
of their being in service together at said Fort
he remembers perfectly well in the war
of the Revolution.
Thaddeus Hubbell

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield   Ss Bridgeport October 10th 1838.
personally appeared Thaddeus Hubbell, and
Subscribed and made Oath, to the truth of the
above Deposition before me who I certify is
is a credible witness well known to me
Isaac Sherman Justice of Peace
Page 12

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield   Ss  Bridgeport
On this 18th day of October AD 1838
personally appeared before the Court of Probate
within and for the District of Stratford in
said County Hannah Merritt a resident of said
Bridgeport aged nearly 80 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 7th 1838.
entitled An Act granting half pay & pensions
to certain widows
That she is the Widow of Ebenezer Merritt
who was a private in the Army of the
Revolutionary War who commenced service
according to the best of her knowledge and
belief in the month of October 1778 in a
Company of Continental Teamsters under
Command of Capt Samuel Taylor of sd County
of Fairfield and served in said Company in
sd Continental Team service at least 4 months

And that in April 1779 said Ebenezer Enlisted
into a company of Con State Gaurds under
Command of Captain Eliphalet Thorp of Fairfield
in said Fairfield County and served from April 1779
until he entered the Continental Army as stated
in his statement made by himself in his life time
Relative to his service in the Revolution hereto
Attachd and was constantly in service either
under Capt Thorp or Capt Paul Brigham in
Col Russels Regiment Continental Troops from
April 1779 to the 18 of January 1780. at least
nine months. said Black Rock Fort that he served at
Page 13

is in the Town of Fairfield and all that were
connected with sd Fort & the Militia were actively
engaged when sd Fairfield was burnt in 1779
and for proof of said 13 months service he refers to his
Statement before mentioned, to the Deposition of
Thaddeus Hubbell, his discharge from the
Continental Army hereto attachd and for
further proof of said 4 month she refers
to the Pension Application & Depositions, accompanying 
it of Dimon Wheeler under Act of 1832 if living is a resident
as she believes of Canada therefore, out of her
Power to obtain his Deposition but she can
State confidently that her husband and said
Dimon both served together said 4 months
under Capt Samuel Taylor, therefore proof
for the one is proof for the other, and it is
out of her power to State the Regiment.
or Brigade of said Capt Saml Taylors Company
but she refers to sd Dimons Wheeler statement
for that, and the Reason that she knows that said Dimon
served with her husband as afforesaid is that he is
her brothers son, that her husband & herself and said
Dimon all lived in the same Town vz Redding in sd County
During the Revolutionary War-

That said Ebenezer Merritt was born October 1, 1762 in the Town of Fairfield in sd
County, lived in Redding in sd County during the Revolution & in Huntington
sd County for the last 30 years until his death.
That she was born October 31 1758 and lived in sd Redding
during the Revolution, that she has no Documentary
Evidence to prove his service except what is
hereto attachd he was called into service by voluntary
Enlistment has a Record of both their birth & of their
Marriage made by her sd husband which is hereto attachd
where Record was made by him on his account Book
Page 14

She further declares that she was married to the
said Ebenezer Merritt on the tenth day of November in
the year Seventeen hundred & Eighty two (1782)
by the Rev James Johnson Pastor of the Congregational
Church & Society of the Parish of North Fairfield in sd
Town of Fairfield as afforesaid now called Weston
that her husband the afforesaid Ebenezer Merrett
died in Huntington in sd County on the 13 day of
December 1826 of the Typhus Fever
That she was not married to him prior to
his leaving the service, but the Marriage took
place previous to the first of January 1794. Vz
at the time above stated, and that her maiden
name was Hannah Wheeler.
and she respectfully requests that if the proof
is not satisfactory Relative to the 4 months
Team service that her Pension may be
granted for the 9 months without any delay
for it appears to be out of her own to produce
any further proof of that Service, and she has
also produced all the proof she can at present obtain in support of the 9 months. service.
Hannah Merritt

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year first above written
Before me Alanson Hamlin Judge

I Alanson Hamlin Judge of the Court of Probate 
within & for the District of Stratford, do hereby certify
that the paper hereunto attached, purporting to be
a Record of the Marriage of Ebenezer Merritt and
Hannah Wheeler, & of their births & the births of their children,
was cut out by me from an old Book, shown to me as and
appearing to be, on account Book of the said Ebenezer
Merritt
Alanson Hamlin Judge
Page 15

And the said Court do hereby declare thus
opinion after investigating the matter that
the before named Applicant is the Widow
of Ebenezer Merritt a Revolution Soldier-
Attest Ira Sherman Clerk
Alanson Hamlin Judge
I Ira Sherman Clerk of the Court afforesaid
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court in
the matter of the application of the Widow
Hannah Merritt for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
Seal of Office this 18 day of
October 1838.
Ira Sherman Clerk

And I further certify that Isaac Sherman
is a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned
and qualified and that his signature to the
Deposition of Thaddeus Hubbell & Anna Nichols
hereto attachd are genuine
Ira Sherman Clerk
Page 16

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section.

January 25, 1927

Mrs. Frank Clonan
Mineville, Box 121
N. Y.
Madam:

I have to advise you from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 17127
it appears that Ebenezer Merritt was born
October 1, 1762 in Fairfield, Connecticut.
While residing in Redding, Connecticut, he
enlisted and served as a private in the Connecticut
Troops, as follows
From October 1778, four months under Captain
Samuel Taylor, as teamster to haul baggage.
From April 1779, in Captain Eliphalet Thorp's
Company, and was in the battles, when Fairfield and
Norwalk were burned, after which he served in Captain
Paul Brigham's Company, Colonel Russell's Regiment
and was discharged January 18, 1780.
He died December 13, 1836 in Huntington, 
Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Soldier married November 10, 1782 at Fairfield,
Page 17

Connecticut, Hannah Wheeler, who was born October
31, 1758. She was allowed pension on her application
executed October 18, 1838, while a resident of Bridgeport
Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Children-
Anna   born February [illegible] 1783   married  Nichols
John Burr born February 11, 1789
Ebenezer  born January 13, 1795

The above noted Ebenezer Merritt (all spellings
searched) is the only soldier of that name found on
the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.

Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 18

Camp Near Morristown 18th Jany 1780
Ebenezer Merritt a Soldier of the 8th Connecticut
having served the term for which he enlisted is here
honourably discharged -
W Clift Major 
Homet  Brigade
Page 19

Comptrollers Office
Hartford Connt Oct 30. 1838
I certify that on application for evidence of the Services
of Ebenezer Merritt, I find on a Roll or Return
of 8 ms min. In the 8th Connt Regt commanded by
Isaac Sherman Col (filed 1779)
Ebenezer Merritt Commenced 
service Oct 1, Time of Discharge Jany 15, making 3 ms
15 days. no Pay Roll, or proof of service of Capt Saml Taylor
appears in this Office. That no Pay Roll of Capt Elipht
Thorp can be found in this Office. On Pay Table Book
under date of Jany 25, 1779, are the following entrys
War Dr To order on Treasr for Capt Elipht Thorps
Co Matrosses $729-14 CG By his [illigible] rendered $729-14
and under date of Apl. 22. 1780 War Dr To amt of Capt
Elipht Thorps [illegible] renderd for his company of Matrosses &
$16463.2.6 CG By his [illegible] rendered & $16463.2.0
Henry Kilborn Comp
Page 20

State of Connecticut 
County of Fairfield  Ss Bridgeport
On this 4th Day of May AD 1843
personally appeared 
before me Isaac Sherman a Justice
of the peace in and for said County
Hannah Merritt a resident of said
Town of Bridgeport aged 84 years who
being first duly sworn according to
Law doth on her Oath make the
following declaration in order to obtain
the benefits of the provision made
by the act of Congress passed on the
3d of March 1843 granting Pensions to
Widows of persons who served during
the Revolutionary War that she is the
widow of Ebenezer Merritt who was
a private in the Army of the Revolution
And the Annual amount of Pension
that she received under the act of July
7th 1838 was twenty Dollars - She further
declares that she is still the widow of
said Ebenezer Merritt decd
Hanna Merrtt

Sworn to and Subscribed on the day &
year above written before me, and
I certify that said Hannah Merritt
is personally known to me to be the
Widow of Ebenezer Merritt decd & the word
appeared was interlined before execution
Isaac Sherman
Justice of Peace
Page 21

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield Ss Bridgeport
I Mark Moore Clerk of the Court of
Probate within & for the  District of
Bridgeport in sd County do hereby
certify that Isaac Sherman is a Justice
of Peace in and for said Fairfield
County duly commissioned & qualified
that his signature to the within
Declaration of Hannah Merritt is 
genuine

Given under my hand &
Seal of Office this 5th
Day of May AD 1843

Attest Mark Moore Clerk
Page 22

State of Connecticut
Bridgeport
J. L. Edwards Esq
May 5th 1843
Sir I send you the
Pension application of the Widow
Hannah Merrett please send her
certificate to me
yours Respectfully
Isaac Sherman
Page 23


Bridgeport Feb 20 1839
Sir
I have recd yours enclosing a
Letter from the Comr of Pensions which
Letter I now enclose to you again with the
Deposition of I. Edwards Relative to the
Pension of the wd Hannah Merritt, I do not
think it posible to find any person now ┃
alive that can testify to the precise time
that her husband served under Capt Thorp
in 1779 but from his own Statement
accompanying her Declaration and from
this Deposition of I Edwards [illegible] Merritt on that subject.
there cannot be a reasonable doubt but
that said Merritt Served under said Thorp
from some time in April 1779 to the time
That the Town of Fairfield in Con was
burnt, which was on the 8th of July 1779
Mrs Merritt is a worthy old Lady and is entirely
dependant on her children for support, and 
if the Commissioner of Pensions will allow
her a Pension for 6 months as a private.
She will very gratefully accept it
and if you could obtain a certificate for that
before you left Washington, she will feel very
much obliged
Yours very Respectfully
Isaac Sherman

Honl J. J Whittlesey
House of Representatives
Page 24

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield
Bridgeport
I L Edwards Esq  Nov 5th 1838
Sir I send you the Pension
Application of the Widow Hannah Merritt
and you will if you please send her certificate
to me.
Yours Respectfully
Isaac Sherman
As for proof that the [illegible] J. Johnson was the
Pastor of the Church of Northfairfield at the
time she was married I would refer to the
Pension Application of the Wd Hannah
Blackman under Act of July 4th 1836.
Page 25

R B Lacy   Con
June 18 1891
Ebenezer Merritt      Con
widow
Hannah
Page 26

[SEAL]  Fairfield County Historical Society Connecticut

R. B. LACEY, PRES.
446 MAIN STREET

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. June 18th 1891

Genl Green B. Raum
Com. of Pensions

My dear Sir
grateful the past favors
permit me to ask an additional favor in behalf of
Genl Thos L. Watson of our C N.G. and Henry B. Drew Esq
Cashier of Conn Nat Bank. Hannah Merritt widow
of Ebenezer Merritt, as recorded as a U.S. Pensioner in
Census 1840 resident in Bridgeport Conn for service of her
husband in the war of the Revolution
The above parties are direct decendants and very much
desire some authentic acct of the services of their Revolutionary
Ancestor Ebenezer who is understood to have enlisted from
Redding Conn at at the age of 18 yrs Will you kindly cause
a transcript of those services to be made from the application
for the pension of the widow and forwarded to
Yours very Respectfully 
R.B. Lacey Pres
F. C. Historical Soc
Page 27

Connecticut - 1987
Hannah Merritt
widow of Ebenezer Merritt, decd
[who was a pensioner under of][crossed out] 
and who died on the 13th December, 1826
of Fairfield Co. in the State of Connt
who was a private in the compy commanded
by Captain G Taylor of the Regt. commanded
by   in the Connt
line for 6 months private

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 20 Dollars Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of March 
1839 and sent to Hon.
J.J. Whittlesey, Danbury Ct

Arrears to the 4th of March, 1839        $160.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept.  " 10
                                                              $170:00
Act July 7,
1838.

Recorded by S.A. Elliot Clerk
Book A   Vol. [illegible]  Page 195

Elliot Clerk,
Page 15.
Page 28

Let to NY JJ  Whittlersey
Feby 14, 1839.
Let H
Page 29

1927. Jan. 25. Hist to Mrs. Frank
Clonan [illegible]

Rev WIDOW, &c
Fille No. 17127
Hannah Merritt
Widow  of
Ebenezer Merritt
Pri Rev War
Act March 3d 43
Index Vol. M, Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 30

Dr C E Meritt  Menbr
Jany 5 1891
Hannah Merritt Con  [illegible]
Ebenezer Merritt Con  1812
Page 31


Dr. CHAS.E. MERRITT
DENTIST.
211 EAST EIGHTH STREET
ST. PAUL, MINN. Jany 5th 1891
To Commissioner Pensions
Washington D.C
Dear Sir
Would you
Kindly inform me as to place of residence,
nature of survice, and name of husband
of Hannah Merrett aged 82 of State of
Conn, who was a pensioner of
the Revolutionary war  any information
thereto which you can send me will
be thankful for
Respectfully
Dr C.E. Merritt
St Paul
Minn
Bounty Land Wt 44778
ret 1855

P.S. My Father Ebenezer Merritt was in the
War of 1812 went from Conn and recd
a bounty of 160 acres of land could you tell
me where I could find as to what regiment he
belonged &c. I am a G.A.R. Man myself and
want to get the record. C E M
Page 32

Mineville Ny
Nov. 26, 1926
U.S. Com. of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir
In looking up my
ancestors in hopes of becoming
Daughter of the Revolution
I have been referred to you
to see if Ebenezer Merritt
was ever granted a pension
If so, can you give me the
dates of birth, death and
Marriage?  He was my
great-great grand father.
Page 33

If you can help me, I will be
very thankful.
Yours very truly
Address
Nicea Merritt Clonan
Address
Mrs. Frank Clonan
Mineville
Essex Co
Ny
Box 121
Page 34

O. W. & N. DIV.
F.S.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 4, 1891.

Sir
In reply to your communication asking for a statement
of the military history of EBENEZER MERRITT, a soldier of the
Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information
as contained in his application for pension on file in this
office.

In the month of October, 1778, enlisted with Captain
Samuel Taylor, for four months, as a teamster to carry baggage.
In the month of April, 1779, enlisted at Black Rock, for the period
of 12 months, as a guard in Captain Eliphalet Thorp's Company,
he states he was in the fights when Fairfield and Norwalk were
burned by the British. He also served under Capt. Paul Brigham
in Col. Russell's Conn. Regt., and was discharged in the month of
January 1780.

He was born October 1, 1762, and died December 13, 1826.
A pension of $20 per annum was granted to his widow.
Very respectfully,
R. B. Lacey, Esq.,
Bridgeport, Conn.
Commissioner.
Page 35

House of Rep
Feby 2. 1839

Sir
I will call your attention to the
case of Hannah Merritt. Her papers
were sent to Washington by Isaac Sherman Esq
Very respectfully
JJ Whittlesey