Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14653, for Samuel Talmage, Connecticut
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SERVICE
Conn.

Talmage, Samuel

NUMBER
S. 14653

Carded

CONTENTS
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Connecticut
Samuel Talmage of Cheshire in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Companies commanded by Captain Cook & others of the Regiments commanded by Colonels Baldwin & others in the Connt. State line, for the term of 18 months & 28 days from Augt. 1776 to April 1779
C C
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of $61.79/100 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 18(illegible)
Certificate of Pension isssued the 20 of August 1832 and sent to the Hon S. A. Foot Cheshire Conn
Arrears to 4th of March 1832 $61.97
Semi-and. all'ce ending 30 981/2
$92.95 1/2
{Revolutionary Claim Act 7 June 1832}
Recorded Book D Vol 30 page 69 
B L Beale
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
State of Connecticut, County of New Haven }SS Town of Cheshire Probate District of Cheshire.
On this 10th day of July 1802, Personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court for the Probate District of Cheshire District Comprising the towns of Cheshire & Prospect & said Court being a Court of record and having by the Statute laws of this State a 
Clerk & Seal, and now sitting, Samuel Talmage a resident of said Cheshire in the County & State aforesaid, aged seventy two years the 2nd day of February AD 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 7 1832. that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated, to wit in the Regiment of Militia Commanded by Colonel Baldwin of Waterbury in New Haven County, Thaddeus Cook of Wallingford in sd County Leiut Colonel. The Mayor of the Regiment was not with the regiment and his duty was discharged by the Captain who Commanded Applicant Company whose name was Ephraim Cook of said town of Cheshire, Monson Merriams of said Cheshire was Lieut & John Brach of sd Cheshire Ensign, at the time he entered the service he was a resident of the said town of Cheshire in the County & State aforesaid & a number of the Regiment of militia of which said Baldwin and Cook were field officers, as before stated, & of the Company of Militia in said Cheshire of which B Cook Stevens and Beach were commissioned officers as aforesaid, In the month of Aug 1776. This whole Regiment proceeded to the City of New York under orders from the Commanding officer and the applicant proceeded in his company as a private and with said Regiment into said City & after being in said City about four days, he was taken sick
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of disentary and sent to the hospital, staid there a few days and from thence with all the sick he was removed to Harlem. And from thence to Kings Bridge, and Your Applicant's strong impression is that the British took New York while he was at Harlem, if this was not the case it was immediately after our arrival at Kings Bridge where we were discharged. I should now say in September of the same year after having been in service upon this town something more than one month, on this town I now remember having been for the first & last time, Genls. Washington, Lafayette, & Hamilton. These officers with others who were not named to me were setting on their horses near the road when the sick were removing from Harlem to Kingsbridge. At this time he was sixteen years of age. His discharge was a verbal one merely. He has no documentary evidence and he knows of no one whose testimony he can procure to his service on this tour as near as he can now recollect not now then one month elapses after his discharge & (illegible) at home from his first town. When he enlisted from the foot militia into the militia home, into the Regiment Commanded by Col. Hart of Saybrook, County of Middlesex State of Connecticut & into the company commanded by Capt. Grace Hale of Wallingford in this County, John Beadles of Wallingford Lieut. (illegible) name not recollected. In this year 1776, I should say month of October, a detachment of this Regiment Command of Capt Hale's Company to which I belonged, whose officers I have given above. Capt Butlers company of militia horse of the City of Middletown and Capt. Hicox's Company of horse from Danbury County of Fairfield, and all under the immediate Command of Major Starr of said Danbury, proceeded on to head quarters at North street near Kings street to watch the enemy stationed at or about New York, One reason why the Claimant fixes the time of this detachment proceeding
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to high Street & vicinity in October is that the horses were obliged to cut fence for their beasts & it was almost summer by the frosts, whether this was a draft or ought to be designated by some other name the claimant cannot say. He was a private since & all his company were out by order of his Captain & he supposes the other two Companies were such. In his vicinity there were as near as applicant can recollect at this Christmas of time a part of Col Sheldens regiment of Continental (illegible). The American Army lay below us and had with the Continental horse mentioned above in all numbering about two hundred and forty were stationed in North Street & vicinity to watch the Refugee horses & cow boys who frequently came out to drive off horses, cattle & c. He thinks the field officers of the Continental horses were not with them permanently from the circumstances that when the whole body of horses was the case in a chase which was had, called the long chase were together the whole body were commanded by Mayor Stone. On this chase I recollect we were accompanied by a quartermaster of the Continental horse of the name of Bule of the City of Hartford. I was out upon this town three days over five weeks from the time I left home & with the rest of the company drew pay for this period. While we were stationed in the vicinity of the Continental horse we were in different quarters from them, from this town I was discharged at North street. The whole detachment being called together Mayor Stone made to us our discharge. I have no documentary or verbal evidence of other persons in my possession as to the last above tour. In the latter part of November or first of December of the same year 1776, I again entered the service of the United States by enlisting into Capt Gase Richards of Waterbury & Company Isaac Bronson Af Brackmick & Jonah of St Peterbey 1st Lieutenant & William Saw of Cheshire 2nd Lieutenant & (illegible)
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Wallingford Ensign. This last named gentleman received a commission in the Regular Army, I think of Lieutenant a few days before our discharged. this company of enlisted troops were state troops, I suppose & belonged to the Regiment Commanded by Col. Thaddeus Cook of Wallingford. I think the Lieut Col's name was Shelden & the leajons Porter, neither of them last officers Shelden or Porter were with us much both of them being of delicate health. The Chaplain of the Regiment was Rev Waterman of Wallingford. This was a Regiment of foot. We were ordered to branch your company did mench to join our Regiment at headquarters at Williams town situated either in East Chester of Manchester. We took up our march first of December 1776 & we were discharged the last day of March 1777 and the terms of our inlistment was three months. We were paid the next day afternoon discharge those of us who remained with the troops, the Paymaster not having (illegible) the day the troops were discharged on our first reaching headquarters. We were marched about 3 miles to West Chester & billetted about in the towns after having been there about two weeks. We were alarmed by the enemy's approach & were marched back to headquarters at Williams. There was a considerable stream between us & the enemy & there was a bridge near headquarters. I was on of a detachment of troops ordered out with a 12 pounder to an emminence & tho my hands trembled we discharged four rounds at the enemy when Genl Wooster who commanded the two regiments then ordered us by his adjutant Stephen Nowr Bradley afterwards a member of the U. S. Senate from Brunswick to retreat to headquarters. Here we had those (illegible) of cannon & maintained quite a brush with the enemy having first taken up the bridge. The enamy
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soon fell back. Immediately after this skirmish we broke up head quarters and moved to ny where we remained thru the winter & where our Regiment was discharged. The Regiment stationed with or near us was Col Eno's. I cannot mention his under officers. We had no other bout that winter with the enemy. In this town then were fourteen persons went with me from this town of Cheshire & not one of them except myself now survives. The reason why so many went from here was that 2nd Lieutenant Lein was from this place. We men verbally discharged on the last day of March 1777 & have no documentary evidence & know of no person whose testimony I can present who can testify to this my service. My next tour was about 3 weeks. I then volunteered under Capt Ephraim Cook. Col. Rusell of Branford commanded the Regiment. We proceeded to Danbury from thence to Fishkils where Genl Putman took command of us & proceeded with us to (illegible) at Rhinebeck. We overtook a militia Regiment & as we were entering Poughkeepsie a segment of regulars was just marching out & Genl Putman ordered us to fall in their sides & march on without stopping which we did. And with these troops we advanced up the river at the same (illegible) with the enemies fleet to Redhook. When news reached us that Burgoine had surrendered. The fleet had turned about & were men out of sight when we got the news. News was brot by two gameskeepers and a quartermaster, who having (illegible) his departure to the Genl gave the following to all & washed it down from his canteen. "Here is a health to the States of the brave Genl Gates who with courage fought so fine in the year 1777 with blessing of Heaven fulled down the haughty Burgoines." The troops were (illegible) when the (illegible) arrived on account of the tacking of the enemy's ships. Genl Putman ordered
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us a fatsize allowance of Spirits & I think put us immediately in motion down toward Fishhill where we were discharged in October 1777. In the early part of April 1778 the applicant again enlisted into a company commanded by Jothan Curtis Captain of Waterby, David Hitchcock of Cheshire, Lieutanant & Joseph Smith of Durham Ensign in to the service of the United States for the term of one year. Whether were State or U. S. troops I know not or whether attached to any Regiment or not I know not I am ignorant. The duty of our company consisted in guarding a portion of the Sound. After our enlistment we were marched to Aunhaven and joined the remainder of the company. Capt Curtiss with a detachment of our half the company was stationed at Westhaven & Lieut Hitchcock with another detachment including those he had received in Cheshire was stationed at East Haven & Sergeant Crittendon of Durham County of Middlesex belonging to the same Company was stationed at the fort at NewHaven with a Corporal guard & men enough in the fort to handle the guns. We remained in this position thru the summer of 1778 & were until after Thanksgiving whis in this state is now & was then the last of November. I am able to fix the time of my inlistment at the first of April by my mother's tombstone. She is then stated to have died the 20th of April 1778 & on her death I was sent for to return home & had a furlough of four days & I think we had then been on duty nearly a month & I am confident that I kept Thanksgiving at West Haven. During the season we were frequently aroused by the enemies boat. They having possession of Long Island. When we were enlisted it was uncertain whether we should be (illegible) the whole year & we were discharged I think the first of Dec 1778. In reply to the queries put by the Department, the applicant states that he was born the 2nd day of February 1760.
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His father served his apprenticeship in Wallingford, was married there & the applicant thinks he was born there, but if so his father and family removed to this place Cheshire when he was quite young & before his remembrance & he has resided there ever since. 
2nd. His father kept a family record in his bible, but when he died, I having a good family bible my brother Josiah took my father's and before his death a separation took place between himself & wife & since that affair nothing has been found of the family record or family bible.  This separation took place about six years since. I know not that there is any other record of my age unless it be found in the seating of our house for public without which is made according to age & in which I am the next time after the Octogenarians. 
3rd. In the Town of Cheshire County of New Haven State of Connecticut.
4th. The first time I was called into service I cannot say whether I was drafted, volunteered or what it ought to be called. The whole regiment proceeded as I have stated to New York under orders from the commanding officer, upon what I call an alarm. The 2nd time I was called out was very much in the same way as the first. I had joined the militia horses and the company to which I belonged, as well as some if not all the others in the regiment were all ordered onto and I went in obedience to the orders of my commanders. On every other tour of duty I was called out after enlistment, except when in pursuit of Burgoine. This time I volunteered.
5th. Is and in the body of the declaration as far as I can answer it.
6th. I never recd. more than a verbal discharge & never was more than a private.
7th. My nearest neighbours & most intimate acquaintances are Samuel  (illegible) Esq Chairman of the committee of Pensions in this state. Dr. Thos T Cornwall, Barrenge Beach Esq Justice of the Peace & notary public, Charles Shelton & ct Cornwall, Benajah was (illegible) Justice of the peace. To these gentlemen I refer as my neighbours & acquaintences for my character & their belief as to my having served in the Revolution. To the two last terms of service I have a witness & his deposition accompanies this declaration. The applicant hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State. Samuel Talmage
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
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Me Reuben Ives a Clergyman of the Episcopal Church residing presiding in the said town of Cheshire & aged 69 years and Amasa Hitchcock residing in said Cheshire hereby certify that we are & ever have been the neighbours of Mr. Samuel Talmage who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. Now we believe him to be seventy two years of age. That he is a man of unimpeachable integrity & veracity. That he is satisfied & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion & I Amason Hitchcock remember Mr. Talmage having been out in the war of the Revolution.  Reuben Ives  Amasa Hitchcock
Sworn & subscribed the day year aforesaid.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigations of the matter and after partling the interrogating as prescribed by the War Department, as well as from the high character of the applicant for truth, with which the court is and ever has been personally acquainted from his represented as a soldier of the Revolution from a personal examination under oath of Souathern G Bristol, whose deposition accompanies this declaration  that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states. The court also certifies to the fact of Jno. A. Foot's being a Justice of the Peace when the deposition of Jonathan G. Bristol was taken, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Reuben Ives who has signed the preceeding certificates and is next neighbor to the Judge of this court, is a clergyman as he states and resides in Cheshire, and that Amason Hitchcock who has also signed the person is also a resident in the town of Cheshire and is a credible person and their statement is entitled to consider.
Silas Hitchcock Seauge (illegible) for the District of Cheshire.
I Clement Pecher Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Cheshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Saml. Talmage for a pension - In testimony whereof I have Here unto set my hand & seal of this Probate Office this 10th day of July A D 1832. Samuel Pecher
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I Gorham Bristol of Cheshire County of New Haven of lawful age depose and say that in the month of April in the first part of said month in the year 1778 I enlisted into a company of soldiers Commanded by Capt Curtiss of Watertown. David Hitchcock of said Cheshire Lieutenant and Joseph Smith of Durham Ensign. I was enlisted by Lieutenant Hitchcock of this place for the term of one year, tho it was not expected that we should be retained in service more than six months, tho we were not discharged until the first of December. At the same time and under the same officer Samuel Talmage of said Cheshire enlisted into the same company. Immediately after our enlistment we were marched to New Haven & then joined the company and there we were again dwelled Lieut Hitchcock under whose immediate commanded. Talmage & myself we were marched to East Haven & the other part of the company under Capt Curtiss were marched to West Haven and in these two places the company was stationed & remained as a guard upon the enemy in the Sound until on or about the first of December.  I shall be 72 the first day of August. I was born & always lived in Cheshire & am well acquainted with said Samuel Talmage & have been from that time to this and I personally know that he did serve with me in Capt Curtiss Company from the first of April AD 1778 to the on or near the first of December 1778. I also belonged to the same company with said Talmage when he went on to North River & up to Redhooks & know of his being in that service as he has stated in his declaration & further deportment saith not. Jonathan G. Bristol
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New Haven County SS Cheshire July 9th 1832. Personally appeared Jonathan G. Bristol signer of the foregoing deportion and made solemn oath to the truth of the same according to his best knowledge & belief.
Before me Just. Foot Just. of Peace
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Service of Samuel Talmage

Augt 1776  1 Month
Oct 1776  1 month 7 days
Dec 1776  4 months 
October 1777  20 days
April 1778  12 months

Months  18  28 days
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Reohas

14,653
INVALID.
File No. 14,653
Samuel Talmage
Pri  Rev  War
Act:  June 7th  32
Index:--Vol. 1, Page 378
[Arrangement of 1870]
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J. L. Edwards esq
Pension Office

Y61 97
_____________
309 8 1/2
___________
6197
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Washington 13th July 1832

Sir
Saml Talmage the within named applicant is my nearest neighbor well known to me from my Infancy, of most exemplary character & unspotted life. He has often stated to me the same events of the war which are stated in his application as my father during his life time, often conversed with him in my presence, on the same subject & spoke of an assurances while W Talmage was in the troop of Horse in which another member of the company since dead, rather among them or my Father being present at the time.
There can be no doubt of the truth of the statement made, the facts of his having served was never doubted. It is known to every one in the vicinity from those who served with him during their lives & he has the reputation of a very brave soldier & has never lost the spirit which then animated him.
(illegible) respectfully Saml. A. Foote U. S. Senate
Silas Hitchcock is known to me as the Judge of the Court of Probate & Clement Peck as Clerk