Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15664, for Elkanah Stevens, Connecticut
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
New York
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Stevens, Elkanah.
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NUMBER
S. 15664
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CONTENTS
Carded
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Date of Death not on AB [agency book] 
Vermont 
17519 
Elkanah Stevens of Orange Co in the State of Vermont who was a private in the company commanded by Captain -  of the Regt. commanded by Col. Canfield in the Connt. Troops and New York for 7 months and New York AW  
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.  
Certificate of Pension issued the 24. day of Augt 1833 and sent to J. W. Smith Chelsea  
Arrears to the 4th of Mch '33   46.66 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept ‘33 11.66 
58.32 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by J. Duffield Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 3 Page 91.
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I, Henry Stevens, of Windsor in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged Seventy years, depose and say- that at a place called
"The Oblong" in the State of New York, and adjoining shown in the state of Connecticut, in the year 1776, in the fall of that year
it appears to my recollection, my brother Elkanah Stevens, who, with myself, was
then living at home, was drafted, or volunteered, into a company of
militia, for a service of three months. He marched to Rye-Horseneck,-
and other places on the Sound, as I then understood it, and now believe.
He returned in cold weather. but precisely when he left home or came back, I am unable to state-- I feel very strong in my recollecttion that he served out his full term of three months.- I cannot state under whom he served. It may be that he enlisted for I am not
clear as to the manner in which he entered the service-
I further depose and say- that after the above time, and in the year 1777, some time in the summer, said Elkanah volunteered
and again went into service; he went to the Northern army under Gen. Gates as I understood- How long he was gone I am unable to say. Said Elkanah did not return from the army when his
comrades did; he was sick, and my father sent for him three or four weeks after Burgoyne's surrender and had him brought home-
Said Elkanah is now living and is present before me-
Henry Stevens

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss
Windsor August 15th 1832 Then
personally appeared Henry Stevens above
named, well known to me as a respectable and credible person, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed contains
the truth and nothing but the truth;
Before me- Carlos Coolidge, Justice of the Peace
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State of Vermont
Windsor County
Woodstock County Clerks Office 
August 27th 1832
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court, Do hereby Certify that Carlos Coolidge is one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said County, and that the within is his Signature - -
In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the Seal of said Court and subscribe my name the day & year above-
Benj. Swan
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6917
Elkanah Stevens

Declaration
[illegible]
V.t.
--
make return to
John W Smith Clerk
Hon Orange Co
Vermont
Elkanah Stevens
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State of Vermont,
ORANGE COUNTY ss}  At Chelsea in said County on this 21st day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in Court before Hon Setus Hutchenson, Daniel Cobb & Thadeus James Justices of the County of Court of said Orange County, now setting, being a Court of Record Elkanah Stevens, resident of Vershire in the County of  Orange and State of Vermont, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832, 
that he entered the service of the United States under following named officers and served as herein stated that he was born in Brimfield in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts in the year 1760 according to a record in his fathers bible but knows not where said Bible now is, that at the age of six years his father removed to America Precinct Oblong, so called, in Dutchess County & State of New York & that he resided there in the year 1776. being on the line of Connecticut adjoining this area that in the month of November or December in the year 1776 he enlisted as volunteer in service in the State troops of Connecticut for the term of three months to assist in defending the frontier near the City of New York.  That he cannot recollect the name of his captain who died soon after he entered the service, the Lieutenant on whom the command devolved was Lt. Whittlesey and in the Regiment commanded by Col Samuel Canfield, that he is not positive whether he was Colonel or Lieut. Col.  That he was marched immediately after enlisting as aforesaid  to New Rochelle in the State of New York & to Rye, Massaneck and other places on the sound - he thinks then were three Regiments of Connecticut State troops in this containment - that he continue in the service aforesaid three months or longer and was then verbally discharged at New Rochelle as he thinks - his impression is that they were not discharged till some time after the three months service on account of other troops not arriving - that it is also his impression he  was discharged some time in the month of March 1777.
 Also that on or about the first of August in the year 1777, soon after the capture of Ticonderoga by the Brittish he again volunteered in the service as in the New York State troops in the Company commanded by Capt William Chamberlain, the Regiment commanded by Col. Hopkins, but is not certain whether he was Col. or Lieut. Colonel. 
That he marched forthwith from Oblong aforesaid to Albany in said State furnishing himself with arms and ammunition & provisions at house.  That he remained at Albany a few days from thence to Lansingburgh and were quartered on an Island between the sprouts of the Mohawk called Van Schaick Island and there remained until Gen. Gates arrived with the Continental troops, that when the army moved forward he was encamped several days at Still Water, so called & on fatigue duty - when the army removed to Bemis Heights he was encamped near the house where Gen. Gates quartered.  That his advance post was on plowed hill so called - after the first battle - his regiment was encamped on the left of Col. Shepherds Regiment of Continental troops & he understood was attached to Gen Glovers Brigade.  Thinks they worked on fatigue building  breastworks & at the time of the last battle he was sick with the camp distemper & had been confined for several days & so remained sick in Camp when his Regiment were dismissed and was then confined till about the middle of November as near as he can recollect when his father had him conveyed home.   
That he has no documentary evidence. & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Henry Stevens whose deposition he herewith transmits.  That since said War he has lived in a [unreadable] New Hampshire & Oxford in said State & in Royalton, Stockbridge, & Norwich in Vermont and now resides in Vershire in Vermont - that he believes his two terms of service embraced a period of seven months in actual service of the United States
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except Henry Stevens whose deposition he herewith transmits. That since said War he has lived in a [unreadable] New Hampshire & Oxford in said State & in Royalton, Stockbridge, & Norwich in Vermont and now resides in Vershire in Vermont - that he believes his two terms of service embraced a period of seven months in actual service of the United States.
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 any State to his knowledge.  
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. 
Elkanah Stevens
H. E. McLaughlin Clerk
We Jeremiah Prescott residing in Vershire in said County of Orange and William E. Eastman residing in the said Vershire hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elkanah Stevens who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, and that we believe him to be 72 years of age; and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.  And know of no clergyman in the vicinity who can probably testify relating to that subject.  
Jeremiah Prescott
Wm. E. Eastman
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. 
H. E. McLaughlin Clerk 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after 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 Jeremiah Prescott who has signed the preceeding cerftificate resident in Vershire in said County and that William E. Eastman who has signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.  
H. E. McLaughlin Clerk 
I H. E. McLaughlin  Clerk of the Court of Orange County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of Elkanah Stevens for a pension.  In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 24 day of August A. D. 1832. 
H.E. McLaughlin CLERK
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March 4, 1933
Elkanah Stevens S.15664
BA-J/L

Mr. James F. Stevens
130 Columbus Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Elkanah Stevens, a soldier of the Revolutionary War and  a pensioner.
The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim S.15664, based upon the military service of Elkanah Stevens in that war.
While residing in Oblong, New York, he volunteered in November or December, 1776, and served a little over three months as a private under Lieutenant Whittlesey and Colonel Samuel Canfield in the Connecticut Troops; he again enlisted about August 1, 1777, and served over three months as a private in Captain William Chamberlain's Company, Colonel Hopkins' New York Regiment.  
Could not identify sol. in Conn or N.Y. book.
After the Revolution, he lived in Oxford, New Hampshire, and in Royalton, Stockbridge and Norwich, Vermont
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 21, 1822, while residing in Vershire, Orange County, Vermont.  It was stated that he was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
In 1832, soldier's brother, Henry Stevens, was aged seventh years and resided in Windsor, Windsor County, Vermont.
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In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Elkanah Stevens (S.15664), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing all of the following dates:

Elkanah Stevens, Certificate No. 17519, issued August 24, 1833, rate $23.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Vermont Agency.

Very truly yours,
A. D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator.
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Elkanah Stevens
Admitted
7 mos private
$23.33
J. W. Smith
Chelsea Vt
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Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Elkanah Stevens which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides:  Yes
II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides.  Yes
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 declarat 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?  Yes
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?
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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 services?
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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct? yes
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? Yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? [illegible]
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily: And
if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
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; Foryear
-- months, and --- days, I served as a . Formonth
-
and --- days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objection able. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
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 he 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 authenticates 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 ends 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. 
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Elkanah Stevens
affidavit
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State of Vermont 
Orange County ss}  At Chelsea in said Orange County County on the 11th day of June AD. 1833.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace within & for Orange County Elkanah Stevens of Vershire in County, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to his best recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the follow grade for seven months.  I served as a private according to my best recollection and for such service I claim a pension. Also that I know of no Clergyman in the immediate vicinity who is so well acquainted with my reputation as a Revolutionary Soldier as Prescott and Eastman who have signed and certificate in my declaration for a pension which is the [unreadable] of my getting their Signatures 
Elkanah Stevens 
State of Vermont 
Orange County Ss} At Chelsea in said County on the 1st day of June AD 1833 – 
Personally appeared Elkanah Stevens a person well known to me, a man of truth and integrity and a credible witness and made Solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth before me. 
John W Smith, Justice Peace
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State of Vermont 
Orange County ss} County Clerk’s Office Jun 15 1833
I  Harry Hale Clerk of Orange County Court do hereby certify that John W Smith was a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Orange aforesaid and that the within writing purporting to be his signature is genuine.   In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year aforesaid.  
Harry Hale Clerk
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Hon Lewis Cass  Dear Sir
Enclosed are the papers of Edward Pease and Elkanah Stevens & John Cassius who has  succeeded in procuring some additional testimony which I trust will be deemed satisfactory.  In Stevens I can find no testimony except which he has already sent herewith and dispair of being able to find any living witness the is knowing to his services except what he has already furnished, his health is very poor and he is unable to travel and his many circumstances & infirmities are such that he sent his claim on the Evidence already furnished - he is a Deacon of the Presbyterian Church and a very steady upright and worthy old man – 
Chelsea Vt. June 15. 1833. Resp. your Obt Servt 
John W. Smith
Hon Lewis Cass
Secty of War
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15,664 
INVALID. 
File No. 15 ,664
Elkanah Stevens
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7” 32”
Index: -- Vol. 7 Page 312 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Mar 1 1906 Hist to Mrs A. O. Burkland FBF
1933 Mar 24 – Hist to Jesse F. Stevens EEH
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[seal] 101st ENGINEERS VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF THE FIRST CORPS OF CADETS
HEADQUARTERS OF THE VETERAN ASSOCIATION CADET ARMORY 
130 COLUMBUS AVENUE 
BOSTON, MASS. 
OFFICERS JESSE F. STEVENS, PRESIDENT 
CHARLES H. CROSS, ST VICE-PRESIDENT 
HOLTON S. PERKINS, 20 VICE-PRESIDENT 
BERNHARD D. FORBES, TREASURER 
DEXTER B. WISWELL, SECRETARY 
March 3 1933
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C. 
Dear Sir:
[unreadable] will you kindly give me such information you may have [unreadable] 
Elkanah Stevens [unreadable]  Connecticut at the time [unreadable] lived at Royalton Vermont.
I am trying to establish his [unreadable] the birth of his wife 
Any information will be [unreadable] 
Jesse F. Stevens
[stamp] RECEIVED MAR 10 1933 MAIL SUB-DIV VETS ADM READER #3