Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,680, for Nathan Smith, Connecticut
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(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Conn. Smith, Nathan S.17,680
carded
CONTENTS 
b. Feb. 1755 at Lyme Conn,
res. at enl. Montville, New London Co. Conn.
res. in 1832 Hebron Conn.
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Connecticut 17177
Nathan Smith
of Hebron in the State of Cont-
who was a pri. & Corp in the Compy comman
by Captain Chapman of the Reg. commanded
by E. Parsons in the Cont-
line for 2 Corp
11 " 24
Inscribed on the Roll of Cont-
at the rate of 46 Dollars 62 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Aug
1833 and sent to A. Hender
Hebron
Arrears to the 4th of No '77 $93.24
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 77 23.31
$116.63
 
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by
to C. Stiles Clerk
Book E. Vol. 3 Page 46
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State of Connecticut, County of Tolland
and Probate District of Hebron
⎬
On this 14th day of Sept. 1832 personally appeared in open Court
before me, Abner Hender Judge of the Probate Court within
and for the District of Hebron, Deacn. Nathan Smith of
Hebron in sd District aged 77 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 act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832 That he entered the service of
the United States under the following named officers, and served
as herein stated
The declarant was born in Lyme in the County of New London in
February 1755 while an infant was removed to Montville with
his parents in the same County where his age is recorded and
where In April 1775 he enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war in a company commanded by Capt Chapman of
New London, Christopher Darrow Lieutenant of Montville &
George Lattimer of Lyme Ensign
He enlisted to serve for the term of six months and he with
sd company marched to within about 20 miles of Roxbury
where the Compy about 100 men put up at night; but an express arrived
for them, & they took up their march and arrived at Roxbury before the
morning light-- during the whole night we heard the roar of
Cannon, and in the morning saw the smoking ruins of Charlston & the enemy in possession of Bunker or Breeds Hill, where the
battle was fought the day before our arrival. He was during his
term of service, on guard, and building Forts, making intrenchments, &
in constant war-like service- The late Genl.  Samuel Holding Parsons of
Lyme aforesaid, was the Coll. of the Regimt. to which the Declarant
belonged. He served out his term of enlistment, six months, and
he with many others, being urged & exhorted to continue in service
till the army should be more fully recruited, did continue there
in service as aforesaid, one month and ten days more, and
then he with others of his Compy were at sd Roxbury regularly
but verbally dismissed & returned home. Lemuel Miner of sd Montville was drummer of the Company & one Jones Fife Majr. of sd Regimt. - Every officer
above named is now dead except for Ensign Lattimer. The Declarant removed from sd Montville
with his family into sd Hebron about 49 years past, where he
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has ever since resided, and does not know of but one who
belonged to sd Company that is now in life, and does not
know that he can find any person who can testify directly
to his sd Service excepting sd Ensign Lattimer
The Declarant said, that sd Montville, where he resided till about the close
of the revolutionary war, lies north on the Town of New London
where he was on alarms and went with the militia twice to his certain
knowledge and served there as a soldier, about one week each time
& believes he went as aforesd three times; but can not testify with certainty
to the 3rd time, nor can he ascertain the month or year of these
services. He was in the Autumn of the year A.D. 1778 about the first of Septemr. drafted
for a tour of two months duty in New London, and was put
into a company commanded by Captain Wait of Lyme in
the County of New London - He was appointed and served as a
Corporal in sd Company - and had the charge of a Guard
of about 20 men, and was ordered to New London Great Neck so called,
about 3 or 4 miles below the Fort, where he commanded the
Guard and was at that place on duty about half of the sd two
months- no enemy appeared during the term-- The other part
of the time, he served at and about Fort Trumbull, (viz) about
one month before he was sent with his Guard to sd Great Neck.
He was first for about a month kept at & about sd Fort on duty; and
then sent by sd Capt Wait to keep guard at sd Great Neck as
aforesaid, & there continued on duty till his sd two months
tour had fully expired, when at sd New London he was
honorably, but verbally discharged-
⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨
The Declarant has made diligent enquiry to find an officer
or soldier living who served in sd Waits Company with him; but can find none
except one whose recollection & memory is wholly lost & gone.
The Declarant further sais that at sd Montville, on or about
the first August 1776 he was drafted to perform a tour of
duty in the State of New York, where a part of the Connecticut
militia were ordered into the Continental service- Jonathan
Miner of sd Montville was Captain of the militia Compy to which
he belonged - John Hillhouse was Lieut & Benj. Atwell Ensign & both also
of sd Montville, then a part of the Town of New London - within a
few days after (viz) about the 5th of sd August 1776 the sd Company & the
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Declarant were ready and marched first to New Haven in Connecticut
and thence to Rye in New York, & soon after to a place called the
Saw Pitts, where we remained some time - Then sd Compy and Regiment
were ordered to the White Plains, and there joined the Army under Genl.
Washington, and was there in the battle which was fought the latter part of
Octr. 1776 Capt Minors Compy & the Declarant was placed on the
east end of the line & saw the enemy come up on an eminence with
six pieces of Canon drawn by horses which they fired upon us in
rapid succession, and killed very many on our right. There was
constant fighting for two or three days, and during that time the
Continental stores were carrying off, by all the teams that could be
pressed into service, & soon after the removal of the Stores the Army
retreated to one place and another, the names of which are not recollected. The Declarant says that he continued in sd Service, about
four months according to his best recollection, and was drafted
as aforesaid for a tour of four months duty-- and when sd Compy
was dismissed he was dismissed & returned home with them, but had
no written discharge-
Nathan Smith
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Before me
Abner Hender Judge
We Hiram P. Arms a Clergyman residing in the first Society
of Hebron in the County of Tolland in Connecticut, and
Sylvester Gilbert residing in the same place -hereby certify that
we are well acquanted with Deacon Nathan Smith of the same
place, who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration
that we believe him to be 77 years of age; that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been
Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
and that he served as stated.
Hiram P. Arms
Sylvester Gilbert
Sworn & Subscribed before me
Abner Hender Judge
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12.795 Deacn. N. Smith
Deacn. N. Smith's Declaration
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 Hiram P. Arms
who has signed the preceeding certificate is a
Clergyman resident in town of Hebron and that the
Hon. Sylvester Gilbert who has also signed the same
is a resident of the same place and is a credible
person and that their statement is entitled to
full credit
I Cyrus Mann Clerk of the Court of Probate
for the District of Hebron do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said court in the matter of the application of
Decn. Nathan Smith for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal of office this 14th day of September 1832
Cyrus Mann Clerk Prob.
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In reply to your request of ..., received ...,
for a statement of the military history of
Nathan Smith
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.
Apl. 1775
Aug. 1. 1776
Sept. 1, 1778
also served
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
7 mo. 10 d.
4 mos.
1 mo
1 
12   4 days
RANK.
Private
Private
Corporal
on alarms
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
James Chapman
Jonathan Miner
Wait
not specified
COLONEL.
Samuel H. Parsons
Ely
STATE.
Conn.
Battles engaged in, White Plains
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Montville, New London Co, Conn.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 14 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Hebron, Conn.
Age at date of application, born in Feby 1755 at Lyme, Conn.
Remarks: No family data on file.
6 -- 2856
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
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17.680
INVALID.
File No. 17,680
Nathan Smith
Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 358
{Arrangement of 1870}
1916 Apl. 1. Hist. to F.E. Bissell
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I George Latimer of the Town of
Montville in the County of New London
and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty four
years, on oath depose and say that I am
well acquainted with Nathan Smith formerly
of Montville aforesaid, but now of Hebron
in the County of Tolland and State aforesaid -
In the year 1775. I was an Ensign in
Captain James Chapman's company - 
Christopher Lane and John Raymond were Lieutenants of said company-- The company belonged to Samuel H & Parson's Regiment. Major
Prentis was a major in said Regiment -
The said Nathan Smith enlisted into said
company in the spring of the year 1775
for the term of six months. The company
was embodied at New London in
said County of New London, at a place called
Winthrop's neck-- from thence the
company marched for Boston and when
we arrived at Wrentham, an express came
for us to march with all speed to Roxbury.
There we were stationed. When the six
months, for which the company was enlisted,
had expired General Washington made a
request that that company and others should
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remain until the recruits, that were expected
should arrive - Our company complied with
the request and remained at Roxbury one
month and ten days after our term of service
expired - The company was then discharged
at Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts-
I was well acquainted with the said Smith
and know that he served in said company
in the service of the United States the
whole of said tour, amounting in the whole
to seven months and ten days - and was
then discharged with the rest of the company
George Latimer
State of Connecticut
County of New London ss Montville
On this 29th day of August 1832
personally appeared George Latimer and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing deposition  before me - The deponent is
personally well known to me and is a credible
witness -
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State of Connecticut. New London County ss
I John DeWitt Clerk of the County
Court for said New London County
do hereby certify that Stephen G Thatcher
Esq is a Justice of the peace in
for said New London County that
his signature annexed to the deposition of George Latimer hereto annexed
I believe to be in his own
proper hand writing- In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said
County this 28th day of August
AD 1832
John DeWitt Clerk
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Lewis Cass
to
Marvin Curtis
aomd
A Hender esq
J L Edwards
to 
Lewis Cass -
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War Department
Pension Office
15th April 1833
Sir,
In reply to the enquiry
contained in the accompanying letter
I have the honor to report that the
original papers in support of the claim
of Elias Judd were returned to Abner
Hender Esqr of Hebron, Connecticut on 
the 28th November 1832, in consequence
of their insufficiency to establish the
claim of Mr Judd under the Law
and the regulations of this Department for carrying it into effect.
On the 19th day of Decr.
1832, an entirely new declaration was
made
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made by the claimant before Mr
Hender who appears to be a Judge
of Probate which has been transmitted to this office for decision. As
it was not accompanied by the original
papers, which had been returned
for amendment a decision has been
suspended until the original papers
shall be again forwarded, in order
that, the necessary comparison
between them be instituted.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
your 
J. L. Edwards
The Honbl. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
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I Jesse Beckwith of Lyme in the
County of New-London and State of Connecticut, aged seventy nine years, on oath
depose and say, I am well acquainted with
Nathan Smith, formerly of that part of the
ancient town of New London in said County,
which is now the town of Montville in said
County, but now of Hebron in the County
of Tolland in said State of Connecticut-
He was born and lived, until he was about
twenty six years, within about five miles
of the place where I lived, and we have
been well acquainted with each other from
infancy.- In the year 1776, I was a
soldier in Captain Bushnell's Company in
Colonel Ely's Regiment. Our Regiment was
ordered to march to New Haven in Connecticut
and there wait for further orders - Captain
Bushnell's company, to which I belonged, left
Lyme in the first sunday of August 1776,
and marched to New Haven - there remained a
few days, and then marched to Rye in the
State of New York and from thence to a
place called the saw pits, and there remained a number of days-- After that
we marched to the White plains, and there
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joined General Washingtons Army.-- We remained at the White plains until after the
battle there-- and then were marched to different places in the State of New York
in the vicinity of the White plains. We
continued there until near the last Sunday of
November in that year --
The said Nathan Smith, during all
this time, was a soldier in Captain Jonathan
Miners company in the same Regiment-
He left Lyme with his company about the same
time I did, and continued to serve
in the same tour, about the whole time
that I served. My Company crossed say
brook ferry on sunday and marched to East
Haven on that day - Captain Miners company
did not cross saybrook ferry until
after Captain Burnnells did, but followed very
soon after our company- The Regiment
was ordered out upon a four months tour
and when we were paid, I was paid for
four months service - the said Nathan Smith
continued with his company and served
in it near my company-- I had been
well acquainted with him before, and was
almost daily in the habit of seeing him during
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said tour and we were often together and
from these circumstances I know, that he served
at this time in the Revolutionary War about
the term of four months -
Jesse Beckwith
State of Connecticut
County of New London ss Lyme
Be it remembered that on this 23d
day of August AD 1882 before me Henry
M. Waite a Notary Public, duly conmissioned
and sworn, personally appeared Jesse
Beckwith and subscribed and made solemn oath
to the truth of the foregoing deposition - the
said deponent is personally known to me,
and is a credible witness-
In testimony whereof I have here
unto set my hand and affixed my official
seal -
Henry M. Waite Notary Public
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Supplement to and amendment of the Declaration of Nathan
Smith of Hebron in the County of Tolland, which was subscribed
and sworn to the 14th day of Sept 1832
Nathan Smith of Hebron aforesaid, being examined, cautioned,
and duly sworn, declares and sais, that at Montville
in the County of New London, and as near as he can
recollect on the first day of Sept. 1778 he was a private
soldier in the militia Company of sd Montville
commanded by Jonathan Miner of sd Montville
and was then by sd Captain drafted for and ordered to perform a tour of two months duty in the revolutionary war
at New London in sd County under the command of
Capt Wait of Lyme in sd County, and in obedience to
orders immediately marched and joined sd Capt Waits
Company near Fort Trumbull in sd New London, and served as a private in building
and repairing sd Fort & guarding the place for
one month, and was there appointed by sd Capt. Wait a Corporal
in sd Company, and by him ordered and sent with about 20 men
under his command
to a place called Great Neck, three or four miles below Fort,
to keep guard. That he went with sd Guard to sd place where was 
a guard house - 
and sd Capt Wait ordered him to send about half
his men every night across a cove to a place called, Millstone Point, to
keep guard, and that he did every night when sd Cove was passable
go with or send a guard of about half his men to sd Point, which
was about a mile from their quarters at Great Neck, and thus he
served one month. Sd Capt Wait often visited sd Guard and gave
orders to the Declarant, and was the only officer who visited sd Guard
and therefore from the loss of memory he can not recollect the names
of the other officers, and sd Capt Wait is deceased, and no one
can be found by the declarant living, who can testify to his service
but he knows that he faithfully served two months, one as private & one as Sergeant, as aforesaid
and was then at sd Fort Trumbull honorably discharged, but never
had a written discharge - He also testifies that he went to sd
New London two or three times on alarms, and believes that he served
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on sd Alarms as much as 12 or 14 day, in the whole, but cannot
ascertain the time nor amount of such service precisely
Hebron Probate District, June 20th 1833
Nathan Smith
State of Connecticut Tolland County
Hebron Probate District
Personally appeared in open Court before
Abner Hender Esq Judge of the Court of Probate
for the District of Hebron Nathan Smith
signer of the foregoing supplemental Declaration
and made solemn oath that the same contains
the truth & nothing but the truth
and this Court certifies that the sd Nathan Smith is a man of good moral & religious character & that
his statement is entitled to credit
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal of office this 20th Day of June 1833
Cyrus Mann Clerk
Nathan Smith
Supplemental Declaration
aomd
2 mo. Corpl
11. 24 ds pri
13.24
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Rev Sec
H
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE
HARTFORD
1916
U.S. Pension Office
Please give Revolutionary
Record of
Nathan Smith S. 17680
Zenas Skinner S.14,468.
Pensions from Conn. in
1832,
Respectfully
Bissell
p. Cpr.
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U. S. PENSION OFFICE
MAR 29 1916