Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,146, Stephen Conant, Mass.
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Mass.
Conant, Stephen
5.21.146
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Vermont 1572
Stephen Cowant in the State of Vermont who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Daniel of the Reg. commanded by Col. Nixon in the Mass. State line and militia for 2 years from 1777.

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annual to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension imbued the 29 day of May and for the Honorable H. Everett Windsor Jr.

Arrears to the 4th of March, 1833
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep.
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Declaration of Stephen Conant in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress placed June 7th 1832.

State of Vermont County of Windsor Fs.- District of Windsor Fs.

On this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred an thirty-three, personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the Probate Court for the District of Windsor for the District of Windsor in the state of Vermont now sitting, Stephen Conant, a resident of Windsor in the County (and District) of Windsor in the state of Vermont aged seventy years on the 9th day of June A.D. 1832, who bring first duly sworn according to law, did 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 therein stated:

In the Spring of the year 1777, but at what time he is unable precisely to state, yet believes it was in april at Warwick in the county of of Franklin and state of Massachusetts then the place of his residence, in his father's family, he enlisted for six months to serve for a class ina guard of militia, and marched to Brookfield in the state of Massachusetts, and was there put upon the duty of guarding military stores. Whether the post was commanded by a Lieutenant, or a Sergeant's guard only were there, he cannot
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recollect. He does not remember the name of any officer. He thinks there was then there a Major Speekman, of the Commisary department, but dares not speak confidently as to this. He remained at Brookfield until he served out his term of six months, when he was dismissed, received a certificate of discharge, and returned to his home at Warwick. He cannot fix the time when he was dismissed with any more certainty that by this. That when he reached home, the latter crop of grass had been cut and the cider made. He recollects perfectly well that, while at Brookfield, when news of Burgoyn's surrender came, there was a barbecue in the north parish of said Brookfield, at which an ox was roasted whole, and great rejoicings had;
The said Stephen Conant further declares that at said Warwick in the spring of 1778, sometime in April as he believes, but has no definite recollect of the day, he volunteered, or was hired for a [illegible] to serve for eight months. Upon his enlistment, he marched to Rutland in Massachusetts, where the troops were immediately engaged on [illegible], in making a stockade and barracks for the reception of the prisoners of Burgoyn's army, part of which were, the latter part of the same spring, or the first of summer, marched from Prospect Hill to Rutland, there to be quartered. At Rutland, the declarant remained in service until somewhat late in the fall when (if he is not in error as to the year) he was ordered to Winter Hill in guard of the British invalids who were marched from Rutland to Winter Hill, where he remained until the last of December 1778 or the first of January 1779, when he was discharged, received a certificate of discharge, and returned to Warrick, and his feet were frost bitten on the way home.
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Again, at said Warwick, in the spring of 1779, but in what month he is unable to state, he again enlisted for eight months as he believes, and marched to Rutland aforesaid, and there remained on duty until his term expired, which was sometime in November, as he believes, when he was discharged, received a certificate of discharge and returned to Warwick.
Whether it was in 1778 or 1779 that he marched with the British invalids from Rutland to Winter Hill, he does not remember; it has more often occurred to his mind, when trying to recollect the transactions of that time that it was during his second (1779) term at Rutland; but his memory is so impaired, that he dares not declare posetively, especially since one of his witnesses, Nathan Leonard, ascribes it to the first term (1778).
Of the officers under whom he served both at Brookfield and Rutland, he has almost wholly lost the recollection; he remembers that, for a part of the time at Rutland, the command was held (was held) by an officer of the name of Ruggles, the nephew of an eccentric character there familiarly called by the name of "Brigadier Ruggles" of Rutland or its vicinity.
The declarant has always believed that his whole time of service, previous to his entering the continental army, was two years and five months, and still believes so. That his services extended into the winter in each year and that he had short intervals between his terms, yet he will not posetively speak as to these facts. The principal reason why his reccollection is not more clear consists in this - that in obedience to the express injunction of his father, he kept a diary Journal of circumstances &c. during his whole term of militia
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service. This journal, with all his certificates of discharges, he brought to Windsor with him and carefully kept untill the 26th of Jany. 1800 when his tavern house, store and shop were burnt and therein his diary and certificates were burnt. Having been long accustomed to refer to his documents for revolutionary dates, facts, names, &c. The loss of them has deprived him of all confidence in his personal reminiscenses. Having obtained the best testimony in his power to procure, it is annexed to this declaration, although the declarant has now no remembrance of having enlisted in the fall of 1777 as deposed by John Mallard, and thinks said Mallard is in error as to this;
The said Stephen Conant further declares that, at Warwick aforesaid, in the spring of 1780, but as what time he does not remember, he enlisted for a term of six months, into the continental army, marched to Spring [illegible] Mass. was there mustered and thence marched to West Point N. York, where he was entered in Capt. ____ Daniel's company, Col. ____ Nixon's Regt. Gen. ____ Nixon's Brigade, Massachusetts Line. From thence he was marched into New Jersey and was stationed some short time at each of the following places. Haverstraw, Orange Town, English Neighborhood, and at other places. The army being often "on the move". During this season he was on the provost guard over Major Andre four times. The last of which was on the day of his execution, when the declarant stood at the foot of the gallows and witnessed every circumstance of that affecting occasion. Sometime in the fall he returned from New Jersey to West Point where he was employed in erecting huts until late in November as he thinks, when he received a written discharge and returned home, having served out his full term.
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The said Stephen Conant was born in Dudley Mass. on the 9th day of June A.D. 1762. There was a family record of his birth made in his father's bible, but where the book is he is unable to say. He thinks there is a public record of it in Dudley aforesaid but is not posetive as to this. From the fall of 1780 he lived in different places acquiring his trade, and in June 1782 came to Windsor Vt. where he has ever since lived.
He cannot recollect by whom his certificates of discharge were given. He states that there is no clergyman known to him, to whom he can refer, all of that class now living in his immediate vicinity being young and recently established; The declarant, therefore, gives the names of Elihu Luce of Hartland in said county of Windsor & Jonathan Hall & Marshal Wait, of said Windsor, to whom he is known and who, as he believes, can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his having served in the war of the Revolution. 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 the Agency of any state.
Stepn Conant

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Reuben Washburn Register.

We Elihu Luce of Hartland in the county of Windsor and state of Vermont, and Jonathan Hall and Marshall Waitt of Windsor in the County aforesaid, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Stephen Conant, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy years of age and upwards; that he is
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reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Elihu Luce
Jonathan Hall
Marshal Wait

Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Reuben Washburn, Register.

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 Elihu Luce, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in Hartland in the County of Windsor, and, that Jonathan Hall and Marshall Wait, who have also signed the same, are residents in Windsor in the County of Windsor aforesaid, and are all credible persons, and, that their statement is entitled to credit.
Jabez Proctor, Judge

I Reuben Washburn, Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor in the state of Vermont, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Conant for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, at Windsor in said District, this third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Reuben Washburn.
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22470
Stephen Conant
Vt
Adm $80

B. Coolidge
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Brief in the case of Stephen Conant Cy. of Windsor in the State of Vt. (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1 Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. April in 1777 enlisted
Duration of Service. 6 Months, 6 Days
Rank. Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. He has forgotten the officers [illegible] Speekman

Period. Apl. 1779 volunteered
Duration of Service. About 9 Months, 8 Days
Rank. Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 

Period. Spring 1779 Volud. 
Duration of Service. He believes for 8 months 8 Days
Rank. Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 

Period. Spring 1780
Duration of Service. Contl. 5 Months, 2 Days 
Rank. 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
27 Months, 2 Days

5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Franklin Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary 4 surviving witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? One of the surviving witnesses not certified [illegible]

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentions.
George Payton, Examining Clerk.
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Revolution
21146
Invalid.
File No. 21,146
Stephen Conant*
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: Vol. 2, Page 77
[Arrangement of 1870.]

*W.H.G. Feb. 7, 07
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22470
Stephen Conant
[illegible]
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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 Stephen Conant 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 residents? 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 declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
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? No, forgotten
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
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? Yes
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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 service? Certified by three citizens
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 3 - no one
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? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes

Explanatory Notes.
*Quere V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how 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; For ____ year ____ months, and ____ days, I served as a ____ For ____ months and ____ days, I served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 objectionable. 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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I Nathan Leonard of Warwick in the county of Franklin & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged sixty nine years do testify and say that I am personally aquainted with Stephen Conant and have been for sixty years past, in the time of the Revolutionary War he lived in Warwick and now lives in Windsor, in the County of Windsor, in the state of Vermont. That in the year 1777 the said Stephen Conant enlisted into the Revolutionary Service & went to Brookfield in Massachusetts and staid there through the summer of 1777. That in the spring of 1778 he enlisted again and went to Rutland in the County of Worcester and did duty there in guarding the British prisoners. Staid there through the season in said service and from there I understood he went down toward Boston and served a tour there. I cannot state how long but perfectly recollect that when he returned he was lame having as was reported frosen his feet severely coming home, And further your deponent saith not.
Nathan Leonard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin [illegible] Warwick, September 13th 1832

Subscribed and sworn to before me
Jonathan Blake Jr., Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin [illegible] Warwick September 13th 1832

I hereby certify that the above named Nathan Leonard signed, of the foregoing affidavit is a good & credible witness.
Jonathan Blake Jr. Justice of the Peace
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I Thomas Mallard of Warwick in the County of Franklin & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy years do testify and say that I have lived in Warwick seventy years. That I was well acquainted with Stephen Conant who lived in Warwick but has since lived in Windsor in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont for fifty years past. The said Stephen Conant states that he served in the Revolutionary army in the years 1777-, 78 &, 79 in Brookfield & Rutland and at Winter Hill in said Massachusetts. That I was at that time in the regular army of the United States, but since that time, after my return, by conversation with him, & others I fully believe that he performed the service according to his statements. And I further state that the said Stephen Conant in the year 1780 enlisted into the United States Service with me & served six months and was then regularly discharged. We served in Gen. Nixons Brigade, Col Nixons Regiment & Capt Daniels Company. He [illegible] at Springfield (Mass) and then marched to West Point, from there into the State of New jersey. In the fall of the year we marched back to West Point and then received our discharge and further your deponent saith not.
Thomas Mallard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin S.S. Warwick September 13th 1832

Subscribed and sworn before me
Jonathan Blake Jr. Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Franklin ss Warwick September 13th 1832

I hereby certify that the above named Thomas Mallard who subscribed the above affidavit is a good and credible witness.
Jonathan Blake Jr. Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin SS
I Elijah Alvord Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the county of Franklin do certify that Jonathan Blake Junr. Esq. before whom the two within depositions were verified is a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Franklin and duly qualified to administer oaths and take depositions. And I believe his name subscribed to the certificates of caption aforesaid is his true and proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Greenfield on the nineteenth day of September A.D. 1832.
E. Alvord Clerk
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I, Isaac Kendall of Woodstock in the county of Windsor and state of Vermont of lawful age do testify and say, that in the month of May in the year 1780 I enlisted into the service at Dunstable in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts for the term of six months and joined the army at West Point in June where I became acquainted with Stephen Conant then of Warwick in the county of Hampshire and State of  Massachusetts, but at present and for more than forty years past a resident of Windsor in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont. That from the first of June aforesaid until the month of Nov. or Dec. following we served as privates in Capt. Daniel's company Col. Nixon's Regiment and Gen. Nixon's Brigade of the Massachusetts troops. That during said period we messed together, we were marched into the state of New Jersey we were stationed at Orange-town longer than at any other place in said state. Having been marched back to West Point and the full time of six months having expired, for which said Conant enlisted he was then discharged.
Isaac Kendall

State of Vermont Windsor County ss
At Woodstock this 22nd day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared Isaac Kendall who is a credible witness and made solemn oath that the facts stated in the above affidavit by him subscribed are true.
Before me Jason Kindall Justice Peace

State of Vermont Windsor County ss
Woodstock County Court Clerks Office Augt. 23d 1832
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court do hereby certify that Jason Kindall is one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said county and that the above is his signature.
In testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said Court, and subscribe my name the day and year last above.
Benja Swan
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I, John Mallard of Reading, in the county of Windsor and state of Vermont, aged sixty nine years, being duly sworn, do depose, testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Stephen Conant, now of Windsor in said county of Windsor, and know him to be the identical Stephen Conant, who lived in Warwick in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, from my earlyest recollections, up to the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven; having both lived in the same neighbourhood and attended the same schools. I further say, that in October, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, he, the said Stephen Conant enlisted, or volunteered, as one of the quota of men required to be furnished by said town of Warwick, to serve, according to my best recollection, six months, as a guard, at Brookfield in the county of Worcester, in said state of Masstts. That the said Stephen Conant returned to Warwick aforesaid, about the last of March, seventeen hundred and seventy eight, and about the middle of April following, the said Stephen Conant again enlisted and immediately went with the Militia, from said town of Warwick, as I then understood, for the term of eight months, to serve as a guard at Rutland in said county of Worcester, and as I ever understood, served the full term of his enlistment. I further say that previous to this time I had enlisted in the army of the United States. I left Warwick aforesaid about the twentieth of April 1778, and did not again see the said Stephen Conant, just once, until the close of the War of the Revolution. And further I say not.
John Mallard

State of Vermont Windsor County ss.
At Reading in said County of Winsor on this 29th day of September A.D. 1832, the John Mallard of Reading in said County of Windsor,
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to me well known as a person of truth, personally appearing, and after being carefully examined and duly cautioned, made solemn oath, that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth. Before
Charles Buck, Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont Windsor County ss
Woodstock County Clerks Office Jany. 7th 1833
I, Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court do hereby certify that Charles Buck is one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said county, and that the above is his signature.
In testimony whereof I hereto affix the seal of said court & subscribe my name the day and year above.
Benjn. Swan