Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14943, Wheeler Beecher, Conn.
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service   number
Conn. Beecher, Wheeler.  S14943
carded
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Connecticutt 9606
Wheeler Beecher
of Plymouth in the State of Conn't
who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Osborn of the Regt commanded by Col. Enos in the Ct Militia line for 21 Months

Inscribed on the Roll of Conn't
at the rate of 69 Dollars 99 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 3d day of June 1833 and sent to Geo. C. Woodruff, Litchfield, Ct

Arrears to the 4th of March 1837.   139.98
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "  34.99
_______
$174.97

{Revolutionary Claim Act of June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by T T Franciori Clerk
Book E  Vol. 3rd Page 4
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Declaration of Wheeler Beecher in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of Connecticut
County of Litchfield } Ss. Plymouth
On this second day of August AD 1832 personally came before me Morris Woodruff Associate Judge of the County Court for the County of Litchfield, Wheeler Beecher now residing in the Town of Plymouth in the County of Litchfield & State aforesaid & lately of Watertown in said County aged Seventy Seven 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 -
I was born in that part of the Town of New Haven now called Woodbridge in the County of New Haven of State of Connecticut September 30th 1754 I have not got in my possession any record of my age but believe there is a record of it on the Town Records of s'd Town of New Haven
In the summer of 1776 I voluntarily Joined a company of Infantry in the s'd New Haven commanded by Captain Joseph Newton of s'd New Haven to perform a tour of duty for Four Months as a private, Capt Newton being sick The company was placed under the command of Lieutenant Barnabas Baldwin I immediately went with said company to Brooklyn on Long Island & was employed in erecting a Fort or battery & was on the Island at the time the British Troops landed upon the same I was engaged in the Battle between the American & British Troops on the 27th August 1776 in which the Americans were Defeated & immediately after the Battle I should think the next day or next Day save one that night
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We were ordered to leave the Island General Washington was on the Island at this time & as I understood ordered the retreat. We left the Island & went into the city of New York, after remaining a short time in that place we were ordered & marched to Kingsbridge, and at the expiration of Four months from the time of my entering the service I was with the other members of the company discharged at Kingsbridge We were discharged by an order from the commanding officer no written discharges were given I have no commentary evidence of my said service but rely upon the Testimony of Job Sperry of New Haven in New Haven County ( who was a member of & served in the same company with me during the time aforesaid) whose affidavitt is hereunto annexed to support my Declaration to this Tour of service - After I was discharged as aforesaid I returned to New Haven & within a short time thereafter I should think on or about the first day of December 1776 I again enlisted into the service of the United States in a company of State Troops at s'd NewHaven commanded by Captain Samuel Osborn the Lieutenant's name was Allen or Robinson I cannot state which the Ensign's name was Harrison I enlisted as a private & performed duty in said company for the term of three months immediately upon my enlistment I marched with s'd company to a place in the State of New York called the Sand Pits remained there a considerable length of time & was then ordered & marched to North Castle in s'd State where I remained with the company aforesaid until the expiration of the three months the period for which I enlisted & was according to my best recollection discharged at s'd North Castle in the month of March 1777 I did not receive any written discharge I was not engaged in any Battle during this Tour of Duty but was employed on guard & I have no commentary evidence of my s'd service but rely upon the Testimony of Nathan Beers of Bethany New Haven County who was a member of the same company with me & served in s'd company during the time last aforesaid and whose affidavitt is hereunto annexed to support my declaration to this Tour of Service.
I returned to New Haven immediately after being discharged at North Castle & in the month of April 1777 I was again called into the service of the United States to serve in a company of Militia
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commanded by Captain Samuel Osborn of s'd New Haven Samuel Allen was the Lieutenant & was marched to Danbury Connecticut to repel an attack upon that place made by the British, but before we armed at Danbury the British had burnt the Town, we pursued them to Ridgefield, from there to Compo where we had a Battle with them There was a battle between the British & Americans in Ridgefield in which General Wooster was wounded General Arnold was also at Ridgefield I was engaged in the Battle at Compo Hill, The company then returned to New Haven This Tour of Service was according to the best of my recollection about Eight or Ten days I have no commentary evidence of my service neither have I any the Testimony of any person in relation to the same but rely solely upon my own Declaration as evidence of the Tour of Duty -
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the Testimony of Chauncy Guernsey of Watertown & of Job Sperry of New Haven who were both members of & performed said Tour of Duty with me in s'd company & whose Depositions are hereunto annexed
After I was discharged at Horseneck I returned again to New Haven & remained in New Haven until the summer of 1779 when on or about the 1st day of July 1779 I enlisted into the service of the United States as a private & substitute for Ephrain Beecher of New Haven in a company of State Troops at New Haven commanded by Captain Peter Perritt of Milford New Haven County, Joseph Hull Lieutenant to serve for the period of Eight months & immediately upon my s'd enlistment I marched with said company to Horseneck in Connecticut & remained on Duty at that place until the month of March 1780 at which time I was with the rest of said company discharged having served for the full term of Seven Months from the time of my enlistment I do not recollect distinctly what Colonel commanded us but think it was Col. Matthew Mead
I have no Documentary evidence of my s'd service but rely upon the Testimony of Nathan Beers of Bethany and Lemuel Durand of Milford (who were both members of s'd company & performed said last mentioned Tour of Duty with me) whose Depositions are hereunto annexed to support my declaration to this tour of service
After performing the last mentioned Tour of Duty I returned to New Haven & continued to reside in New Haven & Woodbridge in New Haven County until the year AD 1800 at which time I removed to Watertown in Litchfield County Connecticut where I resided until a short time since I removed into the Town of Litchfield & soon after (to wit) May 1832 I removed into the Town of
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of Plymouth in s'd Litchfield County where I now reside
The Rev'd Frederick Holcomb, Ebenezer S Woodruff, Col John Buckingham & Samuel Nettleton Esq all of Watertown in s'd Litchfield County have long resided in the neighborhood with me & can Testify in relation to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except of present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Wheeler Beecher
Sworn to and subscribed to day & year aforesaid -
Before me Morris Woodruff Associate Judge of the County Court for the County of Litchfield -

We Frederick Holcomb a Clergyman residing in the Town of Watertown in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut and Ebenezer S Woodruff residing in s'd Watertown hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wheeler Beecher late of s'd Watertown now residing adjoining the same in the Town of Plymouth in the County aforesaid who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration: That we believe him to be Seventy Seven years of age: That he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he has resided the principle part of the time since the War, to have been a Soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion & also that his character for veracity is good & that his declarations are in our opinion intitled to Credit
Sworn to & subscribed that day & year aforesaid {Frederick Holcomb Ebenezer S Woodruff
Before me Morris Woodruff Associate Judge of the County Court for the County of Litchfield
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and I the said Morris Woodruff associate Judge of the County Court for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above & foregoing named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, and do further certify that it appears to me that the Rev Frederick Holcomb who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Watertown Litchfield County & State of Connecticut and near the present residence of s'd applicant and that Ebenzer S Woodruff who has also signed the same is also a resident of said Watertown and is a credible person and that their statements is entitled to credit -
I do further certify that the applicant from bodily infirmity is unable to attend Court
Morris Woodruff Associate Judge of the County Court for the County of Litchfield
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Wheeler Beecher
Admitted
Private 21 months

George C Woodruff
Lichfield Conn't
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Brief in the case of Wheeler Beecher
of Plymouth in the State of Connecticut
(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? 77 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. /   Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.  / Rank.   / Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Summer in 1776 / 4 months / Private /  General George Washington Col. Newton
December 76 / 3 months /   "   / Capt Osborn
April 77  /  8 or 10 Days. /  / Capt Osborn
June 77 /   7 Months. /   / Col Eno M Davenport
Summer  79 / 7 Months. /   / Col Mead
5. In what battles was he engaged?  on Long Island, Compo
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Woodbridge Connecticut
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  By living Witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Correct

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Cutts
Examining Clerk.
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RevWar
14943
INVALID.
File No. 14.943
Wheeler Beecher
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 30
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Feb'y 26, 1896
Mil. hist'y to Mrs. A. H. McGraw Cleveland, Ohio

Oct. 15. 1903 - Hist'y to L. Wheeler Beecher 
Westville Conn

Apl. 12 1904, His. to Hobart D. Hotchkiss N. Haven Conn
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State of Connecticut
County of New Haven} Ss. New Haven
On this 27th day of July 1832 personally appeared before me Noyes Darling, Chief Judge of the County Court for the County of New Haven, Nathan Beers residing in Bethany, lately Woodbridge in said County of New Haven, and having been duly sworn according to law deposes and says - that about the 1st of July 1779 he enlisted in the Connecticut State troops, under Capt Peter Perit of Milford, Joseph Hull Lieutenant Henry Bull Ensign - The Col of the Reg't was Matthew Mead. Deponent's residence at the time of enlistment was in said Woodbridge, then part of New Haven. The company were ordered to Horseneck where they were stationed till discharged about the 1st day of March 1780 being a tour of eight months - soon after the company reached Horseneck, he remembers that Wheeler Beecher, now of Plymouth, in the County of Litchfield & State aforesaid, then of Woodbridge, being part of New Haven at that time, joined the company as a private, and served as such till all were discharged, about the 1st of March 1780 - the March following the hard winter. He is not sure that he did not join the company about the 1st of July - he recollects his being at Horseneck soon after the company reached there -
The fall after the Militia were called to New York, as Deponent thinks, He enlisted in the service of the State of Connecticut, under Capt.
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Samuel Osborn, Lieut. - Robinson - Ensign Harrison & marched to Sawpits - where they remained some thence to North Castle, where they remained til which was, as the deponent thinks, the middle of May. The tour was three months & said Wheeler enlisted into the same company at the same and served the whole time of three months and further with not 
Nathan Beers
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Noyes Darling
Chief Judge of the County Court for New Haven County

State of Connecticut County of New Haven Ss. New Haven July27th 1832 I Jno Beach Clerk of the County Court in & for New Haven County & Keeper of the Record Seal thereof do Certify that the Hon. Noyes Darling is Chief Judge of the County Court for New Haven County & duly qualified to administer Oath & that the signature by him above made of his genuine 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & affixed the seal of said County Court the day & date above written
Attest Jno Beach Clerk
[embossed seal]

State of Connecticut County of New Haven} Ss. New Haven Aug't 22d 1832.
I certify that Nathan Beers, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing deposition, has been personally known to me for several years. That my residence was 4 or 5 miles from his - that I have always understood that he sustained a fair character for truth among his neighbors - and that I fully believe the statements made in his deposition are true, according to his best recollection.
Noyes Darling Judge of New Haven County Court
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State of Connecticut
County of New Haven } Ss. New Haven
On this 27th day of July 1832 personally appeared before me, Noyes Darling Chief Judge of the County Court for the County of New Haven, Job Sperry a resident of New Haven in said County of New Haven, known to me as a person of veracity and having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he has long known Wheeler Beecher now residing in Plymouth in the County of Litchfield and State aforesaid, formerly a resident of that part of New Haven which is now the town of Woodbridge in the County of New Haven, that when the Militia were called or drafted to go to New York in 1776, said Wheeler Beecher went at the same time that I did and belonged to the same company under the command of Lieu't Barnabas Baldwin, and served as a private about four months or between three and four months; - That in 1777 said Wheeler Beecher enlisted with me in the company under Capt. James Peche for seven months and served out the term till discharged with the rest at Horseback and further with not.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Job Sherry  X his mark
Noyes Darling
Chief Judge of the County Court for New Haven County
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State of Connecticut County of New Haven Ss. New Haven July 27th AD 1832
I Jno Beach Clerk of the County Court in & for New Haven County & Keeper of the Records & Seal thereof, do Certify that Hon. Noyes Darling whose name is above & foregoing written & subscribed is Chief Judge of the County Court for New Haven County & duly qualified to administer oaths And that the same is his genuine signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said County Court the day & date above written
Attest Jno Beach Clerk
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I Chauncy Guernsey of Watertown in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut aged Seventy two years being first duly sworn according to law Testify & say That in the month of June (I think about the 1st of June) 1777 I enlisted into a company of State Troops commanded by Captain James Pecke of Wallingford New Haven County, Aner Bradley of New Haven was the Lieutenant The term of time for which I enlisted was seven months On my Joining the Company, which I did immediately after my enlistment at East Haven I became acquainted with Wheeler Beecher now residing in Plymouth in the County & State aforesaid The s'd Beecher was at that time a private soldier in s'd Company & was stationed at East Haven from the time of our inlistment until about the first day of October when we were ordered & went to Fish Kill in the State of New York & Joined a Regiment commanded by Col -- Enos, John Davenport of Stamford was a Major in s'd Regiment from thence we went to Fish Kill then to White Plains thence to Horseback where we were discharged & the said Wheeler Beecher performed duty in s'd company during the time aforesaid & until the expiration of Seven months from the time of his inlistment no written discharges were given but the company was dismissed or discharged by orders from the Commanding Officer & further the Deponent saith not - With my hand this 2nd day of August AD 1832 -
Chauncy Guernsey

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County Ss. } Plymouth
On this 2nd day of August AS 1832 personally came before me Morris Woodruff a Justice of the Peace for Litchfield County Chauncy Guernsey to me known to be a credible witness & under oath to the truth of the facts stated in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed
Morris Woodruff Justice of the Peace
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I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut certify that Morris Woodruff Esq. is an Associate Judge of said County Court & also that he is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Litchfield & that the signature to the preceding declaration of Wheeler Beecher &  also that the signature to the preceding affidavit of Chauncy Guernsey which purport to be his are his genuine signatures.
Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this 2nd day of August AD 1832
Frederick Wolcott Clerk
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7536
Admitted
Private Conn't
Militia 21 months
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State of Connecticut, County of New Haven Probate District of Milford Ss. -
At a Court of Probate holden at Milford within and for the Probate District of Milford on the 7th day of Sept 1832
Present William Strong Judge Personally appeared in open Court Lemuel Durant - now of the aforesaid Town, County, and State, and being duly sworn doth depose and say, that, in the year AD 1779 and in the Spring of said year, he enlisted in a Company of State Troops, Commanded by Capt. Peter Perrit in Colonel Matthew Mead's Regiment for the term of nine Months, and, soon afterwards was marched to Horseneck in said State, and in the vicinity of said Horseback was employed for the term of nine months against the Common enemy - and he further says that Wheeler Beecher now of the Town of Plymouth in the County of Litchfield in said State, served in said Company, about Eight months in the Revolutionary War - and further the deponent saith not- Lemuel Durand 

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set me hand and seal of office this 7th day of Augt. 1832
Attest David L. Baldwin Ck

[embossed seal]
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[stamped] O[ld Army & Navy] Files Apr 9 1904
[letterhead] Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution

Office of the Registrar

Dictated.  New Haven, Conn., April 6, 1904
The Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me the record of service of Wheeler Beecher of Connecticut, who was a Revolutionary War pensioner, so far as appears in your office? I shall be glad if I can get this without delay.
Yours very truly, Hobart L. Hotchkiss
201 Exchange Bldg

[stamped] U. S. Pension Office. A Apr 7 1904
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W. Beecher - 14943 - J.
rev W

Cleveland Jan 26/96

To Chief Clerk
Old Army and Navy Office Pension Dept -
Will you kindly tell me what you have concerning the records of Wheeler and [illegible] Beecher Revolutionary Soldiers about 1776 - Wheeler, I know, rec'd a pension - will you also tell me what charges there would be for copying everything connected with their application -
very truly
Mrs A. H. McGraw
456 Riverside Ave
Cleveland O -