Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26298, for James Penfield, Connecticut
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SERVICE                                           NUMBER
Conn.            Penfield, James             W.26298
                                    Mary
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Connecticut    No. 28,167
  -  James Penfield -
of Fairfield in the State  of Connecticut
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Jarvis of the Regt. commanded
by ___________________ in the Con. Troops
line for 12 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Penson issued the 27th day of Mar. 1834. and
                            Hon. G. Tomlinson

Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834  --     120.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending                 20.00 
                                 4" Sept  "          ________
                                                         $ 140.00
                                     {Revolutionary Claim,
                                       Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk,
Book E.2.  Vol. ..........   Page 34.
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James Penfield
                     28,745

    scribed [?]
        just on index
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield}   on this 15th day of November AD 1833 personally appeared in Open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Fairfield in said County and Note James Penfield a resident of said Fairfield in said County aged Seventy two 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 declaration says that as early as the 1st day of April in the year 1780 he enlisted as a private under Captain Isaac Jarvis of Fairfield for one year, to serve in the coast Guard at Black Rock, a sea port so called on Long Island Sound in the said Town of Fairfield- a Battery or small Fort was erected at this place with some cannon plain in it to defend the Port and the adjunct Country and a guard was kept here most part of the time during the Revolutionary War- Lieut Laren Turney of Fairfield was Lieutenant of the Guard at the time the Applicant was there - Here he says he stayed & faithfully did the duty of a private for one year  the Term of his enlistment  or until the 1st of April 1781, when he was regularly discharged, but he had no  written discharge.  The duty of the Soldier was his only business during the Term of his enlistment, and the Guard he believes were what are called State Troops - The Applicant also says that the evidence he
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has [illegible word] is so far as he knows the best evidence he has in his power - It is true Lieut. Laren Turney is now living and his testimony might be procured were he capable of giving it, but unfortunately for him and me, his mind is gone, he has by age or infirmity lost his Memory and recollection. Were he capable of giving testimony the applicant would gladly have availed himself of it , as a more fortunate circumstance in his Family. The declarant says that he was born in Fairfield in Connecticut, the place where he now resides, the 24th day of February 1761. He has no mind of his age. He resides in said Fairfield at the time he enlisted and he says that he has always resided there. He is acquainted with the Honl. Roger M. Sherman & the Honl. Gidean Tomlinson of Fairfield and with Deacon A. David Indsen and James Knapp of Fairfield and many others who can testify respecting his character - And 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 Note
          [Signed]  James Penfield
Sworn to on the day and year
aforesaid before sd David Hill
Judge of the Court of Probate
for the District aforesaid -
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And the said Court hereby declars [declares] its Opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations presented by the War Department, that the above named Applicant James Penfield, was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Oliver Sykes, who has subscribed one of the preceding Certificates is a methodist Clergyman at Jinsint [?] Station in Fairfield, Weston & parts adjassent [adjacent]  to Connecticut, and that Daniel Judson & James Knapp residents of the said Town of Fairfield, are credible Persons and their statements are entitled to entire credit - The Persons who enlisted the other two preceding Certificates
        [Signed]  Daniel Hill  Judge of Probate

I Daniel Hill Jun Clerk of the County Probate for the District of Fairfield of said Connecticut - do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of James Penfield for a Pension     In testimony on which I have hereto set my hand and Seal of Office at Fairfield aforesaid this 21st day of November AD 1833 -
   [Signed] David Hill Jr  Clerk

                                    [Seal affixed here]
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State of Connecticut Js District of Fairfield November 18th -1833
I Ebenezer Bulkley a resident of the District and State aforesaid aged Sixty Seven years, being first duly sworn according to Law, do testify and say that I am well acquainted with James Penfield of said district and that having been born and brought up in the same neighborhood with him and know him to be a man of the strictest truth and veracity, and believe him to be Seventy two years of age, and I know that he served as Guard at the Battery at Black Rock as a Soldier, in the times of the Revolutionary War -  I shant think he served then as much as a year. I frequently saw him there at that time and knew him from personal observation that he served then as a Soldier of the Guard, having been frequently at the Battery during the time, and I served then as a Substitute for my Father some time in the course of the War of the Revolution -according to the best of my recollection the time Mr. James Penfield served at the battery was in 1780, or 1781 - I have always resided in the same district of Fairfield -
        [Signed]  Ebon Bulkley
Sworn to and Subscribed on the day
and year aforesaid before 
David Hill Judge of the Court
of Probate for the District aforsaid
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State of Connecticut Js District of Fairfield November 15th 1833
I Sarah Hubbell a resident of said district and State first being duly sworn according to Law do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Mr. James Penfield of said Fairfield, having known and been acquainted with him from my youth up to this time.  I believe him to be seventy two years of age. I was born & brought up at Black Rock in said Fairfield within about one hundred rods of the Battery - and the year after Fairfield was burnt by the British in the time of the revolutionary War. I perfectly well remember that Mr. James Penfield belonged to the Guard at the Battery at said Black Rock.  He used to be frequently at my Father's house, being so near, and I used to see and converse with him almost daily. The length of time he was there, I cannot positively recollect, but I remember he was there in the summer time and in the winter time and there was a guard kept at the said Battery most of the War.
    [Signed] Sarah Hubbell
Sworn to and subscribed in
the day & year aforesaid
before David Hill Judge
pf Probate for the District afsd
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State of Connecticut Js District of Fairfield 
Nov. 21st - 1833
I David Hill Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforsaid, do hereby certify that Ebonezer Bulkley and Sarah Hubbell, the Persons who have subscribed and sworn to the preceding Depositions are credible Persons and that their depositions are entitled to entire credit.
      [Signed[ Daniel Hill Judge of
                     Probate for the District of
                 Fairfield aforsaid -

I Daniel Hill Jun Clerk of the County Probate for the District of Fairfield aforsaid, do hereby certify that Daniel Hill who has subscribed the forgoing Certificate is Judge of Probate of Fairfield, aforsaid and that the signing signature of his name is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of Office at Fairfield aforsaid, this 21st day of November AD 1833
   [Signed] David Hill Jr. Clerk

                                                      [Stamp
                                                        affixed
                                                        lower right]
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             8832
Mary Penfield
          Cont
       Act 7th July 38


Admitted
    1 year
    Priv

  $40  per an.


Isaac Sherman
              Bridgeport
                   Cont.
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prior to his leaving the Service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four - Viz at the time above stated. That said James Penfield drew a pension of $40. per Annum the balance f which from Sept 4 1842 to December 11t 1842 She has drawn as his widow and that she still remains his widow
                                                       her
                                           Mary     X    Penfield
                                                      mark

Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before me
                [Signed] Smith Tweady Judge
                                                  of Probate 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that sd Mary Penfield is the Widow of James Penfield a Revolutionary Soldier.
                   [Signed]   Smith Tweady
                                                     Judge
Attest.  Mark Moore Clerk

I Mark Moore Clerk of the Court aforsaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the aplication [application] of Mary Penfield for a pension & I further certify that Isaac Sherman is a Justice of the Peace in and for sd County duly qualified as such & that this signature to the Deposition of William L Peet hereto annexed is genuine. Given under my hand Seal of Office this 31 Day of March AD 1843 & I further certify that Samuel A Nichols is a Justice of the Peace for sd County qualified as such & that his signature to that Deposition to be  [illegible] genuine
       [Signed] Mark Moore  Clerk
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                                    Mark Moore Clerk

Fairfield Fairfield County  State of
Connecticut, March 7th 1843.
I hereby declare I am the regular Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Fairfield Connecticut, and, as such, the records of said Church are in my custody and that the first volume of said records there is a writing in the words and figures following to wit.
   "James Penfield Junr and Mary Tucker was married 24th Decr. 1786 -
     Pr Andrew Eliot V D M"
and I further declare that the said Andrew Eliot was the regular Pastor of the aforesaid Church at the date of the foregoing extract and that according to any best knowledge and belief the original of which it is a copy of
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William S. Peet of Bridgeport in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, 53 years of age Deposeth and Saith that, Mary Penfield of Fairfield in sd County is the mother of Deponents wife and that her husband was James [word inserted] Penfield late of sd Fairfield and that said James Penfield was a Pensioner of the United States on the Roll of the Connecticut agency and that said James Penfield died in said Town of Fairfield ad I verily believe on the 11t Day of December 1842.   I was present at the funeral but did not see him die but have no doubt of the fact, that he died on the Day aforesaid, and I further testify and say that his widow the said Mary Still remains the widow of sd James Penfield-
                       [Signed]  W L Peet

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield} Js Bridgeport
March 29th 1843 personally appeared William L Peet and Subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above Deposition before me who I certify is a Credible witness well known to me
            [Signed]  Isaac Sherman
                                     Justice of Peace
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[Postal cancellation stamp in upper left corner of envelope]
   BRIDGEPORT                       FREE                                                                             
          JUL 
           17
       J. L. Edwards Esq.
             Comr of Pensions
                    Washington
                               City
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Repo.                                                              272
           Connecticut
Mary Penfield
widow of James Penfield
who was a private
in the Connecticut line
for 1 year

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
    40.- Dollars  _____________
Cents per annum, to commence on 
the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the
10th day of June 1843
and sent to
Isaac Sherman
   Bridgeport
          Conn.

   [Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 74.
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Reported

Connecticut 7214
    Mary Penfield
widow of James Penfield
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 
and who died on the 11th December 1842 
of Fairfield Co. in the State of Connecticut 
who was a Private in the company 
commanded by Captain Jarvis __ of the
regt. commanded by ________________in 
the Connt.  line for 1 year

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 40 Dollars ----
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd day of
May1843, and sent to Isaac
Sherman, Bridgeport, Connt.

Arrears to the 4thof March, 1841 $200-

                                        [Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by D. Brown   Clerk
Book A. Vol 1, Page 205
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                    State of Connecticut
                                 Fairfield County
J.L. Edwards Esq                              Bridgeport   July 17 1848
Sir. I sent you the declaration of Caroline
Matilda Wheeler, Mary Penfield, Mary Noit & Huldah Farlow for Pensions under Act of Feb 2 1848. Please send the certificates to me.
                      Yours Respectfully
                              Isaac Sherman
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    J. L. Edwards Esq
            Washington
                         City
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Revy   WIDOW, etc.
   File No.  26,290
Mary Penfield
Widow of
James Penfield
Priv Rev War

Act Feb 2nd 1848
Index:- Vol P, Page 125.
   [Arrangement of 1870.]
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Feby. 4/98. James_A. Pen-
field - Bridgeport, Conn.
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                                          FIRST DEPUTY
                                           JAN 24 1898
                                        COMMISSIONER
153 John St.
                       Bridgeport, Conn.   Jany 22 1898
 J. L. Davenport Esq.
     Acting Comr.                        
Depart-Interior -Bureau Pensions   Revolutionary
         Washington D. C.
         
        [Two stamps are at right of above address]
O. W. & N. DIV.    Attention and reply through desk
JAN 27 1898             J.L. Davenport
CHIEF'S DESK             First Deputy Commissioner.

Dear Sir,
                           Will you kindly give me such
information as may be in possession of your department regarding James Penfield of Fairfield, Ct., as pertaining to his enlistment in the Revolutionary service and as as Pensioner and whether the pension which was continued to his wife subsequent to Dec 11 1844, was in the name of Polly Penfield  as she was usually called or Mary which I think was her real name?
    The above named were my grandparents.  
My daughters are desirous of connecting themselves with the Daughters of the American Revolution and I wish for them as early a reply as possible.
                                        Very Resply Yours
                                          James A Penfield.
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James Penfield


about
    1 year private
          $ 40

Hon G Tomlinson
            Senate
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                                   War Department
                                   Pension Office
                                    December 12th 1833
Sir:
Mr. James Penfield claims to have entered into the Coast Guard at Fairfield in April 1780 and served an entire year under Capt Isaac Jarvis. It seems to be sufficiently established that the claimant served in 1780, but as the amount charged in the books of the pay table for the pay and rations of Capt. Jarvis' Company render it very doubtful whether it could have been in service the whole year, and as no evidence accompanies the claim, upon that point, a decision is suspended until some testimony as to the actual duration of his service shall be transmitted.  The papers are placed on file.

                               I have the honor to be
                                    Your Obedient Servant
                                           J. L. Edwards

Hon G Tomlinson
    Senate U.S.
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               J. L. Edwards Esq
                      Washington City
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                                    State of Connecticut
                                    County of Fairfield
J. L. Edwards Esq            Bridgeport  July 14 1848
   Sir I sent you herewith the pension applications under Act of Feb 2d 1848 of Abigail Pool, Sally Beardslee, Eunice Blake, Huldah Beardslee, Molly Smith & Phoebe Nichols. Please send these certificates to me -
                              Yours Respectfully
                                     Isaac Sherman
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                      Bridgeport  Cont.
                                March 31t 1843

J. L. Edwards Esq.
                  Sir  I sent you the 
application of Widow Mary Penfield.  
Please send her certificate to me.
                          Yours Respectfully
                                    Isaac Sherman
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                                                              Cont
                           Bridgeport March 31 1843

J. L. Edwards Esq
                          Sir. I sent you the 
application of the Widow Mary Penfield
Please send her certificate to me.

                 Yours Respectfully
                        Isaac Sherman
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               113
[First word and part of second word are illegible] 
                                   .... sation under
                            act of 7th July 1838. 


Isaac Sherman
    Agent
Bridgeport, Connn.
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield} Js  Bridgeport
On this 25 day of March AD 1843 personally appeared before me Isaac Sherman a Justice of the Peace in and for sd Fairfield County, Mary Penfield, a Resident of Fairfield in said County aged 77 years who being first duly Sworn according to law, doth on her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed on the 3 of March 1843 granting pensions to certain widows [word inserted] of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of James Penfield who was a private Soldier in sd Service and the Annual amount of Pension which he received was forty Dollars.  That She has this day made her declaration to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed July7h 1838 and Resolution approved August 16h 1842 for a Pension under said acts & Resolution and She now makes this declaration to obtain the benefits of said Act of the 3 of March 1843. She further declares that She is Still a widow of James Penfield
                                              her
                                   Mary   X   Penfield
                                           mark
Sworn to and Subscribed
on the Day and year
above written before me
and I certify that the name Widow was [illegible] before execution and that said Mary is personally known to me to be the widow of sd James Penfield.
  [Signed]  Isaac Sherman Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield  Js   Bridgeport
   I Mark Moore Clerk of the Court of Probate within and for the District of Bridgeport in sd County & State do hereby certify that Isaac Sherman is a Justice of the Peace in and for the said Fairfield County duly commissioned & qualified as such and that his signature to the foregoing declaration of Mary Penfield is genuine
                              Sworn under my hand 
[A seal                    and Seal of Office this 29th
is                            day of March  AD 1843.
affixed                       Attest Mark Moore Clerk
here]