Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32521, for Stephen Simmons, Connecticut
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Conn. Simmons, Stephen S32521.
CONTENTS
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Illinois 19.692
Stephen Simmons of Walache in the State of Ills. who was a Private in the Co commanded by Captain Stillwell of the Regt commanded by Col. Dugrays in the Connect. line for 7 mos & 26 days.-
$26.22/100
Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois at the rate of 26 Dollars 22 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Aug 1833 and sent to Hiram Bell Mt. Cannel W.Co. Ills.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - 52.44
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 - 13.11
$65.55
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk
Book E. Vol. 8 Page 62
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and the [illegible] whose affidavit he obtained had been long intimately acquainted with him between thirty and forty years
Stephen Simmons
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of April 1833 Ss  George M Higgins }
State of Illinois }
Wabash County } Ss I Hiram Bell Clerk of the County Commis
12.071
Stephen Simmons
Application for a Pension
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State of Illinois } Ss
Wabash County } On this 14th day of September 1832
Personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable William Wilson Judge of the Circuit Court of said County now sitting Stephen Simmons a Resident of the County aforesaid aged sixty seven years in November the 7th 1832 who first being 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 the 7th of June 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
I am a native of Connecticut born in the County of Windham & town of Ashford in 1765 I have a record of [illegible] [illegible] residence I substituted for John Baggor in the year 1781 some time in the summer and on my way to camp I went through Hartford and from there to Danbury which had been burned and I joined the army at Pitskill I entered Col. Durgays Regiment in Capt Stilwels or Stillmans Company I do not remember the names of many of my field nor Staff Officers I remember Col Swift Lieut Col Grosvenor and Capt Durgey one reason perhaps that I do not Remember more of my officers names is I did not lie in Camp much but was the most part of my time on scouts I requested my Orderly Sergeant to put me on Scouts which request was granted, the Last scout I was on I was commanded by Capt Durgey between New York & Newark, in east Jersey I returned to Camp the Army had marched to Winter quarters at Fishkill The snow was from two to three feet deep and when my time was out Lieut Grosvenor gave me my Discharge But I do not know what has became of it after my return home my Father name was Able Simmons was Drafted I took his place and served two months at Graton fort the Commanders name was McClannel I think and his son was
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Adjutant the officers did not quarter in the Garrison and it was seldom I saw them the Adjutant to the charge of the garrison I got my Discharge in the spring of 1782 what has become cannot tell I am the youngest of my father family there is none of them alive to my knowledge I have wrote to Esqr Steel of N York and George Martin of Connecticut but have got no answer if they are Dead there is none that I can prove my services by to my knowledge my residence since has been 4 years in Con 21 in New York 10 in Ohio 2 Verginia and 15 in Illinois I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State Stephen Simmons
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year Aforesaid
Hiram Bell Clk
We John Higgins a clergyman Residing in the County of Wabash and State of Illinois and George W. Higgins Residence in (the same) hereby certy that we are well acquainted W Stephen Simmons who has subscribed to the above declaration that We believe him to be the age of Sixty Seven years that he has stated That he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid }
Hiram Bell Clk
John Higgins
George W. Higgins
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion of the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
that the above named Applicant was a
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Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that John Higgins George W Higgins who has signed the proceeding certificate are residents residing in said County and is a credible person and the Statement is entitled to credit
Wm Wilson
I Hiram Bell Clerk of the Circuit Court of Wabash County State of Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Simmons for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 14th day of Sept 1832
Hiram Bell
State of Illinois }
Wabash County } ss Personally appeared before me the undersigned
a Justice of Peace in and for said County, Stephen Simmons 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 the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, as a private in the Summer of 1781 I entered the service, and served five months and twenty six days. I next entered the service in the month of February 1782, and served two months, and for such service I claim a pension
And this affiant further says that the reason he did not get a clergyman affidavit, is there was none in attendance at Court from his immediate neighborhood
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and the clergyman whose affidavit he obtained had been long intimately acquainted with him between thirty and forty years
Stephen Simmons
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of April 1833 {Ss} George W, Higgins } JP
12.071 Stephen Simmons Application for a Pension
State of Illinois }
Wabash County } ss I Hiram Bell Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of said County, do certify that George W. Higgins Esq before whom the above affidavit was made was at the time of taking the same, and now is an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified according to law
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court at Mount Carmel this 27th day of April 1833,
Hiram Bell Clerk
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12.071.
Stephen Simmons
Illinois
19.692
Re dun 4.5
Adm 7 months
& 26 days-
23.33
2.22
67
26.22
Hiram Bell
Mount Carmel
Wabash County
Ill
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BRIEF in the case of Stephen Simmons
County of Wabash in the State of Illinois
(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? 67
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. |  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Years, Months, Days. | As a | Gen.
In 1781 substitute how long he does not state | 5 26 | | Cap Stillwell Col Durgays
substitute | 2 | | McClanie
5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Connecticut
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Neither previous non length of service are exactly specified
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payton Examining Clerk.
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April 13, 1939
BA-J/AWF
Stephen Simmons
S. 32521
Herman M. Gunn, M.D.
417430 Myers Building
Ashland, Ohio
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Steven Simmons of Connecticut, died January 18, 1835.
The record of Stephen Simmons furnished herein was obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 32521, based upon his military service in the Revolutionary War. This is the record of the only Stephen Simmons found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office. The name was searched under various spellings.
Stephen Simmons, son of Able Simmons, was born November 7, 1765 in Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut; the name of his mother is not given. He stated that he was the youngest of his father's family.
Stephen Simmons enlisted, place not shown, in the summer of 1781, served five months and twenty six days as private in Captain Stillwell's and Durkee's companies, Colonel Durkee's Connecticut regiment. He served from sometime in February, 1782, two months as substitute for his father, and was stationed at Fort Greaton.
Stephen Simmons lived after the Revolution, four years in Connecticut, twenty-one years in New York,
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and ten years in Virginia and Ohio.
Stephen Simmons was allowed pension on his application executed September 14, 1832, at which time he was living in Wabash County, Illinois, in which state he had resided about fifteen years. He died February 24, 1835.
The reference given to his father and family, are the only discernable data relative to family.
In order to obtain the name and address of the person who received the last payment of this pension, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following data-
Stephen Simmons
Certificate #19692
Issued August 14, 1833
Rate $26.22 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Illinois Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Simmons 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 declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No
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 amout of pension he is entitled? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
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? No to Clergyman yes as to other.
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
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? yes
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
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 - days, I served as a - ; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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. 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 be 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 authenticated 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 end 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.
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May 19, 1932
BA-J/ANF
Stephen Simmons
S. 32521
Mr. B. J. Walter
American Legion
Wabash Post 423
Mt. Carmel, Illinois
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Stephen Simmons, a soldier of the War of the Revolution.
The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.32251,
based upon the Revolutionary War service of Stephen Simmons.
He was the son of Able Simmons, and was born November 7, 1765 in Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut. He stated that he was the youngest of his father's family.
Stephen Simmons enlisted in the summer of 1781 and served five months and twenty-six days as a private in Captain Stillwell's and Durkee's companies in Colonel Durkee's Connecticut regiment. He served from sometime in February, 1782, two months as a substitute for his father, and was stationed at Fort Greaton.
He lived after the Revolution four years in Connecticut, twenty-one years in New York, ten years in Ohio and Virginia.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 14, 1832, then a resident of Wabash
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County, Illinois, in which state lived 15 yrs
He died February 24, 1835.
There are no family data, other than the reference to his father and family as given above,
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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HERMAN M. GUNN, M. D.
417-420 MYERS BUILDING
ASHLAND, OHIO
February 25, 1939.
only one
Director of Pension,
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I am trying to find some more information about Col. Simmons of the Revolutinary war, particularly if he is Steven simmons, born 1766, died in 1835, and married Mabel Hunt in Joplin Conn 10 / 12 / 1786. Mabel Hunt his wife was born in 1769 and died January 18 1835 having four children, Steven, Nedad, and two daughters Laura and Orenza.
From your pensioner records, can you give me any further information.
Thanking you in advance, I remain,
Very truly yours
Heman M Gunn
Herman H. Gunn,
Maj. Med. Res.
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AMERICAN LEGION
WASASH POST 422
MT. CARMEL, ILL.
April 12, 1932.
B. J. WALTER.
DEPT. OF MILITARY RECORDS
AND GRAVES REGISTRATION
The Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Please furnish us all information available of Stephen Simmons (also spelled Simmonds) who served during the war of the Revolution, and was pensioned.
The only information we have on this veteran is, that he was from Connecticut and served in the 1st regiment commanded by Colonel John Durkee.
Very truly yours,
B Walter
B. J. Walter
Dept. of Military Records and Graves Registration,
American Legion,
Wabash Post #423
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Boston Nov 6th 1900.
To the
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly furnish me with the military record of Stephen Simmons (or Simmonds) of Waldoboro, Me. who served in the Revolutionary War. He may have enlisted from Danbury which was his native place.
His wifes name was Betsey
A prompt reply will greatly oblige Nov 10 1900
yours very truly
William L. Swan
#12 High St Boston Mass
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US PENSION OFFICE
K
NOV 8 1900
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32521
Revy INVALID
File No. 32,521
Stephen Simmons
Pri, Rev War
Act June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. D, Page 368
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Nov. 10 1900-
Wm. L. Swan Boston
1932 May 19 hist to B J Walter [illegible]
1939. Apr 13 hist to Herman M Gunn MD
May
in
Walter


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