Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 38107, Hamet Achmet, Conn.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
Achmet, Hamet
NUMBER
S 38107
CONTENTS [empty]
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16.611
Connecticut
Hamet Achmet
of Bridgeport in the state of Conn who was a drummer in the regiment commanded by Colonel Meigs of the Conn Line for the term of three years war inscribed on the roll of Conn at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 28 of June 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 of March 1820 and [illegible] Hon. Gideon Tomlinson, House of Reps
Arrears to 4th of March     1820  161.83
Semi-anl all'ce ending Sept 1820      48
                                            total $209.83
{Revolutionary claim Act 18th March 1818}
[handwritten] 
Continued on the roll under the law of the 1 May 1820. Notification on part to [illegible] July 1820. Middletown Ct
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Hamet Achmet Jr
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I Pierpont Edwards district judge of the district judge of Connecticut do certify that it appears fully to my entire satisfaction that Hamet Achmet who made and subscribed the declaration contained in the annexed [illegible], did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in his said declaration and I now transmit the proceedings & testimony had before me in his case to the [illegible] of the department of war pursuant to an act of Congress in such case made and provided - Said proceedings and testimony are contained in the annexed [illegible] July 23rd 1819
Pierpont Edwards
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District of Connecticut
On this 28 day of June 1818 Hamet Achmet a coloured man now residing in Bridgeport in said District and under oath declares before Pierpont Edwards District Judge of the United States for the District of Connecticut in which District the declarant now resides and for more than seven years has resided last past [illegible] resided that about two years before the capture of Lord Cornwallis and his army by the army of the United States of America and France at Yorktown in Virginia the declarant enlisted in to the service of the United States as a drummer in Captain Troops Company Colonel Crawfords Regiment in the Pennsylvania line on the Continent establishment of the army of the United States for the tenure of the continuance of the war of the revolution and that the declarant faithfully served the United States in said Company and regiment as a drummer from the time of his said enlistment until the end of the war of the revolution aforesaid when he was he was ^from said service^ [deleted words] honorably discharged but whether in writing or not the declarant does not remember but knows [deleted words] that he had a writing from General [illegible] is lost and that the declarant now has the [illegible] shirt which he used & the cap which he wore while so in said service
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The Declarant further saith that he was at the siege and capture of Lord Cornwallis as aforesaid and that he makes the foregoing declaration that he may be placed on the pension list of the United States in pursuance of an Act of Congress approved March 28th 1818 and that he is a resident citizen of the United States and that by reason of his reduced circumstances in his life he is in need of assistance from his county for his support.
            his
Hamet  X Achmet
            mark

District of Connecticut on the 28th day of June 1818 personally came before me Pierpont Edwards District Judge of said district the above named Hamet Achmet and did make his  mark to the foregoing declaration and having been duly sworn did make oath that the said  declaration is true - Pierpont Edwards
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[illegible]
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District of Connecticut ss I  Pierpont Edwards District Judge of said district do certify that I am now and for twelve years [illegible] have well known the aforesd Hamet Achmet and that he is a very poor negro and by reason of his reduced circumstances in life does [illegible] the assistance of his country for support
Pierpont Edwards
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District of Connecticut ss I Pierpont Edwards District Judge of said District do certify that I am now and for twelve year [illegible] have well known the aforesd Hamet Achmet and that he is  a very poor negro and by reason of his reduced circumstances in life does [illegible] the assistance of his country for support
Pierpont Edwards
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District of Connecticut ss
On this 30th day of October 1819. I Hamet Achmet of Bridgeport in said district do before Pierpont Edwards District Judge of said district on oath declare that I did insist [enlist] into a company commanded by captain Throop in Col Return Jonathan Meigs regiment in the Connecticut Line in the [illegible] establishment in the revolutionary war as a drummer for the term of the [illegible] and faithfully served out the term of my inlistment [enlistment] in said regiment and [illegible] I was discharged; and I do further declare that I was not in Col Crawford's regiment in the Pennsylvania line [illegible], but that [Joseph Backus who [illegible] up my said declaration must have misunderstood me - in the course of my narration to him Jos Backus I did mention to him
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that was none[?] at the quarters of [torn page] Col Crawford at a place called Maidenhead between Princeton and Trenton, when probably  [illegible] that I belonged to Col Crawfords regiment.
           his
Hamet x Achmet
          mark
October 30th 1819 sworn before me
Pierpont Edwards District of [illegible]
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District of Connecticut
On this 3rd day of July 1819 before me Pierpont Edwards District Judge of the United States for said District came Captain Sammuel Fayerweather of Weston in said District and a respectable citizen then and as such well known to me who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he served is a private and noncommissioned officer in the army of the United States on the Continental establishment in the war of the revolution from the year 1777 to the end of said war and that while in the army the deponent often saw the declarant Hamet Achmet then belonging to the Continental army that the declarant was then young and spoke the english language but in differently had that it is five or six years since the deponent saw the declarant Hamet at Bridgeport but immediately recognized him as the young negro soldier he [illegible] in the army and that the deponent has since 
[possible missing line] go into winter quarters I saw the same" little black drummer," who is now before me marching with said division of said army and
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often seen and concerned with said Hamet and has no hesitation in verifying that he is the same continental soldier which he so knew in the army though to what line regiment or company said Hamet belonged said deponent cannot recollect but knows that said Hamet continued in the continental army in the military service as much as three years at the least and til near the end of said war. The deponent further says that he saw said Hamet at Valley Forge and Brunswick Philipsburg the highlands Amboy and many other places and that in the spring of the year after the army quitted Valley Forge at the River Schuykill this deponent while [illegible] said Hamet who [illegible] to save his allowance of spirits and sell [illegible] his canteen loose to the no small announcement of the soldiers and that said Hamet at a little after to retaliate on the deponent attacked him while lying in his tent by attempting to butt the deponent with his head and received upon it several strokes of the deponents [illegible]
Saml [Samuel] Fayerweather
District of Connecticut ss July 3d 1819 Sworn before me [illegible] Edwards District Judge of [illegible]
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[illegible]
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I certify that Samuel Fayerweather, who made and [illegible] the foregoing deposition is a creditable and disinterested witness
Pierpont Edwards District Judge of Connecticut [illegible]
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go into winter quarters. I saw the same "little black drummer" who is now before me marching with said division of said army and
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State of Connecticut
Fairfield County Fairfield July 22 1819
I Daniel Raymond of the Town and County of aforesaid do testify and say that a black man is now present before me calling himself Hamet Achmet, and that I will remember being the same person now before me at the taking of Stony Point when I was and that he then belonged to the continental army and to the division of said army which under the command of Gen [General] Wayne captured the Fort at said Stony Point and entered the said Fort with us and that in the winter following on the 2nd day of January when the division of the continental army to which I then belonged was moving from a place called Second River in the State of New Jersey to [illegible] in said sate in order to go into winter quarters. I saw the same little black drummer who is now before me marching with said division of said army and
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it appears to me that when the army under the command of Gen Washington was marching to Yorktown in Virginia I saw this same little black drummer marching with said army and I think I saw said black drummer with said army at Trenton in said state of New Jersey when the soldiers belonging to said army received a part of the pay due to them at that time in specie; which was brought from France and that I saw him among the crowd assembled around the waggons [wagons] which brought said specie  to said Trenton & that I am entirely confident that said "little black drummer" served in said continental army a longer period than nine months but I cannot state when he was enlisted or at what time he was discharged. 
Daniel Raymond

Sworn before me
July 22, 1819
Gideon Tomlinson Jus. of Peace
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State of Connecticut
Fairfield County Sept 9th 1819
I Daniel Raymond of the Town and County of Fairfield being duly sworn do testify and say in addition to my deposition heretofore sworn in support of the claim of Hamet Achmet to [illegible] the pension list of the United States to whose declaration this deposition and the one which I have heretofore given an annexed that said Hamet belonged to the company under the command of Capt. Throop in the regiment commanded by Col. Return J Meigs in the Connecticut Line in the continental establishment and I do further say that the statement which I am informed is made in the declaration of said Hamet that he belonged to the Pennsylvania [crossed out?] line must have been made by mistake, as I distinctly recollect that the little black drummer
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now before me belonged to the Connecticut line & was in the regiment of Col Meigs to which I then belonged & I further say not.
Daniel Raymond
Sworn before me
PielumTomlinson Jus. of Peace
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I Pierpont Edwards District Judge of the District of Connecticut do certify that Gideon Tomlinson, whom the within deposition was taken is a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Fairfield and that I am well acquainted with him and his handwriting and that said deposition is in the handwriting of said Tomlinson and that the name Gideon Tomlinson subscribed to the caption of said deposition is the [illegible] handwriting of said  Tomlinson July 23 1819 Pierpont Edwards

District of Connecticut ss I Pierport Edwards District Judge of said District do certify that the forenamed Daniel Raymond who made the foregoing deposition is a disinterested  and credible witness. Pierpont Edwards
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Hamet Achman [Achmet] a colored man drummer Penn line Col Crawford [illegible]
Colonel named Crawford belonged to the Pennsylvania Line, one of that name served the regiment a line; [illegible] does not appear on a role of either the State. The claim cannot be submitted without positive proof having served in the continental army and the regiment and line must be designated.
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District of Connecticut
On this 23rd day of October AD [illegible] before me Pierpont Edwards, District Judge for said District came Joseph Backus of Bridgeport in said  District who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he drew the declaration of Hamet Achmet foregoing and that it was drawn  by this deponent according as he understood from the said Hamet who is a native of Africa and whose language it then was and still is very difficult for the deponent to understand & in a solution to the difficulty often in such cases there is a [illegible] in the speech of said Hamet and a suddenness & [illegible] in his attempting to communicate his ideas from one thing or subject to another rarely to be met with And that though this deponent then understood the said Hamet to state that he [illegible] the revolutionary war belonged to a Colonel Crawford's regiment in the Pennsylvania Line. He is ^was^  satisfied that he might have misunderstood the said Hamet on that particular and  that he might  therefore meant to be understood as belonging to Colonel Meig's regiment in the Connecticut Line. As the deponent well remembers that in the course of his story he often [illegible] the names of different officers in the [deleted word] New England states as well as those in the Middle states
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and related many things all confirmatory of the fact of his having belonged to the Army.  Further the Deponent saith that soon after the return of Hamets application for a pension from the War office to Judge Edwards with a note upon it that [following phrase underlined] there was no Colonel Crawford in the Pennsylvania Line.

This deponent met Hament and informed him that his application was in question and the reason and that he then strictly replied [following 2 sentences underlined] I did not say Colonel Crawford.  I said Colonel Meiggs Regiment.

I then asked what colonel Meiggs.  He replied [next 4 words underlined] Colonel Meiggs of Middletown and as I did not quite understand him, he pointed towards Middletown in Connecticut & said [next 3 words underlined] by the River.  I then asked if he meant Colonel Meiggs of Middletown in Connecticut River and he replied that he did.  And from the whole this Deponent is satisfied that the description in the original declaration of said Hamet of the Colonel Regiment & Line was a mistake of the Deponent and that he did in fact serve in the Regiment of Colonel Meiggs in the Connecticut line and meant so to state in his declaration.
Joseph Backus

Diftrict of Connecticut & Sworn before me 
Jhn W Edwards  Diftrict Judge of said Diftrict
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[all rows below are of cut off cropped written text]
Josep
Judge
adep
cirl
Difte
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Joseph Backus who made and subscribed the foregoing deposition is a disinterested and credible witness certified by me  Puch Edwards
District Judge of Connecticut District
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Joseph Backus who made and subscribed the foregoing deposition is a disinterested and credible witness certified by me Puch Edwards
District Judge of Connecticut District
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[transcription reads vertically downward, not horizontally as it should be]
[top column] [back of printed text, illegible]
[middle column] [written sideways] 101
Hamet Achmet
Middletown
No. 16,611
P. 28 Mar. 1820
[signature]
[bottom column] [written right side up] I Jno Fick Clerk of
the C. of Common Plus Frt Co aforesaid,
do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath and Schedule annex-
ed, are truly copied from the record of said Court. And I do
further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the
total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid 
Schedule, is Eleven -
dollars and Seventy one cents.
IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on [text cuts off here]
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State and District of Connecticut, SS.
ON this 21st day of June 1820...personally appeared
in open Court, before the indp. county Court holden at Middletown
within and for the county of Middlesex in said State, on the
20th day of June..1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding ac-
cording to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of
its proceedings, and having power of fine and imprisonment, Hamet Achmet a Black
man aged about 62 - years, resident in the town of Middletown in said
State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolu-
tionary war, as follows: That he the said Hamet Achmet enlisted for the term [struck through and replaced with] period, of [struck through and replaced with] during which he was housed on the [struck through and replaced with] continue day of [struck through and replaced with] on the Spring
in [struck through and replaced with] of the year 1780 as nearly as he can recollect in New Dantown in the State of Connecticut 
in the company commanded by Captain - - Throop in the regiment com-
landed by Colonel Betunen Jerrigs in the line of the State of Connecticut
on the continental establishment.: That he continued to serve in the said
corps until some time in June 1783 - - - - when he was discharged
from the said service in Wilmington in the State of Delaware
That he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the law of the 18th of March 1818, as nearly as he
can recollect, having no minutes [struck through], on the 28th day of June 1818 - ;
and had transmitted to him a Certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the Department of War N.16614
being old & ignorant he refers to his former declaration & to the representa-
ion No. [crossed out and replaced with] of the Hon. Pierpoint Edwards both meet on file in the office.
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 
1818 ; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or
any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of
Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the 
United States in the Revolutionary War;" and that I have not, nor has any person, in trust for me, any
property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained
in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
I do further solemnly swear, that I was in the battles of Germantown and at the
Capture of Cornwallis -
That I am by occupation a Day Labourer
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That the number of my family residing with me is Two, and their names
and ages are as follows:
Jenny my wife aged - - - 47 -
Anna child aged -- 6 -
That my wife is much out of heart and
that I thus charge Blood and am able
to Labour more to in consequence of
a wound received at the Battle of German-
-town and that my sole Dependance is on
my Pension
Hamet Ahmet [signature]
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SCHEDULE annexed to the Declaration and Oath above made and taken before
the [blank] Court aforesaid.
1 Drum which I had in the army  - - - $6.00
1 old Sword - - - - - - - - - .50 [fifty cents]
2 Poi 55 ets 3 knives and 3 forks 16 - - - - - 41
1 whateh $4 - 1 Looking Leafs 50 ct - - - - 4.50
[indented to the end of the line so it's below all of these listed numbers] $11.41 [circled for emphasis]
Hamet Ahmet [signature]
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101
Hamet Achmet
Middletown
No 16.611
Issd 28 March 1820

Continued

[upside down]
I Jno Fisk Clerk of the Ct of Common Pleas [illegible] Co. aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and Schedule annexed, are truly copied from the record of said Court. And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is Eleven dollars and Seventy one cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on the 21 day of June 1820.
Jno Fisk Clerk of said Court
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left column] ank [possibly the word Rank but cut off] F.
. Conn
M.E.L.
[center column] 3 8  107
INVALID.
Revy [sic]
File No. 38107
Hamet Achmet
Drummer Rev War
Act: 18 March 18
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 2
[ Arrangement of 1870. ] [sic]
[right column] July 18/95 Hist. to Fr
Starr. Middletown
Page 34

350 ocd case.
____________
Hon. M. Tomlinson
H.R.
________________
Result of Recission
on this case to be
noted on Index of
old claim recd.

admitted
___________________

[following written vertically across the above on original]

Honorable John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington
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[following written vertically across the above on original]

350 ocd case.
____________
Hon. M. Tomlinson
H.R.
________________
Result of Recission
on this case to be
noted on Index of
old claim recd.

admitted
___________________


[following written horizontally on original]

Honorable John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington
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Bridgeport June 20th 1820
Sir,
[illegible] more [illegible] papers in the case of Hamet Achmet. On perusing them you will find, that he has procured important additional proof.
Colo. Return Jonathan Miegs is the father of the Postmaster General, he is on the Middletown department & [illegible] where in the you than [illegible]. The regiment was a Connecticut Continental regiment, and was called the leather cap regiment from the circumstance that they wore "leather caps" and not hats. Hamet now has his leather cap and his drum with the distinct mark of the United States painted on them. His captain [illegible] whom I knew well has been dead many years. Colo Meigs is I presume alive.
I am with great respect
Your obed sevt Pierpont Edwards
Honorable John C. Calhoun
Page 37

[top center]
Hamet Achmet
[illegible]
Hamet Achmet
of Bridgeport
Meigs Com. Regt
com:. 28 June 1818
[bottom center upside down]
The deposition of Jeffrey James
to be improved before any Courts of Record
in the state of Connecticut by Hamet Achmet
a soldier of the Revolution who is an applicant 
for a pension - which he claims under a 
law of the United States making provisions 
for persons in the land and naval service 
of the United States in the Revolutionary 
War taken & [illegible] up by me
Samuel B. Gunn Just of Peace

[left margin]
[top line cut off]
and for the county of [illegible] 
[illegible] names [illegible] B Green  [illegible] to the 
[illegible]
[illegible]

[right margin]
I certify [illegible] within deposed 
Jeffery James is a disinterested and 
credible witness [illegible]
[illegible]
Page 38

I Jeffery James of Milford, in the County of New Haven, State of Connecticut of Lawful age Depose & say - that I was a soldier in the Continental Army - or Army of the United States - in the War between the United States and Great Britain, usually called the Revolutionary War. --
and that I belonged to a Regiment commanded by Colonel Jonathan Meigs - & served in a company under the command of Capt Charles Pond - & further, I Depose & say that I knew, & was well acquainted with one Hamet Achmet ^a man of Colour, who also belonged to the same Regiment with myself and was a Drummer in said Regiment in a company which was commanded by a Capt Stroop whose Christian name if I ever knew it I have forgotten - & further I also Depose & say that I am positive that the said Hamet served in the said Corps a full year & more & that the said Hamet Achmet is now before & with me & by his particular request this affidavit is made - & further say not
his mark [hand drawn X] Jeffery James
State of Connecticut:  
County of New Haven ss
Milford Oct 28th AD 1819
Then personally appeared Jeffery James the Deponent above named - and made oath to the truth of the above Deposition & signed the same with his mark. - the said Jeffery James is a person with whom I am well acquainted & have known him well for thirty years - & I know him to be a Witness to whom credit ought to be given
Attest
Samuel B. Gunn Just of Peace
Page 39

[Top]
District of Connecticut October 30, 1819
I do certify that  the above  named 
Samuel B. Gunn is a Justice of the Peace [illegible] 
and for the county of New Haven and that the 
name Samuel B Gunn [illegible]
[illegible] of the written deposition is his [illegible] 
hand writing [illegible]
[illegible][top center]
Hamet Achmet
[illegible]

[Center]
Hamet Achmet
of Bridgeport
Meigs Com. Regt
com:. 28 June 1818
[bottom center upside down]
The deposition of Jeffrey James
to be improved before any Courts of Record
in the state of Connecticut by Hamet Achmet
a soldier of the Revolution who is an applicant
for a pension - which he claims under a
law of the United States making provisions
for persons in the land and naval service
of the United States in the Revolutionary
War taken & [illegible] up by me
Samuel B. Gunn Just of Peace

[bottom]

I certify that the within deponent
Jeffery James is a disinterested and
credible witness [illegible]
[illegible]
Page 40

[stamp] PENSION OFFICE U.S. A JUL 6 1895
[stamp] U.S.B.P. LAW JUL 9 1895 RECEIVED
[stamp] OLD WAR & NAVY JUL 13 1895 FILES
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Law A + C
Frank Farnfworth [Farnsworth] Starr,
Genealogift [Genealogist] and Family Hiftorian [Historian],
Middletown, Conn.
[stamps]
Member of 
N.E. Historic Genealogical Society,
Connecticut Historical Society,
Wisconsin Historical Society, etc.
July 4, 1895
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
I wish to obtain for
historical purposes, copies of the affida-
vits filed in support of the claims for
pension of Hamet Achmet of this town
who was placed on the pension rolls
March 08, 1820. Also, of Benjamin
Bornwell, a resident of the State of New
York, + who was granted a pension under
the Act of 1818 for services as a private
in the Connecticut troops during the 
Revolutionary War.
Respectfully yours
Frank Farnsworth Harr.
[stamp]