Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 826, Samuel Bidwell, Continental (Conn.) Mass.
Page 1

(3—1776)
SERVICE
Continental (Conn.)     
Mass.
Bidwell, Samuel
NUMBER
R.826
Page 2

See page 21 Regt.
Samuel Bidwell

Rejected see his letter of 2 March 1824, to Mr. Whittlesey and to Wm Larnill, 16 October 1826.

Honble
D. Chambers
House of Reps
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
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Be it remembered, that heretofore to wit at a Court of Common pleas held at the Court house in the town of Wooster within and for the County of Wayne in the State of Ohio, on the sixth day of August A.D. 1822, by and before the Honorable Alexander Harper President Judge, and David McConaghay, John Nimmon and John Patton Esquires Associate judges of said Court. - 
Samuel Bidwell of said County of Wayne Came into open Court and filed his application for a pension under the Acts of
Congress - which application is in the words & figures following, to wit,

State of Ohio}
Wayne County} ss

On the sixth day of August AD 1822 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record for said County, Samuel Bidwell aged sixty seven years, resident in said County of Wayne who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows, to wit, that he enlisted in Middletown Middlesex County and State of Connecticut on or about the first day of January 1776, in a company commanded by Captain Ebenezer Summer in a Regiment commanded by Col. ___ Willis of the Connecticut line and continued to serve in said Corps in the service of the United States
until the month of June then next following 1776, when he was transferred to a Regiment commanded by Col. Jonathan Brewer, and
continued to serve in said last mentioned Regiment in the service of the United States until the last day of January in the year 1777, when he was honorably discharged at Pickskill [Peekskill] in the State of New York.  That he was at the taking of Dorcester hill at Boston and that he has never received a pension. 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
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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"" passed on the 18th day of March 1818.  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 -

This deponent also states that he is by occupation a farmer and that by reason of sickness and infirmity he is unable to do but
very little - This deponent has a wife whose name is Christiana aged sixty four years who from infirmity and age is unable to do any thing towards her support deponent also has a daughter Cathrine aged forty five years, one son Joseph aged thirty four years who
are an incumbrance being weakly, diseased, and incapable of labour.  

Also one daughter Amanda aged eighteen with an orphan child aged four years --

Schedule of property of applicant - value
two Steers ........................30.00
One Cow  ............................9.00
One yearling heiffer.............3.00
One old Waggon..................5.00
[illegilble] of Old Iron............1.00
two, two year old Steers.....11.00
========================
$59.00
========================

Sworn to & subscribed in
Open Court this 6th August 1822
(Signed) Samuel Bidwell

Wm. Larwill Clk

Whereupon on examination of the evidence
adduced it is the opinion of the Court that the property of the
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said Samuel Bidwell returned in said Schedule is of the value of fifty nine dollars, and no more --

State of Ohio}
Wayne County} ss

I William Larwill Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of said County do hereby certify that the aforegoing is correctly copied from the records of said Court - 

In testimony whereof I hereto sign my name, and affix the seal of said County at Wooster this 14th day of January A.D. 1823.

W. Larwill Clk, C.P.W.C.
Page 6

State of Wisconsin } SS
Adams County
I A. P. Ayers Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County do hereby certify that Lacy Schoomoker the person who signed the foregoing gurat was at the time of sighing the same was an acting Justice of Peace in and for said County duly qualified according to leave to discharge the duty of said Office. Also, that I am acquainted with the heard writing of said Justice and believe the said signature to be genuine.
Witness my hand and the seal of said court at Lainey this 7th day of October A. D. 1856. 
A. P. Ayers
Clerk
Page 7

State of Wisconsin } ss  
County of Adams}        
 Personally appeared to one me a Justice of the Peace in & for the county & State aforesaid Jacob Bidwell heir of the decease Samuel Bidwell a Revolutionary Soldier Drum major in the Revolutionary who died August the 28 1836 & that the aforesaid Jacob Bidwell heir of Samuel Bidwell Connetticut [Connecticut] Regiment in the County of Middletown & town of Middletown is entitled to a pension passed by Congress the 7 of June 1832
Jacob Bidwell
Calvin Carey
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1 day of October 1836
[name illegible]
Justice of the Peace
Page 8

Mr. Fredrick D. Bidwell
State Tax Department
Albany, New York

Sir: 
In response to your letter of January 18, 1923, you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 836 it appears that Samuel Bidwell applied for pension August 6, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Wayne County, Ohio, aged sixty-seven years, and stated that he enlisted as a Private in Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut on January 1, 1776 and served until June in Captain Ebenezer Summer's Company, Colonel Samuel Wyllys' Regiment Continental Line, when he was transferred to Captain Benjamin Pollard's Company, Colonel Jonathan Brewer's Massachusetts State Regiment and served until January 31, 1777. He was at the taking of Dorchester Hill and at the battle of White Plains.
In 1833 he referred to his wife Christiana aged sixty-four years, daughter Cathrine aged forty-five years,
Page 9

son Joseph aged thirty-four years and daughter Amanda aged eighteen years with an orphan aged four years. In 1836 a son Jacob was living in Adams County, Wisconsin. Soldier died August 27, 1836.
His claim was not allowed as he did not serve nine months on the Continental Establishment as required by law of March 18, 1818, Colonel Brewer's Regiment not being on the Continental Establishment, but in the Massachusetts State Troops. 
The place of residence of solider in 1833 in Wayne County, Ohio is not stated.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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No. 827

Samuel Bidwell

P.O.
Consolidated with Same case
Service: File No. 826
January 19, 1882 InBrior

Alleges: Cause of rejection noted Fruited lives of 1857 (MMH) December-6-1922

(Sideways on page)

1922- December-6-Hist To Mary E. Higby (Mrs.  Clinton D.) MMH
1923-January 12-Hist to W. P. Bidwell aus
1923-January 16 Mrs. C. D. Higby advised sauid Bidwell only Soldier of that name MMH-etc.
1923- January 19- Hon. L. W. Fairfield advised Hist. seut M. W. P. Bidwell etc. MMH
1923- February  5- Hist. to Frederick D. Bidwell MMH
Page 11

Invalid. Rejected
No. 826

Samuel Bidwell

Alleges: Cause of rejection not on printed list of of 1852 (MMH Dec-6-1922)
Page 12

N.
Sam.l Bidwell dec'd 
Wisconsin
Calvin Cary October 30 1856
826

June 7 1832
Page 13

State of Ohio}
Wayn County ss}

Before me Abner Eddy J. P. ^for said Co personally appeared John Bivins who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that in the year 1776 he served in the Continental Service and further saith according to the best of his recollection he saw Samuel Bidwell in the Continental Service that the said Bidwell served in Captain Ebenezer Sumners Company of Infantry under the command of Col Samuel Wyllys, that he hath since been acquainted with said Bidwell and knows him to be the person who served as above stated and further this deponant saith not
John Bivins

Sworn and subscribed before me J. peace of Pike Township this 18th day of December in the year 1823, 
Abner Eddy J peace
Page 14

State of Ohio}
Wayne County} ss
William Larwill Clerk of the Court of Common
pleas of said County do hereby certify that Abner
Eddy Esq before whom the within deposition was
taken, was at the time thereof One of the Justices
of the peace for said County duly Commissioned
and qualified as such by lawful authority.
In testimony whereof I hereto sign my name
and affix the seal of said County at Wooster this 30th day of December A.D. 1823-
Wm Larwill Clk
Page 15

 I Samuel Bidwell Listed in the year 1776 in January and
and Join my Rigment in February att Roxbury in Cornal
Willises Rigment in Capt Ebeneser Sumner Company att
at Roxbury  I Listed in Middletown took poseson of
Doster hill the Britch opened a Canad the hill on a
and there was 1 in[^.] [illegible] hundred Canon ball picked up and
Caved in to the Genavel, guters the Non Morrity and Cove
som my self then the Enemy left Boston and we
went to New London and took Shinn and went
to New York and in Somtime in June I wes  transon
into Cornat Jonathan Bruers Rigment and Capt Binjon Pollands 
Company of manner, and a pay
Never got I was in New- york when the Batel was on-
Long Island and Lord Starling and 7th Sileven was
taken and I was att Kings Brige when the Retreet
out of Newyor and the Batel wes att harlam and
when thare was a experdison  on [^]Bedlow Iland and
thare was 52 men went in one bote and the Lost
time wes in the hospitle than w, bit Eleven a Lair
twe out of Capt Summers Company I wes att Wit-
plains when[illegible] Mackhayol had the Batell
a the plain there went Crumpon and from thare
to peaks Kill the our Capt Polards Company
was ordered to fishkill to Evakt Boraks 
for the New Recuts, and I worked thare   toll
My was out then I went down to return my
actvement that I Draud that wes the publi
and Git my Disgurge and I work on Month
after my time ws out and I retund hom
to my family in March 1777
NB I was in peakill when gnl Washinton took the
Hejans
Page 16

I Seth Kowls of Clarendon County of Genesee State of New York
of Lawfull age Due Deposeth and say that I lived in the
Town of Chatham County of Middlesex State of Connecticut
in the year Seventeen hundred seventy six and was nowing
to one Samuel Bidwell of Midleton County & State aforesaid
Enlisting in to the United States army Rigt. commanded by
Samuel Willis, Colonent, in the company commanded by Capt
Ebenezer Summer and I further state according to my Best
Recolection he enlisted the latter part of summer or in autum
in the year 1776 and I further State he did enlist for one year
and I well recolect he was gone from his holm about thirteen
months as had partial charge of Family and ofairs during that
period of time
and further this deponent layeth not
Hally Febrary 21st 1825
Seth Knowles
Genesee County ss
Personally appeared Before me Seth Knowls and
Subscribed his Name to the above affidavit and
mad solom oath the facts it contans are just and
true as is above written and I further state that
I have ben aquainted with Seth Knowls about
Seven years and that he is a man of Truth &
Honasitty
Hally Murray July- 21st 1825
Elijah W. Wood Justi of the Peace
Page 17

State of New York}
Genesee County} ss.    
I Chauncey L Shelden Clerk of the County of Genesee do hereby certify that Elijah W Wood before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been made was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Genesee acting under the authority of this state - and that the name subscribed to the within Certificate is in his own proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said county and subscribed my name this 9 day of May 1825
C. L. Shelden Clk
Clk for 3/

To Samuel Bidwell
Page 18

State of New York}
Otsego County} ss. 
Butler Gilbert of the Town of Laurence in said county being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he enlisted into Captain Ebenezer Sumner's Company of Infantry under the command of Coln.  Samuel Wyllys in the Connecticut line and served an said Company and Regiment aforesaid and served as first Sergeant in said Sumner's Company in the year 1776.   and ^the said deponent further saith that Samuel Bidwell enlisted is a private Soldier for and during the term of Twelve Calendar months and that he has since been acquainted with said Bidwell and knows him to be the person who served as above stated and further saith not 
Butler Gilbert
Sworn and Subscribed before me at Laurens this 3rd day of October in the year 1823.
James Boyd J. Peace
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State of New York}
Otsego County ss}
I certify that James Boyed Esq. whose name appears to the within affidavit was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said said county duly Sworn as such- Witness my   hand and the seal of said county this 7th Oct. 1828
H. Patchen
Dep. Clerk
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Honl. James Barbour
Sect of War
Washington City

Recd. Oct 1. 1826


Wooster O D Act 11
Pen  Comr
Page 21

Wooster Wayne Co Ohio
5th October 1826 -
Sir,
Samuel Bidwell an Old Revolutionary Soldier
filed his application in the Court of Common Pleas of this County
at August Term 1822, for a pension under the several acts of
Congress passed on that subject, a copy of which was made out and
duly certified and sent to your predecessor and has not yet as I
and informed been finally decided on by the war department
after his claim had been presented at the war department the
applicant was informed that proof of his service would be required
old man has accordingly procured the enclosed affidavit
and was in hopes of being able to procure others of a similar nature but
from recent information he is informed that one of his old comrades
who lately resided in the State of Illinois is decd and he despairs
of being able to procure further testimony-- Mr Bidwell is becoming
very infirm, and at his earnest solicitation I would again most
respectfully urge his claim of the bounty of his Country from my acquaintance with Mr Bidwell I am well satisfied that the statement by
him made of the services rendered is perfectly true, and that he is in
fact a fit object of charity-- Mr Bidwells application remains
on the files of the department- very
respectfully
Your Obt Serv
Wm Larness

How J. Barbour
Sec of War-
Page 22

Calvin Cary
October 30/36
Page 23

1832 N
Pension Office
October 30 1856

Sir if Jacob Bidwell intends to
prosecute a claim for to the alleged service of his father Samuel Bidwell
he must appear before a Court of Record and
dearly described the services for which he
claims a pension, showing where and when
under what officers and has long he served
and prove the truth of his alligations, by
He must also show, upon proof, when his
father died, whether he left a widow, when she
died, when he was married to her and what
children now survive him
Calvin Cary Esq
Quiney Mansin
Page 24

In Reply Refer to

Copy
3  1865

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington

War Department
Pension Office
March 2, 1824.

Hon. E. Whittlesey
House of Representatives

Sir:

The claim of Samuel Bidwell has been rejected. It appears from his statement that he served only five months in Colonel Willis' Regiment, when he was transferred to a regiment commanded by Colonel Jonathan Brewer. There was no Colonel of the latter name belonging to the Continental Establishment; of course the claimant did not serve nine months on the continental establishment as required by the law of the 18th of March, 1818.

The papers in Bidwell's case will remain on the files of this office, agreeably to our regulations. 
I, am etc.,

I. L .E.

MMH/Dec. 6, 1922.
Page 25

IN REPLY REFER TO
COPY.
3 1865
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON
War Department
Pension Office
October 16, 1826.
William Larnill, Esq.,
Wooster, Ohio.
Sir:
Your letter of the 5th inst., enclosing Seth Knowles'
affidavit in regard to Samuel Bidwell's service, has been
received and I have to inform you that that affidavit is
insufficient to authorise the inscription of his name on
the pension list, the service set forth in his declaration,
not entitling him to a pension. The cause of rejecting his
claim will be found in the following extract from a letter
of the 2nd of March, 1824 to the Honorable E. Whittlesey.........
I. L. E.
MMH, Dec. 6, 1922.
Page 26

ADDRESS OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS TO STATE TAX DEPARTMENT
STATE OF NEW YORK
TAX DEPARTMENT
STATE TAX COMMISSION
WALTER W. LAW, JR., PRESIDENT
JOHN J. MERRILL
WALTER R. KNAPP
ADMINISTRATION BUREAU
MARSHALL M. FRANCE
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
ALBANY N.Y. January 16, 1922
My dear Mr. Gardner.
On August 6, 1822 Samuel Bidwell of Wayne
County, Ohio, made application to the Bureau
of Pensions for a pension for his services in the
Revolutionary War.
I am preparing for publication a History of
the Bidwell family in America and I am trying to trace out the descendants of this Samuel
Bidwell.
Will you please inform of the place in Wayne
County, Ohio, where Samuel Bidwell resided in 1822?
Either the town, township or post office will be
satisfactory. One of these three will probably
be shown on his pension application.
Only as we co=operate and help each other do we make the world go round. Please help me.
With kindest regards,
Sincerely, Frederick D. Bidwell,
State Tax Department
Albany, New York
[ circular stamp-Pension Office U.S.  O Jan 17 1923]
Page 27

Rvr Svc

523 West Tenth Street,
Erie, Pennsylvania,
November 8, 1922.

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
Dear Sirs: ;- I am trying to find out if the Samuel Bidwell mentioned
in Connecticut Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution is my ancestor.
I find in the list of Connecticut Pensioners, Samuel Bidwell,
R 824; which means as I understand, that his application was refused.
 Can you tell where this Samuel Bidwell made application from;
why his application was refused; what service he claimed; any
names connected with his application which would help me to place
his residence at the time of the Revolution?
If you can not do this, will kindly tell me how I can get it
done.
(Mrs. Clinton D. Higby)
Yours truly,
Mary E. Higby.[signature]

[circular stamp -PENSION OFFICE U.S. 0 Nov 10 1922]
Page 28

Rev Sec
Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 26, 1922.
Pension Bureau,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C.
Sirs:- 
In preparing a genealogy of my family I find that Seth Bidwell, my
great-grandfather, was supposedly  the son of one Samuel Bidwell, born 15th of March,
1754, at Middletown, Conn. He died in 1830, in Ohio. He married Christiana
Knowles Apr. 6, 1775. She was born Apr. 20, 1757, and died Oct. 14, 1836.
I have been advised that a Samuel Bidwell enlisted June 20, 1776, in
Captain Jonathan Johnson's company of Colonel Philip Burr Bradley's regiment. This regiment was captured by the British at the fall of Fort Washington, Nov. 16, 1776.
If a pension had ever been granted to this soldier or his widow you
will have his record on your books. Kindly advise whether I have this
record correct and whether this Samuel Bidwell was born at Middletown,
Conn.
Respectfully,
W. P. Bidwell
2324 So. Wayne Ave.

[stamp] PENSION OFFICE US DEC 27 1922
Page 29

523 West Tenth Street
Erie, Pennsylvania
January 3, 1923
Department of Interior,
Bureau of Pensions
Revolutionary War Section
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly
send me what information there 
is
 concerning Samuel
Bidwell midshipman
on "Oliver Cromwell",
frigate
fitted out at East Hartford
Connecticut
said Samuel being
Page 30

my great-great grandfather
Yours truly,
Mary Bidwell Higby
Mrs. C.D. Higby
523 West 10th Street
Erie, Pennsylvania
[stamp] PESNION OFFICE U S O JAN 5 1923
Page 31

LOUIS W. FAIRFIELD
12 TH DIST. INDIANA ┃
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
January 17, 1923
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:

Kindly give me the information desired in enclosed letter
from W. P. Bidwell, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
of
Very sincerely yours,
Lois W. Fairfield
mf
Rev/mk
Letter from Mr. W. P, Bidwell returned [illegible]
[stamp] PENSION OFFICE US M JAN 18 1923
Page 32

mmh
Rev. War Section
Hon. Louis W. Fairfield
House of Representatives
January 19, 1923
In re: Samuel Bidwell -- War of Revolution
You are advised that the history of Samuel Bidwell,
R. 826 (the only soldier of that name on file in the
Revolutionary War records of this Bureau) was furnished
Mr. W. P. Bidwell of Fort Wayne, Indiana on the 12" inst.
Herewith is returned the letter of Mr. W. P. Bidwell,
Yours very truly,
Commissioner.
Page 33

Rev. War Section
mmh
January 16, 1923
Mrs. Clinton D. Higby
523 West Tenth Street
Erie, Pennsylvania
Madam:

In response to your letter received 5" inst., you
are advised that the history of Samuel Bidwell, Revolutionary
War soldier, R. 826 was furnished you December 3,
1922, the only soldier of that name on file in the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 34

Rev. War Section.    awf
January 12, 1923.
W. P. Bidwell,
2324 S. Wayne Ave.,
For Wayne, Indiana.
Sir;

In response to your letter of the 26th ultimo,
you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary
War pension claim R. 826, it appears
that Samuel Bidwell applied for pension August 3,
1822, at which time he was a resident of Wayne
County, Ohio, aged sixty seven years, and stated
that he enlisted as a Private in Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut on January 1, 1775, and
served until June in Captain Ebenezer Sumner's
company, Colonel Samuel Wyllys' regiment Continental
Line, when he was transferred to Captain
Benjamin Pollard's company, Colonel Jonathan
Brewer's Massachusetts state regiment and
served until January 31, 1777. He was at the
Page 35

taking of Dorchester Hill and at the battle of
White Plains.
In 1832 he referred to his wife Christiana
aged sixty four years, daughter Cathrine aged forty five years, son Joseph aged thirty four years
and daughter Amanda aged eighteen years with an
orphan child aged four years. In 1836 a son
Jacob was living in Adams County, Wisconsin.
Soldier died August 3, 1838.
His claim was not allowed as he did not
serve nine months on the Continental Establishment
as required by the law of March 18, 1818,
Colonel Brewer's regiment not being on the Continental
Establishment, but in the Massachusetts
State Troops.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 36

Rev. War Section
mmh
December 6, 1922
Mrs. Clinton D. Higby
523 West Tenth Street
Erie, Pennsylvania
Madam:

In response to your letter received November 10, 1923,
you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim R. 826 it appears that Samuel Bidwell applied
for pension August 6, 1832 at which time he was a
resident of Wayne County, Ohio, aged sixty-seven years, and
stated that he enlisted as a Private in Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut on January 1, 1775 and served until
June in Captain Ebenezer Sumner's Company, Colonel Samuel
Wyllys' Regiment Continental Line, when he was transferred
to Captain Benjamin Pollard's Company, Colonel Johathan
Brewer's Massachusetts State Regiment and served until
January 31, 1777. He was at taking of Dorchester Hill and
at the battle of White Plains.
In 1822 he referred to his wife Christiana aged sixty -
four years, daughter Cathrine aged forty - five years, son
Joseph aged thirty - four years and daughter Amanda aged
Page 37

eighteen years with an orphan child aged four years. In
1836 a son Jacob was living in Adams County, Wisconsin.
Soldier died August 27, 1836.
His claim was not allowed as he did not serve nine
month on the Continental Establishment as required by the
law of March 18, 1818, Colonel Brewer's Regiment not being
on the Continental Establishment, but in the Massachusetts
State Troops.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Illegible in claim