Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9,717, for Elijah Smith, Connecticut
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Smith, Elijah

NUMBER
R 9.717

vol.[?] at Ridgefield Fairfield Co. Conn.
died at Scipio Cayuga Co. N.Y. July 18, 1848 aged 88 yrs
Page 2

[illegible] of New York 
Cayuga County Clerks Office ss 
I Philip Van Arsdale Clerk of Cayuga County do hereby Certify That Isaac Sisson Esqr. before whom The annexed instruments in writing was Subscribed and Sworn was at the time of taking the Said affidavits a Judge of Cayuga County Courts, duly appointed and qualified and by the laws of this State authorized to take the same. And further Certify That the Signatures of the Said Judge To the Said annexed affidavit and certificates are his genuine Signatures. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my Official Seal and Subscribed my name this 14th day of March A.D. 1846 
Philip Van Arsdale Clerk
Page 3

State of New York 
Cayuga County SS. 
On the tenth day of March ["Februa" crossed out] 1846. Personally appeared before the Subscriber Isaac Sisson - a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Said County the same being a Court of Record Elijah- Smith Resident of Scipio in Said County and State of New York aged Eighty Six (86) years Who being first duly Sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Provision made by the act of Congress Passed June 7th 1832 Granting a Pension to Officers and Soldiers Who Served during the Revolutionary War 
That he was a Soldier of the War of the Revolution and at the Town of Richfield [Ridgefield] in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut his Enlisted and Served in a Rejement [regiment] Commanded by Colonel Bradley of the Town of Richfield [Ridgefield] in Fairfield County & State of Connecticut he thinks he first Enlisted in the month of May 1777 Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven and Served at that Enlistment upwards of Two years and Six months and this deponent cant Recolects [recollect] of the Capts name but can well Recolect [recollect] the name of the Colonel
Page 4

Bradley from the fact that they lived in one town to geather [together] both before and after the War of the Revolution and during the time he Served under Col Bradley he was Stationed at Richfield [Ridgefield] Stanford [Stamford] Kings Streete[?] near Stanford [Stamford]- 
This declarant further Says that the Reason he did not make application for a Pension before was that he did not know of any Person that was alive to Proove [prove] his Service who was knowing to his Service - and having been informed it would Require the proof of at least two Living Witnesses to Establish Service-- 
Elijah his X mark Smith
in presence of Isaac Sisson Judge
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year first above Written before Me 
Isaac Sisson a Judge of Cayuga County Courts 
I Certify that the above named Elijah Smith is unable to attend the Sitting of the Court in consequence of the infirmities of old age = Isaac Sisson 
a Judge of Cayuga Co Court
Page 5

And I do further certify that I am well acquainted with Elijah Smith the person who I have this day Sworn to the above declaration and that his carracter [character] is good
March 10th 1846
Isaac Sisson Judge
of Cayuga Co Courts
Page 6

Comptrollers Office, Connecticut 
Hartford March 3. 1846 
On application for evidence of the service of Elijah Smith in the Revolutionary war in the record of "Settlement with the fifth Connecticut Regt Phillip B Bradley Esq Col before 1st Jan 1780." I find the name of Elijah Smith, who is stated to have served as a private from May 12 1777 to Jan 1st 1780 - 2 years, 7 months, and 19 days- 
A Carrington, Comptroller
Page 7

Waverly Tioga County NY
July 7 1856
Dear Sir
Mr Elijah Smith Deceased was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war He served near Albany N.Y under Captain Lurk[?] (Lusk) He died some 10 years ago leaving no widow but six children viz Elkany Smith Elijah Smith Rhoda Shultser[?] Richard[?] Holden[?], Elizabeth [illegible] & [illegible] Sharp the children think that Elkany Smith of Elmeri [Elmira] NY has succeeded in getting either a pension or Land (the Decedent received neither) they desire to Know whether any claim [illegible] out of the above [illegible] has been acted on by the Department
Will you please favor me with a reply 
Yours &c
F.D. Wright

To Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington D.C.
Page 8

Ithaca July 30. 1856
Comm[?] of Pension
D Sir 
My Wife in 1845 or 1846 Made some proof to obtain some Back Pay that Was Due her Father Elijah Smith for his Services in the Revolutionary war at the time of the application he resided in Albany Co Town of New Scotland State of New York We have since heard that the Pay has been granted to One of her Brothers Elkne [Elkanah] Smith of Elmira Cheny[?] [Chemung] Co by A Agent SB [illegible] of Livingston Co. 
P.S. Will you please answer and confer a favor on us for we need our share if it is right Jacob Willett
Y[?] S[?]
Direct to Jacob Willett
Spencer
Tioga Co
Ny

788
-----
907
Page 9

No 38050
Affidavit of Lewis B. Smith of Scipio Cayuga Co
Page 10

State of New York 
County of Cayuga ss
On this seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, personally appeared before the Supreme Court of the State of New York now sitting in the City of Auburn in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, Lewis B. Smith, a resident of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, aged sixty five years, who being first duly sworn according to law deposes and says That he is son and Administrator of Elijah Smith, a soldier of the revolution, and who died in the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York on the eighteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty eight aged eighty eight- years: This deponent further states that a declaration was made under oath by his father the above named Elijah Smith bearing date on the tenth of March eighteen hundred and forty six before Isaac Sisson, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Cayuga, which affidavit so made was forwarded to Washington by a man named Edgecombe of the village of Cortland in the County of Cortland in the State of New York, and this deponent believes the same to be now deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States: He further states that this testimony now made is made as a suppliment [supplement] to the testimony of his father so made and forwarded as aforesaid to the pension department: And that he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity from the Government of the United States for and in behalf of his father the afore named Elijah Smith except the one hereinbefore mentioned, and declares that the name
Page 11

of his father the aforesaid Elijah Smith is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State. 
Lewis B. Smith
Sworn and Subscribed before me the day and year first above written
Ebenezer B. Cobb 
Clerk Cayuga County

The said Court do herby declare it as their opinion that Lewis B Smith who has made oath to the above affidavit is son and Administrator of Elijah Smith late of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York as declared by him in the above affidavit and further that the statements made in the aforementioned affidavits are entitled to credit 
Henry Welles 

I Ebenezer B. Cobb, County Clerk of Cayuga County and of the Supreme Court thereof do hereby certify that Henry Welles, before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken, was at the time of taking the same a Judge of the Supreme Court duly elected and authorized to take the same And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe the above signature to be from his own hand~
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal this seventh day of February, 1850
E.B. Cobb 
Clerk Cayuga County
Page 12

REJECTED
9717 Conn
P. O.
Elijah Smith
Service:

Enlisted: [blank], 18[blank].
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank].
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank].
Alleges: This printed list of 1852 gives cause of suspension as follows;
Re-enlisted: "The certificate of the Hartford Comptroller, that a soldier named Elijah Smith is credited with service, does not prove that claimant & he were one & the same person."
Attorney: 
P. O.
Recognized. Contract.

1936 - Sept 2/Inf. fur. Col Mark L. Ireland in re these clms. See cl. Dan Smith, W. 5174: MM F/ecl[?]
Page 13

["No. 38050" crossed out]
Elijah Smith decd.
New York

Let. Edwd. H Baxter
Oct 1/50

Act 7 June, 1832.
Page 14

State of New-York. 
Cayuga County. SS.
Be it known that on this 25th day of January 1853 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the county, and state aforesaid, personally appeared Lewis B. Smith of Scipio county of Cayuga and state of New York and made oath in due form of law that he is the son of Elijah Smith deceased of New York who was a Revolutionary Soldier & made an application for a Pension And the same was suspended 
That he has lately been informed, that said pension ought to be allowed, that he is directly interested in said claim as a Son & Administrator That he makes this affidavit, to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my said agent or attorney may use in prosecuting said claim. 
Lewis B Smith
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me, 
Nathaniel Wellar 
Justice of the peace 

I Nathaniel Wellar, Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, do hereby certify, that Lewis B. Smith who executed the foregoing papers, is a reputable resident of the county of Cayuga and is I believe directly interested in said claim as therein set forth. And that I have no personal, interest in the Claim in which the foregoing affidavit is to be used 
Nathaniel Wellar
Page 15

STATE OF NEW YORK, 
CAYUGA COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. ss.
I, EDWIN B. MARVIN, Clerk of the County of Cayuga, and of the Courts of Record thereof, do hereby certify that Nathaniel Weller Esq., was at the date of the Certificate of proof & acknowledgment of the annexed instrument a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, and duly authorized to take the same, that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature to said Certificate of Proof & acknowledgment is genuine. 
I further certify that said instrument is executed and acknowledged according to the Laws of the State of New-York. 
WITNESS my hand and seal of said county, this 26 day of January 1853. 
EB Marvin Clerk.
Page 16

Know all Men by these Presents, That Lewis B. Smith of Scipio Cayuga County N. Y. do hereby constitute and appoint Th Lumpkin of Washington DC my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to prosecute the claim of Elijah Smith deceased of New York for an amount of Pension due him at his decease 
and I hereby authorize my said agent and attorney to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim on file in the Departments at Washington City, or else where additional evidence or arguments, and to receive the certificate that may be issued for said claim. to appoint one or more substitute for the purpose herein expressed, to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present; hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said agent and attorney shall lawfully do in the premises. 
And I do hereby revoke all other agents and attorneys heretofore appointed by me. 
Witness my hand and seal this 25th day of January 1853
Lewis B Smith 
Signed and delivered in presence of 
Nathaniel Wellar 
E.[?] H. Wethey

State of New-York, 
Cayuga County, ss.
BE IT KNOWN that on the 25th day of January 1853 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Lewis B. Smith above named and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his act and deed. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above mentioned. 
Nathaniel Wellar Justice of the peace
Page 17

E. W. Edgcomb
June 13, '46
Page 18

316
Pension Office, 
June 13, 1846 
Sir,
The declaration and testimony submitted by you in the case of Elijah Smith have been examined and filed. 
The claim cannot be allowed until satisfactory evidence is produced of the identity of the claimant with the service credited in the Comptroller's certificate- the name of Elijah Smith being so common a one that there might, possibly, have been several of the same name in ["the" crossed out] service in that quarter referred to. 

E. W. Edgcomb, Esq 
Cortland Village 
N. Y.
Page 19

Washington 11th Augt. 1851
Sir,
Please receive herewith the Power of L. B. Smith, one of the children of Elijah Smith who made application for a Pension and whose claim was suspended. Under this Power of Attorney I ask permission to examine all the papers on file.
I am very respectfully
Your Obdt. Servt.
G. C. Ames

Hon. James E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 20

49, 
Washington 
Feby 7, 1853
Thos Lumpkin

Rel to claim of Elisha Smith

Respy refer[?] to Comr. of Pensions for [illegible]
Dept of Int
Feby 7, 1853

Recd Feby 7, 1853.
Page 21

Washington D.C.
Feb. 7th 1853 
Sir
I am instructed by E.W. Edgecomb Esq. of New York, who is the Atty. for the heirs of Elisha Smith, who claimed a pension under the Act of 7th June 1832, from N. York, to appeal from the adverse decision made in his case on the ground of insufficiency of proof of his identity with the Elisha Smith found on the Connt. rolls ["under" crossed out] Regiment commanded by Col Bradley. have examined this case very carefully and deem it one of high merit. 
I have the honor to 
be, Sir, very respy
your Obt Sert
Th. Lumpkin

Hon.
A. H. H. Stuart
Secy. of the Dept of the Interior
Page 22

37284
Elijah Smith
NY
EW Edgcomb June 13 1846.
M N Cleavland [Cleveland], Aug 21/46
EW Edgecomb Aug 29/46
let E. H. Baxter June 5/50
" D.D.T. Benedict Augt 23'/1850
1850
E. H. Baxter Oct 1 [illegible]
DDT Benedict Jany [written over "July"] 16 [written over "17"] 1851-
F.D. Wright, July 17 1856-
Jacob Willett Aug 5 1856-

9717

June 7 1832
Page 23

J Willet
Aug 3
Page 24

Pension Office
Aug 5 1856
Sir
In reply to yours of the 30th ult you are informed that the application of the 
[illegible]
children of Elijah Smith of NY for pension has not been granted.

Jacob Willett Esq
Spencer
NY
Page 25

Lewis B. Smith
Power of Attorney
Page 26

State of New York 
County of Cayuga ss. 
Lewis B. Smith of said County being duly sworn says that he is a son of Elijah Smith deceased who made Application for a Pension under the Act of 7th June 1832 & whose claim was suspended, that he as one of the children of the said Elijah Smith is directly interested in the Claim to said Pension, he at the time of his death having left no widow 
Lewis B Smith
Subscribed & sworn to this 28th day of July 1851 before me  
Harvey Heath Justice Peace 

Know all men by these presents that I Lewis B. Smith of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York do hereby constitute and appoint George C. Ames Esqr of Washington D.C. my true lawful Attorney to ask for a reexamination of the papers filed in the ["Pension" written over "Office," both crossed out] Office of the Commissioner of Pensions in Support of the Claim of my late Father Elijah Smith to a Pension & in hehalf [behalf] of his Surviving children to establish the claim to said Pension Witness my hand & seal this 28th day of July 1851 In presence of Lewis B Smith 

State of New York 
County of Cayuga ss. 
On this 28th day of July 1851 before me came Lewis B Smith above named & acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his act & deed In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year last above mentioned Harvey Heath Justice Peace
Page 27

State of New York
Cayuga County Clerk's Office Ss:
I Ebenezer B Cobb, Clerk of the County Of Cayuga & of the Courts of record thereof do hereby Certify that Harvey Heath Esqr. was on the 28 instant A Justice of the Peace in & for Cayuga County duly elected And qualified & that the foregoing Signatures purporting to be his are genuine
Witness My hand & Seal of office this 30th day of July 1851
EB Cobb Clk
Page 28

old book
FD Wright
July 17 1856
Page 29

Pension Office
July 17 1856
Sir
No pension or Bounty Land has been allowed
5321
by this Office on account of the services of Elijah Smith of N York.

FD Wright Esq
Waverly
NY
Page 30

Pension Office 
January 15 1851

D.D.T. Benedict Esq. 
Auburn N.Y. 
Sir, 
By some means the case of Elijah Smith was out of place when the declaration of his son and administrator was received. This caused the error in announcing to Mr Baxter that no such application had been made. The letter to you of the 23rd August 1850 contains my opinion with regard to the character of the claim.
 I am &c. 
F.S. Evans 
For Comr of Pensions

F.F.C. Triplett

Copied from letter book of 1851-
AW
Page 31

Auburn, January 6th 1851. 
Sir:- you will confer a favor upon me by informing me of the result of your examination of the proof now on file in the Pension Office Sustaining the claim of Lewis B. Smith to the Pension due his Father Elijah Smith who was a soldier of the Revolution. He claimed under the Act of June 7th 1832. 
I now have three different letters upon this case from J. L. Edwards, each one contradicting the other. If you will immediately look to this case and explain to me the true intentions of your Department in the matter you will oblige 
Yours Respectfully 
Daniel D.T. Benedict 
Attorney of Heirs of Elijah Smith 

Hon Jas. E. Heath, 
Com. of Pensions.
Page 32

Auburn Nov 18/50 
Hon Sir
Will you be so kind as to inform what I am to learn from three conflicting and to me apparently contradictory statements made in three letters which I have before me concerning the claim of the heirs of Elijah Smith to a pension, for his service in the war of the Revolution. These letters are as follows- first a letter of June 5th 1850 directed to Edward H. Baxter of this Citty [city], The second a letter of Aug 23th [23rd] 1850 directed to Daniel D.T. Benedict, of this Citty [city], and the third a letter 1th [1st] 1850, directed to Edward H. Baxter, of this citty [city], all of the abovenamed letters were signed by the Hon Commissioner of Pensions at the Pension Office, at the dates above named, and each tells a verry[very] different story diametrically opposed to the others and from the first of these letter I am informed that the declaration of Elijah Smith is now in the Pension office, and that the Hon Commissioner of Pensions finds an appearance of fraud in the same 
In the second he informs me that the trouble is that there is not quite
Page 33

proof enough in the pension office to sustain the claim, he Elijah Smith not having identified himself as the man in Colonel Bradley's Regiment who did perform the service mentioned in certifficate [certificate] of the Comptroler [Comptroller] of [written over "'s"] this State of Connecticut, and in the third letter mentioned above, I am informed that Elijah Smith's declaration has not been received at the Pension office 
I now request that you will inform me without delay which one of these statements the Hon Commissioner of Pensions intends to say is correct in order that I may have a fair oppertunity [opportunity] to prosecute the claim so as to do justice to the claiment [claimant]
Yours with Respect
Daniel D T Benedict

To
Hon JL Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 34

583
Pension Office 
August 23d 1850 
Sir
Your letter of 22 June last Cerving[?] Power of Attorney in the Case of Elijah Smith has been receved [received] and filed with the papers heretofore presented in support of his Claim. 
The evidence as to the identity of Elijah Smith with the Solder [soldier] of[?] the Connecticut Line for whose Service he Claims a pension is wholly unsatisfactory: In order to justify a favorable Consideration of this Application, the testimony of those who were in service with Smith and who knows that he was the identical solder of Col. Bradleys Regiment of the Connecticut Line Referred to in the Certificate of the Comptroler [comptroller] of that state, is required 

Daniel D T Benedict Esqr
Auburn
NY
Page 35

Edd. H Baxter
Oct1/50
Page 36

15
Pension Office
1 Oct 1850
Sir:
The Declaration of Lewis B Smith, Admr of Elijah Smith dcd. for a pension claimed to have been due to his father, ["has been received" crossed out] and the accompanying papers have been examined and filed. No such Declaration in the one[?] he claims to have been forwarded by his father has been received at this Office. As no sort of evidence accompanies this application of course it cannot be allowed.

Edward H. Baxter Esq
Auburn
N.Y-
Page 37

Lewis B. Smith.
Page 38

Know all men by these Presents, That I Lewis B. Smith, a resident of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, and Administrator of the estate of Elijah Smith who died in the aforesaid town of Scipio on the eighteenth day of July, eighteen hundred and forty eight do by these presents constitute and appoint Daniel D. T. Benedict of the city of Auburn in the aforesaid County and State my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name to prosecute all claims and collect all moneys now due or to become due from the Government of the United States to the heirs of the aforesaid Elijah Smith. 
Lewis B Smith
Signed, sealed and delivered this 29th day of June in the year 1850 in presence of E.M. Newcomb
Page 39

Auburn, NY. June 29th 1850 
Enclosed you will find a Legal Written Power of attorney given to me this day by the sole administrator of Elijah Smith, whose Pension claim has been prosecuted, first by Mr Edgecomb and next by Mr Baxter and now has come into my hands as you will see by the enclosed document- You will therefore please direct all communication on said claim hereafter to me at this place As respects appearance of fraud on the part of the applicant, we shall try[?] that claim, and [illegible] the same to the bottom. If Mr Smith has commited [committed] fraud, I shall say let him be punished by the law that provides for such things- Mr Smith, says that being conscious of the justness of his claim he believes that the only reason why the word fraud is thrown back at him is because the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions wishes to avoid the facts in the case- and he now asks that the Hon Com. of Pensions would make the fact appear that fraud was committed in getting up his proofs in said claim, as he feels ill satisfied with having such a charge made against him without any attempt on the part of the Hon Commissioner to show reason for believing so, and if the Hon Com. of Pensions does believe that
Page 40

fraud has been attempted, is it not possible that he may be mistaken, if so, the charge is not one which he would like that any one should suffer under. 
In conclusion I would say that I shall prosecute this claim untill it is proved that Mr Smith, did or did not commit a fraud, and untill by fair and respectable proof I either sustain said claim, or loos [lose] it for want of proof 
Yours, Respectfully 
Daniel D.T. Benedict 

Hon. J.L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 41

Edwd H. Baxter
June 5/50
Page 42

Pension Office
June 5th 1850. 
Sir
We have no evidence in your letter of the 30th ult. that you are the ["au" crossed out] authorized agent of Elijah Smith, an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7, 1832; and if you are that it is regarded as the duty of an applicant, on employing a new agent, to furnish that agent with all the correspondence with this office relative to his claim. ["Had he don" crossed out] If Elijah Smith had performed that duty, you would have learned from my letter of the 29th of August 1846 to EW Edgcomb of Cortland Village NY that it was the opinion of this office that Smith had no claim, ["[illegible] the government" crossed out], and that there were circumstances connected with the manner in which the application ["claim" crossed out] was gotten up and supported, which induced the brief that there was a deliberate attempt to defraud the government. 
Edward H. Baxter, Esqr 
Auburn, N.Y.
Page 43

Auburn 
May 30th 1850 
Hon Sir 
You will do me a favor by informing me what is the Result of your examination of the proofs in the Claim of Elijah Smith a Claimant for a pension under act of June 7th 1832 please direct to me at this place 
Yours with Respect 
Edward H Baxter 
Per. Daniel DT Benedict 

Hon JL Edwards 
Comr of Pensions
Page 44

Side Affidavits in claim of Lewis B. Smith
Page 45

State of New York 
County of Cayuga Ss.
On this fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, personally appeared before me Thomas Cushman, a Justice of the peace in and for said County, Humphrey Tallman, a resident of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, who being first duly sworn according to law deposes and says:- 
That he was well acquainted with Elijah Smith, late a resident of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, and that he knew the said Elijah Smith to be a man of good moral character and one whose word was entitled to full credit and belief: he further testifies that he is well acquainted with Lewis B. Smith, son of the aforesaid Elijah Smith, and knows him to be a man of good moral character and one whose word is entitled to full credit and belief- 
Humphrey Tallman
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year first above written 
Thomas Cushman 
Justice of the Peace 

State of New York 
County of Cayuga Ss. 
On this fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, personally appeared before me Thomas Cushman, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, John Daniels, a resident of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York who being first duly sworn according to law deposes and says. That he was well acquainted with Elijah Smith, late a
Page 46

resident of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, and that he knew him to be a man of good moral character and one whose word is entitled to full credit and belief: He further testifies that he is now well acquainted with Lewis B. Smith, son of the aforesaid Elijah Smith and a resident of the town of Scipio in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, and that he knows him to be a man of good moral character and one whose word is entitled to full credit and belief- 
John Daniels
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year first above written 
Thomas Cushman 
Justice of the Peace 

State of New York 
Cayuga County Clerks Office Ss. 
I, Ebenezer B Cobb, County Clerk of Cayuga County, do hereby certify That Thomas Cushman Esqr before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly elected, authorized and qualified to take the same and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe the foregoing to be his genuine signature. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 7th day of February, 1850. 
Ebenezer B Cobb, Clerk
Page 47

Auburn, February 7th 1850 
Honorable Sir:-
Enclosed I hand you proof sustaining the claim of Lewis B. Smith to a pension due his father, Elijah Smith.
Papers in relation to the matter please direct to
one at Auburn, New York.
Very Respectfully Yours
Edward H. Baxter
Page 48

State of New York 
Cortland County SS. 
Personally appeared before the Subscriber Herman S Conger, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Mary Hine Resident of Cortlandville in Said County aged Eighty four years 
Who being first duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that she formelly [formerly] Resided in the town of Richfield [Ridgefield] in Fairfield County and State of Connecticut and Resided there in the time of the Revolutionary War 
That this deponent was well acquainted with Elijah Smith who then Resided in Richfield [Ridgefield] Fairfield County & State of Connecticut- who now resides in the town of Scipio Cayuga County- N.Y 
That this deponant [deponent] was well acquainted with Col Bradley who then Resided in said town of Richfield [Ridgefield] Fairfield Co Con- and that he was a Col in the War of the Revolution and that this deponant [deponent] Col Bradley and the said Elijah Smith Resided in said town of Richfield [Ridgefield] at the time of the Revolution 
That she well recolects [recollects] of seeing the said Elijah Smith when he and Colonel Bradley marched from said Richfield [Ridgefield] into the service
Page 49

and that she saw him when he Returned home from the service that she was Personally acquainted with the said Smith- and that she did not know of any other Elijah Smith in said town of Richfield [Ridgefield] 
Mary Hine
Sworn and Subscribed this 27th day of June 1846 before 
H.S. Conger Justice of the Peace 

I Certify that the above named deponent sustains a Good Character for truth and veracity. 
H.S. Conger Justice of the Peace 

State of New York 
Cortland County Clerks Office SS
I Samuel Hotchkiss clerk of said county do hereby Certify that H.S. Conger Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit of Mary Hine was taken was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned & Sworn also that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and verily believe this signature subscribed to the Jurat & certificate are Genuine 
Witness my hand and the seal of said county at Cortlandville this 3d day of July AD 1846
Saml Hotchkiss Clerk
Page 50

37.284
Elijah Smith
N. Y.
Act 7 June, 1832

E. W. Edgcomb,
Cortland Village
N .Y.
Page 51

Cortland Village Cortland Co 
N.Y March 27th 1846- 
Sir-
I send you the application of Elijah Smith for a Pension under the act of June 7 1832 When acted upon you may send the Certificate to me 
I am Varry [very] Respetfully [respectfully] Your obednt [obedient] Servant 
EW Edgcomb 

JL Edwards Esqr 
Com of Pensions 
Washington 
D.C.
Page 52

Aug 21/46
Hon. M. Cleavland [Cleveland]
Page 53

Sir
Pen Office
Aug 21. 46
A claim has lately been presented by Elijah Smith of Cayuga Co. N.Y. through E.W. Edgcomb upon a certificate of your predecessor of 3 march last shewing service in P.B. Bradley's regt of[?] one[?] "Elijah Smith for two years 7 mo & 19 days." and I have the honor to request that you will furnish me with copies of all communications made to your office to obtain that certificate~

Hon M. Cleavland [Cleveland]
Compr
Hartford 
Con:
Page 54

Aug 29. 1846
E.W. Edgecomb
Page 55

Sir 
Pen off 
Aug 29 46 
The case of Elijah Smith which has evidently been asserted upon the faith of an entry in the regimental Ledger of Bradleys Regt. of the Connt Line bears upon its face strong features of in intended fraud- 
The late hour at which a continental soldier claims the bounty provided for him by the laws while thousand of ["militia" crossed out]  men & their widows have been drawing pensions for militia service affords prima facie evidence that he has not believed himself entitled for a period of some 28 years since [illegible] passage of law provided for his case. When at last he comes forward to furnish narrative of his service he is unable to state any of the material facts except those which are certified by the Comptroller viz the date & length & grade of the
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service. & name of the Col 
He is unable to furnish the names of his Capt. and other company officers- messmates & comrades- and declare that his reason for delaying his application was his inability to procure proof! or in other words, having laid bye [by] untill most of the Continental soldiers were [illegible]passing ["had died" crossed out] off of the stage, upon the ground that he was and unable to procure from them the necessary proof, ["and" crossed out] he then comes forward to assert a claim for long & meritorious service in the Continental Army (if [illegible] found credited to his very common name upon a pay table of a neighboring state), with no other evidence of identity than the deposition of a woman- But it is unnecessary to multiply rema[illegible] upon such a case - The claimant subscribes with a Cross mark and as the statement of service has
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very little in common with the war narrative which a Soldier would furnish of a continental term of service, it might not be just to hold him exclusively responsible for the character of the transactions by which his claim has been gotten up & supported- 
As you have been the draftsman & agent in preparing & presenting such a case, I would refer you to the Act of 3 March 1823 entitled an act to prevent frauds upon the Government for the responsibities [responsibilities] you have incurred - 
The circumstances attending the origin of this claim & your share in the prosecution of it should be stated in detail- a copy of your letter to the Comptr. of Connt. has been called for. 
EW Edgcomb Esqr. 
Cortland Village
N.Y-
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Cortland Village Cortland Co N.Y. July 6th 1846

Sir,
I send you the affadavit [affidavit] of Mary Hine to Identify Elijah Smith the Claimant for a Pension under act June 7, 1832 as the Elijah Smith who Served in Col Bradleys Regiment of Richfield [Ridgefield] Fairfield Co Connecticut which I hope will prove satisfactory.
I am Sir, varry [very] Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
E.W. Edgcomb


J. L. Edwards Esqr
Com of Pensions
Washington
D C