Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25330, James Beers, Conn.
Page 1

Conn
Beers, James W25-330
Beers, Ruth BLM26718-160-55
Page 2

22785 Connecticut
James Beers
of Hartford in the State of Conn
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain - of the Regt commanded
by Col Whiting in the Conn troop
for 11 mo 

Inscribed on the roll of Conn
at the rate of 336 dollars 66 cents per
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834

Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of
Nov '33 and sent Flitch
Wheeler Bridgeport

Arrears to the 4th of Sep '33    $91.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending March  $18.33
$109.99 (total due)

{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Book E Vol 3 Page 32
Page 3

Act Mar. 3/33  Civ. S Beardslee, Oct 23 1855
73794 Apl. 16/55
Ruth Beers, wid of James Beers priv
Revolutionary Pensioner
Widow has been pensioner
Her pension certificate is dated 7th June 1854. No 4.220

Conn. July 53-4220
(ill) 17/56
Samuel Beardslee  Townhall Conn.
Vol. B. 93
Page 4

On the 6, day of May, 1827 Mr. James Beers was married to Mrs. Ruth Turney agreeably to the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal Church by me Ashbil Baldwin Rector of the Episcopal Church in Trumbull

Recorded May 10, 1827. by Lewis Burton town clerk, 
The above is a true [illegible] of record
Elam Sterling town clerk of Trumbull
Trumbull May 6, 1854
Page 5

State of Connecticut, Fairfield County fs Trunbull May 15th, A 1854. Personally appeared, Elam Sterling the within & aforesaid, and made oath before me that the within is a true copy of record in the words and figures as within down that he is clerk of said town of Trumbull, and that he has no intrest whatever in the result of the case of the application of Ruth Beers for a pension.
Sworn before me,
Elijiah Middlebrook, Justice of the Peace 
for Fairfield County.

And I further certify that I have no interest in the result of the application of Ruth Beers for pension. 
Elijah Middlebrook Justice of the Peace
Page 6

4220
Connecticut Ruth Beers
Ruth Beers,
widow of James Beers who served in the Revolutionary War as a Private.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate
of 36 Dollars 66
Cents per annum, to commence
on the 3rd February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued
7th day of June 1834
and sent to Elijah Middlebrook
Bridgeport, CT

(right side of the page)
Ruth Beers March 16 '57
Page 7

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield}ss Bridgeport
On this 12 day of May A.D. 1854 personally appeared before the court of probate in and for the district of said Bridgeport, Ruth Beers a resident of Trumbull in the County and State aforesaid aged Eighty Six 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 provisions made by the several acts & resolutions passed by Congress, relative to granting pensions to widows whose husbands served in the Revolutionary War commencing with the Act of July 7th 1838 up to and including the 2 sections of the Act of February 3, 1853 including all intermediate acts & Resolutions of Congress relative to said widows pensions. 
That she is the widow of James Beers of said Trumbull deceased who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War and who was a pensioner of the United States under Act of June 7th 1832 at the rate of thirty six dollars & sixty six cents per annum--on the roll of the Connecticut agency for proof of his services she refers to his declaration under Part of June 7th 1832 for a pension.
She further declares that she was married to the said James Beers on the sixth day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and twenty seven and that her husband the aforesaid James Beers died at said Trumbull on the twenty fourth day of December A.D. 1838
Page 8

That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place at the time above stated & that she has remained a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before said court. 
Ruth (her mark) Beers
Elisha L Abernathy Judge of (ill)
Attest R.S. Nichols Clerk of said court

I, Roswell S. Nichols Clerk of said Probate Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the aforesaid Ruth Beers for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of said court at said Bridgeport this 12th day of May A.D. 1854
Roswell S. Nichols, Clerk

We the undersigned hereby certify that we have no interest whatever in the result of the application of the aforesaid Ruth Beers for a pension.
Bridgeport May 12th 1854 
Elisha S. Abernathy Justice
Attest R.S. Nichols Clerk.
Page 9

No 25660
James Beers Fairfield County
Connecticut
[Inelligble]
73.33
+18.33
91.66

Fitch Wheeler Bridgeport Connecticut
Page 10

War Department,
Pension Office
183
Sir: The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A statement, showing the Service of James Beers Fairfield County Connecticut
Sub Dec. 1777  3 months Private Capt. Judson, Colonel Mead, Capt. Nichols.

Ordered June 1778 2 months Private Capt. Nichols, Colonel Whiting

Draft Nov. 1778 3 months Private Cap. Nichols

Sub August 1779 3 months Private Capt. Godfrey.

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service:
71 years and Fairfield County, Connecticut

Proof by which the Declaration is supported:
Traditionary evidence & four witnesses certified credible papers authenticated & properly attached. 

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant
J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
Page 11

2
Regulations Under the Act of June 7, 1832
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the staff of the Army and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. Regular Troops
2. The State troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of Count of }38.
On this  day of  personally appeared (a) before 
A. B. a resident (b) of  in the county of  and State, Territory  or District of  aged (c)  years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the  (e) regiment of the  line, under the following named officers': 

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlisment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and state in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to eh militia, volunteers, navy. &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, excpet the presentm and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sowrn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. AB
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I  of the Court of  do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the orginial proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of  for a pension.
In testimony wherof, I have hereunto set me hand and seal of office (i) this day of  &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers, or Militia except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the  and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with  , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be  years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighboorhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolitionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the  and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the  and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,  Clerk of the Court of, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the orginial proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of  for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this  day of  &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the orginial discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witnees, stating in detail his personal knowledege of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 12

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if ones be attempted; and unless, therefore, theses are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be ex-expected. All applicants will appeart before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State Troops, or Volunteers, excpet the Milita of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1.Where and what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3.Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteerm or were you a substitiute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continetal and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in opinion of the Court, withour too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons- one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in teh neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary Soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of serevice is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, form bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made in account of the services of any person, who may died before the taking effect of the act of June7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the Court upon the whole matter.
Page 13

James Beers
Trumbull
Court
Eleven Mon
Service
25060
Page 14

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County October 2nd 1833
Personally appeared before the Court of
Probate in & for the District of Stratford 
the within named Applicant
James Beers & being first sworn further
declares & says he was born at the Town of
Trumbull in said Enfield County on the
23d of April 1762. I have a Record of my age
in my fathers hand writing when called
into service & then lived & now lives in said
Town of Trumball which in the
 Revolutionary War was part of the Town of Stratford.
In my first service I was a substitute for
my Father Peter Beers who was drafted out
of the Militia for three months which time I
served as before stated - In June 1778. The
whole militia company was ordered into service & went as before stated first to Danbury then
to Fredericksborough which lies in the
State of New York just over the Connecticut
line (& from ten to 20 miles from
Danbury according to my recollection)
from there we went to compound on
the Hudson River where as before stated
& served two months-- my first tour was
three months & proved by Edward Maryland
the second. Two months, in Capt Nichols
company proved by Jaber Beach who
has received a pension for the same Service
my third four was three months & proved
by Elijah Hawley - I have no evidence
that this 3 months service on guard at
Stratford was in an embodied Corps except
that it appears by proof already furnished
the Department that Samuel Patterson
under whom the applicant served commanded
a guard at said Stratford full authority & a great number of Pensions have been allowed for service in Pattersons
guard - Samuel French testified to my
fourth Term of service under Capt Godfry
in the year 1779 as stated in my former
Declaration which was 3 months & Samuel French has been allowed a pension for
his service in said Company.  
Fredericksborough
the applicant thinks is now called by a different
name subscribed & sworn to in Court
on the day
& year aforesaid
Attest R S. Nichols, Clerk
James Beers
Page 15

State of Connecticut 
County of Fairfield}ss  Bridgeport
On this 4th day of May 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before
the Court of Probate in & for the
District of Shawford in said County
now sitting, James Beers
a resident of Trumbull in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged
Seventy one years, who being first sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. Vis--in the month of December 1777 my Father Peter Beers was drafted for three months at Shalford in Tanfield
County Connecticut to go into the United States Service (ill) as a substitute for my father & joined a militia company commanded by Stiles Judson of S Shalford at a place called Sawville on the lines in the State of New York James Benton of S Shatford (or that part
of Shatford which is now Trumbull) was Lieutenant of the company & one Mead was Colonel of the Regiment, one
Abel Lewis Day was our orderly Sargent -- I do not recollect any other officers under whom I served & the said Stiles Judson is now so feeble & broken in mind
& body he does not recollect me, & cannot testify to my said service. He does not recollect a single person who was in the company under him except Saml Edwards who was his (ill) Edward Wayland is a witness (ill) to prove this service-- he states in his Deposition that I was in Capt Nichols company. He is mistaken in that I was not in the company but went for my Father who was drafted the said Samuel Edwards is also a witness
to this service but he now resides at Manlius in
the State of New York a great distance & I cannot procure his testimony without great difficulty & he once--- Again in the month of June 1778 the whole Militia company in which I was enrolled commanded by Capt David Nichols of said Trumbull was ordered into service.  I went in said company to Compound in the State of New York where I served in said Company in the United States service two months--The company went first 10 Danbury then to Ledwick Borough & then to 
compound on the Hudson Col. Whiting had command of the Regiment Jabez Beach of Trumbull was with me & has given a deposition proving this service which I well recollect was full Two Months. Hezikiah Edwards of Trumbull was also in said company
Again in the month of November of the same year I was drafted by Capt David Nichols out of his Militia Company for three months to go on guard at Shalford on the shore on Long Island Sound.  Elijah Hawley & Abel Fairchild
 (the ill) were drafted at the same at
we went to So. Shatford about 10 miles from where I lived & served in the Guard under Lieut. Samuel Patterson said period of three months.  So Elijah Hawley who has given a Deposition to this period of Service which
was constant & without interval or (ill) no any other business the guard was under official disaffire
& was for the purpose of guarding the coast
from incursions from the enemy on Long Island & in the sound---Again in the summer of 1779-one Ezra Wheeler of the Town of Fairfield (Dec'd?) was drafted for 3 months I (ill) one guard at So. Fairfield- the S White
had engaged David Beardsly to go as a Substitute & the said
David asked me to take his place. As (ill) the said Beardsley was employed by Sgt. Wheeler to get a Substitute &
He did employ me (ill) into the service in the month of June & served under Capt Godfrey part of the time at said
Page 16

at Fairfield & part of the time on or near the lines I do not recollect any persons in Sd company or who was with me except the captain & Samuel French. The testimony of the (ill) I have perceived--my memory is very feebled but I distinctly recollect these four periods of service amounting to 11 months. All the officers except the afore mentioned Stiles Judson are dead under whom I served I was born at said Trumbull on the 23 April 1762 as appears by a record of my age made by my father which record (ill) & discharge nor (ill) any documentary evidence for service. There is just enough (ill) distinctly example a (this is just impossible. There is so much that is illegible that it's not possible to make sense of it). (The deposition ends with the signature of James Beers)
We, Samuel Beardsley residing in the town of Trumbull and David S. Turrel residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with James Beers who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 71 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
(signatures) Samuel Beardsley
David S. Turrel

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he sates. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Samuel Beardsley Esq who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the town of Trumbull and that David S. Turrel who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Trumbull and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Fitch Wheeler Judge

I R.S. Nichols clerk of the court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Beers for a Pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this (ill) day of (ill) 1833
R.S. Nichols Clerk

(There is are several lines of handwriting that follow that are mostly illegible)
Page 17

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield}ss Trumbull
On this 28th day of March A.D. 1855

Personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, duly authorized by law to administer oaths in and for the county aforesaid, Ruth Beers, aged about 88 years, a resident of said Trumbull in the State of Connecticut who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of James Beers, late of said Trumbull deceased, who was a private in the Revolutionary War and who was a pensioner of the United States under Act of June 7th 1832 at the rate of 
36 dollars and sixty six cents per annum and to his application for a pension at the pension office in Washington City & she refers for proof of his service in said war and that she is the widow of said James Beers and he was a pensioner of the United States in conformity with the 2nd section of the Act of February of 1838 at the rate of 36 dollars and sixty cents per annum that his pension continued (several ill words) and to her application for said pension she refers for proof of her marriage to said James 
and continued in actual service in said war for the term of about 11 months and was honorably discharged.
She further states that she was married to the said James in said Trumbull on the 6th day of May A.D. 1827 by one Ashbel Baldwin and that her name before her said marriage was Ruth Turney that her said husband died at Trumbull on the 24th day of December 1838 and that she is now a widow. She also declares that she has not received a warrant for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress, nor made any other application therefor. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the 'Act approved March 3, 1855'.
Ruth (her mark) Beers

We, Robert Turney and Theordore L Turney residents of said Trumbull in the State of Connecticut upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by said Ruth Beers in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be. 
(Signatures) Robert Turney and Theodore Turney.
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written: and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons: that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Samuel Beardslee Justice of the Peace
Page 18

(left side of the page)
Mch 2, 1896
Soldier pensioned to (ill) Hattie A. Ely New Haven Conn. 
Oct 30 (ill)
Hattie Alford Ely
New Haven Conn

(right side of the page)
25330
Rev. Widow & C.
File No 25330
Ruth Beers Wid. of James Beers
Priv. Rev. War
Act Feb 3rd 1863
Index: Vol A, Page 516
Page 19

Rec. Ev: 24 Dec, '38
(what appears to be an illegible signature)

Trumbull (ill)
April 14th
L.P. Waldo Esq
Comm. of Pensions & Bounty Land
Washington City D.C.

(in the right margin is a writing and numbers that are illegible)
Page 20

May 1st 1854.
No 4748
Ruth Beers
Wid. of
James
Fairfield, CO
Act of '53
$36.66 per An
Com: Feb 3 1853
Revy
Elijah Middlebrook
(ill)
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Page 21

25.330
James Beers
May 4 1833  71
Trumbull Ct. Born Apl. 23, 1762

Apr(?) 77 Trumbull Conn Capt. Stiles Judson
Col Mead Pvt. 3 mo.

Jun (?) 78 Capt. David Nichols  Col. Whiting
Priv. 2 mons.

Nov. 78 Capt. Nichols Col. 
Pvt 3 Mo

'79 Capt. Godfrey Col. 
Pvt 3 Mos

No (ill)
Mar Ruth Turney May 6 1827 died Dec. (ill) 1838
Page 22

13194
Page 23

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County
Ⓧ
Trumbull April 12 1855
L.P. Waldo Esq
Comm of Pensions &
Bounty Land
Sir I send you the application
of the widow Ruth Beers for Bounty Land
under act of Congress approved March 3 1855
please send her Bounty Land Warrant to me
Yours Respectfully
Samuel Beardslee
Page 24

State of Connecticut, Fairfield County
Bridgeport--May 27th 1854

L.P. Waldo Esq
Comm of Pensions
Sir, I send you the application of Ruth Beers for a pension, please send me her certificate at Bridgeport.
Elijah Middlebrook
Page 25

Rev. War Office
June 1st 1854
Sir
Please certify the time to which the within named pensioner was paid on the date of death.
Very Respectfully,
(ill signature)
(ill) Commissioner

Francis Bush Esq.
(ill)

(Written vertically on the right side)
James Beers, Oct 1832 $36.66 per annum,
paid to his death, 24 Dec. 1838
F. Bush Auditor
Page 26

Brief in the case of Ruth Beers, Widow of James
Fairfield County and State of Connecticut 
Act 3rd July 1853

Claim,
Proof Exhibited (if original)
Is it documentary, traditionary or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance:
Husband was pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832

(ill signature)
Page 27

I, Elijah Middlebrook of Trumbull in the County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut, Sixty eight years of age do depose and say that I have been well acquainted with Ruth Beers who is now applying for a pension for more than 40 years. That she resides in said Trumbull at the time she was married to her husband James Beers as I believe in the year 1827. As she has state in her declaration for a pension dated May 12 1854. That they lived together as man & wife in our immediate neighborhood until his decease and I have no doubt that she has remained his widow ever since his death to this time & I further depose and say that said James Beers was a pensioner of the United States which I have understood & fully believe on the roll of the Connecticut agency at the time of his decease. And that he died at said Trumbull on the 24th day of December A.D. 1838 as it appears by the record on his tombstone in said Trumbull. I attended him as his family physician during his last sickness.

and I further depose and say that the Rev. A. Baldwin now and was the officiating clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal church in said Trumbull as stated by him in his certificate of the marriage of said James Beers to said Ruth recorded in said town of Trumbull & hereunto attach--
Elijah Middlebrook
Page 28

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County}ss Bridgeport May 27 1854
Personally appeared Elijah Middlebrook who subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration before me who I certify is a credible witness and I further certify that I have no interest in the result of the application of Ruth Beers for a pension--
Stephen Hawley Justice of the Peace
Page 29

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield
County Court Clerk's Office }ss
I, Wm. H. Noble, Clerk of the county court, within and for Fairfield County, and keeper of the Seal thereof, and of the Commission of Justices of the Pease for said county, hereby certify that Elijah Middlebrook & Stephen Hawley Esquires upon the 15th & 27th days of May 1854 and now a Justice of the Peace within and for said county, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, having full power and authority by the laws of this State, to take the acknowledgement of Deeds and other instruments, and to certify the same; also to administer Oaths, to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; that full faith and credit may, and ought to be given to his official acts and attestations; that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and know that the signature to the instrument hereto annexed, purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature; and that said instrument is executed, acknowledged and duly authenticated according to the laws of this state.
In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said court at Bridgeport in said county and state on this 27th day of May A.D. 1854
W.H. Noble Clerk
Page 30

I Robert Turney of the Town of Trumbull in the County of Fairfield & State of Connecticut 53 years of age depose and say that I was present at the marriage of James Burrs of said Trumbull to Ruth Turney by the Rv'd Ashbel Baldwin which marriage took place in the month of May 1827.  that said James Beers died at said Trumbull as I believe on the 24th day of December 1838 he was buried on Christmas day I helped to layout & attended his funeral said Ruth is now applying for a pension as the widow of sd James Beers and said Ruth has never married since the death of said James Beers. I recollect hearing sd James Beeks speak of his having been allowed a pension. the reason that I know they were married the year previous to my own marriage said Ruth is my own mother's a resident of said Trumbull & that he has no pecuniary interest in the result of her application for a pension
Robert Turney

State of Connecticut}
County of Fairfield} Ss Bridgeport May 27 1854
Personally appeared before me Robert Turney aforesaid and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed who I notify is a credible witness and I further certify that I have no interest whatever in the result of this application of Ruth Beers for a Pension
Stephen Hawley Justice of the Peace
Page 31

State of Connecticut}
Fairfield County} Trumbull March 27 1855
I Theodore L Turney of Trumbull of lawful age depose and say that Ruth Beers who has made the foregoing affidavit for Bounty Land, is now the widow of James Beers who died at home [missing word] Trumbull in said Fairfield County on the 24 day of December 1838. That said James and Ruth lived and cohabitated together as man and wife and I have no doubt that they were married as she has stated in made application and that I saw him when dead and say the funeral procession that attended at his burial 
Theodore L. Turney

State of Connecticut}
Fairfield County}  Ss Trumbull March th 1955
Personally appeared Theodore L Turney who signed and made oath to the truth of the above deposition before me a Justice of the Peace duly qualified by law to administer oaths in said Fairfield County who I certify is a credible person well known to me and that  I have no interest in his claim of Ruth Beers for Bounty Land
Samuel Beardsley Justice of the Peace
Page 32

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County}ss Trumbull March 28th 1855
I, Robert Turney, of Trumbull of lawful age (ill) and say that Ruth Beers who has made the foregoing application for Bounty Land is now the widow of James Beers who died at Trumbull in said Fairfield County on the 24th day of December 1838, that said James and Ruth lived and (ill) together as man and wife and I have no doubt that they were married as she has stated in said application and that I saw him when he was dead and attended at his funeral.
(signature) Robert Turney 

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County   March 28th 1855
Personally appeared Robert Turney who signed and made oath in the matter of the above deposition before me a Justice of the Peace duly qualified by law to administer oaths in said Fairfield County who I certify is a credible person well known to me and that I have no interest in the claim of Ruth Beers for Bounty Land
Samuel Beardslee Justice of the Peace
Page 33

STATE OF CONNECTICUT}
COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD}
COUNTY COURT CLERK'S OFFICE} Ss

I Amos S. Treat Clerk of the County Court, within and for Fairfield County, and keeper of the Seal thereof, and of the Commission of Justices of the Peace for said County, hereby certify --That Samuel Beardslee ESQUIRE, was on the 28th day of March 1855 and now is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, having full power and authority by the laws of the State, to take the acknowledgement of Deeds and other instruments, and to certify the same; also to administer Oaths, to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; that full faith and credit may, and ought to be given to his official acts and attestations ; that I am acquainted with his handwriting and know that the signatures to the instrument hereto annexed, purporting to be his, are his genuine official signatures and that said instruments is executed, acknowledged, and duly authenticated according to the laws of this State.

In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and affix the Sel of said Court, at Bridgeport, in said County and State, on this 12th day of April A.D. 1855

Amos S. Treat, Clerk
Page 34

Room 421, Exchange Bldg,
New Haven, Conn. Oct. 24, 1901

Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen, kindly give me a statement of the military history of James Beers, Sr. and James Beers, Jr. father and son, who fought in the Revolutionary War--also of Rue or Reuben Hopson, who was also in the Revolutionary
Page 35

war. I wish the same for record in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Would also like the military history of Col. John Ely of Revolutionary fame.
Thanking you in advance, I am, sincerely yours,
Hattie Alford Ely
Page 36

State of Connecticut}
Fairfield County}
On this 26th day of April AD 1833 personally appeared before me David Beach Justice of the Peace, within and for said Fairfield County Samuel French of the town of Trumbull in the said County of Fairfield, well known to me to be a credible witness who being duly sworn, testifies and says that he is well acquainted with James Beers of the town of Trumbull in said Fairfield County, that in the year 1779 the Deponent and James Beers belonged to a Militia Company in said Trumbull, then  Stratford commanded by Capt. David Nichols, Lieut. Ephraim Sterling, and Ensign Thaddeus Beardslee in Col. Whiting's Regiment of Infantry, the Deponent was drafted, and the said James Beers served as a substitute for Ezra Wheeler of the town of Fairfield, for three months in the year 1779, in Connecticut and New York near what was then called the linez. Our company was commanded by Capt. Godfrey and further the Deponent saith not.
Samuel French

Sworn and subscribed the 26th day of April 1833
before me David Beach Justice of the Peace
Page 37

State of Connecticut
District of Stratford
Fairfield County} Bridgeport May 11, 1833

S.R. Nichols clerk of (the rest is largely illegible)
Page 38

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County}ss
On the 25th day of April A.D. 1833, personally appeared before me, David Beach Justice of the Peace in and for said Fairfield County--Jabez Beach, of the town of Trumbull, in the said County of Fairfield, well known to me to be a credible witness, who being duly sworn testifies and says that he is well acquainted with James Beers of the town of Trumbull in said Fairfield County, that in the year 1778 I the deponent and James Beers belonged to a militia company, commanded by Capt. David Nichols, Lieut. Ephraim Sterling and Ensign Thaddeus Beardslee in Col. Whiting's regiment. That I and the said James Beers served two months in the State of New York, in 1778, near the place called Grimponds. We were neighbors and went and returned together and further the deponent saith not--
(signature) Jabez Beach

Sworn and subscribed the 25th day of April 1833 before me, David Beach, Justice of the Peace.
Page 39

State of Connecticut
District of Stratford
Fairfield County }  Bridgeport May 2d 1833
S.R. Nichols clerk of the court....(the rest is largely illegible)
Page 40

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County} Trumbull Mar 2 1833
Personally appeared before me Elijah Middlebrook Esq. Justice of the Peace in and for said County, Edward Wayland of said town of Trumbull to me well known to be a credible witness and being sworn testifies and says that he is well acquainted with James Beers of said Trumbull a Revolutionary Soldier and served with him in the Revolutionary war three months at a place called Sawfields near New York under Capt. Stiles Judson the name of our Col. was Mead. And, the deponent and said Beers belonged to a militia company commanded by Capt. David Nichols, Ephraim Sterling was our Lieut. and Thaddeaus Beardslee our Ensign, Col Whiting commanded the regiment. 
I am positively knowing that said James Beers as a private served the said three months at said place as a substitute for his father Peter Beers, now Deced.  Said time of service began in December A.D. 1777 and ended in March 1778 when we were both discharged.
And further the deponent saith not
(signature) Edward Wayland
Sworn and subscribed the 2d day of May 1833 before me
Elijah Middlebrook Justice of the Peace
Page 41

State of Connecticut
District of Stratford
Fairfield County} 
(the rest is largely illegible)
Page 42

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County
On this 23rd day of April 1833
Personally appeared before me Samuel Beardslee Justice of the Peace within and for said Fairfield county Elijah Hawley of the Town of Trumbull in said Fairfield County well known to me the said Justice to be a credible witness who being sworn testifies and says that he is well acquainted with James Beers of the town of Trumbull in said Fairfield County that in the year 1778 the deponent and James Beers belonged to a militia company in said Trumbull then Stratford commanded by Capt. David Nichols, Lieut. Ephraim Sterling and Ensign Thaddeus (ill) the deponent and said James Beers were both drafted from said company to stand guard in Stratford in said county for three months in the year 1778 and went and served steadily without interruption or absence we were neighbors and went and returned together said guard was commanded by Lieut. Patterson the Regiment by Col. Whiting and further the deponent saith not. 
Elijah Hawley
Sworn and subscribed the 23rd day of April 1833
Before me Samuel Beardslee Justice of the Peace.
Page 43

State of Connecticut
District of (ill)
Fairfield County}ss  (ill) 1833

S. R. Nichols clerk of the court of Trumbull in aforesaid District (the rest is largely illegible)