Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15143, for Thomas Stephenson, Connecticut
Page 1

Service                                             Number
Conn.       Stephenson, Thomas      W.15143
                 Olds, Hannah

                                      Former  widow
Page 2

                                THE
                    NEW TESTAMENT
                             OF OUR

                     LORD and SAVIOR

                        JESUS CHRIST,
            Newly Translated out of the
                     ORIGINAL GREEK

                 And with the former
                      TRANSLATION
Diligently Compared and  [illegible word]
     By His Majesty's Special Command

   Appointed to be Read in CHURCHES
                            [SEAL]
              Stevenson, Thomas, Conn
                                                W 15143
                        EDINBURGH

      Printed by ADRIAN T. WADKINS  His 
          MAJESTY's Pri [illegible]MDCCLVI
Page 3

January 19th AD 1762
Then we was married December 4th AD 1762
Honour Hannah was born October 28 AD 1864 
[illegible letters] Ludeau was born 
John was born April the 23rd AD 1767
[illegible] born AD 1769 then
        [illegible] was born -

John departed this life July the 26 AD 1770.
Anne born June 4, 1771
..[illegible]  parted this Life  September  [illegible]  1771
Page 4

   Massachusetts
  Hannah Olds, formerly widow of Thomas 
                               Stephenson
who died in the month of October 1776  of Franklin Co. in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Blake of the regts commanded by ______ in the Con. Militia line for 2 months Private   4 months Lieut.

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate if 60 Dollars ____ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of Nov  1840 and delivered to F.A. Dickens Esq
   Present

Arrears to the 4th of March 1740       $ 600.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept    30.00
                                                            _________
                                                           $ 630.00

                                 {Revolutionary Claim,
                                 Act July 4, 1836,
                                 Section the 3.}
Recorded by D. Brown    Clerk
Book c.  Vol. I  Page 61
Page 5

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire County Js
    On this twenty second day of April in the  year one thousand eighteen hundred forty Hannah Olds of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged ninety four years at her residence at said Sheffield before the Hon William B. Walker Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the said County of Berkshire.  She being unable by reason pf bodily infirmity to attend open Court, who being first duly  sworn according to Conn doth on her oath makes the following declaration  in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July4, 1836, and the act  explanatory of said act passed March 3, 1834 -  That she was married to Thomas Stephenson, who according to her best recollection. (She being unable by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory; to state with precision) about the first of June 1775 entered the service in the Revolutionary War, as an ensign in a Company commanded by Capt. Blake of the Connecticut Militia or Troops & continued to Roxbury, near Boston Mass and continued then during that campaign & until its close, & then  returned to his family in Chatham Cont where he then enlisted .....-  and that on the first Monday or April 1776 he was ordered to rendevous at Middletown in Connecticut  from that time continued in service until his death,,,, which took place in October 1776.  In the year1776 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant -  He died as he was informed & .... died in Bergens, New Jersey when he was ordered by Genl Washington -
Page 6

She further declares that she was married to said Thomas Stephenson on the fourteenth day of January 1762, that her husband the aforesaid Thomas Stephenson died in the service in October 1776 as before stated, the exact  day of his death she cannot  around state. and that she was afterwards married to Ebenzer Olds, to wit about  twelve years after the death of said Stephenson, and the said Olds died more than thirty years ago, but further reason aforesaid she cannot state the exact time of his death and that she was a Widow on the 4th July 1836, and still remains a Widow as will more fully appear by reference to that proof herewith transmitted - She knows of no record or other evidence of her marriage to said Stephenson except the record [illegible] many years ago in their family Bible, the leaf containing which has been taken from sd Bible & hereto annexed .-
                                                     her
S. Apr. 22nd 1840          Hannah     X     Olds
                                                    mark

Subscribed & sworn to at Sheffield aforesaid on this twenty second day of April in the year eighteen hundred & forty at the dwelling house of said Hannah Olds she being unable from age and bodily infirmity unable to attend in open Court & make her declaration

 Before me, William P. Walker Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire County SS   I Henry W. Bishop Register of the Court of Probate within & for said County of Berkshire do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Judge of said Court in the matter if the
Page 7

matter of the application of Hannah Olds for a pension that the Honorable William P Walker, whose signature is annexed to the foregoing declaration and also to the certificate of oath subjoined to the annexed deposition of Betsy Curtis is the Judge of said Court duly commissioned and qualified, and that the signatures purporting to be his are his genuine signature.

In witness whereof I have herein to set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty third day of April in the year Eighteen hundred & forty.-  
               Henry W. Bishop Regr Probate

[Seal affixed, lower left corner]
Page 8

            5033
          ________

Hannah Olds, formerly
widow of Thos. Stephenson
  Mass
Act 4 July 1836

F. A. Dickins
        Presh
       Apl 29. 1840
Page 9

I Betsey Curtis of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire Masses testify and say, that I am the daughter of Hannah Olds of said Sheffield that my father's name was Thomas Stephenson who died as I have been informed during the Revolutionary War when I was an infant - the leaf from an old Bible attached to the application of my said Mother for a Pension, on which is written "January 14th A.D. 1762. Then we was married:  I have always understood from my Mother was a Record of [next two words crossed out] her marriage with my father and of the birth part of her family - I was born June 10, 1776. The said leaf has been in the properties of my Mother ever since I can remember, and I have understood from my Mother the said Record is in the hand writing of my father - some years after the death of my father, my mother was married to Ebenezer Olds who died more than thirty years ago and the said Hannah has been a widow ever since -
                                                her
                                  Betsey     X   Curtis
                                               mark
S. Apl. 22nd 1841.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts'
Berkshire Js -  April 22, 1841. Then the above named Betsey Curtis subscribed & swore to the foregoing deposition and I certify  that she is a credible person

  William P. Walker Judge of Probate
Page 10

August 20, 1925.

Miss Anna A. Raymond,
3626 Daring St.
Philadelphia, Penn.

Madam:

     I have to advise you, that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 15143. [underlined]. it appears that Thomas Stephenson, [name underlined], while residing in Chatham, Conn., entered the service about June1,1775, as an Ensign in Captain Blake's Company of Connecticut Militia and served to the close of the year.

     He was commissioned June 10,  1776. First Lieutenant of  a Connecticut Company and while so serving under Captain Johnson, in August 1776 was ordered on guard duty to Bergen, New Jersey and there taken sick with "camp distemper" and died in October 1776.

    He married January 14, 1762, Hannah, maiden name not stated.  Their children were:

Hannah   born December 4, 1762.
Lidde        "      October 28, 1764.
John          "      April 23, 1767, died July 26, 
                                           1770.
Joshoa      "       April 25, 1769, died September 
                                       17, 1771
Susanna    "      June 4,1771
Betsey       "      June 10 1776,  (married --- 
                         Curtis and in 1852 was the only 
                         surviving child.)
    And another daughter, name not stated.
Page 11

  The widow Hannah married in 1787, Ebenezer Olds, who soon died, date not stated.

She was allowed pension on account of the services of Thomas Stephenson, on her application executed April 23, 1840, while residing in Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, aged ninety four years.  She died August 30, 1840.

     Respectfully,

Pinfield Scott
   Commissioner.


        (Thomas Stephenson- W. 15143-)
 Aud. Aug 20, 1925 - see Conn. Archives p 414-
Thos Stephenson, Lieut of Capt J. Johnson's Co.  Col P.B. Bradleys Regt (not Col Durkee) therefore I omitted Durkee, as Ephersom Whitaker was the only person who said Durkee & he himself served in that regiment
Page 12

To                      Sent
Thomas Stephenson
           att 
      Chatham

Stephenson, Thomas
Conn. W 15143
Page 13

NOTE:  I have been transcribing these documents for weeks and this is probably the most difficult I have found because of the spelling and vernacular language. 

Bergain October the 4 day 1776  -
For Mrs. Stephenson as in my last letter I informed you  that your Husband was then a sick man but not [two illegible words] but Dear   I am  as have since bin [sic] marched Back to Bergain twelve miles from home and have bin  up once before to Lee limbe..[limped?] for now but my Duty is to have that journey   Could git not hors to ride.. but both times was abliged [sic]to go afoot & thus say have to [illegible] twelve miles to see him and Dear madam .. as find him a very sick man and on my Judgement an.thing  dangerous  ... but not with out hope - he has his reason [illegible] and before sd you could come and see him he will better or in the ground which may god grant me not by the life of me now with him and by his Design write to you the truth of the state and by his [illegible] live  Send you the benefit of [illegible] to you and your Dear Children and all friends and especially to the  [illegible] I am strong [illegible] and desire him to put up a potion in publick [sic] on his
Page 14

[This is a continuation of the prior page where I have explained the difficulty in transcribing this particular document]


slant of myself with you before to join with him in all [ink blot on word]  of that no time lest you may depend on that of will take and the loan payable and if he not go well and as a am at that battle as shall see that you are not wrong but Dear madam as the man is not writing and as the greatest loss on your [next 3-4 words illegible] myself your  [next words crossed out]
Ever Well Wishes till Death
  Jonathan Johnson


the above letter is .... in the greatest  high [?]
and by the Desine of
Husband till Death tho....

            [words on right of above text are 
            partially covered]
Page 15

1                            5033
Petition

Hannah Olds - widow 
of Thomas Stephenson
for the 7 years half 
pay ... in the case 
of Lt. Thos. Stephenson 
who died in the service 
during the Revolutionary war
        _______________

Decr. 20 1838
Ref to the Committee
on Revy Claims

Jan. 4. 1844 Ref (under Risole) to
the Commit on the Claims


Craig  145  Rev Cl
Page 16

To the Honl the Sennate [sic] and Hous [sic]  of Representatives of the United States [inserted] of America in Congress Assembled, the Petition of the Subscriber Hannah Olds, of the Town of Sheffield Berkshire County, State Ms, Late the Widow of Lieut Thomas Stephenson, of the Army of the Revolutionary war Herewith that she cums ]sic]to Present her Claims before your Hon Body, for the seven years half pay promised to the widows of such officers who ware kild in battel [sic], or die by sickness, under the Act of Seventeen hundred and Eighty, in October 1776 He was ordered by General Washington, to take the command at Bergen New Jersey opesite [sic] New York, to prevent the British from Landimg and taking away Cattle, Sheep etc. from the farmers where he was stationed ,  sick and died, was with his oldest Sergeant buried in one grave and that your Petitioner was left with five small Children 
    Had sard Struggle to bring them up they being all daughters  Could not expect much help from them,      I lived the widow of Lt Stephenson till 1787 when  in the year my second marriage took place with Ebenezer Olds and in a few years left widow again.  I never have recd anything from government or from the state on account if my husband Lieut Stephenson services  saith Dutiful Respect  Your Petitioner presents her Claim  

   [Signed] Hannah Olds
Page 17

J. Sage says died in 76 
October proven by a 
Witness

  Stamp affixed
Page 18

State of Connecticut}  SS Chatham
County of Middlesex}

I Enoch Sage of Chatham aforesaid being duly sworn depose [inserted] and say that I am eighty  six years old; that I have always been a resident of said Chatham and was well acquainted with Thomas Stephenson of Said Chatham who was a Lieutenant in the Army of the Revolution, that the Said Lieutenant, Thomas Stevenson, died while he was in the Army, and according to the best of my recollection, the news of his death was received in Chatham in the fall of the year seventeen hundred and seventy six. A neighbor of mine by the name of Eber Stocking, who is now dead, was a Sergeant  in the same company with Lieut. Stevenson. I have heard the Said Eber Stocking relate the circumstances  attending the sickness and death of Said Stevenson, and that he the Said Stocking assisted in burying him.- The Said Stocking was a man if veracity, and I have no doubt of
Page 19

the truth of his statement. Mrs. Hannah Stevenson the widow of the Said Lieut. Stevenson resided in Said Chatham at the time of his death and continued to reside there as a near neighbor of mine and remained until the year seventeen hundred and eighty six, according to the best of my recollection, when she removed to the State of Massachusetts. She did not intermarry after the decease of Said Stevenson to my knowledge but was to my knowledge the widow of Said Stevenson when she removed from Said Chatham to Massachusetts, Since that time, I have not seen her.
  [Signed]  Enoch Sage

Subscribed and
sworn to this 12th
day of October A.D.
1838  before me     Jonathan Barnes
                              A    Justice of the Peace

In presence of

Charlotte Sage
Julia A. Sage                                   I the Said
Page 20

orders; and this deponent distinctly remembers the facts & circumstances herein before stated -
  [Signed]  Ephraim Whitaker

Subscribed & Sworn before me this 10th April 
                1838
[Signed] Justine Kellogg Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Rensselaer Cunty}  Js   I Henry R Bristol CLerk of the dsaid COunty of Rensselaer do certify that Justin Kellogg Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit appeared & have been Sworn was at the time of taking the same a JUstice of the peace in & for the COunty of [illegible] duly Commissioned & Sworn also that I am well acuainted with the hand writing of the Said Justice and that his Signature above written id genuine
   Given under my hand & teh seal of the said County this 16th day of April 1838
Henry R, Bristol Clk.
Page 21

State of New York
Rensselaer County}  Js  Ephrain Whitaker of the City of Troy and the County of Rensselaer and State of New York being duly sworn deposeth and Saith that he is now in the Eighty fourth Year of his age and that he served as an officer with the pay of [last six words inserted] a captain in the War of the Revolution; that after the British took the City of New York in the year one thousand seventeen hundred and Seventy Six they were continually robbing the inhabitants on Jersey shore; General Washington ordered Captain Johnson with his company from Col. Durkee;s Regiment over to Jersey and to place his men at different points so as to prevent the British from landing and plundering the Farmers of their stock  Captain Johnson's Lieut was Thomas Stevenson, his orderly Sergeant was David Goodrich, these two officers with part of the men referred to were posted at Bergen Point in New Jersey - in the fall of that year I think in October, the camp distemper as it was called. commenced in almost all encampments; Lieut. Stephenson was taken down with it, and while he lay on his death bed Sergeant Goodrich was taken & died the night before the Lieut. Stephenson and they were both buried in one grave. After then notice of their death arrived at the regiment. The next morning it was announced in regimental orders, and another Lieutenant and Sergeant was ordered to New Jersey and to report themselves to the commandant Capt. Johnson immediately at the period above referred to & acted in the capacity of Sergeant Major, in Col Durkee's Regiment, and of course had see to the due execution of all regimental
Page 22

orders; and this deponent distinctly remembers the facts & circumstances herein before stated -
  [Signed]  Ephraim Whitaker

Subscribed & Sworn before me this 10th April 
                1838
[Signed] Justine Kellogg Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Rensselaer County}  Js   I Henry R Bristol Clerk of the said County of Rensselaer do certify that Justin Kellogg Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit appeared & have been Sworn was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the peace in & for the County of [illegible] duly Commissioned & Sworn also that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the Said Justice and that his Signature above written is genuine
   Given under my hand & the seal of the said County this 16th day of April 1838
Henry R. Bristol Clk.
Page 23

I Asabel Waterman of Blanford in the County of Hampton in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age do depose and say, That I am now seventy four years of age, that I was well acquainted with Ensign Thomas Stevenson who when alive resided at Chatham in Connecticut, that I went to live with said Stephenson as an apprentice to the Blacksmith's, had just previous to the breaking out if the war of the revolution, that soon after I commenced my apprenticeship which I think was in the winter 1774-5, said Stephenson was called upon to come home and go into the service of his Country. Said Stephenson left home in the early part of the season of 1775 and was gone from home until the close of that year. I returned home myself and never went back to my apprenticeship.  I fully recollect that in the following year Said Stephenson again left home and it [word inserted] was said again went into the service of the Country, but died during his absence.  I further say that I was well acquainted with his wife who is now the widow Olds, and resides in Sheffield, as I understand.  I have not seen her for the last three years, but when I did see her last I readily recognized her as the same person who I formerly knew as Mrs. Stephenson and further say not.
   [Signed] Asabel Waterman
Page 24

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire

  I Charles Sedgewick Clerk of the Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the County of Berkshire do certify that Robert A. Branard Esq. whose signature is affixed to the foregoing certificate, was at this  date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace within & for the County duly commissioned & acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and that full faith & credit are & ought to be given to his acts [illegible] done in his capacity & his signature purporting to be his is genuine

  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix the Seal if the Court of Common Pleas  for said Commonwealth this thirtieth day of October 1840.

   {Signed]  Charles Sedgewick Clerk
Page 25

I Ephraim Whitaker of the City of Troy State of New York aged 85 years deposeth and saith that I was Sergeant Major of Colonel John Durkees regiment in 1776, we were ordered to rendezvous on the first Monday of April 1776. A part of us at Middletown Connecticut and a part at Durham in Connecticut from which places part of us were ordered to New Haven and part to Danbury in Connecticut, and sometime in Derne. Durkees regiment with the other eastern troops were ordered to Verplanks Point or near that and that Lieutenant Thomas Stephenson was attached to the regiment of Colonel Durkee and that in sometime in July or the fore part of August je the said Lieutenant Stephenson was ordered by General Washington over to Bergen in the State of New Jersey to prevent the enemy then in New York from plundering the inhabitants and that I saw him when he took his departure from the regiment and that I never saw him more but understood that he died at Bergen and further deponent saith not.
         [Signed] Ephraim Whitaker

Subscribed & sworn this 20th
day of March 1840 before me
   [Signed] N T. W Martin  Justice of the Peace
Page 26

                                    Treasury Department
                                    Third Auditor's Office
                                    Decr. 8th 1853-.

Sir,
I herewith return the papers in the case of Hannah Olds decd, submitted in your letter of the 6th inst., & in reply have to inform you that from the books in this office she appears to have died on the 30 August 1840, & has been paid in full to that date.

                                         Very respectfully
                                         You Obl. Serv.
                                         Ralph J. Morrison
                                              Auditor

G. Minot Esq
Commr. of Pensions
Page 27

Sheffield Nov. 7th 1855
   J. Minot Esqr

Sir,
{NOTE"  The following paragraph has been crossed out]
The enclosed Warrant was sent to me with the one for Mrs. Betsy Shears. I do not know the man, I think it was a mistake. I therefore return it, hoping it may find its true owner

In [the word summer was crossed out] Spring [inserted] of 1852 Mrs. Betsey Curtiss , daughter of Thomas Stephenson who died in service of the Revolution, gave power of attorney to Francis A. Dickins of Washington City, to make application for an allowance she supposed to have on the pension of her Mother, Mrs. Hannah Olds, deceased [word inserted]. If consistent with your rules she would like to know whether such application was made or anything recovered upon it -
Also, the amount of all pension drawn on Mrs. Hannah Olds' account-
And whether anything is due to Mrs. Curtiss -
           Respectfully yours  Harvey Rogs
Page 28

     Apl 10/52
     Pow: atty: in case
    of Hannah Olds
       deceased
      ___________

       Map 
          Kirby

F. A. Dickens
    Present
     ______
Page 29

Washington 10 April 1852

Sir,

Enclosed I hand you a power of Attorney from Mrs. Betsey Curtiss, only daughter of Mrs. Hannah Olds whose pension certificate I issued in 1842.- I was compelled to service the certificate for a smaller amount than was due because W. Edwards refused to allow what the widow was entitle to.- I now claim whatever the evidence and law shows she should have received.
                         Yours respectfully,
                               Francis A. Dickins

To the Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 30

Claim of Hannah Olds decd.
Act of 4th July 1836  ________________

STATE OF Massachusetts
County of Berkshire} SS

   Be it known, That on this seventh day of April A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty two, before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mrs. Betsey Curtiss - a resident of Sheffield - in said County, and made oath according to law that she is the only child of Mrs. Hannah Olds decd.

Who was a Revolutionary Pensioner as the widow of Thomas Stephenson decd, at the rate of Sixty _ Dollars per annum; that she has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that she is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in presenting said claim.
                   [Signed}  Betsey Curtiss


Sworn and subscribed, the day and
year aforesaid, before me}
  Bartlett Doten   J. Peace

I, Barlett Doten, Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, do hereby certify that Mrs. Betsey Curtiss - who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
  [Signed]  Bartlett Dotens, J. Peace.

I Charles Sedgewick Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the County and State aforesaid, so hereby certify that Bartlett Doten Esq before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice if the Peace in and for said County, duly subscribed by law to administer oaths; and the name hereunto subscribed , in his signature.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this third day of April A.D. 1852.
    [Signed}  Charles Sedgewick Clerk
Page 31

POWER OF ATTORNEY - Revolutionary Pension 
              Claims.
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Betsey Curtiss of Sheffield, Berkshire County, Mass.- only child of Hannah Olds and Thomas Stevenson did hereby constitute and appoint Francis A DIckins my true and lawful Agent and Attorney . to prosecute the Claim of Hannah Olds decd for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or argument; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to myself.
_______________________________________ 
to appoint one or more substitutes under home for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present.  Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall awfully do in the premises.'
Witness my hand and Seal this 2 day of April A.D.. 1852.

    [Signed} Betsey Curtiss

Signed and Sealed in the presence of
Bartlett Doten
Harvey Roys


State of Massachusetts
County of Berkshire} SS:

On the Second day of Apl A.D. 1852 before me, the subscriber, as Justice of the Peace of the County aforesaid, personally appeared Miss Betsey Curtiss ------ and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be her act and deed, for the purpose therein mentioned.

  IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, the day and year aforesaid.}
        [Signed]   Bartlett Doten, J. Peace.
Page 32

Nov 5 1840

retd papers

Hannah Olds
________
Page 33

                                         Washington
                                             5  Nov. 1840

Sir, 
      Enclosed I have the honour to return to you the Affidavit of A Chancy ad Sn Waterman in the case of Mrs. Hannah Olds duly authenticated.

                                 Yours very respectfully
                                            Francis ., Dickins

James L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Page 34

State of New York
Columbia County}   Js   Abiel Chancy of the City of Hudson in the County of Columbia, being duly sworn saith that he is {word inserted] upwards of eighty two years old and had resided in the City of Hudson forty six years last past:  Deponent says that he was acquainted with Thomas Stevenson a Lieutenant in the regular army of the United States during the revolutionary war that said Thomson resided in the Town of Chatham in the State of Connecticut and died as this deponent heard and always understood - in October 1776 at Bergen in the State of New Jersey. Deponent further says that he was acquainted with Hannah Stevenson the wife of said Thomas Stevenson, who is now Dec widow and aged as deponent thinks expired at ninety years; the said Hannah remained a widow several years and deponent thinks about ten years after the death of the said Thomas and then married a man by the name of Olds, who is now dead....

                               [Signed] Abiel Chancey
Sworn before me this
27th July 1836 -}
Jos Monell
Comt of Deed

State of New York
Secretary's Office}  I certify that Joseph I. Monell before whom the above deposition was made was on the 27th day of July 1836 a Commissioner of Deeds for the City of Hudson in this State duly Commissioned and sworn and by law authorized to take Depositions and to Administer oaths and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to his official acts - Given under my hand and Seal of Office the 2d day of November A.D. 1840.  and I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Monell  and certify the signature on the  above affidavit to be genuine
                      J. C. Spenser Secretary of State 
J.C. Spencer  [illegible]

[Stamp affixes. lower left]
Page 35

Thomas Stephenson d Oct 1776

Comm. or Lieut date at pres 
    ca. 1776

A letter from Wm Johnson dated Oct 4, 1776 giving an account of Stephenson & sent his wife in which the children are mentioned.  May be filed with Mrs. Olds paper or the file in the H.R.  May Allan4erd i Lat.
The service 17.5 as Ens. not yet established.  
                                                   HHL
Page 36

                     Oct 15.1840


Hannah Olds



F.A. Dickins. Esq. 
           Present.
Page 37

                                    Washington.
                                       13 Oct. 1840

Sir.
    Referring to your letter to me of the 15th May  & 18th June .... in the case of Mrs. Hannah Olds widow of Thomas Stephenson, I beg leave to remark that I have tried and find that I can provide no further evidence  of Stephenson as  served as an Ensign in 1775.  That from the particular circumstances under which [illegible] was estimated it is not possible that he could be mistaken as to the fact of Stephenson having served in 1775, and that as it is known that the records are imperfect and admitted that he served as a lieutenant for four months in 1776 and died in the service and it is not at all probable that he would have been appointed a lieutenant in 1776 unless he had been in the service before  in  some lower grade. I hope you will [illegible]  examine the case & if you find that you cannot admit it connect the history of [illegible] upon the output.

                    Yours very respectfully
                          Francis A. Dickins

James L. Edwards Esq,
        Com. of Pensions
Page 38

June 4.1840

declaration not sent 
by Mr. Dickins
        [Initials illegible]
    June 5.






F.A. Dickins
   Prest
Page 39

                                     Washington
                                          4 June 1840.

Sir. 

    Referring to your letter of the 15th ult. in the case of Hannah Olds. I have the honour to inform you that I wrote to the Comptroller of Public Accounts at Hartford Com & that he can find no evidence of the [illegible] of Lt. Thomas Stephenson. Enclosed I hand you his letter. I also return to you the papers from the House of Representatives which I will thank you to let me have again when you act upon this case.  As you desire to keep the Commission on file in the Pension Office be as good as to place a Copy of it with the papers you return.
                        Yours very respectfully
                                 Francis A. Dickens

James L. Edwards Esq
Comr. of Pennsylvania.
Page 40

                                 Washington 28 April 1840.

Sir,

Enclosed I have the honor to present to you the claim of Hannah Olds, widow of Lt. Thomas Stephenson for a pension. The widow applied to congress in 1838 for the seven years half pay due on account of her husbands having died in the service, which claim is now before Congress. I have forwarded the papers from the  member to whom the case was referred for examination in order to [illegible word] them to you and as they will have to be returned to the Committee in a few days I hope you will be so good as to have the case examined immediately and any notes made of the papers that you may consider necessary.

                           Yours very respectfully.   
                               Francis A Dickins 
James L. Edwards Esq
Com: of Pensions.
Page 41

]check mark , illegible initials]

Francis A. Dickins Esq
                Washington City
                            D. C.
Page 42

Revl 30 May 1840                                 2970
                    Comptrollers Office
 Hartford May 27 1840

Dear Sir
  I have examined the few Pay Rolls remaining in this Office relating to the Revolutionary War for the Years 1775 etc. in this Office for the name of Thomas Stephenson. his name does not appear -
                               Very Respectfully
                                   Your obt servant
                                     Henry Hilborne Comp

See Conn Book page 414

Francis A. Dickins Esqr.
         Washington
Page 43

     Conn
    15-143
Rev Widow, etc.

File No  15143
Hannah Olds
Former Widow of
Thomas Stephenson
Lieut Rev War
_________--
 Act: July 4th 86
Index:- Vol  M,  Page 99
[Arrangement of 1870.[
Page 44

June 19.1897 History to
Miss Alice E Corthill
North Egremont, Mass
____
Dec. 21/94 - to Mrs. Sophia 
C. Hoffman 458 N. 144th St., 
          N.Y. City
___________
Dec. 9 '99
Miss K.H. Morse
New Rochelle N.Y.

1925 Aug. 20  [illegible word] to
 ..rma M. Raymond
Page 45

O. W. & N. Div.
Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF OENSIONS.
Washington. D.C. .................., 189.......

Respectfully returned to the writer, who is requested to furnish, for the purposes of identification, as much as possible of the information called for below.
                     Wm  Lockern
                           Commissioner
_________
Full name of soldier:
       Lieut. Thomas Stephenson
Place of residence before service:
 (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
       Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn.
Place of residence after service: 
(Town, county, and State if possible.)
         Died in prison
Date of death (as near as possible0:
         October 8 - 1776
Christian name of widow:
         Hannah Taylor Stephenson
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
          Yes. his widow
Remarks:
       Thos. Stephenson died on the prison ship Jersey of Typhoid fever being taken prisoner during the war.

Your name and address:
Alice E. Corthell
North Egremeont.
Mass.

2338b2m
Page 46

[Rectangular stamp]

 [information in upper and lower left and right corners is illegible]

OLD WAR & NAVY
    MAY 24 1897
         FILES
Page 47

[Inverted rectangular stamp at top of page]

                        O. W. & N. DIVISION
                                SEP. 20 189
                                  RECEIVED

The Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Please let me know at your earliest convenience if the enclosed information entitles one to become a member of "The Daughters of the American Revolution"
                     and oblige
                             Yours Respectfully.
                                    Kittie Hoffman Morse.
Home Parsl. [?]
               New Rochelle,
                       N.Y.
Sept. 26th 1899.
Page 48

[Circular stamp]

       PENSION
            H
          SEP
U.       27         S.
        1899
      OFFICE
Page 49

Thomas Stephenson was my great-great grandfather and Hannah Olds his wife, my great- great grandmother. Lieutenant Stephenson was taken prisoner in the City of New York and died from fever. His wife Hannah with two children (girls) came to Berkshire. Miss Betsy Stephenson the younger daughter, married
Page 50

Col. Abijah Curtiss. She was the mother of thirteen children, all born in the town of Sheffield, Mass. One of the six boys being my grandfather - Orren Curtiss - of Sheffield Mass. who was my Mothers' Father.  My sister's name 
was Sophia Curtiss who married George Hoffman. I am one of three children who married Hazen Morse 

                 [A Pension Office stamp affixed on the right side is dated Sep. 17, 1899; a stamp from the O.W. & N. Records files is dated Sep.29 1899.]
Page 51

                       MRS. ANNA A. RAYMOND
                           2626 BARING STREET
                             PHILADELPHIA,  PA
                                                 July 1, 1925

Bureau of Pensions, 
         Washington, D.C.   

Gentlemen: -
I am enclosing  a copy of a letter written in 1776 by Thomas Stevenson, of Chatham, N.Y. to his daughter. He was a prisoner on one of the British prison ships. 
                            I write to ask if
Page 52

it is possible there is any data bout him in your Bureau and if is, could I be furnished with a copy. I am a great great Grand [ word underlined] daughter of Mr. Stevenson and as a family we are most anxious to learn more about him.

Will you also kindly give me any data you may have concerning Captain Ephraim Whitaker, a soldier and
Page 53

officer in the American Revolution?  He was born in Dighton, Mass. in 1755 and enlisted in 1775. He was in the battle of Germantown and Monmouth, and aided in the capture of Major General Prescott.

For anything you may be able to send me, I shall be very grateful.
                                   Yours very truly'
                                    Anna A. Raymond.
Page 54

Copy of letter written by Thomas Stevenson to his daughter Hannah.  August 4, 1776

Kind and loving and affection daughter; Set down at this time to rite to you to let you know that I am well at this time as I hope through the goodness of God these lines will find you and all your sisters. I hope that you will behave yourself so prudent while I am away from
Page 55

home so as to obey your mother in all he commands and keep yourself from all bad company and learn God's word and the commandments and --- I shall be glad should 
h [followed by} ave on top of ear such a --- of you, it will be a great satisfaction to me.  No more at present but I remain your loving father until death .
Bergin Point
on Jersey Shore   Thos Stevenson to'
                             Hannah Stevenson 
                                 at Chatham.
Page 56

Note:  Mr. Stevenson died in prison, a victim of the hardships imposed upon him by his captors.


[[stamp]] PENSION U. S. OFFICE  Jul 2 1925 [[/stamp]]
Page 57

Brier Ways
2810G120
__________
[initials]
Hannah Olds for an
Thomas Stephenson
Mass AD 1836
Page 58

[Postage mark]  Sheffield

Minot
Commissioner of pensions
     Pension Office
           Washington
                   D.C.
Page 59

Hannah Olds
Widow of Thos. Stephenson
- Lieut. 4 months &
  Private 2 months }
$60 per annum      Act 4 July 1836
____________

Mass Role
____________
Deliver cert. to
J. A. Dickins, Esq
   Present
Page 60

                                    THIRD AUDITORS OFFICE
                                                 Official Business

                          J. Minot Esq
                               Comm
Page 61

           JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esquire,
Captain-General, and Commander in Chief, of the 
               English Colony of CONNECTICUT,
                  in NEW ENGLAND , in AMERICA,

To Thomas Stephenson                              

You being by the General Assembly of this Colony appointed to be First Lieutenant of a Comopny now ordered to be ratified and to join the Continental Army [last four words inserted] .for the Defence of [last four words crossed out] Colony, repsing especial Truth and Confidence in your Fidelity, COurage, and good Conduct, I do, by vitue of the Laws of this Colony, me thereunto enabling, appoint and impoer you the said Thomas Stephenson to be Lieutenanr in leading, ordering and exercising said Compny in Arms, both inferior Officers and SOldiers, in the Ser