Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21025, Timothy Dwight, Continental (Conn.)
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE
Continental [(XXX)]

Dwight, Timothy
Mary

NUMBER
W21025

CONTENTS
Page 2

[illegible]
Alexander Ray Dept. 11/54
Connecticut 17[illegible]4
Mary Dwight
widow of Timothy Dwight
[Conne]
who died on the 11 January 1817
of [illegible] Haven in the State of Connecticut 
who was a chaptain in the commanded by captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the Con.
line for 
Inscribed on the roll of Connecticut at the rate of 55 dollars [blank] cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
[illegible]
Certificate of Pension [illegible] tho 2D day of [illegible] 1843 and tenth for J. B. [illegible]
Arrears to the 4th of Semi annual allow
Page 3

Power of Attorney of
Mrs. Mary Dwight
to S. E. Dwight
June 18. 1844
Page 4

Know all men by these presents, that I Mary Dwight of New Haven, in the state of Connecticut do hereby constitute & appoint my Son, Sereno E. Dwight of the City of New York my agent to prosecute any claim I may have against the government of the United States on account of the services of my deceased husband the late Revd Timothy Dwight, D. D. & President of Yale College, formerly a Chaplain in the army of the Revolution. But the prosecution of this claim shall not bar me from any farther or future claim which I may now or hereafter have & said claim when framed for payment shall be payable only to my-self or to my written order Witness my hand & seal this 18th day of June A.D. 1844 in New Haven

In presence of 
Edward  S. Dwight
Amelia Dwight
Mary Dwight
Page 5

Mrs. Mary Dwight
Deposition
No 7.
Page 6

City and County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, as of January 8th 1838 before me William A Reynolds, Notary Public is said city, personally appeared Mrs. Mary Dwight, and inhabitant of said city, and being duly cautioned by me made solemn [XXXX].

That she is the widow of the Rev'd Timothy Dwight, late President of Yale College; that her husband entered the Revolutionary Army, in the Autumn of the year 1777 [erasure marks] not long [above erasure marks] after the Annual Commencement of Yale College. That he served as Chaplain during his connection with the army, and was attached to the General Parson's brigade. That she believes, he was stationed in West Chester County, in the State of New York, from the time of his joining the army until the winter or spring of 1778, when he was removed to West Point and she further states that in consequence of the death of his father, he left the Army & returned home about November 1, 1778, having remained in the army, (except on occasional leave of absence) a little more than a year.

And she further states, that she was married to Rev'd Timothy Dwight, on the third day of March 1777, by the late Dr. Jonathan Edwards, was then a minister in New Haven. That the marriage took place at the house of the Honorable Pierrepont Edwards, and that Mr. Edwards, Adam Babcock, Mr. [Heltreat] Munson, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Broome, Miss Abigail Lloyd, and Miss Sarah Lloyd, were present; and that all these persons have since died, and that she is the only survivor.

And she further states, that Rev'd Timothy Dwight died on the eleventh say of January in the year 1807 of an internal complaint, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, and that she is now in the eighty fourth year of her age.

And she further states, that she has now living five sons, all of whom were over sixteen years of age, a the time of their father's decease. 

Mary Dwight
Page 7

State of Connecticut
City & County of New Haven Jany, 8th 1838
The written statement subscribed by Mrs. Mary Dwight sworn to before me.
Mr. Reynolds
Notary Public
Page 8

Clinton November 4, 1842
I, Benjamin W Dwight, of Clinton, in the County of Oneida, in the State of New York, testify & say that I am son of the late Timothy Dwight D. D. President of Yale College, in New Haven, Connecticut. That I was educated as a physician & surgeon: that after compleating my medical education I was employed about two years, as a regular medical practitioner, & for some years afterwards occasionally: that about the 10th of February 1812, when I was just thirty two years old, I requested my aforesaid father to communicate to me in detail, a history of that part of his life, when from excessive study, and other curses, he lost his health, & also the means & circumstances of his recovery; that I might perserve a narrative of the same as an interesting medical call. That he did communicate the facts as above requested, & that I immediately committed the same to writing, & when it was completed I handed it to him for examination, & that when it had undergone his examination & approbation, I copied the same into my medical Note Book. That That copy is now before me: That the preceding article in my Note Book bears the date Febry 10 1812, of the succeeding one Febry 12 1812: That in that narration it is mentioned that he received the appointment to a chaplaincy in the American Army on the 4th of September 1777, & that he assigned his Chaplaincy in the month of March 1779. ____ Benjamin W Dwight.
Page 9

Oneida County [XX] On this 4th day of November 1842 came before one Benjamin W. Dwight [whXXing] duly affirmed, [did] and that the [same] going [affordXXX] by him subscribed [xx xxx]. At the same time came before one James [Dance] with whom I am personally acquainted I [XXXXX] by one duly sworn those [XXXXfers] that he has known said Dwight for more than twenty years, and that the Rev'd Dwight has always sustained & an unblemished character for integrity & truth, and that he [XXXXX] that the [XXXXXXing] affidavit is subscribed by the Rev'd Dwight.

Aaron Hackley
Justice of the Peace

[Clarke Aier]
Oneida County J. P. [SheXXXX] [Rob] Clerk of [XXXX]
County to certify that Aaron Hackley
lay [Eg.] before whom [XXX] [XXXXXX] affidavit was [XX] [XXX] was at the time of [XXXXX] the same [X] [XXX]
tier of the Peace in much
Page 10

Rev [Handwritten]
WIDOW, &c. [Typed]
om [handwritten up and down configuration]

File No. [Typed] L1025 [Handwritten]
Mary Dwight [Handwritten]
widow of [Handwritten]
Timothy Dwight [Handwritten]
Chaplain Reverend [Handwritten]

Act: [Typed] July 4th 36 [Handwritten]
Index: -- Vol. [Typed] [XX] Page [Typed] 204 [Handwritten]

Arrangement of 1870. [Typed]
Page 11

Connecticut  1719
Mary Dwight
[Typed] widow of [/Typed] [Handwritten] Timothy Dwight [XXX] 

[Typed] who died on the [/Typed]  [Handwritten] 11 January 1817 [/Handwritten]

[Typed] of [/Typed] [Handwritten] New Haven [/Handwritten][Typed] in the State of [/Typed] [Handwritten] Ct. [/Handwritten]

[Typed] who was a [/Typed]  [Handwritten] Chaplain [/Handwritten] [Typed] in the ________ commanded [/Typed] 

[Typed] by Captain ___________ of the ___________ commanded [/Typed] 

by______________ in the [Handwritten] [XX] [/Handwritten]

[Typed] line for [/Typed] [Handwritten] 14 Months [/Handwritten]

[Double Lines Printed]

[Typed] Inscribed on the Roll of [/Typed] [Handwritten] Connecticut [/Handwritten]

[Typed] at the rate of [/Typed] [Handwritten] 280 [/Handwritten] [Typed] Dollars ______ Cents, per annum, [/Typed] 

[Typed] to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. [/Typed] 

[Double Lines Printed]

[Typed] Certificate of Pension issued the [/Typed] [Handwritten] 18 [/Handwritten][Typed] day of [/Typed] [Handwritten] [Janu] [/Handwritten]

[Typed] and [/Typed] [Strikethrough] Rev'd Timothy Dwight [/Strikethrough] [Handwritten] out] H.L. Ellsworth [/Handwritten]

[Typed] Arrears to the 4th of [/Typed] [Handwritten] Sept 1837 $1,820.00 [/Handwritten]

[Typed] Semi=annual allowance ending [/Typed] [Handwritten] 4 Mar '38 140.00 [/Handwritten]

[Double Lines Printed]

[Handwritten] $1,960.00 [/Handwritten]

[Single Line Printed]

[Type in brackets]
Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section 3

[Typed] Recorded by [/Typed]  [Handwritten] D D Addison [/Handwritten] [Typed] Clerk, [/Typed] 

[Typed] Book [/Typed]  [Handwritten] A [/Handwritten] [Typed] Vol. [/Typed] [Handwritten] 32 [/Handwritten][Typed] Page [/Typed] [Handwritten] 64 [/Handwritten]
Page 12

[Handwritten]

Mary Dwight act 36 [Bracket] 1719
Connecticut

Hon' L. P. Waldo
Comm of Pensions
Washington

[Handwritten vertically in a different hand] Got [XXXX] for me in this case
Page 13

[Blank page]
Page 14

Dec 30, 1842
Connt [Connecticut]
Mary Dwight

JL Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions

A. Ray 
Present
Page 15

Washington Dec 30 1842
Sir
I herewith enclose you, a declaration in the form of an application made by Mrs Mary Dwight of New Haven Connecticut - and a pension made [illegible] 1836 in the rate of 280 per annum. As the widow of the Rev'd Timothy Dwight - who was appointed by Congress on the 6 day of Oct  1777. as Chaplain to [illegible] co, , Gen Parsons Brigade and for said service a claim to a pension of the rate of 50 per month in lieu of 40 the present allowance is made by the widow.
In presenting this case I hope to represent and express that after some correspondence with her son I drew up and forwarded a form of application and not knowing the termination of Chaplin Dwights service presumed it was shown to have been for 14 mo [months] on 20 [pounds] per month [illegible] or 200 [pounds] per annum and commence on the 6th April 1777 for on that day, the journals of Congress show his appointment and for that reason first in the declaration "6 Oct 1777" leaving the continuum to be added by the party, but it errs by the letter of W. Dwight Aug 2 31 he supposed his father left the service earlier than I mentioned by nearly a month and ends 1 Nov 1778. His opinion ws therefor service from Sep 1777 to Nov 1778 making the 16 months. The present rec[illegible] of the pension.
This statement is made by me, as an explanation which I expect will be satisfactory to give the claim the full benefit of service file in this case.  [Illegible] report to the commencement being 6 Oct 1777.
Page 16

Last month I received an additional letter from T. Dwight of Nov 25 which you will receive enclosing a statement made [illegible - faded ink] of said Dwight [illegible - faded ink] has further services. [illegible - faded ink] a chaplin on the 4 Sep 1777 and resigned in March 1779. This statement, but the certificate you will perceive was given by his father and at a time when he was not only advanced in age but enfeeble in health having no object in view but the truth and within regards to [illegible] under such circumstances and from such a man as the Rev W Dwight. It would seem I would be entitled to hear [illegible] in establishing his services as a Brigade chaplin from 4 Sept 1777 to March 1779 and respectfully submitted [illegible] to your consideration.
I am most [illegible] your [illegible]
Alex Ray
Page 17

Deposition of Hon. Elizur Goodrich to the character of Capt. Samuel Richards June 24, 1844

Tim Dwight
Ct. roll

S.E. Dwight
June 25 1844
.
Page 18

Elizur Goodrich of the City and County of New Haven State of Connecticut, now in the City of Washington, District of Columbia, aged eighty three years, being duly sworn deposes and says, that during the revolutionary war, he the deponent was well acquainted with Samuel Richards then of Farmington in the county of Hartford state of Connecticut who was an officer in the Continental Army; and for many years after the war, well knew said Richards that the said Richards was a man of well known and exemplary piety, and in all respects sustained a fair Character for probity and integrity, he was a long time an officer in the Church and a Magistrate in the County and highly esteemed by all as a Man of the strictest truth and veracity and all dependance may be placed upon his declarations, and further fail not.
Elizur Goodrich of  New Haven

District of Columbia County of Washington [illegible]
On this 24th day of June one thousand and eight hundred forty four, before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in said county personally appeared Elizur Goodrich and nmad oath in due form of care [strike out "on the holy cross of mighty God"] tht the statement made by him in the above deposition and to which he had affixed his signature is true.
Sworn before
W Thompson JP
Page 19

Deposition by MS Samuel Richards

No. 4

[in different hand written vertically on the page]
Jan 7 - 4 - AD7830
Page 20

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Luzerne County
Before the subscriber [illegible] the Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Samuel C Richards, who being duly sworn deposes and states
[Body in other handwriting]
The subscriber having been a resident in Farmington Connecticut more than thirty years last past, and until September last now residing in Wilkes Barre Penn. deposes and says
I was well acquainted with Rev. Timothy Dwight of Northhampton Mass and afterwards President of Yale College Conn. I first knew him as brigade Chaplain to one of the Connecticut Brigades in the army of the revolution at and about White Plains in the state of New York in the campaign of the year AD 1777 where I used frequently to attend to his performance as chaplain; the service becoming very [illegible], and during the bustle of our marching to the capture of Gen Bergoynet [illegible] I don't recollect of his regularly officiating as chaplain the remainder of that year: but in February or March 1778 he was serving as Brigade chaplin in the first Conn. Brigade commanded by Gen Parsons stationed at West Point state of New York when he and myself lived together in a log hut in the family of Gen Parsons. I serving as Brigade Major, where we continued until [strikeout "the"] about the end of June of that year. My next distinct recollection of his being present and officiating in his said office was in July AD 1779; I was then doing battalion duty and on the decent of the british troops under Gen. Tryon upon the coast of Conn. when Norwalk and Fairfield were burnt in July of [illegible] year our regiment marched to Fairfield to meet the enemy the circumstances are fresh in my memory and the date I derive from an original diary I kept, and which is now before me he being there with us, and when circumstances permitted performed his official duty.
[signed] Samuel Richards [illegible] 
Sworn [illegible] before me
M[illegible] Dyer, Justice
Jan 7 - 4 - AD783S
Page 21

Deposition by Dr John Watrons
No. 2
Page 22

I John R Watrons of Colchester in the County of New London, State of Connecticut, do testify and say, that in the year 1777, and 1778, I was Surgeon in the Revolutionary Army in a Regiment commanded by Colo. Samuel Wyllys. Gen. Sam'l [Samuel] C. Parsons' brigade and stationed for the most of the time one West Point, on the North River. That there I will know the Rev. Timothy Dwight, and that he was Chaplain to the s'd [said] Brigade, commanded by said Gen. Parsons for a length of time, I do know know that exact time of his entering or leaving the Service. but have a strong impression and belief that he joined the Army in or about the Month of September 1777 and that he continued as Chaplain to said Brigade for a year or more, I have to say near the last end of the year 1778
[signed] John R Watrons
Colchester Jan'y [January] 4th 1838

New London County, State of Connecticut, Jan' 4th 1838 personally appeared John R. Watrons and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed before me, Benj. [Benjamin] Trumbull Justice of the Peace in and for New London County
Page 23

Application of Mrs. Mary Dwight June 24, 1844
Page 24

The Application of Mrs. Mary Dwight of New Haven, widow of the late Rev [Reverend] Timothy Dwight Dd [deceased] of New Haven Connecticut, and formally a Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army by her legally constituted agent Serene E. Dwight respectfully acts forth that the said Timothy Dwight became a chaplain of the Revolutionary Army on the 6th day of October 1777, as appears by the journals of congress; that he continued connected with the army as chaplain through the remainder of 1777, the whole of 1778 and through the whole of the Campaign of 1779; and appears by the Deposition of Samuel Richards Esquire who was a Captain during those years in the same Brigade in which the said Timothy was  chaplain (which Deposition is on file in the Pension Office) the said Deposition being also sustained and confirmed by the Deposition of the Hon. [Honorable] Elizur Goodrich dated June 24, 1844 and this day placed on file in said office; that said Timothy is therefore proved to have been upwards of two years in the Revolutionary Army as Brigade Chaplain entitled to a full pension.
Dated City of Washington this 24th day of June 1844
Mary Dwight
by her Agent and Attorney
S.E. Dwight
Page 25

Elizur Goodrich of the City and County of New Haven and State of Connecticut aged seventy six years, deposes and says, that he became a member and student in Yale College in New Haven in the second week of September 1775, ad continued to be a member of the College for the term of four years that when this Deponant [deponent] entered College. Mr Timothy Dwight was a Tutor and Instructor in the College and continued such untill [until] the espiration [expiration] of the Collegiate year, in the second week in September 1777, at which time I was currently reported among the students and other, that Mr. Dwight, who was then a licenced [licensed] preacher of the Gospel, had received the appointment of Chaplain in the army of the United States, and that he was about to accept that offer, and immediately relinquish the office of Tutor the Deponent knows that Mr. Dwight did at that time leave the tutorship and then verily believed and still believes that the immediately joined the Army in the capacity of a Chaplain, and continued to act in that capacity for more then one year.
This deponent was acquainted with Mr. Dwight for forty years and was well acquainted with him from the time he became President of the College in 1795 to the time of his death in 1817, and often heard him converse about the transactions of the revolutionary war and his connection with the Army as a Chaplain and knows that he was uniformly during his whole life reputed to have become a Chaplain in the Army immediately on leaving the Tutorship and further the Deponent saith not
[signed] Elizur Goodrich
Page 26

State of Connecticut
City and County of New Haven
Be it remembered that on the twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven personally appeared before e the subscribing a Notary Public within and for the state, the Hon. [honorable] Elizur Goodrich and made oath to the truth of the within statement as made ad subscribed by him..
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office the day and year last above written
Wm [William] A Reynolds
Notary Public
Page 27

Hon. [Honorable] Henry L Ellsworth
Patent Office
Washington
Page 28

Dear Sir,
The mail with which carries this will convey to Washington a series of documents showing that my mother is entitled to a pension in consequence of my father having been in the revolutionary army from the latter part of September on beginning of October 1777 to Nov 1778. Among them (if you should find his [illegible] to call at the office of the Commissioner of Pensions for a moment) you will find a deposition of your father in law stating the fact fully. If Mr. Edwards finds any difficulty as to the fact of the marriage (for Dr. Edwards, who married them in March 1777, kept exceedingly imperfect records, has not recorded but a single marriage that year and among the next has omitted my father's) will you not have the good
Page 29

[continued from previous page] 
-ness to inform him that you personally knew my father and mother as husband and wife and that you knew the facts of their marriage as fully as that of any marriage at which you were not present and that you know they lived together in the marriage state as husband and wife for many years until my father's death.
Accept of the united regards of Mr D and myself for yourself and Mr E, I believe me 
very sincerely your obedt sv't [obedient servant]
[signed] Serene E. Dwight
New Haven, Dec. 25 37

Hon. [Honorable] Henry L. Ellsworth
Washington

P.S. I leave this with my brother at New Haven to forward when he sends on the documents.
Page 30

Deposition of Wm. Henry Daggett
No 3
Page 31

City and County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, viz. January 6th 1838. Before me William A Reynolds, Notary Public in said City, personally appeared Wm Henry Daggett, an inhabitant of New Haven, to me well known, and being duly cautioned, made solemn oath,
That he acted as Lieutenant in the American Army, in the Revolutionary war, and that he was personally acquainted with the Rev. [reverend] Timothy Dwight D.D. late President of Yale College, through a long series of years. That Dr. Dwight fitted him for College, and after he entered Yale College, he acted as his Tutor until the end of the Junior year; that he remembers well when he was married to Mss Mary Woolsey, the surviving widow of Dr. Dwight. That he recollects well the fact of his joining the Revolutionary Army, as Chaplain, in which office he remained some time, and although Dr. Dwight was stationed in a different Brigade, during the time he was in the Army, from this deponent, yet in a fact well known at the time, he has full belief that he served as a Chaplain in the Army in the manner in which Dr. Dwight has mentioned the subject in his "Travels". 
And he further states, that he was personally acquainted with Rev. Timothy Dwight after the Revolutionary war, for more than Twenty years, while he acted as President of Yale College, and until the time of his death.
[signed] Henry Daggett
Sworn before me this 6th day of January AD 1838
[signed] Wm A. Reynolds
Notary Public
Page 32

Pension Office
I can prove that the parties were married but not the period of their marriage. J.R.P.
[written upside down] Hon. J. R. Poinsett
Secretary of War
Washington
Page 33

New Haven January 10th 1838
Dear Sir
Allow me to recall to your recollection one who formerly studied at the Academy of Greenfield, at the time you was a student at that seminary; and although more than forty years have elapsed since the period to which I refer, yet doubtless you recollect the instructor, although you may have forgotten his son.
A few months since I learned for the first time, that by a law of Congress, the widows of Revolutionary Officers had a right to a pension. My father died in 1817, and my mother, Mrs. Mary Dwight, has resided in my family most of the time since. She is now in her 84th year and in a comfortable state of health. I have collected proofs relative to my father's services as Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, which I suppose will be sufficient to substantiate the fact; and these proofs I now transmit to W. Edwards the Commissioner of Pensions. There is no record remaining of the marriage of my parents, which took place March 3, 1777; at least, I have not been able to find any. And this is not strange, when we consider that the county at that time, was subjected to invasion and war. I trust there can be no doubt in your mind as to the fact, as you frequently was at my father's house, and saw them living together as Husband and Wife. If Mr. Edwards the Commissioner of Pension, should hesitate on [continued on next page]
Page 34

[continued from previous page]
this subject, will you be so obliging as to mention to him, your acquaintance with my parents? That my father served over a year as Chaplain, I think will be considered as abundantly proved, by the documents I have forwarded.
Excuse me sir, for the trouble I give you.
My mother has a distinct recollection of you, and desires me to present her respects.
I am Sir, very respectfully your obed. [obedient] ser. [servant]
[Signed] Timothy Dwight

To the Hon. J.R. Poinsett
Secretary of War
Washington
Page 35

Alexander Ray Esq.
Single paid
City of Washington
Page 36

State of Connecticut
New Haven County, S.S.
On this 31st day of August 1842, personally appeared before me, William B Bristol, Notary Public for the State of Connecticut, Wo [widow] Mary Dwight of the City of New Haven, in said State with whom I am personally acquainted, and being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath state, that she is now a Pensioner of the United States, under the act of the 4th of July 1826, at the rate of 200 dollar per annum, on the Connecticut Roll, as widow of the late Rev'd. [Reverend] Timothy Dwight, who was (as she believes) on the 6th day of October 1777 appointed Chaplain, to Brigadier Gen. Parson's Brigade, and served in that capacity about one year and one month, or until the first of November 1778.
Now the object of the application being made, is in order to obtain through my Agent, Wm. Alexander Ray of Washington, an increase of my present pension, a the rate of 50 Dollars per month, or Five Hundred Dollars per annum; and the payment of arrears thereon, under said act, from the 4th of March 1831, and to be paid at the same increased rate during life, under said act of 1836.
[Signed] Mary Dwight
Sworn to and subscribed before me at the City of New Haven in said State of Connecticut this 31st day of August 1842. In testimony whereof witness my hand and official seal.
Wm. B. Bristol, Notary Pubic
Page 37

New Haven Aug. 31 1842
Dear Sir,
Your's of the 27th just came safe to hand, I now enclose my mother's declaration relative to the facts of the case, and agreeably to the form [strikeout "your"] you furnished. You will observe that I have obtained a Notary Public to certify to this document, instead of a Justice of the Peace, as I feel confident that it was done so in the former case, and approved; and besides, as you did not mention whether the certificate relative to the Justice should be furnished by the Clerk of the County, city or U.S. [illegible strike out] Court, I was at a loss to whom to apply.
With respect to the time of service, there has always been some uncertainty in my own mind. There is no doubt that it was over a year; but how much over, we cannot exactly say. I fully believe that he quit the service about the Nov. 1 as he mentions in his letter written at the time, that it was his intention to do so. But I did suppose that he entered the army earlier than you mention, Oct 6 1777. Say nearly a month earlier; but I have no document to decide this question.
If the gov't [government] have any money at Hartford to pay the Pensioners Order to, I shall send for the half year due my mother Sep. 4th and then if you get any enlargements of her Pension, there will be twelve years arrearages from March 4th 1831 to Sep. 4 1842, both inclusive.
I am Sir, very respectfully your ser. [servant], T. Dwight.
New Haven Aug. 31 1842
Wm Alexander Ray
Washington
Page 38

Payment to be made at Hartford Ct. by Sam'l [Samuel] D. Pitkin Esq. Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Connecticut.

Recorded in the Pension Office, In Book A Vol. 2 Page 6[illegible] by D.D. Addison, Clerk
Page 39

WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM
I certify that in conformity with the 3d [third] section of the law of the United States, of the 4th [fourth] July, 1836, Mary Dwight of Connecticut widow of Timothy Dwight dec'd [deceased] who was a Chaplain in the War of the Revolution is entitled to receive Five hundred Eighty dollars and [blank] cents per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th [fourth] of March 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th [fourth] of March and the 4th [fourth] of September.
Given at the War Office of the United States this 18th [eighteenth] day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
[signed] J.R. Poinsett Secretary of War

Examined and Countersigned
J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
Page 40

Washington Sept 7 1854
Hon. [Honorable] L.. P. Waldo
Com. [Commissioner] of Pensions
Sir,
In an original application of Mary Dwight, widow of the late Doc. [Doctor] Timothy Dwight de'c [deceased], Act 36 Connecticut roll, a pension was granted to her for the services of her husband as Chaplain in the war of the revolution for 14 mos [months] service as 20 $ [twenty dollars] per month or $200 [two hundred dollars] per annum.
In the year 1842 Timothy Dwight of New Haven made application [illegible] me, in behalf of his mother for an increase of the rate of the allowance of the stipend, and also for an admission of further service.
In my application in the case Dec [December] 1842 You will find, the widow's declaration, and on the same sheet a letter from her son in which he states the uncertainty of fixing the time of his Father's services by record proof. But enclosed was an affidavit made by his Brother Doc. [Doctor] Bnj. [Benjamin] W. Dwight in which there is an extract of a statement made by his late Father in 1812. This stated in 1812 at his solicitation, his father gave a statement to him of his revolutionary services, and after the narrative had been written down, [illegible] over handed to his Father, Doc. [Doctor] Dwight for his examination and consention, and after his approval it was copied by the affiant in his medicine journal on the 12 Feb 1812 and that, in the narrative, Doc [Doctor] Timothy Dwight states he received the appointment as Chaplain in the Army Sept 4 1777 and resigned his commission in the month of [illegible] 1779.
The dec'd [deceased] Timothy Dwight was a gentleman of high standards and talent, and if [illegible] at the time he gave his son a statement of his revolutionary service he was the President of Yale College. Such a status therefor, from such a person and for such an object could have been influenced by no other motive, that a statement of facts and as 
[continued on next page]
Page 41

a record of his service as Chaplain, for the information and satisfaction of his family.
The allowance of a4 mo. [months] service seems to have been originally allowed from Oct. [October] 6 1777 when the journal of congress made the appointment to some time in 1779. On the affidavit of witnesses, some of the affidavits showing Chaplain Dwight's war service in the fall of 1778 and in the spring of 1779.
Now it is known to have been often done, during the war of the revolution, for an officer to have been in commission and in service before congress acted in the appointment, and the approval by congress in one month after Chaplain Dwight was in commission, goes far to establish the facts of the records of his service by his approval.
In 1842 when I filed the affidavit shows his approval 4 Sep [September] 1777 and his resignation in March 1779. I set up the same claim [illegible] made. but not action was taken thereon, as the paper and letter on file will show. The application therefore was not considered for the service, then claimed and non renewed.
The increase was simply from [illegible] the rate of $600 instead of $480 per annum.
In submitting the application for 18 mo [months] service instead of 14 mo [months] allowed. I entertain the hope proof presented as on file will justify in your opinion, an allowance of the [illegible] of service claimed.
I remain very respectfully your [illegible] 
Alex Ray
Page 42

Mary Dwight
Con [Connecticut]
Act 4 July  36
14 mo [month] Chaplain
$350
Deduct was has been paid

Alexander Ray Esq.
City of Washington

Hon. [Honorable] J. B. Osborne
[strike out "A. Ray Esq. [illegible]

[intials on riight of page indicating "file"]
Page 43

New Haven Nov. 25th 1842~
Dear [XXX]
Since your letter of Sep. 26th I have not heard from you. Since I last wrote I have received from my Brother [XX] B. W. Dwight, who lives at Clinton, 100 miles west of Albany, a communication, which will through light on the time my father served as Chaplain. From this affidavit you will [insert] see [/insert] that he was at least one year and a half in the army, having commenced Sep. 4 1777, and that he resigned his chaplaincy in March 1779.
The reason why it was heretofore stated by myself, that I supposed my father quit the army Nov 1, 1779, was this; a letter of his is still re-maining, dated in the autumn of that year, in which he says, that he should go to Northampton about the first of Nov. That year, in consequence of hearing of the death of this father - As Northampton in Mass was the place where his father lived, I concluded that he quite the army at that time in order to care of his father's numerous family. But the representation given by my brother is unquestionably correct. I was ignorant of his being in possession of this testimony until a few weeks since, when I saw him, & he mentioned it.  ~ If their was any doubt before in the mind of the Commissioner of Pensions, I think this weill be conclusive~
Alexander Ray Washington [Bracket] Your's very respectfully, T Dwight
Page 44

Jany [January] 13th 1838
Sir
I now hereby say to yourself that Dr. Dwight was married to the present Mrs. Dwight now living and that there can b no doubt of the fact. I have been much in the family and intimately acquainted with the children. I presume the evidence must be satisfactory as sufficiently legal. I understand the papers are forwarded by the mail to your office.
Yours respectfully
H.L. Ellsworth

Hon. [Honorable] J.L. Edwards
Pension Office

Should certifying be needed that I can furnish [illegible]
H.L. Ellsworth
Page 45

New Haven January 10th 1838

Mr. J. L. Edwards

Sir,
Your favour of [strike out "January"] September 6th together with the enclosure came safe to hand, and since its reception I have been occupied in collecting proofs relative to the services of Rev. [reverend] Doc. [doctor] Dwight, my father, as Chaplain in the American Army. The documents I now forward to you with this letter, viz,
No. 1 A cerificate from W Field Controller of the State of Connecticut
No. 2 A Deposition of Doc [doctor] John Watrons
No. 3 A Deposition of Mr. Henry Daggett
No. 4 A Deposition of Mr. Samuel Richards
NO. 5 A Deposition of Hon. [honorable] Elizur Goodrich
No. 6 A Deposition of Govr Edwards and others
No. 7 Wd [widow] Mary Dwight's Deposition
No. 8 my own Deposition

I trust that these several proofs will be satisfactory as to all the important facts, viz, that my father served as a Chaplain in the American Army and the he served more than a year. There is no record of the marriage but the proofs I have sent I think will be satisfactory. If they are not so to your mind, I will thank you to mention the subject to Hon. [honorable] W. Poinsett the Secretary of War. He was acquainted with my father and mother, and knew that they lived together more than forty years ago, as husband and wife 
[continued on next page]
Page 46

[continued from previous page]
Henry Ellsworth Esq Superintendant of the Patent Office at Washington, was well acquainted Dr [doctor] Dwight and his wife and can inform you on this subject. If more proofs are necessary, I can probably obtain them, in being informed
I am Sir, with respect
Your obed. ser. [obedient servent]
Timothy Dwight
Page 47

Certificate of W. Field
Controller of Govt [government]

No. 1
Page 48

Comptroller Office
Hartford Connecticut
27 Decem [December] 1837

I certify that I have carefully examined the books and papers remaining in this office relating to the revolutionary war and have not discovered the name of the late Rev'd [reverend] Timothy Dwight D. D. formally President of Yale College, as Chaplain in that service, or other evidence of his service in that capacity.
I also certify that it appears from "Haskell's Receipts", a manuscript book remaining in this office, that the Pay Rolls, and many other vouchers of the services of men from this state, in that war, were removed to the seat of the general government in the year 1788.
Wm Field Comptroller
Page 49

Deposition of Gov Edwards
Judge Daggett
Judge Baldwin
and Hon. [Honorable] R. J. Ingersoll

No. 6
Page 50

New Haven January 9th 1838

We whose names are underwritten, Citizens of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, hereby declare and make known, to all whom it may concern,
That we were personally acquainted, through a long series of years, with the  Rev'd [Reverend] Timothy Dwight, late President of Yale College, and with his wife Mrs. Mary Dwight, and with his family; that we have no doubt of his having been married, at the time specified by Mrs. Dwight, viz, on the 3rd day of March 1777; that the fact of this having been married has never been doubted by any one, and is of public notoriety; and that we should place the fullest confidence in whatever Mrs. Dwight may say, relative to the time her husband served in the Revolutionary army, or relative to any other subject.
[signed]
Henry W. Edwards
Simeon Baldwin
Daniel Daggett
R. J. Ingersoll
Page 51

State of Connecticut
City and County of New Haven

Personally appeared and made oath before me Wm. [William] A. Reynolds a Notary Public duly commissioned and Sworn and dwelling in said City of His Excellency Henry W. Edward Govr. [Governor] of the State of Connecticut. Hon. [Honorable] David Daggett. Hon. [Honorable] Simeon Baldwin and the Hon. [Honorable] R. J. Ingersoll all of them subscribers to the true of the within statements.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this ninth day of January One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Eight
[signed]
Wm. A. Reynolds
Notary Public
Page 52

Department of State June 27th 1844
James L. Edwards, Esquired, Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
The examination requested by your letter of the 22d [twenty second] instant, has been made, but nothing has been found among the Washington papers, to show the service of the Rev. {Reverend] Timothy Dwight as a Chaplain in the army during the Revolutionary War.
I am, Sir, your obed't [obedient] Servt [Servant]
[signed] J.C. Calborn
Page 53

(Private)
My Dear Sir,
Should you, after reading the inclosed [enclosed] statement, deem it proper for you to suggest your own opinion, respecting the case, to Mr. Edwards of the Patent Office, I shall be much gratified with your doing so. If you  judge otherwise, I shall be satisfied. In either case, I am
with very high respect and regard,
Your friend and obedt. [obedient] sert [servant]
[signed] Serene E. Dwight
Washington, June 25th 1844
Page 54

Submitted
for the [[?]]
of Mr Edwards.
I am not differently
informed
nor have I time
to make myself
so the [[?]] [[?]]
[[?]], but if
Mr Edwards
would [[?]]
there [[?]] & [[?]]
& grounds
for it, I would
be glad to have 
the clause[[?]] altered
into [[?]]
a case.
J.C.C.

Hon. John C. Calhoun