Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10877, Samuel Hotchkiss, Conn.
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Conn.     Hotchkiss, Samuel.  S10877
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Connecticut 9238. 
Samuel Hotchkiss
Burlington in the State of Conn
who was a private in the Company commanded
by Captain Hooker of the Regt commanded
by Col. Wolcott in the militia
for                                         Conn.
6 mo 15 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 21 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of April
               1833 and [illegible] to
L. Whitman, Farmington, Ct
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.               43 32
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 33.      10 83
                                                                        $54 15

                                                   Revolutionary Claim
                                                   Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Francis F. Francion Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 3d.  Page 17
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State of Connecticut
Hartford County | Farmington August 10, 1832 —

On this 10th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate for Farmington District in Hartford County now sitting Samuel Hotchkiss a resident of the town of Burlington in the County of Stark aforesaid aged [illegible] – who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to attain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 17th 1832 —

That he entered the [illegible] of the [illegible] Stark under the following named offices and [illegible] an [illegible] [illegible] ([illegible])
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[illegible] to Beoford and then returned to [illigible] and was then discharged at the end of 2 months.
4th of September 1777 he joined a company of volunteers under the command of Capt Amos Barnes, jointed the company at [illegible], remained there and in the [illegible] employed in scouting [illegible] for the term of 2 weeks, when he returned home, immediately after the capture of [illegible].
While on his first tour he [illegible] leaving often [illegible] and which on the other farms, he
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Sworn in and subscribed this day and year aforward - 
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate
Farmington District

We [illegible] and Ebenezer Bonham residing in the town of Burlington aforesaid do herby certify that we have been a long time acquainted with Samuel Hotchkiss who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 76 years of age, that we know that he was a soldier in the war of the revolution and that he owned in the year 1776 for the term of 2 months in the company of Capt James Stoddard, or he has [illegible] in his 2nd [illegible] as above, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he is resides to have been engaged in other forms of service during the [illegible] war, and we concur in that opinion.

[illegible signature]
Ebenezer Bonham

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforward - 
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate
Farmington District

I [illegible] Scranton, a clergyman residing in the town of Burlington aforward hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Samuel Hotchkiss who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I believe him to be 76 years of age, that he is [illegible] believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a [illegible] of revolution, and that I concur in that opinion
E[illegible] Scranton

Sworn to and subscribed this 11th-day of August 1832 -
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate
Farmington District
I John Fuller residing in the town of Burlington aforward, do hereby certify, that I have been a long time acquainted with Samuel Hotchkiss, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that I know he was a [illegible] in the war of the revolution, and that he served in the year 1776 in the company of Capt [illegible] for the term of 2 months in Dorchester heights and the
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[Left Side] N. 3369 [/Left Side]

[Illegible], as he has Auth'd[?] in the [Illegible] above; as [Illegible]
in the same company at the same time; and that I believe he was in other [illegible] during the [illegible] war -
                           John Fouller

Sworn to and subscribed[?] this 11^th day of August, 1832 -
      Lemuel Whitman Judge of [illegible]
               Farmington District - 

And this aid [illegible] do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after [illegible] the investigation prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary [illegible], and 
[illegible] on the [illegible] - 
And the [illegible] further confirms[?] that Erastus Scranton who has subscribed and owner[?] to a founding[?] certificate is a clergyman residing in said town of Burlington, and that Ebenezer Benham, Zebulon Frisbie, and John Fuller, who have [illegible] and sworn to preceding certification [?] are residents of said town, and are credible [illegible], and that this [illegible] in [illegible] to credit - 

         Lemuel Whitman Judge of [illegible]
                Farmington District -
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Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
MMH

November 4, 1924

Charles R. HAle
33 Capitol Ave.,
Hartford, Conn.

Sir:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 10877 it appears that Samuel Hotchkiss was born October 22, 1755 in Cheshire, New Haven County, Connecticut.
[handwritten note:] State not given in Cl--but Miss Wilson said I could safely use it-as he was always a Conn. man.
While living in that part of Farmington which was later Bristol, Connecticut, he enlisted February 1, 1776 and served two months in in Captain Noadiah Hooker's Company, Colonel Erasmus [crossed out] Erastus Wolcott's Connecticut Regiment and was in an engagement at Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts.
He enlisted in July 1776 and served three months [handwritten note: his one mo. in hospital included.] as a private in Captain James Stoddard's Company, Coloonel Selah Heart's Connecticut Regiment.
He enlisted in Mary 1777 and served two months in Captain James Stoddard's Company, Colonel Brown's
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Connecticut Regiment.
He enlisted in September 1777 and served three weeks in Captain Amos Barnes' Connecticut Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 10, 1832 while a resident of Burlington, Hartford County, Connecticut.
Respectfully,
Commissioner
[Handwritten note: This was written for tombstone data & we omit family records in such letters. There is no family data in claim. Date of death not on A.B.
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1924--Nov 3-Tombstone data to Ches. R. Hale. MMHF
1928 May 8-Hist to Mrs. H.R. Mathing-Letter sent to Rec. Div. for reply to Civil War inquiry 

Rev War
10877
INVALID

File No. 10,877
Samuel Hotchkiss
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7 1832
Index:--Vol. A, Page 179
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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James L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office
Washington
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Farmington January 26, 1833
J.L. Edwards Esq.

Sir--

I herewith re-transmit to your department the applications for pensions by Samuel Hotchkiss, Ebenezer Burnham and Daniel Bunnel, corrected, as nearly as circumstances will admit and seem to require, in conformity to your briefs accompanying them. I regret extremely that any incorrectness in doing the [illegible] in my office, should cause any addition to the great labor that I know must be imposed upon you in executing the duties of the pension acts--

Very respectfully your
obt servant
L. Whitman
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N.G. Hinckley
Con
January 5 1891
Sam Hotchkiss
Con
pensioner
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Hartford January 5 1891
C.W. Feler Esq.
Dear Sir
I recd yours, per hand of Col. Smith, in due season, containing a statement of the history of John Hinckley as a pensioner of the Revolutionary War, for which I want to thank you very much and hope you will excuse me for this tardy acknowledgement of your favour. And now I hope it will not be presuming to much upon your kindness to ask that you will do me the favour to send on a statement of the history, as contained in his application, of 
Samuel Hotchkiss
a pensioner in the Revolutionary War from the town of Burlington Conn. His name appears in the "State records of Conn men in the Rev War"
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(p. 652) as a pensioner under the act of 1832 ["82" crossed out]. Also under the d=head of "Census of pensioners for revolutionary or military services," as returned from the town of Burlington, under the act for taking the 6th censes in 1840, at the age of 84. at that time (p. 660.) He died in 1842 in Burlington Conn. and was my wife's Grandfather. She have a tradition that he was at the Lexington [illegible] and Battle of Bunker Hill. In our "State record" Samuel Hotchkiss is indexed p. 660 p. 652-18-61-174-382-501-552-615-654 I should judge that there must have been more than one Samuel from the number of references.   
On account of our Legislature meeting this week, the Gov is a busy man. I have not
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met him for several days. We are going to try to find out who is to be the next Governor. Finding that you have quite recovered your health
I am
Yours very respectfully
N. G. Hinckley.

[Stamped:]
Second Deputy
Jan 6 1891
Commissioner.
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Samuel Hotchkiss
6m15 private
21.66
*
6.15
L. Whitman
Farmington
Page 87.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Hotchkiss which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under who he served, in conformity with the regulations?
No
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of Jun 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. [dagger symbol] If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
None given independent narratives as is required.
XVI. [double dagger symbol] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which if them is no so answered?
__________________
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades : For __________ year ______________ months and _____________ days, I served as a _____________. For ____________ months and ______________ days, I served as a ___________________; and for such service I claim a pension."
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months [in italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
[dagger symbol] QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[double dagger symbol] QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instances where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of papers which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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State of Connecticut
Hartford Count SS Farmington January 9the 1833
before the Court of Probate for Farmington District in the County aforesaid
how siting Samuel Hotchkiss a resident of Burlington in said County
and soth an oath make the following declaration supplementary to the de-
claration made by him before said event on the 10th day of August 1830.
in order to obtain the benefit of the hot of compose paped June 9th 1832 __
     That on his first tour in February 1776 under Capt ondiah Hostkins
he molhit that Elisha Bush was  Lieutenant James Stoddard was
Lieutenant and William Ford was Ensign --Fisher Guy was Lt.Colonel
and John Chester was major __
That on his second tour in July 1776 under Capt Stoddard he molhi
that Thomas Hungerford was Lieutenant of the company and Joseph Andrus  was Ensign __
Selah Hart was Colonel ^of the regiment^ and take prisoner at New York __Fisher Gay
was Lt. Colonel and died at New York.
     That on his third tour in March 1777 under Capt Stoddard, he recollected 
that Elisha Scott was Lieutenant of the company, and Joseph Baron was
Ensign __ the regiment he joined at Pukskill was commanded by Col.
---- Brown; Seth Smith was Lt. Colonel __ Ryan Hooker was Brigade
Major __
That on his fourth tour in September 1777 under Capt Barnes. He recollects
that Thomas Hungerford was Lieutenant __ he does not recollect the names
of any other officers __ this service bein dernittany, and for only two weeks as
far he now recollects) and never in any fined place __
Samuel Hotchkiss
Sworn to and subscribed this 9th day of January 1833
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate
Farmington District
I Ebenezer Benham residing in the town of Burlington aforesaid, sup-
plementary to the certificate by me given on the 10the day of Auust 1832
in the case of Samuel Hotchkiss for a pension, hereby certify that I am
76 years of age, that in the month of July 1776 I was drafted into a company
my commander by Capt James Stoddard, Thomas Hungerford was Lieutenant
and Joseph Andrus was Ensign. I joined the company at New Haven and ???
rde from there by water to New York, and served there in a regiment commanded 
by Maj Simeon Strong -- the Col. and Lt. Col Selah Hart and Fisher Gay
him there as he undersood on Long Island __ that after the battle and retreat 
from Long Island and capture of New York by the British, I retreated with
the company to Harlamm Lights __Kingsdring and Valentines Fiss I can
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timed in this ow view ^ 2 months  mollusk that said Hotchkiss was a private
in the same company and served during the whole time, or till he was
taken sick near the close of the tour __l also riolhit that Zebulon
Frisbie was a private in the same company at the same time and
served through the tour --

Ebenezer Benham

Subscribed and sworn to this 9th day of January 1833 -- and I hereby cer-
tify that said Benham is a credible Juror

Lemuel Whitman Judge of Probate
Farmington District

And the said court do hereby  chelan teir opinion after a further investi.
gation of the matter that the said applicant was a revolutionary soldier
and served as he states -- and that Ebeneser Benham who has signed and 
sworn to the above supplementary certificate is still a resident in said
town of Burlington __ the further certificate of  John Fuller must not be
obtained without great inconvenience, and it is submitted to the depart.
ment that he has stated sufficient means of knowledge of the facts he
states in his original certificate __ The further certificate of Zebulon Frisbie
is not obtained, because it is believed that his means of knowledge of the
facts he staes, sufficiently appear from the above certificate of Ebenezer
Benham __

Lemuel Whitman Judge of Probate
Farmington District

I, Henry Nash. Clerk of the Court of Probate
for the District of Farmington, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the
supplementary proceedings of the said
court in the matter of the application of Samuel
Hotchkiss of a pension __ And I also certify that Lemuel Whitman who has affixed his name
in his own proper hand writing and above is 
Judge of Probate for said District.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this 9th
day of January 1833
Henry Nash     Clerk
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Hartford, Ct Oct 15 1924

Rev. War. Records Sec.
Washington, D.C.

Dear Miss Wilson:
     Please send me the Revolutionary 
War Records of Samuel Hotchkiss died at 
Burlington, Ct. March 19 -- 1843 -- age 87  on Roll
of 1840
Also. Ebenezer Benham died at Burlington, Ct. 
Sept 27 --1843 age 87 on Roll of 1840
Also that of Mrs. Lois Benham of Burlington, Ct. 
(writing struck through) Widow of Joel Benham who
died June 17 --1803 she was in the 1840 Roll,
(bracketed note on left side of letter):  see reg. slip on file under Joel Benham

Yours very Truly,
Chas. R. Hale
33 Capitoll Ave.
Hartford, Conn.
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     From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim
S. 10877, it appears that Samuel Hotchkiss was born October 22,
1755 in Cheshire, New Haven County, Connecticut.
    While living in that part of Farmington which was later
Bristol, Connecticut he enlisted February 1, 1776 and served
two months in Captain Noadiah Hooker's Company, Colonel
Erastus Wolcott's Connecticut Regiment and was in an engage-
ment at Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts.
     He enlisted in July 1776 land served three months as a 
private in Captain James Stoddard's Company, Colonel Selah 
Heart's Connecticut Regiment.
     He enlisted in March 1777 and served two months in Cap-
tain James Stoddard's Company, Colonel Brown's Connecticut 
Regiment.
     He enlisted in September 1777 and served three weeks in 
Captain Amos Barnes' Connecticut Company.
     He was allowed pension on his application executed Au-
gust 10 1838 while a resident of Burlington, Hartford County,
Connecticut.
     The Revolutionary Was records of this bureau fail to
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...afford any information in regard to any Daniel Hemenway.
     Your letter has been forwarded to the proper division
for reply relative to the Civil War records of Howard Spencer
Hemenway.

Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.

The first of this letter in 
Asa Upson R.10809