Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14714, Silvanus Townsend, New York
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE  New York

Townsend Silvanus

NUMBER S14714

Carded
Page 2

[column 1]  Letter to Isaac Lawrence Agent, 13 Sep 33. 
Sent to claimant & J Abram, Sep 23, 1813

[column 2]
New York 26290

Silvanus Townsend
of Westchester in the State of N York
who was a private in the comp commanded by
Captain Delavan of the Regt commanded by
Col Drake in the N York 
line for 2 years 

Inscribed on the Roll of N York
at the rate of 80 Dollars - centers per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13day of Aug
1833  and sent to G Coffin
Somers

Arrears to the 4th of no '33  $160
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sep '33 $40
$200
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by [illegible] Clerk, Book E. Vol 3 Page 80.
Page 3

No. 25317
Silvanus Townsend Westchester County New York

Admitted
Private 2 years

F. I. Coffin 

James Westchester County New York
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, [no date] 183 

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

[form - 9 columns] A Statement, showing the service of Sivanus Townsend, Westchester County N.Y. Period when the service was rendered/Duration of the claimant's service. years, months, days / Rank of the claimant. / Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom they served. / Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. / Battles in which the applicant was engaged. / Country through which he marched. / Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period / Evidence by which the declaration is supported.

Enrolled June 1776 / - - 4 days / Private / Cap Delavan, Col Drake / 76 years / Westchester New York / Traditionary 4.2 Witnesses papes correctly attached 

Served Jun  " / - - 21 days / " / ----- /

Sub. Aug " / - 1 mo 15 days / " / Cap Platt Col Thomas

Vol / - 1 mo 15 days / " / ----

Draft 1777 / - 3 mo / " / Col Thomas 

Drafted Dec 1777 / 3 mo / " / Col Drake 

Vol Nov 1778 / - 3 mo  - /" / Cap Parres, Col Thomas

Served 1779 / 1 year / " / Col Crane, Cap Lowkwood
Your obedient servant,
J.L.Edwards,
Commisioner of Pensions
Page 5

[regulations]
Page 6

[regulations]
Page 7

State of New York
Westchester County ss

In the ninth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three appeared before me Ezra Lockwood one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid Silvanus Townsend of the town of North Salem in the county aforesaid aged seventy six years who by me duly sworn according to law on his oath doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the Seventh day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty two that he entered the service under the following named officers [illegible]  And the declarant states that he was born on Cortlands mannor at a place now called North Salem in the county aforesaid he has resided there before and during the war of the revolution and that in the year 1776 he was enrolled in the militia in Captain Nathaniel Delavans Company and to the best of his belief in Liuet Colonel Gilbert [illegible] regiment of militia in the County of Sestchester.
And the declarant States he believes in the month of June 1776 he was marched out in the North [illegible] company of Militia on the lines in of rangers in the [illegible] after small party of the enemy was patrolling in the County the terror of their [illegible] he believes was about four days and that he believes in July the same year he knows the regiment to which he belonged was ordered out into actual service to or near Peekskill he then served in Captain Nathaniel Delavans Company under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Finhold this alarm was when the enemies shipping came up the river the time of service was and he verily believes was three weeks
and the declarant further states that some time in August of the same year as he verily believes he was a just substitute in Captain Benoni Platts company for Robert Washburn in Colonel Thomas Thomas' regiment near Kings Bridge and do the duty of a private soldier in the said company and regiment he knows one month and a half the declarant further states that some time in October the same year but after the battle of Chattertens to bolls he volunteered in the American [illegible] at North [illegible]
Page 8

at North Castle church and assisted in taking care of the wounded after the battle aforesaid and [illegible] removing the wounded that were in a condition to be removed to Peekskill the term of service was one month and a half at the least and he was verbally discharged at Peekskill
and the declarant further states that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven he residing where he now resides and belonging to Captain Nathaniel Delavan company in the regiment aforesaid he was [illegible] or about the first of May drafted for three months service and joined Captain Benoni Platts company in Colonel Thomas Pryerhent and served on the lines three months and was verbally discharged and further in the month of December of the same year he belonged in the militia Regiment aforesaid in Captain Nathaniel Delavans company in Colonel Gilbert Drakes regiment 
Aforesaid [illegible] in the place where he now he was drafted for three months services and joined Captain Gilbert Davis Company and sayth that [illegible] and Abraham Knox Gilbert Bloomer and Rueben [illegible] Colonel Thomas Regiment and served on the line three months and was verbally discharged
And the declarant further states that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight on or about the first of November one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight he volunteered in Captain David Pierces Company says Sergeant Isreal Sibby was [illegible] and John Album Drummer does not recollect the name, of the officer of the company except the captain they did not [illegible] in the regiment of the militia in which he belonged and joined Colonel Thomas Thomas' regiment and fewer on the lines three months in the said company 
and the declarant he served in the Militia in the county of Westchester aforesaid in the
Page 9

year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine and until the end of the war of the Revolution in Colonel Thaddeus Cranes regiment of Militia in Captain Ephram Lockwood's company The other officers of the company were Isaac Keelerfitt Lieutenant Daniel Purdy second Lieutenant and William Rodgers Conklin and as the Regiment to which he belonged was in the North range of towns, in the county and as the greater part of the county lay open and exposed to the savages; of the Enemy's light horse and following parties it [illegible] the militia to be the greater part of the time under arms for the defence of the frontiers and to Repel the invading enemy and that he served in the following summer and fall that he served in the county of Westchester aforesaid on alarms and on Militia tours of duty at the town of White plains Capt Chester and Westchester and Aye and [illegible] other towns and that he served under the Regimental and Company officers to which he belonged
And the declarant states that from the great [illegible] it being about half a centery he is not able to state the times or the days and months, he was called into service or left the service precisely but from the privation,  and being called to frequently into service and the dangers to which he was exposed leaves him no room to doubt but that he was in actual during the last three years of the war in Lieut Colonel Thaddeus Cranes regiment in Captain Ephram Lockwoods company every in the whole at least one year
And the declarant further states that all the foregoing services when [illegible] into actual service within and without the regiment was [illegible] in the company which was frequent and continually kept up
Page 10

And declarant further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he could procure who can testify to his service except James Townsend and Denton Smith  whose affidavits it s an hereto annexed and to which he and [illegible] pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of any agency of any state

Silvanus his x mark Townsend

Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me  Ezra Lockwood [illegible] in & for Westchester County

Mr. Nathan Brown & Henry Slopon 
The town of North Salem in the County of Westchester in the State of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Silvanus Townsend who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy six years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion & believe him to be a man of truth and veracity.
Nathan Brown  Henry Slopon

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me Ezra Lockwood one of the Judges of and for Westchester County.

and the said Judge doth hereby declare his opinion after the interrogation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier and served as he states and I further certify that it appears to me that [illegible] 
the preceding certificate [illegible] in the county of WestChester
Page 11

on each occasion when called into service after the year 1778 he was [illegible] out by the officers of the company to which he was attached which order he always obeyed and served as set forth in his declaration
5th  State the names of some of the regular officers who was with the troops when you served, said captain in the militia regiments or [illegible] the general circumstances of you service.
Answer he has no recollection of any regular officers that was at any time with the troops when he served. He has no knowledge of any continental regiment being with the troops when he served. his service was wholly in the regiments of the militia under the command of colonels Thomas Thomas & Thaddeus Crane  X Gilbert
6th Did you ever receive a discharge for the service if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Answer I never did receive a discharge in writing I was always discharged from service verbally
7th  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood & who can testify to your character for truth & veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Answer I [illegible] Nathan Brown & Henry Stopson each of whom have been well acquainted with me for a good number of years
I Nathaniel Bayler Clerk of the court of common Pleas of the County of West Chester do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original procedings here before Ezra Lockwood Esq one of the Judges of the said Court in the matter of the application of Silvanus Townsend
Page 12

and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. And I the said Judge do further certify that the said Silvanus Townsend cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court to make his declaration
Ezra Lockwood

The following interrogatories were propounded by the said Judge to the said Silvanus Townsend that in to day,

1st  When and in what year was you born?
Answer, I was born in North Salem of WestChester, State of Nw York, 14th day of March 1757

2nd Have you any record of your age at [illegible]
Answer, I have a record of my age at my house in my family Bible at North Salem

3rd Where were you living when called in to service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, Where do you now live?
Answer, I am living in the manor of Cortlandt in the town of North Salem WestChester County when called into service and have ever since and [illegible] in North Salem aforesaid.

4th How were you entered into service were you drafted
Page 13

And I do further certify that on the ninth day of April instant a Judge of the said court that [illegible] of the said Ezra Lockwood to the papers annexed is his genuine signature. In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 23rd day of May 1833..  N Bayles clk
Page 14

State of New York
Westchester County
Before me Samuel B Mead one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid formally appeared Denton Smith of the Town of North Salem in the county and state aforesaid well known to me who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and saith that he is well acquainted with Silvanus Townsend and was before the war of the revolution and during the same he residing in the same town county and state and during the time lived in the same neighborhood and saith that he belonged as a private in Captain Nathanial Delevan's company in a Regiment Commanded by Lieutenance Gilbert Drake the fore part of the war and after belonged in Captain Ephraim Lockwoods Company in Collonel Drakes Regiment and after at last to Collonel Thaddeas Crane Regiment with Captain Ephraim Lockwoods company the regiments belong in the westchester county militia and saith that he knew that he served in the said regiments and companies and knew that he served as a private in the respective regiments and companies during the war of the Revolution and further saith that he know that he was drafted some time in the year the year 1777 form the company of Captain Nathaniel Delevan and served for those months as a private and he knew that he [illegible] and marched away he believes some time in May and it was [illegible] that having attached to a company commanded by Captain Benoni Plat and to Colonel Thomas's regiment on the lines in the county of westchester he knows he marched away and after about three months he returned home and it was reported and believed that he served as a private in the said company and regiment the term of three months of there he hath no doubt in his mind and further doth depose and say that some time in the winter of 1778 he believes some time in March he the said Silvanus was drafted from the same company and regiment to serve for three months as a private and he heard that he marched away for that purpose armed and equiped and it was reported and believed that he served in Captain Gilbert Deans company in Colonel Thomas Thomas a regimenent on the lines
Page 15

 on the lines in the county of Westchester he and that after three months or about that time he returned home and was generally reported and believed that he served in the said company and regiment the term of three months and of this he hath no doubt in his mind and further the deponent saith that in the year 1778 it was reported and believed that said Silvanus volunteered to serve in Captain Captain David Pardee, Company to serve three three months he knows that he marched away armed and returned about the term aforesaid and it was generally reported and believed and of this he hath no doubt in his mind
And the the deponent further saith that during the last three years of the war of the Revolution he knew that the said Silvanus belonged in Captain Ephram Lockwood company of Militia in Lieutenant colonel Thaddeus Cranes Regiment of Militia in the County of Westchester and know that he went away to serve on the lines often and knew him to serve on alarms and on night guard and often often and that he verily believes that his service was in the said regiment and company from his own observation after and believes he did his duty as a good soldier and further saith he is seventy years of age and further the deponent saith not.

[signed] Denton his x mark Smith
Sworn & subscribed this
20th day of January 1833
before me
Samuel B Mead Justice of the Peace

I Samuel B Mead one of the Justices of the Peace and and for the County of Westchester do certify that I am personally acquainted with Denton Smith whose signature is affixed to the above declaration and that he is a credible person & his statement is entitled to respect.
Samuel B Mead Justice of peace
Page 16

State of New York
Dutchess County     Personally appeared before me Joshua White one of the Justice of the Peace in & for Dutchess County. James Townsend of the Town of Pawlings in sd county of being by me duly sworn depose  & saith that he is acquainted with Silvanus Townsend of North Salem in Westchester County & believes that he served in the Militia of the United States in the Revolutionary war in the year 1778 in the regiment under the command of Colonel Thaddeus Crane. Capt Ephanigan Lockwood, Daniel Purdy Lieutenant White Plains, East Chester, West Chester, Rye & from that time to the close of the war making at [illegible] in the opinion of this deponent  One year actual service.

James Townsend
Subscribed & Sworn the 13th day of September 1832 before me Joshua White J Peace
I Joshua White do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the [illegible] James Townsend
Page 17

who [illegible] and [illegible] to the within affidavit [illegible] is of reputable [illegible] that his statement is entitled to faith and it and belief

[illegible]]Joshua White
Page 18

James Townsend
Deposition
Page 19

State of New York
County of Dutchess ss I Henry I. Traper, Clerk of the County of Dutchess, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Joshua White Esq whose name is subscribed to the annexed certificate and before whom the annexed affidavit was taken and whose name is hereto affixed was at the time of subscribing & affixing the  same a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, dwelling in the said County, duly elected sworn  And Further, That I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate & affidavit are genuine. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said county, the sixteenth day of May A.D.  1833

Henry J Traver Clerk
Page 20

Silvanus Townsend
Pension Papers
Page 21

State of New York
County of Westchester  I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of Westchester do hereby certify that Samuel B Mead before whom the affidavit of Delavan Smith hereunto annexed was taken and sworn to was at the time the same person.to [illegible] I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Samuel B Med and do believe the [illegible] 'Samuel B Mead" 

[illegible] 

this 31st day of M
Page 22

14 11of 4

INVALID

Pension

NO 14.714
Silvanus Townsend
Pri Rev War

Act:  June 7th 32

Vol 1, page 377
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 23

[illegible] Apr 28  18??

T Van Tine June 7. 1845
Mrs J.H. Anderson Apr 18. 1846
Page 24

In pursuance of a law passed the 27th of April, 1784 entitled "An act for the settlement of the pay of the Levies and Militia, for their services in the late War, and for other purposes therein mentioned," the following certificates have been, issued, bearing interest at five per center per annum, Vis:

1st Nov 1777 Silvanus Townsend Priv  L 1  8  5

State of New York,
Comptroller's Office, Albany, Feb 29th 1844.

I hereby certify the above to be true extracts from Book No. 5 now remaining in this office, and that the service for which the certificates above named were issued, were performed under the following officers, viz:

First-under Capt. Nath Delivan in Co Gilbert Drake Regt

Philip Phelps
Dep Comptroller

fees 50 C
Page 25

Washington April 16 1846

J L Edwards Esq

Sir Please furnish an answer to the enclosed letter from Mr Mils

Very Respectfully 

Joseph H Anderson H.Ko
Page 26

March 45

Syl Townsend Pensioner

J.L. Edwards Esq
Commsioner of Pensions
Wasginton D.C.

[stamp
New York June 4
Page 27

New York June 4 1845

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions Benefits

At the request of Slyvanus Townsend the pensioner on the roll of New York City agency at the rate of $80 per annum who was suspended per letter of Sept 25th 1843 - I want to thank you to inform me this [illegible of his pension
yours respectfully
T Van Tine
[illegible]

I would be pleased to have an answer at your earliest convenience

Silvanus Townsend
Page 28

Jacob Hess Esq 
North Salem 
Westchester Co
Page 29

Comptroller Office
Albany February 29th 1844

Sir,

I [illegible] enclosed a certificate containing the evidence relative to the services of Sylvanus Townsend, during the Revolutionary Period, which is found in this office

I am very [illegible] your obt servt
Philip Phelps Dept Comptroller

Jacob Hess Esq
North Salem
Westchester Co

JL Edwards Esq 
Dr Sir I inferred from your letter to the Townsend that the enclosed & copy on the opposite pages were to be sent to your office but if there is an error in this please to correct it so that he may draw his pension soon as he is in [illegible] of it for a support in old age.

Respectfully yours
Jacob Hess
Page 30

J L Edwards
Commisioner of Pension
Washington City D C 

free
J Hess [illegible]

NY March 12 1844
[illegible] 
Sylvanus Townsend

North Salem NY
Page 31

North Salem February 25 1844

A C Flagg Esq
Dr Sir

Mr. J L Edwards the pension officer at Washington has required of Sylvanus Townsend a Revolutionary pensioner further proof of his services in the New York Militia as far as the [illegible] appear upon the [illegible] matter to the comptrollers office. Mr Townsend and his solicitor need to request you to examine into the returns of the following Colonels regiments Capt Companus and said [illegible] a certificate through me of such facts as may therein appear as to his returned or services particularly whether such regiments & companies have been returned or not and if he is returned in any or all of them for what length of time he served in each  He Mr Townsend is 90 years of age and his memory rather had & all his [illegible] upon whose testimony he obtained the pension are now dead. But as near as I can learn from him he has served under Col Thomas Thomas Col Crane & Col Sacket his Captains were Ephram Lockwood, Nathaniel Delavan, Benoni Platt. Gilbert Dean, & David Pardy all these capts he thinks he were under Col Thomas at times, Capt Delevan was at times under Col Thomas Col [illegible] and Col Sacket & he thinks some of the time of the other Capt were also at times under col [illegible] Sacket - As the time for drawing pensions is near at hand & as it is his chief dependence for subsistence your answer is desired as soon as convenient he wishes you to send the amount of your [illegible] with the certificate  he will remit it without delay and I will see that he attends to it.  

Jacob Hess
I certify that the above is a true copy
Jacob Hess
Page 32

State of New York
Secretary's Office
I certify that it appears by the records of the provincial congress of New York in this office that Gilbert Dean was commissioned as a second Lieutenant of the Company of militia in Philipsbergh in the county of Westchester whreeof David Davids was Captain on the 20th of September 1775.

It also appears by the said records that Benoni Platt of North Castle Westchester county was nominated as Captain of a company of Militia in the year 1775 for the said county. 

Arch. Campbell
Dep. Sec. of State

Albany April 11. 1844
Page 33

April 22

too evidence 
S Townsend

J L Edwards Esq
Pension Office
Washington City D. C. 

free
 J Hess Esq
Page 34

State of New York
Comptrollers Office   I certify that after a careful examination of the books documents and papers remaining in this office pertaining to the Revolutionary Period, the names of Captain Benoni Platt, Capt Gilbert Dean and Capt David Pardy are not found. Albany April 11th 1814
Phlip Phelps
Dept Comptroller

J.L. Edwards Esq
Dr Sir The certificate from the comptroller's office sent you a few weeks since with the above and the enclosed is all I could obtain for Mr Sylvanus Townsend. The witnesses upon whose testimony he obtained are all dead & he is so infirm that I cannot get much information from him  If his pension could go on consistently with the pension laws it would be a deed of charity as he has not other sufficient means for his comfort. If this is not sufficient and you would state specifically what further proof would be required perhaps he could obtain it. He is anxious to hear from you as to this matter   Respectfully yours.
Jacob Hess

For Mr. Townsend