Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3,885, for Elijah Sperry, Connecticut
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Conn.
continental

Sperry, Elijah
Polly


NUMBER
W.3,885

CONTENTS
[blank]
Page 2

5934  
Ohio   Clev. 
Polly Sperry decd. 
widow of Elijah Sperry who died on the - of - in the State of - who was a Sgt. of Artf. & Lt. of Artillery commanded by Captain - of the - commanded by - in the - line for Revolution 
Inscribed on the Roll of Cleveland at the rate of 123 Dollars 73 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. 
Incd. [increased] from 115.00  
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Sept 1853 and Sent to R. M. Young 
Pmst.
Arrears to the 4th of -  
Semiannual allowance ending – 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 7, 1838} 
Recorded by R. McRae Clerk 
Book D Vol. 1 Page 563.
Page 3

Let to J. Hathaway 14 Jan 53
" " Jas. Hathaway 18th June 1853


Ohio  2346
=============

Polly Sperry
widow of Elijah Sperry
who was a Sergt. and Lieutenant
in the Connecticut line
10 mo. 8 day. Sergt. and Artf.
2 mo. 18 day Sergt. of Artillery

=============

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
115 Dollars three 
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.

=============

Certificate of Pension issued the
Twenty first day of October 1843
and sent to Alfred Phelps
Chardon
Ohio

=============

[Act of March 3, 1843.]

Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 162
Page 4

4826
[illegible]

Polly Sperry
Application for Pension
of Elijah
Ohio


on roll artf.
[illegible] Sergt. 6 June 1778
Lt 14 April 1779 resigned
July 1 79 and [illegible]
Page 5


The State of Ohio
Geauga County ss } On this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Geauga in the State of Ohio, Polly Sperry a resident of Kirtland in the County State aforesaid aged Eighty one years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Elijah Sperry, who was a Revolutionary soldier and served in the Revolutionary War, as a private, a Sergeant, and also as a Lieutenant of Artificers; that he served during the greater part of said War in the militia, as a volunteer & in the regular continental line; that during his said service, as she is informed & believes he was engaged in the battle at Bennington, Danbury & Horse Neck and other battles which she cannot now specify; That from her advanced age and consequent loss of memory, she is unable to set forth particularly his several tours of service & the names of many of the officers under whom he served, and the other particulars of his service, although she had personal knowledge of his performance of a part of the term of service following, & is informed & believes he served the whole, to wit: In the year 1777, he resided at New Milford Connecticut, and in that year the time in the year she cannot state, he enlisted into the Continental Army, as a private as she believes, at said Milford, for the term of three years, she cannot state the officer's name under whom he enlisted; that immediately thereafter he commenced, & after the  performance of divers services, he was stationed at West Point where he acted as a Lieutenant of Artificers, & had an appointment, or  commission as such; that during said three years & prior to his acting as Lieutenant of Artificers, he acted as a Sergeant - That he served at said West Point as Lieutenant of Artificers, under Captain Stephen Osborn & was a Blacksmith by trade; That she verily believes, & so states, he served as Lieutenant of Artificers, at said West Point & at Danbury for a period more than two years, & until the expiration of the three years for which
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he had enlisted, when he received his discharge; that during the said tour of service, and in the month of April 1779, he was serving to her personal knowledge in said capacity of Lieutenant of Artificers at Danbury, Connecticut, in which said month & year, she was married to him at Danbury aforesaid. That she is informed, & believes, though she is not certain that he was under the command of Colonel Miflin & Major Meigs while serving at West Point; that Major Starr, one of the officers of the Army was present at their marriage, but whether living now she does not know. She further states that her said husband, while serving at West Point assisted in making & placing across the River a chain to stop the British shipping from ascending, and was there at the time their Vessels attempted to pass it. She is confident his name will be found upon the rolls in the War Office at Washington, and in particular for the tour of service of three years above mentioned, and to them she respectfully refers for proof of his said service; That in the year 1819 said Elijah applied for a pension on account of his Revolutionary services, the papers were forwarded to Washington for that purpose, but she is informed & believes, they were returned to the Agent who made them out for amendment, and in consequence of the death of the said Elijah which took place in the Autumn of the same year, nothing further was done, and though she has made dilligent enquiry [diligent inquiry] she cannot find said papers, the said agent having removed from the place where he then lived, and died as she is informed & believes and she believes said papers to be lost or destroyed. She further states that she has seen the commission or appointment of her said husband as Lieutenant of Artificers & also his discharge, but she does not know what has become of either, not having seen them to her recollection since she & her said husband removed to the State of New York from Vermont in the year 1802; whether the same were among the papers forwarded to Washington at the time her said husband applied for a pension as aforesaid or were lost when they removed from Vermont, she cannot say; that she has no documentary evidence whereby to prove his said service & knows of no person by whom she can prove the same except Elam Sperry whose affidavit she has procured thereto annexed
Page 7

She further declares that before the expiration of said tour of service at West Point & Danbury aforesaid, to wit: on the nineteenth day of April A.D. 1779, at Danbury in the State of Connecticut she was married to the said Elijah Sperry; that the marriage was solomnized [solemnized] by a Presbyterian Clergyman named Peck, that she has sent to the town clerk of Danbury for a certificate of her marriage from the record, if any record was made, and she is informed by him, & believes that no record was kept; that said Peck was not settled in Danbury, but resided in another town & was hired to preach there part of the time; that said Town Clerk had searched the records of the church in Danbury & that no records were kept from the year 1776 to September 1786. & that he was so informed by the oldest inhabitants before making the examination; that a record of her said marriage was made in the family Bible of her husband, & transfered [transferred] afterwards by him in his own handwriting to another Bible, but that both of said Bibles are now lost & destroyed. She has however obtained the affidavits of persons who have seen said record to prove its existence loss & contents. She further declares that her said husband died at Luzerne in the County of Warren & State of New York, on the fourth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and eighteen; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed

Sworn and subscribed this 14th day of November 1839, in open Court }
Polly Sperry x  her mark
D D Aiken Clerk

I, Obed W. Call of Kirtland County & State aforesaid, aged forty six years, being duly sworn, on my oath do say that for many years prior to the year 1818, and until the time of his death, I was well acquainted with Elijah Sperry who was the husband of Polly Sperry who has subscribed the foregoing declaration in my presence; that the said Elijah then resided at Luzerne Warren County, State of New York, at which place I lived; that he was generally reputed & believed in that neighbourhood to have been a Revolutionary Soldier, in which belief I concurred & still concur. I was also during the same time & have ever since been well acquainted with Polly Sperry who has subscribed the foregoing declaration, & now live a near neighbour to her, & know her to be
Page 8

the identical person who was the wife and now is the widow of said Elijah, that said Elijah died at Luzerne aforesaid on the fourth day of September A.D. 1818, that said Polly Sperry has not since married, but still remains his widow.
Obed. W. Call

Sworn to & subscribed this 14th day of November }
A.D. 1839, by the said Obed W. Call, whom 
I certify to be a person of truth & veracity 
& entitled to credit - in open Court }
Before me  D. D. Aiken Clerk

We Elam Sperry aged fifty one years, & Louisa Colton aged forty two years, make solomn [solemn] oath, that we are the son & daughter of Elijah Sperry & Polly Sperry his wife, subscribed to the foregoing declaration; that we both well recollect, as long ago as we can remember, of seeing in an old family Bible of our father a record of his marriage with our said mother in his handwriting, that said Bible has long since been worn out & destroyed; that a considerable time before his death, he transcribed said record into a newer Bible which last record we have both frequently seen; and that both records stated the marriage of our said father & mother as we distinctly recollect to have been at Danbury on the Nineteenth day of April 1779 - And the said Louisa Colton further states that she saw her father draw off said record from the old Bible into the newer one; that afterwards when she went to keeping house by herself, she took said last mentioned, or newer, Bible, and kept the same in her family until about five years ago, when it was worn out & gone; that at said last mentioned period, when it was still in existence it was much torn & defaced, & the said record of marriages, deaths, births &c. had then been lost from it. And further these affiants say not.
Elam Sperry
Louisa Colton

Sworn to & subscribed by the said Elam Sperry & Louisa Colton, both of whom I certify to be persons of truth & veracity, & their statements entitled to credit, this 14th day of November  A.D. 1839 in open Court }
Before me
D. D. Aiken Clerk
Page 9

The State of Ohio 
Geauga County ss } I Elam Sperry a resident of Kirtland in said County of Geauga, aged seventy seven years, being duly sworn, on my oath do say, that before, at the time of, and after, the Revolutionary War, I was well acquainted with Elijah Sperry who was the husband of Polly Sperry now resident in Kirtland, with whom also I have been well acquainted ever since her intermarriage with said Elijah, that said Elijah resided at the commencement of the Revolutionary War at New Milford in the State of Connecticut, that early in said War he entered the service of the United States, and to my knowledge served through nearly the whole war; that I saw him performing service as a soldier at New Haven at West Haven and at diverse other places, but I cannot at present recollect the names of the officers under whom he served, except as hereinafter stated; That I well remember that in the year 1777 (at what particular period in the year I cannot specify) the said Elijah Sperry enlisted into the Army in the Continental line, at New Milford, under what officers I cannot now recollect; that some time after his enlistment and during the term of his enlistment, which was for three years, he was stationed at West Point, 
that in the summer of the year 1779 I was drafted to perform a tour of service as a militiaman, and marched to West Point, and was there at the time the British vessels came up & attempted to pass the chain which had been placed across the River at that post; that I saw the said Elijah Sperry there and serving in the capacity of Lieutenant of Artificers under Captain Stephen Osborn, that he continued to my personal knowledge to act in that capacity during the whole time I remained there which was about six weeks-- It is my impression (though I am not certain) that he was then under the command of Colonel Miflen [Mifflin] and Major Meigs; That the said Elijah served out the three years for which he enlisted & at the end thereof returned home to New Haven and at that time showed me his discharge specifying the said three years service
Page 10

[unreadable] which I well remember, but cannot recollect the officer's name by whom it was signed. And further this affiant saith not. 
Elam Sperry
Sworn & subscribed by the said Elam Sperry who I hereby certify to be a person of truth & veracity & his statement entitled to credit, this 11th day of November  A.D. 1839  
Before me, W. A. Cowdery Justice of the Peace 
The State of Ohio  
Geauga County ss. } I D. D. Aiken Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings had before said Court on the application of Polly Sperry for a Pension. I also certify that Warren A. Cowdery Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been taken on the 11th day of November A.D. 1839, was at that time and still is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & sworn according to law; and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine as I verily believe. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of said Court at Chardon, this 26th day of November A.D. 1839
D. D. Aiken, Clerk
Page 11

State of Ohio
Geauga County } On this 23d day of February A.D. 1853. Before me Isaac N. Hathaway a Notary Public in and for the said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Daniel S. Sperry a resident of Kirtland, in the County of Sake [Lake?] and State of Ohio, who being first duly sworn doth on oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain for the surviving children of Mrs. Polly Sperry, deceased who was the widow of Elijah Sperry deceased, an increase of the pension of said Polly which was due her the said Polly at her decease, which took place in Kirtland aforesaid on the thirteenth day of May A.D. 1845, that the said Polly drew a pension of about one hundred and fifteen dollars per annum on account of the Revolutionary service of her husband the said Elijah, that his mother left the following her only surviving children which are now living to wit: Lovina Call, wife of Obed W. Call & him the said Daniel S. Sperry resident of Kirtland, in the County of Lake and State of Ohio, and Louisa Colton widow of Josiah Colton a resident of Geauga County Ohio, he refers to the proof hereunto annexed and prays that a pension certificate may issue to said surviving children for the increase of pension due his mother at her decease.
Daniel Sperry

Sworn & subscribed Before me the day & year above written Witness my hand [and] seal officially at Chardon in said county & State
Isaac N Hathaway
Notary Public
Page 12

the State of Ohio }
Geauga County ss. }  I Alfred Phelps Probate Judge in & for the said County of Geauga, do hereby certify that at a Probate Court held at Chardon in and for said County on the twelfth day of February May A.D. 1853, before me, it was satisfactorily proved that Polly Sperry late of Kirtland in the County of Lake, State of Ohio, deceased was a Revolutionary Pensioner at the rate of about one hundred and fifteen dollars per annum, on account of the Revolutionary Services of her husband Elijah Sperry deceased; that said Polly died at Kirtland aforesaid on the thirteenth day of May A.D. 1845, leaving the following her surviving children to wit: Daniel S. Sperry and Lovina Call wife of Obed Call, residents of said Kirtland, and Louisa Colton widow of Josiah Colton deceased residing in the County of Geauga, Ohio, being her only surviving children now living; and that the said Polly Sperry remained the widow of said Elijah Sperry up to the time of her decease.

In testimony of which I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said Probate Court this 14th day of February A.D. 1853.

Alfred Phelps Probate Judge
Page 13

The State of Ohio 
Geauga County ss}  I Elam Sperry aged seventy eight years last May being duly sworn make oath and say that I was a nephew of Elijah Sperry deceased who was a soldier and served in the Revolutionary War; that my father was the son of the father of said Elijah by his first wife, & the said Elijah a son by the second wife; that I was well acquainted with him from my infancy until the year 1794, when he removed to Vermont; that during all that time, except this time he served in the Revolutionary War, he lived near me and with the exception of the time said Elijah served his apprenticeship to the Blacksmiths trade at New Milford, about thirty miles from New Haven the place when this affiant lived, the said Elijah lived in the same town, to wit; New Haven, and the adjoining town viz: Waterbury, excepting also the time said Elijah was serving in the Army: that some time in the 2d or 3d year of the Revolutionary War, the said Elijah Sperry came to my fathers house and stated that he had enlisted in the army for three years; that said Elijah departed, as this affiant was informed and believes to serve under said enlistment; that afterwards, as this affiant believes & according to his best recollection in the month of September in the year 1778, and I believe I am not mistaken in the year or month, I was drafted to serve a tour of two months, being then 16 in my seventeenth year, that I immediately marched to West Point, where I served under Capt Steele whose christian name I think was Bradford, in the Regt commanded by Col Pritten; that I the understood from general report that the reason of the draft on the militia at that time was the expectation that the British would attack West Point by land & Water that I continued to serve as a soldier under said officers at West Point until the said period of two months had expired when was discharged & returned home to New Haven, that while at West Point I saw said Elijah Sperry there & he remained there during the whole time I was there serving as Lieutenant of Artificers under Capt Stephen Osborn that said Elijah then informed me he was married to Polly Vanorder that this was the first knowledge of the marriage I have, the said Elijah having been single at the time he came to my fathers house & said he had enlisted as above mentioned; that about one year after I left West Point the said Elijah came with his said wife to New Haven, & he established himself in the blacksmith business there, at that time it was generally reputed & believed & was ever thereafter reputed & believed in that neighborhood that they were husband and wife, and that they had been married at Danbury
Page 14

in the State of Connecticut, and I frequently heard him, my father & others say that he was married at Danbury aforesaid by a Clergyman by the name of Peck; that at that time the clergyman in Connecticut were required by law to keep a record of marriages, that the marriage of said Elijah was according to my recollection, before Danbury by was burnt by the British, and I verily believe the record of said marriage was burnt; that immediately after my return from West Point aforesaid, I saw a letter from said Elijah Sperry to my father informing him of his said marriage, that said Elijah Sperry continued to cohabit with said Polly as her husband, at New Haven and Waterbury aforesaid, until the year 1794, when they removed to Vermont since which time I have not seen the said Elijah, but about five or six years ago I removed to Kirtland County of Geauga State of Ohio, since which time to the present I have lived a near neighbor to said Polly who is now the widow of said Elijah, that I was well acquainted with said Polly during all the time they lived at New Haven & Waterbury since I have lived in Kirtland aforesaid, I would further state that the said Sperry after he came to New Haven as aforesaid shewed me a written discharge specifying that he had faithfully served for the period of three years; but cannot now recollect by whom the discharge was signed that during the whole time said Elijah & Polly cohabited together as husband & wife at New Haven & Waterbury as aforesaid no doubt was ever entertained or expressed to my knowledge of their having been married as aforesaid, that during that time they had several children; and further this affiant saith not. 
Elam Sperry
Sworn & subscribed this 19th day of November A.D. 1840  
Before me Thomas Metcalf Justice of the Peace 
The State of Ohio 
Geauga County ss)  I D. D. Aiken Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that Thomas Metcalf Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been taken on the 19th day November A.D. 1840 was at that time and still
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Chardon Geauga County, Ohio. Nov 20, 1840 
Hon J. L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions} 
Sir 
I send annexed the affidavit of Elam Sperry to prove the marriage of Elijah & Polly Sperry, and hope, with the other proofs now at Washington, it will be sufficient. From this affidavit & other circumstances I am induced to believe the witnesses who testified to the Bible record of the marriage mistook as to the year, that the marriage was in April 1778 instead of April 1779 as they stated. This affidavit goes to establish the marriage before the expiration of his service, & if sufficient, would entitle the widow to a pension on her application under the law of 1836, but as in the last declaration she relinquished all claim to a pension under the law of 1836 provided a pension should be granted her under the law of 1838, it west rest entirely in the discretion of the Department. She hopes the Department will grant her something at least, for her circumstances are necessitous indeed.   
With much respect your Obt Servt 
Alfred Phelps
Page 16

Augt 11 1840
Chardon O
Aug 7
Ohio
Addl proof 
Polly Sperry
Hon J L. Edwards Commr of Pensions  
Washington City
Page 17

Chardon August 5. 1840
Hon J.L. Edwards Com. of Pensions 
Sir, Your Letter of 27th Feby. last informed me that the application of Polly Sperry widow of Elijah Sperry a Revolutionary Soldier, had been filed with suspended cases; that the records gave proof of his service, & that he resigned his office of Lieut of Artificers in July 1779. That it would be necessary that the proof should be clear as to the marriage having been in April 1779. That the certificate of affidavit of the Town Clerk of Danbury should be obtained shewing what proof the records afforded & if none that the testimony of witnesses should be exhibited & I have procured therewith transmit the affidavit of the Town Clerk of Danbury shewing that the records afford no proof of marriage in such case I respectfully suggest that by the rules of the Department, the nest best testimony is the family record.  By the affidavits of Louisa Colton & Elam Sperry 2d, which were transmitted the with her application, it is proven that such a record existed in a family Bible & was afterwards by the said Elijah Sperry copied into a new Bible, that both had been lost and destroyed.  Mrs Louisa Colton states clearly & unequivocally her recollection of the date of the marriage as specified in said record, to wit: 19th of April 1779.   Her testimony is corroborated as to the time of the marriage by Elam Sperry 1st, which was also sent with application, who, although not present at the marriage, was acquainted with both at the time, when they cohabited as husband & wife, & were generally reputed to be married. Having thus established the existence, loss & contents of the record, I respectfully submit whether the same is not sufficient within the rules of the Department, & conformably to rules
Page 18

of Evidence in other cases. I have procured & herewith transmit also an affidavit of two respectable citizens to the character of said Polly Sperry, the witnesses for truth & veracity, one of them a Clergyman with the Clerks certificate, hoping that it will give weight to the whole by shewing the reliance to be placed on the witnesses. The marriages having taken place so long ago, it is not possible to prove the testimony of witnesses present at the marriage.   
Respectfully Your Obd Servt 
Alfred Phelps 
Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio
Page 19

Aug 21  ‘96 send pensd to Harley Barnes Painesville Ohio LWB
Jany 17 1903 Mrs. H.M. Reynolds Oneida N.Y 
3885
Revy WIDOW, &c. 
File No. 3885
Polly Sperry of Widow  Elijah Sperry 
Lieut. Rev War 
Act: Mch. 3d / 43  June 17th / 44
Index: -- Vol. M, Page 233 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 20

THE REALTY TITLE & INVESTMENT COMPANY, INCORPORATED
HARLEY BARNES PREST
VAUGHN F. WHYMAN SECY
C. J. SCOTT TREAS.
Painesville Aug 12th 1989.
Hon. D. I. Murphy, 
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.    S
Dear Sir: - 
Will you kindly furnish me with as complete a record as possible, of the services of my great grandfather, Lieut. Elijah Sperry, of Norfolk, Conn., in the Revolutionary War. His widow, Polly Sperry drew a pension by virtue of his services. 
Very truly yours, 
Harley Barnes.
Page 21

OW & N
EEl
[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE AUG 14 1896
[stamp] OLD WAR & NAVY FILES AUG 17 1896
Page 22

and have been told that by applying to you I could obtain  necessary trnsps
Yours Truly 
Mrs. H. M. Reynolds 
11 Reynolds Block 
Oneida N.Y. 
Jan. 12. 1902
Page 23

MMHF
OW&N
Pension Bureau 
Wash. D.C – 
I would like the military record of Capt Elijah Sperry born 1751 at New Haven Conn or near possibly in Woodbridge I am anxious to join the D.A.R. at once and
Page 24

and have been told that by applying to you I could obtain necessary trnsps
Yours Truly
Mrs. H. M. Reynolds
11 Reynolds Block
Oneida N.Y.
Jan. 12. 1902
Page 25

[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE JAN 1 1903
Page 26

3885
3 - 068. (Old No. 3-649.) 
Bureau of Pensions.
Elijah Sperry
[unreadable] 1834
Kirtland Ohio
New Milford Conn
Capt – 
Col – 
[unreadable] 
Capt Osborn
Col Baldwin
Lt 2 m 18 d 
Mar Polly Vanorden
Apr [unreadable] Danbury Ct
D. Sept [unreadable] 1818 Warren Co. [unreadable] 
Bat Bennington, Danbury & Horseneck
Page 27

O. W. & N. Div.
W. 3885 
L. W. B. 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS, 
WASHINGTON, D. C., August 21, 1896. 
Sir
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Elijah Sperry, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that Polly Sperry, widow of Elijah Sperry, made application for pension November 14, 1839, at which time she was residing in Kirtland, Ohio, and 81 years of age, and her pension was allowed for the actual service of her husband as a sergeant in the Conn. troops, Revolutionary War for a period of ten months and eight days, and as a lieutenant for two months and eighteen days; a part of the time he served under Capt. Osborne and Col. Baldwin. He enlisted at New Milford, Conn. 
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.
Mr Parley Barnes, Painesville, Ohio.
Page 28

[stamp] CHARDON O. JUN 20
July 6 43
2409
Ohio 
Mar 3d 43
Polly Sperry
Polly Sperry
$115.03 per annum
Alfred Phelps
Chardon Ohio
Hon J L. Edwards  
Commr of Pensions  
Washington City
Page 29

State of Ohio 
Lake County ss}   On this fifteenth day of June A.D. 1843, personally appeared before Geo. Ranney a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Lake in the State of Ohio aforesaid Polly Sperry a resident of the township of Kirtland in the said County of Lake, aged Eighty six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed on the third March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War That she is the widow of Elijah Sperry, a Revolutionary Soldier, who was a Seargeant and served as such part of the time, and also a Lieutenant of Artificers, and served as such part of the time, in the Revolutionary Army, and while acting as Lieutenant of Artificers, and being such, was under the command of Captain Stephen Osborn, at West Point in the State of N. York That she made application to the War Department for a pension on account of the services of her said husband, and received a certificate of pension under the act of Congress of July 7th 1838, dated December first 1840. & Numbered 5934, entitling her to a pension for five years, at the rate of One hundred & fifteen dollars and three cents per annum, which certificate was forwarded with her papers for drawing to the agent at Pittsburgh, Pa She further declares that she is still a widow. 
Poly Sperry x her mark
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written. I also certify that the said declarant is personally known to me, as the identical person who was the widow of Elijah Sperry a Revolutionary Soldier, who received a pension, as such widow, under the act of July 7th 1838.  I further certify she is a person of truth & veracity 
Geo. Ranney Justice of the peace
Page 30

Chardon June 13. 1843 
To the Hon J L Edwards 
Com of Pensions 
Herewith I transmit the declaration of Polly Sperry widow of Elijah Sperry, under the Act of March 1843 to get a continuance of her pension for 1 year.    Please direct returns to me at Chardon Geauga County Ohio Your Obt Servt 
Alfred Phelps
Page 31

The State of Ohio
LAKE COUNTY, ss. }  
I, JOHN W. HOWDEN, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Lake in the State of Ohio, do by these presents certify and make known that George Ranney Esquire, before whom the annexed and foregoing affidavit was taken, and who has thereunto in his own proper hand writing, subscribed his name, was at the time of taking such affidavit and now is a Justice of the Peace in the Township of Kirtland in and for said county, duly commissioned and sworn agreeably to the Laws of the State of Ohio, and to all whose official acts as such, full faith and credit is and ought to be given throughout the United States, and elsewhere.   
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Painesville, in said County, this 15th day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty three
John W. Howden Clerk
Page 32

Brief in the case of Polly Sperry, widow of Elijah 
Geauga County and State of Ohio 
act July 7. 1838 &c. 
Claim (“for increase”) 
Proof exhibited,
Is it documentary, traditionary,  or supported by rolls? If either state the substance.
Pension had been allowed at $115.03 per annum - for 10 mo. 8 days Sergt of Artificers & 
2 mo. 18 days Lieut of Artillery}   
This calculation was erroneous. It should have been 
10 mo. 8 days Sergt of Artif.        $80.41 
2 mo.  18 days Lieut of Artillery $43.32 
$123.73
 (If for increase.) addition to believe the admission of the claim? If so, what?   
Increase allowed from $115.83 to 123.73 per Annum from March 4, 1836 to May 13. 1845 less two years. Payable to 
Daniel S. Sperry 
Lovina Call 
Louisa Colton 
Surviving Children 
Name and residence of Agent 
R. M. Young Present 
A. H. Evans Examining Clerk
Page 33

Brief case 
Polly Sperry 
Ohio 
See Mr Colis calculation he makes 8.70 due the claimants - The error was in the calculation of the pay of Lieut of Artillery
Page 34

Application for increase pension. 
Brief Case Polly Sperry widow dec’d  
Elam Sperry - (19th Novr 1840.)  says in 2d or 3d war Elijah came to house Dept’s [deponent’s] father & stated he had enlisted for 3 yrs. afterwards Dept was drafted in 1778. Elijah served as Lt of Artificers, Elijah Showed Dept written discharge specifying he had served 3 years 
Polly Sperry - (21st Oct 1840) O. C. declares she is widow Elijah served as private, Sergt & in 1777 entered any private for 3 yrs. Commissioned at West Point as Lt.  of Artificers served under Capt. Stephen Osborn &c - for that time he acted as a Sergt thinks he served as Lt of artificers over 2 yrs.  
Polly Sperry (14th Nov. 1839. same as above) 
See Hazens Regt artificers which shows that Elizah served as Sergt 10 mos 8 days & was Lt 2 mos 17 days,-
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Chardon O
Dec 2
Dec 9
Free
Hon J L. Edwards  
Commr of Pensions  
Washington City
Polly Sperry
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Chardon Nov. 30. 1839 
Hon J L Edwards 
Comr of Pensions 
Sir On the 28th inst. I forwarded to the Pension office, the application of Polly Sperry the widow of Elijah Sperry who served in the Revolutionary War as Lieut of Artificers, and through inadvertance did not send a Letter with the application. You will please therefore direct any returns which you may make to said application to me at Chardon Geauga County, Ohio 
Very Respectfully Yours &c 
Alfred Phelps
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I Thomas P. White of Danbury in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut testify Depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the said Town of Danbury that I have diligently searched the records in the Office of said Town Clerk and especially records of Marriages in said Town, and there is no record in said Town Clerks Office of the marriage of Elijah Sperry & Polly Vanorden. The reason of the Omission I am unable to assign but possibly that there was no law in existence at the time of their alledged marriage (to wit 1779) requiring marriages to be recorded, but more probably that if there was at that time they might have been destroyed as the records of the Town were burned by the British I think in 1777.   
Thomas P. White Town Clerk 
State of Connecticut 
Fairfield County  SS }  
on this 29th day of June 1840 before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Danbury in the said County and State personally appeared Thomas P White above named and subscribed the foregoing Deposition and being duly sworn, made solemn oath to the truth of the same 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my said office the day and year aforesaid, 
Gilead G Taylor Clerk
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I Edward Taylor of Danbury Fairfield County and State of Connecticut Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Danbury within and for said County and State do hereby certify to all whom it may concern that Gilead Taylor who hath subscribed the foregoing certificate is Clerk of said Court of Probate duly appointed and sworn and was such Clerk at the date of said certificate, and that full faith and credit are due to his official acts as such Clerk and that the signature subscribed to said certificate purporting to be his is in the proper hand writing of the said Gilead Taylor, and that the seal impressed upon said certificate is the seal of said Court of Probate, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of June 1840 Edward Taylor Judge
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We William Collins & Dexter Otis, make oath & say that we have severally been personally acquainted with Polly Sperry of Kirtland County of Geauga State of Ohio for six years last past; that said Polly is the reputed widow of Elijah Sperry a Revolutionary Soldier, & has, as we are informed & believe, applied for a pension on account of his Revolutionary services; that said Polly is a person of truth & veracity & her statements under oath entitled to full credit. We further state that we have severally been acquainted personally with Louisa Colton & Elam Sperry 2d with the first named person about six years with the latter Eighteen years last preceeding this date; that they are persons of truth & veracity & full faith & credit is due to their statements under oath.   
Dexter Otis
William Collins
Sworn & subscribed this 5th day of August A.D. 1840  
Before me Saml Magnunigal Justice of the Peace 
The State of Ohio 
Geauga County ss}
I D. D. Aikin Clerk of the of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that Samuel Maguningal Esq. before whom the above affidavit was taken is a Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned & sworn according to law and that his signature above written is genuine. I further certify that I am acquainted with the above affiants, and that they are persons of truth & veracity, that one of them to wit, William Collins, is a Clergyman, in good standing in his church and in the community in which he lives.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, the 5th day of August A.D. 1840 
D.D. Aiken Clerk
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Hon J L. Edwards  
Commr of Pensions  
Washington City
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Chardon Geauga County, Ohio  
October 26th 1840 
Hon J.L. Edwards 
Com. of Pensions  
Sir Herewith enclosed I send the declaration of Polly Sperry widow of Elijah Sperry for a pension under the act of July 7th 1838. She has applied as will be recollected under the act of July 4th 1836, which application is pending in the Department. By a letter you did me the honor to address to me on 11th ult. it was stated that the proof of the marriage being before the termination of her husband service was insufficient & and without documentary evidence of the marriage being at the time alledged; that a pension might be allowed under the act of July 7. 1838 upon proof being produced of the marriage having taken place before 1st Jany 1794 and a declaration being made under the last named act. In consequence of the above intimation the enclosed declaration is made & forwarded. She could not consistent with truth, state any other time of Marriage or state as the form requires that she was not married before the termination of his last term of service, although she has been unable to prove it was before; she has in lieu of it inserted a relinquishment of claim under the act. The proofs taken under the other application are referred to as on file in the Pension Office, and it is hoped they will be sufficient, & that under circumstances it will not be required to take them over again.   Please direct returns to me at the above named place 
Very Respectfully 
Your Obt Svt
Alfred Phelps
Page 42

Polly Sperry 
widow of Elijah Sperry 
Ohio 
July 7 1838 &c. 
(sergt & Lieut.) 
increase from $115.03- to $123.73- from March 4, 1836 to May 13. 1845 less two years claimed.
Payable 
Daniel S Sperry 
Lovina Call 
Louisa Colton 
Children 
R M Young Present
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Chardon Geauga Co. Ohio 
June 27th 1853
Sir
In your report in the claim of the children of Mrs Polly Sperry, deceased, to an increase of said Polly’s pension date of 18th inst, you report that the children are not entitled to the increase of pension claimed by them.   I will beg leave to state that your [unreadable] in reply to my letter respecting this claim stated under date of January 14, 1853, to as follows to wit: 
Sir 
“In reply to your letter respecting the case of Polly Sperry, deceased widow of Elijah Sperry I have to inform you that an increase of $8.70 per annum may be allowed the heirs, But before the claim can be adjusted a certificate of some of Record must be furnished showing the date of the widows death, and the names of the children who survived her.” 
The requirements in this case were on file with the required Certificate forwarded to your office and you now report there is nothing due.  
I  request a reexamination of this claim believing there was an error accrued in the last examination & the claim for in the report of January 14th 1853 the act amount of the increase per annum is set forth to wit, $8.70 the estimate being made to a cent of the
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amount due per annum, which appears very give to my said amount of increase was found due at that date to wit:  January 19th 1953
Truly your obt Servent 
James Hathaway 
Hon L. P. Waldo 
Comr of Pensions, 
Washington City D. C
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Chardon Geauga Co. Ohio February 23d 1853. 
Sir 
I herewith transmit to your office the application of Daniel S. Sperry Son of Mrs Polly Sperry deceased, for an increase of his mothers pension together with a Certificate of the Probate Court 
Very Truly Your most Obed Servant 
James Hathaway 
Hon J. E. Heath 
Comr of Pensions 
Washington City
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79.4.14
78.4.4
10.8
79.7.1
79.4.14
2.17
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Chardon Geauga Co. Ohio August 24th 1852. 
Sir 
As agent of the Children of Mrs Polly Sperry widow Elijah Sperry who was an Artificer in the war of the Revolution, I will state that said Polly Sperry was a pensioner at the rate of $115.03 per annum under the act of July 7th 1838, March 3 1843 & June 17th 1844 and now dead, that her children believe they are entitled to an increase of her pension to the full pay per annum that her husband recd while in said service.  Please inform me whether said children are entitled to any increase of said pension or not, Mrs Sperry was on the Ohio pension roll and died in Lake County Ohio.   
Very Respectfully your most Obt Servant, 
James Hastaway 
Hon J. E. Heath 
Com of Pensions 
Washington City D. C.
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7346
Ohio Clev
Polly Sperry decd 
widow of Elijah Perry Sgt Artificer & Lt. Artillery in the Revolution Ct. Line 
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 123 Dollars 73 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843. & ending 13 May 1845  
Incr [increased] from 115.03 
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day of Sept 1853 and sent to R M Young present 
[Acts of March 3, 1843 & June 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A Vol 2 Page 212
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May 4 
The new certificate should have been sent to James Hathaway.  
It was by mistake marked to Hon R. M. Young who returned it & it is this day marked with a letter to James Hathaway, Chardon O
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Ohio 5934. 
Polly Sperry 
widow of Elijah Sperry, decd and who died on the 4 Sept 1818 of Geauga Co in the State of Ohio who was a Sgt & Lt. in the Compy command by Captain Osborne of the regt command by Col Baldwin in the Connt line for 
10 m 8 day Sergt of Artif [artificers]
2 m. 18 day Lt. of  Arty [artillery]  
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh at the rate of 105 Dollars 03 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of Dec 1840 and sent to Alfred Phelps Chardon, Ohio 
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1835 $ 57.15
Semi-annual allowance ending 
[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by D. McCurdy Clerk 
Book. A  Vol. 2 Page 215.
Page 51

Polly Sperry of Elijah 
Ohio – 
Suspended – 
let 7 Nov 40 
A. Phelps 
Act 7 July 1838
Page 52

put this among
Sperry's papers
Page 53

12 ½ / 188
4 ½      94
3 ½      23.50
1 1/3   7.83
4 1/5   1.56
1 1/3      .52
80.11
43.32
123.73
115.03
8.70
12 ½ 400
2 ¼ 200
15 ¼ 33.33
3 1/5 1.44
43.32
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Appl of Polly Sperry decd of Elijah for increase of her pension 
Jas Hathaway
Chardon
Ohio
May
Hon J. E. Heath Commr of Pensions Washington City D. C.
Page 55

Polly Sperry of Elijah Ohio 
Suspended -  
See let. 27 Feb 40 
A. Phelps 
A. Phelps 11 Sep. 1840. 
Act 4 July 1836
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7431 
Polly Sperry of Elijah 
Ohio 
Admitted S
Sergt Artif 10, 8,   80.38
Lt. Artif      2. 18   34.65
$115.03
Cap. Osborn 
Col. Baldwin 
died 4 Sep. 1818 
Act 7 July 1838 
Alfred Phelps Chardon Ohio
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No 7431
Polly Sperry
of Elijah
Ohio
Polly Sperry
O. 204
Page 58

The State of Ohio 
Geauga County ss   On this twenty first day of October in the year One thousand eight hundred and forty, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Geauga and State of Ohio, Polly Sperry a resident of Kirtland in the County of Lake (late Geauga County) in the State of Ohio, aged Eighty two years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838. That she is the widow of Elijah Sperry who was a Revolutionary soldier, and served in the Revolutionary War. as a private, a sergeant and also as a Lieutenant of Artificers. That the said Elijah Sperry served during the greater part of the war as a militiaman, Volunteer and in the regular continental army; that during his said service, as she is informed and believes, he was engaged in the battles of Bennington, Danbury and Horseneck, and others which she is unable to specify.  That he also assisted in making and putting across the Hudson river at or near West point, the chain to prevent the British shipping ascending said river; that she is unable to set forth, particularly, his several tours of service and the names of many of the Officer under whom he served, or the other particulars of his service, from her advanced age and consequent loss of memory, although she personally knew that he performed the tours of service following Viz: That in the year 1777, he resided at New Milford, Connecticut and in that year (the precise time in the year she cannot state) he enlisted (as she believes at New Milford) in the Continental army as a private for the term of three years that she cannot specify the name of the officer under whom he enlisted; that he immediately thereafter commenced serving, and after performing divers services which she is unable to set forth particularly, he was stationed at West Point, where as she believed he was regularly appointed or commissioned a Lieutenant of Artificers and served as such at said post under Captain Stephen Osborn; that before that time
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according to her best recollection he acted as a sergeant; that she verily believes he continued to serve in the capacity of Lieutenant of artificers at said post under said Captain for a period of more than two years, and untill the period for which he enlisted had expired, when he was discharged, and returned to New Milford.  That during said tour of service he assisted in making and placing across the Hudson river, the chain before mentioned, and was there at the time the enemy's shipping attempted to pass it; That the said Elijah served afterwards untill, or nearly until the end of the war, but she cannot state the particulars of said service. She is confident his name will be found on the rolls of the War office at Washington and particularly for the tour of three years service before mentioned and she respectfully refers to them for proof of the same. That in the year 1818, said Elijah applied for a pension on account of his services in the Revolutionary war, the papers were forwarded to Washington for that purpose, but she is informed and believes they were returned to the agent who made them out for amendment, but in consequence of the death of said Elijah in the autumn of the same year, nothing further was done, and though she has made diligent search & enquiry, he cannot find said papers and believes them to be lost or destroyed.   She further declares that at the Term of June A.D. 1839 of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Geauga in the State of Ohio, she made her declaration in said Court under the act of July 4th 1836 and forwarded the same with the proofs to the War Department pension office for the purpose of obtaining a pension under said act on account of her said husbands Revolutionary services, but in consequence of her inability to prove that her marriage took place before the expiration of the last term of his service, to the satisfaction of the Department, she has been unable to obtain a pension on said application, and to the proofs taken & transmitted us that application now on file the pension office she refers for proof of her said husbands service, & her marriage to him. She further declares that her said husband, the said Elijah Sperry, died at Luzerne
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County of Warren State of New York on the fourth day of September, in the year One thousand eight hundred & Eighteen; that she was married to the said Elijah Sperry, at Danbury in the State of Connecticut on the nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred & seventy nine; that she has ever since remained his widow; and that she hereby relinquishes all claim for a pension under said former application provided a pension be allowed her under this.  
Polly Sperry x her mark
Sworn & subscribed this 21st day of October A.D. 1840 in Open Court 
before me. D. D. Aiken Clerk 
The State of Ohio 
Geauga County ss} I D. D. Aiken Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Polly Space for a pension. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and  affix the seal of said Court at Chardon, this 27th day of October A.D. 1840 
D. D. Aiken Clerk