Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18062, Reuben Hotchkiss, Conn.
Page 1

Conn  Hotchkiss, Reuben  W18062
                           Thankful
Page 2

9830
Connecticut
Reuben Hotchkiss
of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Simond of the Regt commanded
by Col Russell in the Connecticut
time for One year + 8 mos.
$66. 66/100

Inscribed on Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of June
1833 and sent to
Nathan Preston Litchfield Ct

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833        133.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending June 1833  33.33
                                                             $.166,,65
                                                            ======
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm R Palmer, clerk,
Book . Vol 3 Page 18.
Page 3

(Left side of page)

Letter to P W at Hartford JCB
Phelps, Oct 22 1839.
Pension Cert: into(?) by Post-Master
on the 29th Oct 1839, and sent to NW
P. at [underline] Woodbury [end underline] Ct


(Right side of page)

Connecticut - 3692
Thankful Hotchkiss
[typed] widow of 
[written] Reuben Hotchkiss.
[typed] who was a pensioner under the Act of [written] 7 June 32
[typed] and who died on the 
[written] 29 June 1834 of Woodbury 
[typed] in the State of 
[written] Connecticut
[typed] who was a 
[written] Pri Com 
[typed] in the 
[written] county 
[typed] commanded by Captain 
[written] Simonds
[typed] of the
[written] Reg
[typed] commanded by 
[written] Runale
[typed] in the 
[written] Co
[typed] line for 
[written] 12 Mo (nths) and 12 days

[typed] Inscribed on the Roll of
[written] Connecticut
[typed] at the rate of 
[written] 41
[typed] Dollars
[written] 33
[typed] Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836

[typed] Certificate of Pension issued the
[written] 1~
[typed] day of
[written] Aug. '39, and same 
[typed] and 
[written] Chs B Phelps Hartford, Con.

[typed] Arrears to the 4th of 
[written] Mar - $123.99
[typed] Semi-annual allowance ending
[written] 20.66
-underlined-
$144.65
-underlined-

[large type] {Act July 7, 1838]
[typed] Recorded by 
[written] R Burdine (?) 
[typed] Clerk, book
[written] A
[typed] Vol
[written] 1 -
[typed] Page
[written] 185.
Page 4

State of Connecticut
Probate Court
District of Woodbury

Be it remembered that on this 13th Day of September 1838 before the Court of Probate for the District of Woodbury Thankfull Hotchkiss a resident of Woodbury in said District and[?] State personally appeared aged seventy three  years who being first duly sworn according to law and on her oath make the following declaration to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 1838 and the joint resolution of July 7 1838.

That she is the widow of Reuben Hotchkiss late of Woodbury deceased. who was a private in Capt [illegible] company. Col [illegible] Regiment and service in the years 1775 at Ticonderoga and as the applicant believes at New York.  And also in questioning[?]  the client being drafted in militia draft and [deleted words] unsure what officers and for how long, she cannot state the said Reuben was a Revolutionary Pensioner [illegible] the act of Congress of
Page 5

of June 1832 and has [illegible] as the applicant [illegible] her declaration and [deleted word] depositions or other written proof with the Commissioners of Pensions to which declarations [illegible] to which she refers for a more [deleted word] detail of his services. She believes his whole service amounts about nineteen months.
She also believes that the war memorial at Woodbury Connecticut to said Reuben Hotchkiss in the month of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty three by the Revd Noah Benedict the Congregational minister at Woodbury who is now deceased.
She also declares that said Reuben Hotchkiss died at his own house in Woodbury on the 27 Day of June 1832.
                 her
Thankfull X Hotchkiss
                mark
Witnessed before us Betsey H Morris
[ink stain] L Morris
From 2 subscribers in open court
I[?] on testimony thereof & herein affixed the seal of said courts.
Nathaniel B. Smith Judge of Probate for the District of Woodbury
Hotchkiss, Reuben
Conn W 18062
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8737
Reuben Hotchkiss
Connecticut



Adm for 1 year & 8 Mos

66.66
Page 7

[Typed]

WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 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 shew [actual spelling] what is necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with 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.

A statement showing the service of Reuben Hotchkiss Litchfield Co Connecticut

[table]

| Period when the services was rendered | Duration of the claimants service | Years. | Months. | Days. Rank of the claimant. |Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he 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

[handwritten]

[first line]
Enlisted 1775 10 [in Months column] Pri. Liut [illegible] Ticonderoga [Country marched] 76 years Traditionary

[next line]
 1776 2 [months] on roll Capt Hines [country marched] N York [place of abode] Woodbury [evidence] evidence

[next line]
draft 1778 [months] 8 Col Sanford Russel [Country marched] White Plains [Place of abode] Connecticut [Evidence] Witness

[next line]
" 1780 [months] 4 [rank] Waiter Gen Knox [Country marched] FRrederick (Burg)

[next line]
22 Aug 78 - 8 mo - 27 Dec 78 [place marched] Reading Fairfield N York

[end of table]

I am, respectfully, 
your obedient servant, 
J. L. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military serivce.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss

On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the prov[is]ion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the follwing named officers: [blank]

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify this particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he en[t]ered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.  [picture of hand with finger pointing] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He herby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank]

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.   A. B.
[and then will follow the certificate of the Court]

And the said Court do herby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &c.

If, on examination of the property record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virture of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing with the follwing additions, viz: 

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquianted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] 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.  

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, [and then will follow the certificate of the Court]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank] Clerk of the court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceddings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank] of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.  Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as many have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of this claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of this alleged service, as they are known at the Departmenet.  A very full account of the serveces of each person
Page 9

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year where you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier. [in italics] { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
To an Officer. [in italics] { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergymen, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of the Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificates of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such a person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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, ["about three or four months," is in italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicants served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 

Mode of authenticating papers. [in italics]
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.

Proof of Service. [in italics]
[j] 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 claimant's 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 office, under his seal of office.
[illegible] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only. 
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration:

[To the left of rule "[d]" and "[e]" is a hand-written note that is mostly illegible. It begins with "the Col"]
Page 10

Reuben Hotchkiss
8737
Page 11

[typed] State of Connecticut,
[written] probate Court
District of Woodbury
[typed] on this [written] 3d [typed] day of 
[written] ?? 1832
[typed] personally appeared, in open Court, before
[written] Court of Probate for the District of Woodbury --- at Woodbury in Litchfield County
[typed] now sitting, [written] Reuben Hotchkiss
[typed] a resident of 
[written] Woodbury
[typed] in the County of 
[written} Litchfield
[typed] and State of Connecticut, aged
[written] Seventy six
[typed] years, who being first sworn accorgind to law, doth, on this oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.

[rest of page is handwritten]

That in the latter part of April 1775 he enlisted into a volunteer Company which at that time was called Col. Hinman's Company, which had no Captain and was commanded by Lieut. David Hinman.  That he enlisted for the term of six months as did also the other members of said Company, and marched with the same for Ticonderoga on or about the first of June and remained at that post till his enlistment expired except some part of said time he was sick and unable to do duty, but is now unable to sate how long he was kept from duty by --- that, the troops at said Post were under the command of Col. Benjamin Hinman that these are now living in said Woodbury two --- who were members of the same company to wit John Strong + Lewis Burr.

That in the first part of August 1776 he was called as a militia man in Capt. Hine's company and [ink blot] said company to New York, that he arrived at [ink blot] two weeks before the British landed on ? Island [ink blot] when the American troops evacuated New York, [ink blot] that time two months, under said Capt Hime that the [ink blot] John Strong and Lewins Burr were in the same Company [ink blot] that he cannot state the time definitely when that --- exp--- [ink blot] is confident as to the ---, that, being the utmost time that the militia caused them be holden by the laws of this state.

That sometime in the month of April 1778 he was draughted (?) from the militia for the term of eight months and immediately thereafter joined the continental troops at or in the neighbourhood of North Castle and served a term of eight months in Capt. Samuel Sanford's Company in the 8th Con. Regiment which was then commanded by Col. Ruph (?).  That the above named John Strong was then the Lieutenant in said company, that he was a considerable part of said period at White Plains, marched from there to Frederiksburg and went into winter quarters at Reading and remained there until  a few days after Christmas, when his term expired.  He remembers some of the officers in command at that time as during that service to wit --- Parsons and Swift and he thanks Col Dirge.

That in the summer & fall of 1780 he was drafted from the militia and served four month, along the --- between Fairfield and New York.  That he was taken from the ranks and served as waiter to four orderly sergents, two of whom were Abiel Linsley + Jehiel Bradley, both of whom are dead and he knows of no one living who was in the same division, not performing any other duty than that of
Page 12

waiter he has forgotten the manner of the other oficers of the company.  He recollects that Gen Knox was in command there, and that Gen Putnam was also there.  He is confident he served at that time more than four months, but being without duties to guide him, he is willing to declare for that period, that he has no recollection of ever taking discharges.  That he was born in said town of Woodbury, that he has the record of his birth in a Bible as given by his father which is the 9th of March 1756, that he lived in said Woodbury when called into the service and has lived there since the Revolutionary War.  That he has made diligent enquiry after further evidence has + can find no further evidence & that he now lives in said Woodbury + that I am acqainted with Rev. Grove L Brownell and John Strong Jr of Woodbury.

[typed] The said
[written] Reuben Hotchkiss
[typed] hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agencey of any State.  Sworn ot, and subscribed, teh day and year aforesaid.

[signatures]
Chs B Philips ?? of Probate District of Woodbury

Reuben Hotchkiss

[typed] We,
[written] Grove L Brownell
[typed] a clergyman, residing in the town of 
[written] Woodsbury
[typed] and
[written] John Strong Jun
[typed] residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with 
[written] Reuben Hotchkiss
[typed] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we beleive him to be 76 years of age; that hs is reputed and believed, in teh neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.  Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

[signtures]
Chs B Phelps ?
of Probate District
Of Woodbury

Grove L Brownell
John Strong Jun

[typed] And the said Court do hereby delcare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories presecribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that [written] Grove L Brownell {typed] who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of [written] Woodbury [typed] and that [written] John Strong Jun [typed] who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of [written] Woodbury [typed] and is a credible (ink blot)  and that their statement is entitled to credit.

[signature] 
Chs B Phelps ? of Probate District of Woodbury

[written] Nathan Preston 
[typed] Cerk of the
[written] Courth of Probate for the District of Woodbury
[typed] do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Courth in the matter of the application of 
[wirtten] Reuben Hotchkiss
[typed] for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this
[written] tenth
[typed] day of
[written] September
[typed] 183
[written] 2

[signature}
Nathan Preston Clerk
Page 13

[right margin of document is very dark and ragged; possible information is missing]

Reuben Hotchkiss was born (document torn;  March 9, 1756]

My wife Thankful was born february 26, 1768? 

July 3d 1783 we was maried 

April 25 1784 Jerusha was born
June 1 1784 She Died

June 20 1785 Jerusha thd 2d was born

Novem, 4 1787 Josiah was born

February 13 1790 Henry was born
Septem 15 1793 Henry Died

July 16 1792 Betsy was born

June 11 1794 Rebuen Henry was born

Novem 5 1796 David was born

July 2 1801 Gervase was born

Decem 16 803 Keith was born

June 24 1777 Father Hotchkiss died

Decem 12 1801 Father Minor died in the 78 years of [illegible]

March 30 1787 Mother Minor  died in her 53 year of her age

October 1 1801 Sister Ruth Mitchel died in her 32 year

March 4th 1807 Sister Hannah Mallery died in her

March 30th we had a girl born 1809
April 14 she died

February 14th 1816 Mother Minor the second died
Page 14

{paper torn} 
{illegible} 5 {torn} Martin Cr. Dott
1805 to Cash {L with two lines through it} 3-0-0
Decem. 16 to more Cash 0-12.-0
April 2 1806 to mor Cash 5 dollars 1-10-6
January 22 1808 Interest - 0-5-6
Then paid {illegible} Martin in full 5-7-6
{all above has an x though it}
{underlined}
Decem 20 1805 Canfield and meal or Dr. to two hogs and a half wt 392 {L with two lines} 7-9-0
January 14th Canfield and Kealer Credit
1806 to Cash 23 Dollars 55 cents {L with two strikes through it} 7-1-4
to due Bill for Cash to Balance 0-7-8
{L with two marks} 7-9-0
{line drawn on page}
January 27 then gave John N, Sherman 1806 A Note on De {illegible} and for 34 Dollars, {illegible} {x'd out}
{line}
List for the year 1806 246 Dollars 31 Cts
{line}
October 18 1808 Asa Pierce owns 5 shocks and one quarter which Ned Rogers and I have got to {illegible} since paid and Ballaned
{an x marked through}
{line}
June 1 1816 sheared 21 sheep-had 13 lambs turned 5 old and 1 lamb to fat 16 old-12 lambs left
Page 15

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County
Woodbury

Be it known that on this 13 day of [illegible] 1838 before me a justice of the peace within and for for the County of Litchfield personally appeared Josiah Hotchkiss of Woodbury in said county to me personally known to be a credible witness who being first duly [illegible] and sworn on his oath [illegible] says that his father Reuben Hotchkiss late of Woodbury now [illegible] had an account book now in possession of his [illegible] from which account book he cut the annexed  memorandum[?] of marriage births & deaths, which memorandum[?] is in the hand[?] of his said  father which hand[?] writing which is well known to this deponent.  The deponent sayeth he is now fifty years old & well remembers said memorandum from his infancy it has always remained in possession of his father untill his [illegible]
Josiah Hotchkiss

Sworn before me on this day & year aforesaid
Chas B Phelps Justice of Peace
Page 16

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County
Woodbury

Be it known that on this 15th day of Sept 1838 before me a  justice of the peace within and for said county personally appeared Matthew Minor of Woodbury aforesaid whom I certify to a credible and reputable witness and said Minor having  been by me duly sworn on oath [illegible] and says as follows.


I am now and have been for more than Five years now that past town Clerk of the town of Woodbury and as such Clerk have the custody of the Town Records. I have examined the entries of marriages that list in said office carefully and cannot after diligent find any entry of this marriage of Reuben Hotchkiss to Thankful Minor.
Matthew Minor
Sworn & subscribed before me
Chas B Phelps Justice of Peace
Page 17

{Handwritten Illegible} Widow, &c
File No. 18062
Thankful Hotchkiss
Wid. of
Reuben Hotchkiss
Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 7,1838
Index:_ Vol. A Page 348

[Arrangement of 1870}
Page 18

{illegible} to Hon. L. Phelps Jan {crossed out} Feb 6, 18?9
Page 19

Oct. 29 {illegible} {two postal stamps too light to read}
J.L> Edwards 
Com. of Pensions
Washington City {illegible initials}
Charles B. Phelps Esq. Hartford, Connecticut {all letters marked through}
Page 20

Oct. 29
{illegible} J.L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions
Washington City
Charles. B. Phelps, Esq
Hartford, 
Connecticut {all letters marked through}
{two postal stamps too light to read.}
Page 21

Woodbury Ct
{illegible} {on the side of the paper} Oct 8 Thankful Hotchkiss file {illegible} 1827 {illegible}
{handwritten } Free

J.L. Edwards Esq
Com. Pensions
Washington City
Page 22

Woodbury Con
4 Oct 1838

J L Edwards Esq
Com of Pension

I am the attorney of Thankful Hotchkiss of this place in the application by her  made for a Pension as the widow of Reuben Hotchkiss due a pension under the act of 1832.
All communications to her made by the com to Mrs. Hotchkiss on this subject she requests  to be [illegible] to me at this place.
Respectfully yours
Chas B Phelps
Councilor Attorney
Magistrate
Woodbury Conn
Page 23

{written sideways} May 20 Ct- addl proof  Thankful {crossed out} Hotchkiss {crossed out}
J.L. Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
Washington City
Page 24

Comptrollers Office
Hartford May 17 1839
I certify that an application for {illegible} of the services of  Reuben Hotchkiss who claims service in the War of the Revolution. I find his name on a Pay Roll of discharges in Col. {Illegible} Hinman Regiment of Connecticut Troops in 1775 by Guv Schuyler-names of Captain not noted- Col. Hinman Regiment
Rueben Hotchkiss discharged Sept 1 by Guv Schuyler. Hotchkiss also claims service under Captain Sanford in 1778, I further certify that no Pay Roll of Cap Sanford can be found in this office that on Pay Table Book I find the following amount-
Cap Ezekiel Sandford     DC
March 12 To Order on Fres {?} L 340.0.0
Mr 28 To order on Fres {?} 500.0.0
Dem 2 To 10 blankets 12.18.4
8 To 8 (Ditto 7.12.0
1779 July 24 To order a Fes {?} 10.0.0
To ballace charge Newark 40.00 L 930.0.4
By {illegible} hi {illegible} {illegible}
Henry Kilbourne Comptroller
(Thankful Hotchkiss case) Hartford May 17 1839
J.L. Edwards Eqs
The {crossed out} above

Supra    {initial}
Page 25

certificate of the comptroller contains all the [illegible] to be found in the public offices here (Hartford Town) on the subject of Reuben Hotchkiss military service in the army of the Revolution. [illegible] Kilborne made a protracted & critical examination
Respectfully yours
Chas B Phelps
Woodbury Con
Page 26

{written on side of envelope}
Oct. 21
Th. Hotchkiss
692 Aug 1
38

{on envelope} Woodbury Octob 16 Free

J.L. Edwards Eq
Com Pensions
Washington City
Page 27

Woodbury Conn
10 Oct 1839
J.L. Edwards EQ
On {illegible}  1838 I turned {illegible{ the application if Thankful Hotchkiss for a pension
In May 1839 I was advised by you of certain objections + attempted to obviate them by a document from the comptrollers office sent in that month to your office
Since that time I have heard nothing. Has the Document arrived?
and are the objection removed? could you reply stating the present objections if any to me.
With respect yours
Chas B Phelps
Page 28

John Strong of Woodbury in the County of Litchfield & State  of Connecticut aged seventy nine years deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with Reuben Hotchkiss of said Woodbury during the Revolutionary War, that said Hotchkiss has ever since that period resides and now resides in said town, This Deponent knows that said Hotchkiss served in the Revolutionary War as follows. to wit He enlisted in the Spring of 1775 for six months in a company that was under the command of David Hinman as Lieutenant said Hotchkiss marched with said Company as this deponent believes in the  first of June in said year, to Ticonderoga, as did also this deponent and this deponent has  no knowledge that said Hotchkiss left said service before his said turn expired. Said Hotchkiss also went to New York as a member of Capt. Nathan Hines Company of Militia in August 1776, said company was at New York about two weeks before the landing of the British on Long Island and returned home in this this deponent believes in October following. In 1778 said Hotchkiss was draughted {as written} from the Militia for the {illegible} of eight months and was attached to the 8th Connecticut Regiment commanded by Col. Chandler in Capt, Samuel Sanford's Company in which company, this deponent was at that time a Lieutenant. And this deponent believes from the best of his recollection that said Hotchkiss served that town this full period of {six months crossed out}eight months
Page 29

Said 8th Con. Regiment was raised by Col. Chandler but this deponent thinks, that it was commanded by Col. Russel at the time said Hotchkiss served in it.
John Strong

State of Connecticut 
County of Litchfield {illegible} Woodbury
Before the 
On this third day of September AD 1832 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared John Strong and in my presence subscribed his name thereto and made oath to the same in due form of Law.
And I certify that said Deponent is a credible
witness, and that the words :six months" in the last line of the first page of said deposition was erased and the words "eight months" immediately following said erasure were 
written  before signature attestation thereof. 
John Strong {illegible} Justice of the peace I Frederick Wolcott Clerk of County Court within + for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, certify that John Strong {illegible} Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within & said for County of Litchfield & that the above signature which purports to be his is his genuine signature. Witness my hand & my seal of said court this third day of September AD 1832.
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk
{County Court Seal}
Page 30

V 1827
Thankful Hotchkiss
Con 
Act 7 July 38
M 83. d. 34
{line written}
on Capt. Hines Mo. 1. 12.
Compb. 75. a 7-
Col. Chandler Stoddan. 4-
{line drawn}
12.12.
aomd.
12 mo. 12 {illegible}
{line drawn} $41.33
{line drawn}
no deduction
{line drawn}
Chas B. Phelps
Hartford 
Con.
Hon L Phelps H.R. {crossed out}
Page 31

{Illegible} to
Chas B. Phelps
Woodbury
Conn
Page 32

[seal on left upper that is mostly illegible but has the words "THE COUNTY COURT" and has the image of the Statue of Liberty]
[pre-printed form filled out by hand]

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, 
LITCHFIELD COUNTY, } SS. Litchfield.

I Origen Seymour Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do herby certify that Charles B. Phelps [illegible] is a 
Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and by Law authorized to administer Oaths and to take the acknowledgment of Deeds. And that his commission was dated on the 29th day of May A.D. 1838 and will expire on the 20th day of June, A.D. 1839 and that the several foregoing signatures [illegible] to be his are genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this 18th day of Septem. A.D. 1838
Origen S. Seymour Clerk
Page 33

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County
Woodbury

Be it remembered that on the fifteenth Day of June 1838 before me a Justice of the Peace
witness and for the County of Litchfield personally appeared Nathaniel B Smith Esq of Woodbury to me personally known to be a credible witness who being first & duly sworn on his oath declares that he is the Executor of the Rev. Noah Bencourt formerly Pastor of the Church in Woodbury who has been dead more than twenty years. That the father of the Deponent was Nathaniel Smith Esq. and that Noah B. Bencourt Esq. was a son of said Rev. Noah Bencourt. The deponents mother was the Daughter of said Rev Noah B Bencourt. That said Rev Noah Bencourt died leaving[?] the father of the Deponent 2nd Noah B Bencourt Executors of his will and that [deleted words] the Deponent is one of his fathers executors and that Noah B Bencourt is also dead [deleted words] leaving  Harriet J Bencourt his Executrix, and that this Deponent is an agent in the transaction of his business  and has access to the papers of said Noah B Bencourt [deleted words]. 
And the Deponent [illegible] at the request of applicants for pensions he has made a thorough & diligent examination of the papers of said Rev Noah Bencourt & of said Noah B Bencourt & of his father Nathanial Smith to find
Page 34

some entries of marriage made by the Rev Noah Bencourt who after such has not been able to find every memorandum or entry of said Rev Noah Bencourt in relation to any marriages by his [illegible].
The Deponent who sayeth that he has called on the Rev Samuel R. Andrew Pastor of the Congregational Church in Woodbury & inquired for the entries of marriage & has been informed and believe none exist in his custody and that no papers were [illegible] by said Mr. Andrew as the ministerial [illegible] of the Rev Mr Bencourt except a Record of Church proceedings in which record no marriages are entered.

Sworn and Subscribed Nathaniel B Smith the day & year aforesaid before me 
Chas B Phelps Justice of Peace
Page 35

State of Connecticut
Lichfield County
[?] Woodbury
Be it remembered that on this 15 day of September AD 1838 personally appearaned William J Richards of said Woodbury to me personally known and whom I certify to be a credible witness and being first duly [illegible]  and sworn on oath deposes[?] and sayeth as follows

I have been for many years acquainted with Reuben Hotchkiss who is now deceased[?] {illegible} in Woodbury in Litchfield County and was a Revolutionary soldier, the said Hotchkiss in the month of June 1834 was taken sick and confined to his room in his own house in Woodbury. I was present at at his [illegible] which occurred on the 27 Day of June 1834. I assisted[?] in laying out and dressing[?] the [illegible words]
Wm J Richards
Sworn before me on the day & year aforesaid
Chas B Phelps Justice of the Peace
Page 36

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County
J Woodbury
Be it remembered that on the day of {illegible} 1838 before me a Justice of the Peace for said county personally appeared Betsy Hotchkiss of {illegible}
Page 37

State of Connecticut
Litchfield County
J Woodbury
Be it know that on this 14 Day of Sept 1838 before me a Justice of the Peace within and for this county aforesaid personally appeared Jerusha Morris of said Woodbury who being first duly [illegible] and sworn on oath declares that her father Reuben Hotchkiss late of Woodbury [illegible] died at his own house in Woodbury [illegible] on the 27 Day of June 1834 in per presence she being in the room at his [illegible] and that saw  his dead body & was present at his funeral and that she is now fifty three years old and will recollect that the annexed memorandum was in possession of the said Reuben Hotchkiss ever since she can remember and that it is the handwriting of said Reuben his hand writing being [illegible] known to her.  The annexed leaf or memorandum was this day cut out of the account book of said Reuben Hotchkiss where the Deponent
Page 38

has often [deleted word] seen it it was taken out by Jonah Hotchkiss the brother of this deponent
Jerusha Morris
Sworn on the day & year aforesaid before me 
Chas P Phelps Justice of the peace