Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3921, Southmayd Guernsey, Conn.
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SERVICE                                           NUMBER
Conn.               Guernsey, Southmayd  R 3921
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on roll Col Bradley
regt Capt St Johns Co.
from 1st July 1780 to
Decr 14. 1780 - 5 mo 14 da
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State of Michigan
County of Calhoun}SS.
On this sixteenth day of August AD 1848 before the County Court for the County of Calhoun personally appeared in open Court now sitting Southmayd Garnsey a resident of the Town of Athens in the County of Calhoun and State of Michigan aged eighty five 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 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:
That he resided in Watertown in Litchfield County in the State of Connecticut. that he was drafted into a company under Captain Edwards (then a prisoner on Long Island) & under temporary command of Lieut Jon Scott and taken to the City of New Haven. from there to Danbury and from there to the Army. and then went into the company of & served under Captain Sention or Senson, & Lieutenant Hoyt, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Bradley in Huntingdons Brigade: That he does not recollect the year in which the service was rendered, but knows it to be the same in which Major Andre was hung at Tappan. That by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory. he does not recollect the country through which he marched, except that after he was in Col Bradleys Regiment they remained some time at a place then called "Totowa falls," now called he thinks "Patterson Falls." & from there moved slowly to the Highlands opposite West Point. That he was present at Tappage when Major Andre was hung. That after the Army had gone into Winter Quarters, and he had been in service six months, he was discharged. That he served during that time as a private, and was not employed in any civil pursuit. That he has no documentary evidence. That the original certificate of Discharge was taken by his Father and retained by him and he does not know where it may be found. That he resided in Ontario County in the State of New York about forty years and came from there in the year 1839 and has since that time resided in the place above named in the State of Michigan. 
He 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 agency of any State to his knowledge.
[Signed] Southmayd Guernsey
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, before me
[signed] Geo. Woodruff
County Judge of Calhoun Co. Mich
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The answers of Southmayd Guernsey an applicant for Pension to Interrogations proposed to him by the County Court for the County of Calhoun Michigan to a [illegible] such application -
Ans 1st - Where was you born. and in what year
I was born in 1763 at Watertown, Connecticut.
2 Have you any record of your age, if so where is it?
Ans I have not any record - I have a copy of the record kept by my father at Watertown Connt
3d - Where were you living when called into service
Ans. At my Fathers in Watertown -
4. Where has you lived since the Revolutionary War & where do you now live?
Ans I lived in Watertown until about 43 years ago - then moved into Ontario Co N.Y. & now live in Town of Athens Michn to which latter place I moved in the year 1839.
5. How were you called into service. were you drafted? Did you volunteer? or were you a substitute; if a substitute for whom?
Ans. I was drafted into service - did not volunteer, nor was substitute.
6 State the name of some of the regular Officers that were with the Troops when you served. Such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. I was mustered under James Hillshouse. I recollect the name of Capt Sention. - Col. Bradley - Barron Stueben, Brig Genl Huntingdon. Cannot recollect the regiments but that I served in a Continental Regiment. 
over
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I went from Watertown to New Haven from New Haven to Danbury and remained there a short time. then moved to a place in New Jersey called at that time Totowa falls, since called Patterson, from Totowa to Tappan stopping at an intermediate place the name of which he does not recollect - While at Tappan acted as Sentinel at the Stony Church in which Major Andre was confined - recollect seeing him through the key hole, engaged in writing - & occasionally stopping apparently in a study with his hand down, - recollects that he was remarkable for a very fine head of hair. On leaving Tappan one troops passed upon the Hudson to Stoney Point. then crossed the Ferry to the Eastside & went into Winter quarters at the Highlands nearly opposite West Point. 
Did you ever receive a Discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Ans I received a discharge, at the Marquee of Col Bradley given by him. My father took it to draw pay and was lost by him or I have never seen it since -
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity. And their belief as to your services as to your services in the Revolution -
Ans. Asahel Stone. Alfred Halcombe, Southmayd Rogers. also a clergyman named, Leander S Hobart.
I certify that the foregoing interrogation was propounded to Southmayd Guernsey in my presence & the answers thereto given also in my presence & that in my opinion the statements contained therein are entitled to credit.
[signed] G Woodruff County Judge Calhoun Co. Mich.
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We Asahel Stone Alfred Holcomb and Southmayd Rogers residing in the town of Athens County of Calhoun and State of Michigan hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Southmayd Guernsey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: and that we believe him to be eighty five years of age, & that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion
[signed] Asahel Stone
[signed] Alfred Holcomb
[signed] Southmayd Rogers
Sworn & subscribed the 16th day of August AD 1848 before me
[signed] G. Woodruff
County Judge
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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 Asahel Stone Holcomb & Southmayd Rogers are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, John Meachem Clerk of the County Court for Calhoun County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Southmayd Garnsey for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 16th day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred & forty eight.
[signed] John Meachem 
Clerk
I certify that the signature of John Meachem to the foregoing certificate is genuine and that at the date thereof he is the Clerk of the County Court for the County of Calhoun & fully certify that the seal annexed to said certificate is the existing and only seal of the said court for the time being under the statute of this state
[signed] Geo. Woodruff
County Judge of Calhoun Co. Mich
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37658
Southmayd Garnsey
Michigan
Rejected
did not serve six months,
see letter April
1849 to E.P. Hastings
E.P. Hastings, Apl 16, 49
Hon W. Sprague Apl
25. 1855
Act 7 June 1832
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June 23, 1937
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

SOUTHMAYD GUERNSEY
R. 3921
BA-J/MMHF:MLB

Grace E. Waterman
696 West Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan

Dear Madam: 
Reference is made to your letter in which you request to know whether or not you are entitled to pension based upon service of your great-grandfather, Southmayd Guernsey, born 1763, received a pension in 1849 and died in 1850 in Watertown, Connecticut, or for service of Jonathan M. Guernsey, your grandfather.
There is now no provision of law under which the great-grandchildren or grandchildren are entitled to pension based upon military service in the Revolutionary War or War of 1812 (assuming that Jonathan M. Guernsey may have served in the War of 1812), of their great-grandfathers or grandfathers in those wars. It is regretted that the Veterans Administration is unable to aid you in the matter of securing a pension. 
Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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696 West Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
June 13, 1937

Adjutant General's Office
War Department,
Washington, D.C.

Re: Southmayd Guernsey (or Gurnsey)
Born April 10, 1763
Died April 4, 1850
Watertown, Ct. 
Applied for and received
pension in 1849

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly tell me if I might be entitled to any pension benefits as a great grand daughter of the above named soldier or is a grand daughter of Jonathan M. Guernsey (or Gurnsey).
I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Yours very sincerely
[signed] Grace E. Waterman
Grace E. Waterman

[stamp] 5 Received A.G. O. JUN 15 1937
[stamp] RECEIVED JUN 18 1937 MAIL SUB. DIV.  [illegible] 
[stamp] RECEIVED JUN 16 1937 Old Records Division A.G.O.
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A.G. 201
Guernsey, Jonathan M.
(6-13-37) ORD

RW: jjw

June 17, 1937

Grace E. Waterman,
696 West Michigan, 
Battle Creek, Michigan.

Dear Madam:
I have your letter of June 13, 1937, in which you request information relative to a pension thought to be due on account of the military service of Jonathan M. Guernsey (or Gurnsey).
As a matter of pension is one which pertains to the Veterans' Administration, Washington, D.C., your letter has this day been transmitted to that office from which you will no doubt receive a reply in due course.
Very truly yours, 
H.T. CONLEY
Major General,
The Adjutant General.
By: R

[stamp] RECEIVED
JUN 18 1937
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[right side]
1937 June 23 Grace E Waterman, adv note entitled June etc. MNE

[crossed out] Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873

[stamped] REJECTED

3921
P. O. ______________
Southmayd Gurnsey
Service:____________
Enlisted: ____________, 18___
Discharged: _____________, 18___
Application filed: _______________, 18__
Alleges: _________________
Re-enlisted: _______________
Attorney: _______________
P. O. _________________
____________Recognized. _________Contract.
____Cert. of Dis. Searched for ____________,18___
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Ca la ma zw branch [?]
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Ho of Reps
Washington Jany 13 1851

Sir
Will the Dept please inform me about this case.
Very Respy
W. Sprague

Hon. Comm of Pensions
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No 37658
Southmayd Garnsey
Michigan 
3921
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J.L. Edwards Esq
Commiss of Pensions
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J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions

Pension Agency
Detroit 18 Augt. 1848

Sir,
I transmit the application of Southmayd Guernsey for a pension under the Act of June 2d. 1832.
I am sir respectfully
your obt. servant
[signed] E.P. Hastings
Pension Agent
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I Abijah Osborn of Watertown in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut do depose and say that I am eighty years of age And that I am acquainted with Mr Southmayd Garnsey formerly of sd. Watertown but now of the Town of Gorham in the County of Ontario & State of New York. that I know the sd. Southmayd Garnsey served as a Private in the Army of the Revolution during the summer of the year Seventeen hundred & Eighty in Col. Bradley s Regiment in Huntingtons Brigade as I served then myself among the Officers. He served at the place where Major Andre was hung. & I saw him executed. I saw him the sd Garnsey often during sd. season, I know that he was a soldier but cannot tell how long he served. I went then myself the day after Arnold deserted & staid until sometime in Decr. the 12th I think & knew sd Garnsey during that time as a soldier he being from Watertown, when he left I cannot say
[signed] Abijah Osborn
Watertown Litchfield County Connecticut
August 15th 1840
Personally appeared Abijah Osborn of sd. Watertown on the day of the above date who is personally known to me as a man of truth and respectability and being duly sworn made oath to the truth of the facts which were by him above stated & subscribed in my presence 
Attest. [signed] Holbrook Curtis Justice of Peace
I the undersigned Clerk of the County of Litchfield Conn. do hereby certify under the seal of my office that Holbrook Curtis was a Justice of the peace at the time above dated.
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State of Connecticut, SS. Litchfield
Litchfield County,

I, Geo. C. Woodruff, Assistant Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Holbrook Curtis Esq is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and by Law authorized to administer Oaths ad to take the acknowledgment of Deeds. And that his commission was dated on the 30 day of June A.D. 1840 and will expire on the 20th day of June, A.D. 1841 and that the signature to the foregoing certificate which purports to be that of said Curtis is his genuine signature.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this 15th day of January A.D. 1841
Geo. C. Woodruff
Assistant Clerk