Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4197, Jehu Grant, Conn.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE      NUMBER
[handwritten] Conn.  Grant, Jehu   R.4197 [/handwritten]

CONTENTS
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[Notes at the tope of the page]
Jno. Grant

[Two illegible initials]

[Notes at the bottom of the page]
Oct 1852
G. Yates
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[Printed] TO THE HON. THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS:
I hereby appoint Mr. Giles F. Yates, of Schenectady, N. Y., as ["as" is crossed out] my true and lawful attorney, with power
of substitution, to prosecute before you the claim of [written] Jehu Grant of New York
State, for a pension under the act of 7th June 1832 
rejected
[printed] and I hereby revoke all powers of attorney by me at any time heretofore made.
You will be pleased to allow him, or his substitute, to examine the papers in your office relating to this
claim. Witness my hand and seal, this [written] 4th [printed]  day of [written] October [printed] 185 [written] 2.
[Signed, noting that it is his mark] Dene Grant

[printed]  Signed, sealed and acknowledged
before me -
[written] William Wilson
Justice of the Peace
On this 4th day of October 1852 before personally
came Dene Grant to me known to me to be the [illegible]
[illegible];  in and who executed the [illegible] of [illegible]
and [illegible] the executed the same for the [illegible] [illegible]
mentioned.
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Jehu Grant - Application
To
Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War

[There is writing below that has been covered over with lines.]
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Declaration
I'm writing to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
I'm appearing before the Chancellor
of the 4th Circuit of the State  New York} Present [illegible] Esiah Cowen,
Elihu Champlen.  On this 11th day of September 1832, personally appeared
in open Court before the said Chancellor, Jehu Grant, of Milton in the County
of Saratoga and State of New York, aged according to the best information he
has about seventy seven years, here 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of
the United States, under the following named officers and served [illegible] stated.
That he was a slave to Elihu Champlen, who resided at Narragansett, Rhode Island,
at the time he left him, his said Master was called a Tory, and in a [illegible]
the [illegible], when shopping [illegible] near by, with sheep, [illegible], cheese, and
received goods from them, and this applicant being afraid his said Master, would
send him to the British ship, ran away some time in August 1777, as far as he recollect,
being the same summer that Danbury was burnt. That he went right to Danbury
after he left his said Master and enlisted to Captain Giles Galer for eighteen months
that according to the best of his memory General Huntington, and General Miegs
Brigade, & a part of them were at that place, that he the applicant was sent to training with
a team of horses and waggons [sic] drawing provisions and various other loading for the
Army, for there on four months until winter set in, then was taken as a servant
to John Scidmore he [illegible] Master General (as he was called) and served with him
as his butler until spring, when the said troops went to the Highlands or near that 
place on the Hudson River, a little above the British lines, that this applicant had
charge of the teams & waggons [sic] and carryed [sic] the said General Scidmore's baggage
and continued with him (and the said troops) on his waggons [sic] near the said line
until some time in June, when his said Master within sent on home and the applicant
was given up to to his Master again, and he returned, after having served nine or ten months.

Interrogation by the Chancellor
1st and 2nd That he has been informed that he was born in Charlestown State of Rhode Island
in what year he does not know & knows of no record of his age.
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3rd  That he lived at a place call Narragansett in the state of Rhode Island
when he ran away from his Master and lived as aforesaid. That his said Master
sold him to one [illegible] and soon after the revolution with the aid of Joshua
Swan he [illegible] his time of the said [illegible], and that he moved with the
said Joshua Swan into Milton the town where he now resides, and labored
for him until the time [illegible] paid for, that he he continued to live in Saratoga County
[illegible portion due to an ink smudge] for the last 15 or 20 years in the neighborhood where he moved to.
[illegible portion due to an ink smudge] in his declaration as far as he can [illegible due to an in smudge] & he did not
[illegible portion due to an ink smudge]

[illegible] Thomas Powell, Daniel Couch, Adam Swan, Isaac Frink, & Salmon Child

I hereby relinquish every claims whatever to pension or annuity, except the
present and declare that this name is not on the pension roll of the agency
of any state. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
Sworn the 11th September
1832, before me in open court.    [Signed with the note "His mark"] Jehu Grant
E. Cowen

Personally appeared in open court before the said Chancellor Adam
Swan who being furst duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that 
he is 84 years of age, and that he has been well acquainted with the above
named Jehu Grant ever since he can remember. That Elihu Champlen
lived at Narragansett, hear called a Torry, and hear [illegible] of carrying
on a contracted trade with the enemy, when the above named Jehu Grant
ran away from him. That the said Jehu, was gone a considerable length
of time, & should have thought of this late date, one year of more, that it was
totaled among the  people that he held, listed and was in the service of the
United States. When found and brought back to his said Master, and that he
was called an industrious faithful servant while a slave. That the said
Jehu was brought into Milton about 41 years ago by Joshua Swan, the father
of this deposent, and family said  for his time as he agreed, and has always have
the character of an honest industrious person.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
in open court, before me.
[signed] E. Cowen       [signed] Adam Swan
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I Thomas Powell a clergyman residing in the Town of Milton County of
Saratoga and State of New York and Salmon Child residing in the Town of
Greenfield and County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with Jehu Grant who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration
that we believe him to be about seventy seven years of age that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have served in the revolution
as described in his said declaration and that we believe in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
in open Court before me,
E. Cowen    [Signed] Thomas Powell
[Signed] Salmon Child

And the said Court do hereby declare this opinion after the investigation
of the matter and after putting the interrogations subscribed by the War Department
that the above named applicant served as he states in the revolution, And
the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Thomas Powell who signed
the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of Milton in said County
of Saratoga and that Salmon Chile who has also signed the the same is a resident
of Greenfield in the said County and is a creditable person and that their testimony
is entitled to credit.
[Signed] E. Cowen, V. Chancellor
4th Circuit, New York

In testimony whereof, the seal of the said
court is hereto affixed the fourteenth
day of September, one thousand and
eight hundred and thirty two.
[Signed] G.M. Davison,
Clerk

[written down the left side margin is the following]
Return made to Port [??] office [illegible] the Saratoga County of New York
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Jehu Grant
N. Y. act 1832
addl. evi. [additional evidence]
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Hon. J. L. Edwards, Commiss. of Pensions
Your servant begs
leave to state the he forwarded to the War Department, a declaration
founded on the pension Act of June 1832 praying to be allowed a
pension (if his memory serves him) for ten months service in the
American Army of the revolutionary war, that he entitled as a
soldier but was that to the service of a teamster in the summer & a waiter
in he winter. In April 1834, I received a writing from your Hon. [Honour]
informing me that my "Services while a fugitive from my Masters
service was not imbraced [sic] in said act." And that my "papers were
placed on file." In my said declaration, I just mentioned the cause
of leaving my Master as may  be seen by a reference thereunto, and
I may pray that I may be permitted to explain my feelings more
fully on that part of my said declaration. I was then granted manhood 
in the full vigour [sic] and strength of life heard much about
the brutal and arbitrary things done by the British. Their ships
lay within a few miles of my Master's house which was near the shore
and I was confident that my Master traded with them, and suffered
much from fear that I should be sent aboard a ship of war. This is disliked
but when I saw liberty poles & the people all engaged for the support of
freedom, I could not but like & be pleased with such thing. (God forgive 
me if I sinned in so feeling) And living on the border of Rhode Is. [Island] 
when whole companies of coloured [sic] people enlisted, it added to my fear and
dread of being sold to the British. These considerations induced me
to enlist in the American Army where I served faithfull about 10
months, when my Master found and took me home, had I been
taught to read or understand the precepts of the Gospel "Servants obey your
Master" I might have done otherwise notwithstanding the Songs of
liberty that saluted my ear, thrillest through my heart. But feeling
conscious that I have since compensated my Master for the injury he sustained
by my enlisting and that God has forgiven me for so doing
and that I served my country faithfully and that they having enjoyed
the benefit of my service to an equal degree for the length
time I served with those generally who are receiving the liberalities
of the Government I cannot but feel it becoming me to pray
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your Hon. to review my declaration on file and the papers
herewith annexed.
A few years after the war Joshua Swan Esq. of Harringtown purchased
me of my Master and agreed that after I had served him a length of time
named faithfully I should be free, I served to his satisfaction & so obtained
my freedom. He moved into the Town of Milton where I now reside about
48 years if age. After my term expired with  Esq. Swan, I married a wife.
We have gained six children, 5 are still living. I must be upwards of
80 years of age and have been blind for many years and notwithstanding the
aid I receive from the honest industry of my children we are still very
needy and in part are supported from the benevolence of our family, with
these statements and the testimony of character herewith presented
I humbly set my claim upon the well known liberality of Government.

[One the left side of the page [Milton Saratoga County
State of New York
December 1st, 1836 
[On the right side of the page] Most respectfully your
humble servant 
[Signed with the note "his mark"] Jehu Grant

The long illness and death of [a word has been inserted, but is illegible] the friends on whom the said Jehu relied
and the absence of one other for nearly two years has prevented their
proceedings to the present time.
Salmon Child
Agent of Jehu Grant
[Signed with the note "his mark"]  Jehu Grant
Page 11

State of New York
Saratoga County}
Personally appeared before me Ebenezer Couch
one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County of
Saratoga Stephen Swan of Galway in the County aforesaid
aged sixty five years on the sixteenth day of August last past
and Gilbert Swan Esquire of Galway aforesaid aged fifty
eight on the sixteenth day of June last past, who being by 
me duly  sworn according to law disposeth and saith, that
they are the sons of Joshua Swan named in the petition of
Jehu Grant hereunto annexed; that it is forty eight years an
rising since they moved with their said father from Stonington 
to the town of Milton in the County of Saratoga,
and that they acquainted with the said Jehu Grant
when living in Stonington aforesaid and that the said Jehu 
came to live with their father Joshua Swan when living in
Stonington and moved with their said father to the town of
Milton in the County of Saratoga aforesaid, and that they
well recollect of their said father having purchased the
services of the said Jehu as stated in his said Petition: And
that they will recollect of having heard the said Jehu at
sundry times and from about their earliest acquaintances
with him tell of his being in the service of the United 
States in the war of the Revolution and of things which
took place when he was in the service, and of his stating
the reason of his entering the service, which was as stated
in his Petition; and that they have no trouble in their
minds of his having served as stated in his Declaration;
And that the said Jehu has uniformly sustained the
Character of an honest industrious person and of truth
and veracity.  [Signed] Stephen Swan
Sworn and Subscribed to   [Signed] Gilbert Swan
this 2nd day of December 1836
before me Ebenezer Couch Justice
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[Written comments]
I hereby Certify that I have been intimately acquainted
with Stephen Swan, and Gilbert Swan Esq. who have
this day made the within affidavit before me, for forty
six years last past and that they are Men of very reputable
standing, and in whose truth and veracity [illegible]
can be placed; December the 2nd, 1836
Ebenezer Couch Justice

[Attached printed noted]
STATE OF NEW YORK,
Saratoga County Clerk's Office} 
[A seal has been stamped on the paper]
I, Alpheus Goodrich, Clerk of the county
of Saratoga, Do Certify that [written] Chancellor Couch 
Esquire [printed] before whom the annexed affidavit 
purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same, one of
the Justices of the Peace in and for said county, and that I am
acquainted with his writing, and verily believe his name
subscribed to the said affidavit, to be his proper hand writing
and signature.
WITNESS my hand and seal of Office, the [written] 20 [printed] day of
[written] December 183 [written] 6,
[Signed] A Goodrich Clerk
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We whose names are hereunto Subscribed Do Certify that we
have been acquainted with Jehu Grant whose petition is herewith
annexed, the length of time mentioned with our Signatures,
and that he has uniformly sustained the character of an honest
and industrious person, and for many years a pious and consistent
Christian, and is entitled to have full credit given to the statement
he has made of his service, and the circumstances connected herewith
as set forth in this said petition. Several of our number from
after our acquaintance with him heard him relate the particulars of his being
in the Army, also those who were aged & now deceased tell of circumstances
with which they were acquainted, which tend [two words crossed out]
to confirm us in the truth of the facts stated in the declaration
of his service, and of his being entitled to receive his pension prayed
for. Witness our hands December 2nd, 1836
[The following was added by the individuals named]
Ebenezer Couch have known Jehu Grant forty six years. 
Valentine Rathburn have known Jehu Grant twenty years
John Howard known Jehu Grant forty years
John V. Howard have known  Jehu Grant over twenty years
and many years ago have heard him tell of being with the Army
of the Revolution as related in his declaration.
Harvey Morris known Jehu Grant twenty four years.
Richard Frink known Jehu Grant twenty five years.
Joseph Daniels have known Jehu Grant twenty
five years and have heard him tell of being in the army.
Henry Miller have known Jehu Grant twenty eight years
and have heard him tell of being in the Army.
Truman Safford has known Jehu Grant 20 years.
I have known Jehu Grant 25 years and have been his Physician
& that times his Character for truth & piety is of the very best kind & I have
often heard him relate the circumstances of his being in the
Army years ago & I believe he has always told truth. Salmon W. Child
Salmon Child have known personally Jehu Grant for 20 years & about 26 years frequently
saw him before that time, and known him as a very industrious honest man.
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[Printed and crossed out at the top of the form] Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1872.
[Stamped on the top of the form] REJECTED
[Written] 4197
Jehu Grant
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New York
Jehu Grant
Rev oy
rejected
See let. [letter] to himself Apr [illegible]
[sentence illegible]

4197
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War Department
Pension Office
Nov 20th. 1832

Sir,

The papers in support of your claim to a pension
are herewith returned. Your  service as a teamster
and waiter to a wagon-master, does not necessarily
imply that you were a soldier bound to military duty
and detailed for such employment, without which
your case is not embraced by the act of 7 June 1832.
It will be necessary to show that you were under the usual
enlistment as a soldier.

I am Respectfully
Yr. Obt. Servt. [Your Obedient Servant]
[Signed] J. L. Edwards
Page 17

[Printed] (3-1776)  SERVICE [a printed start]   NUMBER
Conn.   Grant, Jesse   Dis. (no papers)
[The following contained in a left brace] B.L. Wt. 823_300. Capt
Issued Feb. 18, 1793.
No papers.
Page 18

Oct. 19 1906
[illegible initials]
Page 19

Grant, Jesse.
His name appears on a list of applicants for invalid
pension returned by the District Court for the District of Connecticut,
submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary of War
on December 31, 1794, and printed in the American State Papers
class 9, pages 142 and 172.

Rank: Captain
Disability: Labors under a double inguinal rupture,
occasioned by the force of a cannon ball passing near the
lower part of his body, before he was made a prisoner at
Fort Washington.
When and where disabled: Fort Washington
Residence: Litchfield
To what pension entitled: One-half.
Evidence incomplete; disability from known wounds
not proven. No evidence why he did not apply before.
On page 172 it  is appears as follows, against the claim of
Jesse Grant, captain, an invalid pension applicant of
the State of Conn. who was reported on the 30th Dec. 1794, there
has since been transmitted the deposition of four witnesses,
which proves that Grant when a child, had a rupture
in his abdomen.