Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14964, Elijah Blake, Conn.

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Service: Conn.

Black, Elijah 

Number: 
S.14964

carded

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9917

Connecticut
Elijah Blake

of New [illegible] in the State of Conn.
who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain, Hayne of the Regiment commanded by  Col. Sage in the Conn. line for 9 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 30 dollars ____ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of [Illegible] 1833 and sent to M.W. Mills  Norfolk

Arrears to the 4th of May '22                 $60
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4. Sep. 33 $15
                                                                    $75

{Revolutionary Claim
Act. June 7, 1832}

Recorded by G.C. Stile, Clerk
Book E. Vol. 3 Page 4

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Elijah Black, 

[Illegible]

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I Michael G Mills Clerk of the Court of [illegible] for the Destitute of Norfolk do hereby certify that the foregoing forgiving certain the original knowledge of the said Court on the matter of the application of Elijah Blake for a pension. In testimony where of I have here unto is my hand on seal of  [illegible] this 14th day of January 1833.

Michael G. Mills, Clerk

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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

State of Connecticut} S.S. Norfolk [illegible illegible]
Litchfield Courts} on the 15th day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in open court now setting before Mr. Michael F. Mills Esquire Judge of Probate [illegible] said court Elijah Blake a resident of the town of Winchester, aged Seventy Six years, last July who having first duly sworn answering to [illegible] doth on his oath  make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 that the [illegible] the Service of the United States by Enlistment  in the year 1775 in the Company Commanded by Capt. Blague the Regiment of Col. Comfort Sage, & was in the latter part of June that was Marched to New York and from New York was taken to [illegible] Island where he was stationed until the Nineteenth Jan. [illegible] Long Island was then brought back to New York that his Regiment after men retreated to Harlem than over Kings Bridge over to White plains and was [illegible] a place thus called Crumpond sometime in December served six months

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and that in the year 1781 in the month of July [illegible] he entered the Service by been drafted with the same for the term of three months was in the Company of Capt. [Illegible] were marched to West Haven. 

Second the whole time at West Haven and was [illegible]

And that he was born in Middletown on the State of Connecticut where he resided for the time he first hereunto that he removed to Torrington in [illegible] in 1779 where he resided  at the time he returned the [illegible] month he said for the last thirty years he has resided in  the town of Winchester where he now resides that he is requested [illegible] the Reverend Frederich Marsh, Clergyman and Samuel Hurlburt esq.  of said Winchester and also with witness testifies[illegible] Esq. of Norfolk who can Testify as his character.

In that humbly [illegible] away claim & a pension or annuity except the pension and he declare that his name is not in the Pension Roll of the [illegible] any that . Signed Elijah Blake

Sworn and Subscribed the duly year [rest is illegible]

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We Frederick Marsh Clergyman of the town of Winchester, Samuel Hurlburt Esquire of the same town and Augustus Pettibone Esquire of Norfolk hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elijah Blake of Winchester who has subscribed and sworn to the above and within declaration, that we believe him to be seventy six years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion and that he a man if that support a fair character for truth and veracity in that his statement is entitled to credit.
Sam Hurlburt
August Pettibone
Frederick Marsh
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Michael G. Mills Judge of Probate

And the said Court fo hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Elijah Blake applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he has stated- and the Court further certify that it appears that said Court that Frederick Marsh who has signed the same certificate if a clergyman resident in the town and that Augustus Pettibone a resident of the town of [unk] are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

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I J N Pettibone Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Elijah Blake for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7th AD 1832.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 15th day of August AD 1832.
Jona N Pettibone Clerk

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State of Connecticut
Litchfield County} Ss

Norfolk Probate  [unintelligble]  on the 3rd day of September 1832 personally appeared in Court  with Atty. Daniel H Cone of Winchester aged seventy eight years he being first duly sworn according to law testifies and says that in the year 1776 in the month of June or July he enlistd into the service of the United States in the Company of Capt. Blague then of Chatham in the Regt. commanded by Col. Comf___ says that he then and ever since has been well acquainted with Elijah Blake now of of Winchester that he the said Elijah Blake entered in the service  [unintelligble] , that they went from Middle  [unintelligble]  in Connecticut by water to New York that they  [unintelligble]  enlisted  [unintelligble]  six months and that he the  [unintelligble] the six months  [unintelligble]  on account of  [unintelligble]  as he then understood and believes that the said Elijah Blake did his time of six months as they were friends and neighbors. 
Daniel H. Cone

 [unintelligble] 
before me.
Michael F Mills, Judge
and h ereby certify that the said Daniel H Cone

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is a person well known  to me thus he is a credible person and that his [illegible] [illegible] is entitled to Credit. 

Michael F. Mills Judge of[illegible] 
in the District of Norfolk

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Declaration in order and abilities the hereafter of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. State of Connecticut S.S. Norfolk
Litchfield Courts} [illegible] on the 14th day of January 1883

Personally appeared in open court Elijah Blake of Winchester in said [illegible] when having duly sworn, according to Lane Nathen his oath make the following Declaration in addition to his declaration made this 15th day of August 1832 that he has no documentary evidence of his services that he has no other evidence but his own and the [illegible] of Samuel H. Core and Simeon Bergs, which is hereunto forwarded that he does not know of any other person known evidence & knows his services
Elijah Blake

Subscribed and Sworn the duly & year aforesaid before me
Michael F. Mills, Judge of Probate for Norfolk [illegible]

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Elijah Blake
Litchfield Co
Cont


Admitted
Private 9 months

Michael F. Mills
Norfolk
Connt.

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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 cab be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which you attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus:}). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of Elijah Blake

Period when service was rendered: 1776 Duration of the claimant's service: 6 months
Rank of claimant: Private
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served: Capt Blayne
Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers: Col Sage
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: 76 years, Middletown Cont.
Evidence by which the declaration is supported: Traditionary, a Clergyman, 2 living witnesses

Period when the service was rendered: July 1781
Duration of the claimant's service: 3 months
Rank of the claimant: "
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served: Capt Griffin
Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers:
Battles in which the applicant was engaged:
Country through which he marched: West Point
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period:
Evidence by which the declaration is supported:
*See annexed declaration

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 service.
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     day of     personally appeared (a) before                    A. B. a resident (b) of     in the county of     and State, Territory or District of     aged (c)    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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)    , with    and served in the    (e) regiment of the        line, under the following named officers:
[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 the particular period, and rank and names of his officers) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. -> 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 hereby relinquishes every claim(f) whatever to a pension or 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
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 hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I                        of the Court of                   do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                           for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this     day of     &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of the applicant, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proofs as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue 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 following additions, viz:
(k)We, A. B. , a Clergyman residing in the                       and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with                , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be     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 mater, 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. and that C. D., who has signed the same is a resident in the        
I,        Clerk of the Court of       do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of               for a pension.
In testimony, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this     day of    &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, of 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 may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witnesses 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 his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the service of each person

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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 a 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 were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where if 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} 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} 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 person to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as 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 or inconvenience to him, two respectable persons- one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, 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 bey particular in the enquiry whether the belief if general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicant unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, ad 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 a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate 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 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 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 pensions 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, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for a pension 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 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 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.
[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 oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
-> The notes [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the case 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.

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Record Division 
Revolutionary War Records Section 

3-525
Department of the interior
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

S. 14964
our

In reply to your request of _______, received ______ for a statement of the military history of Elijah Blake a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

Date of Enlistment/ Length of Service/ Rank/ Officer under whom service was rendered/ State

1776/ 6 months/ Private/ [illegible]/ [illegible] Sage/ Conn.

July 1777/ 3 months/ [illegible][illegible]

Battles engaged in: _check mark_

Residence of soldier at enlistment: [illegible] & Lexington Conn.

Date of application for pension: [illegible]

Residence at date of application: Westchester Conn. 

Age at date of application: sixty- 1756 [illegible-too faded] 

Remarks: [too faded to read]

Respectfully, 
Commissioner.

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FRANK FARNSWORTH STARR,
GENEALOGIST AND FAMILY HISTORIAN,
MIDDLETOWN, CONN.

STARR'S ANCESTRAL REGISTER

July 27, 1922
Pension Office
Washington, D. C.
I wish to obtain a statement of the services in the War of the Revolution of Elijah Blake of Connecticut who was placed on the Pension Rolls in 1833,

Respectfully,

Frank Farnsworth Starr

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Rev War
14964
INVALID
File No. 14964
Elijah Clake
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index:- Vol. 1,  Page 36
[Arrangement of 1870]


1922 Sept. 11 Hist. to F. F. Starr. aw

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I Simeon Birge of Torrington Litchfield County & State of Connecticut aged seventy five years depose and say that I am well acquainted with Elijah Blake now residing in the town of Winchester in said County that in the year 1781 I belongd in the same militia company with him and that he and myself was drafted to perform a tour of duty of three months in the revolutionary army and we performed the duty in a company commanded by Capt Griffin Booth Lieut in a regiment command by Canfield we were stationed at the time at West point in the State of New York, our service was at the time to keep guard and to do other comp duty & further saith not.
Simeon Birge

Litchfield County ss Torrington
State of Connecticut} August the 27th 1832
Personally appeared Simeon Birge of Torrington well known to me as a credible witness and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me
William Battell Just. of the Peace

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I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut certify that William Battell Esq was on the 27th day of August 1832 & that he now is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Litchfield & that the within signature which purports to be his is genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this fourth day of September AD 1832.
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk