Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37,933, Richard Fortune, Conn.

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(8-1776)

SERVICE                                        NUMBER
Conn.       Fortune, Richard         S.37,933
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_____________________________________________
CONTENTS
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9649
R
Connecticut

Richard Fortune

in the state of
who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Durkee of the [??]
for the term of 3 years
================================
inscribed on the Roll of [????]
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 8 of April 1818
================================
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 of April  18
and [?????] Wingham Cont.
================================
Arrears to 4th of Mar 19
Semi-anl. all'ce ending

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[handwritten]

Notification [illegible] July 3d 1821
David C Bolles Esqr
Windham Conn

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[handwritten]

Richard Fortune
Petition alias Richard Putnam - Privt Brooklin
Col Durkee's Regt Connecticut Line 1777 - 3 years
dec. 8th April 1818
Admitted

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To the Hon Jabez Clark Esq Judge of the Court of Common Please, within & for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut

The Petition of Richard Fortune alias - Richard Putnam, of Brooklyn in the County of Windham (a negro) Humbly showeth, that he served as a soldier in the Connecticut line of the Army of the United States against the common enemy, during the Revolutionary War three years & four months. That by reason of his reduced - Circumstances, in his life he is in need of assistance from his Country for support & prays - that he may have his name entered & have the benefit of an act of the Congress of the United States passed on the 18th day of March 1818 Entitled an act to provide " for certain persons, engaged in the land & " naval service of the United States, in the "Revolutionary war." & he as in duty bound - shall ever pray. Dated at Brooklyn the 8th day of April 1818
Richard Fortune his X mark
In presence of [signed] Jabez Clarke
[signed] John Parish

State of Connecticut Ss. Windham County Brooklyn April 8th, 1818 - Then Richard Fortune alias Richard Putnam a man of color of Brooklyn in the County of Windham, signed of the foregoing petition personally appeared before me Jabez Clark Esq

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Judge of the Court of Commons, Pleas within & for the County of Windham in the district of Connecticut. And in my presence subscribed the following affidavit & made oath to the same as follows viz. I Richard Fortune alias Putnam of Brooklyn in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut. Do swear. That in the year 1777 I enlisted into the Revolutionary army of the United on the Continental establishment in the Connecticut line in a Company commanded by Capt John McGreggor in a Regiment commanded by Colo John Durkee for three years, & served in sd Regiment for more than two years that he was then a servant of General Isaac Putnam. & before sd three years was quite [illegible] was by him discharged from sd service. That in Consequence of my sd services in the army I received my Freedom, & by the Laws of the State I am informed, that I have no claim for support from the estate of sd Putnam. That I have no discharge from the army in existence - that I am poor and needy. that by reason of my reduced Circumstances in life I stand in need of the assistance of my Country for Support. And further saith not - 
Richard Fortune his X mark
In presence of
[signed] Jabez Clarke
[signed] John Parish
Sworn this 9th day of April AD 1818
Before me Jabez Clarke

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I Daniel Tyler of Brooklin in the County of Windham and District of Connecticut - Do Swear, that I know the aforenamed Rich. Fortune the signer of the Foregoing Petition and affidavitt, and have known him for about fifty years, and know that he was in the Connecticut Troops in the Army manned for Common defense, Particularly in 1777 and 1778 - on the North [illegible], and understood that he had enlisted into Capt. John McGregors Camp. & in Colo. John Durkees regiment, of the Connecticut Line - I further swear he has the Character of being a person of truth. - And is Poor and indigent and needs assistance for his support
[signed] Dan Tyler.
Sworn the 8th day of April AD 1818
Before me Jabez Clarke Judge of Court of Common Pleas

I Jabez Clarke Judge of the Court of Common Please for the County of Windham State of Connecticut Do Certify that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Richard Fortune did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration and affidavit against the common enemy and that he is poor & reduced in Circumstances. And I do now transmit, the proceedings & testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act of Congress - I so further Certify that Daniel Tyler above named is a Person of strict veracity
-Attest
[signed] Jabez Clarke

I Samuel Gray Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut. do Certify that Jabez Clark Esq is Judge of this court & the above signature is in his own hand writing & the seal annexed is the seal of said Court. In testimony hereof I have hereunto Set my name - this 11th day of May AD 1818
[signed] Sam Gray

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Richard Fortune application

Ex.

No. 9649.

[?]  ___22 Apl. 1819.

( ?? 10719.)


Continuing

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Sworn to and declared on the 20th day of June
A.D. 1820, before the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Windham, in the district of Connecticut.

     Attest. David C. [? Bolles] Clerk.

I, David C. Bolles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Windham, in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration & oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said Court: and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is 
twenty eight ______and 50 Cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, the Seal of the said Court, on this 26th day of June.

 David C. Bolles Clerk of the Court
               of Common Pleas for Windham County

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[ Great Seal...E PLURIBUS UNUM]

District of Connecticut, ss.

At a Special Court of Common Pleas, holden at Pomfret and for the County of Windham, in Said district___

On this 20th day of June A.D. 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record for the County aforesaid, [Having the power of fine and imprisonment,] Richard Fortune of Brooklyn in said County (a Person of Color)
aged sixty seven years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, 
on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, viz: That he
enlisted for the term of three years in the month of day [lined through] of April in the year 1777__in the State of Connecticut 
in the company commanded by Colonel John
McGreggor___in the regiment commanded by Colonel John Durkee__  
in the line of the State of Connecticut on the Continental establishment: that he continued to serve in the said corps until[lined through] & was [? Waiter] to Gen. Putnam until the year 1779___
when he was discharged from the said service in[lined through] by Gen. Putnam in the Town of Reading___in the State of Connecticut__That he is a Farmer by occupation, that he has a wife named Dinah-aged about sixty seven, that he is very lame and almost unable to perform any labor that he has received a pension under the act of the 18th of March 1818 as per certificate No. 9649. from the 8th day of April 1818-


And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. 
          Viz__ The lease of about 1 1/2 acres of land with a Poorhouse on the [ ? Same] during the natural life of him and Dinah worth about 15$ per [??]---$15.00
1 tea kettle worth, 50c--2 Iron pots 1.00--4 chairs 1.00.  2.50
2 Tables 1.50--1 hoe 30c--1 axe 50c--old garden Rake--20c.    2.50
1[??]--2.00--6 knives & forks..40c old meal chest 50c.                  2.90
old and [??] 1.40...9 [??] Tea Spoons 9c---1.49
1 Table Spoon..20c--1 Doz White plates. 50c..1 earthen Platter   34c-------1.04
[?????]                  $25.43

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 Amt Brot over             $25.43

1 Reed for weaving--50c--1 woolen wheel  1.00 1.50
1 Linen Wheel  1.50--1 Glass Tumbler 7c.  1.57
                                              $28.50

Richard  his [^] Fortune
mark---

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[handwritten]

Col. Daniel Putnams
Certif [lined out] Late Aid Decamp to Major Genl. Putnam
Certif. of service

[written vertically]
Jabez Clark Esqr.
Judge of Court of Common pleas
Windham

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[handwritten]

Jabez Clark Esqr.
Judge of Court of Common pleas
Windham

[written vertically]
Col. Daniel Putnams
Certif [lined out] Late Aid Decamp to Major Genl. Putnam
Certif. of service

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Brooklyn June 22 1818
Jabez Clark Esq.

Sir, 
I received a line from you on Saturday last requesting information regarding the services of Richard Fortune (a black man) in the Army of the Revolution.
This man, at the commencement of the war, was a slave, belonging to General Putnam. In December 1775, he was ordered by his master to Cambridge, and enlisted as a soldier in Durkees Regiment at that time recruiting for the Continental service. he was taken from the Regt into the family of his master, as a servant, and continued with him till April 1777, remaining on the muster rolls, & drawing pay, as a soldier in that Regiment.
Some time in April 1777, under the promise of freedom at the close of the war, he inlisted again, in the same Regiment, and continued as a servant in General Putnams family till about the first of April 1779, when he was discharged the service. When I state his services in Genl Putnam's family, it is to be understood, his military family in Camp, whom he served with such fidelity and good conduct, as to obtain not only an honorable discharge from the army, but also, from all future claims of his master.
I state these facts from my own knowledge, having been myself an aid-de-camp to Reg't Genl. Putnam, & resided in his

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family most of the term he was in service in the war of the Revolution.
I am respectfully Sir
Your most obt. serv.
[signed] Danl. Putnam

I should have given a testimony to this import when the man first applied to you to authenticate his claim for a Pension under the Act of Congress; but was from home at that time.
D.P.

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37933
INVALID.
Revy Con
File No. 37,933
Richard Fortune
Priv Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 142

[Arrangement of 1870.]