Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29674, Sherebiah Butts, Conn.

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(3-1776)

SERVICE  NUMBER

Conn.  Butts, Sherebiah  S.29674

CONTENTS

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6959.
Massachusetts

Sherebiah Butts
of S Hadley in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Bacon of the regt commanded by Col Chester in the Mass [crossed out] CT Conn line for 1 year.

Ct State Troops

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 40 Dollars -- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of Mar 1833 and Sent Hon J C Bates H of Reps

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833          $80-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept   $20-
$100-

{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by J H Mc Blair Clerk,
Book D. Volume 2 [smudged] Page 96

[right page] 73
Hampshire

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampshire } Ss

On this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court, before the Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting, Sherebiah Butts resident of South Hadley in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy two 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 in the summer of 1776 he enlisted in the Connecticut State troops for the term of six months, and served in the company commanded by Capt. Asa Bacon in Col. John Chester's regiment. that he ^with the regiment joined the main army at New York under The command of Genl. Washington. He left New-York, at the time The British took possession of it, with a branch of the army under the command of Genl. Putnam, and went to White Plains, & was there in a skirmish with the British thence went to New Jersey with the army under command of Genl. Lee, and after his capture under the command of Genl. Sullivan. proceeded through New-Jersey to Delaware River, & on the side of the River opposite Trenton was dismissed & left the service December 25, 1776- having served six months. 
That early in February 1777 he enlisted in the Connecticut State troops for the term of two months, and served in Capt _____ Kinnie's Company under the command of Major Ripley. the company joined the Regiment of Providence, Rhode Island, & from thence ^he went with the army to Bristol and was there discharged April 1st, 1777-having served two months. 
That in August 1777 he enlisted in the Connecticut State troops, and served in Capt. Seth Grovenor's company - does not recollect the name of the Colonel. Major Lyon was one of the commanding officers. Our company joined the army at Tiverton R.I. under the command of Genl. Spencer, and he remained there until the expiration of the two months, & was then dismissed having served two months. 
That about April 1st, 1778 he was drafted to serve two months in the company commanded Capt. John Johnson, proceed with the company to New-London, and thence to Groton and remained in the fort under the command of Col. Ledyard until about the 1st June 1778, and was then

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dismissed, having served two months.
That he was born in Canterbury in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut ^in 1760. knows of no record of his age. he resided in said Canterbury when he entered into service, and continued to reside there until 1780, when he removed to said South-Hadley his present place of abode, and has resided there since. he never received a written discharge from the service for either of his terms of service, and knows of no documentary evidence he can produce, and of no person who can testify to his service except Thomas Jewett whose affidavit is hereunto annexed.

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 or (if any) only on that of the agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid -

Sherebiah Butts

Before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate

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 -
Sworn to & subscribed before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate

I Samuel F Lyman Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Sherebiah Butts for a pension - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two -

Sam F. Lyman Register

[on another page] Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Hampshire ss. } December 18. 1832
I hereby certify that Thomas Jewett

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[on preceding page] Sam F. Lyman Register

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Hampshire ss. } December 18. 1832

I hereby certify that Thomas Jewett who signed the foregoing affidavit is a credible person.

Edward Hooker Justice of the Peace

Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. [crossed out]

We, Artemas Boies a clergyman residing in the town of South-Hadley and Eli Stearns residing in South-Hadley hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Sherebiah Butts who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy two 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

Artemas Boies
Eli Stearns

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire Ss - December 18. 1832 }
Then personally appeared the above named Artemas Boies, a clergyman & Eli Stearns, credible persons & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by them subscribed -
Sworn before me Edward Hooker Justice of the Peace

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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Artemas Boies who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in South Hadley and that Eli Stearns who has signed the same, is a resident in South Hadley and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit, and that said Butts cannot produce in Court said persons without to much expense & inconvenience to him -

Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate

I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original & amended proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Sherebiah Butts for a pension & that Edward Hooker above named is a Justice of the Peace of the sd County duly qualified & the above signature is genuine
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Saml F. Lyman - Register.

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2683
Sherebiah Butts
Mass

Private 1 year

No Clergyman Certificate produced nor a reason [illegible] hereby it cannot be obtained. has produced no documentary evidence of his service nor stated that he has none, nor cannot prove the same
Admd

$40~

Charles P Huntington
Northampton
Mass

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BRIEF in the case of Sherebiah Butts
of South Hadley in the State of Massachusetts
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? Seventy Two years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
| Years, Months, Days. | As a | Gen.
In 1776 | 6 " | Private | Col Chesters
77 | 2 " | " | Maj Ripley
77 | 2 " | " | Maj Lyon
78 | 2 " | " | Col. Ledyard

5. In what battles was he engaged? White Plains

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Canterbury, Connecticut

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witness

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Living witness not stated as credible

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

D. D. Addison
Examining Clerk.

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In reply to your request of  , received for a statement of the military history of Sherebiah Butts a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) [crossed out] application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S. File 29674

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | STATE.
| | | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | 
Sum: 76 | to Dec 25. 76 6 mos. | | Asa Bacon | John Chester | Conn.
Feby. 77 | 2 mos. | | Kinnie | Maj. Ripley | 
Aug. 77 | 2 mos. | | Seth Grovesnor | " Lyon | 
Apl. 1. 78 | 2 mos. | | John Johnson | Col. Ledyard | 

Battles engaged in, White Plains
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Canterbury, Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 8, 1832.
Residence at date of application, South Hadley, Hampshire Co., Mass
Age at date of application, born in 1760 at Canterbury, Conn.
Remarks: His claim was allowed. No data relative to family.

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29 674
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 29,674
Sherebiah Butts
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 59
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right page] 1910 July 30. History to Mrs Addison L. Day c

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Sherebiah Butts
Souh Hadley
Hamshire Co
Mass
No 2,683.

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Sherebiah Butts which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? it does

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? he did

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? he has

V. Has he mentioned 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? he has

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? he has

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? he has

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes in his favor

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? he has

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? It s affixed, and has an inscription whereby in can distinguished

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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no-

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no-

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? no-

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? it does so appear

XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? they are -

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. 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."

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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 is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.

‡QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.

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I Thomas Jewett of Rome in the County of Oneida & State of New York testify & say that I am well acquainted with Sherebiah Butts formerly of Canterbury & State of Connecticut & now of South-Hadley in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that in 1776 & previous thereto we lived nigh neighbors in said Canterbury - that in the year 1776 the said Butts enlisted in the Connecticut State Troops for the term, I believe, of six months - that he served in the Company commanded by Capt. Asa Bacon in Col. John Chester's Regiment - I understood he went first to New-York, & I saw him in the army at West-Chester, & believe said Butts served out his full time, as he had not returned from the army when I went to Providence-
That in 777 in February, I believe, said Butts enlisted at the same time I did in Capt Kinnies Company under the command of Major Ripley for two months - said Butts went to Providence & served his two months - I was with him.
In the latter part of the summer of 1777 said Butts enlisted to go to Rhode Island - in whose Company I cannot say - that he was absent about two months, & it was generally believed & reported that he was absent in the army at Rhode-Island.
That in the Spring of 1778 said Butts was drafted to serve two months in Capt Johnsons Company of the Connecticut State Troops - that he went to New-London as I verily beleive, and was absent about two months.
I believe said Butts to be a man of truth, & should verily believe what he might say in his declaration regarding his services.
South-Hadley July 19 1832

Thomas Jewett

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire Ss July 19 1832
Personally appeared Thomas Jewett signer of the foregoing deposition, and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein stated.
Sworn before Edward Hooker Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire Ss - December 18. 1832 } I hereby certify that Thomas Jewett abovenamed, & signer of the foregoing affidavit is a credible person - Edward Hooker Justice of the Peace

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I Joel Hayes of South-Hadley in the County of Hampshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts being duly sworn make oath and say that I am personally acquainted with Thomas Jewett above named, that I believe him to be a man of truth, & should verily believe what he might say under oath-
Joel Hayes

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire Ss August 6. 1832 }
Then personally appeared Joel Hayes & signer of the foregoing affidavit ^and a credible witness, & made oath to the truth thereof
Sworn - Before me Edward Hooker Justice of the Peace

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

HAMPSHIRE ss. I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Edward Hooker Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition taken is one of the Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Signature annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this tenth day of August A. D. 1832.

Saml F. Lyman Register of Probate.

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HOYT METAL COMPANY
GENERAL OFFICES MERCHANTS-LACLEDE BUILDING.
ST. LOUIS, MO.

OFFICE OF MANAGER SHEET METAL DEPARTMENT
ADDISON L. DAY.

WORKS
GRANITE CITY, ILLS.
PERTH AMBOY, N. J.
CABLE ADDRESS
HOYTMETAL, ST. LOUIS.

July 25-10.

IN ANSWER PLEASE
REFER TO
FILE NO.


U. S. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:-
We are referred to you by the Adjutant General of the War Department of your city to ascertain if possible further information relative to one Sherebiah Butt of Cantebury, Conn. who served in the Revolutionary War. If you have anything relative to the record of this person I would consider it a favor if you would advise me of the same.
Also relative to Oliver Bagg, who I think served in the war 1812. Also one Simon Smith, who served in the Revolutionary war. I think that he afterwards had a pension.
Yours truly,
Addison L Day

[stamp] JUL 28 1910

ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COMPANY. IN ANSWERING, PLEASE MENTION NAME OF WRITER.

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ivision.

July 30, 1910.

[illegible]
Mr. Addison L. Day,
Hoyt Metal Company,
Merchants-Laclede Building,
St. Louis, Mo.

Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 25" and received on the 28" instant, you are herewith furnished the history of the only Sherebiah Butts and Simon Smith of the Connecticut troops, found on the Revolutionary pension records.
The pension records of the War of 1812 fail to afford any information relative to Oliver Bagg.
Very respectfully,

Commissioner.

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Butts, Thomas  GRADE Private LINE Hager's Regiment

WARRANT NUMBER 12801   ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 6, 1790
to - not shown -

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9. 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.