Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21034, Hezekiah Abbey, Conn. Conn Sea Service

Page 1

1-5n98-1776) SERVICE  [Handwritten] Conn. Com Sea. Service  NUMBER  [Handwritten]  S 21034
[Handwritten] Abbey, Hezekiah carded 
CONTENTS

Page 2

[ printed form filled in with handwritten entries]
Vermont 196
Hezekiah Ab [corner missing]
of Westminster in the State of Ver- who was a Pri & Corp in the Com commanded by Captain __ of the Reg commanded by Col. Douglas in the Conn line for 6 mo - corp  2 mo -Pri of Covly - 1 mo Marine 4 mo Cop Roberts
Inscribed on the Roll of Ver  at the rate of 46 Dollars 82 Cents per an to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Jun [?] 1833 and sent S. James Gilchriest Charlestown N. H.
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 
$93.64
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept. 4 33  23.41
[double underline]
$117.05
[double underline]
[Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by E. D. Bullock clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 50

Page 3

[numbers] ]20 (illegible] 6
[Crossed out writing 
No. 2.5696

Admitive
Private Infantry - 6 "
Corporal da - 2 “
Private Dragoom 1 “
Private Marines  4”
[line]
13 "
20.00
7.33
4.16
13.33
[underline]
$46.82
[underline]

Page 4

[Handwritten] 
State of Vermont Windham County } Ls
On this twenty fifth day of July Anno Domini Eighteen Hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before the Probate Court in and for the District of Westminster in the County of Windham and the State of Vermont Hezekiah Abbey a resident of the township of Westminster in this District and County aforesaid [inserted] aged seventy seven years  who being first duly sworn according to law oath on is oath make the following declaration in and to obtain the benefits of the [illegible]  made by the act of Congress passed [illegible]  T. 1832.
Under the following named officers and said herein stated to [illegible] - That in the month of April 1775 at the commencement of the revolutionary trouble the militia regiment of Colonel Storrs [unsure] and to which this declarant their living at Windham in the State of Connecticut belonged was called out to meet at Pomfret at the same state and after the consultation among the officers he was informed that they had come to a conclusion that a pact of the regiment should go on to Cambridge in Massachusetts and the rest return to their homes -  this declarant accordingly went on and [in margin] 1 mo was in the service on that occasion one month when he returned to [following crossed out or line of ink through it] Windham- his captain’s name  was Kingsley (and he thinks either Joshua or Johathan) and his Lieutenant Peletiah Bingham. Near the middle of July in the same year 1776 he enlisted into the company commanded by John Reiley of Windham Captain one Chamberlain first Lieutenant one Terrill second Lieutenant & one Vaughan of Lebanon Ensign in the regiment of which Jedidiah Huntington was Colonel Douglas St. Colo. and  -  Clark Major was marched to Roxbury in Massachusetts & having staid the term of his enlistment, which was five months, was discharged on the 11th day of December in that year. Their army was returned into store the day before. Some circumstances [illegible] with the weather, as they lived in tents, have fixed the date in his memory. In February 1776  he enlisted for [illegible] monthly as a Corporal into the company of Colo Douglas’s regiment commanded by James Dana of Mansfield Captain, Nehemiah Tinkee of Windham / by whom he was enlisted / 1st Lieut. Amasa Wright of Mansfield 2. Liet. and Nathaniel Wakes of Windham Ensign He was marched to Cambridge & stated there about one month when he was marched to Roxbury and stationed there until the time of his enlistment expired when he was discharged and returned home. While he was at Roxbury the British evacuated Boston and went down to Castle WIlliams. In Sept. 1776 he enlisted as a Marine for eight months into the company of Marine commanded by one Roberts as Capt. John Preston as 1st Lieutenant and Bela Elderkin/  by whom he was enlisted / 2nd Lieut. To serve on board the Oliver Cromwell, Williams [Coct. unsure illegible] Commander their getting out at NewLondon and after

Page 5

[entirely handwritten]
4 mo (inserted in pencil before writing in ink begins] he had served 4 months principally taken up in working on the vessel he was discharged with the rest of those engaged and as he understands by order of Governor Huntington [crossed out] Trumbull who had ordered a new enlistment. This declarant being by trade a blacksmith and thinking he could do better at home in the business of gun making did not re-enlist but returned to Windham and remained there working until September 1778 when a draft of cavalry was made for the services and one James Flint being drafted this declarant engaged as his substitute in the company officers by one Chamerlain Capt, Samuel Kennedy of Windham Lieutenant and one Tucker Cornet. He [inserted] this declarant marched with the ? company to Rhode Island and was in the action which General Sullivan fought on that Island on which occasion he [illegible] as one of the body guard or attendants of that General and in company with five others of whom - Bugbee {as he believes of Mansfield [illebible] one . James Flint for whom this declarant enters as a substitute as been dead many years as this declarant has subscribed and believes. In this last town of service [inserted in pencil] 1 mo he was engaged one month. In July 1781 there was a draft at Windham for eight months service and this declarant was drafted but having a family as being unable to leave home he hired for eight dollars in silver (not [underlined] -continental) money one Kennedy whom name he believes was James to go as his substitute who did so. There were no written discharges given to declarant on any of the  before mentioned occasions altho he was always regularly discharged nor were any such discharges given to those with whom he was associated to his knowledge. As to the age of this declarant, he was born in Union, Windham County Commonwealth, on the fourth January 1755 as he was informed by his parents and has kept his age in his memory that he knows of no record thereof atho he has the impression that his mother told him when young that there was a record in Windham - at four years old he removed with his father’s family from Union to Windham remained there (with the exception of the services aforesaid) until he was thirty four years of age when he removed to Piermont NH and stayed there about four years thence to Waypole NH for six years thence to Bellows Falls Ct 9?0 about three years and thence to Westminster in April 1802 where he has resided ever since. He does not know that a single person with whom he served is in the land of the living not has he any other evidence than he now offers - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension on annuity except the present & declared that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid } 
[signature] Bela Peter   Hezekiah Abbey   M Taft Judge

Page 6

Me Sylvester Sage a clergyman residing in the town or Westminster in the county of Windham and State of Vermont and Ellery Allbee of the same Westminster Esquire do hereby certify, that were well acquainted with Hezekiah Abbey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed and believes in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we caucus in that opinion 

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid} 
[Signatures] Sylvester Sage Ellery Allbe
Before Peter M Taft Judge

And the said court does 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 this Court further certifies that it appears to said Court that Sylvester Sage who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said County of Westminster and that Ellery Allbe who has also signed the same is a resident in said town and a credible person and this statement is entitled to full credit. 
[signature] Peter M Taft  Judge 

I Asa Keyes a Clerk and Register of the Probate Court in and for said District of Westminster do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said county in the matter of the application of Hezekiah Abbey for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Probate office this twenty fifth day of July 1832 
[signature] Assa Keys 2nd

Seal or stain lower left hand side of page

Page 7

1793 R

Page 8

I Hezekiah Abbey of Westminster in the County of Windham and State of Vermont a lawful age do testify declare and say that from the lapse of time and the decay of memory incident to advanced age it is impossible for me to specify the precise days when my several [illegible] of service in the revolutionary war commenced and ended with perfect confidence yet according to my bad recollection they ever as follows viz my [illgebile] [illegible] of service when I marched from Pomfort Conn] under Capt. KIngsley began on the 24th day of April AD 1775 and lasted 1 month - my second when I was enlisted under Capt Reiley began on the 10th day of July AD 1775 and lasted five months - my third when I enlisted as a corporal under Capt Dana began on the 15th feb AD 1776 and I [illegible] with the army at Cambridge until the 15th March in the same year where I was ordered to Roxbury and began on the 10th day of September AD 1776 and continued four months with regard to my fifth tour of service on Rhode Island in capt Chaimberlain’s company of calvalry which lasted one month I stated in my former declaration that it commenced about the middle of September AD 1778 which date I was led to fix upon from recollecting that I had a [illegible] when I left home to cut my corn stalks in my absence [illegible] from brionging to mind certain circumstances particularly those connected with the birth of my oldest child I am convinced that the true date was not so late and that I left Windham in the month of August 1778 and as I verily believe on the 24th of that month -  I will aclate some of the circumstances connected with that service as I remember them.- We went from the mainland to the island, the second night by the side of a stone wall on the ground [illegible] and the third night in a corn house nigh the General’s quarters- on the night previous to the battle Gen Sullivan with his army retreated and made a stand at Butt’s hill - in the morning a firing was heard in the direction of the south and of the Island I being that [illegible] one of the six who [illegible] the General a his guard and I and a man of the name of Begbee were ordered by a Mr Trumbull on of the Gereral’s aide to go and ascertain the cause we lade about [illegible] Miley and met and guard commanded by a Major Tyler who bid us inform the General that the enemy were coming on with an advance guard of five hundred even & two field [illegible] Begbee [Bugbee] and I returned to the General’s quarters where I was called into his room and gave him the above information from Maj Tyler - the enemy soon came in sight of Butt’s hill and halted about half mile distance on rising ground and two of their ships and who smaller vessels

Page 9

Vessels came up to the west side of the Islands - a cannon[illegible] was kept up on both sides until about eleven o clock when the troops advanced in both sides until a [illegible] engagement ensued which continued until about the middle of the afternoon when the enemy returned to the ground they [illegible occupied?] in the fore front of the day and our troops remained at Butt’s hill the next day there was us fighting and at night the army retreated and amassed [illegible] to the main land at Howland’s ferry and I was ordered to remain at the landing for the purpose of seeing that the boatmen did not leave the boat which were directed by one [illegible] Elderkin in a day or time after Gen’ Sullivan with Capt Chamberlain’s company to which I was never returned preceded to Providence where he made his head quarters -  I remember that while we were at Providence I was detached with five others under the command of Lieut Kennedy to proceed to Attleborough in Massachusetts for the purpose of assisting or [illegible] of his arrest a Col Daggette [Doggette] of that place who as I understand had improperly left the army before I joined it - I also well recollect that I was then sent by Gen Sullivan from Providence to Boston to carry dispatches to Gen Heath at the latter place and that I seen the French fleet in Boston Harbour after which I  returned to head quarters and remained with the company until they were discharged at the end of one month-I have already stated that the date of my entering the service are but the nearest approaching to the precise fact which my memory enables me to make but as to the length of the periods for which I served I have no doubt, having more particularly retained [illegible] in my recollection that is to say one month  [ink smudged or crossed out word]
one month as an infantry private under Capt. Kingsley of Col Starr’s regiment in 1775  
five months as infantry private under Capt. Ripley of Col Huntington’s regiment in 1775 
two months as corporal -  under Capt. Dana of Col. Douglas’ regiment in 1776 
four months as a marine under Capt. Roberts of the ship Oliver Cromwell in 1776 & 1777 
one month a cavalry private under Capt. Chamberlain in Rhode Island in 1778 
amounting to six months as a private of infantry two months as an infantry corporal four months as a marine and one month as a private in the cavalry being [illegible] service and for such service I again claim a pension 
[signature] Hezekiah Abbey
Westminster 20. May 1883

Page 10


[handwritten document]
State of Vermont WIndham County Court Clerk’s Office
New Fane [Newfane], April 26. A.D. 1883. [year underlined]
I certify that Josiah Willard, Esquire, of Westminster, is a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Windham  aforesaid, and that full faith and and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations in that office- In testimony where of I have hereinto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court on the day and year above written, {signature} James Elliot, Clerk.

Page 11

[handwritten document]
State of Vermont
Windham ss On the second day of May Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and thirty three Personally appeared Hezekiah Abbey of Westmminster in said County well known to me as a credible person and made solemn oath to the foregoing supplemental declaration by him subscribed
Before me: Josiah Willard Justice of the Peace
[Ribbon affixed on left side of paper]

Page 12

In reply to your request of__, received__, for a statement of the military history of Hezekiah Abbey [underlined] a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow’s) [strike through] application for pension on file in this Bureau. [underlined] S. F. 21034
[column headings] 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE |
April 1775 | 1 mo. | Priv. | John Kingsley | Storrs | Conn
July 10, 1775 | 5 “ |  “ | John Ripley | Jedediah Huntington | “
Feb 15, 1776 | 2 “  | Corpl. | James Dana | Douglass | “
Sept. 10 1776 | 4 “ | Marine | Capt. Roberts’ Co. on ship “Oliver Cromwell | William | Cirt, Commander 
Aug. 24, 1778 | 1 “ | Priv | Chamberlain | [check mark] Conn.

Battles engaged in, Rhode Island
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Windham, Conn.
Date of application for pension, July 25, 1832, His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Westminster Twp. Windham County, Vt. 
Age at date of application [small x inserted with letter B. above meaning born]] Jan. 4, 1755.- Union, Windham Co. Conn. 
Remarks: His eldest child was born in 1778 (names of wife and children not stated.)

Page 13

[paper in 3 sections with writing on middle and right sections]
[printed form with handwritten information inserted]
21034
Invalid
Fine No. 21034
Hezekiah Abbey Pri & Corpl Rev War
Act: June 7n 32’’
Index:-  Vol. 2, Page 2 [Arrangement of 1870.]
[handwritten on right hand side]
1912, Sept. 27, History to Mrs. L. N. Nichols, Letter with Ch. W. 22125. Jeduthan Abbe. F.M.