Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,525, Hugh E Fiddis, Conn. Sea Service Navy

Page 1

Conn. Sea Service  
Navy

Fiddis, Hugh E.   

R3525
B.L.M. 75105_160_55

Page 2

284.698
Act. March 3/55 - Dec. 2/57

Hugh E. Fiddis, Senior
Fiddis
75-105 (illegible)
Dec. 18th/57
U.S. Ship Confederacy
Revolutionary War

(illegible)
AO:16CUG Dec. 17/57
(illegible)

Spec. B
Claimant
Oswego, N.Y. Vol. F 61.

Page 3

284.698

Page 4

State of New York }
                              } SS.
County of Tioga    }

On this 17th day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven personally appeared before me Joel S. Whitley Justice of the peace of the town of Tioga
Within and for the County and State aforesaid Hugh E. Fiddis aged ninety two years a resident of Tioga in the State of New York who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical Hugh E. Fiddis who was on board the Confederacy in 1782 commanded by Captain Seth Harding in the war with great Britain declared in 1776 that he volunteered and was on board for a period of about 3 months and was honorably discharged and was also on board the privateer Prudence afterward called Defiance in 1780-81 (she being in government service under a registration for a period of about 11 months)  See application for pension made in 1833 for proof of service he makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he is entitled under the act approved March 3, 1855 he also declares that he has no received a warrant for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress nor made any other application therefor.

Hugh E. Fiddis

Page 5

We of Tioga County and State of New York Residents upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Hugh E. Fiddis in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statement of the Applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be.

Joel Farnham
James E. Fiddis

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year afore written and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons and that claimant is the person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.

J.S. Whitley, J.P.

Page 6

(Illegible - words are cut off)
Hon. J.M. Parker
HoRens
136

Page 7

Pension Office
June 3, 1850

Sir
I have the honor to return the letter of Mr. James Fiddes and also to alone form for the preparation of Bounty Land application that his father Hugh E. Fiddes may apply for land for his Revolutionary Service.

Hon. J.M. Parker
Ho Rep

Page 8

State of New York
Tioga County - SS.

On this third day of December A.D. 1833 personally appeared in the Court of (illegible) before Robert Monell, John R. Drake, Jos L. Darling, Elijah Shoemaker, Geo. Fisher, Judges now sitting at Owego in and for the County of Tioga Hugh E. Fiddis a resident of Tioga in the said County and State aforesaid aged sixty seven 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 session June 7th, 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the marine or naval service under the following named officers and served as herein stated.  That he was bornin the town of Groton in the State of Connecticut the fifth of August A.D. 1766 as this Deponent has been informed by his parents and as he has seen recorded in the family Bible in his youth. That he entered the service of the United States as a mariner the fore part of August AD 1781 at the port of New London in the State of Connecticut on board the sloop of war called the Prudence according to his last recollection though it may have been some time before called the Defiance commanded by Capt. Thomas Park and the name of the first Lieut. was Thomas Eldridge.  That he continued in the service under the command of said Captain Thomas Park thirteen months and cruised along the Eastern coast of the United States in the waters of Long Island Sound, in Connecticut River and in and near the waters of Rhode Island, sometimes in procuring provisions for the Army and troops of the United States, sometimes in procuring intelligence regarding the enemy vessels and forces and part of the time served as a kind of tender to the French fleet, while in and near the waters of Rhode Island.  In the latter part of September AD 1782 he left the service under Capt. Park and entered the service as a mariner on board the Sloop of War called the "confederacy" commanded by Capt. Seth Harden and served three months and upwards on board said fore mentioned vessel, which cruised in the West Indies and near the Banks of Newfoundland and returned about the last of December to New London, where he left the service his time having expired according to engagement but he never

Page 9

took or had a written discharge from either of the aforesaid Commanders.  While in service under Capt. Park several captors were made of enemy vessels, one of those vessels was called the Tartar.  That after the Peace in 1783 he, this declarant, for several years followed the seas, that is, was engaged in navigation, made Groton aforesaid his home when on land for about four years, then sailed for several years from the Port of New York and then removed to his present residence in the County of Tioga where he has resided about thirty four years.
That he was sixty seven years old the fifth of August last past, according to the information received from is Mother, and a family (illegible) as before mention which (illegible) is now or likely was in the family of Capt. Thomas Park where the mother of this deponent resided at the time of her death about four years since.  This Deponent has no documentary evidence of his service - Capt. Thomas Park of Candor in Tioga County and Thomas Eldridge of Union Broome County are personally acquainted with this Deponent and have knowledge of his service for some portion of the time.  And this Deponent hopes to be able to have the affidavits of one or both of them hereafter but neither could be produced in Court at this time - Capt. Park being very old and infirm is unable to come or even to be brought into Court and Eldridge from the distance and bad state of the roads could not be procured to attend in court without much difficulty and expense.  This deponent is known to Elisha Forsyth and Daniel R. Park of Candor in said county who reside in his neighborhood who can testify to hos character for veracity, and their belief of his service as a mariner in the War of the Revolution.  He the said deponent or applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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.

Hugh E. Fiddis

Sworn to and subscribed the 3rd day of December AD 1833
Green M. Tuthill, Clerk

Page 10

We Elisha Forsyth and Daniel R. Park of Candor in the County of Tioga and State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Hugh E. Fiddis of Tioga in the County of Tioga who subscribed the above and foregoing declaration and made oath to the same - that we believe him to be sixty seven years of age, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have served in the War of the Revolution as a Mariner in the service of the United States in the matter stated in his declaration.

Daniel R. Park
Elisha Forsyth

Sworn and subscribed       }
the day and year aforesaid}

Green M. Tuthill Clerk

And the said Court does 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 mariner in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution and served as he states.  And the said Court further certifies that it appears to them that Elisha Forsyth and Daniel R. Park - who have signed the preceding certificate are credible persons and that heir statement is entitled to credit.

I Green M. Tuthill, Clerk of the County of Tioga in the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the Application of Hugh E. Fiddis for a Pension

In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 6th day of February AD 1834.

Edward Suffens, Deputy Clerk

Page 11

Broome County }
Town of Vestal   }  SS

I hereby certify that Thomas Eldridge who made affidavit before me on the 14th day of December that at the service of Hugh E. Fiddis of Tioga in the County of Tioga, in the War of the Revolution, is personally known to me and is a credible person whose testimony is entitled to full credence and belief - and further that the certificate of that fact was omitted on the affidavit at the time of taking because I was not informed that such certificate was necessary.  Dated 30th Dec. A.D. 1833

John La Grange Junior
Justice of the Peace

Page 12

March 27, 1935
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hugh E. Fiddis
R.3525
BA-J/MLB

Miss Adelaide Clark
113 Stewart Avenue
Ithaca, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Hugh Eldridge or Eldredge Fiddis, of Groton, New London County, Connecticut, who moved to Owego, Tioga County, New York.

The record of Hugh E. Fiddis (as soldier signed) follows as obtained from pension claim, R. 3525, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Hugh E. Fiddis was born August 5, 1766 in Groton, Connecticut; the names of his parents are not given.

While residing in Groton, Connecticut, he entered the service in July or August, 1781, at the Port of New London, Connecticut, on board the sloop of war, "prudence" (formerly called "Defiance), Captain Thomas Park, and was engaged in cruising along the coast of Long Island Sound, Connecticut River and in and near the waters of Rhode Island, procuring provisions and guarding the coast for the French Fleet; during this term of service, he assisted in capturing vessels of the enemy, including the "Tartar", and was discharged after having served about thirteen months.  In the latter part of September, 1782, he entered on board the sloop of war, "confederacy", Captain Seth Harding, and served "three months and upwards" cruising about the West Indies and near the banks of Newfoundland.

After peace was declared in 1782, Hugh E. Fiddis continued to follow the sea with Groton, Connecticut, as his home when on land, for about four years, then moved to the Port of New York, from which he moved about 1799 to Owego, Tioga County, New York.

Page 13

Hugh E Fiddis applied for pension December 3, 1833, while residing in Tioga, Tioga County, New York, but his claim was not allowed as the act under which he applied did not provide for service as a privateer.  He was, however, allowed bounty land in full satisfaction for services rendered in the Revolutionary War, on his application executed October 17, 1837, at which time he was still residing in Tioga, New york.

No reference was made to soldier's wife, but reference was made to his son, James Fiddis, with no details given, nor was any reference made to other children.

Hugh E. Fiddis stated that his mother died about 1820 at the home of Captain Thomas Park, who in 1833 was residing in Candor, Tioga County, New York.

In 1833, one Thomas Eldredge was a resident of Vastal, Broome County, New York, and stated that he had known the soldier, Hugh E Fiddis, since about 1780, but did not state any relationship to him.  

The date of death of Hugh E. Fiddis is not on file in this office.

If you desire information in regard to the location of the land granted to the soldier, you should write to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Interior Department, this city, and cite the following:  Bounty Land Warrant 75105-160-55.

No charge is made for furnishing you this record.

Very truly yours,


A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

- 2 -

Page 14

75,105
(illegible)

284.698

Stamp:  Owego N.Y. Dec 2

Written lengthwise:
Commissioner of Pensions
Pension Office
Washington D.C.

Page 15

To Hon. J.L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Sir I have appointed Wm. J Bottum of Red Creek N.Y. to investigate my claim to a pension (illegible) on account of Revolutionary service.  My application is now on file in your office from N.Y. Owego Co.  
Feb. 22 1829

Hugh E. Fiddis



State of New York                 }
                                              } ss.
Tioga County Clerk's Office, }

I, Le Roy W. Kingman, Clerk of said County, and also Clerk of the Courts of Record thereof, do hereby certify that Joel S. Whitley Esq. whose name is subscribed to the certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and thereof written, was at the date of said certificate of proof or acknowledgment, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Justice and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine, and that the same is in due form, and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of the said Courts and County at Owego, this 24th day of October 1857.
L. W. Kingman, Clerk.

Page 16

Hon Jos. H. Barrett
Commisioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

Page 17

James E. Fiddis
3rd Regt. N.Y. Volunteers

Page 18

Written vertically:
Hugh E. Fiddis
N.Y. (illegible) 1832

J.M. Parker M.C.

Hon. G. C. Whiting
Comm. of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Page 19

New York
Hugh E. Fiddis
Revolutionary
Rejected 3525

Written Vertically:
284698
Let. to Hon. Alfred Noth
Ap. 17/10

Crossed Through:
See Let. to
Cyrus Dana May 17
1834  and to Hon. N. Halsey
9 June '34
Let to Arad Joy March 21
1847  Hon J.M. Park
June 3 1856 same
January 22 1857


Act of June '32

Page 20

1935 Mar. 27 - Hist. to Mrs. Adelaide Clark - K.B.

3525

Hugh E. Fiddis

Stamped: Rejected

Granted List of 1852 Rejected and Responded (illegible) shows following cause of rejection:
"privateer service not provided for by law."

Page 21

To the Commissioner of Pensions
The undersigned Hugh E. Fiddis would respectfully represent that is an applicant for a pension for services rendered in the Revolutionary war; that his application was in the year 1833 under the act of Congress payed in 1832 - and such proofs were then taken as the applications then advised were necessary and sufficient which applications and proofs are now on file (as he is informed) in the proper department at Washington - that by such papers so on file (according to this applicant's recollection) it appears that a service of some eighteen months was performed, in the war of the Revolution by him, as a seaman on board of a vessel called the Prudence (afterwards the Defiance) which vessel was commissioned as a privateer under the authority of the American government.
In relation to that service this applicant makes the following explanation - that this vessel was employed in the public service as a tender on the French Fleet and in transporting provisions and forage from the French forces while they were in and about Rhode Island this applicant clearly recollects transporting hay and provisions and other stores from New London in Connecticut to Rhode Island for the subsistence of the French Troops during that period and that Thomas Mumford was the acting commissary at New London. That this vessel was also employed a portion of this time as a lockout on the coast and for the French Fleet that this vessel was this employed as tender transport on Lockout in the public service

Page 22

for the term of eleven months during all which time this applicant was regularly employed and served as a seaman in this vessel and under the command of Thomas Parks who had the command of her - that there are no living witnesses to the facts above stated and this applicant was not aware until recently that hte establishment of those facts in addition to the other facts proved by the papers on file as above stated would probably entitle him to a pension for his Revolutionary Services - 

Hugh E. Fiddis

State of New York }
Tioga County        } ss.
On this 8th day of January A.D. 1858 Hugh E. Fiddis being duly sworn says that the facts and circumstances stated in the foregoing statement are true.

Hugh E. Fiddis

Subscribed and sworn before me this 8th day of January 1858 and I certify that Deponent Hugh E. Fiddis is a credible person
A. Munger
Special County Justice of Tioga County

State of New York }
County of Tioga   } ss.
Daniel R. Park being duly sworn says that he is acquainted with Hugh E. Fiddis the person who has made the foregoing statement and has ben from Deponent's childhood -  He further says that the facts therein stated relative to the public services of the said Hugh E. Fiddis have always been talk of and believed

Page 23

as true among the relatives and acquaintances of the said Hugh.
He further says that Deponent is the son of Thomas Park mentioned in said statement as the commander of the said vessel the Prudence; that he has frequently heard his father speak of the service rendered for the government by the said vessel while under his command in reference to the French forces in the State of Rhode Island.  That his Father always assented that said Hugh E. Fiddis was a seaman in said vessel during the whole time of such service, which was nearly one year and that during that time said vessel was used as a transport, tender and look out upon the coast and in the public service - 
Sworn and subscribed before me 
this 8th day of January 1858
A. Munger Special Co. Judge of Tioga Co.

Page 24

State of New York
Tioga County Clerk's Office

I, Le Roy W. Kingman, Clerk of said County, and also Clerk of the Courts of Record thereof, do hereby certify that Alanson Minger Esq. whose name is subscribed to the certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the date of said certificate of proof or acknowledgment, a Special County Judge in and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same, and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Alanson Minger and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine, and that the same is in due form, and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of the said Courts and County, at Owego, this 0th day of January 1858
L.W. Kingman Clerk.

Page 25

Written Vertically:
New York
original
15 Feb. 1834
Thomas Park
31.135
Stamped - Owego Feb 7

Addressed to:
J.L. Edwards Esquired
Comm. of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Upside Down:
Hugh E. Fiddis
(illegible)

Page 26

Owego Feb. 6, 1834
J.L. Edwards Esq.

Dear Sir
Enclosed are the applications of Thos. Park and Hugh E. Fiddis of Tioga County for pensions with testimony in each case.

The papers in the case of the applications of Asa Camp and Jos. Holmes were sent to the Department some weeks ago, arrangements having been made for sending the additional testimony required, directly to Washington from the places were it was procured. Have not the documents yet been rec'd?

We forwarded an amended application for the removal or change of the place of payments of the pension for Thos Pettison some time since which I supposed was in accordance with the instructions originally furnished (illegible).

In the papers of H.E. Fiddis it will be seen that the certificate of the credibility of one of the witnesses is on a separate sheet from the affidavit itself which arose from inadvertence on my part when starting in haste to go to the town in which the Justice resides, on other business - I forwarded the papers to be all together and therefore looked no farther than the label on the outside when stoop them up, and did not discover the omission of the afft. until I reached the House of the Magistrate.

The witnesses credibility is again atteched upon the afft. by him which accompanies the application of Capt. Th. Park

Respectfully (illegible)
Cyrus Dana

Page 27

Application of Hugh E. Fiddis
31.036

Cyrus Dana
Owego
N. York

Page 28

State of New York
Tioga County         ss.

Thomas Park of Candor Tioga County and State of New York Having being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Hugh E. Fiddis of Tioga in the County and State aforesaid and has known him from his youth up to the present time.  That said Fiddis is about sixty seven or sixty eight years of age.  That in July or August in the year A.D. 1781 The said Hugh E. Fiddis entered the service of the United States at the Port of New London in Connecticut as a mariner on board a Sloop of War called the Prudence formerly the Defiance and commanded by this deponent as the Captain, Thomas Eldridge was First Lieut. under this deponent on board said vessel.
That said Fiddis served under this Deponent as a marine or mariner in the service of the United States during the War of the Revolution for the term of thirteen months or upwards commending at the time and place above mentioned and continuing for the length of time aforesaid.
That in the fall of the year AD 1782 probably in the latter part of September but this Deponent cannot speak with certainty as to the month, said Fiddis entered as a marine on board a Sloop of War called the Confederacy and commanded by Captain Harden in the service of the United States, and the said Fiddis served about three months or perhaps a little over according to the best of this Deponent's recollection and beliefs.
Thomas Park

The above deponent says he well remembers the whole of the above except time H. Fiddis entered the Confederacy which he does not recollect.


Sworn and subscribed before me 
the 16th day of January A.D. 1834
Solomon Jones Justice of the Peace

And I do further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Thomas Park who made and subscribed the foregoing affidavit and do certify that he is a credible witness sustaining a good character for truth and veracity.
Solomon Jones Justice of the Peace

Page 29

State of New York
Tioga County          ss

I Edward Suffens Deputy Clerk of said County, do certify that Solomon Jones before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the date thereof, on of the Justices of the Peach in and for said County and that I am acquainted with his hand-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 this 6th day of February A.D. 1834

Edward Suffens
Deputy Clerk

Page 30

State of New York}
Broome County    }  ss.

Thomas Eldridge of Vestal in the County of Broome and State aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with Hugh E. Fiddis now of Tioga in the County of Tioga and State of New York aforesaid from about the year 1780.
The said Fiddis at the time this Deponent first became acquainted with him resided at Groton in the State of Connecticut and in the summer of 181 the said Fiddis entered the service of the United States as a mariner on board the Sloop of War called the Prudence.
Then at the Port of New London in the State of Connecticut commanded by Captain Thomas Park this Deponent being the first Lieutenant on board said Sloop.
The said Hugh E. Fiddis served on board said sloop for about the space of thirteen months according to the best of this Deponent's recollection and belief. - and said Fiddis then left said vessel and again entered the service of the United States on board the Sloop of War called the "Confederacy" commanded by Captain Harden then being at the Port of New London and said Fiddis served about three months on said Sloop as this Deponent then understood, and according to his present recollection and belief.

Thomas Eldridge

Sworn and subscribed the 14th day of December AD 1833 before me
John LaGrange, Jr.
Justice of the Peace

Page 31

State of New York   }
Broome County      }  SS.

B. Marvin Clerk of said County do certify that John La Grange, Jr. before whom the within affidavit purports to have been taken was on the day thereof a Justice of the Peach for this County.  Also I am well acquainted with his hand writing and believe the signature of John La Grange, Jr. is his proper handwriting.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 16th day of Dec. 1833

B. Marvin Clerk

Page 32

May 27, 1834
Cyrus Dana



Rec. Vol. 30 Pa. 476

Page 33

War Department
Pension Office
May 1834

Sir
The papers of Hugh E. Fiddis an applicant for a pension have been examined and the claim rejected.  The service on board of the Defiance a privateer is not embraced by the Act of June 7th, 1832, thus on board of the Confederacy is insufficient to which the claimant to a pension.
The papers are placed on file.  The claim of Thomas Park being for service as the captain of a privateer is (illegible) rejected.
The papers are placed on file.
Cyrus Dana, Esq.
Owego, New York

Page 34

Hon. J. Minot
Comm. of Pensions

Page 35

House of Rep. N. S.
May 28, 1856

Hon, J. Minot
Comm. of Pensions - 

Sir
I have just received the accompanying letter of requiry, which I take the liberty to send you, with request that you will do me the favor to forward me the information asked from the name of the Applicant for pension (father of the writing of the letter) is, I believe, Hugh Fiddis, or, Hugh E. Fiddis, I am not sure which.  When the application was made I do not know -

I am very truly yours
(illegible)
J.M. Parker

Page 36

Arad Joy
March 31 '47

Page 37

Pension Office
March 31 1847

Sir

Your letter of the 9th M(illegible) has been received and in reply I have to state that Hugh E. Fiddis asserted a claim in 18?4 for 13 mos. service on board the Sloop of War Prudence Formerly called Defiance and for 3 months on board the "Confederacy".  He was informed in my letter of 27 May 1834 to his agent - Cyrus Dana that the service on board the Defiance, a privateer, was not embraced by the pension laws and that on board the Confederacy if admitted, would not be sufficient to entitled him to a stipend.

Arad Joy Esq. 
Ovid, N.Y.

Page 38

March 15,1947
R(illegible)
Hugh E. Fiddis

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington DC

Page 39

Ovid N.Y, March 9, '49

Dear Sir

May I be allowed respectfully to ask you to please furnish me with a history of the state of the case of Hugh E. Fiddis, as for the enclosed authority - I am not able to get a clue to the case, neither of the service alleged fully, nor of your decision to dejection to granting the pension, if my request be a proper one, please give me the information that I need to investigate the claim.  

Your (illegible)
Arad Joy

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Washington DC

Page 40

State of Connecticut
Comptrollers Office
Hartford Aug. 15th 1941

Sir,

Your letter of the 12th inst. addressed to the comptroller, has been duly rec'd at this office.
I have made an examination of the documents in this office relating to the war of the Revolution, and can find no evidence of the service of Hugh E. Fiddis in said war.  I can find no evidence that Capt. Thomas Parks commanded the ship Defiance, or that a ship of that name belonged to this State in said war.
A privateer called the Defiance, was fitted out by Connecticut in 1776, and this vessel was first commanded by Capt. Harding, and afterwards by Capt. Smedley, but the name of Fiddis does not appear on the rolls of seaman to belonging to this vessel, and there is no evidence found, which shows service on board said vessel so late as 1781.
I shall always be happy to communicate to your Department any information which our rolls or documents may enable me to give you,

I am very respectfully yours,
Geo. Robinson for Comp.

Page 41

War Dept.
Pension Off.
June 34

Sir

In reply to the letter C. Dana esq. herewith returned, I have the honor of informing you that the supplemental deposition of Asa Camp has been examined and no ground perceived therein to change the decision communicated to you in mine of 10 (illegible)  His alleged service under Col. Harper of the Levies in '80 is inconsistent in (illegible) of (illegible) with his service under Col. Courtlandt which the rolls show was from 10 July to 25 Dec 80 in the grad of Corporal this latter service he declares was nearly 9 months in the grade of Sergeant.  As his memory is thus shown to be defective the Dept. is constrained to require testimony in relation to those items of his alleged service of which we have no rolls.  in the present condition of his claim no greater allowance could be made him than for the first term of 8 mos. service as a private established by E.W. Bangs Certificate and 5 mos. 5 days as Corporal agreeable to the rolls.

Page 42

In my letter of 13 March last I informed you that James Holmes should state the terms of his service in the New Jersey Militia and that it was further objected in his case that his alleged service of 12 months in Waltins (illegible) Holmes Regt., if he intended a continuous se(illegible) was inconsistent with the information of the Dept. respecting the terms of service in the Regt.  Nothing has been since rec'd in relationto the claim to change the ground upon which it was suspended at that time.
The claims of Hugh E. Fiddis and Thomas Park were examined 27 (illegible) and the result communicated to Cyrus Dana esq. Owego on the same day - A copy of the letter is herewith enclosed.
(illegible) June

Hon. N. Halsey

N. Halsey
09 June 1834

Page 43

Hon J. M. Parker
Jan 22 / 57

Page 44

Pension Office
January 22, 1857
Sir,
I have the honor to return the letter of your
correspondence and to inform you that in
December 1833 Hugh E Fiddes applied for a
pension for alleged service as a marine in
1781 in the Sloop of war Prudence or Defiance
and in 1782 on board the Confederacy.
The Prudence, being a privateer, and not a
U States vessel, his service on board her was not
of such a character as to entitle him to a pension
He only served 3 months on the "Confederacy"
so consequently, could not be pensioner as a pension can not be allowed for less than
Six months service.

Hn J. M. Parker
H R

Page 45

House of Rep.  N. S.
Feb 1, 1858

Sir,

I have the honor to forward you a petition from Mr. Hugh E. Fiddis, an aged & very respectable neighbor & constituent of mine, which he offers, as supplemental to & explanatory of his former application for a pension under act of 1832.  Mr. Fiddis understands that his application was denied, on the ground that the service performed by him, as shown by his former paper was not for a sufficient length of time "public service," but mere privateering service.  The whole fact, through inadvertence or ignorance on the part of the gentleman who drew his pension papers, was not state, to-wit, that the vessel in which he served, the confederacy as a privateer, was actually engaged in the service of the U.S. for [illegible] eleven months, which fact it is supposed, entitles him to a pension under that act -
I know not whether there is evidence in any of the public office of the Government

Page 46

House of Rep.  N. S.
Feb 1, 1858

Sir,

I have the honor to forward you a petition from Mr. Hugh E. Fiddis, an aged & very respectable neighbor & constituent of mine, which he offers, as supplemental to & explanatory of his former application for a pension under act of 1832.  Mr. Fiddis understands that his application was denied, on the ground that the service performed by him, as shown by his former paper was not for a sufficient length of time "public service," but mere privateering service.  The whole fact, through inadvertence or ignorance on the part of the gentleman who drew his pension papers, was not state, to-wit, that the vessel in which he served, the confederacy as a privateer, was actually engaged in the service of the U.S. for [illegible] eleven months, which fact it is supposed, entitles him to a pension under that act -
I know not whether there is evidence in any of the public office of the Government

Page 47

corroborating the
statement now made, as
to the employment, by the Government, of the vessel in which the petitioner served - perhaps there may be - Should there not be, I submit whether evidence now furnished should not be regarded,  in connexion with that already on file in the case, as sufficient to warrant the granting of the pension asked for - I have the honor to be very respectfully your obi serv't J. M. Parker
Hon. G. C. Whiting
Comm's of Pensions

Page 48

113 Stewart Avenue
Ithaca, New York
March 16, 1935

The Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:
I recently found a newspaper clipping
which stated that Hugh Eldridge (or Eldredge) Fiddis of Groto, New London County, Connecticut who removed 1795 to Owego, Tioga Co. New York was a regular and a privateersman in the Revolutionary War.  As I very
much doubt the veracity of the statement,
I am writing to ask if you have such
a man listed on your pension files. I should very much appreciate any information you can give me on this subject.  Please let me know if there is a charge for this service.
Thanking you in advance, I am yours truly,
(miss) Adelaide Clark