Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13606, for Sampson Keyes, Connecticut

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(3--1776)

SERVICE
Conn.
Mass.

Keyes, Sampson

NUMBER
S. 13606

carded
-----------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS

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Samson Son of Samson Keyes Born to him by Abigail
his wife October 30th 1761.
The above is a true Copy from lishford records
Attest Josias Byles Town Clerk

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9114
Connecticut
Sampson Keyes
of Ashford in the State of Connt
who was a Pri
in the Corn commanded by 
Captain Allen of the Regt com
by Col Welles in the Connt
line for State Troops 12 no
 Mass and Conn
Records completed July 17/06

Inscribed on the Roll of Connt
at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of March
1833 and sent Ichabod
Bulkley Ashford Cont
-
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 $80.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4. Sep. 33.
20.00
$100.00
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by E. Bullock Clerk
Book E Vol. [illegible] Page 23

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Sampson Keyes

Return to be made to I Buthy Ashford Connecticut

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State of Connecticut  
Windham County ss.

Ashford Probate District

On this 30th day of December A.D. 1832, personally
appeared in open court before Ichabod Bulkley Esqr Judge of the court
of Probate for the district of Ashford now sitting Sampson Keyes-
a resident of Ashford in the County of Windham and State of
Connecticut, aged Seventy 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 in the
revolutionary war, under the following named officers, and
served as herein stated-
1st Term of service. That he was drafted and served a private in
company, which was stationed at Groton in Connecticut, in the
year 1778, that he entered the service at this time, the latter part of
October of that year, and left the service at this time in November 
following and served at this time, for the period of-
Thirty four days-- Company officers were Capt Huntington
Lieutenant Palmer, the name of the Ensign he does not recollect
, nor the christian names of either the Captain or the-
Lieutenant two companies only were then at this time
and stationed at said Groton, both of which were under the
command of Major Ledgard, the said Ledgard was the
only field officer, there, [illegible] repair the Fort some and guarded the point
2nd Term of Service
there, at this time
that he enlisted into the State Troops in the revolutionary war
, in the latter part of July 1779, and left the service at
this time, in the latter part of February 1780, and served a
private, at this time, for the period of
Seven months at this time my company officers were
Capt Daniel Allen, Daniel Knowlton, Lieutenant,  and Forbes, Ensign, his given name not recollected, Col. Levi
Willes and Major
Bull our field officers- That he
marched at this time from said Ashford to New London
in Connecticut and served for said seven months at said
New London and at East Haven in Connecticut that the company to
which he belonged was at this time, stationed in the City of New London, and at Fort Trumbull until
about the first of January, that he then marched to East Haven and served the remainder of said seven months
3d Term of service
that the last time he was in the service, in the revolutionary war, was in the year 1781. that he enlisted into the State
Troops, in Massachusetts, about the 20th day of August 1781 and
left the service, at this time, on or about the 26th day of December

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1781 according to his recollection of the day of the month, that he enlisted
and the day he left and at this time, he served for the period
of four months - that he enlisted, and served at this time under Capt Newcomb - Lieutenant Shepard and Ensign Wilder, company officers
their Christian names, he does not recollect. The field officers
were Colo Wells of Boston, his Christian name he does not recollect, nor the
names of any other field officer
That he marched at this time from
Boston in Massachusetts, through Hartford, in connecticut
to Pickill in the State of New York, and there joined the
continental army under the command of General Heath this
place he recollects one regiment of the regular army was
commanded by Col
Smith and another of the regiments
was commanded by Col
Jackson, that at the last
above named placed he was detached, with others and sent
on to Philidelphia and that the morning after he arrived
Philidelphia, the news came of the capture of Lord
Cornwallis and his army- that he served, at this time a private
in the company commanded by said Capt Newcomb - That he recollects, Sergeant
Smith and Fredrick Knowlton, were so detached with him, and that we went there
detached the others not recollected) to Danbury in Connecticut, and obtaind, 104, head of
New Cattle, and drove them to Philidelphia, crossing the north river at
King's Ferry so called, and passing through, Pumpton, Morris-Town, Prince -
Town and Trenton, that he with the others so detached, were obliged to guard
said cattle every night, to protect them, from being stolen by the now
Boys" until they had reached said Morris Town at this place, one half
of the detachment returned, and the others, of which he was one, drove on to said Philidephia
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. He answers to the interrogatories
propounded by the
war department, as follows
1st Where and in what year were you born. In Ashford Connecticut in 1761. October
the 30th
2d
Have you my record of your age, if so where is it? It is recorded in Ashford
Town records, of which a copy is hereunto annexed
3d Where were you living when called into the service, where have you lived since the
revolutionary war and where do you now live?-- I have always lived in
Ashford, Connecticut where I was born, and now live in said Ashford -
4th How were you called into the service, did you volunteer, or were you a
substitute; and if a substitute for whom? Ans -
That he was drafted the first time he was in the service, and that
enlisted the two last as stated above, in this declaration-
5th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the
troops where you served, such continetal and Militia Regiment
as you recollect and the general circumstances

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of your service? Ansr That he cannot recollect any of the officers
than those above stated - no other regiments. But he that said
cattle above named, were driven to sd Philidelphia for Genl Washington, LaFayette army
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, if so, by whom was it given & what
has become of it? And that he received a discharge, and sent it Boston, to get his pay but
that it has never been returned. It was signed he thinks by Coll Smith - That he has no document is
State the names of persons 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.-- Revd Phito Judson and Dyer Clark Esq and
that he has now presented the best evidence of his services he is able to procure
Sampon Keyes
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before the said Court of Probate-
We Philo Judson
Attest Benja C. Simmons Clerk
a clergyman residing in the Town of Ashford in
the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, and Dyer Clark Esq
residing in said Ashford hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
Sampson Keyes, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be Seventy years of age, that he is reputed
and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been
a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion-
Philo Judson
Lee Clark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
before the sd Court of Probate-
Attest Benja C. Simmons Clerk
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 - And the said Court further certifies, that the
Rev. Philo Judson who
has signed the preceding certificate, is a
Clergyman resident in the said Town of Ashford and that Dyer Clark
who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said Town of Ashford
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled
to credit
Attest. Benj. Simmons Clerk
I Benja C. Sim
son
Clerk of the Court of Probate
for the District of Ashford, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application
of Sampson Keyes, for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal of said court, this 31
day of December
A. D. 1832-
Benja C. Simmons Clerk

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In reply to your request of
received
a statement of the military history of Sampson Keyes a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
formation as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
file in this Bureau.
S.F.
13606

[CHART] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT / LENGTH OF SERVICE. / RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN, COLONEL / STATE

Oct 1778 / 1 mo 4 days / pri / Huntington Major Ladyard / Conn

July 1779 / 7 mo /  / Daniel Allen Col Levi Wells / Conn

Aug 20 1781 to Dec 26, 1781 /  /  / newcomb  Wells / Mass
 
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Ashford Conn
Date of application for pension, Dec 31, 1832. His cl was al
Residence at date of application, Ashford Conn
Age at date of application, B Oct 30 1761 at Ashford, Conn
Remarks:
He was the son of Sampson and Abigail Keyes
further
there is no data relative to family
3 -- 2856
Respectfully,
Commissioner,

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[column 1]
Feb 9 Hist to
Pick Hanford com
-
Mch 10-1902
Morton R. Peck N.Y.

1917, Nov. 22. History to
Henry R. Downe,
LW

[column 2]
Rev War
12606
INVALID
File No. 13, 606

Sampson Keyes
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 203
Arrangement of 1870.}

1892
WH

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[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE.
NOV 17 1917

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Sons of the Revolution
in the State of New York
Fraunces Tavern
Corner Broad & Pearl Streets
New York City

November 16, 1917.

G. M. Saltzgaber, Esq., Commissioner,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: -

Will you kindly send me a certificate of the
Revolutionary service of Sampson Keyes, who was born in
Ashford, Conn., on October 30, 1761 and was a Private in
Captain Huntington's Company, Captain Daniel Allen's Company
and Captain Newcomb's Company, Connecticut Militia, 1778,
1779 and 1780.
Yours very truly,
Henry Runell Browne
Secretary,

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Dec
Sampson Keyes

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Hartford Dec. 4th 91
Hon Commr
of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir-
Will you kindly give me
your earliest convenience
the information you have of
Sampson Keyes who drew a pension as late as 
1832, as a Revolutionary soldier
of
Windham Co.
 Connecticut
and
oblige
Yours truly

William H. Peck

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
[illegible] DIV.
February 9, 1992.

Sir:-
In reply to your communication asking for a statement of the military
history of Sampson Keys, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are informed
that he served as a private during that war for 12 months. He first
entered the service at Groton, Conn., in the state of October, 1779. Discharged finally about December 28, 1781. 
 The following are mentioned as
officers under the service was rendered: Captain Huntington, Major Legere, Captain Daniel Allen, Col. Levi Welles, and Captain Newcomb. No mention is made of any engagements in which he participated.
This information is taken from his declaration for pension dated as Ashford, Windom County, Conn., December 23, 1838. His age at this time is given as 70 years. Pension was allowed.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

William R. Peck, [illegible]
Hartford, Conn.

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2955
Sampson Keyes

Admt
12 mo private
$40

Ichabod Buckley
Ashford CT
Page 85.

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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
Sampson Keys
which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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 amout of pension
he is entitled? no
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? no
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?

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2
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 Clergyman
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? none
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?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office?
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?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? No
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
death and saith that he 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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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 be belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the 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.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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 Benjamin Bosworth of Achford, Windham
County and State of Connecticut of lawful
age depose and say that according to my
best recollection in the fall of the year 1777 or 1778.
I went to in Connecticut, in the
Revolutionary war and as a soldier and
that Sampson Keyes of said Ashford
was a soldier there at that time and
believe he served there at this time for
the period of one month and
further the deponent saith not-
July 23d 1832.
Benj. Bosworth

I Abner Woodward of Ashford in Windham
County and State of Connecticut of
lawful age depose and say that
I was soldier in the Revolutionary
War and served at New London and East
Haven in Connecticut in the year 1779
and 1780 and well remember that
Sampson Keyes was
there and served
at that and at these
place for the
period of seven months. he was in
the same company and same is
with me, and we served at this time
under Capt Daniel Allen and further
the deponent saith not
July 23d 1832-
Abner Woodward

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I Frederick Knowlton of Ashford, Windham
County and State of Connecticut
lawful age depose and say, that
was a soldier in the Revolutionary
War, and served
at New London
and East Haven in said State
in the year
1779 and in 1780 and
remember that Sampson
Keyes was there and
served at
that
time and at those places
with me, for the period of seven
months, under Capt Daniel Allen
in the same company with
me - And also that said Keyes
enlisted and served with me in
the
State Troops of Massachusetts
in August 1781 and served at
this time for a period of
four
months, having sometime in
in December following
and further saith not
---
Ashford July 23d 1832-
Fred Knowlton

Windham County Ss. Ashford
July 23d 1832
Personally appeared Benjamin Bosworth, Abner
Woodward and
and Frederick Knowlton
and each made oath to the truth of the
and
foregoing deposition by him subscribed
said Woodward and said Knowlton
are each of them man of truth and
veracity and full credit may be
given to their Testimony
Before me Ichabod Bulkley Justice of Pence

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I Armin Bolles Clerk of the County Court in
and for the County of Windham in the State of
Connecticut do hereby certify that Ichabod
Bulkley Esq before whom the foregoing affidavits
were made is duly enrolled as a Justice of the
Peace in and for said Windham County, that the
foregoing signature of his name is in his hand
writing and that full faith and credit ought to
given to his acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of said
Court at Brooklyn in said County this
26th day of July AD. 1832
Armin Bolles Clerk