Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 501, Phineas Barker, Conn. Privateer

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SERVICE   Conn.
Privateer
Barker, Phineas
NUMBER   R. 501

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State of Ohio Ashtabula County ss  
Before me Sylvester Rouse one of the Justice of the Peace for said County personally came Daniel Palmer who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and sayeth  that he was acquainted with Phineas Barker [unreadable] the year 1817 and family that he was an applicant for the revolutionary pension, that he died at Denmark the Ninth day of March 1842 that his wife died previous about three years and he left the following Children,  
Esther Thornton, Polly Williams,  John Barker, Abigail Goff, Submit Knapp who are his children together with Edward Barker Grandson of Phineas Barker are sole heirs at Law of Phineas Barker.  
Daniel Palmer 
Sworn to and subscribed before the 15 of August 1853 
Sylvester Rouse J.P. 
I do hereby certify that the said Daniel Palmer is a person of truth and veracity and that he is not interested in the prosecution or result of the claim 
Sylvester Rouse

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34,214
Phineas Barker
Ohio
Act 7 June '32
126

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State of Ohio 
Ashtabula County } ss On this twenty eighth day of August AD 1837 personally appeared in open Court before the Supreme Court of Ohio now sitting Phineas Barker of Denmark in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio aged Seventy five 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.  
He entered the service as a volunteer he thinks in July 1779 and served as a private under Captain Bucher at New Haven Connecticut and served three months and he thinks he left the army in October of the same year.   He was in the Battle at New Haven in the summer of 1779 previous to his entering the service but he served only a short time. He again entered the service in the spring of the year he thinks about the first of April 1780 as a volunteer under Captain Murphey and served under him as a private six months at New London in Connecticut and left the army he thinks about the first of October in the same year.  He again entered the service as a Volunteer in the spring and he thinks in April 1781 under Captain Linsley and served under him as a private six months in Branford in Connecticut and again left the service in the month of October of the same year during which term of service he with others went to New London Connecticut and arrived there two or three days after the burning of that place by the British and soon returned again to Branford.   
In the spring of the year 1782 he thinks in the month of May He joined a company of volunteers consisting of thirty or forty men and crossed over unto Long Island

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he boats and took from the enemy a large quantity of Merchandise which was again taken by the British & Tories he thinks mostly Tories after a severe skirmish in which the party to which he was attached lost several men killed the length of time he was thus employed.  He does not recollect but he thinks it was but a few days.  Afterwards and during the same Season he thinks about the middle of July he sailed as a private from New Haven under Captain Hopkins, they proceeded to the West Indies and on their outward voyage they captured a British Brig and a small schooner and sent them home to New Haven as prizes.  When they arrived safe and on their return voyage they were cast away at Chatham on Cape Cod & lost the vessel and a cargo of salt which they took in at Links Island, and returned home in the month of November or December of the same year. They sailed under a letter Marque.  He was employed in this voyage not less than four months.   During the time from the time he first entered the service of the United States until the close of the war when he was not engaged in actual service or privateering as before set forth he was almost constantly employed as a volunteer guard or watch along the Long Island sound between New Haven and New London to protect the country from the ravages of the British and Tories, particularly the Tories who were in the habit of doing a good deal of Mischief by stealing property for the use of the British army.  The time thus spent as a volunteer to guard he was not under the actual command of any officer but was principally subject to the advice and direction of Captain Linsley of Branford but he was not under pay from the United States and spent a considerable part of his time at his fathers house in Branford. The time he was actually employed as guard

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as a guard in this manner he thinks was not less than six month but it was in detached portions of time so that he could not recollect particularly about it.   That during about four years he was unable to prosecute any business or perform any labour except for a very few days at a time owing to his being so frequently called upon to serve as a guard or watch to keep the Tories and British in check along the Long Island sound and its vicinity. 
At the time he entered the service as first above stated and from that time he resided with his father in Branford in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut until after the close of the war That he served only as a volunteer.  That owing to his voluntary service as aforesaid he was not subject to a draft, his name not being continued on the Roll of the Militia after the first entered the service until the close of the war, he having entered the service soon after he became liable to perform Military duty which at that time in Connecticut was at the age of sixteen years. 
He never received a discharge as he was never in the continental Army.  And he has no documentary evidence. And he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Submit Brooks whose testimony is herewith forwarded.   
That the reason of his delaying his application until this time is that he supposed he could not procure the the necessary evidence. That he supposed the evidence of his service must be specific not having taken legal advice upon the subject and not knowing of any person who could state particularly the services he performed, from these considerations he was led to the conclusion that he could not procure a pension which opinion he held until last fall when from a conversation with some friends he was

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informed that he was entitled to a pension and that he could procure it upon such evidence as he was able to introduce which induced him to make the effort.   He soon after took measures to procure the testimony herewith forwarded.   
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.   Phineas Barker
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Saml Hendry Clerk 
We Benjamin Oviatt a clergiman residing in Denmark in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio and Daniel Palmer residing in Denmark aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Phineas Barker who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five 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.  
Benjamin Oviatt  
Daniel Palmer 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Saml Hendry 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 Court further certifies that it appears to them that Benjamin Oviatt who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergiman resident in the township of Denmark and that Daniel Palmer who has also signed the same is a

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resident in the Township of Denmark and is a credible person and that their statements are entitled to credit.   
I Samuel Hendry Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio within and for the County of Ashtabula do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Phineas Barker for a pension.  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my have hand and the seal of said Court this 28th day of August A.D. 1837  
Saml Hendry Clerk

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I hereby certify that the following is a he coppy of a record presented to me as the family Bible record of Phineas Barker and by its appearance and what I know believe it to be The original and true family record.  Esther was born 19th 1789,  Polly, was born June 1 1793, John was born Dec. 3, 1795, John the 2 was born Aug. 17, 1798, Abigail has born Oct 26, 1800, Submit was July 7, 1803, Nathaniel Was born Apr. 20, 1805, Alvin was born July 13, 1808,  Thomas was born July 19 1814, Sally Barker Died Sept. 11, 1839 
Phineas Barker Died March 10, 1842. 
Sylvester Rouse  J. P.

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The State of Ohio Ashtabula County ss } At the Court of Probate held in and for said County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio in open Court satisfactory evidence was exhibited to said Court that Phinneas Barker was an applicant for a Revolutionary Pension and that he died at Denmark in said County, and State on the tenth day of March AD 1842, that his wife died about three years previous to his death, That at the death of the said Phineas Parker, he left the following children to wit, Esther Thornton, born September 22, 1789,  Polly Williams born June 1st 1793, John Barker born August 5th 1798, Abigail Goff born October 26th 1800, Submit Knapp born July 9. 1803, who are his children and sole heirs at law.   
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Probate Court at Jefferson in the County and State aforesaid this 16th day of August AD 1853. 
J. A. Giddings
Probate Judge

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THE STATE OF OHIO,  
Ashtabula County, ss: }
I Abner Kellogg, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Ashtabula, certify that Sylvester Rouse Esquire, by whom the annexed and foregoing bond and Affidavits were then, was, at the date thereof, and acting Justice of the Peace within and for the said county, duly qualified, and as such duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am acquainted with the Hand-writing of the Justice, and believe the Signatures purporting to be his are genuine. 
In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and offer the Seal of said court at Jefferson, the 16th day of August A.D. 1853 
A. Kellogg, Clerk

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State of New York Greene County } ss Submit Brooks, being duly sworn, before Eli P Robinson a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Greene deposeth and saith That she lived when young in the town of Branford State of Connecticut, that she lived there during the Revolutionary War, that she is sister to Phineas Barker and well remembers that her brother Phineas, was in the service of the Revolution, as a volunteer soldier and as this deponant was informed at the time, her brother Phineas was stationed along the Sound as guard and frequently engaged in privateering.  This deponant said, from the year 1779 to the year 1781 her brother Phineas was either directly, or indirectly, engaged in the War of the Revolution, according to the best of her recollection.  And further this deponent saith not.   
Submit Brooks
Sworn and subscribed before me this 7th day of February 1837- 
Eli Robinson Justice of the Peace 
I certify that I am well acquainted with Submit Brooks the above named deponent and believe her to be a person who in all respects is reputable, and sustains an unblemished character.   
Eli P Robinson

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I William V. B. Heermance Clerk of the County of Greene in the State of New York do certify that E. P. Robinson before whom the within affidavit was sworn, was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace of the said County duly elected & qualified & that his signature to said affidavit is genuine.   
Witness my hand & official seal this 29th day of May 1837 
William V. B. Heermance Clerk

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Phineas Barker 
Ohio 
Suspended 
See letter 16 Nov 1837 to A. Bagly 
To same Feby 16, 1841. 
Let to Hon J. R. Giddings 20 Oct 52
Chas E Weaver Sep 26 1853

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Heirs of Phineas Barker 
Act of 1832 
Ohio suspended files 
Charles E. Weaver 
Attorney 
Present

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[Power of Attorney] 
Know all men by these presents, That We Polly Williams and Submitt Knapp of the Township of Denmark in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio have constituted, ordained, and made, in our stead and place put, and by these presents do constitute, ordain, and make, and in our stead and place put, CHARLES E. WEAVER, esquire, of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, to be our true and lawful attorney for us and in our name and stead to prosecute and receive our claim for a pension for the Revolutionary service of Phineas Barker (late of said Denmark) which is now in the suspended files of the Pension office of the United States,
Giving and hereby granting unto our said attorney full power and authority in and about the premises; and to use all due means, course, and process in the law, for the full effectual, and complete execution of the business above described; and in our names to make and execute due acquittance and discharge; and for the premises to appear, and the person of us the constituent, to represent before any governor, judges, justices, officers and ministers of the law whatsoever, in any court or courts of judicature, and there, on our behalf, to answer, defend, and reply unto all actions, causes, matters and things whatsoever, relating to the premises; also, to submit any matter in dispute respecting the premises, to arbitration or otherwise, with full power to make and substitute, for the purposes aforesaid, one or more attorneys, under our said attorney, and the same again at pleasure to revoke; and generally to say, do, act, transact, determine, accomplish, and finish all matters and things whatsoever, relating to the premises, as fully, amply and effectually, to all intents and purposes, as we the said constituents if present, ought or might personally, although the matter should require more special authority than is herein comprised, we the said constituent ratifying, allowing, and holding firm and valid all and whatsoever our said attorney or his substitutes, shall lawfully do, or cause to be done, in and about the premises, by virtue of these presents. 
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seal, this 2nd day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Submit Knapp [L.S.]
Polly Williams [L. S.] 
Signed, sealed, and delivered, in presence of us. 
Dennis Williams  
Wm. H Williams
Acknowledged before me, the day and year last above written. 
Sylvester Rouse J.P 
State of Ohio 
County of Ashtabula} ss  
I A. Kellogg Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said county and State, do hereby certify, that Sylvester Rouse before whom the foregoing acknowledgment was taken, was at the time thereof an acting Justice of the Peace, duly commissioned and sworn, and that full faith and confidence are due to his acts as such. I believe his signature to be also true and genuine. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said Court to be affixed to these presents, this 2nd day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three 
A. Kellogg Clerk.

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I Jacob Tyler of Lawful age being duly sworn depose and say. That about the year 1780 I resided in Branford in the State of Connecticut.  That I was well acquainted with Phineas Barker who at that time resided in said Branford and now resides in Denmark in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio.   That about the said year 1780 I was a member of the Coast Guard so called in said Branford in the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution. That I well recollect that said Phineas Barker belonged to the same guard. I recollect of hearing his name called at the calling of the Roll and of conversing with him respecting his servises.   That the business of that Guard was to guard the Coast and prevent the depredations of the Tories and the smuggling of provisions to the British.   That the usual Term of service for those belonging to that guard was about six months, from Spring to fall in each year during the war.   I could not distinctly recollect how long said Barker served but am of the opinion from all the circumstances that he served as a member of said Guard at least six months.   I do not know of said Barkers services in New Haven Connecticut but I recollect that about the years 1779 or 1780 a Mr Barker was a captain in service in New Haven.   That about seven years since I went to Branford in Connecticut for the purpose of procuring testimony to enable me to obtain a pension, but that I could not find a witness living there who was able to testify to my services and I should think

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that there would not be any one in that Town who could testify to the services of Phineas Barker as most of the young man of his age residing upon or near the coast in that part of the country followed the seas or emigrated to the west, that the five who remained at Branford are the most or all of them dead 
Jacob Tyler 
The State of Ohio 
Ashtabula County }  I Alvin Bagley, Master Commissioner in Chancery for the Court of Common Pleas for said County certify that Jacob Tiler whose name is subscribed to the forgoing affidavit was duly sworn to the truth of the same and in my presence subscribed his name thereto this 22d day of December AD 1840 before me 
Alvin Bagley Master Commr in Chancery

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In reply to your request, for me to collect the evidence that might be in this part of the country concerning the revolutionary service of that Phineas Barker I have to say all the men, whose names you sent me, as his companions in the army. are now dead.   I have further to state that I have exhausted every source of information in my knowledge, to gain evidence on this subject in this part of the country, and can find none that will come within the prescribed limits of the law on this subject.
There is however of the law on this subject evidence that he served as coast guard in Branford, but the witnesses superanunted  old men, and entirely unable to time give the date of the service, or the time of service.   Except the above witnesses I cannot find a single person living who served under these officers, whom Mr Parker served under, as stated in his declaration.  
Augustus Bagley 
State of Connecticut 
New Haven County }  East Haven 
Be it known that on this 27 day of December 1838 before me the Subscriber a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid personally appeared Augustus Bagley of said East Haven who has signed the aforesaid declaration and who is well known to me for credibility and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above.   
Bela Farnham Just of Peace

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Jefferson Ohio Jany. 1841 
Dear Sir
I have several times written you whose the subject of Phineas Barkers Pension whose papers I forwarded to you some three years since. You suggestion was that then were probably living witnesses in Brandford Conn who could testify for him induced me to make the effort to procure them, the result is shown by the affidavits enclosed. He had dispaired of receiving a pension until he accidentally came across Mr Tyler who is also a Pensioner.   
His testimony together with the certificate of the Comptroller of Connecticut I think must entitle him to nine months & if I mistake not the testimony of Submit Brooks was forwarded with the application.   
Yours A. Bagley
J L Edwards Comr of Pensions

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W. Sept 21
File with Phineas Barker papers
Jefferson Co
Sept 15
Free
Hon J. L. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
Washington D. C.

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Jefferson Ashtabula County Ohio 
Sept. 14. 1837 
J.L. Edwards 
Sir your letter of instructions is received and in reply I would inform you that the applicant for a pension forwarded by me some time since resides in the Township of Denmark in this County - the Post office of the same name of the Township.   
If it is a rule of the Department to direct communications to the applicant in person you can direct to Phineas Barker 
Denmark Ashtabula County 
Ohio
In the event of which he will receive the same in due season.   
On account of his age and feeble health he would wish that all communications might be directed to me at Jefferson as I am employed as his attorney in transacting the business and as such I forwarded the papers to you. 
I do not perfectly understand to what particular defect you alluded in your letter of Instructions, but think must have left out the Post Office address of the applicant in my letter accompanying the documents forwarded.   
Yours with Respect 
Alvin Bagley
J.L. Edwards  
Please give my respects to Judge Buchard 
A. Bagley

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The State of Ohio 
Ashtabula County ss} This day came Alvin Bagley who being duly Sworn on oath says that on receiving from the Commissioner of Pensions at Washington city a suggestion that probably then would be witnesses living in Branford Connecticut who could testify to the service of Phineas Barker in the Army of the Revolution immediately enquired of said Barker and obtained a list of such names as I thought might be living in that part of the country who could if living testify to his services and forwarded the same to Augustus Bagley of East Haven Connecticut. That the Affidavit of said Augustus Bagley accompanying this was received by me in reply to my letter so sent to him and further this deponent 
Alvin Bagley
Sworn & subscribed this  28th Decr 1840 
James Norris Justice of the Peace

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Ohio
Oct 27
Jefferson Oct 21
Free
J L. Edwards  
Commissioner of Pensions  
Washington  City D.C.

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Jefferson Ashtabula County Ohio October 20, 1837 
Sir
Yours of the 12 Inst in relation to the application of Phineas Barker for a Pension is received.  From a perusal of which I perceive that his claim is rejected for the reason that 
“He alleges to have served as a volunteer guard in Connecticut a few days at a time during the Revolutionary war and that his actual service amounted to at least six months, that he was not under the actual command of any officer nor did he receive any pay and that his name was not borne on the Militia Rolls” 
I think sir from my recollection of the facts as well as from a rough sketch taken down upon paper of the declarations of the applicant that your construction would not be sustained by a more minute examination of the papers. If the papers forwarded would bear the construction placed upon them by you it must be owing to some inadvertance of my own in drawing up the papers.   
You will perceive that he states positively that he served three months in New Haven in 1779 under Captain Bucher.   That in 1780 he served six months at New London under Capt. Murphey.  
And that in 1781 he served six months under Capt. Linsley at Branford, making as you will perceive at least fifteen months which he was engaged in actual service under regular officers for which time he must have drawn and did draw I have no doubt his pay from Government.   
And in addition to those servises he served as is stated in your communication at least Six months as a volunteer Guard without officers and without which additional services I

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think ought not to deprive him the benefits accruing for the time which he served regularly.  
His statement that his name was not on the Militia Rolls was not intended to extend to the rolls of the Army or any department but that in consequence of his services in the Army his name was striken from the rolls of the militia company in his native town in as much as he was not subject to be call from the actual service to perform militia duty at home. If it means or can be made to mean any thing else it is my own inadvertence in drawing up the papers and not the fault of the applicant.  This I think is the first application I have made for any one and may not have performed my duty as I should have done. If the fault be in his Atty I think he ought to be entitled to correct the error and as the case stands I suppose he cannot succeed in a new application until the old one is disposed of in some other manner than to be rejected because the applicant is not entitled to a pension. This serves to me to be the natural consequence.   
I may be considered impertinent in my remarks but I do not intend it and of there is still an opportunity for him to receive a pension I wish you would give me the necessary instructions as followed as nearly as possible those I had an opportunity of examining.   
Excuse the length of my letter & believe me yours truly 
A Bagley
J. L Edwards

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Sept 6
Jefferson Aug 31
Ohio 
Act 1832
Free [unreadable]
War Department 
Pension office
Washington City D.C.

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Please Communicate on the subject to
Alvin Bagley Jefferson Ashtabula County
Ohio

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State of Ohio Ashtabula County SS 
Personally appeared before me Sylvester Rouse one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County Peter Knapp and after being duly sworn according to Lane deposeth and saith that he has known Phineas Barker and family for the last fifty years and that Esther Thornton, Polly Williams, John Barker, Abigail Goff and Submit Knapp are his children and as I verily believe the only children who survived the death of their Father Phineas Barker and are now living.  
Peter Knapp 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 15 day of Aug. 1853 
Sylvester Rouse J.P. 
I hereby certify that Peter Knapp is a man of truth and veracity and that he is not interested in the prosecution or result of the pension claim of said Barker.  
Sylvester Rouse

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Washington, D.C. August 24. 1853.
Hon Loren P. Waldo, 
Commissioner of Pensions. 
Sir
As attorney for the children and heirs at law of Phineas Barker, deceased. I herewith transmit power of attorney and other papers as additional evidence in support of said claim, 
and remain, very respectfully 
Charles E. Weaver

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Jefferson Ohio October 13, 1852 
Sir
Will you inform me the State of Phineas Barker’s Claim for a pension. The heirs inform me that it was presented some years since, say in 1841 or 42. He is dec’d and the heirs are anxious to learn the state of the claim.
Yours respectfully
M. Gridleys

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State of Connecticut 
Comptrollers office 
Hartford May 23d 1853 
I certify that on application for evidence of the service of Phineas Barker in the war of the Revolution, I have examined the documents remaining in this office and do not find the name of the said Barker on any pay Roll now in this office.   
In the Book called "Haskells Receipts"  I find accounts rendered by Captains Beecher and Linsley under whom it is alleged the said Barker served follows viz, 
Under the heading, “The United States Dr to the State of Connecticut for the service of State Troops & Militia raised for the defence of the State & allowed by act of Congress December 28th 1799 computed according to the Continental establishment of Pay”  
"1779. Oct. 7th Capt Amos Beecher (Amt paid in Nominal money £505,15,21 (computed value of services from Apl 1st to Nov 1st 1779 £13. 14.)” 
“1779 Oct 29. Capt. James Lindsley (Amt paid in nominal Money £397,12, computed value of services from April 1st to Nov 1st 1779 £18.11)

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In the same book I also find a Receipt for Capt. Beechers account for his company under the following heading viz, 
“The United States Dr to the State of Connecticut for sundry expenditures for the service and expence of Guards on the Sea Coast for the defence of said State,” as follows viz “Date (May 2d 1780) Bills & accounts Capt A Beecher Purposes Guard at Stratford Amount paid £ 771.8.11. Stated Value £ 25.19.8.1  
R.. G. Pinney Comptroller 
by Geo. Robinson Clerk

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Comptrollers Office 
Hartford Dec 8 1840 
I Certify that on application for evidence of the services of Capt Amos Beecher in the War of the Revolution in 1780 that I have examined the records remaining in this Office and find on Pay Table Book the following Account 
War Dg
1779 Oct 7 To Order on Treas Cap Amos Beecher for his Pay Roll New Haven Alarm, £ 505,15,2
1780 May 2 To order on Treas Cap Amos Beecher for his Pay Roll at Stratford £771.8.11
Corresponding entries in Haskells Receipts 
Henry Kilbourn Comptr

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Ex’r INVALID
REJECTED
No. 501
OWN
Phineas Barker