Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,092, John Dodd, Conn.

Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Conn.  Dodd, John  W. 17. 092
Mansfield, Hannah
(Former Widow)
CONTENTS

Page 2

Connecticut 416
Hanna Mansfield, formerly
widow of John Dodd
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Conn
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
24 Dollars & 33
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
19th day of June 1863
and sent to Edward C. Herrick, Esq.
New Haven, Connecticut.

[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1. Page 72.

Page 3

State of Connecticut
and bounty of New Haven

On this second day of November, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared in open Court, before me, Nathaniel R. Clark, Judge of the Court of Probate for the district of New Haven, within said bounty and State aforesaid, Mrs. Hannah Mansfield, an inhabitant of the city and County of New Haven aforesaid, aged eighty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, entitled, "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," - that she was married to John Dodd who served as a private soldier from May 9th, 1775 to December 18th, 1775, in the Fourth Company in the Second Regiment raised by order of the General Assembly of Connecticut in May, 1775, and who also served by riding express from General Putnam to Governor Trumbull five times in the years 1776 and 1777; all which service appears from the certificate of Henry Kilbourn, Comptroller of the State of Connecticut, hereto appended. She further declares that the said John Dodd performed other military service in the War of the Revolution, of which no evidence can now be found. She further declares that her maiden name was Hannah Ranney; that she was married to the aforesaid John Dodd, at Middleton, Connecticut, on the fourth day of April in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one; that her husband, the said John Dodd, died in the West Indies on the first day of June, in the year seventeen hundred and ninety five; that she was afterwards married to Moses Mansfield of said New Haven on the twenty eighth day of December, seventeen hundred and ninety eight, and that he the said Moses Mansfield died in said New Haven on the twelfth day of December, eighteen hundred and thirty one; and that she was a widow on the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and thirty six, and still remains a widow, as will more fully appear from the proof hereto annexed. her mark [hand drawn X] Hannah Mansfield.

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year before written before me.

Nathaniel R. Clark, Judge of Probate,
[text covered by seal] Connecticut. District of New Haven.
[text covered by seal] Haven County [unknown marks]. I, John Beach, Clerk of the Court of Probate, within and for the District of New Haven, and Keeper of the Records and Seals thereof, hereby certify that Nathaniel R Clark, is Judge of Probate in and for said District, duly commissioned & sworn. and [illegible]
the above is his genuine official signature. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand & affixed the Seal of said Court, this 2nd day of November A.D. 1839. Jn Beach

Page 4

Alms House, New Haven, Connecticut
November 1. 1839.  I, Oliver Smith, Keeper
of the Alms House in the town of New Haven, New Haven County,
and State of Connecticut, hereby certify that in the Records of
the deaths of said Alms House, by me kept and now in my possession,
it appears on record that Moses Mansfield died at this
Alms House on the twelfth day of December, eighteen hundred
and thirty one; and I further certify that the above is a true
copy of the record, and that the said Moses Mansfield
died at the place and time above specified, and that at the
said date his wife, Hannah Mansfield, was also an inmate
of said Alms House.
Oliver Smith, Keeper [illegible] Alms House

City and County of New Haven,
State of Connecticut.  On this second day of November,
A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared before
me the undersigned Judge of Probate Court for the district of
New Haven within said County and State aforesaid, Oliver
Smith, subscriber of the above certificate, who is known to me to
be the Keeper of the Alms House in said New Haven, and Keeper
of the Records thereof, and made oath in due form of law
that the foregoing copy of the record of the death of Moses
Mansfield, by him the said Oliver Smith above subscribed, is
a true transcript of the said record. I farther certify that
the said Oliver Smith is a credible witness. In testimony whereof,
I have hereto set my official signature, on the day and
year first aforesaid.
Nathaniel R Clark. Judge of Probate
for the District of New Haven.

Page 5

I Elizue Goodrich of the City & County of
New Haven, aged seventy eight years depose and say
that I have resided in said City for the sixty years [illegible]
part, and about the year one thousand seven hundred
and ninety knew and became acquainted with John
Dodd, who resided in said City with her family, that
said Dodd according to common report died in the
West Indies in the year 1795 and that afterwards
in the Month of August 1797 this deponant became acquainted
with Hannah Dodd, the Widow of said
John; and at her request was appointed the legal
Guardean of John Dodd, a [illegible] the son of said
John and said Hannah- and hath ever since
known and been acquainted with said Hannah
who is still living and hath uniformly resided in
said City- that some time after the decease of
her last Husband the said Hannah intermarried
with one Moses Mansfield of said City, who
has been several years dead, and that said
Hannah is now living in said City the Widow
of said John Dodd and of said Mansfield and
hath not been otherwise united in marriage-
and the deponant fully belevees, that full faith and
credit may be given to the declaration of said
Hannah upon her Oath & further saith not-
New Haven Nov. 4. 1839 subscribed
Elizue Goodrich
of New Haven

Page 6

State of Connecticut
New Haven County Ss.  New Haven, November 5th A.D. 1839.
Personally appeared Honorable Elizue Goorich signer
of the within deposition, a person well Known to me and intitled to full
credit as a Witness, and made oath to the truth of the same,
x Before me. Nathaniel R Clark.
Justice of the Peace.

State of Connecticut
New Haven County Ss.
County Court's Clerk's Office
I, John Beach, Clerk of the County Court
within
and for said County, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, and of the Commissions of Justices
of the Peace within and for said County, hereby certify that Nathaniel R.
Clark, Esq is a Justice of Peace, within and for the said County, duly appointed,
commissioned, and sworn, with power to administer oath and take the acknowledgement
of Deeds; that his Commission is dated the eighth day of June
A.D. 1839, and will expire on the twentieth day of June, AD. 1840; that
I am acquainted with his hand writing and that the signature annexed
to the certificate and above given, purporting to be his, is his genuine official
signature.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
the seal of this court this 5th day of Nov. 1839
Jn Beach Clerk
[there is a circular seal to the left of the preceding 2 lines]

Page 7

Town Clerks office
Middletown I John Fisk Town Clerk &
Connecticut Register of sd. Town of Middletown
Certify that in the
Records of sd. Middletown, there is the
following Record "John Dodd & Hannah
"Ranney were joined in Marriage Covenant
"April fourth One Thousand Seven Hundred
& Eighty One". & I further Certify that the
same is a true Copy of the Record with the
exception of the date which is expressed
on the Record in fair legible figures as
follows April 4. 1781
Jho. Fisk Town Clk
of Middletown
State of Connecticut ss. Middletown.
County of Middlesex
On this Seventh day of May
A.D. 1839, before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace in
and for said County dwelling in said Middletown personally
appeared John Fisk, Esq. above named, who is known to
me to be the Town Clerk of the said Town of Middletown
and keeper of the records thereof, and made Oath in due
form of law that the foregoing copy of the Record of the
marriage of John Dodd and Hannah Ranney by him
above subscribed as such Town Clerk is a true transcript
of the said Record. I farther certify that the
said John Fisk is a credible witness. In testimony
whereof I have hereto set my official signature on the
day and year first aforesaid.
Jonathan Barnes
Justice of the Peace

Page 8

State of Connecticut
Middlesex County I John Fisk clerk of the County
Court of sd. County of Middlesex
do Certify that Jonathan Barnes Esq. is a Justice
of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex
as [illegible] Coms. [illegible] in my Office & that his
name subscribed to the preceding Certificate is his
proper Hand Writing & signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereto
set my Hand & affixed the seal
of sd. Court this 11th day of
May AD. 1839
Jho. Fisk Clerk
[there is a circular seal to the left of the preceding 5 lines]

Page 9

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17092
Hannah Mansfield
Widow of
John Dodd
Priv. Rev. War
Act: March 3. 1843
Index:-Vol. m, Page 9
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 10

6742  [illegible]
Connecticut
Hannah Mansfield. formerly
widow of
John Dodd, decd
who was a pensioner under the Act of
and who died on the 1. June 1795
of N. Haven, in the State of Connt.
who was a Priv. in the Company
commanded by Captain  of the
 commanded by  in
the Connt line for 7 ms. 9 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 24 Dollars 33
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24. day of
Augt 1842 and sent to Honb
W. W. Boardman, H. R
Arrears to the 4th of March. 41,
Semi-annual allowance ending
121.65
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Theodore S Moody Clerk
Book A Vol. 1 Page 196

Page 11

Act 1836  Court
Hannah Mansfield, who
was the widow of John odd
Rejected - Lat to Edwd.
C. Henrick 4 Feby '40
[illegible] 17 Feby 1840
dd. 11 Dec 1840.

Page 12

[stamp] FREE

Hon. J. L. Edwards.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington City
D. C.

[circular stamp to the left of preceding text, reading as follows] NEW HAVEN
FEB
7
Ct.

[written sidways] Feb 12.1840
Ct
H. Mansfield

[circular seal toward bottom of page]

[upside down] 24.33
99
[illegible] .33

Page 13

New Haven, Conn.
February 7, 1840.
Sir,
I have to day received your favor of the 4th inst., stating
that the claim for a pension made by Hannah Mansfield, the
widow of John Dodd, can not be allowed under the Law of Congress
passed July 7, 1838.
The declaration of Hannah Mansfield was based on the
Act of July 7, 1838, because I had supposed that this act covered
all the provisions of the 3d Section of the Act of July 4, 1836, & of the
1st Section of the Act of March 3, 1837. I now see that this was a
mistake. I therefore beg to be informed if the said claim
will not be allowable, if the declaration shall be amended by
substituting the title of the act last named, for that of July 7,
1838:- & if so, whether it will be sufficient simply to forward
to you a new declaration from Hannah Mansfield thus amended
or whether the documents will need to be returned here in order
that this new declaration may be included among them.
I am, most respectfully,
your obdt servt
Hon. J. L. Edwards. |
Commissioner of Pensions. | Edward C. Herrick
Washington City. |

Page 14

[two crescent-shaped stamps] FREE
FREE

Hon. J. L. Edwards.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington City.
D.C.

[circular stamp to left of preceding text] NEW HAVEN
DEC
5
Ct.

[written sideways] Dec 9. 40
[illegible]
Connt.

[circular seal]

[upside down] Hannah Mansfield

Page 15

New Haven, Connecticut
December 5. 184o.
Sir,
I beg leave to ask your attention once more in relation
to the claim of widow Hannah Mansfield of this city (who
has been a widow since 1831), for a five years' pension, under the
act of Congress passed July 7, 1838. The documents in support
of this claim I forwarded to you in November, 1839, & they are
now in your files, as appears by your letter to me of February
4, 1840. In that letter you say that her claim can not be
allowed, because the law of July 7, 1838, "does not provide
for those widows who have married since the death of the
husband on account of whose services a pension is claimed."
Having recently had opportunity to examine the law of
July 7, 1838, as officially published, I am unable to see any
thing in it to preclude the claim of [illegible] Hannah Mansfield,
unless it be in the proviso of the first section of that law
which reads thus:- "Provided [underlined], in the event of the marriage of
such widow, said annuity or pension shall be discontinued."
This proviso seems to me, to be intended simply to stop the
pension in those cases only where the widow after having begun
to receive it, married again subsequent to March 4, 1836.
The word discontinued [underlined] implies that the pension had been already
granted, & would not be appropriate if it was intended to assert
that the widow who had married after the death of the husband for whose services she claimed the pension, but whose
second husband had died before March 4, 1836, could not [underlined]

Page 16

obtain at all. [underlined]
If this view of the case is incorrect, may I ask
of you to let me know it at an early day, so that all feeble
hopes may be at end. But I trust, ^due on reconsideration, you will
find the case of Mrs. Mansfield to fall within the true intent
of the act referred to.
I am most respectfully,
Your obedient servant
Edward C. Herrick.

Hon. J. L. Edwards.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington City.

Page 17

1231
May 18, 1843,

[circular stamp, reading as follows] NEW HAVEN
MAY
16
Ct.

Ct
Ma 3d. 1843
Han: Mansfield
$ 24:33 per

[stamp, upside down] FREE

Send cat [illegible]
Edward C. Herrick
New Haven
Ca

[written sideways down page] Hon. J. L. Edwards:
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

Page 18

New Haven, Conn.
May 15. 1843.
Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions,

Sir,
Herewith I transmit
the Declaration of Hannah Mansfield of this city, to obtain
one year's Pension under the Act of Congress of Mch. 3, 1843.
The papers by which Mrs. Mansfield obtained her
five years' Pension were forwarded by me; in 1839 - if I remember
correctly, - & the certificate was finally obtained through the
agency of Hon. Wm. W. Boardman, M. C., after the Act of Aug.
23, 1842.
Very respectfully,
your obedt servant
Edward C. Herrick.

Page 19

1231

[typewritten text and a seal show through from other side of page]

Page 20

Declaration
in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3d March, 1843,
granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions
under the act of July 7, 1838.

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven Ss. On this sixth day of April, A.D. 1843, personally
appeared before me, Henry White, a Justice of the Peace in and
for the county aforesaid, Hannah Mansfield, a resident of the town of
New Haven in said County of New Haven, aged ninety three years, who being
first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following
declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the
act of Congress passed on the 3d March, 1843, granting pensions to widows of
persons who served during the Revolutionary war:- That she is the widow
of John Dodd, who served as a private soldier in the Fourth Company in
the Second Regiment, raised by order of the General Assembly of Connecticut in
May, 1775, from May 9, 1775 to December 18, 1775, and who also served by riding
express from General Putnam to Gov. Trumbull five times in the years 1776 and
1777:- that her husband, the said John Dodd died June 1, 1795: that she
was married to Moses Mansfield of said New Haven, Dec. 25, 1798, and that the
said Mansfield died in said New Haven, Decr. 12, 1831; - that the annual
amount of the pension which she received under the act of July 7, 1838
and the Act of August 23, 1842, was twenty four dollars and thirty
three cents. She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.
before me  her
in presence of  Henry White { Hannah, x , Mansfield
Edward C. Herrick.  Justice of the Peace
William R. Granger.  for said County  mark

Page 21

State of Connecticut.
County of New Haven Ss.
I, Henry White, a Justice of the Peace
and Magistrate in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify
that Hannah Mansfield, who has this day appeared before me and
made the foregoing declaration, is personally known to me and is
known to me to be the same person who received a pension under
the Act of Congress of July 7, 1838 and August 25, 1842.
Given under my hand at New Haven on this sixth day of
April, A.D. 1843.
Henry White
Justice of the Peace

Page 22

Clerk's Certificate.  Sold by Creswell & Jewett, No. 2 Street's Building, New Haven.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
County of New Haven,  SS.
COUNTY COURT, CLERK'S OFFICE.

[large circular seal to left of following text] I, Robert H. Osborn Esq.,
Clerk of the County Court, within and for the County
of New Haven, and keeper of the seal thereof, and of the
Commission of the Justices of Peace for said County,
hereby CERTIFY:-
THAT,
Henry White
Esquire
was  on the 10th day June
1842 and now is ^ and was on the 6th day of April 1843  a Justice of the Peace within and for the said County, duly appointed, commissioned
and sworn, with power by the laws of this State, to administer OATHS, and take the acknowledgement
of DEEDS and other instruments; that I am acquainted with his  hand writing, and
that the signature to this instrument hereto annexed, purporting to be his,  is his  genuine
official signature. & that his commission expires June 20th 1843
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and seal of the said Court this 15th day
of May 1843
R. H. Osborn Clerk.

[faint traces of oval watermark under text]

Page 23

Baldwin
&
Mansfield
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com. Pension
Washington
D. C.

[written sideways] Aug 26 1842.
Ct

[circular seal]

[written upside down] 4
320
 40
360

Page 24

House Repsn. 25th. augt. 1842
Sir,
There are upon the files of your office
applications for Pension for Elizabeth Baldwin
and for Hannah Mansfield.- I am informed
that these applications are rejected on account
of a second marriage in each case. As this
construction of the act by the Department has
been set aside by a Legislative declaration
during the present session, allow me to
call your attention to these cases, and ask
you to do me the favour to forward the Pension
warrants to me.- very respectfully
your most Obt. Servt.
Wm. W. Boardman

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comr. Pensions

Page 25

[circular stamp, sideways, reading as follows] NEW HAVEN
NOV
5
Ct.

6596  4796 [crossed out]
Nov 9
Om
Ct.
July 7. 1838.
Hannah Mansfield
Formr. wid. of John Dodd

[two crescent shaped stamps, sideways, reading as follows] FREE  FREE

[written sideways down page] James L. Edwards, Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

Page 26

New Haven, Conn.
November 5, 1839.
Sir,
Herewith I send to you in behalf of ^ Hannah Mansfield an aged
& destitute widow of this city, whom I have long known, the
documents connected with her application for a pension under
the Act of Congress of July 7, 1838. I have no pecuniary
interest in the matter, but have undertaken the business solely
with the hope that a little may thus be obtained to relieve
the destitution of her old age. If I have failed in securing
all the items of proof required by your rules, or if I have
erred in the mode of exhibiting it, I beg you to advise me
thereof at an early date.
Most respectfully,
your obedient servant,
Edward C. Herrick.
College St.
New Haven,
Conn.

To
James L. Edwards, Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City,
D. C.

Page 27

6896  4796
Hannah Mansfield
formerly widow
of John Dodd
Connt.
Act 7 July 1838

m87.
Compr. 75 [illegible]

aomd
7 ms. 9 ds pri
$ 24.33.

no deduction

Hon W. W. Boardman
[illegible]

Page 28

Comptrollers Office
Hartford March 13 1839
I Certify that on application for widow of the services of John
Dodd. I have examined the Books & papers remaining in this office
relating to the War of the Revolution and find his name
On a Pay Roll of the 4th Company in the 2nd Regiment raised
per order General Assembly Connt. May 1775 - where he is entered
as a private May 9 & [illegible] of Discharge Decr. 18th haveing served
Seven Months & Nine days ~
7 ms. 9 days  Henry Kilbourn Compt.
Return I [illegible] May
In further examinations I find on [illegible] Table Book the following entries
July 26 1776 under the Hand of United States [illegible]
John Dodd To order on [illegible] for Riding Express - £ 1.11.3
Aug 28 1776 John Dodd To order on [illegible] for Riding Express - £ 1.10.0
Aug 18 1777 John Dodd To order on [illegible] for Riding Express - £ 4.15.4
Sep 11 1777 John Dodd To order on [illegible] for Riding Express - £ 1.17.4
Oct 15 1777 John Dodd To order on [illegible] for Riding Express - £ 1.14.0
from Genr Putnam to Gov Trumbull
Henry Kilbourn Compt.