Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12,239, Samuel Bliss, Mass.

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(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Mass

Bliss Samuel

NUMBER
S,122.39

Carded

CONTENTS

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6769
New York
Samuel Bliss
of Broome in the State of New York who was a Private in the Compy commanded by Captain Hick of the Regt commanded by Col: Walker in the Massachusetts line for 11 mos
Date of death not on org.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 30 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of March 1833 and sent to Hon W B[illegible] H of R
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '32             $54.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '33 18.33
                                                              $73.32
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Geo. Stiley  Clerk
Book D. Vol 5  Page 162

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In the matter of the
application of Samuel
Bliss for a Pension

admd.
11 mo pri

$36.66


Jh. Bouck.

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State of New York,
Schoharie County, ss. On this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable William Beekman, Henry Shafer and
William Mann, the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York, now setting Samuel Bliss, a resident
of the Town of Broome in the Said County of Schoharie, aged seventy years & nearly seventy one 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, dated June 7th 1832.

That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. Colonel Walker, Captain Israel Hicks, Lieutenant James Horton,
Ensign Samuel Carpenter - That he does not recollect the names of the other officers, nor the Christian name of the Colonel. That he entered the Service as a private the just day of January in the year 1777, and that he left the service, the first day of April in the same year. that he resided in the town of Rehoboth, in the County of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts when he entered the Service - that he entered the service as a Volunteer & enlisted for the term of three months - that he joined
the Company at Rehoboth, immediately on his enlistment, and marched with them to Providence in the State of Rhode-Island & there joined the Regiment to which he belonged , and marched to the town of Warwick in the state of Rhode-Island lay there as a guard to the shore untill (until) the expiration of the term of his enlistment, the he was dismissed and returned home - That he was in no battle & saw no Continental Regiment, Company of officers during this period.

And the said Bliss further saith, that he again entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated - Colonel Jacobs
Captain Jacob Fuller, Lieutenant James Horton, Ensign Michael Molton - that he does not recollect the names of the other officers,
nor the Christian name of the Colonel - That he entered the service as a private, in the fore part of the month of March in the year 1778.
the day of the month he does not recollect, and left the Service the

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fore part of the month of March in the year 1779 one year from the time he entered it. that he resided in the town of Rehoboth in the
County of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts, when he entered the Service. That he entered the Service as a Volunteer & enlisted for one
year - that he joined his Company at Rehoboth immediately on his enlistment, and marched with them to the town of Freetown in the said
County of Bristol. Soon after he arrived at this place he was in a skirmish with a party of British who had came from Rhode-Island for the purpose of burning Hall river mills - they succeeded in burning one of the mills and then retreated. that he lay there about five months with the Company, and then marched to the town of Trenton in the State of Rhode-Island, where he joined his Regiment immediately crossed into the Island of Rhode-Island, and marched to Butts Hill on said Island, there joined the army of General Sullivan. That he lay
on the Island of Rhode-Island about three weeks, that he was in the battle on Rhode-Island, between the Americans under General
Sullivan & the British. That soon after this battle he marched with his Regiment to Sconnett (Sakonnet) Point on the main land. lay there about six weeks - (that he was taken sick at this place & was confined to the
Hospital). that the Regiment then marched back to the town of Freetown, in the State of Massachusetts. that he was carried with them and staid (stayed) there a short time, when he went home on his parole. That he continued unable to do duty untill (until) the expiration of his term of enlistment. That it was at least eight months from the time he enlisted into the Service untill 9until) he went home.

And the said Bliss further saith, that
he has no documentary evidence of his Services as above stated. and the he never received any written Discharge from the Service - and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service, except Esther Kingsley whose affidavit is hereto annexed. That he was born in the town of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts, where he resided untill (until) the Spring of the year 1782, when he removed to the State of Rhode- Island where he resided untill (until) the Spring of the year 1785 - when he moved to the
County of Berkshire in the State of Massachusetts, where he resided

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untill (until) the Spring of the year 1803. when he resided in the County of Saratoga in the State of New York untill (until) the year 1807. when he moved to the town of Pownell (Pownal) in the County of Bennington, in the State of Vermont
where he resided untill (until) the Spring of the year 1815, when he removed to the now town of Broome in the County of Schoharie & State of New York, where he has since resided - that he has a record of his age in his family Bible -

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State.

Samuel Bliss

Sworn to & subscribed the day &
year aforesaid in open court
John Gebhart Jr. Clk.


We, John Ormsbee, a Clergyman, residing in the town of Broome, and Ephraim Tradewell residing in the said town of Broome in the said
County of Schoharie and State of New York, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Bliss, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration - That we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
John Ormsbee
E. Tradewell

Sworn to & subscribed the day
& year aforesaid in open court
the name Ephraim Tradewell inserted before signing - 
John Gebhard Jr. Clk.


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. that John
Ormsbee who has signed the preceeding (preceding) Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Broome in the said County of Schoharie and Ephraim Tradewell who has also signed the same is a resident in the said Town of Broome, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit -
William Beckman
Wm. Mann
Henry Shafer

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I, John Gebhard, Junior, Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie, 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 Samuel Bliss for a pension.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three.

John Gebhard Jr. Clerk
of the Court of Common
pleas of the County
of Schoharie

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In the matter of the application of Samuel Bliss
for a Pension -

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State of New York}
Schoharie County) ss.
Before me Ephraim Tradewell a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid
Personally appeared this day Esther Kingsley a Lady that is well known to me to be of Respectability and Truth, and made oath that Samuel Bliss (who also was Present Before me) is brother to said deponent and that said Samuel is two years older than herself and from records she was Born in the year 1764
on the 4th day of March. and that she well recollects of hearing the family talking of her Brothers Being in the service of the United States under two diferent (different) Captains to him personally known the first was Captain Israel Hicks of Rehoboth Massachusetts and
the second Captain Jacob Fuller of the same place She Recollects of hearing that he was sick in the army and Recollects that her father went after him & Brout (brought) him home sick Does not Recollect how long he was gone at either time. she also says that said Samuel was all the own Brother she had and Recollects
her fears of never seeing him again when she heard that he was sick in the Army, and further sayeth not
Ester Kingsley

Subscribed and sworn
Before me Aug 18th 1832
E Tradewell
Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that (in my Belief) said deponant (deponent) is unable to attend Court as she is a Lady quite infirm and the distance upwards of Twenty Miles
E Tradewell Justice

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(Written sideways along right margin
Esther Kingsby's
affidavit

I John Gebhard, Junior, Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Schoharie in the State of New York, Do hereby Certify, that
Ephraim Treadwell, was on the eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two, one of the Justices
of the peace of the said County of Schoharie & that the signatures "E. Treadwell" to the within Certificate & to the jurat of the within affidavit are his genuine signatures. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
John Gebhard Jr. Clerk
of Schoharie Common
pleas

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Samuel Bliss


adm'd


Hon. J. Bouck

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BRIEF in the case of Samuel Bliss
Town of Broome in the State of N York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? nearly 71 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
April 1st In 1777
inlisted (enlisted) in March 1777 for one year, and served}

Duration of Service.
Years,
Months,
3
at least 8
Days.

Rank.
As a
Private
   "
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen.
Capt. Israel Hicks  
Col. Walker}            Masstts.
Capt. Jack Fuller
Col. Jacobs}                  do

5. In what battles was he engaged? Rhode Island

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rehoboth - Masstts.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence, and one living witness his Sister, who testifies that she knew of his brother being absent and in Service

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? they are properly authenticated

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Wm. Gordon Examining Clerk.

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June 29, 1937

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

SAMUEL BLISS
S. 12239
BA-J/MLB   (Handwritten: [illegible]

Honorable William T. Byrne
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Byrne:

Reference is made to your letter of June 24, in behalf of Judge F. Walter Bliss of Albany, New York, whose letter you enclosed. Judge Bliss requests the Revolutionary War record of Samuel Bliss, of New York State, whose pension certificate was dated March 2, 1833, and recorded in book D, volume 5, page 162.

The record of that Samuel Bliss follows as found in pension claim, S. 12239, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Samuel Bliss was born in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts. The date of his birth and names of parents are not given.

While a resident of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Samuel Bliss volunteered January 1, 1777, served as a private in Captain Israel Hicks'
company, Colonel Walker's Massachusetts regiment and was discharged April 1, 1777. He enlisted early in March, 1778, served as private
in Captain Jacob Fuller's company, Colonel Jacobs' Massachusetts regiment, marched to Freetown in Bristol County, where he was in a
skirmish with the British from Rhode Island who had gone there for the purpose of burning Fall River Mills and after burning one mill the British retreated. He then marched to Trenton, Rhode Island, then to Butts Hill where he joined General Sullivan's expedition, was in the battle of Rhode Island and was discharged early in March, 1779.

The soldier resided in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, until the spring of 1782, when he moved to the State of Rhode Island where he lived until the spring of 1785, thence to Berkshire County, Massachusetts, lived there until the spring of 1803, then moved to Saratoga County, New York; from there he moved in 1807 to Pownell, Bennington County,
Vermont, where he remained until the spring of 1815, thence to Broome, Schoharie County, New York.

(Handwritten down the left margin, across the bottom and up the right margin of the page:)
The made another req. thru Hon. W.T.B. for this rec. of the father of this sol. also, named Samuel Bliss, he said. The rec. of Sam B -,S,34048, was sent - Age not given - Could not know whether he was the father of this man

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Samuel Bliss was allowed pension on his application executed February 6, 1833, at which time he was aged seventy years and a
resident of Broome, New York. His pension certificate was dated March 2, 1833.

It is not shown whether or not the soldier was ever married.

Samuel Bliss' sister, Esther Kingsley, who was born March 4, 1764, place not given, made affidavit in behalf of the soldier who, she stated was her only own brother. Her affidavit was made in Schoharie County, New York, but her place of residence was not given.

In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of death of Samuel Bliss, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Samuel Bliss, Certificate #6769, issued March 2, 1833, rate, $36.66 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, New York Agency.

The letter of Judge Bliss is returned herewith.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

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12239
INVALID.

Rev War

6769

File No. 12,239
Samuel Bliss
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832
index: - Vol. A Page 35 

[Arrangement of 1870.]


Mch. 13 '96.
Soldier pensioned to
Geo S. Bell,
South Norwalk Cn

1937. June 29 - Hist. to Hon John Byrne - MLB

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WILLIAM T. BYRNE
28TH DIST. NEW YORK
FRANCIS X. KILROY
SECRETARY

COMMITEE:
JUDICIARY

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.
June 24, 1937

(Circular stamp:)
Arrow pointing to 9 on dial (from 1 to 12) RECEIVED
JUN 26 1937
Mail [ILLEGIBLE]

Mr. A. D. Hiller, Executive Assistant,
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Hiller: -

I herewith enclose a letter which I received from Honorable F. Walter Bliss of Schoharie, New York, requesting me to secure, if possible, full information regarding Samuel Bliss who served as a private during the Revolutionary
War.

I will deeply appreciate any information which you may be able to furnish me so that I may
send it along to Judge Bliss.

I am,

Sincerely yours,
Wm T. Byrne
12