Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,381, Job Wheeler, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn
Wheeler Job
R 11,381
CONTENTS

14376 Job Wheeler Herkimer N. York
5.12
5.12.13.
P. 381
May 8 33
Ja. B Hunt Herkimer N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of Bob Wheeler  of Litchfield of Herkimer Co  in the State of New 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? 80 years.  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1782-9 other term not specified About 7+ — private Gen. Putnam — Capt Backus, Col Dno Douglass.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Old Hainfield. Windham Co Conn!  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? no  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? not attached as required — 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
+ Gm
Richard C. Utts Examining Clerk.

State of New York Atkins County 3/8.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Atkinson, Robt Wheeler of the town of Mitchellfield in the County aforesaid, who being duly sworn deponeth and saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he can not 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 one year and three months I served as a private, and for such service I claim a pension.
And this Deponent further says, that his Captain's name was Andrew Beekers, Abraham Shipboard Lieutenant, Joseph Spalding Ensign, in Col. John Douglass Regiment of Militia of the Infantry of the State of Connecticut - that his first term of service was not less than seven months - that he served in said Company under the same officers not less than two months in each year in active service engaged in watching and repelling the enemy from the coast, and that the whole of said service amounts to one year & three months for which he claims a pension.
Sworn and Subscribed This 4th day of June 1833. before me
Job Wheeler
Nicholas Smith Justice
Atkins County Clerk's Office
I Julius Nelson Clerk of the said County do certify that Nicholas Smith Esqr. before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been sworn, was on the day of its date a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and duly authorized to act as such, and that I am acquainted with the hand of the said Justice and verily believe his name subscribed thereto to be his proper hand writing and signature - In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 4th day of June 1833.
Julius Nelson Clerk

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832.
State of New York County of Herkimer ss: On this 11 th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Herkimer, now sitting Job Wheeler, a resident of the town of Litch- field in the County of Herkimer and State of New York, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, states on his oath makes the following declaration, in order to obtain the ben- efit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States in the month of September 1778. That the Deponent was drafted as a private in Andrew Beckus Company in Col. John Douglass Regiment of Infantry of the Militia of the State of Con- necticut. That Abraham Steppard was Lieutenant and Joseph Spalding Ensign of said Company, that the Deponent at the time he was so drafted as aforesaid resided at Old Plainfield in the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut, and that Deponent remained in said Company un- der said draft until some time in the month of April thereafter when the Company was dis- charged at Point Judith in the State of Rhode Island where the Company was then stationed. That after the was drafted as aforesaid, he was marched first to Providence in the State of Rhode Island where the Company remained about three

Mouth protecting the coast from the British Vessels then in the neighborhood, that the com- pany was then marched down to Point Judith where it remained until the month of April when the company was discharged - that this Deponent had no written discharge - and was not during said time engaged in any battles - that the company marched through the town of Westerly in the State of Rhode Island which is the east- ern town to Plainfield in the State of Con- necticut aforesaid - that the next town was sit- uate I believe to Providence aforesaid - that when the company left Providence they marched through the town of Littleport & also the town of Brown Hill and down to Point Judith -
And this Deponent further says, that after his return as aforesaid to the town of Plainfield, this Deponent being still a private in said company under the command of the same officers, he was called out frequently as one of said company to repel the threatened invasions of the enemy, that Lord Cornwallis with the fleet under his command was on the coast that summer, and most of the summer after being out repeatedly from two to three days at a time, and continued repeatedly during the summer season, that the country was continually harra- ssed by these threatened invasions - that this Deponent continued as such private in said company until the end of the war - that on one occasion but this Deponent can not recollect the time, but it was

after the burning of New London by the enemy this Deponent the company to which he belonged was called out, to New London to resist the enemy who threatened an invasion of the coast, and the surrounding country - That previous to and during the early part of the war General Putnam had command of the Regiment, to which this Deponent belonged - That this Deponent was well acquainted with Genl. Putnam, and also with the said Joseph Spaulding who was either in the Continental troops or in the Connecticut State Troops, to which this Deponent can not now state - That this Deponent has no docu- mentary evidence in his possession, and that he does not know of any person by whom he can prove the above services or any part thereof -
And this Deponent further says, that he has no evidence by whom he can prove the above services to his knowledge -
And this Deponent further says, that he was born in old Plainfield in Windham County in the State of Connecticut in the month of June or July 1753. That he has a statement of the time of his baptism, but not of his birth -
He resided at Plainfield in the County of State aforesaid when called into the service. Since the war he resided in Brookland in the same County & remained there two or three years, that he lived after this time he lived the years in Pittstown in the County of Rensselaer & then to the Cayuga Lake at Savannah lived

than two years - then went to Tioga Point where he was four years, then to Homer in Cortland County two years - then to the town of Eaton three years. then to Litchfield  Litchfield in the County of Herkimer where he has resided about fifteen or sixteen years - and still resides in said town.
That deponent was drafted, & also ordered out by the militia officer of his company -
That he was acquainted with Brigadier Laurence of the regular service but with no other person -
That deponent never had any written discharge, but only a verbal one -
That he does not know of any person by whom he can prove his services in particular, or his general reputation as a soldier -
Any 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.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid -
in Open Court Job Wheeler
Julius C Nelson Clerk
And the Court said judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Herkimer, do hereby certify that they have examined the said Job Wheeler who has signed the above declaration.
That he answers intelligibly and states his story with clearness and apparent candor. And that he is a stranger here and said he cannot procure any evidence as to his reputation of having been a soldier in the Revolutionary army -
14376 Job Wheeler Julius C Nelson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Herkimer, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Job Wheeler for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Eleventh day of October 1832 Julius C Nelson Clerk

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1863.
11381
P. O.
Job Wheeler
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

New York
Revol =
Job Wheeler
Suspended
See letter to
James B. Hunt
8 October '33
letter to same 28. April 1834
" " " 6 Dec 2 - " -
" " " April 7. '35
11381
Ack 7. June 1832

4 Dr Sir,
Arkansas N.Y. June 4-1833.
I enclose you the Mexican papers of Mr. M c Whorter; I believe he has answered the objections raised by the Department - and hope the papers will now be satisfactory -
Respectfully yours &c
J. B. Church for Hoffman & Church
J. L. Edwards Esq.

Staten Island N.Y. January 8. 1834 J. L. C. Jan. 14. 1834 add. evidence for J. L. C. New York

Ark. Aug 6. 1834.
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dr Sir,
I have neglected to send for some days the inclosed aff dt . of Mr Bob Wheeler, which I hope will prove satisfactory - I think he has now made his affidavit with sufficient certainty - If any thing more is required please let me hear from you.
I have not yet rec d the prussian Certificate of Eli Brown, will you please to forward it to me or him as soon as convenient
Respectfully yours
J. B. Hunt

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Job Wheeler which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
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? Yes
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 amount of pension he is entitled? Yes  Applicant required to state specifically the date of length of each term of service with the name of officers under whom served.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? No
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
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? Yes

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 XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no 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? no XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? no If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? no 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? no 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?
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 duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by 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."

Ark. (N. Y.) March 25. 1835.
Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Dr Sir,
Mr Wheeler dis- -pasing of printing any of his companions in the ser- -vice, has as a last attempt procured the enclosed Certificate of Character. I was personally acquainted with Judge Pendergast, Matthew Keith Esq. Lemuel Eldred and Col. R. Willis, and with Capt. Martin a revolu- tionary Pensioner & the others by reputation - and I am perfectly satisfied that they would not sign the above Certificate unless it was entirely true.
If this is not satisfactory, I should be much obliged to you, if you would, if consistent with your official duties send me the names of some of the Pensioners who were in the same service that Mr Wheeler claims pay for, that we may obtain their affidavits - and the places where they now reside.
Mr Wheeler says he does not know of any surviving person that he can inquire of, he is too soon to go to Connecticut & he does not know that a single one that he can remember is alive, or where they reside if he should go there. I consider it a peculiarly hard case, and hope you will render him all the assistance in your power -
Respectfully yours &c
J. B. C. Hunt,

Nov 27 N.Y. Job Wheeler Hudson Nov 23. 1834
Page
Gen. S. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Ark. Nov. 22. 1834.
Hon. S. L. Edwards
Dr Sir,
I have neglected for some time to send you the enclosed certificate of the Comptroller of Public accounts of the State of Connecticut, in the case of Wheeler -
Altho' there is no direct evidence of Col. Wheeler's services, yet the services in which he is engaged is set forth, and I think there is no doubt of his having rendered the services for which he claims a pension -
Respectfully yours &c
J. B. C. Hunt.

14
Jfm
James B. Hunt Esq
Herkimer
New York
single

State of Connecticut Comptroller's office Hartford 28 th October 1834
On examination of the books of this office, it appears, that on the 9 th day of December 1776, the Governor and Council of Safety, made the following record in their journal - (vis) a At a meeting of the Governor & Council of Safety, Dec r 9 th 1776. On receiving intelligence, that a large Fleet of British men of War and transports are pushing up Narragansett Bay, and towards New Port Providence, orders were given to the eastern regiments, to make ready and march in to the State of Rhode-Island, to the defence of the country, against any depredations from said fleet.
That in compliance with the above order, Colonel John Douglass marched with his regiment (being the 21 st regiment of Connecticut militia) to Rhode Island, and served under the command of General Joseph Spencer. That Andrew Backus was a captain in the 21 st reg t militia at the period above mentioned.
That on the 11 th march 1777, A detachment of one company from the 21 st regiment (with 5 companies from other regiments) were ordered to Providence to replace the eastern regiments now returning.
That on the 27 th march 1777 Colonel John Douglass was paid the wages of the 21 st Regiment militia in service at Providence £418. 12. 5.
That in may 1777, Captain Andrew Backus was appointed major of the 21 st regiment militia in

this State.
That on the 6 th day of January 1779. there is an entry on the books of the pay-table in these words (viz)
cc United States
Dr
To order on the treasurer H ts Maj ts And ts Backus bounty for his company Rhode-Island expedition £159.0.0.
That there are no payrolls, nor any record in this office, from which it can be ascertained, when the service commenced, or ended, nor the names of the subaltern officers, or soldiers who served in said expedition -
Certified by Roger Huntington Comptroller of Public Accounts

Hartford 28. Octr 1834
W th Jas B. Hunt
Sir. Annexed is a certificate, of all the facts, that are to be found in this office in relation to Mr Wheeler's service - The expedition to Rhode Island was commanded by Gen l Spencer as commander in chief -
Your most obt Roger Huntington
6 da

Job Wheeler

From a personal acquaintance with Job Wheeler of the town of Litchfield county of Herkimer and State of New York the undersigned believe him to be a man of truth and veracity, and that in the vicinity in which he resides it is universally believed he was a soldier during part of the revolutionary war - March 18th. 1835 -
This may certify that Mr. Job Wheeler is a member in good and regular standing of the Congregational Church of Winfield under my pastoral care, - a man greatly beloved, and universally esteemed as a person of unadulterated veracity and of unblemished moral and christian character.
March 24. 1835 -
Robert Everett. Minister of the Cong l Church of Winfield.
John J. Prendergast Joseph Martin William Herford Matthew Keith Justice Justus Motton Zenas Eldred Henry L. Easton Jr. Caleb Millis

State of New York Suffolk County 3 rd p.
On this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord, one thou- sand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared Job Whalen of the town of Littlefield in said County, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, states on his oath that he makes the following declaration in addition to the one heretofore made in order to obtain the benefits of the act of congress passed June 7. 1832.
That early in the month of September 1776. the company of Militia to which this De- ponent belonged was called out by the authority of the State of Connecticut, to protect the country from the invasions of the enemy; that this Deponent was a pri- vate in Capt. Andrew Beckus Company, in Col. John Douglass Regiment of Infantry of Militia of said State; that the company was marched to Old Prov- idence in the State of Rhode Island, through the towns of Voluntown and Scituate & Glastonbury where the Company remained three months, and from thence marched down to Point Judith in the same State where they remained until the last of March; that in marching from Providence to Point Judith they marched through the towns of Littleport & Grotonville, and the last of March the enemy left that part of the country with their shipping, and the Company was then discharged and returned home, that this De- ponent was on duty at that time seven months as a private in said Company.
That this Deponent was frequently called out to do duty in the year 1777. to protect the sea board from the threatened descent of Lord Cornwallis who it was said had command of the forces of the enemy at that time, that Deponent was what at that time was called a Minute man, required to go at any time, that from the great lapse of time & his great age he can not regularly state the particular times that he was

called out during this year, but according to his best recollection it would not be less than three months that he was actually under arms and done duty as a private in said company of which Captain Thomas Beckus had command as aforesaid - that the Lieut. was named Abraham Shepard & the ensign was named Joseph Spalding - that the whole time which this deponent done duty as such private was eleven months, that during that time he was not engaged in any civil pursuit - And further this Deponent says that the first Sergeant of said company was named Silas Spalding, that Stephen Beckus was a Corporal in said company - that this Deponent does not know whether any of his officers or non commissioned officers are still living, that the same commissioned officers had command of the company all the time that this Deponent done duty therein - And further this Deponent says not -
Sworn & subscribed
This 11th day of December
Job Gardner
1833. before me -
A. Osborn Judge Huk. County Court
State of New York
Herkimer County
Clerks Office
B.
I Julius C. Nelson Clerk of the said County and of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby, that Abijah Osborn Esq. before whom the foregoing Affidavit purports to have been sworn, was on the day it bears date one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, commissioned

and sworn, and duly authorized by law to take the same And further that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and hereby believe that the signature of "A Osborn" is the proper hand writing and signature of the said Judge
Given under my hand, and the Seal of the said Court of Common Pleas at Herkimer this 27th day of December A 1833 Julius C. Nelson Clerk