Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16288, Robert Wells, Conn.

SERVICE
Conn.
Wells Robert
NUMBER
S. 16288
CONTENTS
carded

Photo Wells off. d'après de Robert Doolittle -

State of Ohio Huron County } ss. Vermillion Township 24 th Augt 1832
On this 24 th day of August personally appeared before — Timothy Baker a Judge of Huron Common Pleas — Philo Wells — a Resident of Vermillion in said County & State Philo Wells aged forty five years who being first duly sworn doth declare & say that he is a son of Mr Robert Wells of said Vermillion that he lives in the Township & Neighborhood of his said Father for many years that he has frequently heard his Father and others conversing respecting his Revolutionary Service & that it was always understood that he did so serve & is worth the general reputation in the Neighborhood where he mostly lives.
Philo Wells
Subscribed & sworn before me the day and year above written at Vermillion
Timothy Baker — Judge of Huron Common Pleas

Entered in the Book by mistake
Date of death not in 33.
Pittsburgh Ohio 19.881
Was 6 Ohio 1
Robert Wells of Huron Co. in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Comstock of the Regt. commanded by Col. Whiting in the La. Island line for 12 Mts.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio. is the rate of $ 3 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Sep. 1833 and due to S. B. Sturges Non-alto
Arrears to the 14th of Sep. 33 $ 108.33 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mo. 34 21.66 $ 129.99
Revolutionary Claim, Not June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. C. Stiles Clerk. Book E. Vol. 8. Page 133.

State of Ohio
Huron County ss Permissum August 24 th 1852
On this 24 th day of August personally appeared Robert before Timothy Barker one of the Judges of Huron Court Pleas Robert Lester aged Seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he is the service of the United States under the following named officers and terms wherein stated. to wit - That in the year of A D 1778 the deponent that year the service in a company of militia commanded by Captain David Townsend in Colonel Eben Dyer's Regiment of his recollection correct his name was Eben. He went to New York and served about two months. He was drafted - while there he was taken with the camp distemper when leaving he left New York to accompany another sick soldier home to Burlington crossroads, then Stratford in Fairfield County Connecticut that he was in New York when the American Army retreated from Long Island before the British troops took possession of it. He returned home to said Stratford. He was drafted for said service & travelled from said Stratford by Land to New York Connecticut and from thence by Water to New York He has no Documentary Evidence of any of his services and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure of a positive nature, respecting his services. The next winter he enlisted with the three month men in the Continental Service, into a company commanded by Captain Converse - Colonel Whiting of Stratford commanded the Regiment General Wooster was their Brigadier General. They went to Kingsbridge State of New York where there Capt Joseph Walker then a Continental Captain came then to order to enlist the three month men after their time was over - He travelled the whole distance to Kingsbridge by Land was in no important battle or skirmish but served in sight of the British who frequently tried on the Americans at least Capt Converse received a Continental Commission. The next time he served was in 1777 in the militia in a company commanded by Captain Woodbury. He did not recall the Colonel. Colonel Schockelkineman of Fairfield Connecticut was their Brigadier General. Went to the North River some way South of West Point when the British broke the great Chain across said river with a design to move up said river to join General Burgoyne - while there there General Burgoyne was captured by the American Army. That he served

above last point on the East side of the Bank of said river as far North as the British moved up. He was then two months out from home. Colt Robert Walker of said Stratford Connecticut was then Captain of the P. Battery in the Continental Line. It was encamped in 1781 in the Hills near the last point was drafted for one month. General M c Dougall was then a Continental General. He was afterwards drafted & stationed at Fairfield, Connecticut & near the Coast. In about three months he in company commanded by Captain Jeremiah Hill, including one month which he served for his Father there was not a man in the company when he went to West Point. David Nichols was the Captain & Colonel Canfield of New Milford Connecticut was Colonel of the Regiment. That he was at Danbury & White Plains when the British burnt those places in 1777, when Capt. Stevens of New Haven & Captain Gold of Fairfield were killed in Battle. Also General Wooster of New Haven. That he was also in the Hills when he went to Fairfield when the British burnt that Town in Oct r 1779, was born in Stratford Conn. and his age recorded in said Town (now Huntington) I lived in said Town when he entered the Service. Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid Robert Wells before me Timothy Baker Judge of Huron Com Pleas
Witness my hand & seal
1. When and in what year were you born?
Answer
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so where is it?
Answer
3. Where were you living when called into Service; where have you been since the Revolutionary War & where do you now live?
Answer
4. How were you called into Service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, & the general circumstances of your services.
Answer
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?

Andrew
of the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, who can testify to your character, pecuniary condition, belief of your service and discharge from the Revolution.
And he here by relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any Robert Wells x
Given and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Timothy Baker Judge of Huron Court Pleas
We the undersigned clergyman residing in the town of Berlin, Holmes County - and residing in Vermillion hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Wells who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and believe him to be Seventy Six years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides; that he has been a member of the Protestant church and we concur in that opinion.
Clement Beardsley
Given and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Timothy Baker Judge of Huron Court Pleas
And Timothy Baker one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas for the county of Huron in said State of Ohio do hereby declare, it as my opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states, and I do hereby certify, that it appears to me, that the Rev. Joshua Phillips is a clergyman residing in the town of Berlin, and that Clement Beardsley residing in Vermillion who have signed the above are residents of Huron county and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit and I further certify that said Robert Wells the applicant cannot from poverty afford to attend the court.
Timothy Baker Judge of Huron Court Pleas
State of Ohio } Huron County } I David Gibbs Clerk of the court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that Timothy Baker Esq. is an Associate Judge of said Court & the signature above purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Norwalk this 5 th day of September A.D. 1832 D. Gibbs Clerk H.C.P.

State of Ohio To all whom these presents shall come Greeting
Personally appeared before Timothy Baker one of the Judges of Huron Common Pleas - Joshua Philips and Amos B. Harris being duly sworn declared & testified that they are well acquainted with Robert Miller of Norwalk in said County that they consider him as a man of good moral character & veracity and believe him to have served as a Soldier in the revolutionary War in behalf of the United States and that this is his rep- utation in the neighborhood in which he resides
Respectfully & affectionately
Joshua Philips Amos B. Harris
Robert Miller Norwalk, Ohio
Subscribed to & sworn to before me this day aforesaid
Timothy Baker Judge of Huron Common Pleas
7260

September 8, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thomas Harrison-S.8646 Robert Wells-S.16288 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. G. J. Doerzbach 1208 Central Avenue Sandusky, Ohio
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Winthrop Clough, Thomas Harrison, Asahel Parker, Joseph Ransom and Robert Wells.
There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the War of the Revolution of a Winthrop Clough. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office.
In order to identify the records of Asahel Parker and Joseph Ransom as much as possible of the following data are essential- approximate dates of birth and death and places of residence at enlistment and after service.
The records of Thomas Harrison and Robert Wells are given herein, as found in the respective claims for pension based upon their service in the War of the Revolution.
Thomas Harrison-S.8646
Thomas Harrison (pensioned Harrison) was born April 7, 1753 in Florida, Montgomery County, New York; the names of his parents are not given.
While residing in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York, Thomas Harrison served from in 1775 at various times as private and teamster in the New York

militia under Captains Amaunniel De Grauf, Gerrit Putnam, Veeder, Colonels Frederick Fisher, Harper and Volkert Veeder; he was in the battles of Stillwater, Cherry Valley and Johnstown, was in many scouting parties in pursuit of Tories and Indians, and served until the close of the war, length of service about two years.
The soldier, Thomas Harrison, was allowed pension on his application executed, September 19, 1832, then a resident of Amsterdam, New York. In 1837 he had moved to the state of Ohio, because "his children, family and friends" were living there. His postoffice address in 1837 was, Florence, Huron County, Ohio. Names of children, family and friends not shown.
In 1837 Thomas Harrison, Jr. was in Huron County, Ohio, and stated that he was well acquainted with the soldier, Thomas Harrison; no relationship shown.
Robert Wells-S.16288
Robert Wells was born in Stratford, Hartford  Fairfield County, Connecticut, date not stated, nor are the names of his parents given.
While residing in said Stratford, Robert Wells served as a private with the Connecticut troops as follows- in the summer of 1776, two or three months in Captain Beach Tomlinson's company; the next winter, three months in Captain Comstock's company, Colonel Whiting's regiment; in 1777, two months in Captain Birdsey's company, this was at the time of the capture of Burgoyne; one month at West Point in Captain David Nichols' company, Colonel Canfield's regiment; later was stationed at Fairfield, to guard the coast, three months under Captain Jedediah Mills, one month of this service was as substitute for his father; he was also on the alarms when Danbury, Ridgefield and Fairfield were burned by the British, the length of this service was as much as one month.
The soldier, Robert Wells, was allowed pension on his application executed, August 24, 1832, then aged

seventy-six years, and residing in Vermilion, Huron County, Ohio.
Philo Wells, son of the soldier, Robert Wells, was forty-five years of age in 1832 and living in Vermilion, Ohio. There is no further reference to children and the name of the wife of Robert Wells is not stated.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

16288 INVALID.
File No. 16288
Robert Wells
Br. Geo. War
Act: June 7" 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 455
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1933 Sept. 8. visit to no. 25 g. D. org. back - see her letter in Thomas Harris. son S. 86 46 a. 1/2

Robert Wells
Am 1. year & 1. Month
Lewis B Sturgis Norwalk Ohio

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Robert Wells which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? No 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? 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? No 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? Judge of the Court 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 that a device

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? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? yes 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? yes 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."

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 he 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.

State of Ohio, Huron County ss Forsooth Vermillion On the 20 th day of April 1833 personally appeared before me Timothy Baker — one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County and State Robert Wells, a resident in Vermillion in said County who being first duly sworn; doth on his Oath declare & say — and make this his Supplementary declaration in addition to his former declaration made before Timothy Baker, one of the Judges of said Court of Common Pleas on the 24 th of August 1832 — in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he now resides in said Vermillion where he has resided for several years past. That he did serve in the year 1776 in the summer of that year in a Company com- of Militia, commanded by Captain Beach of Mansfield Fortification as mentioned in his former declaration. The next Winter after said year of 1776 he enlisted as he has stated in his former declaration in the Continental service for three months into a Company commanded by Captain Comstock & went to King'sbridge & served said term. He also served in 1777 in a Militia Company commanded by Capt. Bindsey. He then served for two months The great time he served & went in the Militia to West front. was drafted & served for one month under Capt David Nichols . He was drafted & stationed in the Militia for about three months in a Company commanded by Captain Sededrah Mills — in cluding one month he served as a Substitute for his Father. The time he served at Danbury & Ridgefield and at Fairfield when the British invaded those places & burnt them was as much as one month the time he served in convalescing from the Camp distemper in 1776 and in accompanying a sick Soldier home to Huntington was not less than one month — making the whole of his services not less than Thirteen months.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned _____
Robert Wells, the within named, who being duly sworn, deposes 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 period mentioned below and in the following grade: For one year and one month I served as a private Soldier and for such service I claim a Pension
Sworn & Subscribed before me Robert Wells at Vermillion this 20 th day of Timothy Baker April 1833 Judge of Common Pleas
And I the said Timothy Baker one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do certify that the said Robert Wells the applicant is not from infirmity attend the Court -
State of Ohio } Harrison County }
Timothy Baker
I David Gibbs Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that Timothy Baker is an Associate Judge of said Court of Common Pleas as above stated. The signatures above purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Wapak this 23 rd day of April A.D. 1833.
D. Gibbs Clerk A.D.P.