Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,315, Obadiah Wells, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Wells, Obadiah
TR. 11 315
CONTENTS

State of New York County of Suffolk } ss: On the twenty sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty - Personally appeared in open Court, in the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Suffolk, being a Court of Record and so constituted by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, Obadiah Wells, resident in the town of Riverhead, in the said coun- ty of Suffolk, 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 provi- sion made by the acts of Congress of the 18 th March 1818 and the first of May 1820 - That he the said Obadiah Wells enlisted for the term of one year some time about the first day of January in the year one thou- sand seven hundred and seventy six, in or near the Town of Southold, on Long Island, in the State of New- York, in the Company commanded by Captain Dan- iel Griffing in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Henry B. Livingston, in the line of the State of New York on the continental establishment. That he continued to serve until the month of October following, when he was taken sick with a fever, known by the name of the long fever, and obtained a furlough to return to his father's house. That he did return to his father's house and while unwell there, with said fever, was taken and carried by the Common Enemy and put into Prison in the City of New York - Long Island then being in the possession of the British - That after lying in prison sev- eral weeks, in said City, he was paroled, and returned again to his father's house aforesaid - That he was not in any noted battle but was in several skirmishes. That in consequence of the sickness aforesaid and the suffer- ing he endured in prison in New York, he was never able to again serve in any Company or Regiment - That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present - That his name is not on the roll of any State except the State of New- York - That in the year 1819 he applied to an

individual to assist him in making an application for a pension - That his papers were not properly prepared (the person to whom he applied being unacquainted with the business) and that since then the whole matter has hung from year to year with the continual intention of making further application yet without ever doing so, until now, urged by the extreme pressure of his circumstances - That until within two or three years past he has enjoyed a degree of health which enabled him to nearly or quite obtain a living by his trade or vocation, but that now his health has become so impaired and the infirmities of age increased so much that he is quite unable and incapable of acquiring his own support.
And in pursuance of the Act of first of May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18 th day of March 1818 - and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed - That since the 18 th of March 1818 there have been no material changes made in my property I having owned no property of value then, or at any time since - That I have no Wife living - and am entirely dependent on a Son who has himself a large family & no means of support excepting his hands - That I am by occupation a Carpenter but by reason of age and infirmities of body I am quite unable to follow as a means of support or livelihood - and that I am in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to obtain the necessaries of life without the assistance of my country, except by private or public charity.
Subscribed and sworn to in open court before the judges thereof the day & year above written —
Isaac D. Wells

Schedule of all the property of Obadiah Wells, within named, both real and personal -
Carpenter, tools $8.00 one bed 2.00 Necessary apparel 3.00 Amt. - - - $ 13.00
Obadiah Wells

I, Joseph R. Hunting, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Suffolk do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the said Court that the said Obadiah Wells did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding Declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months under one engagement on the continental establishment. I also certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Thirteen dollars and 00 cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 26 th day of May 1835.
Joseph R Hunting Clk.

Suffolk County ss: John Edwards, being duly sworn according to law deposeth as follows that is to say - That he this deponent resides in the Town of Brookhaven in the said County of Suffolk - That he is acquainted with Obadiah Wells the person mentioned and described in, and who has made oath to the annexed declaration and oath bearing date the twenty sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty - That he this deponent knew said Wells in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, at the time he enlisted in the Company commanded by Captain Daniel Griffig, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Henry B. Livingston, in the line of the State of New York, on the continental establishment - That said Wells enlisted as near as this deponent can recollect on or about the same time as he this deponent did - viz. the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy six - That said Wells continued to serve in said Company, in the Regiment aforesaid, until the latter part of September following, and retreated with said Company into the State of Connecticut, leaving this deponent behind, this deponent being at that time confined with a fever, known by the name of the long fever - That in the month of October following, (as this deponent understood at the time) said Wells was taken sick with the same fever, in Connecticut, and obtained a furlough and returned to his father's house on Long Island, in the State of New York - That said Wells, (as deponent also understood at the time) was taken, while at his father's house, unwell, and carried by the British and put into prison in the City of New York, New York then being in the possession of said British - That he was confined there several weeks and has good reason to believe that he suffered much in consequence - And this deponent further says that said Wells enlisted in said Company in

or near the Township of Southold in said County of Suffolk -
Sworn the 2 nd day of June 1830 - before me }
John Edwards
George Miller
Commissioner of Suits -
I do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above named John Edwards, that he is a person of credibility and worthy of belief on his oaths -
George Miller
the above commissioner -
State of New York } Suffolk County } Office of the } Clerk
I Joseph K Huntington clk of the County of Suffolk Do Certify that George Miller before whom the above affidavit was taken is a Commissioner residing in said County and duly authorized to take Affidavits &c. And Further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Commissioner and do believe the same is genuine - For Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 5 th day of June 1830 -
Joseph K Huntington clk

Suffolk County ss. Chapman Davis, being duly sworn according to law deposeth as follows that is to say - That he this deponent resides in the Town of Riverhead in the said County of Suffolk and receives the provision made "for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" by the acts of Congress of the 18 th March 1818, and the first of May 1820. That he is acquainted with Obadiah Wells the person mentioned and described in, and who has made oath to the annexed Declaration and oath bearing date the twenty sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty. That he this deponent knew said Wells in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, at the time he enlisted in the Company commanded by Captain Daniel Griffing, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Henry B. Livingston, in the line of the State of New York, on the Continental establishment. That said Wells enlisted as near as this deponent can recollect on or about the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy six aforesaid. That said Wells continued to serve, to the best of deponent's recollection until the latter part of September following, and retreated with said Company into the State of Connecticut. That in the month of October following, as near as deponent can recollect, said Wells was taken sick with a fever, called the long fever, and obtained a furlough and returned to his Father's house on Long Island, in the State of New York. That this deponent was attached to the same Company with said Wells and is knowing to his being a good soldier. And further saith not.
Sworn & subscribed this 2 nd day of June 1830 before me -
CHAPMAN DAVIS
George Miller
Commissioner of Oaths -

I do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the within named Chapman Davis that he is a person of credibility and worthy of belief under oath.
George Miller
Commissioner of Oaths
State of New York Sussex County Cks office I Joseph K Huntting Ck of the County of Sussex Do certify that George Miller before whom the foregoing Affidavit was taken is a Commissioner Residing in said County and is duly authorized to take Affidavits &c There further that I am acquainted with the handwriting of such Commissioner and truly believe the same is genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 5 of June 1850.
Joseph K Huntting Ck
21996

Let to Hon A. Huntington 22 Nov 1836
33845
In the Matter of Obadiah Wells for a pension Act June 7. 1832 -
see letter to Hon. A. Huntington Nov. 23. 1836
21.336
R. Jones

State of New York Suffolk County } ss: on this Fifth - day of October personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas held at the Court House in the Village of Riverhead in the said County of Suffolk, in and for the County of Suffolk, Obadiah Wells, a resident of the Town of South- old, in said County, aged Eighty 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 passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. Colonel James Clinton - Henry B. Livingston, Lieutenant Colonel - Daniel Griffing Captain - Benja- min Marvin, First Lieutenant, and Nathaniel Norton Second Lieutenant - Jacob Conkling, Ensign - David Conkling, Sergeant. Andrew Hart, Seth Marvin and Azariah Pitkin were also Sergeants in the Company to which he, this deponent, belonged - That he enlisted into said service in the first part of the month of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy Six for the term of Nine months - That at the time he entered said service he resided with his father at a place called Fresh Ponds in the Town of South old in said County of Suffolk - at which place he enlisted as a volunteer private soldier in the said Company Com- manded by Captain Daniel Griffing above mention- ed - That he faithfully served the full term of nine months in said Company and was discharged or dismissed, by said Benjamin Marvin, the First lieutenant, at Peekskill near the Hudson River in the County of Westchester, in the State of New York aforesaid

That there were three companies stationed on the east end of Long Island, belonging to Colonel James Clinton's Regiment, which companies were under the particular command of Lieutenant Colonel Livingston above mentioned. That the company commanded by Captain Daniel Griffing and to which he, this deponent, belonged, was one of the three companies above mentioned. That Captain Daniel Griffing's Company was stationed on an Island known by the name of Shelter Island which is a small Island which lies between the Township of Southold aforesaid and the Township of Southampton, all in said County of Suffolk. That he this deponent was one of the twelve privates picked from Captain Daniel Griffing's Company to attend Colonel Henry B. Livingston at Sag Harbor as a guard at which place said Colonel made his Quarters. There were also three men taken from Captain John Davis' Company and also three others from Captain Daniel Roe's Company to act as a guard to Colonel Livingston. That after the news arrived that the West end of Long Island and New York City were abandoned by the American Army, and taken by the British, Colonel Livingston after consulting with the officers under him ordered the said three companies to Connecticut in order that they might join the Main Army by passing through that State. That he embarked with said Company at Southold Harbor, in said County in the month of September and landed at Saybrook in the State of Connecticut. From Saybrook he marched with said Company to New Haven on foot. From New Haven he went with said Company and several hundred other soldiers, all under the command of Colonel Livingston, over again to Long Island and landed at Satanket Harbor in the County of Suffolk aforesaid.

in the night and took a company of Tories known by the name of Jacob Smith's Company. Before the surrender of said Tories thirteen of their number were killed and one sergeant belonging to a Connecticut company. They made prisoners of said Tories & took them to New Haven. After remaining at New Haven about one month they were ordered to Peekskill - to which place they marched on foot and remained there until their time of service expired. That immediately after the expiration of his service as aforesaid he returned home to his father's house in the Town of Southold aforesaid. That it was in the month of October that he was discharged.
That he was born in the Town of Southold aforesaid in the year 1755. That he has a record of his age made by his father - which record is at this time in his possession at his home in Southold aforesaid. That he has always resided in the County of Suffolk since the Revolutionary War. That his discharge from the service was a verbal permission to return home as his time had expired for which he enlisted and that he did so in company with several other privates who resided in Suffolk County and who had served in said company.
That he is acquainted with Jeremiah Moore, Captain John Clark, Henry Hubbard Esquire, Henry Landon Esquire and William Wines Esq. of the Town of Southold aforesaid who can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
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. —————
Obadiah Walls
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid ————— Attest J. H. Huntington Clerk
in the County of Suffolk, ss.

We David Benjamin, a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Riverhead and Henry Landon residing in the Southold Town, in the County of Suffolk, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Obadiah Wells, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty one years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolu- tion, and that we concur in that opinion - Sworn and subscribed { David Benjamin the day and year aforesaid { Henry Landon Attest J. A. Huntington 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. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that David Benjamin who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Riverhead and that Henry Landon who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Southold, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

State of New York Suffolk County
ss: Chapman Davis of the Town of Riverhead being duly sworn in open Court, before the judges of the said Court of Common Pleas on this Fifth day of October in year 1836 deposes and says that he is acquainted with Obadiah Wells the person who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration - that he knew him in the year 1776 and previous thereto - That he this deponent and said Wells enlisted into Captain Daniel Griffing's Company in the service of the United States in the month of January in the year 1776 for the term of nine months - That said Company was stationed on Shelter Island near the east end of Long Island in the County of Suffolk until they received orders to leave the Island for the State of Connecticut - which was in the month of September of the same year - That said Company and two others which were also stationed, the one at Oysterponds and the other at Montauk, in said County, also left the Island for Say Brook in the State of Connecticut - That from Say Brook they travelled on foot to New Haven - From New Haven they in company with several hundreds of other soldiers recrossed the Sound and landed at Satanket in the County of Suffolk and captured a Company of Tories under the Command of Jacob Smith - That they returned again to New Haven and remained there several weeks until ordered to Peks skill, on the North River - That while at Peks skill their term of service expired and those who wished were permitted to return home to Long Island - Many of his fellow soldiers

immediately enlisted again into the service of the United States - A bounty of 20 dollars continental money was the reward offered for each soldier that would enlist - He this deponent was one of the number that again enlisted for a period as long as the War should last - That said Wells after the company was disbanded returned as he, this deponent, at the time understood, to his father's house in the Town of Southold in said County of Suffolk - That said Wells was actually in the service of the United States, in said Company, to the knowledge of this deponent, nine months, and served as a faithful soldier -
The Company into which he, this deponent, and said Wells enlisted in the Town of Southold aforesaid was commanded by Captain Darius Griffing. The other officers were Benjamin Marvin, First Lieutenant, Nathaniel Norton, Second Lieutenant - Jacob Conkling, Ensign, David Conkling, Andrew Hart, Seth Marvin, and Azariah Nuttall, Sergeants - That Colonel Clinton was the Colonel of the Regiment - but the three Companies stationed on the east end of Long Island as aforesaid were under the immediate command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry B. Livingston -
That he, this deponent, receives a pension of eight Dollars per month for services in the army of the Revolution -
Chapman Davis
Sworn and subscribed in open Court the day & year above mentioned
The figures "20" and word "money" in second line of this page & the word "Colonel" in the 23 d line all written before deponent signed and was sworn
Attest J. H. Huntington Clk

I, Joseph K. Huntington, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Suffolk, aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Obadiah Wells for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Eleventh day of October 1836 -
Joseph K. Huntington Clerk

20336
Obadiah Wells New York Act 18 March 1818
Griffin deserted.
Rejected 14 June 1830 See letter to Sidney L Griffin Esq. do to S.L. Griffin 28 June 1830. do to Hon. I sent Dec. 17. 1830. see letter to Capt. N. Norton, Dec. 27. 1830. See letter April 11. 1831 N. Y. Pen. Agt. in case of John Richard — absconded Capt. Norton.

11.310
P. O. Obadiah Wells
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
REJECTED
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Suffolk Court house June 10 th 1830.
Sir, Enclosed is the Declaration and oath of Obadiah Wells of this Town "made according to Law in order to obtain the provisions made by the Acts of Congress of the 18 th March 1818 & the first of May 1820". Also the Affidavits of two Soldiers who were in the same Company and Regiment in '76. The John Edwards, who made oath as a Witness for Mr Wells, is the same person, whose papers were forwarded to the Department on the 3 rd instant.
These were to have been forwarded as early as those of Mr Edwards' but were not completed until the 5 th instant and were not rec d . by me from the Clerks office until the 7 th .
Very respectfully
Sidney L. Griffin
To the Honourable John H. Eaton Secretary of War

Suffolk C. h. December 30 th 1830.
To the Hon ble James Lent
Sir;
I respectfully take leave to write you again, upon the receipt of yours of the 20 th inst., upon the subject of my former communication - I should not presume to do so, after what has taken place, were it not that the claim, of Mr Obadiah Wells, to a pension, is a just one, and were it not in your power to lay it in a manner too imposing to be denied, before the Department of War. The following are the facts in the case: In presenting the claim of Wells, as well as Edwards, to the Department, all the regulations of the Department were strictly fulfilled. I obtained my information, how to proceed, from a Letter bearing date November 22 d 1828 from the pension office, signed James L. Edwards. The following is an extract:
"The rolls of service of the New York line contain no evidence of Mr Baker's service. He must therefore agreeably to the regulations of this Department produce the testimony of an officer, or two other credible witnesses in regard to his service, who must set forth the regiment, company and line to which the claimant belonged, and the time of his entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving it. The Magistrate before whom the testimony may be taken 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."
To make you acquainted, Sir, with what was done in the case, (as I presume you have never examined the papers on file) I will inform you in this manner and will then beg leave to ask whether Wells is justly withheld from his pension. In the first place

he was sworn in open Court according to Law - His declaration & oath stated that he served under Col. H. B. Livingston, in Capt. Daniel Griffing's Company in 1776 - The time of service amounts to more than nine months - The declaration & oath was as full as the Law requires - That oath was then supported by the oaths of two credible Witnesses, who swore to the service of Wells, set forth the Regiment, Company & line to which he belonged, and the time of his entering the service, and the time and manner of leaving it, as fully as men could do after a lapse of more than 50 years - The Magistrate before whom the testimony was taken certified to the credibility of the Witnesses, and the official character & signature of the Magistrate was certified by the Clerk of Suffolk under the seal of the County - And what is still more convincing both these Witnesses who swore for Wells receive pensions for services in the Revolution - One of them served all his time in the same Company with him - And after all this proof we are called upon for the oath of his Lieutenant - Respecting the oath of his Lieutenant, Norton, he can never get it, I believe - Norton is upwards of four score years old, and living in New York - out of health and no wise inclined to favor Wells, as he did Edwards, with his deposition - There is in the breast of the old man a good deal of malice existing against Wells, even at this late day in consequence of a Law suit twenty years since - Wells cast him, and Norton paid upwards of Seventy Dollars costs - I was respecting a building which Wells contracted to do for Norton -
The certificate I obtained was got with a good deal of expostulation both from me & his only son - The rest of the officers of the Company are either dead or removed to unknown parts - I can produce more witnesses if the Department requires it, but cannot depend upon the oath of Mr Norton - He told me he would never swear for Wells until he was obliged to - that if his certificate would do I was & he (Wells) was welcome to it - The letter of Mr J. L. Edwards with a Copy of which you have

been kind enough to furnish me, goes to show that the oath of an officer is indispensable in this case. If this be the fact those soldiers who have not yet obtained the provisions of the existing Laws of Congress may bid farewell to the hope of ever receiving them - for it is rare indeed, I am told, that an officer of the Revolution can be found to attest to a soldier's service - I have furnished the best evidence in Wells case that can be offered - I therefore humbly insist that the regulations of the Department of War have been fulfilled and that he is entitled to his pension.
In confidence I would also beg leave to mention that the Gentleman in this Village, who is of the same profession that I am, but a steady opposer of the Administration, and who obtained several pensions for soldiers under the Hon. Mr. Rush, declares that the regulations under the Hon. Mr. Eaton are not in any wise as favorable to soldiers of the Revolution.
This Administration has received from me an undivided support - I have ever acted in accordance with its supporters - let it not then be said I was mistaken in my confidence -
With sentiments of respect, &c. Sidney L. Griffin
To the Honourable
James Lent
In Congress -

I, Nathaniel Norton, do certify that in the year 1776 as a Lieutenant, in Captain Daniel Griffin's Company, in Colonel James Clinton's Regiment, I enlisted a number of Soldiers among whom was Obadiah Wells of Suffolk County in the State of New York - That said Wells served in said Company upwards of nine months. That when the British took possession of Long Island and the Company retreated into the State of Connecticut said Wells was left behind in consequence of sickness -
New York October 11 th 1830.
Witness Present - S. L. Griffin.
Nathl. Norton

Suffolk County ss:
Sidney L. Griffin of said County Attorney at Law being duly sworn doth depose and say That in the Month of October last he was in the City of New York - That previous to his leaving his residence at Suffolk Court House on Long Island he, this deponent, was requested by the friends of Obadiah Wells to call, while in said city, upon a Mr Nathaniel Norton, whom it was said was a Lieutenant of the Company to which Wells was attached in the Revolution, and get his certificate & oath in relation to Wells service - That agreeably to such request he called upon said Norton & made known his business - that Norton was then in bed unwell and unable to attend to him, this deponent, as he, Norton, said - That he this deponent, was requested to call on the following day but neglected to do so by reason of a storm - that he did not call until the following Monday again - That on the day last mentioned he conversed freely with said Norton upon the claim of said Wells to a pension - That Norton acknowledged that he enlisted, both Wells & Edwards into his Company - That Edwards was a good soldier and was faithful in the service - That Wells he did never like & did not think him entitled to a pension - That he was unwilling, at first, to certify for said Wells owing to his antipathy but when informed that he, Norton, had certified & sworn for John Edwards, he consented to his, deponent's, writing a certificate for Wells. That the Certificate written by him, this deponent, he, Norton, signed with his own hand and declared the facts contained in it, true - That to said certificate he refused to swear - That this deponent offered to procure an officer who would come to his dwelling & give him, Norton, no trouble, but said Norton, absolutely declined - That the certificate was nearly or quite as follows: "I Nathaniel Norton, do certify that Obadiah

"Wells of the County of Suffolk, State of New York "was a private soldier in Capt. Daniel Griffin's "Company in Col. James Clinton's Regiment in "the year 1776 - of which Company I was lieu- "tenant - That he served about nine months.
That he, this Deponent, has not at this time nor ever has had a copy of said Certificate - That the above substance of it is merely from recollection he hav- ing no other means of stating the same -
That said Boston acknowledged that he had certified and sworn for Edwards - That he, this deponent, asked him whether said Edwards came to him, Boston, in person for a certificate & oath of service - That said Bos- ton informed him that he did not, but sent, as near as he could recollect, one of his sons, and a Capt. Jonathan Worth - That he was informed by said Worth that Edwards was too unwell to travel from his home on Long Island to the City of New York - That the certificate & oath of Boston for Edwards was never seen by this Deponent until handed to him by Edwards or his son (this Deponent don't recollect which) after he had commenced taking steps to have his, Edwards, name placed upon the Pension Roll -
Sworn & subscribed { This 17 th day of March { 1831 - before me {
Sidney L. Griffin
David Edwards Justice of the peace

We certify that Sidney E. Grefling of Suffolk Court- House, Attorney at Law, is a gentleman of high respectability in this community and is entitled to full credit upon word or oath -
Riverhead March 17th 1831.
David Edwards Justice of the Peace of Riverhead Josiah Dreeve one of the Justices for the Town of Riverhead

Suffolk C. h. March 17 th 1851-
Sir:-
The Hon e James Lent, Representative in Congress from this district, informs me that the Department has obtained information that Obadiah Wells left the Army without permission before he had served nine months, and that he is inclined to believe that the information was derived from Lieut. Norton as he understood he, Norton, denied having signed either affidavit or certificate -
To this I will answer upon my oath and will support that oath by testimony sufficiently respectable, I believe, to prove the denial a falsehood - come from whom it may -
The affidavit & certificate of Norton in John Edwards case I did not obtain - 'twas procured for him, of Norton, by Capt. Jonathan Worth of this County & who resides about eleven miles from this place - Capt. Worth was at the time accompanied, I am informed, by another person besides the Notary Public, who did the business, to Norton's house - Therefore, I believe, the case will not be lost for want of witnesses, notwithstanding the attendance with much trouble & some expense to procure them -
Mr Norton acknowledged to me that he had certified & sworn to Edwards service -
The affidavit of Capt. Worth will be forwarded as soon as obtained - Until it is received by you Sir, I respectfully request the matter to lie open -
The official seal & signature of the Notary accompanied with the certificate of the Clerk of the City & County of New York, in my mind, places it beyond a doubt that all has been fair - but if it does not to the Department I presume the facts, set forth by Capt. Worth, will -
With great respect, &c.
Sidney L. Griffin
To James L. Edwards Esquire.