Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18,441, Samuel Wire, Continental (Conn.)

SERVICE
SERVICE Continental (Conn.) Wire, Samuel Connice
NUMBER _____
W. 18.441
CONTENTS

8521
Connecticut
Samuel Wire,
Private
4
Connecticut line. 1787. Paying In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 28 th of March, 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd of June 1818 and sent to Hon. S. Baldwin, New Haven, Conn.
Arrears to 4th of Sept r . 1818
Semi-ann. acct ending 5 months 4/31 94/30 $42.9
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818 }
Continued
Wilford, New Haven Ct.

Notification sent September 23 d 1820 to Henry C. Flagg, New Haven, Connecticut

Connecticut
at Nov 6. '38
Princess Wire of Samuel Wire dec'd.
who died on the 23 December 1827 at New Haven in the State of Ct. who was as Mr. of Cav. in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Sheldon in the _____ line for 2 years Conn.
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 100 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 st day of Octo. 1838 and sent Saml Wire Esq. Contract
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1838 $ 757.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Mar. 29, 50.00
$ 807.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 }
Recorded by R.H. Addison Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 Page 80
1886 April 12 I.C.W.

I Samuel Wire declare on oath & say that I was born in the town of Milford, in the county of New Haven State of Connecticut - that I entered the revolutionary army of the United States in the month of March 1781 as a pri- va te in Captain Stantons Company of light dragoons, in Col. C. Sheldon's Regiment, in the Connecticut line - that I faithfully served against the common enemy on various stations, principally within the limits of the State of New York until the end of the War as will more fully appear from my discharge accompanying this declaration, dated June 12 th 1783.
I further on oath declare & say that I have always been a resident citizen of the United States that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life I stand in need of assistance from my country for support.
And I do hereby make application for the relief granted to the surviving soldiers of the revolution by an late Act of Congress entitled An Act to

provide for for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War; New Haven March 28. 1818 —
Samuel Weir
State of Connecticut New Haven County ss.
I certify that the above named Samuel Weir personally appeared before me on the eighth day of March A.D. 1818 & made oath to me to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him in my presence subscribed —
Simeon Baldwin a Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut.
I Charles H. Pond of Milford in New Haven County Depose & say that I have for many years been well acquainted with the above named Samuel Weir & know that he is a native citizen of the United States now residing in Milford & that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he now needs assistance from his country for support — New Haven Mar. 28. 1818 —
Sworn Mar 28 th 1818
before me
S. Baldwin a Judge of the Sup l Ct. of Connecticut.
C. H. Pond
(Signature of S. Baldwin)

The Deposition of Edward Freedman, of Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of lawful age is as follows; having been duly Cautioned and Sworn; to wit;
That he was seventy four years of age on the fourteenth day of January of the present month. That the deponent was well acquainted with Eunice Gould as she was called when young, now called Eunice Wire, the widow of Samuel Wire during her childhood, while she resided in Greenfield in the town of Fairfield, in said State, and has ever since been well acquainted with her. I was also acquainted with Samuel Wire from the time of his marriage with said Eunice, as well as during his service in the Revolution any war, to wit his death. The deponent was not present at the marriage of said Wire with said Eunice, but knows they were married while the said

Samuel was in service in the Revolutionary war, in the Regiment of Col. Tallmage. The Deponent was a Drummer in the Regiment of Gabriel Dimon and while at home resided in the same house with said Eunice. The Deponent from defect in memory cannot state the precise day of her marriage, but he knows that they were married before the close of the Revolutionary war, because he frequently saw him in service & otherwise knew that he was in service repeatedly after his marriage with said Eunice. The first child which was born of said Eunice, after her marriage with said wife, was borne before the close of the war as the Deponent was regularly in service

till the close of the war, except when he went home and saw their first child; from which fact the Deponent is certain that their marriage took place, and that they lived together and had a child - all of which transpired before the said wife left the service in the Revolutionary war.
The deponent also knows that said Samuel Wire performed service in Fullam's Regiment, he acting as Major, under Col. Shelbys and was well acquainted with him during all his service - I often visited the house of Mr. Samuel Wire, after his marriage, a few times during the war, & several times after the war, & knew their three first children after their marriage - I knew them while they resided in Greenfield, after their removal to Milford in this state, & until his death; & have ever since known the said Eunice, & know that she still remains the widow of said Samuel Wire.

I well remember that the marriage of said Eunice with said Wirt, created much excitement in her father's family, & that he was opposed to her marriage with said Wirt. I also remember that it was well understood that said Wirt and Eunice had long been intimate before their marriage & that their first child was born a little too soon after their marriage -
3452 Eunice Wirt and Sam L. Wirt Act 4 July 36 Mar 1783 died 1827 Allot 27 P. Sheldon Dec 1800 Jan 1801
Edward Freedom Master p. Bridgeport.
Hon. J. H. Niles Senate No. 25
United States of America } State of Connecticut } p. Bridgeport. Fairfield County  Be it remembered That on the thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven before me, Alfred Blackman, Notary public, duly admitted and sworn, personally appeared Edward Freedom, subscriber of the foregoing dep- osition, to me personally known as a credible witness, (and being duly cautioned and sworn, made solemn oath to the truth of the same,) before me, In testimonium veritatis - Alfred Blackman Notary Public.

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4 th July, 1836.
State of Connecticut } ss: New Haven County }
On this 31 st day of January A.D. 1838 personally appeared before the Court of Probate now in session at New Haven, within and for the District of New Haven, Eunice Wire, a resident of New Haven, in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, aged seventy three years, on the nineteenth day of July last, 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 4 th , 1836; That she is the widow of Samuel Wire, late of Milford, in said County of New Haven, deceased, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution; — According to my best knowledge and belief, the said Samuel Wire, deceased, entered the service of the Revolutionary War, when he was fourteen years of age, as a substitute for John Downs, to whom my said late husband was, at the time, and

indentured apprentice; the said Downs having been draughted, as I believe, for three months service at New London, in this State, In this Service my said late husband went, I believe, as a light horseman.
My said husband performed service in a Company in which Lieut. Pike (and Lieut. Ray were officers - I recollect he was in service in the Regiment of Col. Salmage at the time of our marriage. I remember hearing the name of Col. David Dimon, whom I have seen, (and who was first Cousin to my mother, whose maiden name was Abigail Hill. I have also seen Col. Meigs, (and have often heard my late husband speak of him but whether he ever served in his Regiment I am unable to say. It is impossible for me to specify particularly the officers under whom my deceased husband served in the Revolutionary War: for of them, I had no personal knowledge, except as above stated. Their names will undoubtedly be found in his application for a pension at the War Office or Pension Office in Washington.
My late husband was in several engagements, during the Revolutionary War as I have always understood from him (and others; but all the particulars

battles and places where they were fought, I cannot now give in detail. I remember he was in one general engagement at the plains, as it was called, near New York. At one time, while he was a horseman, in battle, he was wounded in the second joint of the middle finger of the right hand, which finger always remained stiff after the wound. This wound was inflicted by a bayonette, as he told me, in a very close engagement.
While he was in service at Horse-neck, in this State, where many troops were quartered for a considerable time and where many of the guards had been shot by Cow-boys, as they were called, my late husband was on a Scout, hunting Cow-boys, in company with about twenty-five men; he left his company to visit a peach orchard, (and near the orchard he discovered a hut. He went up to the hut alone, when a person dressed in a fine green short jacket, trimmed with gold lace, presented himself at the door of the hut (and snapped his gun at my husband which missed fire. My husband immediately presented his gun (and shot the cowboy through the heart. My husband immediately

Went around the hut and found another man, who was brother to the one he had just killed, jumping out of the window; he loaded again and shot him through the shoulder, while he was fleeing, and brought him to the ground, and took him prisoner. — This man was carried to head quarters, and recovered of his wounds. The party which went out in company with my husband stripped the man naked of his clothing, which was very rich, consisting of silver buckles, fine cloths, a gold watch, a valuable gun, and ornaments; all of which were given by the commanding officer to my husband, and were brought home by him. — For this service, he told me he was offered a commission from the General, at head quarters, which he declined on account of his age. My husband was the youngest person in the Regiment, and when the troops were reviewed he stood tiptoe, fearing lest he should be rejected or discharged on account of his age and size. — For a more specific account of my late husband's service in the Revolutionary war, I refer to the

documents (and) records In the War and Pension offices at Washington, upon which he received a pension until his death - He remained in service in the war, from the time he entered it, when he was fourteen years of age, until the close of the war, when he was nineteen years of age.
He resided in the town of Milford in the County of New Haven (and) State of Connecticut at the time he entered the service.
He entered, at first, as a Substitute for John Downs, who was draughted. My husband was told by said Downs, who was his Master, that if he would serve as his Substitute, he should have one half of the bounty; - but when said Downs received the bounty, he refused to give my husband any of it; at this my husband was irritated, abandoned the service of his master, and enlisted in the Revolutionary service, in which capacity he continued until the close of the war.
I have no documentary evidence in my possession of his service in the Revolution. At the close of the war, he received a written discharge signed with the name of General Washington, which I remember says that he served as a faithful

Soldier in the war. This discharge had become cracked, where it was doubled, and he took it from his chest, one day, and asked me to starch some paper upon the back of it - I asked him why he wanted me to patch up that old paper? He said he wanted it, to remember General Washington by - I accordingly starched some paper upon the back of it, (and it has since been sent to Washington upon his application for a pension, where I have no doubt it will be found. I know of no Record of my marriage.
She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel Wire on the third day of February, in the year seventeen hundred and eighty three, that her husband, the aforesaid Samuel Wire, died on the twenty third day of December eighteen hundred and twenty seven; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. Since  Since
Sworn to (and) subscribed, on the day and year above written, before Chas. A. Ingraham
Chap of in Court of Probate.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, that the above-named appli- cant, is the widow of Samuel Wise, who served in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the foregoing declaration, and that the said widow Wise is entitled, to a pension.
Chas. A. Pugh, Coll.
Judge of said Court.
I Anthony P. Sanford Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven, do hereby certify that the fore- going contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of widow Wise for a pension. And that Alfred Blackman and Samuel G. Black- man, their signatures and seals, are to the depositions, respectively hereto annexed, and were at the time, the certificates to said depositions perfect, to law's acts, Notaries Public, duly commissioned and sworn, and that full faith and credit, are due to their official acts. And also that the integers to the depositions hereto annexed are credible persons, entitled to be believed as well. In testimony whereof I have

handed at my hand and seal at Netherton this 12 th day of April 1848.
Andy Sparre. Clerk

State of Connecticut } ss: New Haven City New Haven County } February 15 th 1838
Be it known, that before me Alfred Blackman, Notary public for the State of Connecticut, duly commissioned & sworn personally appeared Caroline Wright of the City & County of New Haven in said State, to me personally known, who is a credible witness, of having been duly cautioned (Am) sworn, upon her oath, deposeth (Am) saith,
That she was well acquainted with Samuel Wire late of Milford in the said County of New Haven deceased, previous to his decease, (Am) had been acquainted with him personally for more than thirty years previous to his death. That she attended the funeral of said Wire in said Milford, (Am) saw his corpse after his death. The Deponent knows that the said Wire died at said Milford on the twenty third day of December A.D. 1827, (Am) was buried upon the Christmas day following, to wit, on the 25 th day of December 1827. This Deponent believes that the said Wire died of a Consumption, (Am) has no doubt that his disease of which he died was induced

by a dropsy, with which he had been afflicted for several years previously to his death, (and I have no doubt this was the cause of his last disease.
I have also been (and) still am acquainted with Eunice Wire the widow of S d Samuel Wire deceased, who now resides in said City of New Haven. I have been acquainted with said Eunice for more than thirty years - I know that she now resides & has resided in said city of New Haven for more than a year last past; & that previously thereto, from the death of said Samuel she resided in said Milford; - I also know that said Eunice Wire still remains & now is the widow of said Samuel Wire, (and that she is still living & has never been married since the death of said Samuel Wire deceased.
Caroline Wright
United States of America } State of Connecticut } ss: New Haven City, New Haven County }
Be it remembered,

That on the fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, before me Alfred Blackman, Notary public, duly admitted and sworn, personally appeared Caroline Wright, subscriber of the foregoing Deposition, to me personally known as a credible witness, and being duly cautioned and sworn, made solemn oath to the truth of the same, before me,
In testimonium veritatis
Alfred Blackman Notary public.

The Deposition of Eleanor Gould of the town & County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, of lawful age, being duly cautioned and sworn is as follows,
That she will be seventy two years of age on the twenty ninth day of next June - That her late husband Ebenezer Gould deceased was first cousin of Eunice Wire, widow of Samuel wire late of Milford, in this State, deceased -
I have always been acquainted and intimate with Eunice Wire from her childhood - Said Eunice is about nine months older than myself, and said Eunice and myself were always playmates during our childhood I know she was married to said Samuel Wire, at Greenfield in said town of Fairfield and that she still remains his widow -
The evening in which they were married they passed by the house in which I resided as they were going to the house of the Clergyman to be married, and I saw them as they were passing to the Clergyman's house - I well remember their marriage made difficulty in her father's family
Their first child was born I should say within four months of their marriage.
It was well known that said Eunice was in a family way, some months previous to their marriage - And I well remember that said Wire was attentive to and visited said Eunice intimately during the revolutionary war -
Eleanor her X Gould mark.

United States of America State of Connecticut Hartford County
Be it remembered, on the thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand Eight Hundred and thirty Seven, before me Alfred Blackman, Notary Public, duly admitted, and sworn personally appeared Eleanor Gould subscriber of the foregoing
Deposition, to me personally known as a credible witness, being duly cautioned and sworn, made solemn oath to the truth of the same - before me, In testimonium Veritatis
Alfred Blackman Notary Public

State of Connecticut Fairfield County
Be it known that upon me Samuel G. Blackman Notary Public for the State of Connecticut, duly Commissioned & sworn personally appeared Peter Bradley of Fairfield in said County to me personally known as a credible witness who being duly cautioned & sworn upon his oath declares & says that he was sixty eight years of age on the eighteenth day of October last. That he was well acquainted with Eunice Wire and her husband Samuel Wire during the Revolutionary War he said they living together as husband & wife during the Revolution. that David Goude the father of said Eunice told me repeatedly they were married. he was on guard at this time. saw said Wire & his wife Eunice at her fathers and there in the presence of her father & the family heard it said they were married. that her peculiar situation was such that every body supposed & said they were married. he was in the house they lived in almost every day. I was on guard as a substitute for my mother for some time, and the facts above related occurred during that time.
Peter Bradley
Sworn before me & subscribed the thirteenth day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight In Testimonium Veritatis
Samuel G. Blackman Notary Public

The deposition of Esther Bulkley of the town and county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut of lawful age, having been duly cautioned and sworn, is as follows;—
That she will be eighty years of age in May next: That she was well acquainted with Eunice Gould, now Eunice Wire, the widow of Samuel Wire, late of Milford in this State deceased, previous to her marriage with the said Samuel Wire— And has been well acquainted with the said Eunice from her childhood. The deponent was not present at the marriage of the said Eunice with the said Samuel, and does not positively know the precise time when it took place— But the deponent thinks and verily believes they were married before the close of the Revolutionary war— Mrs Eunice Wire after she was married to said Samuel frequently visited my house, and brought her infant children— I know she visited my house with two little daughters and an infant son, at Greenfield in said town of Fairfield— which children were born at said Greenfield, previous to the removal of said Samuel & Eunice from this place—
her Esther L Bulkley marks

United States of America State of Connecticut Fairfield County
Be it remembered, That on the Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty seven before me Alfred Blackman, Notary Public, duly admitted and sworn, personally appeared Esther Bulkley, subscriber of the foregoing deposition
To me personally known as a credible witness, and being duly cautioned and sworn, made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me; - In testimonium veritatis -
Alfred Blackman Notary public

Small Note or Copy
Sept. 10/10.
[Large stylized letter M or W]

At a County Court, held in and for the County of New Haven, in the District and State of Connecticut, on the 7 th day of July 1820, the same being a Court of Record, and having a Seal, by virtue of the laws of said State.
PERSONALLY APPEARED, in open Court, Samuel Heu a resident in the town of Milford in the County of New Haven in said State, and exhibited and subscribed the following Schedule, and made oath that the same is a true and perfect Schedule of all his income and property, necessary cloathing and bedding excepted, viz:    a life estate in one half of a house & one Rod of land valued at per annum  $10.00    One old brass Trettle  1.00    One Iron pot  0.25    One teakettle  0.25    One Iron Spide  12 1/2     $11.62 1/2  
(Signed) Samuel Heu

District and State of Connecticut, ss.
New Haven
Be it Remembered, That in the County Court, held in and for the County of New Haven, in the District and State aforesaid, on this Seventh day of July 1820, the same being a Court of Record, and having a Seal, under the authority of said State, personally came and appeared in open Court, Samuel Peir aged 55 years, resident in the Town of Milford in the County of New Haven in said State, and being sworn according to Law, doth on his Oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: Enlisted during the war in March 1781, into Capt. Stanton's Company, Col. Sheldon's Regt. Connecticut Line, served till peace & discharge sent to Washington when pension was obtained
that the original Declaration made by him, for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the Act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818, was dated the 28th day of March 1818; that in pursuance thereof he was entered in the list of Pensioners, and received a Pension Certificate No. 812. And I do further solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th 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 18th 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 hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed. And I do further declare that my occupation is a day labour but unable to pursue it from bodily weakness in consequence of a rupture and that I have a family residing with me consisting of a wife & three children.
all which is subscribed by me the day and year aforesaid.
(Signed) Samuel Peir.
Sworn to, and declared in the Court aforesaid. Whereupon said Court is, on satisfactory proof exhibited in Court, of opinion that the total amount in value of the property contained in the aforesaid Schedule, is 11 Dollars and 62 1/2 Cents, and doth order these proceedings to be entered in the records of said Court.
Attest Henry C. Phelps Clerk

District of Connecticut, ss.
I, Henry C. Hagg Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of New Haven in the State and District of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing and the Schedule thereunto annexed, are truly copied from the records of said Court: and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of said Court that the total amount, in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is 11 Dollars and 62 1/2 Cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court on this
7 th day of July 1820.
Henry C. Hagg
I, Isaac Mills presiding Judge of the County Court in and for the County of New Haven in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that Henry C. Hagg Esq. is Clerk of said Court, and keeper of the Seal and Records thereof; and that the preceding Certificate under his hand, and the Seal of said Court, is authentic, and in due form of Law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in P. New Haven
this Tenth day of July 1820.
Isaac Mills Chief Judge of said Court

O. W. & N. DIV. P.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
April 4, 1892.
Sir:-
In reply to your communication of March 28th., referred to this Bureau by Hon. Ainer Taylor, in which you request a statement of the military services of a Mr. Wiris of Milford, Conn., and John Randall of Sharon, N.Y., soldiers of the Revolutionary War, I have to inform you as follows:
SAMUEL WIRIS.
Born at Milford, Conn., but date of birth not given. Enlisted in the month of March, 1781, and served as a private in Captain Stanton's Company of light dragoons, Col. Sheldon's Connecticut Regt., until June 18, 1782, when discharged. No mention is made of any battles in which he participated.
This information is taken from his declaration for pension dated at New Haven, Conn., March 22, 1818. In the body of the declaration the name is spelled Wiris but claimant signs Wiris. Both he and his widow, Eunice, were pensioners.
JOHN RANDALL.
From the data given the Bureau is unable to identify his application for pension. If a further search is desired please furnish his place of residence before and after service and at the time of his death. Also the Christian name and place of residence of his widow if she survived him.
Very respectfully,
H.C. Ballard, Esq., 155 Washington St., Chicago, Ill.
Commissioner.

Rev 18,441
WIDOW, &c,
No. 18441
Connie Wire
Widow of
Samuel Wire
Pri Rev War
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. m , Page 244
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1892 Apr. 4 Visit to H. C. Ballard
Chicago F.S.
Oct. 29-1902 Stuart C. Wade - N.Y. City

Well I see Sam last Sunday told him I was a coming up He said that he said Did not know how you and do not spin more than 100 a week she told her son like she wanted to have you some you with the bench not the bed to night is making here to night and some me she should cause the  the  the  the is in the mill my the  the  the  the use William the  the  the  the shoes by Samuel Wire, many give my respects to all M. J. 1841 Stars Continental (Conn.) the sky is my love is true to none

By His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq; General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America.
THESE are to CERTIFY that the Bearer hereof Samuel Wirt Private in the 2 d Reg t H. Dray. Regiment, having loyally served the United States two years and four months and being enlisted for the War only, is hereby DISCHARGED from the American Army.
GIVEN at HEAD-QUARTERS the 12 th of June 1783
By His Excellency's Command,
Thuniball
REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment,
Thred. G. Whiting Adjutant.

HEAD-QUARTERS, June 22 d 1783.
THE within CERTIFICATE shall not avail the Bearer as a Discharge, until the Ratification of the definitive Treaty of Peace; previous to which Time, and until Proclamation thereof shall be made, He is to be considered as being on Furlough.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Sam L. Wires Continental (Com) N.F. 12441

State of Pennsylvania Northampton County
I J. W. Burch Clerk of the County Court within & for Northampton County & Keeper of the Records I do hereby certify that Alfred Blackman is Notary Public duly appointed, commissioned & sworn with power to administer Oaths. That his Commission is dated the 29 th day of June A.D. 1838 & will expire two years from date. That his signature annexed hereto is his genuine official signature. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 8 th day of September A.D. 1838
J. W. Burch Clerk

The Deposition of Peter Bradley of the town & County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, of lawful age, who is to me personally known as a credible witness, having been duly cautioned and sworn, is as follows:—
That he is now nearly seventy years of age, and has always lived in Greenfield in said town of Fairfield, and been intimately acquainted with Samuel Wire, late a pensioner deceased, and with his wife Eunice Wire—Upon being enquired of, I perfectly remember, that in the month of February, Seventeen hundred and eighty three, while my brother Sturges Bradley was in the Revolutionary Service, I went out as a substitute for my said Brother, while he went to attend the "holding out" of Samuel Wire & Eunice Wires wedding. I knew the said Wire perfectly well at the time of his marriage, and that he was billeted out in Greenfield, as a soldier, at the time of his marriage. I know also that said Wire remained in Service, several months after he was married, until he was discharged in the month of June—following. I cannot be mistaken in saying that they

were married in February 1783; because their marriage was a subject of very general conversation on account of some family dif- ficulties arising from her particular situation and the service which I rendered as a substitute for my brother, took place in winter, when it was very cold, & at an age with me, that I cannot be mistaken at this time there were seven soldiers billeted at my father's. The said Samuel & Eunice dwelt & lodged together at Greenfield occasionally & immediately after the event above named.
I have previously given a deposition upon this subject, but not being at all interrogated I believe I did not attempt to name any precise period when said wife was married - but the circumstance of my going on guard as a substitute for my brother, that he might go to hold out (and celebrate the wedding) enables me to be more precise as to the time & month when it took place.
Peter Bracey
State of Connecticut } ss. Fairfield Fairfield County }

Be it remembered, that on the 30 th day of August A. D. one Thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me, Alfred Blackman, Notary public, within and for said State, duly commissioned and sworn, Peter Bradley of said town of Fairfield, Subscriber of the foregoing deposition, to me personally known as a credible witness, who, being first duly cautioned and sworn, made solemn oath to the truth of the same; Before me,
In testimonium Veritatis
Alfred Blackman Notary Public

The Deportion of Edwards Hawley of the City of Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of lawful age, having been by the Subscribing officer, duly sworn and cautioned, is as follows:
That he is now seventy eight years of age, and resided during the Revolutionary war, as well as before and after the same in the town of Fairfield in this county upon Greenfield hill. The Deponent was well acquainted with Eunice Wire, the widow of Samuel Wire, and also with the said Samuel Wire deceased, during the Revolutionary war, and has been ever since. The Deponent remembers perfectly well, that in the month of April in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty three, he planted corn several days with Samuel Wire, late pensioner of the Revolution, and that at this time he, the said Samuel and Eunice, were living together as husband and wife

And had then been married about weeks  eight weeks; — The Deponent knows that they were married some time in the month of February Seventeen hundred eighty three — At the time the deponent planted corn as above with the said Wine, he had some conversation with said Eunice concerning her family condition, and told her of the rumors in circulation as to her being with child; which she admitted; and told me then the circumstances of their marriage. I also know that said Wine was, at this time, billeted out on said Greenfield-hill, and that at the time above alluded to, when he was not called out in actual service he lodged and slept & lived with said Eunice, as his wife, regularly

at the dwelling house of her father Davids Gould. and some of the time at the house of Timothy Burns in said Greenfield.
State of Connecticut } Edward his  X Hawley Fairfield County } mark } p: Bridgeport.
Be it remembered that on the thirty first day of August A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before me, Alfred Blackman, Notary Public, within and for said State, duly commissioned & sworn, Edward Hawley of said Bridgeport, to me personally known as a credible witness, who through age & infirmity is unable to write his name, & subscribed the above deposition, in my presence, by his mark as above, & having been, by me, first duly cautioned and sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the same.
Before me,
In Testimonium Veritatis
Alfred Blackman Notary Public

Pension Agency Hartford Octo 31 1838
Sir The Attorney of Eunice Wire has applied this day for payment of a pension on a certificate issued to her under the act of 4 July 1836 at One Hundred dollars per annum
Directions from you have not been received at this Agency authorizing her name to be placed upon the roll
I am Very Respectfully Your Obedient Servt
Sam l L. Pitkin. Agent
2355
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Samuel Wires Declaration
Mar. 28. 1818
Correct - original Discharge being also included.

To the Honourable the Secretary of the Department of War —
I Simeon Baldwin a Judge of the Sup t Court of Connecticut before whom the preceding declaration was made, do certify that the said Samuel Wier produced in evidence to me his discharge under the well known signature of G o Washington cert- ifying his faithful services for two years & four months dated June 12 th 1783 — and that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Samuel Wier served in the revolutionary war against the common enemy as stated in his declaration. I therefore transmit to you the testimony & the proceedings in the case dated at New Haven March 28. 1818.
Simeon Baldwin a Judge of the Sup t Court of Connecticut
P.S. The original discharge is now enclosed Ap r . 2 d . 1812.
Baldwin

Oxford, Connecticut, 10th September 1838
Sir,
I send enclosed the Depositions of Peter Bradley & Edward Hawley, relative to the marriage of my parents in the month of February 1783, upon the application of Eunice Wire for a pension, as the widow of Samuel Wire, presented to your consideration last winter by the Hon. J. M. Niles.
In your correspondence with Mr. Niles it appears that no exception was taken to her application, only, that she had not established her marriage antecedent to my father's discharge. It is hoped that the exception taken, will be obviated by the testimony now offered.
I am Respectfully Yr obedt Servt
Samuel Wire.
Hon J L Edwards, Comm: of Pensions.

free
Samuel Wire Esqr. F.R.S. Oxford
Conn

field Feb 29 th 1838
M c S t Wire
Sir yours of the 15 th was not rec d untill saturday after mail had left. I take the earliest opportunity to answer your inquiry. I have made diligent search for the names of your parents Samuel Wire & Eunice Gould but have not been able to find them in the Record Book of marriages of the Town of Fairfield Yours Samuel A. Nichols
Feb 29 th 1838
This may certify that after having made diligent search and examination of the Town Records of the Town of Fairfield of which I am keeper. for the marriage of Samuel Wire. I have not been able to find any such Record and I verily believe no such record th exist and as far as appears from such Records the practice of recording marriages from the year 1780 to 1790 was practised to a very limited extent Fairfield County Fairfield County Connecticut Attest Samuel A. Nichols Town Clerk

ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY, WESTERN DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE OF RESIDENT MEMBER BOARD OF MANAGERS.
Cincinnati, April 5, 1886.
Hon. Jno. C. Black,
Commr. of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir,
Referring to yours of March 30th, "O W N Div. J.N P Exr", the person concerning whom I am seeking information should appear on the rolls of the Connecticut Militia as "Samuel Weir", sometimes written "Wire". He was present with the other American troops the British burned the Church at Danbury Conn. When the war began he lived at Milford, Connecticut; subsequently married Ennice Gould, a daughter of Governor Gould, at Greenfield, Connecticut; but whether he lived at Greenfield or returned to Milford is not clear, though his widow, Ennice Weir or Wire, survived him and for a number of years lived at Milford. I have given you all the information I have to point you to the records and if it be sufficient to enable you to discover the family by your records I shall be under personal obligations.
Yours Respectfully,

18. pt H 1
Samuel Wire
Mar. 28, 1818 - Born at Milford Ch
Mar. 81 Milford ct
Capt. Stanton Col. Elisha Sheldon
Pvt June 12, 1783
Mr. Eunice Gould
Feb 3, 1783, Milford Fairfield Ch
D. Dec 23, 1827 Milford Ch.
W. B. Ral

Samuel Weir or Mire -
States that he was born in Milford, New Haven County, Conn o without giving the date of his birth but in July 1820 his age is mentioned as 55 years - Although his family name historically written by himself in 1818 #20, it spelt Weir, yet in the body of his pension paper & in those of his widow as well as in a letter of her son Samuel, dated Oxford (Conn o ) Sept 10, 1838 it is under Mire and the latter orthography was adopted in the records of the office - He was married at Greenfield Hill a parish in Fairfield Conn o Feb y 3, 1783 to Eunice Gould, daughter of David & Abigail (Hill) Gould at which place he had  for a time with other soldiers, was  on duty  in the trenches & killed upon the inhabitants - After the marriage they remained at Greenfield Hill until after the birth of two daughters & a son, & while the latter was an infant he removed to Milford where he died December 23, 1827 of consumption induced it was said by dropsy with which latter disease he had been affected for several years -
His declaration application for a pension, made in 1818, contains only the brief statement that he enlisted as a private into the Continental Army in March 1781 with Capt Stanton in the Conn o regiment of Light Dragoons commanded by Col o Elsha Sheldon & his discharge signed by George Washington is dated at June 12 1783 - It is evident from the statement of his widow in her declaration in support of her claim for a pension in 1838 that he rendered military service in the Militia perhaps the reason he did not give a more detailed history including the battles in which he was engaged, is probably owing to the fact that the act of 1818 giving him a pension was the first one Congress had passed, & only required the soldier to establish only 9 months in the Continental Army - Under a later act (1832) more details were required - His widow states that he went into the service when 14 years of age which must have been prior to 1781 & no doubt consisted of more than one tour of duty, for he was at that age an indentured apprentice to John Downs who being drafted for 3 months to go, she thinks, to New London & Weir was his substitute - In consequence of his age it says he would stand "tip-top" as for guard duty included or required - The widow from statements is of the opinion had by her husband that his service must have covered nearly 5 years but she was unable to specify the time or places - She relates some incidents, one of which was that her master promised to convert his engagement as a substitute provided the family to be received money should stand between them to which he agreed
On his return home, from the performance of a tour of duty he applied to Downs for his share of the bounty money which was promised - This circumstance irritated him to such a degree that immediately abandoned his apprenticeship to enlist in the Continental Army - Another incident was that while stationed at Hone Neck (in the S.W. corner of Conn o ) several of the soldiers on guard were shot by "cowboys" necessitating the sending out of scouting parties to hunt for them - On one occasion he was in a party of 25

that was detailed for this duty & when in the vicinity of a peach orchard he left his company to visit it - Observing a hilt near the orchard he went towards it & as he approached the door a person dressed in a fine green short jacket, trimmed with gold lace presented himself at the door with his gun which he snapped at him but missed fire - He immediately shot the "cowboy" thro' the heart, then going rapidly around the hilt he noticed another person who after proved to be the brother of the one he had killed, in the act of jumping out of a window - He quickly reloaded his gun & while the escaping "cowboy" was running wounded him in the shoulder & carried him to Head Quarters as a prisoner - Among the articles taken from the one that was killed were his fine rich clothing, silver buckles, a valuable gun a gold watch & some ornaments, all of which articles were given to him by the Commanding officer & taken home. For this exploit he was offered a commission which he declined on account of his age -
The widow in 1837 removed from Milford to New Haven & stated in 1838 that she was 73 years old on the 19 th of July 1837
It is stated in the widows papers that her mother was first cousin to Col David Dimon who was an officer in the Revolution & Ebenezer Gould of Fairfield Conn in 1838 bore the same relationship to Ebenezer
The following statement is not in the pension papers but it is known that he was a woolen manufacturer in Oxford & about 1837 or 8 moved to New Haven where he was proprietor of the Park Hotel on Chapel Street fronting the Public Square & probably died there in that city
Edward Jennings born 1764 died 1838

TELEPHONE 904 RIVERSIDE.
STUART C. WADE CENEALOGIST AND RECORD SEARCHER
FORMERLY AND FOR SOME TIME LIBRARIAN IN CHARGE, GENEALOGICAL AND LOCAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT, NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, (LENOX BRANCH.)
O.M.Y.R.
121 WEST 90TH STREET, NEW YORK CITY.
Sept. 13th, 1902.
The Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Samuel Wire or Weir , born at Milford, July 30, 1764, enlisted Jan. 23, 1781, in Colonel Elisha Sheldon's Second Connecticut Regiment under Captain Stanton, he died at Milford Dec. 24, 1827, and I understand was a pensioner. Would you please favor me, for his descendant, Colonel Levi C. Weir, with the record of his services as it appears on your files?
He had other service.
Very respectfully yours,
Stuart C. Wade

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Wiley, Michael GRADE Private LINE Maryland
WARRANT NUMBER 11812 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED December 22, 1794 To — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.