Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 32042, Reuben Wadsworth, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
born
Wadsworth, Reuben
S 32042
CONTENTS

17417- 17417- connecticut
Reubens Wadsworth of Hartford in the State of Conn who was a Ser in the Conn commanded by Captain Scott of the Regt commanded by Col Chester in the Conn line for State Troops 15 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 75 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Aug 1833 and Rent. S. 74 Parsons. Hartford Ct
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 $ 150 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sep 41 37 50 $187 50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Bullen Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 Page 46
Due July 18-1836 a B

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
State of Connecticut } ss. Hartford County }
106/234 An this 3 rd day of July 1832 personally appeared in open court of Probate for the district of Hartford in the County of Hartford, being a Court of record, having by Law a Clerk & Seal Reuben Wadsworth of Hartford in said County & State, aged seventy eight years, who being first duely 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 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States as a sergeant in a Company of Militia in May 1775, commanded by Capt n Ezekiel Scott of Farmington, Lieut. Cooper & Ensign Lawles... in Col o Samuel Wyllys' regiment & as he thinks in Gen l Joseph Spencer's Brigade... That he the deponent marched with the company from Hartford to Roxbury in May. & served there faithfully until sometime in December 1775 as near as the deponent can recollect; & that he was absent more than six, & as he verily believes, seven months .
That James Harnes Esq r & Elisha Shepard Esq r both respectable inhabitants of said Hartford, have a perfect recol- lection of the fact that the deponent was in the company & marched in May for Roxbury. & that he returned about the time he states.
That in the year 1776, sometime in May or June he enlisted into a Company of State troops, under Capt n Isaac Seymour, Lieutenants Barnard, & Curtis & Ensign Wilcox... in Col o John Chester's regiment... Solomon Willes of Tolland was our Lieut. Col o & John Ripley was our Major That he was mustered in S d Hartford & marched to New York That he was there, & a member when the British & Hessian landed on Long Island, sometime in August. That the

Troops were withdrawn from Brooklyn, & came back to New York ... That he continued in the service & in the line of his duty, with the troops, when they left the City of New York & marched to Harlem - to White Plains ... Then into New Jersey - & crossed the Delaware at Easton in Pennsylvania. & continued in the service, until the term of his engagement had expired, when he was honorably dismissed on the 25 th day of December 1776 at a place, about twenty or thirty miles from Philadelphia - That he was absent on this tour, over six months.
That Wm Wolcott of Wethersfield was with him on this tour of duty & knows the facts. Perhaps some others may also be now living, but the deponent don't know any, but Elisha Shepard Esq r remembers that he went on this tour &c.
That in August or Sept r 1777 the said Wadsworth was drafted for two months, but served nearly three months as a Sargeant in a company commanded by Capt n Jonathan Wadsworth of Hartford, Lieut t Phelps of Windsor & Ensign Owen, in Col l Cook's Regiment - H. Woodbridge of Glastenbury was our L t Col l & Kent of Litchfield family was our Major. That the company was mustered at Hartford & marched forthwith to Stillwater in the State of New York & was in the battles under Gen l Gates in Sept r & October, when Burgoyne & his whole army surrendered as prisoners of war - that the troops then went to Albany & in a few days afterward, he the deponent with others was ordered on the guard to conduct about an hundred of the prisoners to Hartford. The guard was commanded by Col l (then Capt n ) Blake of Chatham - That he was dismissed in Hartford the latter part of October or the beginning of Nov r 1777, having served on this tour as the deponent's verily believes about two months & ten or fifteen days .
That Stephen Skinner of Hartford who is a respectable & credible man, was a private & served on this tour with

The deponent knows the facts he is ready to testify to state them. Elisha Shepard also remembers that he went to
That in May 1778 he enlisted for six months under Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth of Hartford who was Commissary Genl. of the Army. — Col. Stewart was the Commissary Genl. of subsistence , & the deponent was placed under Col. Stewart. That he with several others were mustered at Hartford & marched to Peekskill, proceeded into New Jersey — passed thro' that State & crossed the Delaware at Easton & joined the Army, under Genl. Washington (which was then marching from Valley Forge) at a place he thinks about thirty miles from Philadelphia
That he continued in the Army, recrossed the Delaware & marched to Monmouth — New Brunswick & passed thro' several places, the names of which he has forgotten to Peekskill in the State of New York — thence to White Plains & was honorably dismissed at Morris Stores in Fredericksburgh in November or December 1778 — having served his term out faithfully, six months . That during this term of service he acted under Col. Stewart in issuing provisions to the American troops.
Elisha Shepard Esq. knows that I went on this tour of service, said Shepard's brother Ashbel (now dead) was with the deponent.
The deponent further states that at Roxbury he often times saw Genl. Artemas Ward — Genl. Putnam — Genl. Heath Genl. Spencer — That in 1776 at New York he frequently saw Genl. Washington, Genl. Charles Lee — Genl. Sullivan Genl. Putnam — Genl. Parsons & others — & in 1777 at the Northward, he almost daily saw Genl. Gates & Genl. Arnold & sundry other Genl. & Field Officers — & in 1778 when he enlisted under Col. Wadsworth & acted under Col. Stewart as before stated, he saw Genl. Washington, Genl. Greene

In many other Generals & Field Officers.
And the deponent hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. —
Several & each of said deponent's year first before written and the deponent in reply to certain interrogatories propounded by the Court, further declares & says that he was born at Hartford, September 19 th 1753. That a record of his birth was made in the family bible by his father, & copied into the deponent's family bible now in his possession.
That when he was called into the service he resided in said Hartford. & has always lived in Hartford.
That when he went to the Northward in 1777 he was drafted, & that at the other periods of service he enlisted & went voluntarily.
That he has, before mentioned, many of the Genl. & Field officers seen by him at the different periods of service herein before stated by him. — He has also stated the names of testimony of his several witnesses to support his statements. —
That he has had a written discharge but for a long age lost all his army papers, & has now no documents whatever. —
Sworn to & subscribed, the day Reuben Wadsworth a year first before written in open Court. —
And the said Court do hereby declare its 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 the Court further certifies that it appears that Elisha Shepard Esq., James Hasmann Esq., Stephen Sherman Wm. Walcutt, David Williams, & Samuel Drake are all credible persons & their several depositions presented to the Court & are forwarded with this application entitled to full credit.
I Wm Whitman Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Hartford, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Sergeant Reuben Wadsworth for a pension. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this 31st day of July, 1832.
Wm Whitman Clerk of Court of Probate for district of Hartford

MWH
December 9, 1925
Mrs. William B. Vrooman 1203 Seventieth Ave., Oak Lane Philadelphia, Penna.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 32042 it appears that Reuben Wadsworth was born September 19, 1753 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut.
While a resident of said Hartford he enlisted in May 1775 and served seven months as Sergeant in Captain Ezekiel Scott's Company, Colonel Samuel Wylllys' Connecticut Regiment.
He enlisted about the last of May 1776, served as Sergeant in Captain Israel Seymour's Company, Colonel John Chester's Connecticut Regiment and was discharged December 25, 1776.
He enlisted in August or September 1777, served nearly three months as Sergeant in Captain Jonathan Wadsworth's Company, Colonel Cook's Connecticut Regiment and was in both battles of Stillwater.
He enlisted in May 1778 and served six months as coop-

er and packer under Commissary General of Issues, Stewart.
He was allowed pension on his application executed Juny 31, 1832 while a resident of Hartford, Connecticut. He died July 18, 1836.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

32042 Rev INVALID.
1924 Sept 26 - Tombstone data to Chas. R. Hale - See letter & carbon in Oliver Clapp. S. 16 918 - awf. 1925 - Dec 9 - H. to Mrs. Wm B. Vrooman - MMN#
File No. 32042
Reuben Hadsworth Sergt Rev War
Act: June 1 st 32 nd
Index: - Vol. 2 , Page 488
[Arrangement of 1870.]

67 34 Reuben Wadsworth
15 m o Lerg → $75 ✓
G. H. Parsons Marford Ct

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Newton Wadsworth which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [Handwritten line] 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? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
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? 2/3
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
No
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
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.
Issuing provisions does not appear to have been military service within the act

Elisha Shepard & Jas. Warner's deposition de Reuben Wadsworth's application

We Elisha Shepard & James Hosmer, both of Hartford in Hartford County & State of Connecticut, depose & say, that in boyhood & manhood we have lived in the same Town, have  1775 been well acquainted with Sargeant Reuben Wadsworth. That we remember perfectly that said Wadsworth entered into the service of his Country, in the Spring of 1775 in a Company commanded by Capt. Ezekiel Scott of Farmington in Col. Samuel Wyllys regiment. That we well remember when the Company marched from the North green by the Court House, for Roxbury in the then Colony of Massachusetts. Sargeant Wadsworth was in that Company & marched in it at the time. I did not return to Hartford until quite cold weather we think in December 1775.
And the said Elisha Shepard also deposes that he recollects that said Wadsworth served under Capt. Israel Seymour in Col. John Cheston's regiment in the Spring of 1776 & went to New York & was gone until as near as he can now recollect until the forepart of the year in 1776. The precise time of his absence on that loan of duty the said Shepard cannot remember. That he the said Shepard, also recollects that said Wadsworth entered again into the service under Capt. Jon a Wadsworth & went to the Northward in the Summer or Fall of 1777. As he has always understood & believed, was in the battle at Stillwater when Burgoyne & the British army surrendered. That said Wadsworth returned home in about November as the deponent verily believes.
And the said Elisha Shepard also deposes, that he recollects that in May 1778 his the deponent's brother Asahel Shepard, with the said Reuben Wadsworth & several other young men belonging to Hartford, enlisted for six months, under Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, who appointed Mr. Benton to take charge of them. They all started for the army: & his said Brother Mr. Reuben Wadsworth & others after an absence of six or seven months, returned home together about Dec r 1778 as the deponent thinks.
And the said Elisha Shepard & said James Hosmer also depose & say that they remember perfectly well, that said Reuben Wadsworth entered repeatedly at different

times into the service of the country, & that it is universally understood & believed by the inhabitants of said Hartford, that the said Sargent Reuben Wadsworth was in the army at different times during a great portion of the time of the revolutionary war. And the said Elisha Shepard, aged Eighty one years. & the said James Mosher aged, Eighty years, both depose & say that said Reuben Wadsworth sustains & always has sustained a very fair reputation for honesty, sobriety, & veracity. & that his statements on any subject are entitled to credit. — Further the deponents saith not. Dated at Hartford, in s. Hartford County, this 31 st day of July A.D. 1832
Sworn & subscribed the day & year last above written
Elisha Shepard James Mosher
Before Me Ch. Parsons Just. Pac.
I certify that the above deponents, are gentlemen of respectability & perfectly fair character, for integrity & veracity —
Ch. Parsons Just. Pac.

I Wm Wolcott of Wethersfield in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut depose & say that I seventy eight years of age - then served as a private in the year 1776 under Capt. Chester Welles of S d Wethersfield, in Col o John Chester's Regiment. I marched to New York, & continued in the service at New York, White Plains - New Jersey, crossed the Delaware at Easton, & was dismissed at Trenton nearly opposite, as I think, to Trenton... on the 25 th Dec r 1776. That I was then & ever since have been well acquainted with Sergeant Reuben Wadsworth of Hartford. I know that he served as a Sergeant in Capt m Seymours Company in our Regiment, from about the last of May to the 25 th of December 1776. I was dismissed at that time with the rest of us who belonged to Col o Chester's Regiment after a term of six months & perhaps a few days more.
That for the greater part of my life, I have lived within four miles of the residence of said Sergeant Wadsworth & know him well. That his character for sobriety, integrity & veracity is good. - Further the deponent saith that
Dated at Hartford in Hartford County this 30 th day of July 1832
Sworn & subscribed the day & year last above written Before me En. Parsons Just. Pac.
William Wolcott
I certify that the above deponent sustains a fair character for honesty & truth
En. Parsons Just. Pac.

Wm Wolcott dep. re application of Reuben Wadsworth

Stephen Skinner In application of Reuben Wadsworth

I Stephen Skinner of Hartford in the County of Hart- ford, State of Connecticut, aged seventy seven years depon & say that I was in Capt n Jon a Wadsworth's company, as a private soldier in the militia, in Col o Litchfield's regiment. That the company was mustered sometime in August 1777 & marched from Hartford to Stillwater. I was was with them, & engaged in two battles with the British. That the army of Burgoyne surrendered prisoners of war in October - That we then marched to Albany & I was one of the guard under Capt n Blake , that guarded about one hundred of the prisoners from Albany to Hartford - when the guard was dismissed some time about the middle of Nov r 1777. Having served on this tour according to my best recollection about two months & a half
That I was at that time ever since well acquainted with Sergeant Reuben Wadsworth of said Hartford & know that he was a sergeant in our company & served the whole of the tour above stated & if was with the guard, dismissed at Hartford as before mentioned - I also know that said Reuben Wadsworth was in the service at New York & in 1776 in Col o Chester's Regiment - I saw & knew him at that time; he was in the same company that my brother (now dead) served in - I belonged to a militia Regiment, Major Newbury of Windsor was my Major
Further say that I have always lived in the same town with Sergeant Wadsworth, about two or three miles distant from him - I have known him before , through, & since the revolutionary war & know that his character for truth & honesty is good & further the deponent saith not - I did at Hartford in Hartford County this 30. day of July 1832 sworn & subscribed the day & year Stephen Skinner before me. Br. Parsons Just. Peace

I certify that the within deponent sustains a good character for truth & honesty
Chas Parsons Justice of Peace

David Williams of East Hartford Reuben Wadsworth service in Captain Israel Hymans Comt. H. C. A. Chester State Troops.

I said Williams of East Hartford in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged 70 years do depose and say that I am well acquainted with Reuben Wadsworth now living in Hartford in said County of Hartford; that I saw the said Wadsworth in New York in 1770, then knew that he was then a Sergeant in Captain Israel Seymour's Company, Col John Chester's regiment of State troops - I was at that time a private in Captain Abraham Sedgewick, company in said John Chester's regiment. The regiment was disbanded about the 25 Dec. 1776, and I reached home in East Hartford January 6. 1777 -
David Williams
Sworn to subscribed this 25 day of July 1832
Before me Samuel H. Parsons Notary Public
I further certify that the deponent above named is a person of veracity. - Samuel H. Parsons
Notary Public

I Samuel Drake of Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged Seventy seven years depose and say, That for more than sixty years I have been personally acquainted with one Reuben Wadsworth of the City and County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut, and knew him in the war of the Revolution. That in the year 1777 we served together about three months from August to October in the Militia Company commanded by Captain Jonathan Wadsworth of said Hartford in the regiment commanded by Colonel Cook, and were both at the Still water battle of Still water on the 19 th of September 1777 in which battle their Captain Jonathan Wadsworth was wounded and subsequently died of his wounds in Albany; - And the deponent further saith, that in the latter part of October 1777 he the said deponent & the said Wadsworth were part of the Company that guarded the party of British prisoners from Saratoga to Hartford in the State of Connecticut and were then both dismissed and returned to Windsor - I have subscribed } Samuel Drake
before me this 5 th day of July 1832: and I hereby certify that the deponent is a credible person
Samuel H Parsons Notary Public

WE, C. C. Vanarsdaling a clergyman, residing in the town of Hartford in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut and John Caldwell residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Reuben Wadsworth a resident of said Hartford who is an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832; that we believe him to be Seventy nine — years of age; that he is generally reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he now resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Cornelius C Vanarsdalen John Caldwell
STATE OF Connecticut } ss. Hartford COUNTY OF Hartford }
On this 15 day of May 1833 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, personally appeared the Rev. C. C. Vanarsdalen who is a clergyman residing in the said town of Hartford and John Caldwell Esq. who is a credible person residing in the same town—and made oath that the preceding certificate by them subscribed is true, and I further certify that their statement is entitled to credit.
Hon. Parsons Just. Peace

State of Connecticut } ss. Hartford. County of Hartford }
On this 15 th day of May 1833, before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace for said County of Hartford.
1 st personally appeared Reuben Wadsworth of said Hartford, whose application for a pension under the act of 1832 was executed before the Hon. Probate Court for the District of Hartford the 31 st day of July 1832 - and made oath that he served at least seven months as a Sergeant in a company of infantry commanded by Captain Ezekiel Scott, in a regiment com- manded by Colonel Samuel Wyllys in 1775.
2 nd  in 1776 That he served at least Six months , and he believes longer as a Sergeant in a company of foot commanded by Captain Isaac Sey- mour in a regiment commanded by Colonel John Chester - see Mr. Wolcott, affiant.
3 rd That he served in 1777, at least two months and ten days in a company of foot commanded by Captain Jonathan Wadsworth in Colonel Cook's regiment. That he was a Sergeant in this company; see Stephen Skinner affiant.
4 th That in 1778, he served as a mechanic under Colonel Scramm at Wadsworth's fort the term of six months, and was employed by Colonel Stewart in the capacity of Cooper and

Packer... Colonel Stewart acted as a Commissary General of issues; and the deponent was employed in packing provi- sions, and co-operating bands, as  for  the issuing provisions to and was subjected to the  Army regulations - following the army movements from place to place & bound by military rules & martial law . Samuel Gray Esq of Windham Connecticut, whose name is placed on the petition roll under the Act of June 7, 1832, as deputy Quarter master General of purchases, was connected with this department as the deponent thinks at Frederickshburgh. That he the deponent served the whole period of six months as a Cooper and Packer and was subject to martial law in the same manner as any other member or mechanic connected with the Army.
That he claims a pension for the abovementioned services. viz -
15 months & 20 days as a Sergeant & 6 months as a Cooper or mechanic .
Sworn to & subscribed this 15th day of May 1833 }
Before me -
E. N. Parsons Just. Peace
Reuben Wadsworth

I, Thomas Day, Secretary of the State of Connecticut and Keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify, That Enoch Parsons Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits of Elisha Shepard, James Homer, William Wolcott, Stephen Skinner, Cornelius C. Van Wadsworth, John Baldwin and Reuben was, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Hartford; that Samuel H. Parsons Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits of David Williams and Lemuel Drake were taken, is, and at the time of such caption was, a Notary Public within and for the county of Hartford aforesaid; both said Officers having been duly appointed commissioned and qualified, with full power and authority, under the laws of said State, to administer Oaths to witnesses, and to take affidavits out of court and to certify the same; that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of each of said Officers, and hereby believe the foregoing signatures purporting to be theirs respectively, are genuine; and that full credence is due to their official acts and attestations respectively.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at Hartford, the seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.
Thomas Day

1203 SEVENTIETH AVENUE OAK LANE
Pension Bureau -
Will you kindly send me a copy of the Pension papers - of Revolutionary service of Reuben Hadeworth, of Hartford, Conn.
Thanking you in advance, I am Very truly yours Ethel T. Vrooman
Mrs. Wm. B. Vrooman 1203 - 70 th Av. Oak Lane Philadelphia, Pa