Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32054, Austin Wells, Conn.

SERVICE
Conrad-
Wells, Austin
NUMBER
NUMBER 8 32054
CONTENTS

Reported
31.976
New York
Austin Wells Washington in the State of N. York was a private in the Corp. commanded by Captain Woodbridge of the Regt. commanded by Col. Elmore in Conn N York line for
11 months 6 days private
Granted on the Roll of N.Y. Albany at the rate of 37 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of August 1842 and sent to J.H. Baker Esq. Rome N.Y.
Amount to the 4th of March 42 $10.63 Pensional allowance ending 14 Sept 18.64 42929
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Theodore Smoody Clerk, Book E. 2, Vol. 4 Page 83

N o 7696 Austin Wells
Rolls Bands 20. 14 from June 76 to 11. Jan'y 77. 8mo 6d P 39
Sep 1. 1832 Nov 9 1832
Luther S. Howe Cambridge N.Y.

7690
BRIEF in the case of  Clinton Wells  of White Creek in the State of  Pa  Yrs R  (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 73 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years. Months. Days. As a Gen.     In 1776 12 April enlisted for & served 1 private Col Samuel Moore. Maj. Genl. John Cochran Capt Theodore Woodbridge   1777 served 1 Sergt. Capt Gilmore, Capt Hollings   1778 March served 1 amonth Sergt. of the Guard Col Yates   served was ordered out 1 amonth private Capt Sherwood  
5. In what battles was he engaged?  To his best recollection he actually served more than 2 years  In what battles was he engaged? "Burlington & Battle" 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? White Creek
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
Traditional evidence
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
 Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Wentzel
Examining Clerk.

Austin Wells
application for a
to
Pension
7690

State of New York Washington County ss I Jesse J Leigh Clerk of the County of Wash- ington. Do Certify that the annexed papers contain the original pro- =ceedings of the said Court of Com- =mon Pleas in the matter of the application of Austin Wells for a pension. And I further Certify that Sidney Wells Esq. whose name is subscribed to the annexed affidavit of Austin Wells, was on the 28th day of November 1832, a Justice of the peace of said County of Washington and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice & believe his name subscribed to the said affida- =vit to be his own proper hand writing In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the said County this twenty first day of December one thousand eight hundred thirty two. J. J. Leigh C.R.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace of the town of Cambridge  Cambridge in the County of Washington & State of New York Austin Wells, who being duly sworn deposes & saith, that by reason of old age, & the cause of great loss of memory, he can not swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For one year, from April 15 th 1776, to April 17 th 1777 I served as a private soldier, under Col. Samuel Elmer, mentioned in the annexed declaration. And I further served not less than one year more, as a sergeant in the several terms mentioned in the annexed declaration, after the 17 th of April 1777, but I can not give a more detailed statement of those terms that is given in said declaration, nor can I prove said terms by any living witness; and for such service I claim a pension
Sworn before me this 28 th day of November 1832
Sidney Wells Justice of the peace
State of New York } Washington County } ss: I Jesse S Leigh Clerk of said County of Washington certify that Sidney Wells before whom the above affidavit was taken, was on the twenty eighth day of November 1832, a Justice of the peace of the town of Cambridge in said County, that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice of the peace and

believe his signature to said affidavit to be genuine
In witness whereof, I have caused the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said County to be hereunto affixed This day of 1832

Austin Wells application for a Pension 7690

State of New York & 8 County of Washington ss On this 28 th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before John Willard Charles F. Dugall & Benjamin F. Skinner the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington & State of New York, now sitting. Austin Wells a resident of the town of White Creek in said County, aged 73 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 & served as herein stated. That on the 15 th day of April in the year 1776 he enlisted for one year in the Regiment of the Connecticut State troops, under Command of Col. Samuel Elizur of that State, & Robert Cochran was Major and Theodore Woodbridge of Hartland in that State was Captain of the Company in which he served, & one Church was Lieut. That immediately after he enlisted said Regiment was formed at Sheffield and he marched from thence under said officers directly to Albany by way of Pineskeeps & Greenbush, that on their arrival at Albany they were stationed at the Barracks on the Hill & remained there about a month when they were ordered to New York. That said Regiment consisting of Eight hundred men, went on board of four Sloops, which were provided to convey them to New York & sailed down the River Hudson a few miles toward New York when they received orders to return back to Albany where they were again stationed at the said Barracks till July, when they marched pursuant to orders, to a place then called German Flatts, on the Mohawk River, now called Herkimer, and remained there until November engaged in scouting parties, keeping guard building a Picket fort & ordinary Camp duty. He then marched with said Regiment under said officers to Fort Stanwix to relieve a New Jersey Regiment, stationed there commanded by Col. Dayton, where they remained

under said officers all winter, and were engaged in small scouting parties & the common duty of Saldins, until the 15 th day of April, when a dispute arose among the soldiers & officers, whether, the year for which they enlisted expired on the that day or the next, the Saldins insisted that their time was out on the 15 th , but as Col. Gansevoort's Regiment, which was expected to relieve them had not arrived, the officers insisted that they should serve during the whole of the next day, the 16 th , which they did & were discharged on the morning of the 17 th as he thinks & on their return, a few miles this side, about 10, or 12, as he thinks they met the Reg- iment commanded by Col. Gansevoort of Albany marching on to take the station they had just left That he served in said Regiment under said officers, as a Private for the full term of one year. In the year 1777 he resided between Fish Creek & Bennington about half way, the inhabitants were continually from early in the spring till fall, in readiness, under arms, under apprehension that Burgoyne's army would arrive from the north; he was nearly all that season under arms served as 1 st Sergeant & often at the head of 12 men was from home in one direction & another, as circum- stances required. Several weeks at a time, he served as such Sergeant in the Bennington Battle from the commencement to the close thereof & the next day as- sisted in burying the dead; And after the Battle he had command as such sergeant of the guard to take care of the Cattle, Horses & other property taken from the British and Tories, for about 2 or 3 weeks. He served until winter of that year, a part of the time under Capt. Gilmore & a part of the time Capt. Dodge; and often times under no regular officer. In March 1778 he as such sergeant took command of 12 men volunteers that were required out

of his Company, & marched to Fort Edward & joined the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Yates & on the next day after he joined said Regiment he was sent by Col. Yates with a communication to Capt David Chipman of Warren Regiment of Vermont, called the Green Mountain Boys, at Fort George, he delivered said communication & returned in safety & served in said Regiment a month or more & returned home. And a few days afterwards he went to Fort Ann as a volunteer & served under Capt Adiel Sherwood one month as a Private. That he was also ordered out with a Company of men which he as such Sergeant as aforesaid commanded, & marched to Salem in the County of Washington & were stationed at a Picket Fort which surrounded the ground on which the Presbyterian Church erected by Mr Whipton, now stands, after remaining there a few days, they went to Rupert in the State of Vermont & stayed under arms more than a month & returned home and according to his best recollection, he actually served in the Revolution as aforesaid more than two years. That he has no documentary evidence, & knows of no person now living who can testify to his services - that there is a record of his age in his Father's Bible - That he was Born Feby 14. 1759 in Hebron in the State of Connecticut. That at the time he entered the service & during the Revolutionary War he resided at the place where he ever since has & still resides. That he never received a written discharge from the service. That the following persons residing in his neighborhood, can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution, to wit Rich Beebe, Gerrit Newell, Mrs Parsonage, Samuel Day & many

others. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares, that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State, and that there is no Clergyman residing in his neighborhood or elsewhere who is acquainted with his services, to his knowledge no one having remained stationary here for any considerable length of time -
Austin Wells
Sworn and Subscribed this day and year aforesaid J. S. Leigh CEB
We Ezekiel Adams & Isaac Fowler
residing in the town of Cumberland in the County of Washington & State of Pennsylvania hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with Austin Wells who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 78 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Ezekiel Adams
Isaac Fowler
Sworn to before this 28 th day of August 1832 J. S. Leigh CEB
In the matter of Austin Wells.
Pension
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 & served as he states, And the Court further Certifies, that it appears to them that Ezekiel Adams who has signed the preceding Certificate is a resident in the town of Cumberland in said County of Washington, and that Isaac Fowler who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of White Oak in said County same place And that they are both credible persons, and that

their statement is entitled to credit.
I Jesse S Leigh Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Austin Wells for a pension.
In testimony whereat I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 8th day of August 1832
J. S. Leigh Clerk

Matter of Austin Wells affidavit

State of New York Washington County ss }
20.14
6 June 11. Jany
Another Wells of the town of White Creek in said County, an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7, 1832, whose application is suspended & on file in the pension office at Washington, being duly sworn, saith that he served in Capt Theodore Woodbridge's Company in Col. Elmore's Regiment, Continental State troops one year as stated in his declaration on file in the pension department, and that James Dole, John Henderson, Samuel Hall, Samuel Wier, John Dole, Ephraim Darling, Matthew Bell & this deponent all enlisted at the same time in the same Company & Regt & all served together during the year aforesaid. James Dole was undoubtly Sergeant and that said James Dole has since lived in Lansingburgh & Troy in Rensselaer County in said State & was Sheriff of that County & died some years ago. John Henderson in 1777 deserted to the British when they had possession of New York since which time this deponent has not heard from him. Samuel Hall was killed at the Battle of Marmaunt. Samuel Wier in April 1777 took the small pox & died with it. John Dole after the Revolution removed to the west & died about 30 years ago. Ephraim Darling & Matthew Bell went to the Southern States during the Revolution since which time this deponent has not seen or heard from either of them - that when all the above named persons enlisted they belonged to the town of Cambridge, and this deponent further saith that he has

for nearly or thirty years past made inquiry for those within whom he served in the Revolu- tion, and since the passage of the act under which this application is made he has made diligent inquiry in every place & part of the Country where he supposed testimony might be found & that he knows of no person now living nor can he hear of any person with whom he served or that can testify to any part of his services as a Revolutionary soldier and that he has furnished the department the best & all the evidence in his power on the subject of his services, and that he has made every exertion in his power to procure testimony to furnish the department on that subject.
And this deponent further saith that in reference to his various tours in the Militia he has specified in his declaration on file all the parts & particulars in his service as a revolu- tionary soldier. That Edmund Wells who died about 3 years ago was the last person living by whom he could prove any of his militia services.
Austin Wells
Subscribed & sworn before me this 22 nd day of August 1833.
Luther Hove a Judge of Wash County Courts
State of New York § Washington County ss
I Jesse S. Leigh Clerk of the County of Washington. Certify that Luther Hove before whom the above affidavit purports to have been

sworn, was, at the time the same purports to have been sworn a Judge of the County Courts of said County of Washington & duly authorized & empowered by Law to take affidavits & admin- ister oaths. And that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Judge & believe his signature to said affidavit to be genuine
Given under my hand & official Seal this 2 d day of September A.D. 1833 J. S. Leigh ATE
§

Aug 11. 1842.
Miss
a. Wells
Mr. Stone
Rec
FREE
Pension Office
(Application for revolutionary Pension)
Washington

Rome, Oneida County N.Y. August 8 1842
Sir
At the request of Mr Austin Mills an application for a hearing I enclose you the additional proofs which he has been able to make.
Mr Blair the member of Congress from this state will probably call on you & make any explanation necessary.
Please write me the result.
Yours Respectfully H C Baker

No 35,379 Austin Wells
NY.
act 7 June '32
acord 11 mo 605/pri
37.33
J. C. Baker Esq. Rome NY.

State of New York \frac{3}{3}  \frac{1}{3} Washington County \frac{3}{3}  \frac{1}{3}
James McKie of the Town of White Creek in the County of Washington and State of New York being duly sworn says that he is of the age of eighty one Years and resides in the Town and County of -oresaid and has resided there up- -wards of sixty seven Years and is a Revolu- -tionary Soldier and receives a Pen- -sion under the Act of June 1832 and has a Pension Certificate dated 1 st day of April 1834 and Numbered That he knows Austin Wells now of White Creek Washington County aforesaid and has known him for upwards of sixty four Years. That he first knew him about the Year 1776 that he then resided in Cambridge now White Creek in the County afores- -aid and has ever since resided there and now resides there. That this depo- -nent knows that said Austin Wells is of about the age of 82 Years. That he on his first acquaintance with him and by -one his personal acquaintance with him he was informed and believed and then and still believes that said Austin Wells had been a Soldier in the Revolutionary war. That he was in the Battle of Pen- -nington - That he was at Fort Stanwix and this deponent further says that after the Battle of Pennington he was generally employed at Northern Stations, and consequently was not in the immediate Company of said Austin Wells. But that it was always reported and believed that the said Austin Wells was often

called out to assist in guarding the Northern & Western frontier which service was invariably performed by the Militia. And this deponent believes that the said Austin Wells always performed the service required of him by the officers in command. And this deponent at the time believed and still believes that the said Austin Wells was frequently called out to repel the invasions of the enemy and did uniformly go when called.
That it was then believed in the town and neighbourhood that said Austin Wells was a soldier of the Revolution and it still is believed, that this deponent then and still believes he was such a soldier of the Revolution and has no doubt whatever of the fact. That said Wells is a respectable & credible man in all respects & in whose statements full credit can be placed.
Sworn and subscribed his James M c Kie before me this 15 th April 3 Mark 1862
H. J. Barnum, Justice of the Peace
In presence of Sidney Wells
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named James M c Kie, that he is a man of good character and upon whose testimony full confidence can be placed.
H. J. Barnum Justice of the Peace

State of New York } County of Washington } I, Edward Dodd clerk of the said county hereby certify that Harmon S. Barhum Esquire is a Justice of the peace as above and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of the said county this 2 d day of May 1842 —
Edward Dodd Clerk

add. declaration
Christie Wells
Age
papers in file
Free
J. C. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Pensions Washington D.C.

North White Creek. Wash Co. N.Y.
The inclosed sheet of paper on which the aft & Certificate are made, not having been, separated. I supposed it unnecessary to bind it together by tape. Please to communicate to me the result of your investigation of this case
Luther J. Howe

State of New York ss Washington County
William Gilmore of the town of White Creek in the County of Washington & State aforesaid being duly-sworn before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace of said County deposeth & saith that he is of the age of ninety one years & resides in the town & County aforesaid & has resided there for upwards of sixty four years & is a revolutionary soldier & receives a pension under the act of March of June eighteen hundred thirty three - - - and has a pension certificate dated Thirtieth day of May 1833 - and number 14546 That he knows Austin Wells now of White Creek in the County aforesaid & has known him for upwards of sixty four years that he first knew him on the Twentieth of August Seventeen hundred & Seventy Seven the morning after the Battle of Bennington on the battle ground that they met there for the purpose of burying the dead that were slain the day before & that while engaged in so doing this deponent was informed by the said Austin Wells that he the said Austin was in the said battle on the said previous day which this deponent merely believed & still believes to be true And the said deponent further saith that he was with the said Austin at or near Fort George after the battle of Bennington & assisted in burying the dead of a portion of Capt. Chipmans Company which were cut off by the British & Indians commanded by Lieut. Hill & Ensign Ennis or Capt. Hance who were killed together with about twenty men And this deponent further saith that he was with the said Austin Wells on a tour of service at Rupert Vermont with a small body of Militia sent there for the purpose of preventing the depredations of the enemy from the north & remained there for the space of two weeks And this deponent further saith that this frontier was at that time (that is after the battle of Bennington to the termination of the war) principally guarded & protected by the Militia There is & that it was then the general report & belief in the community & also of this deponent that the said Austin Wells was often called out to assist in guarding this frontier & did go & render such service at various times And this deponent further saith that he was informed & believed & then & still believes that the said Austin Wells had been a Soldier in the revolutionary war for some months previous to the battle of Bennington & that it was then believed in the town & neighborhood that the said Austin Wells was a soldier of the revolution & is still so believed That this deponent then & still believes he was such Soldier in the revolution & has no doubt whatever of the

of the fact & that said Mills is a respectable & credible man in all respects & in whose statements full credit can be placed
William Gilmore
Subscribed and sworn before me
this 11 th day of April 1842
I Certify that I am well acquainted with the said William Gilmore that he is a man of good character & upon whose statements & testimony full reliance can be placed
Gideon C. Olin Justice of the Peace
State of New York } County of Washington } I Edward Dodd clerk of the said county hereby certify that Gideon C. Olin Esq. is a justice of the peace as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine -
Given under my hand and the seal of the said county this 2 nd day of April 1842 -
Edward Dodd Clerk
State of New York } p. Lewis Berry of the town of Whitestown, County of County of Medina } Medina aforesaid being duly sworn says that he resided in the town & county aforesaid, that this deponent formerly resided at Cambridge, Washington County & is well acquainted with Austin Mells Esq. mentioned in the foregoing affidavit of William Gilmore, that this deponent first became acquainted with him at Cambridge about the year 1789 when this deponent first went to Cambridge to reside, that this deponent is of the age of seventy five years - That this deponent has heard the foregoing affidavit of said William Gilmore read & knows the contents thereof, that this deponent is well acquainted with said Gilmore & has known him for upwards of fifty three years & knows his character to be good in every respect & in whose statements full reliance can be placed, that this deponent well recollects of hearing the said Austin Mells talk tell of being at Fort Stanwix as a soldier during the Revolutionary war that this deponent then believed & still believes that no doubt but that said Austin Mells was a soldier in the War of the Revolution & was at Fort Stanwix & served as stated by him

That said Austin Wells is a man of good character. That this deponent has also heard the affidavit of James Mc Tice, accompanying these papers read & knows the contents thereof that this deponent became acqua- inted with said Mc Tice about the year 1789 & has known him ever since that full reliance can be placed upon his statements
Levi Berry
Sworn & subscribed before me this 25 th day of May 1842 & I certify that I am well acquainted with the said Levi Berry, that he is a gentleman of the strictest veracity & in whose statement full reliance can be placed
H. Wetmore
Justice of the Peace of Saratoga County
State of New York } ss: I P Sheldon Root Clerk of the Court of Com- County of Ulster } mon Pleas of said County of Ulster & Clerk of said County, do certify that William S. Kel- mer whose signature is above written was at the time said affidavit was taken & fully au- thorized to take the same & further that I am well acquainted with his signature above writ- & know the same to be genuine Witness my hand & seal of office at the Clerk's office at Kingston in said County the Eighth day of August 1842
P. Sheldon Root, Clerk

I certify that I have been acquainted with Austin Wells Esq. of White Creek from my childhood, that he has uniformly sustained a good reputation. & in the correctness of whose testimony & statements, the community in which he lives, have always placed the fullest reliance.
Furthermore, at his request, I took measures to have the records of Colonel Elmore's Regiment examined, at Hartford, Connecticut; and nothing could be found but a settlement with Col' Elmore, without any names attached.
Dated Cambridge April 27 th 1842
Walter R. Sney Minister of the Gospel

I certify that I am well acquainted with Austin Wells Esquire of White Creek formerly Cambridge - that he is a man of good character, a respectable and excellent man in all respects, and upon whose testimony and statements, full reliance can be placed
Dated Cambridge then Bullions D.D. April 23 d 1842 3
} Pastor of the Associate Church and congregation in Cambridge
I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Austin Wells Esquire of White Creek for about twenty years past and since that I fully concur with the Rev. Doctor Bullions in the opinion above expressed in his certificate - Dated White Creek } April 23 d 1842 3
Daniel Linscomb Pastor of the Baptist Church in White Creek

New York Revol
Austin Wells Suspended
See letter to 3400
Luther H. Howe 6 Augt 1833.
Act 7 June 32

32 054 Rev INVALID.
Ms No. 32,054
Justin Wells
Rev Rev 1880
Act: June 1 st 82
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 121
[Arrangement of 1870.]