Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14735, Amos Turrel, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Turrel Amos or Turrell.
S14735
buried
CONTENTS
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9773 Connecticut
Amos Turrell
of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Bennett of the Regt. command by Col. Whiting in the Cont. time for 11 months & 12 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Court at the rate of 38 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of June 1833 and due to A.S. Nichols M. Fairfield Co
  Arrears to the 4th of Nov. 32  $ 7 6    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sep r 33  1 9     $ 9 5  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. } G. E. Stiles Clerk. Vol. 3. Page 13
Recorded by Book C.

No 25.051 Amos Turral Fairfield Connecticut
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
— Chas 11 months A12 of interest
R. S. Nichols Fairfield Connecticut

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
Heads
A Statement, shewing the Service of Amos Turrell, Fairfield Co. Conn.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     On Feb 4 th 1775 1 Private Capt. Bennett 75 years Witness E. Seeley from May   End March 76 1 Capt. Benymon Town of Fairfield 1776 until middle Jan'y 77   End May 76 8 Capt. Abel traditional evidence   year at Turrell 6 weeks Genl. Poor testimony credible   ditto 3 weeks Capt. Wheeler   Col. Whiting      he states his whole service at Turrell 9 months & one week
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his.

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
John R. Ashmun

State of Connecticut County of Litchfield ss. Magistrate.
On this 27 th day of April Eighteen hundred thirty three Anderson appeared in open court before the court of Probate within & for the District of Bridgeport in said County. Now sitting Amos Tuttle of a President of Litchfield in said County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut aged seventy five years who being first sworn according to law do hereby make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June Seventh A.D. Eighteen hundred thirty two. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated

2 To wit In the Month of April 1775 I was drafted by Capt. Benjamin Bunnell of Weston in the County of Fairfield out of his Milia- ria Company for one Month to go on Guard at Fairfield and Fairfield Beach on Long Island Sound - I went into the Service & Served on Guard for one Month without any interval & Staid constantly at the Guard House. I cannot name the officers of the Guard nor do I know any of any Officers living by whom I call my time Miss Service - I recollect that the draft was for one Month - I was then 17 years of age - I lived about 10 Miles from Fairfield - I did not leave the Guard until my time was out -
Again about the first of March 1776. I en- listed at Stamford in said County under Capt. George Benjamin & went into New York City where I Staid in the Guard States Service one Month - we marched under said Benjamin to New York - It was understood that the British had left Boston & we were Staid at New York until our Army arrived from Boston - I had a Brother Oliver Bunnell who was in the Army & came in the Army under Capt. Bosworth from Boston to New York. I left him in New York - we were dis- charged in the Month of April & to the best of my knowledge about the middle of April - I came up in a Rebel Commanded by Capt. James Hyl- Stood at Norwalk - I attended Brack- man of Weston & the others Company of Bunnell were with me - they all were

3 dead & 8 wounded of no one living who was with me but by whom I can prove this Service - one Whiting was one Lieutenant and one Sampson Sergeant
Again in the year 1776 on the 18 th Mond- ay of May I enlisted into the Connecti- cut State Troops under Capt. Elijah Pheasant until the first of January next following. It was on the evening of training day at that part of Hudson Lansdown which is now Madison that I enlisted with 10 or 12 others - The company mustered at Lansdown & we went down Lansdown to New York under Capt. Phelps & there joined the Regiment under Col. Bradley we crossed over to the Jersey side about three weeks after we got to the City & were stationed at Bangor & about a week we staid until sometime in Sept- ember when the Regiment went to Fort Lee on the West side of the River soon after this (I think in October) three of the Phoenix Ships the Phoenix, the Phoenix & the Duchess of Gordon went up the River to Albany - In the one David Small was taken from Capt. Phelps Company & with others from the other Regiments amounting to about 100 men went under Capt. West of the Continental Army up to Haver- brook where we attacked a party of the British that came from the Ships to take a quantity of stores - we

4 lost one or two men & several were wounded we staid at Harpers Ferry near a month when we were ordered to join Genl. Washington's Army at Princeton. which we did & had just moved the river to Trenton the night - we afterwards recaptured the river on Christmas Eve & took about 1800 Hessian - My time was out on the first of January & David Lund before mentioned left at that time & returned home - I staid until a week or ten days after David Lund left who died as soon as he got home he was dead when I got home which was about the middle of January 1777 I was discharged by Genl. Howe who had command of our Brigade at Trenton - one William Harding of Red- ing was first Lieutenant in Abels Com- pany & one John Mackridge of Hunting- -ton 2nd Lieut. - After I left Capt. Abels Company I went under Capt. West to Harrisburg I cannot name any of the under officers - Capt. West was killed before we got to Princeton & I cannot name the Captains of our company after West was killed - one Benjamin Day- ton of Newark was with me in this service until I left for New Jersey I enlisted at the same time I did with Capt. Abel - said Dayton does not recall me or my being in his service - Ebenezer Seeley of Windsor is now at Wiltsey in Connecticut he one the Genl. of my enlistment into said Abels Company & my absence for the time I have staid (over eight months)

Again in the year _____ in the month of _____ just before the beginning of I went on the North River I volunteered together with one Joseph Silliman and I went into the United States Service & 42 days I served six weeks under Capt. John Wheeler & Genl. Daniel Bennet. We went to Cook's Hill on the River where I stood about three weeks — I spent was burnt before we got there — I cannot name any of the continental officers who were at Cook's Hill — From Cook's Hill I was sent in a small gun under Genl. Bennet to Red Hook to guard 10 Teams which went with stores from Poughkeepsie to Red Hook. We stood at Red Hook three weeks from the time we started — The above named Silliman was with me & I recollect that he had not any blanket or great coat & I lent him my coat when he stood on guard in the night — I know of no one living who can 10 testify to this period of time which 11, 12 was six weeks. 13, 14
Again in the year _____ in the month of _____ I volunteered to go as a waiter under Col. Samuel Whiting of Shaford & went with him on to the Lines at White Plains — Col. Whiting was a Militia Colonel & I served as his waiter three weeks

at White Plains I cannot recollect any persons who were with me at this time nor do I know of any per- son by whom I can prove this period of Service - I had to look for Col. Whiting which enabled me to recollect the fall of this Service - I came home to Weston after said 3 Weeks which has the last of my Personal Service I was afterwards drafted for two months & hired one Gyon to go in my place who is now dead - After this one Jedediah Seaver & myself had a bought a Blacksmith by the name of Fortune or Fortune Seaver who agreed to enlist & did enlist during the War. This was by the Law & entitled me & said Seaver from further Service we gave forty pounds for said Fortune - My whole Service above stated am about 10 twelve Months some Weeks - I have not any docu- mentary evidence of said Service & never received a written Discharge. The persons and Deacons & Seabury are the only persons living now who know of my said Service - I was born at the Town of Watertown in Litchfield county on the 3 rd day of January 1758. I have at many times lived in said Litchfield County in Weston. I found a child until the last 30 years since which I have lived in the Town of Farmville. There is not any Clergyman living in my neighbourhood & the

Rev Mr Grant the Congregational in Humbull has been recently settled & is not acquainted with me I am well known to Saul Bradbury & Ethan W. Shaw both of said Humbull who can testify to my reputation for truth & that I am believed to have been a follower of the Restoration I have a record of my own about twenty years since my Father & Mother both died when I was a child - The said Amos Turrell hereby acknowledges all claims whatever to a Division or annuity except the interest I declare that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State
Amos Turrell
We Ethan W. Shaw & Samuel Bradbury residing in the Town of Humbull & residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Amos Turrell who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration of that we believe him to be seventy five years of age & that he is a resident of the neighborhood where he resides to have been a follower of the Restoration that we concur in that opinion Amos Turrell the day of Samuel Bradbury Ethan W. Shaw

And the Land come to hereby and one their opinion after the investigations of the matter after putting the inter- rogatories presented by the War Depart- ment that the above named Appl- icant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as the States. And the court finds that it appears to them that General Sherman & General Beauregard have signed the proclamations and orders for the form of which and other orders that their statement is entitled to credit
Edw. M. Spence
Attest
R. S. Nichols, Clerk

I Ebenezer Seely of the Town of Weston in Lempster County now in court being sworn testify that I am well acquainted with Amos Trafton the above named Applicant (now present in court) & have known him ever since he was fifteen years old He lived here part of the time with me during parts of the Dispersed I frequently worked for my Father & served in the same Military Com- pany with me which company was commanded part of the time by Colonel Sherwood & part of the time by Captain Bennett - This Depon- ent well remembers that said Amos Trafton did in the months of April or May 1776 enlist & go into the Army - I was present when said Trafton enlisted & eight or ten others - I cannot recollect the name of the Enlisting Officer but the Enlistment was at the House of Isa- ak Brinsmade the usual place where the Militia mustered in the Town of Weston - The Deponent well recollects that it was in the same year in which Fort Washington was taken - It was supposed that said Trafton was in that Fort & that he was killed or taken Prisoner

as He did not return with the others, who enlisted with Him. & we were surprised in the neighborhood when said Israel returned about the middle of January 1777 - I recd that it was on Training day when I and Israel enlisted which I am very sure was on the first Monday of May in the year 1776 - I saw William Buel say to Nathaniel Mackin and David Sayer, Reuben Chapman & others amounting to 13 - enlisted at the same time - I recd that perfectly the surprise in the neighborhood when said Israel returned in January 1777 - I am now seventy two years of age & further the aforesaid Israel did not
Elmer's Valley
The foregoing deposition of Elmer's Valley who is well known to me to be a credible Witness subscribed & sworn to in presence of me. John W. Nichols
I R. S. Nichols Clerk of the town of Elmer's Valley certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the so called in the matter of the application of Amos Fernald for a pension in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office on this 29th day of April 1833.
R. S. Nichols, Clerk
Amos Fernald Fernald one year 250 57 one year 250 57 one year 250 57
I John W. Nichols Judge of the Court of Sessions certify that R. S. Nichols is Clerk of said Court and that the above is his signature with the seal of said Court annexed.  John W. Nichols Judge

Rehman
14 735
INVALID.
File No. 14 735
Amos Turrell
First Boer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 381
[Arrangement of 1870.]