Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17793, Jonah Witter, Conn.

SERVICE
Bonn
Witter, Jonah
NUMBER
S. 17793
CONTENTS
carded
[Ruled lines for entry]
[Ruled lines for entry]

Connecticut - 28.466
Isaac Witter
was in the State of as a private in the captain of the Col. Douglas in the time for 10 months.
C R G
commanded commanded
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of June 34 and H. N. Noyes Babu. H. R.
Arrears to the 14th of Mar. 34 100. — Semi-ant. allowance ending 28 Sept. 16.66 $ 116.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S. Sice Clerk, Book C Vol. II Page 41

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of Connecticut, County of New London ss
On this 19 th day of November A D 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate for the District of Norwich within said County of New London Jonah Vitter Esq, a resident of Preston in the County of New London within said Probate District in the State aforesaid, aged Seventy four years on the twentieth day of April A D 1833. That he was sixteen years old the day after the first American blood was spilt at Lexington in the State of Massachusetts at the commencement of the war of the Revolution. That he was born in Pomfret in the State of Connecticut as he has always understood and verily believes on the 20 th day of April A D 1759.
And 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 th 1832,
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That is to say in the month of December A D 1776 (the day it is impossible to state, he was drafted from the 8 th Company and 21 st Regiment of Connecticut Militia having been enrolled therein at the said Pomfret at the age of sixteen according to the then existing laws of said State of Connecticut to serve in said militia for the term of three months as a private soldier. That he entered said service at sd Pomfret (now Brooklyn), in sd State in a company whose officers were William Smith Captain, Peter Davison Lieutenant, and he believes that Nathaniel Gossack was Ensign, but of the last he is not positive. Col John Douglas of Plainfield he well recollects commanded the Regiment. The name of the Major is not recollectal he never having done duty in company with the whole Regiment. That he with said Company was marched directly from Pomfret through Killingly in Connecticut to Providence in the State of Rhode Island where having been stationed a short time, about one week, sd Company under the charge of sd Capt Smith, & says himself with them marched from Providence to and through the towns of North & South Kingston to Tower Hill so called and thence to Point Judith where we were stationed at the house of one Stephen Champlin as a guard to protect the shore and watch the movement of the enemy passing in and out of Newport. Here he continued to serve until sometime in March 1777 when the period of service

Three months, for which he had been drafted, expired and he was discharged & returned home - the day of the month he cannot recollect and has no means of ascertaining, but does know that he served three months, he was not engaged in any battle & served with no other troops or company the service being a detached one as above stated -
That in the early part of the following spring in the year 1777 he enlisted as a volunteer into a Regiment of troops called as he believes State troops commanded by Col Ely, whose first name is not recollected that he enlisted for the term of eight months and served for that period - and according to his best recollection & belief, his term of service expired in the early part of February A.D. 1778, and he has no more certain circumstance to determine when he enlisted & he believes it to have been in the month of May
That he served the last mentioned
period in a company in said Regiment commanded by Capt Smith, not the same Capt Smith under whom he formerly served, that who belonged to the same town with this declarant, but the first name of this captain is not recollected, or not known - Joshua Pottum of Plainfield in Windham County, who was known to him, was Lieutenant of this company and also a man by the name of Smith, whose first name is not recollected, Second Lieutenant -
This regiment was marched to New London & stationed in & about that town, & its vicinity until sometime in October of that year when he marched with said company of the Regiment through the towns of Stonington, Westerly, Fower Hill and thence through South and North Kingstown to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and from thence down the east side of Providence River to the town of Little Compton east of Rhode Island, at this place he was detached into the front guard and marched several nights in succession to the beach by the River expecting with the expectation of landing on the Island of Newport in the night in what was called Spencer's expedition, which however failed & they never entered the boats - at this time they were harranged by the same man in whose Regiment he had before served, now called Gen Douglas - The company marched back to said Providence where he received a furlough to return to New London by way of Brooklyn where his parents resided - he did so and in a few days rejoined the same company & Regiment at New London where they remained a few days & was from thence marched across to Connecticut River & on the sea board to New Haven - Capt Smith's

On the way at Killingworth met with and saw a Continental Regiment commanded by Col Webb. XXXX XXXX Captain Smith's company & the declarant with them proceeded westward to Norwalk in Connecticut & from there to the shore of Long Island Sound. & went on board a vessel & crossed the Sound & landed on Long Island between break of day & sun rise & having marched some distance upon the Island by reason of some alarm a retreat was ordered - they were on board & made the best of their way to New London where the declarant was taken sick with the camp distemper & was under the care of Dr Isaac Knight Surgeon of the Regiment - continued sick until the expiration of the term of service for which he was enlisted, being Eight months and was not able to return home with sd company but had assistance to get home where he thinks he arrived before the expiration of the month of February AD 1778 - but Ely was taken prisoner at the expedition to Long Island - During this term of duty the joyful news of the capture of Burgoyne was received -
The declarant states that he was born as stated above and which records of the town of Pomfret will show which is hereto annexed. That he lived in sd Brooklyn until he was of full age and there and at Norwalk until April 1780 when he removed to the town of Preston in New London County where he has ever since, and now resides - that he has had the honor to represent that town in the Legislature of Connecticut & to sustain the office of Justice of the Peace there for many years - That he is known to all the respectable people of that town & in the County & trusts that any of them will testify to his character for veracity & belief of his services, that he served as a private soldier - has no documentary evidence of his services and knows of but one person who he has reason to believe can testify to his services - Jonathan Copland whose deposition he hopes to annex - That he never had a written discharge to his recollection -
Jonathan Witter
Signed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid
Before me John Hyde
Judge of the Court of Probate

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 Augustus B. Collins who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Preston in the county of New London & state of Connecticut and that Amos Avery Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Preston and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Burrel Lathrop Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Norwich in the state of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Jonah Witter Esq. for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of this court this 19 th day of November Anno Domini 1839.
Burrel Lathrop Clerk

We Augustus B. Collins a clergyman residing in the town of Preston in the county of New London & state of Connecticut and Amos Avery of said Preston
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Jonah Witter, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy four 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 Augustus B. Collins the day & year aforesaid in Amos Avery open court
Before me John Hyde Judge of Court of Probate

Jonah Witter, the Son of Nathan Witter and Herzia his wife was born April 20 th 1759 — as appears of Record.
Attest, Zachariah Spalding, Town Clerk.
Brooklyn June 29 th 1833.

It appears by the records of the State of Connecticut, that the General Assembly at their session May 1777, ordered two battalions to be raised, and to serve until the first day of January 1778.
Roger Enos & John Ely were appointed Colonels, James Arnold & Seth Smith 2 d Col o . & Elias Buell & John Davenport Majors thereof; and James Smith was appointed one of the Captains & Joshua Dutton one of the Serjeants.
Dec. 26 th 1832.
C. Phelps
Comptroller's Office Dec r 26 th 1832
I Elisha Phelps Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Connecticut, do certify, that under date of January 17 th 1778, "Capt. James Smith, Ely's Batt n " is credited upon the books of the Pay Table, for the wages & bounties due him company £2079, 13, 11; & the same amount is charged to the United States under the same date. No roll of Capt. Smith's company has been found, or evidence how long it actually served.
C. Phelps

P
17793
INVALID.
File No. 17793
Jonah Witter
Pr. Rev. Mass
Act: June 7 th 52
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 419
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1892 Feb 10 Rec'd
J. Woodward Hartshorn
F.8.
1926 June 28 - Rec'd Hon.
E. Hart Fern for Miss Francis - See his letter and carbon copy of reply in ch. of Elenberger letter, 5.11802 - MMJF -

Adm l in private 10 months $33 33

War Department Pension Office January 28. 1834
Sir
The claim of Jonah Witter Esq referred to in the accompanying letter of John Hoyde Esq has been examined. It appears by several certificates of the comptroller that the regiment of Col. Douglass was called into service in February 1776 for two months only. As this term agrees with the testimony of the witness it can only be allowed instead of the three months claimed.
Several individuals have been allowed for seven months service in Col Ely's Regiment ordered to be raised at the mass Session of the Assembly 1777 to serve until the first of January following. Some of these claims have passed through your hands. As no evidence is produced of this service, nor any exertions made to procure it, the papers are returned for proof that the claimant actually served in this Corps during that Campaign.
I have the honor to be Your. Obed. Servant J L Edwards
Hon N. Barber House of Representatives

Jonah Wille
Interest of Estate
Hon. A. Barber

I, Jonathan Copelin of Thompson in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut aged 75 years, and duly sworn according to law do, depose & say that in the Revolutionary war. I was a soldier in the American Army. several campaigns, in the year Winter of 1776 & 1777. I was a private in Capt. William Smiths Company of Connecticut Militia Lieut Peter Davison. in Col. John Douglass. Regt, on a tour of duty to Point Judith in the State of Rhode Island, was marched to Providence & staid there a few days & then down on the west side of Narraganset Bay to Lower Hill, and was about Point Judith, we was quartered at the house of Stephen Champlin our duty was to keep guard, and watch the Shore. I was there two months, certain as a soldier, but I cannot say but the tour was 3 months. I have forgotten I well remember our Capt. buying us a Turkey for Christmas &

I had to cook it. it was after we had been stationed. at Point Judith.
Jonah Witter now living in Preston I have always know. I then lived in Brooklyn when S r Witter lived. he was a private soldier in the same company & Regt. with me during said 2. or 3 months. tour. I went & came home with S r Witter.
Yours Cofelin
State of Connecticut Windham County ss.
Thompson June 28 th 1833
Then personally appeared Jonathan Cofelin signer of the above deposition & made solemn oath to the truth of the same. & I do further certify that I am well acquainted with S r deponent & his a credible witness
Before me Simon D. Davis justice of the Peace

Johnmin Bolles Clerk of the County Court Justice and for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Simon Davis Esq before whom the foregoing Affidavit was made is duly enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for said Windham County. That the foregoing signature of his name is in his handwriting, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Brooklyn in said County this 29 th day of June A.D. 1833
Johnmin Bolles Clerk.

Samuel Shepard Affidavit -

I Samuel Shephard of Canterbury Windham County Ct. aged 73 years depose and say that on the 10th day of May 1777. I enlisted into the Ct. State troops as a private soldier of the Revolution and served therein 8 months & was dismissed on the 10th of January 1778. This service was performed in the company commanded by Capt. Smith, Lieut. Joshua Bottom & a Lieut. Smith were two of the commissioned Officers & said company belonged to Col John Ely's Reg. of the Ct. State Troops. We were first ordered to New London and were stationed there until the fall of that year, thence we were ordered to Rhode Island with a view of going on the Island to take Newport from the British. Several times we started for that purpose this was in Spencers expedition which failed. We were then ordered back to New London from thence to Norwalk in Ct. thence to Long Island and eventually back to New London where the company were discharged in January 1778. I have no doubt in my own mind & ardently believe that Pinah Witter Esq. now of Preston formerly of Brooklyn & now here present served in the same company & Reg. as above mentioned. And further say not. June 6th 1834.
✓ Samuel Shephard
State of Connecticut - Windham County Ss. Canterbury June 6th 1834 personally appeared Samuel Shephard signer of the foregoing affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same. I further certify that I am acquainted with the above deponent & know him to be a credible witness
Andrew T. Judson Justice of the Peace

I M c Arthur member of Congress certify that Andrew P. Hudson is a Justice of the peace for Windham County Vt. and that the within is his genuine signature
Washington 13 June 1852
M c Arthur

Simon Jones Affidavit -

I Simeon Jones of Preston in the County of New London and State of Connecticut aged Twenty two years in the Month of September last 1833 do on oath depose & say - That I was a private Soldier during the war of the revolution in a Regiment of State Troops raised by the State Connecticut & commanded by Col Oly - Col Arnold was Lieut Colonel. I belonged to a Company commanded by Capt. Josiah Baldwin Lieut Solomon Story & I enlisted some time in the spring of the year 1779 & was marched first to New London where we were stationed for some Months & believe until the Month of September, but certainly until we marched from thence to Newport in what was called Spencer's expedition & attempted repeatedly to land on that Island but failed & returned to New London and a part of the Regiment was marched on to the lines near New York & the residue as I understand & believe attempted an expedition to Long Island - Some learned & Col Oly was said to be taken.
I cannot state the time when I was discharged, but have no doubt that I served in the months at least in this Regiment & Company the next year in another -
I am infirm & my memory is impaired & tho' I have no recollection of the person of Jonah Witter Esq. now personally present, I have no doubt & verily believe that he served during the same period of time that I did tho' I cannot testify as to his discharge, he being as I believe one of those who separated from us & went on to Long Island -
My recollection is that when at New London we were stationed at different places & the Regiment mustered much together - I am much confirmed in my belief on this subject from a variety of little incidents which occurred at different periods during this service and which he has revived in my recollection which no person but one who was engaged in them could relate - He then came from Windham County & then belonged to New London County - We were not personally acquainted & I am not able to identify the man altho' I have no doubt of his being engaged during the whole of the period above mentioned. Dated at Norwich this 10 th Day of June A.D. 1834.
Simeon Jones
State of Connecticut to County of New London
Personally appeared Mr. Simeon Jones well known to me as a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed
Before me John Hyde Justice of the Peace

I. N. Barker Hyde Esqr as a Justice of the Peace within the County of New London & that the within certificate is in his own proper hand writing with which I am well acquainted
Washington 18 June 1834
J. B. Babson

OLD MAN COW
File No. 17793
Jonah Hitter
JS
Dec 25-91

1 The case to which these letters refer is charged in the files to me in Feb., 1892. It has, most likely, been misfiled and should be looked up as soon as possible.
Frank Shapleigh.
Dec. 22, 1894.

Watch Hill Sept. 20 th 1894
Witter
P.
U 9
Mr Wm Lockren.
Dear Sir,
May I trouble you for an account of the military services of Jonah Witter (from Preston Conn) during the revolutionary war, for which he received his pension.
Yours truly
Marguerite Dvane
Miss M. Dvane 157 Mt Auburn Cincinnati O.
To
Mr Wm Lockren
Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions
Department of the Interior
Washington D. C.

OLD WAR & PENSION OFFICE SEP 25 1894 FILES

Jonah Witter de

THE CONNECTICUT SOCIETY.
PRESIDENT, JONATHAN TRUMBULL, NORWICH, CONN.
VICE-PRESIDENT, HON. E. J. HILL, NORWALK, CONN.
SECRETARY, LUCIUS F. ROBINSON, HARTFORD, CONN.
TREASURER, MAJOR R. P. COWLES, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
REGISTRAR, JOSEPH T. WOODWARD, HARTFORD, CONN.
Hartford, Conn., Dec. 7th., 1891.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly favor me with the statement of the military record of Jonah Witter, a Revolutionary soldier?
Respectfully Yours,
Woodward Registrar.
Hon. Green B. Raum,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington,
D. C.

O. W. & N. Division,
F.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., October 6, 1894.
Sir:-
Under date of February 10, 1893, you were supplied by this Bureau, at your request, with a statement of the military history of Johan Witter, a Revolutionary soldier.
A copy of that statement is now desired and you are requested to forward such copy to this Bureau at your earliest convenience.
Very respectfully,
J. F. Woodward, Esq.,
Hartford, Conn.
Commissioner.
J. F. Woodward

THE CONNECTICUT SOCIETY.
PRESIDENT, JONATHAN TRUMBULL, NORWICH, CONN.
VICE-PRESIDENT, EBENEZER J. HILL, NORWALK, CONN.
SECRETARY, CHARLES P. COOLEY, HARTFORD, CONN.
TREASURER, JOHN C. HOLLISTER, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
REGISTRAR, FRANK B. GAY, HARTFORD, CONN.
HISTORIAN, JOSEPH G. WOODWARD, HARTFORD, CONN.
Hartford Dec 15, 1894.
Dear Sir
Your favor of the 8th of Oct. addressed to J. F. Wood and was received by me this morning. A letter from the Bureau of Pensions dated Feb 10. 1892, addressed to me reads as follows viz. "In reply to your communication requesting a statement of the military history of Jonah Witter, a soldier of the revolutionary war, you are informed that he enlisted in the month of December 1776, and served 3 months as a private soldier, in Capt William Smith's Co. Col. John Douglas' Conn Regt. In the spring of 1777, he again enlisted in Capt Smith's Co. Col. Ely's Regt, and served about 8 months. No mention is made of any battles in which he took part. This information is taken from his declaration for pension dated at Preston. Conn. Nov 19. 1833. Pension was allowed."

THE CONNECTICUT SOCIETY.
PRESIDENT, JONATHAN TRUMBULL, NORWICH, CONN.
VICE-PRESIDENT, EBENEZER J. HILL, NORWALK, CONN.
SECRETARY, CHARLES P. COOLEY, HARTFORD, CONN.
TREASURER, JOHN C. HOLLISTER, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
REGISTRAR, FRANK B. GAY, HARTFORD, CONN.
HISTORIAN, JOSEPH G. WOODWARD, HARTFORD, CONN.
Respectfully J. Woodward
Wm Lockhart Esq Commissioner Washington D.C.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
December 22, 1894.
Miss:-
In reply to your communication requesting a statement of the military history of Jonah Witter, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, I have the honor to advise you that he enlisted in the month of December, 1778, and served three months as a private soldier in Capt. William Smith's Co., Col. John Douglas' Connecticut Regt.; in the Spring of 1777, he again enlisted in Capt. Smith's Co., Col. Ely's Regt., and served about eight months. No mention is made of any battles in which he participated.
This information is taken from his declaration for pension which is dated at Preston, Conn., November 19, 1855. His pension was allowed.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Miss M. Deane, #157 Mt. Auburn St., Cincinnati, Ohio.