Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,480, Shalar Wells, New York

SERVICE
Wells, Shalar
NUMBER _____
S. 23,480
CONTENTS

31.385 Albany New York Shaler Wells
of Genesee Co in the State of N.Y. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wells of the Regt commanded by Col Van Wart in the New York line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of April 1838 and sent Hon. Wm Patterson Sec. of Reps.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1838 $140.00 Pemi=ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 10.00 $150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk Book 2 Vol. H Page 82

18339
See Rolls
Shala Wells
St Mark
Explanation
regd "
See Vol 85. p 74 $2.38
1779 — 84. 6. 25
" 82. 3. 58
1780 78 — 3. 14
1779 — 76 2. 50
" — 75 2. 72
Gms $21.77
3 mths
Wm N. L. Tracy

by BRIEF in the case of John Wells of Castile of Tennessee in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71  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.     Apr 1 In 17 76 32 Priv Gen. Col. L. Crocker   Mar 1778 3 1/2 " Smith, Col. Van Kort   Sept " 3 do do   May 1. 1779 3 1/2 Wells   Nov 3 " 15 Wells, Col. Van Kort   June 1780 6 Blaker, Col. Van Kort   Land, Gen. Washington  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? 17 17  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Washington City New York.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
Testimony  Defective
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Papers not attached. Says he lived in Connecticut till after the War & also says he lived in N York when he entered.  X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
J. Mohr Examining Clerk July 19 1833

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Shaler Wells  or Shaler a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. File 23480
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     April 1. 1776 1 mo. 14 da. Alexander McCracken ✓ N.Y.   Feb. 15. 1778 3 1/2 mos. Cook Benjamin Smith Lewis Van Voert   Sept. 1778 3 mos.   May 1. 1779 3 1/2 mos. } Joseph Wells   Nov. 3. 1779 15 days " " Van Voert   June 1. 1780 6 mos. David Bleeker Van Cortland  
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 9. 1832. Allowed.
Residence at date of application, Castile, Genesee Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, born Feb. 28. 1761 at Hebron, Conn. son of Joseph Wells
Remarks: Soldier served as a sub. for his bro. Timothy & two other brothers.
Daniel & Austin Wells testified that they served with Shaler but did not claim any relationship to him.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Shuler Wells Declaration
18339
Please, Direct to H. H. Soper, Batavia, Genesee County, N.Y.
ND
Examined

Declaration of Shaler Wells, in order to claim the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7- 1832 - State of New-York
Genesee County ss. } In this ninth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, of the county of Genesee, now sitting in the town of Batavia, in and for said county, being a court of Record and having a seal, Shaler Wells — a resident of the town of Castile — in the county of Genesee and State of New-York, aged seventy one 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 and served as herein stated. —
That on the 1 st April 1776, while he resided in Cambridge in Washington County, went into the Continental army as a substitute for Shaler Wells who had enlisted in the Regular service for six months — went to Albany, and was in Alexander McCracken's Company, but was attached to no regiment — That he served four weeks and four days in his brother's place where his brother came on and took his place in the ranks and he went home.
1.02 That on the 15 th March 1778 he was drafted in the State militia for a fortnight — there were three brothers and they each took his turn or were drafted alternately and he continued in the service on his own draft and that of his brother until the 1 st July 1780 when he went home — was in Capt Benjamin Smith's Company Lieut. Samuel Deming — Lieut. Bruck — in Col. Lewis Van Klief's Regiment — John Blair was Lieut. Col — and was stationed most of the time at Fort Edward — that he served three months and a half and his brother came and took his place until he went home and helped them to harvest.
That he returned on the 1 st September 1780 and served in the same company as a draft and under the same officers and in the same manner as before until the last of November — that he served at this time

three months and the garrison was dismissed and he went home -
That on the 1 st May 1779 he went out again as a draft in the same manner as at the previous periods - and served under the Capt. Joseph Wells and which Samuel Dennis was Lieutenant - and many of the officers of the same as before some officers and at Fort Edward - and served until the first day of July, then he went home and remained two weeks and on the 15 th July when he went again in the same manner and served until the 1 st September when the garrison was dismissed - that he served this time three months and one half.
That on the 3 d November 1779 he was drafted and went to Saratoga - was in Joseph Wells Company, in Col Van Klief's Regiment - Lieut Col. John Blair, James Ashdow was Major - no Continental officers there as he thinks - Gen. Clinton was there and commanded the corps - went from Saratoga to Penderoga - and stopped there a short time and went back to Fort George and staid six days, then went to Saratoga and was verbally discharged after having been out fifteen days -
That on the 1 st June 1780, was drafted again into the State service for three months and went to West Point and staid there a few days and then volunteered in the Continental line in Washington Light Infantry - went 8 miles below West Point and passed muster under General Muster Master - then marched down to Tappan Bay and found the Brigade was in Capt. David Blaker's  Knox's or-Becker's  Regt Company - in Col. Van Cutland's Regiment - Gen Washington, La Fayette, and Steuben were there - was a part of the time in Hackensack, English Neighborhood and other places, and was dismissed at Tottowa in New Jersey - and was discharged the last of November - verbal discharge - that he served six months and went home. - That he was born in Hebron, Hartford Co. Ct. on the
That he was born in Hebron, Hartford Co. Ct. on the 28 th February 1761 — That he has a Record of his age on a leaf taken from his bible which he copied from his father's Bible — That since the war he has resided in Cambridge, Washington Co. N.Y. until the year 1828 when he moved into Castile where he now resides — never recorded any discharge from the service — and knows of no person living by whom he can prove his service — That Daniel Herrington and Thomas Herrington reside in his neighborhood, are well acquainted with him and can

testify as to his character for veracity and their belief in his services as a soldier of the Revolution — that there is no elagymnan where testifying he could prove without great trouble and expense —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State — Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court
Shaler Wells
T. Fitch Clerk
We, Daniel Harrington and Thomas Weir, residing in the town of Castile  Gainesville in the County of Genesee and State of New York, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Shaler Wells who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy one years of age, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides as have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion — Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court
Daniel Harrington Thos. R. Weir
T. Fitch Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and that he serves as he states. And the said Court further certify that it appears to them that Daniel Harrington and Thomas R. Weir both residents of the town of Gainesville in said County who have signed the foregoing Certificate are creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Isaac Wilson Robert Van Alstyne William Mitchell

Timothy Fitch, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Genesee in the State of New York, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Shaler Wells for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this ninth day of October 1832.
Timothy Fitch, Clerk

New York
Rev.
Shaler Wells
Suspended
let. at N Soper 30
July 33.
let to do Apr 8 '34 to Wm. Patterson 24. March 1838
Act. 7 Jan 0 '32

Reproduction
23480 INVALID.
1911 Nov. 29. Hist. to Dan'l. W. Rolph.
File No. 23480
Whalen Wells
Pr. Rev. 1882
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 142
[Arrangement of 1870.]

In the matter of Shaler Wells
Affidavit -
Stanley White Clerk

We Daniel Wells, of Cambridge and Austin Wells of Whitebrook in the County of Washington and State of New York, being duly sworn upon and say, that we have known from a child, Shaler Wells, who now resides in Castile, County of Genesee and State of America, that we saw him frequently in the time of the revolutionary war, and the said Austin Wells remembers that the said Shaler Wells was with me in the summer of 1777, 78 at Fort Edward and other places at or near the North River in the service of his country, but have no recollection or data whereby I can ascertain the length of time, and we the said Daniel Wells and Austin Wells do further say that we were well acquainted with Joseph Wells the father of the said Shaler Wells who was a Militia Captain, and that he was in the battle of Bennington, and although we have no certain knowledge of the fact, we believe, he was out many times on duty after the Bennington battle, we know that he was a warm friend to his country, that he had his Barn burnt by the instigation of the Tories, and that he suffered much during the war, and we have no doubt but the said Shaler Wells served in 1778 in the company of which his father Joseph Wells was Capt. in Col. Van Rensselaer's Regt - and also in 1779, and 1780 at the South in Gen. Hand's Brigade, as we do believe the said Shaler Wells to be a man of truth and veracity, whose word may be safely taken and relied on in any matter whatsoever, but from our own personal knowledge we can state nothing further. Daniel Wells Austin Wells Subscribed and sworn this 10 th day of Jan y 1834 before me Sidney Wells Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named Daniel Wells and Austin Wells are well known to me, and that they are in all respects creditable men and men of truth and veracity. Sidney Wells Justice

Shaker Wells
I Affidavit

State of New York } ss. County of Genesee }
Shaler Wells of the town of Castile in the County of Genesee, being duly sworn doth depose and say, that at the time of making his declaration he believes that it was not stated in his said declaration that at the time of his service in Van Courtlandt's Regiment he was under militia officers - that there were two Companies of militia in that Regiment and that he belonged to one of them commanded by Capt David Bleeker or Blaker as this Deponent pronounces it - and this Deponent further says that he has never seen but one man that belonged to that Regiment since he left it and that was one of his messmates by the name of Wilkiah Grant of New Hampshire whom he saw in A. H. about three years after he left the army. That he has taken some considerable pains to obtain proof of his services since he has learnt of the passage of the Pensions Act of 1832 and particularly since he received the communication from Congress suspending his claim and that he has not been able to obtain any positive proof of his service in Van Courtlandt's Regiment and some slight testimony as to his other services. That he has had a number of conversations with Genl Warren who served at the same time and in the same body of soldiers but at with whom he was not acquainted at the time of his service but this Deponent has no doubt, from the intimate knowledge which the said Genl Warren has of some local and peculiar circumstances and incidents, that he served at the same time and this Deponent does firmly believe that it would be utterly impossible for him to obtain any other positive proof or testimony and that unless the Department shall relax in their rules he will soon be unable to enjoy the bounty of Government and further saith not.
Shaler Wells
Sworn and Subscribed this 21 st day of December 1833 before me
W. L. Soper, Comr of Deeds of Genesee County

State of New York } ss. County of Genesee }
Shaler Wells of the town of Castile in the County of Genesee, being duly sworn doth depose and say, that at the time of making his declaration he believes that it was not stated in his said declaration that at the time of his service in Van Courtlandts Regiment he was under militia officers - that there were two Companies of militia in that Regiment and that he belonged to one of them commanded by Capt David Blecher or Blaker as this Deponent pronounces it - and this Deponent further says that he has never seen but one man that belonged to that Regiment since he left it and that was one of his messmates by the name of Wilkiah Grant of New Hampshire whom he saw in A. H. about three years after he left the army. That he has taken some considerable pains to obtain proof of his services since he has learnt of the passage of the Pensions Act of 1832 and particularly since he received the communication from Congress suspending his claim and that he has not been able to obtain any positive proof of his service in Van Courtlandts Regiment and some slight testimony as to his other services. That he has had a number of conversations with Gad Warriner who served at the same time and in the same body of soldiers but at with whom he was not acquainted at the time of his service but this Deponent has no doubt, from the intimate knowledge which the said Gad Warriner has of some local and peculiar circumstances and incidents, that he served at the same time and this Deponent does firmly believe that it would be utterly impossible for him to obtain any other positive proof or testimony and that unless the Department shall relax in their rules he will soon be unable to enjoy the bounty of Government. and further saith not.
Shaler Wells
Sworn and Subscribed this 21 st day of December 1833 before me
W. L. Soper, Comr of Deeds of Genesee County

State of New York } ss: Genesee County }
Gad Warriner of the town of Gainesville in the County of Genesee, being duly sworn doth to depose and say that he is now a Pensioner of the United States, aged seventy one years, that he served in the Revolutionary Army in Gen Potts Brigade in Col. Shepards Regiment and served during the part of the years 1780 and 1781 - that he served in the Forays in Lafayette's Corps - that he has frequently had conversation with Shaler Wells of Castile, his a near neighbor to him and has been acquainted with him for some time, that Mrs Wells has related to this Dependent many incidents and circumstances that took place in the army that this Dependent was well acquainted with at the time of the same taking place one incident in particular the hanging of a man, a soldier who was taken committing a rape upon a woman - from this and other circumstances and the long acquaintance of the Dependent with the said Shaler Wells, this Dependent has no doubt that the said Shaler Wells served in Van Courtlandts Regiment in 1780 although this Dependent was not personally acquainted with the said Shaler during the war further this Dependent saith not.
Sworn and Subscribed, this 21 st December 1833
Gad Warriner
before me,
Wm Soper, Court of Oaths of Genesee County

State of New York Genesee County
Joseph Lucas of Gainesville, Genesee County, aged sixty one year, deposes and says that he is well acquainted with Shaler Wells, of Castile, Genesee County, and has been acquainted with him ever since this Deponent  he was a child that the said Shaler Wells is a man of truth and honor and he has frequently heard him and others speak of his services in the Revolution and he has no doubt he served as he states and it was always and reputed and believed by those acquainted with him that he did serve in the Revolutionary war and further this Deponent saith not.
Joseph Lucas
Sworn and Subscribed this 21 st day of December 1833 before me,
N. L. Soper, Comr. of Deeds for Genesee County
State of New York County of Genesee
I Timothy Fitch, Clerk of said county certify that Horace W. Soper was a Comr. of Deeds of said county at the time of taking the affidavit of Shaler Wells, Gad Harriner and Joseph Lucas as above at the time of taking the same and duly authorized to take the same: and that his name subscribed to the certificate of taking the same is his hand writing.
Witness my hand and seal of said county this 11 th February 1834
Timothy Fitch Clerk

Batavia March 15 1834
Sir, The papers in the case of Shaler Wells are herewith returned with additional proof - Mr Wells has taken considerable pains and been at considerable expense to procure more testimony than the present but has not been able to succeed. Certainly then he has produced the best proof in his power as required by the regulations of the War Department and referred to, in the letter from the Pension Office dated July 30 - '33 - His claim must now rest upon its merits -
I remain
Yours Sincerely
J. M. Doper
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commr of Pensions -

Letter to War Department in Case of Healer Wells

Apr. 11.
W. Alston Addison will act on this further

I will receive a pension for six months since for Shaler Wells, provided it does not exclude him from the benefits of an insurance in case he should obtain add d proof
William Patterson

Shaler Hills -

War Department Pension Office
April 11 th 1833
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit you the papers in the case of Thaler Wells. There is some confusion in his answer to the third interrogatory. While he avers that he resided in New York when he entered the service, he alleges that he resided in Connecticut until after the war. This requires some explanation.
I have the honor to be.
Respectfully Sir.
W. W. St.
J. L. Edwards
Hon. P. G. Tracy Batavia. N. York

Santa Paula Calif Nov 20 th 1911
Commissioner of Pensions. I have the honor of asking a favor of your bureau. My grandfather was a soldier of the American Revolution; Some of my people (womens) wish to become members of the D.A.R. In order to do so they must show some official proof of relation- ship to my grandfather. He was a pensioner till some time after 1844. His Name was Shaler Wells . Will you please give me data from the records in your office of this Revolutionary Soldier Shaler Wells . Yours in F. G. & L
Daniel W. Rolph
Box 524
Santa Paula Calif.

Nov 25 1911
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page.]
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text at the bottom of the page, likely bleed-through from the reverse side.]

P1204-Mch 14. 1888
Pension Office
NY
Mr. [?]
Hon. Sec. of War Washington
Pension Office
3

Pension Office
Hon. Jacob R. Poinsett Sec. of War Washington
NY
Pension Office
Q1254 - Mch 14. 1835

Washington March 12-1838
Hon Joel R. Poinsett Sec. of War.
Dear Sir
Shaler Wells, of Castile, Genesee Co. N.York, a Revolutionary Soldier, wishes a further investigation to be made, touching his claim upon the Government, for services at that period. ~
He says that he was in the Militia service at Fort Edward, seven months, commencing in May 1778. was cook during the time,
In 1779. He was in the Militia service at the same place, five months, a portion of the time his Father, Capt Joseph Wells commanded the Company. ~ The officers of the company were frequently relieved, during the term,
Early in May 1780 he was drafted into the same service, and was in a company at Albany under the command of General Schuyler, was ordered by that officer to West Point, he joined Washington's Light Infantry, under LaFayette, with two companies that volunteered for that purpose, who, were apportioned among the several companies to fill up the regiments.

They remained in the service until the last of November, 1780 when the two company's were ordered by their Col o to Newick to Pakeepsie to be discharged by Gov. Clinton, the Governor being absent, they were discharged, or rather dismissed by their captains until further orders, but were not again called upon, and of course did not receive a regular discharge. ~
His recollection of the names of his officers is not very distinct. ~
He gave the names of Capt d David Bleeker or Bleeker, Col o Cortland, or Van Cortland, and Brig d General Hoard. ~
He wishes to know whether any soldier is receiving a pension who was engaged in the same service, and if so, where he resides, that he may be able by his testimony, to avail himself of the benefits of the pension law. ~
I have the Honour, &c
William Patterson.