Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,299, William Welch, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Welch, William
P. 11.299
CONTENTS

William Welsh.
St. Louis Frank

AFFIDAVIT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF Connecticut , COUNTY OF Middlesex
} ss. Chatham
Be it remembered, That, on this 23 rd day of November A. D. 1852, I, Suey L. Strong do make known and declare that I am the daughter and heir-at-law to William Welch deceased who was the  wife of a Revolutionary soldier, who served  years, under the command of  in the forces raised by the State of Connecticut and that he and his said wife were married about the month of  A. D.  that he died about the month of March the sixth day A. D. 1838 and that his said wife also died about the month of January the 29 th day A. D. 1833 and that a pension of  dollars a year was drawn by said  on account of said services, and so continued until the year A. D. 18  , since which time nothing has been received by either, or the heirs of either of said parties.
And that claimant is now 53 years of age; and it is understood and believed that there are arrearages of Pension, and other claims due for said services: Now, THEREFORE, the true intent of all this is to qualify and irrevocably appoint and empower ALFRED J. WORKS, of New Haven City and County, State of Connecticut,
as my Attorney, with power of substitution, to investigate, substantiate, demand, and receive the avails of, said claim or claims, and to say and do all things relative thereto, as amply as I might do: hereby ratifying every thing said or done by my said Attorney, or his substitute, in virtue hereof; ALSO, revoking all Powers of Attorney, or other authority previously given for any such purposes.
Attest,
Charlotte Smith Nathl C. Smith
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, day and date first above named.
Suey L. Strong
Sworn to, and acknowledged before me, the day and year first above indicated.
Nathl C. Smith Notary Public

h o 1596.
16835
to application

State of Connecticut Middlesex County } ss.
On this 14 th day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court before the court of Probate for the District of Chatham, now sitting Rev William Welch a resident of Chatham in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut aged seventy nine years who being duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath make the following declaration, in or 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.
1. That he belonged to a company of Militia in the town of Colechester (now Salem) Connecticut commanded by Captain Nathaniel Harris, in the Regiment commanded by Col Dyer Phelps. That on the 1 st of September A.D. 1776 the said company was called into the service of the United States, and marched to near Kings Bridge in the State of New York. That he did not march with the company, but remained till the 15 th of said September and then left said Colechester with John Ransom the Ensign of said company, and went to East Chester in the State of New York, and joined the company where he remained on duty six according to the best of his recollection about four weeks, afterwards he was taken sick and sent into the hospital at East Chester, where he remained according to his best recollection about five weeks. After the landing of the British at Fry's point he left the hospital with the sick and remained in a town about twenty miles east the name of which he does not remember, where he remained until he returned home after being absent about three months.

2. That afterwards, he thinks the next year, he was drafted to perform a tour of duty, under Capt Harris, in the Regiment commanded by Col Sedgwick, who was afterwards killed at Fort Griswold in September 1781. That he was on duty at New London and various places in its vicinity for about the term of three months according to his best recollection.
3. That in May or June 1782 he was drafted to perform a tour of duty in a company, the captain of which he cannot recollect, that part of the time he was stationed in New London, and part of the time on the River Thames near Golds Ferry. That he was drafted for, and remained on duty, the term of three months, when he with the company was dismissed, but received no written discharge. That he has no documentary evidence of service and knows no person living who can testify to the same 4. That at various other periods of time he was drafted, and performed duty, but cannot recollect times and places, but believes he was in the service of the United States in whole nine months, or upwards. He hereby relinquishes any 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.
In answer to the interrogatories he says,
1. That he was born in the year 1753 at Colchester (now Salem) New London County Connecticut 2. That he has no record of his age. 3. That when called into service he was living at said Colchester and that since that time he has lived in Chatham Middlesex County Connecticut, where he still resides. 4. That he was called into service in the manner he has stated in this declaration. 5. That he knew Generals Washington & Paterson 6. That he never received a discharge. 7. That Ezra Bliss and [blank] are persons in his present neighborhood to whom he is known and who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
Known to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid William Welch

We Ezra Bliss of Marlborough, a town adjoining Chatham and David Clark of said Chatham hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Rev William Welch, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Ezra Bliss David Clark
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented 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 Ezra Bliss & _____ who have signed the preceding certificate, the first residing in the town of Marlborough & the latter in the town of Chatham are credible persons and their statement entitled to credit, the reason that no clergymen has given a certificate, is that there is none in the parish except the applicant.
I William G. Cornstock clerk of the court of probate for the district of Chatham, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Rev William Welch for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 17 th day of August A.D. 1832.
W. G. Cornstock Clerk

156
Rej. 11,299
Rev. War.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of William Welch , 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.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Colchester, Ct.   Sept. 15, 1776 3 mos. Pri. Nathaniel Harris Dyer Throop Conn.   " 77 3 mos. Pri. " " Harris Ledyard   May or June 82 3 " " — Richard.  
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Colchester, New London Co., Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 17, 1832.
Residence at date of application, Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn.
Age at date of application, B. Colchester, New London Co., Conn. in 1753
Remarks: Sol. died Mch. 6, 1838, his wife died Jan. 29, 1833 - dau. Lucy S. Strong aged 53 arrived in 1852.
Rej - no satisf. proof of service.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Connecticut Rev Act 7 June 1832
William Welsh
Rejected
11299
Letter to
J. G. Comstock, Hartford
Nov 30. 1832
del. 18 Sep. 34.
vol 29-522 H. Forst-

East Hampton, Conn. Jan 22. 1904
11299
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 18th came to hand in due season for which I thank you.
I am taking the liberty to come again and ask you, please, for the military history of William Welch, of Chatham, Conn., who applied for a pension under act of June 7. 1832.
And also for that of John Keills of Chatham, Conn., if you have anything relating to him. for which I shall be much obliged.
Very respectfully yours O. H. Clark.
(Mrs) Frank E. Clark East Hampton
Box 11 Conn.

East Hampton, Conn.
July 4th, 1906
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me a copy, by return mail, of William Welch's application for a pension. About 1834 I think. He lived in Chatham, Conn. (P.O. East Hampton) at the time.
Thanking you for the above
I am Respectfully yours, (Mrs) C. A. Clark East Hampton Conn.

William Welch
R 65-
W. G. Comstock rejected not G. M. actual date
J. G. Comstock Hartford Ct.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Welsh which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
cho
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?
no
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
no
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
No - the certificate is altogether insufficient
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
A reason is assigned - but none is in the deponent's parish, there probably may be in an adjoining one
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
The discrepancies between the two declarations as to the first term of service render it necessary as there is no evidence to support the claim, that claimant state explicitly how long he was in actual service and the full particulars of his service in a detailed narrative, relating to each term.

February 23, 1902, and March 2, 1902.
Febry 9-1904. He is to Mrs. Frank E. Clark East Hampton. Conn. 1906 July 14. Dist. to Mrs. O. A. Clark c
11,299
P. O. William Welsh
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

for
65
Hon. J. G. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington

11. Middlewooddam Sept. 12 1834
Mr. Something more than two years ago, the Widow papers of William Welch of Chatham, Conn. are said to have been forwarded to the Pension Office, through the agency of J. G. Comstock Esq., and soon after to have been returned to him on account of some defect or informality in making up the papers. A year ago or more, as Mr. Comstock states, the papers were sent back to Washington in a condition, as he supposed, to insure success to Mr. Welch's application. Since that time no intelligence has been received from the Office respecting these papers; from which it is suspected either that they have not reached Washington the second time or have been mislaid or overlooked. I am therefore requested by Mr. Welch to ask of you immediate information on the point whether his certificate has been issued & if not whether his papers are on the files of your Office & subject to objections & also as to the particular objections if any.
Will you also inform me whether the papers of William Stoddard of Chatham, which I forwarded to you about two months ago, have been received & much oblige your ob t Serv t
Horace Took

State of Connecticut) Mid-Sturges County } ss.
On this 3 day of December A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate for the District of Chatham, now sitting, Rev. William Welch a resident of the town of Chatham in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut aged seventy nine years, who being 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 1. That he belonged to a company of militia in the town of Colchester in New London County (now the town of Salem) commanded by Captain Nathaniel Harris, in the Regiment commanded by Colo Dyer Throop, that after the evacuation of Boston by the British, to wit on the 1 st day of September A.D. 1776 the said company was called into the service of the United States, and marched to near Kings Bridge in the State of New York, that he did not march with the company, but remained till the 15 th of said September it being Sabbath day and then left said Colchester in company with Joshua Ransom the Ensign of said Company, and went to East Chester in the State of New York and there joined the company, that he remained on duty about five weeks, and then was sent to the hospital to take care of a sick soldier by the name of John Holmes, where he continued about five weeks more, After the landing of the British at Stroyes point he left the hospital with the sick and removed to a town about twenty miles east the name of which he does not remember, where he remained until he returned home, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as the precise length of his service at this time, but according to the best of his recollection he served three months as a private, That Nathaniel Harris was his Captain and Joshua Ransom was his Ensign, the name of his Lieutenant he does not remember, that there was an officer in the company by the name of Freedom Churchman, but he does not remember his grade.

2. That afterwards, he thinks, the next year, he was drafted to perform a term of duty under Captain Nathaniel Harris in the regiment commanded by Col Seayard, who was afterwards killed at Fort Griswold in September 1781, that he was on duty at New London, and at several other places in the vicinity, that the name of his Lieutenant was Waterman, the name of the Ensign he does not remember, the name of the Adjutant was Stillhouse of the town of Montville, that he thinks, was the year previous to taking General Burgoyne and his army, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot now say positively as to the precise length of his service at this time, but according to his best recollection he served at this time, not less than three months, as a private. 3. That in May or June 1782, the year after the massacre of the garrison at Fort Griswold on Groton Heights, he was drafted to perform a term of duty in a company, the Captain of which he does not remember, that part of the time he was stationed in New London and part of the time on the River Thames near Gold Ferry, that there was a regiment from Hartford, the tents of his  our regiment and the Regiment from Hartford were about fifteen rods apart , Col Richards commanded the regiment to which he belonged and Col Wyllys the Hartford Regiment. Stillhouse was his Adjutant, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot now say positively as to the precise length of his service at this time, but according to his best recollection he served at this time not less than three months as a private. 4. That at various other periods of time he was drafted and performed duty but cannot recollect times and places and that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot now say positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served in the whole not less than nine months as a private for which he claims a pension . That he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no person living who can testify to the same. He hereby relinquishes any 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.

In answer to the interrogatories he says.
1. That he was born in the year 1753 at Colchester (now Salem) New London County Connecticut. 2. That he has no record of his age. 3. That at the time he was called into service he was living in said Colchester and since that time he has lived in Chatham, Middlesex County Connecticut where he still resides. 4. That he was called into service in the manner he has stated in this declaration, to wit, by being drafted. 5. That he knows Generals Washington and Putnam. 6. That he never received a discharge. 7. That Rev Samuel J. Curtis and Daniel Clark Esq are persons in his present neighborhood to whom he is known and who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid William Welch
We Samuel J. Curtis a clergyman residing in the town of Chatham and Daniel Clark residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rev. William Welch who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is respected and beloved 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 day and year aforesaid
Samuel J. Curtis
Pastor of the congregational church Chatham, Connecticut David Clark

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after 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 here states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Rev Samuel J. Gurtiss who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Chatham, and Daniel Clark Esq., who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I William G. Comstock Clerk of the court of probate for the District of Chatham do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Rev William Welch for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 3 d day of December A.D. 1832.
W m G. Comstock Clerk
State of Connecticut County of Middlesex ss. Chatham Oct. 8, 1833
Personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex in the State of Connecticut, William Welch of Chatham in said County, a person well known to me as a credible person, and being first duly sworn according to law makes the following explanation of his declaration to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That in his first tour of duty he went into the service as there stated and performed duty about five weeks, before he went into the hospital. That he went into the hospital more particularly for the purpose of taking care of John Holmes, the sick soldier as there stated but was himself in a poor state of health and scarcely able to perform his duty. That with regard to his other tours of duty he cannot state more particularly than he has in his declaration. Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Franklin G. Comstock
Justice of the Peace
William Welch

COPY.
Dept. of War.
P. O.
Nov. 30, 1833.
Sir:
+ + + + + The claim of William Welsh is also rejected. He alleged in his original declaration about four weeks actual service in the field or garrison, and about five weeks sickness in the hospital in 1776. He also claimed to have served three months in Capt. Harris' Company in Ledyard's Regiment in 1781 - and three months service in 1782 in a corps of which he does not recollect the name of a single officer. No proof being produced of any of these allegations they cannot be received as sufficient to establish a claim for six months service. The papers are placed on file.
F. G. Comstock Esq.
Hartford,
Ct.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Welch, William GRADE Private "in the Invalids" LINE
WARRANT NUMBER 13920 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 19, 1792 To —not shown—
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.