Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23458, Abel Treadwell, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Treadwell, Abel
S. 23458
CONTENTS

New York. 24808
Abel Treadwell a Westchester w/in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Adams of the Reg t commanded by Col. Abel, in the Conn. Coa line for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York. at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of March 1834, and sent to Hon. A. Ward. No. of Rep t U.S.
Arrears to the 4th of March. '34 $ 120.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. '34 20.00 $ 140.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Ele Brown Clerk, book E Vol. 4 Page 82

State of New York County of West Chester
On this third day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of West Chester Abel Tuckersville aged twenty two years who being first duly affirmed according to Laws doth on his affirmation 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 Officers and served as herein stated that he enlisted as a private to serve for the term of one year on the first day of March in the year before Fairfield was burned by the British troops in a Company commanded by Captain Nathan Adams in a Brigade commanded by General Gould & Silliman that he enlisted at the Town of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut and resided at the time of his enlistment at Stratford in the State of Connecticut, that the Company to which he was attached was most of the time stationed at a place called Black Rock in the Town of Fairfield and State of Connecticut that he continued in the service as aforesaid for the full term of one year when he was discharged but had no written discharge & knew this Declarant fur- ther saith that in the year before the British troops Fairfield was burned, that is to say some time in the months of March of that year and immediately after his discharge he again enlisted for the term of one year as a pri- vate in a Company of militia commanded by Captain Isaac Jones in the Regiment of Colonel Alden in General Gould & Silliman's Brigade that he served for the year and was regularly discharged at the end of the term but not in writing. That he was during the whole term of his service this year stationed at the Fort at Black Rock. That he resided at Stratford in the State of Connecticut when he enlisted the second time That during the whole term of his service for the first and second year as aforesaid he was stationed at the Fort at Black Rock aforesaid and in the immediate vicinity of the Fort

That he has no documentary evidence of his service and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except the person named in the annexed Affidavit and whose testimony as to his service appears by the said annexed Affidavit. 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.
Affirmed to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Abel T. Treadwell mark
M c Bayle Atty
The following Interrogatories were propounded by the said Counsel to the said Abel Treadwell to wit:
1 st Where and in what year was you born? Answer, He was born at Stratford in Connecticut on the 12 th April 1760.
2 nd Have you any Record of your age & if so where is it? Answer, He has no Record of his age.
3 rd When were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live Answer, I lived at Stratford in Connecticut when called into service. I lived in the State of Connecticut until the year 1806 since that time I have resided in the Town of Lake Town and my Westchester County I was resided in Towns Westchester County State of New York
4 th How were you called into service, were you drafted Did you volunteer or were you a Substitute, and if a Substitute for whom? Answer, I enlisted into the service for each year of my service as stated in my Declaration.

5 th State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the Troops when you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect of the general circumstances of your service.
I can state the names of some of the Regular Officers other than the ones if they be enlisted Capt. Nathan Adams Captain Isaac Davis & General Paul Silliman. That he always under stand those Officers were Militia Officers and not belonging to the Regular Service —
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service? Answer I never did receive a Discharge from Service other than by parol —
7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution — Seth Whitney of York Town & Francis D. Coffin Residing in the Town of York Residing in the Town of York Seth Whitney of York Town & Francis D. Coffin Residing in the Town of York — in West Chester County State of New York who are well ac- quainted with me and have been for twenty years past
Seth Whitney of York Town Residing in the Town of York Francis D. Coffin Com. Men Residing in the Town of York — in the County of West Chester Do hereby certify that we are well acquaint- ed with Abel Townsend who has subscribed and affirmed to the above declaration, that we believe him to be twenty two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
In presence of I have subscribed the day and year aforesaid
M c Bayle Atty
Abraham Miller Seth Whitney Francis D. Coffin

And the said Court Do hereby declare their opinion that after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War De- partment, 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 Seth Whitney & Frederick J. Coffin who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of the Town of Somers & Parktown in the County of West Chester are credible persons and that their Statement is entitled to credit.
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of West Chester Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abt. Israel Dyer for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 3 rd day of October 1832 — a
N Bayles Clerk

13.830
Abel Inadville.
Paper for Pension under act of 7 th June 1832.
✓
Paper
W. G. G. G.

State of New York County of Westchester
John Wilson of the Town of Fairfield in the County of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut being duly sworn doth depose & say that he is sixty seven years of age that he is well acquainted with Abel Truesdell now a resident of the Town of Somers in the County of Westchester and State of New York; that during the War of the Revolution he was well acquainted with the said Abel Truesdell that the said Abel and this deponent were attached to a company of Militia in the service of the United States, commanded by Captain Nathan Stearns in the Brigade  Regiment commanded by General Lord Poula S. Silliman, that this deponent and the said Abel Truesdell enlisted in the said company and served as privates therein for the period of one year at a place called Black Rock in the Town of Fairfield County and State aforesaid; that this service was in the year before Fairfield was burned by the British troops. And this deponent further saith that the said Abel Truesdell was in the service attached to a company of Militia as a private at a place called Black Rock in the Town of Fairfield aforesaid at the time the British troops burned Fairfield that during that year he often saw the said Abel Truesdell and knew that he was in service as a private in the Militia but as he and this deponent were not attached to the same company he does not recollect how long during that year the said Abel Truesdell served as a private as aforesaid
Sworn to this 8 th August 1832 before me
John Wilson
John Grant Justice of the peace
7 th July 1832 Fairfield Conn

State of New York } Westchester County } ss. I John Green a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Westchester residing in the Town of Scarsdale, in the said County do hereby certify that John Wilson the deponent in the within Affidavit named is of fair honest and reputable character and that full faith and credit is due to his testimony. Given under my hand this 8 th day of August 1832
John Green
I Nathaniel Bayles Clerk of the County of Westchester State of New York do certify that John Green Esq whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit & certificate is a Justice of the Peace in the said County and that I believe the signature subscribed to be his
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office & subscribed my name this 4 th day of October 1832
N Bayles

Abd. Iradwall Pension Papers Oct 7 th June 1832
I hereby relinquish all claim for a pension in this case excepting for one year.
A. Ward. M.C.

State of New York Westchester County
I, Abiel Bradwell the Declarant in the annexed Declaration named being duly affirmed doth make the following Declaration to be annexed to and to comprise all of his original Declaration and as an amendment to the same. That Colonel Abiel Christian was at all times in command of the Regiment to which the Company of Captain Nathan Adams was attached and in which this Declarant served as a private during the year next & immediately preceding the year when the Town of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut was burned by the British troops. That this Declarant enlisted as a Private in the said Company as set forth in his original Declaration and served as a private in the said Company commanded by Captain Nathan Adams during the whole term of his enlistment to wit one year that he was stationed at the Fort at Black Rock and performed Garrison duty during all that year at the said Fort. And this Declarant further states that altho' some impressions have been set forth in his original Declaration hereto annexed to the effect "that the Declarant had performed duty during the said two years of his service at the Fort and in the immediate vicinity of the Fort at Black Rock aforesaid" yet he wishes now to be distinctly understood and he now solemnly affirms that the service performed by him in the said Company to which he was attached as stated in his original Declaration hereto annexed during the two years aforesaid was performed in the Fort at Black Rock aforesaid that he did not do duty elsewhere than in the said Fort except when occasionally the Company were marched out from the Fort and were trained drilled and exercised at & with the Field pieces. That he was not employed in any visit pursuit during or at any time within the two years in which he was in service as set forth in his original Declaration that the said Companies to which he was attached as aforesaid were regular Companies of Militia

embody and called into service by competent authority as he was informed and verily believes. And this Declarant further states by way of amendment and in addition to the facts stated in answer by him to the fifth Interrogatory annexed to the original Declaration of this Declarant that he was well acquainted with Colonel Heth. That he well recollects the time when the British troops marched up and burned the Town of Fairfield he had a distinct view of one battalion of the Enemy they on their line of march came within about a half mile of the Fort at Black Rock aforesaid. This Declarant had charge of a Field piece in the fort. This piece he loaded and fired at the Enemy twenty or thirty times.
Abel his  J. Broadwell  mark
Affirmed to this 27 th May 1833 before me in open Court of the Commonwealth
Ph. of said County J. Bayles Clerk of said Court

13830
Abel Headwell
e
Suspended
Admitted
Private 12 months
Gen Ward Home Reps Frid. 20 Cogh. N.Y.
Lowern Westchester N.Y.

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.
A Statement, showing the Service of Abel Treadwell
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlisted March 1 st The year out stated 1 Private Capt Adams Genl Williams Stationed most of the time with his Company at a place called Black Rock 72 years enlisted at the town of Fair- field but re- sided at the time at Strat- ford in the above state Traditionary a living witness aged 87   Enlisted year out stated 1 Private Capt Davis Col. Jones Col. Abel Genl Williams in the town of Fairfield Connecticut Stationed all the time at the Fort at Black Rock  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. 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 day 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
13890

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.

Reproduction
23458. INVALID.
File No. 23,458
Abel Treadwell
Pris Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 422
[Arrangement of 1870.]