Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17784, Thomas Willys, Conn. Continental

SERVICE
ponn. continental
Willys, Thomas
NUMBER _____
NUMBER S 17784
carded
CONTENTS

17.830 -
Connecticut
Thomas Williams of Hartford in the State of Conn who was a Pri. Gen in the Conn by Captain Sedgwick and of the by in the Conn Troops time for 6 Mos - 20 days - Artiller 7 Mos & Continental
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 64 Dollars 22 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sep 1833 and sent Nathan Hanson Hartford
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 $ 160.55 Semiant. allowance ending Mar 4. 32 11
Dec 19 1833
$192.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Buel Clerk, Book Vol. 3 Page
47 -

State of Connecticut } ff County of Hartford }
On this 7 th . day of August 1882 personally appeared in open court before Jonathan Goodwin Esq. Judge of the court of Probate in and for the District of Hartford now sitting for the District of Hartford now sitting, Thomas Wyllys a resident of the town of East Hartford in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged Seventy seven years and upwards 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 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
He enlisted in that part of Hartford now called East Hartford in the company commenced by Captain Jonathan Wells, of that part of Hart- ford now called East Hartford, county of Hartford and State of Connecticut about the 10 th of June 1776 to serve until the first of Jan y following and served until the said first of January. David Johnson of Ellington in the county of Tolland, then that part of the town of East Windsor and county of Hartford called Goshen was First Lieutenant, Jona- than Roberts of that part of Hartford now called East Hartford was Second Lieutenant, and Samuel Smith of said Ellington in the the county of Tolland then that part of East Windsor called Goshen was Ensign. We marched from Hartford

To New London, and there joined the regiment commanded by Col Bratus Wolcott of the town of East Windsor county of Hartford and State of Connecticut. Bratus Wolcott Jr of the town county and state aforesaid was adjutant in said regiment. From New London we marched to Groton, and there worked on the fort under the command of Capt William Selyard, and was there discharged at the expiration of the term of service.
I was detached in the year 1778 in a small party without any commissioned officer and served one month at New London in erecting an intrenchment near that town.
I enlisted about the 12 th of February 1777 into a company commanded by Captain Anthony Post of Springfield in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Lieutenant Johnson of the State of New York was our Lieutenant. We marched from Springfield Massachusetts in March 1777 to Fishkill in the state of New York through Hartford & Litchfield Ct and then marched to Fredericksburgh NY and there remained in service until discharged by sickness which arose after having the small pox. During this term of service our company were employed as artificers. My discharge is herunto annexed dated Sept 15 th 1777

In reply to the interrogatories proposed by the board the applicant makes the following answers That he was born on the 2 d day of February A D 1755 in the town of Middletown county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut. That he has a record of his age in their Family Bible. That he lived when called into the service in that part of the town of Hartford now called East Hartford. has ever since and now resides in said town of East Hartford. That he was called into the service twice by enlistment and once by draft as herein stated. That he does not recollect the names of any officers except those stated above. I received a discharge for my term of service commencing in February 1777 which hereunto en- dorsed and at the close of the other terms of service that there is no clergyman residing in East Hartford he received no discharge, and that Mr Ruel Great of East Hartford and James F. Comstock of Hartford are persons to whom he is known in his neighbour- hood, and who can testify to his character for veracity and to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. He hereby renun- quishes 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
Thomas Willys
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

We Ruel Treat of East Hartford and James H. Comstock residing in the town of Hartford hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Wyllys who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be upwards of Seventy seven 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
Ruel Treat
James H. Comstock
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
William Johnson Just. of Peace
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the department of War that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Ruel Treat who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the town of East Hartford and that James H. Comstock who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Hartford and they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
I William Whitman Clerk of the court of Probate for the district of Hartford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Wyllys for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 7 th day of August A.D. 1832
Wm Whitman, Clerk of Court of Probate for district of Hartford

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thomas Wiley a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 10. 1776 July 1. 1777 Pvt. Jonathan Wells Erastus Walcutt Conn.   Feby 12. 1777 Sept 13. 1777 Anthony Post Dr. William Livingston        
Battles engaged in, none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, East Hartford Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 7. 1832. His el. was of
Residence at date of application, East Hartford, Hartford Co. Conn.
Age at date of application, born Feby 2. 1755 at Middletown Conn.
Remarks: Deed Dec. 19. 1832 {from A.B.  There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

I 17784
INVALID.
File No. 17.784
Thomas Wilys
Pr. Rev. Kans
Act: June 7 th 39
Index:—Vol. / , Page 419
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Oct 26 98 W.H.H. Tauler Kansas City - Mo 1921 Dec 22 Hist. Soc. Mrs. Alfred B. Klapp.

Thos. Willys
S.F. 17784
Thomas Willys, Continental. (comm)

Fredrickburgh Sept r 15- 1777
This is To certify that Thomas Wyllys Did Belong To My Company of Artificers in the continental Artillery Service and is Now Discharged he being Which Render him Unfit for Duty - Wherefore I Now Discharge Him this Day at Bove Nutter
Anthony Fos t Capt d of Ar t Artillery
All Summons May concern

Thomas Wyllys Papers Nantucket
Low ref 64° 20 dip line without H 2 O not mutula seen
Artificer 7 in° 22.22 42 6422
64.22
Walter Edwards Bartlett Co
1284 1211 16.55

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Thomas Wyllys which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 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? yes 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? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 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? yes

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 clergyman - two respectable citizens XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes - It is stated that there is no living in East Hartford - 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? yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes  yes 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? yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No - there is no certificate of the magistrate before whom the depositions were taken being a Justice of the Peace - XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? See 3 rd
 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.
7 th  artil
6. 20

I Joshua Buckland of the town and county of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged Seventy Six years and upwards do depose certify and say that during the Revolutionary war I served upwards of six months in the company commanded by Capt Jonathan Wells of that part of Hartford now East Hartford and David Johnson of Ellington then of that part of East Windsor then  now called Ellington Goshen was First Lieutenant, and Jonathan Roberts of that part of Hartford now called East Hartford was Second Lieutenant, and in the regiment commanded by Col.ustus Wolcott of East Windsor. The time when I entered the service was June 1776 and discharged the 1 st of January 1777, during which time Thomas Mylls of East Hartford belonged to the same company and during the said term of service served with me. I was acquainted with Mr. Mylls before he entered the service and have ever since known him. ✓ Joshua Buckland
State of Connecticut ss county of Hartford ss
Sworn to and subscribed this 7 th day of August 1832 before me Nathan Johnson Just Peace
I certify that the deponent is a man of good standing is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit Nathan Johnson Just of Peace

Thomas Wyllys Appr. for Run
Sent to No 622. Genl. Nathan Johnson Hartford Conn

I Russell West of East Haddam in the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut aged Seventy four years, certify, de- pose and say that I was in the Revolutionary service during most of the year 1777 and I well know that Thomas Wylly who has resided in my neighborhood was since he was a lad a soldier in the Revolutionary service in the artillery dur- ing a part of that year, as an ar- tilleryman in Col. Porter's company and that after he had the small pox he was discharged on account of ill health -
Russell West
State of Connecticut County of Hartford
Sworn to and subscribed this 7. day of August 1832 before me Nathan Johnson Just. of Peace
I certify that the deponent is a man of good standing and is a credible person and entitled that his statement is entitled to credit. Nathan Johnson Just. of Peace

I Roger Burnham of East Haverford in the County of Haverford in the State of Vermont aged Seventy one years, certify, depose and say that in the year 1778. I was drafted in a small detachment of Militia at East Point of Haverford now called East Haverford for a short time of service at New London in said State and while at said New London were engaged in erecting a breast work near the Town - Thomas Wykly of said East Haverford was with me in said detachment and we were there from one to two months - Roger Burnham
State of Vermont County of Haverford ss.
On this 7 th day of August 1832 personally appeared Roger Burnham and subscribed & swore in due form to the above before Nathan Johnson Jut. Rev.
I certify that the deponent Roger Burnham a resident of East Haverford is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit. Nathan Johnson Jut. Rev.

State of Connecticut County of Hartford
vs.
I, David Griswold, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Hartford aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the Hon. Nathan Johnson Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits of Joshua Buckland, RUFUS FRET, & Roger Burnham were respectively taken, was at the time the same were respectively taken, & was since has been, & now is a Justice of the Peace in, & for the County of Hart- ford, duly commissioned & qualified according to Law; & that the respective signatures of Justice Johnson are his genuine signatures.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, & affixed the seal of the County Court this 22 d day of June A.D. 1833.
David Griswold, Clerk
David Griswold
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Oct 11 1867
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

Hartford June 22. 1833
Dear Sir,
I have obviated the objections so far as I understand them in the case of Thomas Wight, whose papers I again enclose. He is an aged and unfeigned man and should be gratified that his papers might receive an early attention as the convenience of the department will admit.
I am most resp ctfully your ob st Serv t Nathan Johnson

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original wills and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.

M. V. P. M.
O. & N. Div.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C. MAR 22 1897
Respectfully returned to the writer, who is requested to furnish, for purposes of identification, as much as possible of the information called for below.
[Signature] Commissioner.
Full name of soldier:
Thomas Willis
Place of residence before service:
(Town, county, and State, if possible)
Easton Plymouth County Bridgewater Massachusetts
Place of residence after service:
(Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Easton - Bridgewater Boston Mass
Date of death (as near as possible):
Dec 11, 1836 Age 94
Christian name of widow:
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
Remarks:
Your name and address:
Wm H. Sainter City Hall Kansas City Missouri
2338b2m Resp. Edgar L. Morehead Secy Davis

To The Commissioner of Pensions Washington. D. C.
Will you send me information concerning the Rev. War record of Thomas Willys of Hartford or East Hartford. his name appears in the book "Conn Soldiers of the Revolution" also as a Pensioner Conn Court ( S 17784 Washington)
Mrs Alfred S. Graft East Windsor Hill Connecticut.
Dec 8. 1921.

Department Water Works
Office of Assessor and Collector of Water Rates
C. S. SQUIER, ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR. JOHN B. LAWRENCE, CHIEF CLERK.
Kansas City, Mo.
March 2 d 1897
Hon. J. D. Murphy Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C. Dear Sir:
Please furnish me with a Certificate of the Revolu- tionary Record of Great Grand- father Thomas Willis of Massachusetts as appears in your office to aid me in my application to the Sons of the Revolution.
Very Respectfully, W. H. H. Tainter
City Hall Kansas City Mo.