Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9486, for Elnathan Stevens, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
bonn.
Stevens, Elnathan
S. 9486
CONTENTS
encl

Dear Sister to Mrs. A. Kellogg of 3rd Ave. 3. July 1848.
No. 220  New York  Elnathan Stevens of Christen in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Grover in the New York line for 21 Months
★ Conn. Line. Records corrected. Jan'y 6/55.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 70 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Nov. 1833 and to Mrs. A. Toulson Keosville
Arrears to the 14th of Ap. 33 $ 175 Semi-ann. allowance ending A.D. 34 35 $ 210
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Geo. C. Atiles Clerk Book E. Vol. 1. Page 121

No. 21,336
III
Elnathan Stevens Christon County N.Y.
on rolls of Col Duryee, batt on the
Admitted Private 21 months
Thos. Tomlinson Agt Keeneville P.O. Essex Co N.Y.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjoined 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. Those 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, shewing the Service of Elnathan Stevens Christon County N.Y.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Vol 1776 about 1 6 Private Col Baldwin, General M'Donough, Genl Washington 74 years Saratoga Traditional.   Enlisted 1777 6 ditto Col H. C. Ly, Lt. Col. Arnold Coniesticut   " 1778 3 Minuteman unstated   " 1780 6+ Private Col. Grovenor, General Parsons   Vol at the time Danbury was burnt about 1 Private   22 discharged   1   21  
on note of Col. Durfee, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
It cannot be readily admitted that the above allegations of service are insusceptible of proof, and claimants are required by the regulations to produce the best evidence in their power.

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)                      , who has 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 days 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

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 place 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.
□ The notes from [a] to [j] 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Daniel D. Davidson Exam. Clerk

State of New York Ulster County ss:
On this fourth - Day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid now sitting John Nathan Stevens a resident of the town of Pines in the County of Ulster aforesaid aged seventy four years the eighth day of March last in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two being first duly sworn according to law with an oath, makes 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 & served as hereinafter stated
First - he volunteered into a company of Militia at Durham in the State of Connecticut in the Spring of the year 1776 - which was his place of residence, volunteered for the term of six months - the company was under command of Captain Robinson - Thomas John Johnson was Lieutenant - Col. Baldwin commanded Regiment and General Myles Wardworth the Brigade immediately after the company was raised they were ordered and proceeded to New York where they remained until the enemy took possession of the City - at the time of the enemy coming in, he was on guard at Manhattan Point - after the City was taken, they retreated to Rye a Town north east of Kings Bridge remained at Rye until discharged - General Washington learned that he was in the City of New York - saw him in his view about six months upon discharged - received no written discharge after which he returned to Durham his place of residence where he remained until the Spring of 1777. when he enlisted at Durham aforesaid into a company of State Troops commanded by Captain Collins for six months - the company was attached to a regiment under command Colonel John Ely - James Arnold Lieut. Colonel after his enlistment proceeded immediately to New London - General Myles Wardworth  remained remained stationed at New London till some time in

September - from New London when they returned to Connecticut in Rhode Island then to Dobbs Ferry, then back to Connecticut, then New London again, when they were ordered to Norwalk where they remained about one week, when they proceeded to Guilford & shipped aboard of vessels for Long Island, after they had started, was came to them to repair immediately to New London where they did then was late in the gate remained there till discharged - which was written discharge - thinks it was December when discharged, having served more than six months - while at New London was engaged in building a Fort called Fort Trumbull in the harbor yard in guarding the harbor - General Slocum commanded troops was at New London
In Spring of 1778. he enlisted as a Private in under one Captain Smith who he thinks was only in company at Durham as ordered for the term of nine months - they were raised as a Corps to guard the New Coast - after they were raised they were divided into three battalions - each battalion required to serve only three months - he served at least the first three months under each until in case of emergency in their service should be required - the first three months he remained at home receiving half pay, only doing duty once a week, after which he went with Captain Davis was the first at West Haven then removed to West Haven where the company remained under command of said Captain Smith until the expiration of the three months when he returned to Durham upon the expiration of the term received half pay during duty once a week as ordered & subject to be called out as required.
In Spring of 1780. at Durham his place of residence again enlisted into a Company of Continental troops, as he believes, commanded as he thinks by Captain Dutton, the company was attached to a Regiment under command of Colonel Greville then Major Lieut. Colonel - he joined the company and Regiment near Kings Ferry on the North River after which they went into the State of New Jersey where the Regiment remained - moving from place to place until the latter part of December when they crossed the North River to the High Lands nearly opposite West Point, where after remaining a few days he was discharged - he received a written discharge

which acknowledges his having faithfully served in the Continental Army for the term of six months under the above Officers as above stated - but he had the misfortune to have his house burnt in the year 1811 when his land discharge and all the rest of his papers were burnt - his regiment during the campaign in New Jersey was attached to General Parsons brigade - saw Major Appleby when he was in confinement as a prisoner - and was stationed with his regiment at Hopewell about six miles from the place where he was executed - was not recollect the place where he was stationed in New Jersey except recollections of being at Fortway about two months - most of the Continental Army was in Jersey and in the neighborhood of this regiment during the war, frequently saw General Washington, Baron Steuben and other Continental Officers -
And he further says that when Danbury was burnt he also volunteered as a soldier went to Connecticut and when the enemy landed at New Haven he also went there as a soldier in which he continued about one month -
He was born in the year 1739 at Durham young has no record of his age - after he was discharged as aforesaid Colonel Groton's regiment as aforesaid he returned to Durham as aforesaid where he continued to reside until he was about thirty years old, when he removed to Hartford in the State of New York where he lived twelve years & then removed into Penn where or in the neighborhood of which he has ever since continued to reside - recollects that one Looser was Adjutant of Col. Groton's Regiment - recollects also that one Belden was Captain of a Company of blacksmiths attached to said Regiment - that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can prove who can testify to his service -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present deficiency that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State I refer to and described the day as that he states the following named persons to whom he is known and who live in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity

His belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution by Merritt Bates a clergyman and Elisha Hayes
Affidavit to be sworn in the fourth day of year of our Lord in open Court before me
Elizaphan Stevens
Geo M Beckwith acting Clerk of Clinton Com. Pleas.
We Merritt Bates a clergyman residing in Keeneville situated in the towns of Pown and in the adjoining town of Chautauqua and Elisha Hayes of said town of Pown do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elizaphan Stevens who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion -
Merritt Bates Elisha Hayes
Sworn and subscribed the day & year of our Lord in open Court before me
Geo M Beckwith acting Clerk of Clinton Com. Pleas.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and 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 Merritt Bates who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Village of Keeneville situated in Pown and Chautauqua aforesaid & that Elisha Hayes, who has also signed the same is a resident in the said town of Pown and is a credible person that their statement is entitled to credit.
State of New York Clinton County ss
I George M. Beckwith Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Clinton do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the applica- tion of Elizaphan Stevens for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my official seal this fourth day of October 1832.
Geo M Beckwith acting Clerk

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 Enathan Stevens 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.     Spring of 1776 6 mos. Pvt. James Robinson Baldwin Conn.   Spring of 1777 over 6 mos. " Augustus Collins John Ely   Spring of 1778 3 mos. Non-com. Ensign Joseph Smith ✓   Spring of 1780 6 mos. Pvt. Darke Essence  
Battles engaged in, burning of Danbury
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Durham Conn.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 4. 1832. His st. was al.
Residence at date of application, Perm. Clinton Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, born Feb. 8. 1759 at Durham Conn.
Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family.
The above noted is the only soldier of this name &c
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

State of Connecticut County of Middlesex } Durham August 10 th 1833
I Charles White of Durham in the County of Middlesex & State of Connecticut being Eighty five years of age Depose & Say that in the time of the Revolutionary war in the year 1780 in the month of June I was drafted as a private Soldier to serve in the Continental Army for Six Months the Army the most of the time were stationed in New Jersey Our officers Names were Genl Parsons of Middletown Ct John Dirgee was Col Mr Sumner of Middletown was our Lieut Col our Major name was Troop the Capt of the Company that I was attached to was John Mc Gregor I very well Remember that Elnathan Stevens then belonging to the town of Durham was with me & served with me through the aforesaid term
and further the deponent saith not witness John White } Charles his X White David P. Curran } mark
State of Connecticut } Middlesex County ss } Durham August 10 th 1833
Personally appeared Charles White known to me to be a person of truth & veracity and made oath that the above Deposition by him subscribed is the truth before me
John White Justice of the peace

State of Connecticut Middlesex County Middletown August 21 st 1833
I David Harris of Middletown in the County & State aforesaid being 74 years of age Depose and Say that I am acquainted with Elnathan Stevens now residing in the State of New York I well Remember that in the Spring of the year 1877 the deponent with the the said Elnathan Stevens Enlisted into the United States Service into a company of State troops under the Command of Capt Augustus Collins of Guilford for the term of Seven Months, the deponent and the said Stevens were together and Served through the aforesaid term of Seven Months and were discharged the first of January 1878 at New London Ct. and the deponent further saith not David Harris
State of Connecticut Middlesex County } Middletown August 21 st 1833 Personally appeared David Harris known to me to be a person of truth & veracity and made oath that the above deposition by him Subscribed is the truth before me
B,
John White Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut county of Middlesex ss I John Trist, Clerk of the county court for said county of Middle- sex do certify that John White Esq. is a Justice of the peace within and for the county of Middlesex as per commission on file in my office and that his name subscribed to the within certificates, marked A. B., are his proper hand writing and Signatures
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Middletown in said county this Twenty first day of August Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
John Trist Clerk

In the matter of Ebenezer Stevens a Revolutionary Soldier.
21336

Feb 11 Sest to St. Stevens N.Y. 28.
1920 June 19 Hist. to Mary C. W. Westermann (Mrs. Theodore Westermann)
Reuben
9486 INVALID.
File No. 9486
Ebenezer Stevens
Rev. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 359
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rev. H.
May 28, 1920
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Revolutionary War Section Washington, D.C.
I am informed that Elnathan Stevens (1753-1846) of Connecticut received a pension for services rendered in the Revolutionary War. Any in- formation which your Department can furnish will be greatly appreciated. The data will be used in preparing application papers for the Daughters of the American Revolution for one of his descendants.
Yours very truly,
Mary C. H. Westermann
Mrs. Theodore Westermann, 31 Kraft Avenue, Bronxville, New York.