Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,714, for Thaddeus Sterling, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Sterling, Thaddeus
B. 17714
Carded
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

Connecticut  Shaddeus Sterling
Residing in the State of Connect who was a Private in the Cont commanded by Captain Myers of the Reg. — commanded by Col. — on the Cont. time for 3 Years
Inscribed on the Roll of Connect at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Aug  1833 and due to Mr. D. B. ...
Arrears to the 4th Mar 33 $ 160 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1/1/33  40  $ 200
Recorded by G. B. Stiles Book E Vol. 2 Page 41 Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832

State of Connecticut, } ss. County of Fairfield, }
On this 3. day of Augt 1832. personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Norwalk in said County
now sitting, Hedden Sterling a resident of Wilton in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty three years, who being first sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
That in the Spring of the year 1776 I enlisted in Wilton as now called being at time a part of Norwalk in the troop of horse commanded at that time by Colonel Colib S t John of New Canaan. and I served under him in guarding and protecting the sea coast and on the lines until said S t John was chosen and appointed Capt. of said Company in the year 1777 and continued to serve under him until the year 1780 at which time Asahel Gregory of said Wilton was chosen and appointed Captain of said Company. and I continued to serve in said Company. of horse until the close of the Revolutionary War was in the Battle when Danbury was burnt. and near Gen l Wooster when he was killed. and was also in the Battles when Fairfield and Norwalk was Burnt. have no written discharge and no documentary evidence of my services. was born in said Wilton on the 18 day of June 1749. have no record of my age. have always lived in said Wilton and now live there.

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } ss. Probate Court: District of Stamford Personally appeared the within named Thaddeus Sterling and being duly sworn in open Court: this 1 day of May 1833. under the Law in force here say in explanation of his declaration herein set forth
That in the Spring of the year 1776. I enlisted as herein stated under Capt Caleb St. John (the Capt of the Company then: Baldwin was a Sery and was not not present under him) Major Storrs Col. Silliman and was in camp and constant service as a private soldier and drew pay and rations. for six Months Our Company was on the post of Danbury ordered to March under Genl Woster to Fort  Indipendence near Kings Bridge State of New York and was there on guard and in action and constant service. Three Months On the first of March 1777 I enlisted into Capt. Caleb St. John Company of Howe Major Storrs Col. Silliman and was in the battle where Danbury was burnt and at Ridgefield and near Genl Woster where he was killed and was on guard at Stamford and on the lines at Horse necks until the first of December and was in action & constant service Nine Months as a private soldier In Feb y 1778. was on guard at Stamford on the lines at Horse necks Rye and at Fishkill under said Capt. Caleb St. John Genl Silliman & Genl: Poor . and was in action and constant service as a private soldier Eleven Months On the first of March 1779. I continued in the same service in the same Company under Capt. Caleb St. John Col. Mead Genl Silliman and was on guard at Stamford . Horse Neck . and at Bethel State New York and was in action and constant service as a private soldier Nine Months
No. 3154
on the first of May 1780 Abraham Gregory was chosen Capt. of said Company of Horse under Col. Stephen St. John & said Genl: Silliman . as a private soldier. and was on guard at Stamford  Horse Neck and on the lines and was in action and constant service Six Months On the first of March 1781. I again enlisted said Company under Capt. Abraham Gregory Col. Stephen St. John Genl Silliman and was on guard at Stamford and on the lines at North Castle in the State of New York under Genl Washington and was in constant and active service for more than six Months as a private soldier Sworn & Subscribed in open Court the day and year of our said Benj t Isaac Judge
Thaddeus Sterling
Adm d 24 mar 1833 [90]

The said Thaddeus Sterling hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Thad. Sterling
We, Charles J. Todd a clergyman, residing in the town of Wilton and Daniel Betts residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thaddeus Sterling who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 83- 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.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Charles J. Todd Daniel Betts
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Charles J. Todd who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Wilton and that Daniel Betts who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Wilton and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Benj. Isaac Judge
I, Charles Isaac Clerk of the Leia Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thaddeus Sterling for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Leia Probate Office, this 3. day of Augt 1832.
Chas. Isaac Clerk

State of Connecticut } Fairfield County. } ss Probate Court District of Norwalk on the 31 day of July 1832 before said Court Personally appeared James Benedict aged Eighty Nine Years of New Canaan in said County being duly sworn depose and said that he is well acquainted with James Haddad Sterling of Wilton in said County that in the year 1776 said Sterling and myself enlisted in the troop of horse under the command of Colonel S t John and we served under him in guarding and protecting the sea coast and on the lines until he was chosen Capt. of said Company in the year 1777 and continued our service together until the year 1780 at which time Abraham Gregory of Wilton was chosen Capt. of said Company and we continued the same service until the close of the Revolutionary War we were principally engaged during the time of said at Norwalk homestead and on the lines and was part of the time under Major Herr Swan & Subordinate in open Court Pres d Judge James Benedict
At the same Court Personally appeared James Lockwood of New Canaan in said County aged Eighty Nine Years being duly sworn according to Law in open Court doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with Haddad Sterling of Wilton in said County that in the year 1776 said Sterling and myself enlisted in the troop of horse under the command of Colonel S t John and we served under said Colonel Caleb S t John in guarding and protecting the sea coast and on the lines until he was chosen Capt. of said Company in the year 1777 and continued our service together until the year 1780 at which time Abraham Gregory of Wilton was chosen Capt. of said Company and we continued the same service until the

close of the Revolutionary War was principally engaged during the time of town officers at Northhampton and on the line and was part of the town under Major Star -
sworn and subscribed
in Open Court
Benj. Isaac Judge
James Lockwood
State of Connecticut } ss
Fairfield County. S. Probate Court District of Northampton May 1. 1833. I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the aforesaid Disputants James Benedict and James Lockwood and know them both to be respectable and creditable Persons
Benj. Isaac Judge

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thaddeus Sterling 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. L. 17.714
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Spring 1776 6 mos. Private Caleb St. John Silliman Conn.   Mch. 1777 9 mos. " " " " "   Feby. 1778 11 mos. " " " " ✓   Mch. 1, 1779 9 mos. " " " " Mead   May 1780 6 mos. " Abraham Gregory Stephen St. John   Mch. 1781 6 mos. " " " " "  
Battles engaged in, Danbury, Ridgefield Fairfield & Norwalk.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Norwalk parish afterwards called Milton Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 3 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Milton Conn.
Age at date of application, born June 18 1749 at Milton, Fairfield Co. Conn.
Remarks: there is no family data on file
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

14/4/14
INVALID.
File No. 17714
Thaddeus Sterling
Sci Rev Mar 1
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 363
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Adm. 12/4 Nat. Hist. to L. G. A.
Whistler, 5" Art. U.S. A.
547 Buchanan St., New York City.
July 24/15 Hist. to Mrs.
Adaline H. Sterling, Englewood, N.J.
1910 Jan. 27. Hist. to Monroe S. Dutcher.
1917 Apl. 18. " " Henry R. Drowne.
1923 - Aug. 30 Hist. to Vera L. Cole.
See letter in claim Thomas Cole
N. 17637 awf.
M. El.

Des Moines Ia
Jan 14-10.
Dear Sir:-
I am desirous of becoming a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, I wish you would send me the necessary certificate as my ancestor upon whom I am depending for eligibility was pensioned by the act of 1832.
Kindly see if you have record of Thaddene Sterling who served at various times in the Conn. militia. His last service was as quartermaster of the 3 rd Regt Light Horse, Conn. militia, Major Daniel Starr commanding. Please send me a certificate to this effect if possible - Yours Respectfully
Comrade P.443.
Monroe S. Dutcher 2002 Maury Street Des Moines Ia

JAN 18 1909
U.S.W.

NEW JERSEY SOCIETY.
REGENT: MISS ADELINE WHITTEMORE TORREY.
VICE-REGENT: MRS. CHARLES B. YARDLEY.
RECORDING SECRETARY: MISS GAIL A. TREAT.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: MRS. GEORGE E. ADAMS.
REGISTRAR: MRS. G. B. CRATER.
HISTORIAN: MISS A. W. STERLING.
TREASURER: MRS. GEORGE H. HODENPYL.
S. & G.
Benglewood, N.J. July 22 1895.
Hon. Wm. Lochorn,
Dear Sir:—
Will you kindly send me at the earliest convenient date a statement of the military history of Thaddeus Sterling of Milton, Conn., a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Also a statement of the military history of Daniel B. Joyce of New York, a soldier of the War of 1812.
Very respectfully,
Adaline W. Sterling,
State Historian, N. J. Soc. D.A.R.

J.
Room 625, Temple Court, 5 & 7 Beekman St., New York City, Feb. 28, 1894.
United States Commissioner of Pensions, Pension Office, Washington, D.C.
Sir:-
I would respectfully ask for the following information. What was the rank and regiment of U.S. Pensioner Thaddeus Sterling who drew a pension of ninety dollars per year, who lived in Wilton, Conn. and died there in 1838 ?
Respectfully,
G. H. Whistler
1st Lieut. 5th Artillery.
U. S. Army.
MAR 3 1894
FILE
RECEIVED
H

Sons of the Revolution
in the State of New York
Fraunces Tavern Corner Broad & Pearl Streets New York City
res res
April 7, 1917.
Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:-
Will you please send me the Revolutionary service of Thaddeus Sterling who was born in Susquehanna, Pa., June 16, 1749, and died in Wilton, Conn., March 3, 1837. He was a Private in the Connecticut Militia and received a pension.
Yours very truly,
Henry Russell Browne
Secretary.

16 I Berlin
adm 2
5. b 14. 17
16. Jan
P 141.

3154
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Mademo Sterling 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?
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?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? — no —
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been 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?
4 subsequent
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. January 1884

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Stern, David GRADE Private LINE Virginia or Stern
WARRANT NUMBER 12546 and 14047 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED May 8, 1793 to Francis Graver, assignee
also, B.L.Wt. 195-60-55
*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.