Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,937, for David Main, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
bonn
Main, David
S. 16937
boarded
CONTENTS

17.086. Connecticut
David Main
of Northington in the State of Connecticut who was a PVT - in the Conn Com. by Captain _____ of the Reg Comm. by Col. Parsons in the Conn State Troops 14 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of $6 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of July 1883 and sent to our N. Barber Groton Conn
Arrears to the 14th March: 33. $73.32 Semest. allowance ending Sep. 4. 33. 28.83 $116.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Nov June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by EDMUND Clerk Book 2 Vol. 3 Page 27
N 2
Deed record

I Rufus Main of the Town of Griswold County of New London and State of Connecticut aged 74 years being duly sworn according to law do certify declare & say that I am well acquainted with David Main of North Stonington who signed the foregoing declaration in my presence and that on the first of August 1777. at Stonington Now North Stonington I was drafted for a tour three months duty and was marched and stationed at Fort Griswold near New London I was attached to Capt. Hanks Comp t . Col t Wm. Ledyard's Regt and well remember that the above named David Main was drafted at the same time that I was and was attached to the same Comp t and that that I was and served in said fort Griswold the term of three months I have always been acquainted with the s d David Main that signed the foregoing Declaration in my presence and know him to be the same person who performed the s d three months tour of duty as aforesaid
RUFUS MAIN
worn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before the Com te aforesaid
A. S. Fish Judge

David Main
26. 098
Smith
Parish 14 mo 46 66
Wm N. Barber

BRIEF in the case of David Main of North Stonington in the State of Connecticut (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court of Probate  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 74 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     Aug 10 th In 1775 (enlisted) 7 Private Major Sam l Prentiss } Colo Sam l H Parsons } Conn t   Aug c 1 st 1776 4 do Cap t Tho s Holmes } Colo Oliver Smith } do   Aug c 1 st 1777 3 do Cap t Stanton } Colo Scayard } do  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? North Stonington - Connecticut  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence, and five living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? they are properly authenticated 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Wm Gordon Examining Clerk.

State of Connecticut County of New London
Probate District of Stonington
On this 11 th day of January February A.D. 1833
Personally appeared in open Court, before Newfish Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington, David Main a resident of North Stonington in said Stonington District, County of New London and State of Connecticut aged 74 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 act of Congress passed the 7 th day of June 1832, that he entered into the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That on the first Monday in May 1775 at said North Stonington he enlisted for the term of seven months as a private in Maj r Samuel Ben- tice Com d Lieut r James Elbridge Ensign C o Babcock and on or before the 10 th day of said Month he marched in said Company to New London Ct. said Company belonged to Col l S. H. Parsons Reg t of Connecticut State Troops, that said Com d continued at N. London three weeks, he then marched in said Company through Bolton Ct. to Providence Rhode Island, thence to Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts and there continued in service in P. Camp and Reg t until the 10 th day of December 1775 when he received an honorable written discharge from Col l Samuel H. Parsons which discharge has long since been lost or destroyed. That while on this tour of duty he helped build the fort on Tommynight Hill (he was the most of his time employed in the Army Shop he being acquainted with the Gun Smiths business) that while at P. Roxbury he frequently saw Gen l Washington and Putnam, that he served on this tour of duty the full term of seven months, that there were several other Reg ts at Roxbury one of which he recollects was commanded by Col l Ely. That after he was discharged he returned to Stonington (now North Stonington Ct.) That Allen York-

of North Stonington is the only person he knows of whose testimony he can now obtain to prove this tour of duty, except W m Stewart of Voluntown (2 nd tour) That on the first day of August 1776 he resided at North Stonington being a private in Capt Asa's Main Camp of Militia, Joshua Brown Lieut Daniel Brown Ensign, and that there was at that time a general draft of the Militia and that he was drafted and marched on the 30 th day of August to St. London Ct, in the Company then commanded by Capt Thomas Holmes, in Lieut Col l Oliver Smith's Reg t from St. London he marched to New Haven Ct, where he staid one week from thence he marched in to Camp to Kings Bridge near New York where he staid about one week from thence he marched to Norristown where he staid from thence he marched to White Plains that while at White Plains he frequently saw Genl Washington and Putnam that he continued in service on this tour of duty until the first day of December 1776 making four months and then received an honorable verbal discharge from Col l Oliver Smith, that he then returned home again to said North Stonington that he knows of no other testimony which can now obtain to prove this second tour of duty except that of Allen Ely, Jonathan Allen and Lieut Brown of said North Stonington.
3 rd tour of service that on the first day August 1777 he resided in North Stonington and was a private in said Capt Asa's Main Camp of Militia, when he was again drafted for three months and was marched on the first day of August 1777 to Fort Griswold near New London, Ct that while there he did garrison duty in a company commanded by Capt Stanton in Col l W m Ledgyard Reg t that he continued in service at said Fort Griswold until the first day of November 1777 when he received an honorable verbal discharge from Capt Stanton having served out the full term of three months for which he was drafted and then returned home again to said North Stonington - That he knows of no other person whose testimony he can now procure to prove this

his third tour of Service except Rufus Main of the Town of Griswold New London County Ct.
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.
That he was born in S. North Stonington (formerly called Stonington) in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty two (1752). That his age is recorded in the Stonington Records. That when called into service, in each tour he was always living in S. North Stonington. That he has lived in said North Stonington ever since the revolutionary war & now resides in said North Stonington. That he voluntarily enlisted the first tour of seven months in 1775 - That he was drafted the tour of four months in 1776. That he was drafted the 3 d tour of service in 1777. & served three months. That he never was a substitute. That he has replied to the 5 th Interrogation in his preceding declaration.
That he never did but was written discharged, to wit, at Roxbury Massachusetts, for seven months service in 1775 signed by Samuel H. Parsons, dated Roxbury December 10 th 1775, which discharge he has long since lost, as before stated. That he has no documentary evidence of his 3 d services or any part thereof, and knows of no person living, whose testimony he is able to procure except, Rufus Main, of Griswold in S. New London County, Allen Park W m Steward of Stonington son of Allen & Elizabeth Brown of S. North Stonington, whose testimony he has procured. That he is known to Asahel Miner a clergyman residing in S. North Stonington and Latham Hall Esq. of S. North Stonington who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief in his services in the Revolution. He has above relinquished all claim to a pension except the present.
Keith Stonington February 11 th 1833.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington, in the County of New London State of Connecticut
H. A. Fish Judge
David Main

We Ashev Mines a clergyman; residing in the Town of North Stonington, in the County of New London and State of Connecticut and Latham Hull residing in said North Stonington hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Capt. David Main who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty 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.
February 12 th 1833.
Ashev Mines
Sworn and subscribed the day and Latham Hull year aforesaid before the Court a- foresaid. — A. M. H. Judge
I Allen York of North Stonington, in New London County and State of Connecticut aged Twenty Eight years, being duly sworn according to Law do on my oath certify, declare and say that I am well acquainted with David Main, who subscribed the above or foregoing declaration, that I have ever been acquainted with him since my childhood, & know him to have been a soldier of the revolution. That on the first Monday of May 1775 I enlisted as a private, in the Connecticut State Troops, for seven months service in the company commanded by Maj Saml Prentice & Lieut James Eldridge. I Lieut Richard Hewit in Col Saml H. Parsons Regiment. That on the 10 th of said May 1775, I went from my home, in North Stonington, then called Stonington to New London and there joined the said company, that after serving a short period at New London, marched with said company, through Voluntown Connecticut, through Providence, R. Island to Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts, at which place last named and the vicinity (to wit Roxbury) I continued to serve in said Regiment till the 10 th December 1775, when, having served seven months the term of my enlistment, I rec d a discharge in writing, from Colonel Parsons — That I know the said David Main enlisted at the same time I did, and served

in the same company from the commencement, in May 1775 to 10 th December following, that he was discharged at Roxbury at the same time I was discharged.
That at said Stonington, in the year 1776 I was a private in the Militia, and on the 1 st day of August in about said year the Militia were ordered out, into actual service, that I marched with the militia company commanded by Capt. Thos. Holmes 1 st Lieutenant Joshua Brown & Lieut. Christopher Brown, belonging to Col. Oliver Smith, Regiment to New London, on said first day of August, thence march in said Company to Saybrook & thence to New Haven Connecticut & thence marched into the State of New York, to Kingsbridge and other places. That I Regiment, were stationed as a flank Guard at Morristown, that I was in the retreat, to White Plains and was present, at the engagement fought there with the enemy, that I marched with said Company to North Castle & continued serving at said place till on or after the 1 st December 1776, when I was verbally discharged at said North Castle having served in this line of duty four months. That I know the said David Main was a private in said Capt. Holmes' Company, & that he served in said Company, the whole of said time, and was discharged at the same time, and that we came home to Stonington together. That I believe the said David Main is Eighty years old.
February 12 th 1833 Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before the Court aforesaid
Allen York
A. M. Fish Judge
We Jonathan Allen aged Seventy Eight years and Septhol Brown aged Seventy four years both of North Stonington in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, being duly cautioned & sworn do on our oaths, certify declare and say that we are well acquainted with David Main of said North Stonington who subscribed the foregoing Declaration for a Pension, having ever lived, since childhood in the same neighborhood with said David Main, and know him to have

been a soldier of the Revolution That we lived at S North Huntington, in the year 1776, and belonged as privates to Capt Holms' Company, that on or about the 1 st day of August in S year, the Militia being ordered out, we marched with S David Main, from S Huntington, in S Thos Holms' Company 1 st Lieut Joshua Brown 2 nd Lieut Christ Brown (S Company being now a part of Lt Col Oliver Smiths Regiment), to New London Connecticut, after a short period - march to New Haven & thence Westerly into the State of New York, and we were in S Company in its different marches and services, at Kings Bridge Morrisania and other posts and places, till on or after the 1 st day of December 1776, when at White Plains (to which place the Americans retired from White Plains) - we were discharged verbally - and then came home - That we know the said David Main served the whole time in said Company from the 1 st August to 1 st December 1776. - as a private That we know the said David Main is the identical person who performed S service, & that we believe him to be Eighty years old - That we cannot positively testify that our said service commenced on the first day of August, or not but know, that we served four months.
Feby. 12. 1833. Sworn and sub
scribed the day and year aforesaid
Before the Court aforesaid
J. M. Fish Judge
Jonathan Allen
Joseph Brown
I William Stewart of Voluntown, in the County of Windham, and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty one Years and aforesaid being sworn according to Law do on my oath certify declare and say, that I am well acquainted with David Main, who subscri- bed the above or foregoing Declaration, that on or about the first Monday in May 1775, I lived in North Hunting- ton, then a part of Huntington in the County of New London, Connecticut, and on said day I voluntarily

uly enlisted as a Private for Seven Months service in the Connecticut State Troops, in the Company comman- ded by Capt James  Samuel Prentice. Lieutenants, James Eldridge and Richard Hewitt. Ensign Oliver Babcock. in Colonel Samuel H. Parsons Regiment that about the 10 th day of said May I joined the said Company at New London & there continued serving in company about three weeks. Thence marched through Connecticut & the State of Rhode Island to Roxbury & at S. Roxbury Man continued in service, in the company aforesaid, & in S. Col o Parsons Regiment till on or about the 10 th day of December A D 1775 when I was honorably discharged having served Seven months
That said David Main, was also a private in S. Company, that he marched in company with me from S. Stonington to New London & continued serving in S. Prentice Company in its marches and services, the whole of said period of Seven months, and was discharged at said Roxbury, in Dec r . 1775, at the time I was also discharged. That I know the S. David Main is the identical person who performed the S. Seven months service. That I believe him to be Eighty years old North Stonington February 12. 1833.
Subscribed and sworn to the day & William  Stewart  Steward year aforesaid. Before the Court aforesaid N. R. Fish Judge

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 David Main, was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, And the court further certifies that it appears to said Court, that Asahel Miner who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of North Stonington, in New London County and Lathaw Hull Esq., who signed the same is a resident of the said Town of North Stonington, and is a credible person and that their statement, is entitled to credit, and that it further appears to said Court that Allen Cook, Jonathan Allen, and Ephraim Brown of the Town of North Stonington, Rufus Main of Griswold in said New London County, and William Howard of Voluntown in the County of Windham State of Connecticut, who have signed the certificates preceding are residents of the Towns, respectively, as by them stated, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
A. M. Fish Judge
I Nathan Daboll Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington C.C. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Main for a pension in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this 12 th day of February 1833
Nathan Daboll Clerk
David Main David Main
Rev. Asahel Miner
Feb 21
860292

February 23, 1932
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Rai Christopher 2412 Fourth Avenue Pueblo, Colorado
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to David Main, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 16937, based upon the Revolutionary War service of David Main.
He was born in 1752 in Stonington, Connecticut.
While a resident of said place he enlisted May 1, 1775, and served as private in Captain James Eldridge's company in Colonel Samuel H. Parsons' Connecticut regiment, and was discharged December 10, 1775. He enlisted August 1, 1776 and served as private in Captain Thomas Holmes' company in Colonel Oliver Smith's Connecticut regiment, and was discharged December 1, 1776. He enlisted August 1, 1777 and served as private in Captain Stanton's company in Colonel William Ledyard's Connecticut regiment, and was discharged November 1, 1777.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 11, 1833, while a resident of North Stonington, Connecticut.
There are no data as to his family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a _____ of the military history of David Main 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. S 16937
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 1, 1775 to Dec. 10, 1775 Private James Eldridge Samuel H. Parsons Conn   Aug. 1, 1776 to Dec. 1, 1776 Reuben James Oliver Smith   Aug. 1, 1777 to Dec. 1, 1777 Blankens William Lloyd  
In 1776-1777 he was drafted from Capt. Amos Main's company.
Battles engaged in, ✓ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Sturminster Newton, Kings Co., Penn. Date of application for pension, July 11, 1833. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, North Sturminster, Conn. Age at date of application, born in 1752 at Sturminster Newton, when his age was recorded.
Remarks:
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

. 1812 War Section
W.C.A.
March 7, 1925
Mrs. L. E. Leach 25 Seward St. Putnam, Conn.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.16937, it appears that David Main was born in 1752 at Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, where his age was recorded.
While a resident of said place he enlisted May 1, 1775, as private in Captain James Eldridge's Company, Colonel Samuel H. Parsons' Connecticut Regiment, and was discharged December 10, 1775.
While belonging to Captain Amos Main's Company of Militia he enlisted August 1, 1776, as private in Captain Thomas Holmes' Company, Colonel Oliver Smith's Connecticut Regiment, and was discharged December 1, 1776.
While belonging to Captain Amos Main's Company of Militia he enlisted August 1, 1777, as private in Captain Stanton's Company, Colonel William Ledyard's Connecticut Regiment, and was discharged November 1, 1777.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 11, 1833, while a resident of North Stonington, Connecticut.
There is no data on file relative to his family.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner

Post Card
Department of Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington D. C.
THIS SIDE FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY.

25 Seward St. Putnam Conn Jan 29. 1925.
Department of Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Will you please send me copy of pensions
S 44573 Elijah Bailey
S 16937 David Main.
Yours truly Mrs. L. E. Leach.

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON
RECORDS DIVISION
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
R-6602-ND
February 12, 1932.
Veterans Administration, Director of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Sirs:
The attached communication dated January 25, 1932, from Mrs. Rei Christopher, 2412 Fourth Avenue, Pueblo, Colorado, relative to the family data of Elisha Palmer and David Main of N. Stonington, Connecticut, is referred to your office for consideration and reply.
The writer has been advised of this reference.
Respectfully,
W. Richardson Chief, Records Division.

2412 Fourth Ave. Pueblo, Colo.
RECEIVED P.A.O. JAN 28 32
Jan. 25 1932.
Chief Old Record Division, Gen. Accounting Office Washington, D. C.
RECORDS DIVISION Misc. Case # ..... Claim # ..... No Claim N.H. 2/4/32 DEBIT RECORD:
Dear Sir:-
Kindly give me the family data as given by these men when they made application for pension. Reference Census of Pensioners 1840.
W 26287
Clicka Palmer age 90 in 1840. N. Stonington, Conn. living in family of Clicka Palmer.
David Main age 88 in 1840. Stonington, Conn. living in family of David Main.
Yours truly, Mrs. Rea Christopher

16937 INVALID.
1914 Apl. 23. Hist. to J. Quincy Ames through S. G. Brooks letter in S. File 11979 Nathaniel Ames. J 1925 Nov. 7. Hist. to Mrs. L. E. Seal 1932-3 Feb. 23 hist. to Mrs. Rae Christopher Ames
File No. 16927
Quincy Ames
his wife
Act: June 7 th 1879
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 245
[Arrangement of 1870.]