Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19,515, Ephraim Wright, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
born,
Wright Ephraim
S. 19,515
CONTENTS
carded

24876 New York
Ephraim Wright of Jefferson Co in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company comman by Captain Smith of the Regt comman by Col in the Connecticut 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 17 day of March 1834 and Scott to Hon D Wardwell
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 34 — $120 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Apr 34 20.00
$140.00
{ Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by No. C. Cromwell Clerk Book E Vol. 4 Page 129

No. 12022 Ephraim Wright
Oct. 16. 17.
proof reg &
J. C. Chittenden
Adams Jefferson Co. N.Y.

No 12022
BRIEF in the case of Ephraim Wright of Adams County of Jefferson in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? Sixty Seven years, 67.
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Table with 5 columns: Period, Duration of Service (Years, Months, Days), Rank, Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Row 1: Enlisted on or about 1st Feby In 1781, 1 year, As a, Gen. Washington, Major Gen. Shaeffer, Capt. Matthew Smith, Lieut. Borden, A. J. Whiting.
5. In what battles was he engaged? Not any
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hartford Lockville Co. Connecticut
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. G. Wilson Examining Clerk.

State of New York
County of Rensselaer ss
On this 11 th day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred thirty two personally appeared in open court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Rensselaer aforesaid, now sitting Ephraim Wright a resident of Adams in the County of Rensselaer, State of New York aged Sixty Seven years past, who being 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 officers named as herein stated. Is wit That he enlisted in the corps of State troops of the State of Connecticut on or about the middle of February in the year 1781. That he was then residing in the town of Hartland in the County of Litchfield (then so called now called Hartford) in the State of Connecticut. That he left his residence for actual Service on the 1 st of March 1781 & continued in the Service according to the terms of his enlistment, during one year & was discharged at the town of Stamford in the S. West part of Connecticut on the first day of March 1782. The corps in which he served, was a battalion commanded by Col. Humphrey, & first name not known the division, composed of two battalions, was commanded by Genl. (Matherbury who had been some time in the service at the north. The company was commanded by Capt. Matthew Smith of the town of Norfolk in Connecticut. Lieutenant was Goodin. The adjutant was Whiting. The last ensign when discharged was Alled. The first name of the officers not known as they were not personally known to him (he never heard them called) by any first name, if they had a title.

He enlisted, in pursuance of a call of the Government of Connecticut, by which a certain number were portioned to Counties & towns &c - The number required of the town of Hattland & his residence, at the time he enlisted was two, he enlisted volunteered for one of the two - The place of rendezvous was Stanford aforesaid, where he remained until the 1 st of July following - On the 3 rd of July, they went to what was called, Hoosic neck, about 30 miles, to take some cattle, but were driven back. About the middle of July, they were called to White Plains where the main army was. Washington was stationed & remained there until the main army went to the South to take care of Cornwallis's General, September 8, when they returned to Hoosic neck joining Stanford aforesaid, & remained there through the winter until discharged, to wit, the 1 st of March, 1782 - He further declares that he was discharged at the same time with all of the company. He never had any written discharge, nor did any one, at that time, & that he knows of no person living who can testify to his services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Ephraim Wright
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid P. Washburn Clerk
We John A. Freeman residing in the town of Adams, County of Jefferson aforesaid & Nathan Harrington

Phraia Wright 12022 Indian paper 12
+ P 4p

residing in the of Rodman  town town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ephraim Wright who has sworn to subscribed the above declaration. That we believe him to be Sixty four years of age. That he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion. That his declaration is entitled to full credit. Joshua Freeman Nathaniel Harrington
Sworn subscribed the day & year aforesaid
B. Burrough Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after perusing the interrogatories furnished by the War Department. That the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as a states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Joshua Freeman who has signed the proceeding certificate is a bluegrass resident in the town of Rodman aforesaid. That Nathaniel Harrington who has also signed the same is a resident of the same town. & that he is a credible person. & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Abel Burrough Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Jefferson aforesaid. do hereby

Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ephraim Wright for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of my office this 11th. day of September in eighteen hundred & thirty two.
F. Burshard Clerk

State of New York County of Jefferson
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of said. Ephraim Wright who being duly sworn deposes & saith that by reason he was bound on the 9 th of June 1765 in the town of Hebron County of Windham in the State of Connecticut. That the record of his age is his family bible which is now in his possession. That he cannot recollect the names of any more officers than he has stated in his declaration. & further he saith not
Subscribed & sworn to
The 11 th day of April 1833 before me Ephraim Wright
Benjamin Wright one of the Judges of Jefferson Co. Courts N.Y.
I Peleg Burchard Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Jefferson do hereby certify that Benjamin Wright before whom the above affidavit was taken is a Judge of said Court & authorized to administer oaths & that his signature to be genuine I know
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 18 th day of April 1833 P. Burchard Clerk

February 20, 1939
BA-J/AWF Ephraim Wright S. 19515
Mrs. George B. Jones 214 Winslow Street Watertown, New York
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Ephraim Wright.
The data which follow relative to Ephraim Wright were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 19515, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. This is the record of the only Ephraim Wright found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Ephraim Wright was born June 9, 1765, in Hebron, Windham County, Connecticut. Names of his parents are not given.
While a resident of Hartland, Litchfield County, Connecticut, Ephraim Wright enlisted March 1, 1781, served one year as private in Captain Matthew Smith's company, under Major Humphrys' with the Connecticut troops, and was discharged at Stamford, Connecticut.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 11, 1832, then a resident of Adams, Jefferson County, New York.
The papers on file in this claim contain no discernible data in regard to family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment

of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following data-
Ephraim Wright Certificate #24876 Issued March 17, 1834 Rate $40.00 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 New York Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

19575
INVALID.
File No. 19575-
Ephraim Wright
his wife
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 44
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1922- June 9- Wied to Mrs. Frank N. Becker mm 1939- Feb 30- Wied to Geo B cont. Gonzalez

E. Wright
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Ephraim Wright 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? Yes
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? Yes
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?
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? No Vide Quen 16
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Vid. supplemental Afft.
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.
By careful examination it will be found that the papers are connected as required. The tape passes under the seal through the same sheet & through the other sheets which refer to each other in such a manner that you will find it is impossible for any paper to have been added since the seal was affixed.

New York
Recd:
Ephraim Wright Suspended for to J C Chittenden 30 July 33.
adm d
Acty June '32

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 Ephraim Wright 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.     Mch. 1-1781 1 yr. Pvt Matthew Smith Major Humphrys Conn.                                     
Battles engaged in,  Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hartland, Litchfield Co., Conn.  Date of application for pension, Sept. 11-1832. His claim was al.  Residence at date of application, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York.  Age at date of application, Born June 9-1765 in Hebron, Windham Co., Conn.  Remarks: There is no data on file as to family
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Watertown, New York, January 4, 1939.
Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.,
Dear Sirs:-
Will you please send me the Revolutionary pension record of Ephraim Wright? this is only one in file
Thanking You, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Mrs George B Jones, 214 Winslow Street, Watertown, New York.

per Amsterdam, N. Y., April 27, 1922 .
Department of the Interior , Bureau of Pensions , Revolutionary War Section , Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen :_
Have been informed that Ephraim Wright was a pensioner of the Revolution and that you have his record of services both in Connecticut and New York State . We would very much like a copy of the service or of the pension application .
Yours very truly ,
Edith V. Becker
Mrs. Frank N. Becker, 93 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, N. Y.

Ebenezer Wright's affidavit for a Pension
Nono pri
admi d 12 mo. pri 40 $
Hon. R. Warde

State of New York Washington County ss:
Ephraim Wright of the town of Adams in the County aforesaid being duly sworn says, that before & since the time of his application for a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832, he has taken much pains & made very general inquiry, in order to obtain some proof of his services, as a soldier in the war of the Revolution; but that he has been unable to find any person who can testify in relation thereto. That at the time he went into service, he resided in the town of Hartland, in the State of Connecticut, a great distance from where he now resides & that he is in such poor & indigent circumstances, that he is wholly unable to defray the expenses of a journey thence, for the purpose of searching for some one to testify in relation to his services. This deponent further says that he has went to Hartland, his said former place of residence for the purpose of finding some proof in relation to his said services, but he has entirely failed of finding any person to testify, who had any knowledge of his having served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Since this deponent further states that he knows of no person, neither has he been able, after diligent & faithful inquiry to hear of any person by whom he can make any proof whatever of his said services as a soldier.
Sworn & subscribed this 13 th
day of February 1834 before me
J. V. Hall Com. of Middlesex Co.
Ephraim Wright

State of New York Suffolk County ss:
Thomas C. Blattenauer of Adams in the County aforesaid being duly sworn says that he is well acquainted with Ephraim Wright in the removal of his estate removed & has been for more than twenty years past & that during that time he has often heard him spoken of as a soldier of the Revolution. This deponent only believes that he was not that said Wright was a soldier of the Revolution. And that deponent further says that said Wright has now & has always had, since this deponent was acquainted with him, a fair reputation for truth & integrity. This deponent further says that before said Wright made his application for a pension he informed him of the necessity of obtaining proof of his services, if in his power & this deponent has been informed by him & believes that said Wright has endeavored, as far as in his power to obtain proof of his services, but without success. And this deponent further says that said Wright is returning home & has no means to defray traveling expenses in order to look for testimony.
T. C. Blattenauer
Sworn & subscribed this 15 th day of Sept r 1844 before me
Thos. H. Angel Comr of Sids of Sup r Jeff. Co

State of New York Essex County ss.
I Poley Burchard Clerk of said County do hereby certify that the L. S. of said Esq. before whom the annexed affidavits purport to have been taken, was on the day they purport to have been taken a Commissioner of Courts in the said County, duly qualified & sworn & duly authorized by law to take affidavits to be read in Courts of Records - And furth- er that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & well believe his name subscribed to the said affidav- its is his proper hand writing & signature - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & af- fixed the seal of the said County this twentieth day of January in the year 1834 -
Poley Burchard Clerk By Perry E. Smith Deputy