Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6557, for Hezekiah Lyon, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
born
Lyons, Belgium
R. 655-7
CONTENTS

N o 35861 Hezekiah Lyons Cont d Act 7 th June 39.

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield } ss
On this 8th day of July 1844 personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable Hovey Smith Judge of the Court of Probate for the district of Ridgefield in said County and State now sitting (the same being a Court of Record) Hovey Smith Lyman a Resident of Lewisboro in the County of Westchester and State of New York of age Eighty 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 following named officers and served as herein stated, that in the month of July 1779 intelligence arrived in Connecticut where this declarant then lived the Gov. Trumbull had sent from New York with a body of troops for the purpose as was supposed to lay waste and destroy the towns in Connecticut, An Order was immediately issued for a draft from the Militia for the purpose of defending the town of Fairfield in Connecticut. This declarant was among the number who was drafted and in the early part of July joined the Company commanded by (then) Lieutenant, afterwards Capt. Deane Ensign Jonathan Loomis — does not recollect the name of the Colonel. The Company was stationed in Fairfield near the Court

House - was on duty when Gov. Tryon began the town of Fairfield, and served out the period of the draft which was two months, as a Private ————— After the Promotion of Lieutenant Dunning to the rank of Captain, he raised a Compa- ny for a Nine Months Service, on the "Linn," as it was then called, being at the time, the American Army was at the White Plains N.Y. This Declarant immediately on the expiration of his draft as a private enlisted as a private in said Capt. Dunning's Company for the term of Nine Months — he formed this Company in the Town of Newalk in Connecticut, and im- -mediately Marched to the Town of Rye in the County of Westchester, and State of New York, where we were stationed from four to six weeks — and continued at, and in the vicinity of White Plains until the close of his enlistment, which was in the summer of 1780. I then had a written discharge, which I carried home and carefully preserved it for some years, but it has long since been lost —————
Some time after, (and declarant cannot say with certainty how long) the close of the last period of service that Declarant enlisted as a private during the war — continued at the White Plains — and had served about two months — When Peace was proclaimed and declarant being discharged returned to his home in Connecticut, having served his Country with faithfulness during the war of the Revolution, and share with his companions in Arms

in all the Marches, Countermarches and dangers of that eventful period - That he served in the Connecticut Militia and in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Establishment - Making the whole period of his said service One year and One Month for which he Claims a Pension He further States that he has no documentary evidence as proof of his said service that he does not now know of any person living by whom he can prove any portion of his said service - That of his Name is found on the Muster Rolls at Washington. It will be known as Stephiah Lyeo Junr. or J r And further that he was born in the Town of Weston in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut on the 15 th day of May 1764 - has no record of his age but depends upon the information derived from his Parents -
That he is well known to Stephen Pardue and Gideon Ferris, of said Lewisboro' who can testify as to his Character for truth, and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution - The said Stephiah Lyeo hereby relinquishing every Claim whatever to a Pension or Annuity except the Present, and declaring that his name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any State - Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year aforesaid
Sworn and Subscribed to Stephiah Lyeo the day and year aforesaid Attest J. B. Smith Clerk

I James B Smith Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Ridgefield do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the Application of Stephen Lyons for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of my said Office on the Eighth day of July 1844
Attest James B. Smith Clerk

We Gideon Ferris, and Stephen Pardue of Lewisboro in the County of Westchester and State of New York, the former Age fifty three years and the latter fifty one years, being first sworn according to Law, do testify and say that the said Gideon Ferris has, for three thirty years and the said Stephen Pardue for a thirteen period, been personally acquainted with Stephen Lyon of said Lewisboro; that during all that time he has sustained and now sustains a good Character for truth and veracity, that we have heard the declaration of the Stephen Lyon, (hereunto appended made for the purpose of obtaining a Pension under the Act of June 1832 and we do not hesitate to say that we fully believe he proved as therein stated
Gideon Ferris
Stephen Pardue
Sworn and Subscribed in Open Court on the 8th day of July 1844, and the said Court of Probate being personally well acquainted with the above deponents, Certifies that they sustain good Characters for truth, and are credible witnesses
Attest J. B. Smith Clerk

State of Connecticut Hartford County } ss.
I Harvey Smith of Ridgefield in the County aforesaid Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the District of Ridgefield in said County and State, do hereby certify that James B. Smith Esquire who hath signed the foregoing proceedings of the said Court of Probate, is Clerk thereof and was such Clerk duly appointed and sworn, at the time the same purports to have been signed by him - that the signatures purporting to be the signatures of the said Harvey B. Smith are in his proper hand writing, and that full faith and credit are due to his attestation as such Clerk.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of July One thousand eight hundred and forty four
Harvey Smith Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Ridgefield

Communicate with Stephen P. Lardie South Saloon, Westchester County, New York

June 14, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
SA-J/EEL Hezekiah Lyon-R.6557
Mrs. Mary Catharine Hane 365 West Center Street Marion, Ohio
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Hezekiah Lyon, who enlisted from Fairfield County, Connecticut.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, R.6557, based upon the military service in that war of Hezekiah Lyon, the only soldier of that name (under any spelling) that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Hezekiah Lyon was born May 15, 1764, in Fairfield County, Connecticut. He stated that he was known as "Junior or 2nd". The names of his parents are not shown.
July 8, 1844, at which time he was aged eighty years and resided in Lewisboro, Westchester County, New York, Hezekiah Lyon applied for pension and alleged he enlisted at White Plains, New York, in 1776, served in that year, 1777, and 1778 in Captain Elijah Able's Company, Connecticut troops, and was discharged in May, 1778, and that he served over two years; that he enlisted in July, 1779, for the defense of Fairfield, Connecticut, served under Lieutenant Dunkin, Connecticut troops, was stationed at Fairfield and was there when the town was burned, length of service, two months; that immediately after the expiration of this service, he enlisted and served nine months in the vicinity of White Plains under same officer who had been promoted captain; that sometime afterward, he enlisted for during the war and had served two months when peace was declared; names of officers and dates for this tour not given.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of

service of six months as required by the pension laws.
There are no data as to the family of Hezekiah Lyon and the date of his death is not given.
Very truly yours
A. D. MILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

365 West Center Street, Marion, Ohio.
April 5, 1937.
Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please be good enough to send me a certified copy of the war record filed in your department, of the services during the Revolutionary War for Hezekiah Lyon , who enlisted from Fairfield County, Conn? Do you have more than this one Hezekiah Lyon who enlisted in the war of '76? Thanking you in advance for this kindness,
I am most sincerely,
Mary Catherine Hane (Mrs.) Mary Catherine Hane. 365 East Center Street, Marion, Ohio.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
6537
P. O.
Hezekiah Lyon
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Printed list of 1852 shows cause of suspension, Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: "Suspended for further proof from the Hartford records, and some proof of identity and cause of delay".
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18
1937-June 14-What is the wrong with the name - 6537

N o 35. 8 61 Hazelton Lyons cont-
Suspended By Stephen P. Dade Oct 21. 49 Sit J. B. Bent May 16/57.
6557 Act June 7 1873

Washington 8 Feby 1857-
Hon: Jas E. Heath Comm: of Pensions Sir:
I enclose herewith the application of Ezekiel Lyon claiming Pension under the acts of May 1828 & 7 June 1832.
Sir.
Very Respectfully Your At. Servt James S. Berret

Copy.
Col. James G. Benet, Present.
Sir:
The supplemental declaration in the case of Hezekiah Lyon has been examined in connection with the original declaration. Neither of them is supported by any adequate evidence and they are both improbable in themselves and manifestly contradictory in their statements. In his first declaration he alleges that his service commenced in 1779. Seeing that he was then but 14 years of age old, it required the exercise of much charity to repose faith in this averment. unaccompanied as it was with any proof. But in his second he swears that his service commenced in 1776, when he was but 11 years of age. and expressly states that he never before made application for a pension.
If he is so oblivious of an act performed by him so recently as 1844, no great reliance can be placed in his recollection of events so far back as 1776. The record evidence in the case simply shows that there is no record of any service performed by him. The parol evidence is that of a witness as remarkably precocious in observing military deeds as the claimant was in performing them. For this witness, though born in 1771, has a distinct remembrance of the service, and of its length which his little playmate performed in the Revolution.
Such evidence is not exactly of that character upon which an allowance of a pension can be made.
Very &c.
T. S. Evans for Commissioner

State of Connecticut Comptroller's Office Hartford Jan'y, 29 th 1851
I certify that on application for evidence of the service of Her- ekiah Lyon in the war of the Revolution I have examined the books and documents remaining in this office, and find the name of Her d Lyon in a Roll under the following head- ing, "Names of Officers and Soldiers, enlisted by Elijah Abel in the year 1776." There is no term of service sta- ted on this Roll, nor do I find any Pay Roll of this service in this office.
At a Special Session of the General Assembly, held in June 1776, an act was passed to "raise by enlistment two Regiments, to reinforce the Continental Army in the Northern department." "David Waterbury Jr. was appointed Brigadier General and "Samuel Mott & Heman Swift were appointed Colonels "of this detachment." At the same Special Session, Seven Regiments, including the one raised in May, were ordered to "march immediately, and join the Continental Army in "New York, to be holden in service until the 25 th of December "1776." Philip B. Bradley was appointed Colonel of one of these Regiments. There are in this Office two Rolls of Capt. Chester Webb's Company, Col. Chester's Regiment, raised for the same period which show that they served for more than six months.
1000

I find the following accounts with Captain Abel for services in 1776 on the Books of the Pay Table, in this office, viz.
  June 9 th 1776. Capt. Elijah Abel. (Bradleys Regt.)  Dr.     To ordw on Treasr. in acct. for his Co.   $580. 0. 0  
  June 3 rd 1777 United States  Dr.     To ordw on Treasr. in favr Capt. Elijah Abel, for his Co. (Bradleys Regt. '76) for Loss £ 201. 7. 11 3/4      Hospital Expense   72. 12. 9 3/4      274. 0. 8  
R. G. Pinney, Comptroller by Geo. Robinson Clerk.

Stephen Pardoe
Oct 21. 1844

Pensions Office
Oct 11, 44.
Yrs The papers in the case of Hezekiah Lyon claiming a pension under the act of June 7 th 32 have been examined and filed. The certificate of the Comptroller of Connecticut should be produced to establish the service set forth and satisfactory evidence offered of the identity of the claimant, as the delay in asserting the claim while the means of proving the claim were daily becoming less and less carries with it an unfounded unfavorable inference
Stephen Pardon Esq r South Salem
West Chester Co o N. Yorks
no Act June 7 th 32

Town of Milton State of Connecticut County of Fairfield
On this 31 st day of January in the year a-d one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, personally appeared before me a county Judge in and for the Town county and State as aforesaid Hezekiah Lyon who being duly sworn according to law doth declare and say that he is eighty six years old and a resi- -dent of the town county and State as aforesaid Deponent further declares and says that he was a Private in the revolutionary war in a company commanded by Elijah Abel during the year 1776 1777 and part of 1778 and that he served over two years altogether and that he enlisted at White Plains in May 1776 and that the Brigadier General of the forces raised in the years as aforesaid was Davis Waterbury Jr and Samuel Mott and Hezekiah Swift were the colonels of this detachment Deponent further declares and says that he was honourably discharged at White Plains in the month of May after the year a-d 1778. — Deponent further declares and says that he has never received or made applica- -tion for a pension previous to the date of this application and for the further proof of which he exhibits the receipt  certificate and the affidavit herunto annexed he therefore makes this declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the fifteenth day of May in the year a-d one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight. 2 June 17. 1832 Deponent further declares and says that he has resided

in the town county and state as aforesaid for the space of three — years and upwards and previous to that time he was a President of the town of South Salem county of Westchester and state of New York —————
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year first above written
His Hezekiah X Lyon mark
Edward Taylor Judge of the County Court for Fairfield County
I Edward Taylor County Judge of Fairfield County, and State of Connecticut, do hereby certify, that Hezekiah Lyon, mentioned in the foregoing declaration, is unable to appear in open court, from reason of bodily infirmity
Edward Taylor Judge of the County and State aforesaid

Oath of Wilton State of Connecticut County of Fairfield
On this 31 st day of January A-D in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty one personally appeared before me a County Judge in and for the town County and State as aforesaid — Jeremiah Hox who being duly sworn according to law doth declare and say that he is eighty one years of age and a Resident of the town, county, and State, as aforesaid, and that he has resided in the county and State as aforesaid for the space of 80 years and upwards and previous to that time he was a Resident of the town of Wilton county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut Deponent further de- clares and says that he is personally acquainted with Hezekiah Lyon mentioned in the fore- going or annexed declaration and that he is the same person therein described; Deponent further declares and says that he has known him for the space of sixty years and upwards, and that he was a Private Soldier in the revolutionary War and that Hezekiah Lyon as aforesaid was in a company commanded by Capt. Elijah Abel and that he served two years and upwards and the colonels of the detachment were Samuel Mott and Heman Swift; Deponent further declares and says that he has heard read the declaration herunto an- nected subscribed and sworn to by Heze- kiah Lyon mentioned therein and that the same is true to the best of Deponent's

knowledge and belief Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year first above written
Jeremiah Fox
Edmund Taylor Judge of the county court for Fairfield county
State of Connecticut Fairfield County
Feb. 3 rd 1857
Bridgewater
J. Williams
While clerk of the county court within and for the county of Fairfield, and holder of the said office hereby certify that Edmund Taylor who hath subscribed the foregoing certificate as knowledgeant, was at the time thereof the sole acting judge within and for said county of Fairfield. That I am acquainted with his hand writing and know that the above signature purporting to be his is his genuine official signature
Latest testimony wherein I have humbly offered my hand and the seal of said county court this 3 rd day of February Feb. 1857
W. H. Noble Clerk

Hezekiah Lyon To J. L. Edwards Power of atty.
No Colee
Aug 2 1851
Ex by Edwards & Smith
Aug 2 1851

Know all Men by these Presents, THAT I - Hezekiah Lyon, of Fairfield County, State of Connecticut
have made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute, and appoint James L. Edwards, Esq., of Washington D.C. my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name, place and stead, to examine all & every paper, & to obtain all information in regard to any application, or applications, for a Pension, in the Pension office, due me on account of my military services, in the Revolutionary War.
giving and granting unto my said Attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution, and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Witness my hand this Thirty first day of July in the year one thou- sand eight hundred and fifty one
Sealed and delivered in presence of
Isaac Stevens
Hezekiah Lyon
Sworn to - Acknowledged before me, this thirty first day of July in the year one thou- sand eight hundred and fifty one
Isaac Stevens Notary Publick