Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,834, for John A Ripley, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
SERVICE Conn. Privateer.
Ripley, John A.
R. 8834
CONTENTS

Children of John A Ripley of Vermont suit of June 7, 1832,
J D Woodward Atty Present

State of Vermont County of Franklin ss.
On this 14 th day of February 1856 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county personally appeared Joshua W. Ripley a resident of the town of Swanton in said County aged 61 years and made oath according to law that he is directly interested in a claim against the United States for certain arrears of pension, pay, half pay for life, extra pay, Bounty Lands, or allowances, supposed to be due to him as one of the heirs of John A. Ripley, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, who applied for a Pension under Act of 1832 and he hereby appoints J. DOUGLAS WOODWARD, Counsellor at Law, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., his Attorney to prosecute said claim and examine all papers and documents in relation thereto, on file in any of the Departments at Washington City or elsewhere, and to receive from the officer authorized to issue the same, a certificate for any arrears or increase of pension, pay, half pay for life, extra pay, Bounty Lands, and allowances to which Deponent may be entitled, from the United States, and to do all other acts and things in and about obtaining such claims which Deponent might or could do, were he personally present at the doing thereof; and he hereby revokes all former powers if any inconsistent with the above, and authorizes his said Attorney to appoint Attorneys, one or more, under him, for any or all the purposes aforesaid, hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever Deponent's said Attorney or those appointed under him shall lawfully do or cause to be done in the premises. In witness whereof the said Deponent has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
IN THE PRESENCE OF A. J. Samson A. A. Brooks
Joshua W. Ripley [L. S.]
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged, before me, on the day and year first above mentioned, and I believe the Deponent to be directly interested in the claim above mentioned, and the identical person therein alleged and described, and I have no interest in the result of said claim and am not concerned in its prosecution.
A. A. Brooks Justice Peace.
State of _____ County of _____ ss. I, the subscriber, Clerk of said County, certify that _____ before whom the above affidavit and Power was sworn and acknowledged on the _____ day of _____ 1856 was at said time a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly qualified, and that I verily believe his signature above written to be genuine; and I have no interest in the result of the claim to which the foregoing paper relates, and am not concerned in its prosecution. Witness my hand and official seal at _____ in said County this _____ day of _____ 1856.
[L. S.]
Clerk.
at Swanton Vt. John A. Ripley, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, who applied for a Pension under Act of 1832. He was a native of Littleton, N.H. and died at Swanton, Vt. in 1832.

W 27982
John A. Ripley aft
Act J. June '32
vide - Let. to Hon. B. Storer 29 Jany 36 - Vol 37. p. 216
Hon. Jn. Smith H.R.

Declaration
Revolutionary claim, under an Act of Congress, Passed June 7 th , 1832.
State of Vermont } Franklin county Probate District of Georgia } Court, August 9 th , A 1832.
Personally appeared in open court, being the Probate Court, for the County of Franklin, and a Court of Record for said County, and State of Vermont, as will appear by the first section of a Statute Law of said State, entitled an act, constituting Probate Courts Courts of Record, - passed Nov 15 th 1821. (See 1 st section of said act) John Ripley aged sixty eight years, resident in Berkshire in said County, 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 June 7 th , A 1832.
He was born in Connecticut, Town of Windham in the year 1764, (in which place a record of his birth was made)
In the year 1779, in the month of May, enlisted on board Ship Putnam commanded by Capt Allen (Mates name was Solsam) for a cruise; But on account of his being taken sick he was obliged to leave said Ship, after having served about three months, for which time he received no discharge nor pay.
He next enlisted in the year 1780, in the month of Nov on board of the La Marquis Capt Richards for a cruise, said Ship laying at the time he enlisted in the Harbour of New London, from thence sailed to Washington, & from thence to

Rhode Island Harbour, at which place Capt De Grape's Fleet, lay at that time, remained on-board sd Ship nine months & was discharged at New London Harbour.
He next enlisted in Sotham Connecticut, in the year 1781, in the month of April for nine months under the Duke De La Shard, Col De San, Major Polasasca, Capt De San, Lieut Roduska, marched through Middletown & New Haven to White Plains. There remained about eight weeks - was then ordered to march to Morris- town sena being in sight of Fort Washington, the next day returned back to White Plains, there remained about one week - when the whole of Washington's Army was ordered to march to Virginia - after after we arrived in Virginia we were were stationed at Gloucester about one week - then marched down near Yorktown to a Redoubt where Col Tarleton lay with about six hundred men. We there had an engagement with sd Troops in which Tarleton was defeated. Soon after he received a discharge from Major Lommanee which discharge he has lost.
He next enlisted in the year 1782, in the month of April for seven or nine months (which he now cannot recollect) as a waggoner under Capt Little - Marked to Newburgh N.Y. & was there stationed having been transferred from sd Company of Wagoners in to Col Ludlow's service a Forage Master, who quartered at Newburgh where he remained about four months & served as Measurer to sd Col Ludlow. About this time Gen Washington's Army moved from Newburgh to Verplank's Point, where

Gen Washington Wagoner died, Captain Roberts detailed him from the service of Colonel Ludlow, service to drive Gen Washington's Bag- gage Wagon, continued in his employ about three months, then moved back to Newburgh into the service of Col Ludlow and remained there until his time was out, and then received a written discharge from Major Cagswell, which discharge he has lost.
He has no documentary evidence whatever.
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
Sworn to, & subscribed, } John A. Ripley the day & year aforesaid. }
We Cromwell Bowen, & Harvey Clark of Berkshire, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John A. Ripley who has subscribed & sworn to the above declara- tion; that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age; that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed } Cromwell Bowen the day & year afo } Harvey Clark

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 and served as he states; And further that it appears to sd court, that Cromwell Burden who has signed the foregoing certificate has been and now is a Justice of the Peace within & for sd Town of Berkshire & County of Franklin and that Harvey Clark who has signed the same has also been a Justice of the Peace, for the town and county afd and is now and has been for many years Town Clerk of sd Town of Berkshire and that they are both respectable persons & their statement entitled to full faith & credit
William Bridges Judge
I John Gates J Register of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matters of the application of John A Ripley, for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 9 th day of Augt A D 1832.
John Gates J Register

State of Vermont } Probate office St Albans February Georgia District } 7th D 1840
William Bridges Judge of the court of Probate in & for the District aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original minutes kept in sd office of the declaration of John A. Ripley.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and seal of office at St Albans in said District this 7th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty
Wm Bridges Judge of Probate

Jul 11. 1848.
Prof. Smith.

Sir
Genl. H. H. July 11, 45
In the case of John A. Ripley which has been now presented for the 3 rd time for alleged services with privateers - in the French Army & in the Wagon service, it is again decided that the act of 7 June '32 does not provide for privateersmen - for soldiers in the allied Army or for hired Teamsters. The length of his employment as Teamster is conclusive that he was hired not enlisted. There was no G.M. Teamsters at any period of the war and no authority to enlist one for that term.
Kept J. S. & T. H. Smith Present

James M. Murphy Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
REJECTED Alleges: Printed list of 1852 gives cause to suspension: team Service & reference to
Re-enlisted: letter of July 16 1855 to Major T. R. & A. T. Smith - which is in claim -
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Con
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 1

Dear John Smith
Feb. 19 th 1840
O.C.

War dep Gen: A Febry 19 40
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that the declaration of John A. Ripley enclosed in yours of 15 inst is the repetition of the same claim which has been has been heretofore twice presented & rejected. I beg leave to refer you to the enclosed copy of my letter of 29 Jany '36 for the reasons of its rejection.
For copy see Vol. 36 p 216-
Hon J. Smith A.R.

AT
West Randolph, Va August 21 st 1876
Hon J. M. Batson Wahng Commissioner Pension Office Washington D.C.
So Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 11 th Aug. with the following remarks:-
I have no new testimony in the case of John T. Ripley's pension claim, for that is fully established and the Government has once given their decision thereon. I want the record of that testimony and of that decision.
By my version of the matter would be any advantage to you in looking up the records and

files of the same I will give it to you as nearly as follows:
John A. Ripley of the town of Berkshire in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont made ap- plication for a pension under the pension laws of the United States for his services in the Revolutionary War and the proof was given to the Government required by law of the services of the said John A. Ripley and the Cause of his not being pen- sioned is also given that the service was with the French Troops &c
You will see by the above that I want from your Honor the

Office the record and decision thereon. I know I am entitled if not from my own Government then from the French under the ruling of my own Government I must have the record and decision from my own Government in order to prosecute my Claim. Please send them to me as they are in your Honorable Office (Copies)
I am Respectfully Your obedt Servt O. W. H. Hays

Ho. of Reps
Washington Feb. 15 1840
Sir I herewith transmit to you, the declaration of John A. Ripley, for a pension, together with a letter from the Hon Wm Bridges on the subject, and respectfully ask your consideration of the same
I am respectfully y r . ob t serv t .
J Smith
Hon. J. Y. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

St. Thomas Feby 8 th 18210
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you the copy of the declaration of John A. Dippley.
M c Dippley's declaration was made before me on the 9 th of August as appears by the copy a transcript of which I enclose. He is undoubtedly entitled to a pension.
I conclude that his original declaration and evidence to prove his claim as now in the War Office. It is a long time since I have had any thing to do with it. It has been managed by others, and what further evidence, has been forwarded to prove his case I cannot say. You will please use your best endeavors to obtain a pension for the old gentleman for no one needs it more. I am personally acquainted with M c Dippley, he is a man of the strictest integrity and it does appear to me that no man could make such a declaration without some foundation in truth. Please write me or M c Lewis how you succeed.
Hon. J. Smith
Yours with Respect W m Bridges

27982
Rejected
Let to Hon. J. Smith
Feb 19 th 1840.
F.S. & J. Smith, July 11, 1845 - 1876 Aug 29 P.P. Ripley - gave a brief statement of the claim & how rejected

27982
John A Ripley set
Act 7. June 32
Qm. Dept.
Hon. Gen. L. Pearson

John A. Ripley
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Sir, I have intro- duced into the House a petition for a pension for John R. Ripley. The application to the Pension Office was refused, & the papers are in the Pension Office. Could you have the goodness to send me the papers that I may lay them before the com- mittee. Yours respectfully H. Allen

June 18th 1871. Left at Windermere 10.30 1764

John A. Ripley (vi- Kij act 32 rec 27
L. P. Waldo

John D. Ripley City
H. H. H. H. 1922
Mr. C. C.
Feb 22 1857
Ex. 10 } Feb 25 W. Remy } 1857

I J. W. Ripley of Franklin in the State of Vermont depose and say that I am the Son of John A. Ripley deceased who in his lifetime, made an Application for a Pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 which application was disallowed and is now pending; that I believe my Father was entitled to a Pension under said Act; therefore hereby ask for an examination of said claim under the Agency of Stephen Thomas
Sworn to and Subscribed this 7 th day of January 1857 February, 1857 Before me John H. Cheney Justice of Peace

at Poughkeepsie May 26, 1895.
Mr. A. Ripley. June 7, 1832.
files by J. L. & A. H. Smith.
original owner
8834
J. R. Wood Esq. Winthrop N.Y.

State of Vermont } At a Probate Court held at the Probate office in Georgia District, ss. St Albans in the District of Georgia on the 12 th day of December A.D. 1844, Present. W m Bridges Judge.
Personally appeared before said court of Probate John A. Peipley a resident of the town of Sheldon, late of Berkshire, county of Franklin, aged near 81 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following supplementary declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 -
That his first service being on board of a Privateer in the year 1779 as related in his declaration of May 1833. He is advised and believes that said service does not entitle him to the benefit of said Act of June 7 th 1832 hence he omits reciting his sea service in this supplementary declaration.
That he entered the service of the United States, by enlisting as a Private into a company of French Hussars under the command of Le Duc de St. Argent, said company numbered three hundred men. That Col Dilan had the command of the Hussars when on the march, That Major Lominie was the officer who enlisted him, said Lominie being one of Le Duc's Aids. That he was a native of Windham home, at which town the said company took up winter quarters in the winter of 1780 and 1781, until the latter part of February 1781 - during which time this declarant became well acquainted with several of the Officers and men, and being pleased with their society and flattered with their attention to him, he was induced to enlist during the campaign, which he did some time in the latter part of March 1781, That on or about the first of April following he marched with said company to White Plains, where they encamped several weeks, that from White Plains his company marched in the night to Morrisena, and the

next day returned to White Plains, That after a few days the company marched to the American Army on the east side of the North River, that said company then crossed the Hudson River at a place called the "Kings Ferry" into the state of New Jersey. That he accompanied the American Army through New Jersey to Philadelphia, from thence south through Delaware, to Elk River, at which place Gen. Washington with the American part of the Army and that part of the French forces under the immediate command of the Count De Rochambeau embarked on board of vessels for Virginia, while the French forces under Soc. Duc de St. Argent took up their march direct to Baltimore, from thence to Virginia in the neighborhood of Yorktown at a place called Gloucester Point; where they encamped about one week, that they were then ordered to march about six miles further and watch the motions of Col. Tarleton and prevent his forces joining those of Lord Cornwallis, That his company kept Col. Tarleton in check until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, and the whole British Army. That after the surrender of the British Army, he encamped with his company in the neighborhood of Yorktown, until on or about the first of Jan'y 1782 where he was discharged and returned to his house in Windham Conn. He would further state that he was attacked with the Fever & Ague some three or four weeks previous to his discharge, and that he was unable to labour until late in February following. That the time of his service related above was full ten months, besides two months time lost by a disease contracted while in the line of his duty, in all of which time he did no civil service.
That on or about the first of April 1782, Capt. Little of Sohier's Conn. came to Windham having orders to enlist a company of men as Waggoners in the service of the United States. That he enrolled his name in said company and received his bounty of ten dollars and was to receive forty shillings per month or soldiers pay, and at the expiration of six months

which was the full term of his enlistment, he was paid off by Capt Smith at that rate in Continental money; that he with some others of the said Company of teamsters, proceeded directly to Hartford Conn. by order of his Capt. where he joined the remainder of the company, the whole number of which was thirty six. That his first service at Hartford was marking the oxen which were the property of the United States, which was done by branding with a hot iron the letters U. S. A. on the hide of every Ox, the number of which was more than forty pairs. The yokes which were put on said Oxen were also marked with the same letters. That on the following day they were ordered to yoke the oxen, and after drawing their rations from the Public Store, the whole company of teamsters with their teams, proceeded directly from Hartford to Newburgh New York: That on their arrival at Newburgh they and their teams were provided with all necessary accommodations, by Major Cogswell who was in command of certain departments at that station: that some few days after, his Capt was directed by Major Cogswell to go into the neighborhood of Danabee Hill and find pasture for the Oxen, that the company drew their rations at Newburgh and proceeded in a body to said Danabee Hill, and turned their Oxen out on the farm of a man by the name of Ebenezer Sherwood. That after staying some two weeks at said place the feed becoming short, they took their cattle to the town of Washington New York and turned their cattle in the pasture of Esqr Cogswell of that town. That after a stay of some three weeks the company was ordered to return with their teams to Newburgh which they did. On his arrival at Newburgh he was, by the consent of Capt Smith taken from the Ox team service, and placed under the orders of the Forage Master, Col Dowdow of that station under whose orders he served in the Magazine and Store house in measuring grain and doing any service required by the said

Col Loudlow or his subordinates. That he remained in such service in Newburgh until the Army removed to Verplank's Point on the east side of the Hudson River, below the Highlands, and that on said removal he drove the team attached to Col Loudlow's baggage waggon, and by his orders, that he remained at and in the neighborhood of Verplank's Point about three weeks in the performance of such duties as were required of him, such as collecting grain, drawing forage &c for the use of the Army at that station. That about this time the driver of one of General Washington's baggage teams died very suddenly, and that he was selected by Capt Roberts, who had charge of the baggage wagons of the Commander in Chief, as the driver of said team, Col Loudlow consenting thereto, that the team was two span of white horses.
That the American Army then returned to Newburgh, and that he drove said team with the baggage to Newburgh. That he continued to have charge and care of the said team about three weeks after his return to Newburgh, where his place was supplied by a man from Pennsylvania, and he again returned to the service under the command of Major Logswell, that he continued in said service until some time early in October following when the time for which he enlisted expired and he received a written discharge and returned to his home. This declarant is advised and believes that the last six months service as recited above, is not of that kind which can be termed "Occasional employment upon civil contracts," but of that which must entitle him to the benefit of the law of 32. As he was enrolled for a specific time, served under officers in the service of the government drove the team's carrying the brand, and being undoubtedly the property of the United States. And drawing rations at the Public Stores during the whole term of his service, and also a pass for his journey home after his discharge.

And he further states, that he has no Documentary evidence and he, now knows of no person living who can testify to his service.
And for the services above named he claims a pension and arrears of pension from March 11 th 1831 to this time according to the provisions of said Act of June 7 th 1832. And he hereby relinquishes all claim to an annuity or pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State.
Sworn to & subscribed on the day John A. Bixby and year aforesaid.
The following are the Questions and answered, as prescribed by the War Department.
1 st Question Where and in what year was you born?
Ans. Born in Windham in the state of Connecticut on the 3 d day of April seventeen hundred and sixty four.
2 d Question Have you any Record of your age?
Ans. None.
3 d Question Where were you living when called into service and where have you lived since?
Ans In Windham aforesaid removed from thence to Rockingham in the state of Vermont from thence to Jericho, from thence to Berkshires, and from thence to Sheldon, where I now live.
4 th Question How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute or if a substitute for whom?
Ans I enlisted first as a private in the French Troops and second as a Teamster, as stated in my declaration.

5 th Ques State the names of the regular Officers who were with the troops where you served?
Ans Col Dilau Maj Paleraschi Maj Scouini Lieut Roduski Capt Morille, Col Grey of the 11 th Regt Capt Webb, Col Warner.
6 th Ques Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom given?
Ans I received two which are lost. one from Maj Scouini and the second from Maj Cogswell.
7 th Ques State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Ans Jacob Wead, Alfred Keith, Elisha Goodsell, Wm Green, Jonathan Smith, John Fish, Samuel Kendall, Moses McChamberlain, Luther H. Dury of Highgate Esquire's and Henry Chamberlain and Joel Whitney.

We Luther K. Dury residing in the Town of Highgate, and Henry Chamberlain of the Town of Sheldon, all in the county of Franklin and state of Vermont, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John A. Ripley who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed Declaration, that we believe him to be eighty years of age last April, 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 to this twelfth day of December 1811.
Luther K. Dury Henry Chamberlain
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, The court is personally acquainted with the applicant & have been very particular in the examination of his case, the court has not the least doubt but that he served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears that Luther K. Dury Esq. who has signed the preceding certificate is a very respectable man, has had the honor of Representing the town in which he resides in the General Assembly of the State of Vermont the past fall, and that Henry Chamberlain is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
William Bridges Judge of Probate
I Joseph M. Brainerd Register of the court of Probate within & for the District of Georgia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John A. Ripley for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, at St Albans in the district of Georgia this 13 th day of December A eighteen hundred and forty four.
Joseph H. Brainerd Register