Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,121, for Thomas Stedman, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Stedman, Thomas.
S. 17121
Carded
CONTENTS

28525 New York
Thomas Steaman of St Lawrence in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp y comma by Captain Rait of the Reg t comm by Col. Abbott in the Connecticut line for 9 months -
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 30 Dollars — Cents per an. to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Apr. 1834 and sent to Hon. R. H. Gillette Ho. Rep s
Arrears to the 14th of Mar 1834 $1 Pensional allowance ending 4 Sep 1834 $1
5 Revolutions Act Jur Mo. Croni Vol. 4
See letter 16 March 1837 to the Com y Voters of Connec t — Do. to Hon.
R. H. Gillette March 20.
1837 Do. to Hon. L. Wright
to P. Ag t 3 d Aug. 1837
clo. to H. S. Benton, Aug. 30.
1837 same May 7, 1838
do. to P. Ag t & G. Moore
Nov. 7. 38 & letter to H. S. Benton & 3 d Aud t . Apr 29. 1841
Feb 10/52. Inferred ch. July 9 H. affidavit in the case of H. 1832. Mr. Met. H. the principal. had the evidence & the letter to subject of the money etc. H. of the subject of the money etc. H. of the
Stedman, Thomas Conn 517121

Stedman, Thomas Conn. Sept 11/21
REGISTER
The Stedman FAMILY who was Born Nov 6. 1761 & Married Aug. 24. 1787 to Lucy Warren who was BORN March 28 1762 And by her hath the following Children viz
   Names Born Died     Marina May 30. 1788   Lucy Jan 27. 1790   Julia July 5. 1792   James Oct 15. 1797   Joseph W. Apr 9. 1797   Hannah Nov 18. 1799 Oct 31. 1822  

No 14602
Thomas Steadman St Lawrence County New York
1770 1832 70 57 13
Suspended
3. 11. 14. 16. 17.
1775 - 0. 3. 0 Capt Steadman - 13 years 1776 0 3 0 do 1777 0 11 15 - Rust 1778 0. 2. 0 - Rust 1781 0. 7 0 - Dismissed
P 388
May 9 1833
as Low clerk St Lawrence County Court New York.

BRIEF in the case of Thomas Sedgman County of St Lawrence in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70  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.     Subst. In 1775 April 22 Dismissed on 2 nd Aug Private Capt Sedgman Col Elderkin   Contested 1776 Jan 1 " early in April " " " Douglass   " 1776 June 1 11 35 " " " Ward   " 1778 Aug 1 about 2 " " Buft " Abbot   " 1780 July 25 about 7 " " Sedgewick " Wills  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? White Plains  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Windham County Conn  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence - Living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not connected as the regulations require 
3. 2. 15 3. 3. 11. 2. 7
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor
Examining Clerk

State of New York St Lawrence County, ss. On this 24 th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the court of Common Pleas now sitting in & for the county of St. Lawrence, Thomas Steedman a resident of Wapsena in the county of St. Lawrence, and State of New York aged seventy 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 June 7 th 1832. That about the 22 nd of April 1775 he was hired by Joshua Hott, and in the Town of Windham in Windham County and State of Connecticut engaged in the company of Capt. James Steedman father of this deponent in Col. Elderkin's Regiment and marched to Cambridge near Boston, in consequence of the ill health of Col. Elderkin the Regiment was at first commanded by Lieut. Col. Storer and about the last of May or first of June Lieut. Col. Storer left the service, and the Regiment was reduced to four or five companies and commanded by Major Brown, and we were annexed to Genl. Putnam's Bri- gade. Soon after the troops arrived at Cambridge several of the officers in the Regiment were appointed officers in the regular service, and a considerable number of the men enlisted and the companies were reduced in number, by uniting two or more together. A part of the Regiment was detached and went on to Bunkerhill and was in that battle, Capt. Knowlton of this Regiment was in the battle and for his bravery was promoted, and the next year commanded a party of Rangers and was killed in the fall of the year 1776 in the battle on Manhattan Island, and on which Island the city of New York is situated, about the middle of July

Genl: Washington arrived at Cambridge and took the command of the Army and about three weeks after that we were dismissed. In the second of August 1775 served something over three months. And the said Thomas Stedman doth further on his oath declare that about the first of January 1776 in Windham in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut he enlisted in Capt: James Stedman's Company, Regiment commanded by Col: Douglass and marched to Cambridge near Boston and was stationed in the College in Cambridge that a Regiment in the Massachusetts line was stationed in the same College the Regiment was composed chiefly of Riflemen from Salem, Marble Head and adjacent Towns in Massachusetts. do not recollect the name of the Col: who commanded the Regiment. Col: Douglass Regiment was engaged for two months, and a short time before their term of service expired, a request was made to Col: Douglass and the Regiment to continue some longer and a good part of the Regt. remained. the Invalids and some others returned home at the end of two months. About the first of March the Regt. marched to Roxbury, and soon after a detachment from this Regiment, and others were sent to fortify Dorchester Point and several were killed, and one from this Regiment, and not long after the British evacuated Boston, and Col: Douglass Regiment was dismissed early in April having served some over three months. And the said Thomas Stedman doth on his oath declare that about the 5 th day of June 1776 he enlisted in the Company of Capt: James Stedman then living in Windham in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, marched to Norwich in Connecticut, sailed from thence to the City of New York and after a short stay removed to

Fort Lee on the west side of North river a few miles above New York City, remained at Fort Lee till sometime in August, marched to Westchester two miles above Kings Bridge, and in September removed to White Plains af- ter the battle of White Plains removed to North Castle Capt. Stedmans Company was in Col. Ward's Regt. and at Westchester, Col. Ward, Col. Chester's, and Col. Sargeant's Regiments were united into a Brigade under Genl. Sullivan. The latter part of November marched across North river into the State of New Jersey, and spent the winter about Morristown in New Jersey, in the month of March the Regt. removed to Chatham and was in- noculated for the Small Pox, afterwards was stationed at Newark in the State of New Jersey untill the mid- dle of May 1777 when the Regt. was discharged. Some eleven months and a half. And said Thomas Stedman doth on his oath further declare, that about the first of August 1778 he enlisted for the blanks to which he belonged, into the Company of Capt. Rust, the Regt. commanded by Col. Joseph Abbott, and marched to Stratford in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, and the Regiment was chiefly occupied in erecting a covered way from Fort Griswold, to a battery about half way from the principal fort on the hill to the bank of the river Thames or New Lon- don Harbour. I believe there were no regular troops at that first, as they were called away to assist Genl. Sullivan on the expedition against Newport on Rhode Island, and I was dismissed with the Regt. about the first day of October after a service of two months. And the said Thomas Stedman doth further on his oath declare that about the 25 th of July 1780 he enlisted at New London in New London County &

State of Connecticut, unto the company of Capt. Sedg- wick the Regt. commanded by Col. Wells, and was sta- tioned at New-London about two weeks after I enlisted, when part of the Regt. was removed to Stratton on the east side of New-London Harbour, and Capt. Sedgwick's com- pany made part of the detachment. That about the first of October I was transferred to Fort Griswold in the Town of Stratton, and served in that Garrison untill the last of February 1781 when I was discharged on ac- count of bad health. The Fort or Garrison was com- manded by Capt. or Col. Sedgwick, who was the next summer wantonly killed after he had surren- dered himself and Garrison to the savage British troops. I served in the Regt. and in the Garrison about sev- en months. I have no documentary evidence re- lative to my service in the Army. I received a discharge in writing at the close of my service in May 1777 signed by Lieut. Col. Johnson, and I received another dis- charge at the close of my service in Fort Griswold about the last of February 1781 signed by Col. Sedgwick commander of the Fort, and both were burnt in the house where I resided about the 10 th of May 1796. I was born in November 1761 in the Town of Wind- ham in the County of Windham and State of Con- necticut, and the time of my birth was registered in the Records of births and deaths in the Town of Windham aforesaid, and I continued to live in the Town of Windham untill about the year 1792 the Town of Windham was divided, and a new Town in- corporated by the name of Hampton, in which I resided untill the year 1806 when I removed to Massena in St. Lawrence County where I now re- side. I have no documentary evidence of my service

in my profession. & I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn in open court E. H. Stedman this 24 th day of September 1832 A. B. Low: Clk.
We Residing in the Town of Massena & County of St. Lawrence, and residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Stedman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about seventy years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that we concur in that opinion The words "with Thomas Stedman" were interlined before signed.
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 served as he states State of New York St. Lawrence County ss
I Alvin B. Low Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Stedman for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have

hereunto set my hand and Seal End Seal of Office this 29 th day of September 1832.
A. B. Low. Clk
I Joseph Ashley of the Town of Hampton State of Connecticut, in my seventy six th year testify and say that Col. Andrew Ward's Regt. was raised and put on the continental establishment in the war of the Revolution for one year from the 14 th day of May 1776 Capt. James Stedman commanded a company in said Regiment. In the month of June 1776 I enlisted into the company com- manded by Capt. Stedman and immediately entered into the service. Our orders were first, to proceed to Bos- ton, this order was countermanded, and the Regt. was ordered to New York. During the summer of 1776 the Regt. went agreeably to orders, to New York, which I think was in the month of July. I served in said Regt. until the period of my enlistment expired which was on the 14 th day of May 1777. I further depose and say that Thomas Stedman now of Massena State of New York, belonged to and served in said James Stedman's company, in said Regt. as a pri- vate soldier, and waiter to Capt. Stedman, during the whole period which I served as aforesaid. We were both discharged together at Chatham Bridge New Jersey. Said Thomas Stedman, served, in man- ner aforesaid, in said Col. Ward's Regiment.
Hampton April 14 th 1832.
Joseph Ashley
State of Connecticut
Windham County ss. Hampton April 14 th 1832.

Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for Windham County aforesaid the within named Joseph Ashley, to me well known to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the within affidavit, by him subscribed in my presence.
Attest. Andrew T. Judson Justice of the Peace
I Jonathan Hott, of the Town of Hampton and State of Connecticut, now in my 75 th year, testify and say, that on or about the 1 st day of June 1776, Thomas Stedman, then of said Hampton, but now of Massena in the State of New York, enlisted into the Company commanded by his father Capt. James Stedman in Col. Andrew Ward's Regt. in the Continental establishment in the war of the Revolution, and served from that time, until the 14 th day of May 1777 when he was honorably discharged, at Chatham Bridge New Jersey. I served in the same Regt. during the same period, was discharged on the same day and returned home to Connecticut, in company with Thomas Stedman, above named. I lived with him considerable time while in service, altho my Company was commanded by another Capt. Said Thomas Stedman served as a private and waiter to his father. For my services above mentioned, I now receive a pension from the Government of the United States. April 14 th 1832.
Jonathan Hott.
State of Connecticut
Windham County ss. Hampton April 14 th , 1832. Personally appeared before me the subscriber a

Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Windham aforesaid. the within named Jonathan Holt, to me well known to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the within affidavit, by him subscribed in my presence.
Attest: Andrew S. Hudson, Justice of the Peace
I Armine Bolles clerk of the county court within and for the county of Windham in the state of Connec- ticut, do certify that the Hon d . Andrew S. Hudson be- fore whom the foregoing affidavits, annexed herunto were made is duly enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Windham, that the fore- going signatures of his name, are in his handwrit- ing, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such
In Testimony whereof I have hereun- to set my hand and affixed the Pub- lic Seal of said court at Brookline in said county this 17 th day of April A. D. 1832.
Armine Bolles clerk
State of New York Franklin county f t . I Nathan Hovey of the Town of Fort Manchester in the Province of Lower Cana- da under oath declares that as soon as the news of the battle at Lexington arrived I was engaged by capt. James Stedman to carry provisions for his com- pany, and he and his company marched on or about the 22 nd of April to Cambridge near Boston, and the company commanded by capt. Stedman con- tinued in the service untill the 3 rd day of August

when they were dismissed. And this deponent further says that Thomas Stedman was in the company when they marched to Cambridge, and continued in the company in the service untill it was dismissed. I resided in Windham in the county of Windham and State of Connecticut at the time the company entered the service, and after I arrived at Cambridge, I was engaged by Lieut. Col. Storrs with my Team & wagon to work for the Troops, and spent the Summer chiefly in carrying provisions to the Army, and when the company was dismissed Capt. Stedman, and Thomas Stedman took a passage home to the Town of Windham in my wagon, and I am the more certain about the time when they were dismissed, by the date of the settlement I made with them on the next day after our arrival at home, which was the 3 rd day of August 1775. And this deponent further says that in the year 1779 he removed to Erton in the county of New London in the State of Connecticut, that some time in the summer of the year 1780 I was in New London and saw Thomas Stedman and was informed that he was in the service in Col. Wells Regt. and Capt. Sedgwick's company, and soon after a part of Col. Wells Regiment was removed to Erton and I frequently saw Thomas Stedman with the Troops, and some time in the month of September, I believe, the said Thomas Stedman was transferred to Fort Griswold in the Town of Erton on the east bank of the Harbour of New London, and that he continued to serve at Fort Griswold untill the latter part of the Winter, which I think must be five or six months. I was employ

ed in the fall and winter in drawing wood for the Garrison at Fort Griswold, and saw the said Thomas Stedman almost every day, he was sick several weeks in the winter, and being an old acquaintance and Townsman, I used to call and see him every time I was at the Fort, and I think he got a dismission on account of his health not being very good after he had in a great measure recover- ed of his sickness. Capt. or Col. Sedgwick command- ed Fort Griswold and was murdered by the British Troops the next Summer after he had surrendered himself and Garrison to the savage enemy. When this affidavit was written it was stated that Thom- as Stedman served five or six months, but I am satis- fied it was not less than six or seven months. I was not present when it was written.
Nathan Hovey
Personally appeared before me Nathan Hovey being well known to me, and reputed a person of truth and subscribed and swore to the truth of this affidavit this 19 th day of September 1832.
Asa Hascall. Justice of the Peace
State of New York Franklin County, f. } I John H. Russell Deputy Clerk of the County of Franklin aforesaid. Do here- by certify that Asa Hascall Esq before whom the fore- going affidavit of Nathan Hovey purports to have been taken, and who made the above certificate of the tak- ing of the same was on the day of the date of said cer- tificate a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Franklin duly appointed and sworn. And

further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice, and verily believe that the name "Elsa Hascall," subscribed to the said certificate is the proper hand writing of the said Justice and genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this 19 th day of September A.D. 1832. John H. Russell Depty. clerk
St of New York County of St. Lawrence ss. On this 29 th day of September 1832 personally appeared before me John Fine first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of St. Lawrence Thomas Kimbrough now residing in the Town of Canton in said County aged seventy eight years, after being duly sworn according to law by me on his oath declares & says, that he is well acquainted with Thomas Sledman of the Town of Massena in the County of St Lawrence, and he believes the said Thomas Sledman to be about seventy years of age, that during the Revolutionary war the said Thomas Sledman resided in the Town of Windham in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, That about the first day of January 1776 this deponent enlisted in to Capt James Sledman's Company, Palmer second Lieut. and Joseph Hale ensign, the Reg t commanded by Col. Douglass engaged for three months, that we were stationed in the College building in Cambridge until the latter part of February, marched to Dorchester Heights, that before our time expired a request was made to Col. Douglass and the Reg t to remain some time longer, and the principal part of

the Regt. remained untill the first part of April when we were dismissed, and this deponent says that the aforesaid Thomas Steadman was in the same company with this deponent, enlisted at the same time and dismissed at the same time the Regt. was dismissed and served the whole time which was three months. And this Deponent further says that about the first of August 1778 this deponent enlisted into a company commanded by Capt. Rust and marched to Groton in New London county state of Connecticut and there joined the Regt. stationed at Groton on the east bank of New London Harbour, and were employed chiefly in erecting a covered way from Fort Griswold to a battery about halfway from the principal Fort on the hill to the bank of New London Harbour, and the Regt. was dismissed about the first of October, and this deponent says that Thomas Steadman who then resided at Windham, county of Windham and state of Connecticut enlisted at the same time about the first of August 1778 in the company of Capt. Rust and served in said company & Regt. and dismissed about the first day of October 1778 being two months.
Sworn before me in Open Court } Thos. Kingsbury Sept r 24, 1832 John Tine }
First Judge of said by
I certify that in my opinion Thomas Kingsbury the witness to the annexed affidavit is a credible witness. May 21, 1833 John Tine. First Judge
of St. Law by
St. Lawrence county ss. Thomas Steadman the applicant for a pension named in the foregoing

papers, being sworn saith as an amendment to his preceding declaration 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. From April 22 d 1775 he served as a private not less than three months and six days, and from the 1 st of January 1776 he served as a private not less than three months and two days, and from about the 1 st of June 1776 he served as a private not less than eleven months and a half, and from about the 1 st of August 1778 he served as a private not less than two months, and from the 25 th of July 1779 he served as a private not less than seven months, making his whole term of service of service twenty six months and twenty three days, and that he claims full pension, and he further saith that there is no clergyman residing in the town of Mapes where he resides, whose certificate he could procure as to the reputation of his services, and that there was no clergyman residing there when his said application was made, and he further saith that the reason why the certificate as to the reputation of his said services was not signed was because the court informed him that, as he had living witnesses to prove his services, they thought it would be unnecessary. He further saith that the defendant failed to discover that Asa Wascall Esq the Justice who took the affidavit of the witness Nathan Hovey states that "he is reputed a person of truth." And he further saith that he performed his first service as aforesaid as a substitute for Joshua Holt, the next time & the third time

he enlisted voluntarily, and the fourth time he was hired by the class to which he belonged and the fifth time he enlisted as a volunteer, and he further saith that as to the fifth interrogatory prescribed by the Department, he made a full & particular statement as to his service, and the names of Officers of other regiments stationed near him, as he could recollect, and he cannot add any thing to that statement. He has been informed by some person since he made his first statement that the name of the Col. of the regiment of Fishermen raised near Warblehead mentioned in his second term of service was Hutchinson. He don't know as to the truth of it
Subscribed & sworn this Thomas Stedman 21 st day of May 1833. before me John Fine. First Judge of St. Law. by
St. Lawrence county, ss. John Stone Jr and Percy Smith of Massena in said county being respect- ively sworn each for himself saith that he is well acquainted with Thomas Stedman, named in the foregoing answers, and believes him to have been seventy years of age as mentioned in his declaration when the same was subscribed. That said Sted- man is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the rev- olution and that we severally concur in that opin- ion
Sworn & subscribed this 21 st day John Stone Jr of May 1833 before me Percy Smith John Fine. First Judge of St. Law. by I certify that the above named witnesses John Stone Jr

& Perea Smith are reputed to be persons of fair characters for truth and veracity, May 21 st , 1833
John Fine, First Judge of St. Law by
St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office, ss. I A. b. Low clerk of said county certify that John Fine before whom the annexed affidavit of Thomas Kingsbury, Thomas Stedman and John Stone for & Perea Smith pur- port to have been taken, was at the respective dates of the same, the First Judge of the court of common Pleas of said county. Also that the annex- ed papers contain the original proceedings had in said court on the application of Thomas Stedman for a suspension which has been returned from Washington for correction
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 21 st day of May 1833
A. b. Low. Clerk
State of New York St. Lawrence County } Thomas Stedman now residing in the Town of Massena in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York being duly sworn according to law testifies & declares that on the news of the battle of Lexington arriving the militia com- pany in the Town of Windham in the state of Connecti- cut was ordered to march to Cambridge near Boston and that Joshua Root a soldier in said company was, or pretended to be unable to march by reason of ill health, but proposed to hire a substitute but as all who were able whether belonging to

the militia or not, volunteered and joined the militia company. he engaged the subscriber but capt James Stedman who commanded the company and was father to the subscriber, declined excepting him as a substitute, and referred the business to Major Brown, who after some conversation with Susk-ua Holt, and the said Thomas Stedman, accepted him with this remark (that he had rather have one ambitious boy than ten cowardly old men) and the said Thomas Stedman marched with the company and joined the Regt at Cambridge near Boston in the State of Massachusetts, the Regt was commanded by Lieut. Col. Stores, and the latter part of the Campaign by Major Brown. And the said Thomas Stedman says that he belonged to the ranks and did the duty of a common soldier, and was detailed in his turn and performed every turn of duty either on guard or fatigue, or patrol or exercise without any failure in a single instance, and to entire approbation of Major Brown, who had received him at the commencement of the Campaign and at the close stated that he had performed the duty to his entire satisfaction, and he further states that the said capt. James Stedman declined having his son for a waiter lest it should make uneasiness among the soldiers of his company he served until the 3 d of Febr-uary not less than three months six days. And the said Thomas Stedman further says that about the first day of January 1776 he enlisted into capt James Stedman's company the Regt commanded by Col. Douglass marched to Cambridge near Boston, and stationed at Cambridge & Roxbury, and served three months in the ranks, and was detailed as a common soldier, and performed

every tour of duty in his turn, and was dismissed the first of April, served three months. And said Thomas Stedman further says that about the first of June 1776 he enlisted in the company of Capt. James Stedman in Col. Ward's Regt. that Jacob Hovey enlisted in the same company about the same time, under the express condition that he should serve as a waiter to Capt. James Stedman, that a short time before we marched, Jacob Hovey was taken sick, and remained sick through the summer, and did not join the regiment and the said Thomas Stedman served as waiter to Capt. James Stedman until about the last of November while marching through New Jersey Capt. Stedman was taken sick, and as the Army was then small Capt. Stedman took another soldier in the company who was unwell for his waiter, and the said Thomas Stedman marched on with the Regt. and did duty as a soldier the remainder of the time until we were dismissed about the middle of May, except two or three weeks in March, when the Regt. was inoculated for the Small Pox, and all the time he served as waiter was this campaign in 1776 from June to the last of November. Thomas Stedman
Personally appeared Thomas Stedman and subscribed and swore to the truth of the facts in the foregoing statement. August 26 th 1833. Before me
R. S. Day, Justice of the Peace
I Samuel Ward of the Town of Massena in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, being duly sworn according to law, declare and say that about the first of January 1776 I enlisted under Lieut.

Allen, in Capt. Stedman's Company, & then resided in the Town of Ashford in the State of Connecticut, marched and joined the Regt. commanded by Col. Douglass, was stationed at Cambridge & Roxbury near Boston, and served three months, that Thomas Stedman who now resides in Massena State of New York was in Capt. Stedman's Company, served in the ranks and did the duty of a common soldier the whole time, and Lieut's. Allen & Palmer both said he did his duty as well as any one in the company.
Samuel Ward
Personally appeared Samuel Ward being well known to me and reputed a person of truth and subscribed and swore to the truth of the above statement August 27 th . 1833. Before me
Robt. S. Day, S. P.
State of New York
St. Lawrence County ss.
I Alvin C. Low clerk of the court of common Pleas of the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Robert S. Day before whom the foregoing affidavits of Thomas Stedman and Samuel Ward purport to have been sworn, was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said duly elected & sworn, and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice of the Peace and verily believe that his name subscribed to the said affidavits is his proper hand writing & signature.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County at Canton the 31 st day of August 1833.
A. C. Low, Clk.

Sir
I have explained the objection to my application for a pension in my affidavit, and the affidavit of Samuel Ward, by a simple statement of facts. etc. - tho I was younger yet I was the first Summer larger and more athletic than several in the same company. I was examined by the Major and accepted before I entered the service, and at the close of the service my conduct was approved by Maj Brown who then commanded the Regt. The next winter I believe there was no Muster Master, or any examinations of the qualifications of the soldiers in Col. Douglass regiment and at the close of the War I was applauded by both Lieut s in the company (viz) Allen & Palmer as having performed the duty faithfully and to their entire satisfaction. I enlisted again in June 1776 with the expectation of serving in the ranks, and was mustered and accepted by Lieut. Col. Johnston, who inspected all the men who were enlisted in that section of the State where he resided, who at the same time rejected several older than myself because their constitutions and appearance rendered it doubtful whether they could endure the hardships of the service, and in consequence of the person who was expected to wait on my father, not joining the Regt. I did that service until the last of November. I then went into the ranks and did the duty of a soldier the rest of the time, and at the close of this term of service I received an honorable discharge stating that I had faithfully performed the duties of a soldier through to _____ and signed by the Col. which discharge was four years after burnt.

And my health was so good & my constitution was so firm, that I do not recollect that I failed to attend a single tour of duty when called in my turn the three terms of service up to May 1777 except several weeks in March 1777 the Regt. of Col. Ward was all inoculated for the Small Pox. And I don't think the United States suffered anything by my age and I believe very few men in a service of seventeen and a half months were able at all times to perform the service allotted to them as I did, as the service and sufferings of the troops in the winter of 1777 were very severe, and one cause was the small number of troops Genl. Washington had in his Army that winter. I have stated my case just as it is, and want what I am justly entitled to for my services, and I do not think that any real ground of objections can arise from my age, when I was able, and in fact did perform all the duties of those soldiers that were older. I shall accept of all, or such part of my pension as the Hon. Secretary of War shall see proper to grant, tho' I think I have a just claim to the whole, and do not relinquish any part of it.
Yours Respectfully Thos. Stickman

Copy.
Nassau Sep r 10 th 1833.
Sir,
After I had sent of some affidavits explanatory of my services in the revolutionary war I discovered in your letter an error as to the time of my services in the army under fifteen years of age, it is stated in your letter that I served seventeen months as a waiter to my Father before I was fifteen years of age. If you will attend to the date of my birth, and the dates and times of my services you will find that I had been in the service only eleven months before I as fifteen years old, and I served six months of that time in the ranks as a common soldier, & after that I served fifteen months in the ranks, amounting to one year and nine months in the ranks and five months as a waiter, but I was mustered, and accepted by Lieut Col o Johnson as a Soldier to to serve in the ranks, and should have served in the ranks the whole time, had the person who was to serve in that place joined the regiment, and as the United States suffered no injury on account of my age, and in the first term the Major who commanded the Regiment approved of my conduct at the close of the term, and the two Lieut s both said I had done the duty, as well as any one in the Company at the close of the second term, & at the close of the third term I received an honorable discharge from the Col o Ward. I think it unreasonable for my pension to be reduced below the full amount. —
Yours Respectfully Thomas Sledman

2 Dear Sir,
Altho not personally acquainted, yet I have presumed to write and request your assistance at the War Office, about an application for a pension. I understand there is some doubt about the credibility of one of my witnesses, or to the manner of taking the affidavit. I will state the manner in which the affidavit was taken, and you will then judge what course is best to pursue in that business - I have not seen the witness Nathan Hovey for several years, some time before the affidavit was taken, I wrote to a person in Massachusetts to inform where N. Hovey then was and get him to make an affidavit of my services in the revolutionary war, in about four weeks I received a letter from N. Hovey informing me that he then resided in Lower Canada, and wrote a very short account of what he remembered about the business, and said if I would put the story in a proper form and send it to him, he should be in Franklin County in the course of the summer, and he would make oath to it, and send it to me. I wrote the affidavit, and the certificate of the Justice and sent it on to him requesting him to obtain the certificate of the county clerk, and forward it to me which he did, and I have heard that the Justice now says he did not know the witness altho he certified to his credibility, I expect I can explain that business, when I first wrote the certificate of the Justice I left a blank line for the Justice to insert his knowledge of the witness and his credibility and upon further consideration

I filled up the blank list the Justice should omit it, and concluded that if the Justice should not know the witness he would erase it, and the affidavit was returned to me without any erasure, and I concluded the Justice was acquainted with the witness. I have given you a History of this affidavit, wish you to call at the pension Office and learn what the objections are relative to this affidavit, and if this explanation should be satisfactory, if not, wish you to write me on the subject. I have sent to Canada where N. Hovey resided a short time with one of his connections, and learn that he has removed to Massachusetts or Connecticut, he has resided formerly in both States, he is a single man, now getting old, and I expect he resides with some of his relatives. — What I have heard about this business is merely from report. I have had no communication from the War Department.  Massena Jan. 17 th 1834  Yours Respectfully Thos. Steadman.
Honb. R. H. Gillett Mem. Cong. Washington.
Potsdam, Jan. 25. 1834
Honbl. R. H. Gillett. Dear Sir,
Mr. Steadman encloses this letter to me wishing me to say something to you about his case. I can say nothing more than I said in a former letter. From any thing I have learned, I perceive no reason to suspect the soundness of his application.

That there may be facts about it which I do not know. He thinks there must have been some misinformation given to the pension Dep. by some personal enemy of his.
Early in Decr. Mr. Baldwin (my partner) wrote you a particular statement of the difficulties met with in our remaining pension cases, desiring you to be so kind as to ascertain from the pension Office further facts about them, hoping that the cases were not yet disheate. I presume your time is much engaged (when disengaged from public duties) by such commissions of your friends. But we shall be glad to obtain the requisite information in each case as early as may be convenient, in order that if the case can be carried out by any supplemental proof, to be obtained we may be procuring it soon, and avail ourselves of your further kindness while remaining at Washington to get them allowed.
Truly Et friend & Obdt Servt. Horace Allen.
To the Hon ble Secretary of War.
The Petition of Thomas Hedman of the Town of Massena and County of St Lawrence and State of New York, Humbly sheweth, that that in October 1832 he made application to the then Secretary of War by Petition for a pension under the law of June 7 th 1832 stating that he had served in the Revolutionary war at different times to the amount of twenty six months, and in addition to my own

5 affidavit, I procured one witness to each term of service, and two witnesses one term of eleven months, soon I received a letter from the Commissioner of Pensions, that it appeared from one witness that I had served some of the time as a waiter to the Captain who was my Father, and as I was under the age prescribed by law to compel me to serve in the Army, I was not entitled to a pension unless I was taken from the ranks by the Captain for his waiter. I sent on my affidavit, stating that I served in the ranks three months the first summer of the war, and that the Captain would not accept of me into his Company, until I was accepted by Major Brown, who belonged to the regiment, the Captain fearing if he accepted of me under age, it might make some uneasiness or difficulty. I stated in my affidavit that I served three months the next winter in the ranks to the acceptance of the two Lieutenants in the Company, and one witness S. Ward in the same Company testified to the same facts I stated in my affidavit, that in June 1776 I enlisted into a regiment raised for a year, I enlisted under Ripley who was soon after appointed a Major and transferred to another Regiment, and my Father was appointed in his place. — when we had orders to march, the Captain remained a short time recruiting when I joined the Regiment, I was taken from the ranks, and waited on him, about five months until late in the fall, he was taken sick and retired a few miles from the army, returned

me to the ranks, and took another man from the company who was some unwell and not able to do his duty in the Camp, the reason assigned by the Cap t was, the Army was reduced by sickness, and food would be more reduced for the time was nearly expired for which they engaged, and I served in the ranks until our time expired — (I am not certain whether I stated in my affidavit, my enlist- ing under Captain Ripley) Thus I proved, that I was not debarred legally from any part of my pension by the regulations established by the pension Commissioner, relative to Officers wait- ing not taken from the ranks — and I feel that great injustice was done me by the decision of the Commission of Pensions, either through the great multiplicity of business arising from many thousand applicants, or through a mis- apprehension of the facts stated and proved after the receipt of his letter, stating the objec- tions to my receiving my full pension, that he ought to have allowed me Eighty dollars an- nually instead of thirty, and the prayer of this Petition is that my application for a pen- sion might be reconsidered, with that libe- ral feeling which appeared among the Mem- bers of Congress and the President when the law passed, and as the services were faith- fully performed to the satisfaction of all the Officers that were any way concerned or knowing to the business, that the Hon ble Se- cretary of War would grant me fifty dollars annually from the 14 th day of March 1831 —

untill the 14 th day of March 1837, and after that the full amount of a pension (viz) Eighty dollars annually during my life. —
And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall remain respectfully Yours.
Thomas Sledman.
To the Hon. ble Secretary of War.
I have lately been informed that while my application for a pension was pending some person or persons wrote on to the Secretary of War that the Oath was never administered to one of my witnesses, that — Haskell Esq whose official name is annexed to the affidavit was not a Magistrate, and there was no Justice of peace, or Judge of that name in this part of the State, and altho the certificate of the County Clerk & seal of the County of Franklin, was added to the certificate of Justice Haskell, the Commissioner of Pensions wrote to E. Miner Esq then residing in this town, and a Justice of peace with injunctions of secrecy to enquire into this business, which he did, and — Haskell wrote to E. Miner Esq that he was a Justice of the peace in Franklin County, and did administer the Oath to the witness, and made his certificate and annexed it to the affidavit of the witness, and sent it to E. Miner Esq and he forwarded it to the War Department; and after this long delay in April 1834 I received a Pension certificate for thirty dollars — And now my desire is that all these circumstances and delays might be duly and fairly

considered, and I believe it will be satisfactory to every impartial mind that a mistake was made, and injustice done me in the decision - And my humble request is, that any papers of the tenor above mentioned or any other that pretend that I took any unlawful means to obtain my pension might be sent to me, that I might be enabled to obtain satisfaction of the person who has thus slandered me, or done me damage, and if the papers are not to be taken from the Office, to send me certified copies of the same by the hand of Mr. Gillet Representative from this County - and your Petitioner as in duty bound shall remain.
Yours Affectionately. Thos. Steadman.
House of Representatives April 1. 1834.
Sir,
Thomas Steadman of Massena N. Y. authorises me to relinquish all his claim to a pension, except what you mentioned in a recent letter to me, appeared to be entitled to under his proof. This I now do. You will please send the certificate when made out to me, to the end that I may forward it to him.
Your Obt Servt. R. H. Gillet.
J. L. Edwards Esq Com. Pension.

9 The Honorable William Duane Secretary of the Treasury.
Sir, It is said that a man by the name of Thomas Stedman has made application for a Pension from Government for services said to be done in the Army in American Revolution that he got the Affidavits of two men said to be living in Godmanchester a town about 30 miles from Massena where said Stedman lives situate in the Lower Provis of Canada proving with his own affidavit as it is said Twenty six months service, which is by his malous suppos d to be a fraud, as he has ben often heard to say that he was out one season with his Father as a waiter, and never pretended to more till after the Act which embrace the militia that were employ d in the Revolution, his producing affidavits of those men said to be at the before mentioned place whose names are not known in his neighborhood nor the name of the Magistrate said to take the affidavits renders it impro- ble to detect the fraud if one wish, from the own character of the man - little doubt is entertained. Now Sir if you please you can write to some person in this town and send the names of Magistrate & witnesses, and direct to some person to make such enquiry as you may think proper as Sir, I suppose you unacquainted and I am also at Godmishster, I would mention the name of Ebenezer Miner Esq. Massena St Lawrence County State N. Y. who no doubt would attend to the enquiry, Bishop Esquire is District Attorney, but at Ogdensburg 45 miles from

Meafua, and I suppose between 70 & 80 from God- manchester, Sir unless you should think it ne- cessary, I should wish not to be cal'd in questi- on or my name made known in the business being unwilling that such impositions should be practised if one exists of which I have but little doubt. - I thought proper to give this notice I am Sir Your humble Servt. Elisha Denison.
To the Honorable William Duane Secretary of the Treasury Washington.
From information derived from the Hon. R. H. Gillett the within caveat is not deemed a sufficient reason to delay the decision of this claim - The affidavit of Hovey in claim- ants hand writing is not intitled to any weight.
Meafua Jan'y. 23 d 1837.
Sir,
In my application to the War Office for a pension under the Law of June 1832 se- veral things occurred, that served to preju- dice the mind of the Commissioner of pensi- ons, and in consequence great injustice was done me in his decision, allowing me thirty dollars only when he ought to have allowed me the whole pension, the final decision was delayed untill April 1834 and I had reason to believe from some of the correspon- dence with the Commissioner of pensions, that the decision was made, not from a careful

examination of all the papers, but from some impressions he had imbibed previously from some transactions relative to this business - And I had concluded to petition for a rehearing in this matter long before this time but my health for a long time has been very poor, so that for a long time I had very little hope of continuing here but a few days, and my Physicians and friends gave me no encouragement that I should ever be any better, and my mind has been confused tho' not wholly deranged, but for about Six months I have been gaining slowly, and am at present comfortable but very weak, I have concluded to request your assistance in an application to the Secretary of War for a reconsideration of this matter, and if I obtain no redress to petition Congress for relief. I have concluded to give a short History of the time I served in the Army, and the course of proceeding upon my application, and request you to examine the papers, which (I presume) are in the Pension Office, and you will there have a full view of the whole business. -
When the news arrived in Connecticut that the enemy had attacked Lexington, the militia were called upon to march to Boston, my father commanded the militia company in that town of Windham, one man in the company of handsome property, but called a coward and pretended to be out of health, but the laugh was so loud against him that he offered to hire a man, I was not old enough to be compelled

to do militia duty but wished to go with the crowd, and asked my father's permission, he answered, if he took me into into his company it would make some uneasiness, Major Brown of that Regiment came up at that time direct from Boston, application was made to Major Brown, who after a little enquiry accepted of me in the room of the other man, observing I had rather have one ambitious boy than ten old cowards, I did duty in the ranks a few days over three months, one witness to this service. - About January first a regiment of militia was called from our Brigade, Officers and men Volunteered, I went with the rest and did duty in the ranks Lieut's Allen & Palmer gave me their approbation of performing the duty as well as any other man & my father was capt. and gave no opinion, we served three months, - one witness who was in the Company by the name of Ward. - The forepart of June I enlisted again for one year under Capt. Ripley who was afterward appointed Major, and my father was appointed Captain in his place, I was mustered and accepted by Lieut Col. Johnson, My father enlisted a young man particularly for a waiter, - two witnesses to this Campaign, one in the same company, and the other in in the same Reg t . - One witness mentioned in his affidavit that I was a waiter for the Capt n , and the Commission on pensions imbibed the idea that I was waiter to my father, the two former

tours, and wrote to me that I was under age, I could not draw a pension unless I had enlisted to do the duty of a Soldier, and was taken from the ranks to be a waiter. I made an affidavit that I did duty in the ranks as a soldier the first summer for three months, and the next winter for three, - and one witness in the same company by the name of Ward, that I did a Soldiers duty in the ranks, & that the two Lieut's both approved of my conduct - and I in my affidavit for the years service stated the facts nearly if not literally as follows - My Father after his appointment to the command of the Company enlisted a man by the name of Hovey, it was expressly agreed that Hovey should be waiter to the Capt. - Soon after and before we marched Hovey was taken sick which continued I believe through the summer, and never did join the regiment, and a few days after we arrived at Fort Lee a few miles above New York on the west bank of North River, my Father joined the Reg t and took me from the ranks for his waiter, this was I believe the forepart of July, and I continued in this service until the last of November, my father was taken sick, and retired back from the Army, a few miles, and as the Army was reduced by sickness, and soon, some of the troops time would be out, my Father took one of the Company who was some unwell, and not able to perform his duty in camp for his waiter, and I went into the ranks, and there continued until 15 th 

May when our time of enlistment expired, and this the only time I served as a waiter to any officer whatever, which was about five months, and the whole of this tour was eleven months and a few days over. After this in the service several tours, one under Col. Abbott at Groton Connecticut, one under Col. M c Chellam at New London when it was burnt by the Bri- tish troops, and one or two other short tours amounting to something over twenty six months and I believe I never lost a tour of duty ex- cept about ten days. I have been informed that some one or more have wrote to the Se- cretary of War, that there was no Magistrate in this part of the country by the name of Has- kall (as one of my affidavits was sworn to before Esq r Haskell) but a man of that name lived in this town, but no magistrate, and I had either forged Esq r Haskell's official signature or had bribed Mr. Haskell to sign his name officially to the affidavit. My application for a pension was delayed some time I expect on that account, and whether my pension was curtailed on that account, or on account of my service as a waiter, I know not, but I was injured in the decision, the first tour my father would not receive me untill approved by the Major, and if he had employ- ed me as a waiter the same difficulty would arise, and the second tour one witness says, I did duty in the ranks, and to good ac- ceptance, the third tour, I was taken from the ranks and returned to the ranks again before

our time was half expired, and by his own rule I am entitled to the whole pension - I have enclosed a petition to the Secretary of War requesting a reconsideration - and grant me the remains of my pension $50.0 annually from March 1831 untill March 4 th 1837 and then my full pension in future, which I think is justly my due, I have also requested him to forward to me any papers in the War Office which charge me with forgery or bribery , or any other unlawful method to obtain my pension, that I may be enabled to prosecute those who have slandered my character, or damaged me as to property. I have written fully that by perusing the papers in the War Office you might understand the business. I would desire you to present the petition, and take such measures as will most likely induce the Secretary to grant the prayer of the petition, and you shall be well rewarded for your trouble
Yours Respectfully Thomas Sledman.
N.B. If I dont succeed I have thoughts of Petitioning Congress and wish your opinion.
To the Hon ble R. H. Gillet Esq.
Comptrollers Office Hartford Ct. March 21. 1837.
On application for evidence of the service of Thomas Sledman I have examined the books & papers remaining in this Office relating to the

Revolutionary War and find & certify as follows.
Capt n James Stedmans Pay Roll, Marched from Windham for the relief of Boston &c in the Lexington alarm - April 1775 - Thomas Stedman private, served in Capt. James Stedmans company 10 days.
There is no pay Roll of Capt n James Sted- mans company in the year 1776 in this Of- fice.
Colonel John Douglas commanded a Reg t in 1776 raised for 2 months as appears by the pay table book. - James Stedman was a Captain in Col o Andrew Wards Reg t as appears on the Pay Table Books.
Wells was a Major as appears by the Books but not a Colonel. I have been unable to find the Pay Rolls of Rust & Sedgwick.
I have not found the name of Thomas Sted- man except as a private 10 days on the Lexington alarm, in the Books & papers in this Office. Wm Field - Comptroller.
Hon. J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington Dist. Columbia
House of Reps Feb. 18. 1837.
Sir, I feel bound to send to you the accompa- nying papers of Mr. Stedman, though I cannot say from my recollection of his

17 case that he ought or ought not to have the change made he asks for. I will thank you to send me your decision before the end of the Session if you can. I should call on you personally but for the notorious fact, that I am confined to my post during the business that now occupies the attention of the House.
Your O bt Serv t .
R. H. Gillet.
Hon. B. F. Butler Secy. of War.
We hereby certify that the foregoing are correct copies of the original papers now on the files of the Pension Office War Department 5 th May 1838
H. S. Evans et. S. Taylor

Nashua Jan 7. 23 d 1837
Sir In my application to the War Office for a pension under the Law of June 1832 several things occurred, that seemed to prejudice the mind of the commissioner of pensions, and in consequence great injustice was done me in his decision, allowing me thirty dollars only when he ought to have allowed me the whole pension, the final decision was delayed until April 1834, and I had reason to believe from some of the correspondence with the commissioner of pensions, that the decision was made not from a careful examination of all the papers, but from some impressions he had imbibed previously from some transactions relative to this business - and I had concluded to petition for a rehearing in this matter long before this time but my health for a long time has been very poor, so that for a long time, I had very little hope of continuing here but a few days, and my Physicians and friends gave me no encouragement that I should ever be any better, and my mind has been confused tho' not wholly deranged. but for about six months I have been gaining slowly and am at present comfortable but very weak, I have concluded to request your assistance in an application to the Secretary of War for a reconsideration of this matter, and if I obtain no redress, to petition Congress for relief. I have concluded to give a short history of the time I served in the Army, and the course of proceeding upon my application, and request you to examine the papers, which (I presume) are in the pension Office, and you will then have a full view of the whole business.

2: When the news arrived in Connecticut that the enemy had attacked Lexington, the militia were called upon to march to Boston, my father commanded the militia company in that town of Windham, one man in the company of handsome prosperity, but called a coward for - tended to be out of health, but the laugh was so loud against him, that he offered to hire a man, I was not old enough to be compelled to do military duty , but wished to go with the crowd, and asked my Father's permission he answered, if he took me into his company it would make some uneasiness. Major Brown of that regiment came up at that time direct from Boston. Application was made to Major Brown, who after a little inquiry accepted of me in the room of the other man, observing I had rather have one arm than a boy than ten old soldiers, I did duty in the ranks a few days over three months, one witness to this service. About January first a regiment of Militia was called from our brigade, Officers and men volunteered, I went with the right and did duty in the ranks, Lieut. Allen & Palmer gave me their approbation of performing the duty as well as any other man, my Father was kept, and gave no opinion, we served three months, one witness who was in the company, by the name of Ward. The fore part of June I enlisted again for one year under Capt. Ripley, who was after ward appointed Major, and my Father was appointed Captain in his place, I was mustered and accepted by Lieut. Col. Johnson for, My Father enlisted a young man for him lavishly for a waiter, two witnesses to this campaign one in the same company and the other in the same Regt. One witness mentioned in his affidavit that I was a waiter for the Capt. And the commission on commissions imbued the idea that I was waiter to my Father, the two former sons, and wrote to me that as I was under age, I could not draw a pension unless I had enlisted to do the duty of a Soldier, and was taken from the ranks to be a waiter -

3 I made an affidavit that I did duty in the ranks as a soldier, the first sum mer for three months, and the next winter for three, and am witness in the same company by the name of Ward that I did a soldier's duty in the ranks, and that the two lieut's both approved of my conduct - And I in my affidavit for the year's service stated the facts nearly as if not literally as follows. My Father after his appointment to the command of the company, enlisted a man by the name of Hovey, it was expressly agreed that Hovey should be a waiter to the Capt. Soon after and before we marched Hovey was taken sick which continued I believe through the summer, and never did join the Reg't, and a few days after we arrived at Fort Lee a few miles above New York on the north bank of North River my Father joined the Reg't and took me from the ranks for his waiter, this was I believe the forepart of July, and I continued in this service until the last of November, my Father was taken sick, and we turned back from the Army a few miles, and as the army was reduced by sickness, & soon some of the troops time would be out, my Father took one of the company who was soon unwell, and not able to perform his duty in ranks, for his waiter and I went into the ranks and there continued until 15 th May when our time of enlistment expired and this is the only time I served as a waiter to any officer whatever, which was about five months, and the whole of this time was eleven months and a few days over. After this in the service several times one under Col o Abbott at Groton Connecticut, one under Col o McMillan at New London when it was burnt by the British troops and one or two other short times amounting to something over twenty six months and I believe I never left a hour of duty, except about Sundays unwell.

4 I have been informed that some one or more have wrote to the Secretary of War that there was no Magistrate in this part of the country by the name of Haskell (as one of my affidavits was sworn to before Esq. Haskell) but a man of that name lived in this town, but no Magistrate, and I had either forged Esq. Haskell's official signature or had bribed M c Haskell to sign his name officially to the affidavit - My application for a pension was delayed some time I expect on that account, and whether my pension was curtailed on that account, or on account of my service as a waiter I know not, but I was injured in the decision, the first I saw my father would not receive me, until approved by the Major, and if he had employed me as a waiter the difficulty would have been and the second I saw one witness says I did duty in the ranks, and to good acceptance the third I saw I was taken from the ranks, and returned to the ranks again before my time was half expired, and by his own rule I am entitled to the whole pension - I have enclosed a petition to the Secretary of War, requesting a reconsideration of and granting the remainder of my pension $50.00 annually from March 14. 31. until March 4. 1832, and then my full pension in future, which I think is just my due, I have also requested him to forward to me any papers in the War office which charge me with forgery, or bribery, or any other unlawful method to obtain my pension, that I may be enabled to prosecute those who have slandered my character, or damaged me as to my property - I have written fully, that by perusing the papers in the War Office you might fully understand the business I would desire you to prefer the petition, and take such measures as will most likely induce the Secretary to grant the prayer of the Petition, and you shall be well rewarded for your trouble. Yours respectfully N. B. If I don't succeed I have thoughts of Fikhoring language, and with your opinion To the Hon.ble. R. H. Gilet Esq.

Indian Office
Hon. Lewis C. P. Secretary of War Washington City
Dear Sir

Maspina Sep. 10 th 1833.
Sir, After I had sent of some affidavits explanatory of my services in the revolutionary war, I discovered in your letter an error as to the time of my services in the army under fifteen years of age. It is stated in your letter that I served seventeen months as a waiter to my Father before I was fifteen years of age. If you will attend to the date of my birth and the dates of and times of my services you will find that I had been in the service only eleven months at before I was fifteen years old, and I served six months of that time in the ranks as a common soldier and after that I served fifteen months in the ranks, amounting to one year and nine months in the ranks and five months as a waiter, but I was mustered, and accepted -Ted

by Lieut Col d Johnson as a soldier to to serve in the ranks, & should have ser- ved in the ranks the whole time, had the person who was to serve in, that place joined the regiment, and as the forces United States suffered no injury on account of my age, and in the first term the Major who commanded the regiment approved of my conduct at the close of the term and the two Lieut s both said I had done the duty, as well as any one in the com- pany at the close of the second term, and at the close of the third term I received an honorable discharge from the Col d Ward, I think it unreasonable for my pension to be reduced below the full amount,
Yours respectfully
Thomas Stetson

4-8-4
Service before '77 disallowed on account of his youth -
Adm'd Imo-pri A23.33 30B

House of Representatives April 1. 1884
Sir:
Thomas Steadman of Mapes N.Y. authorizes me to relinquish all his claims to a pension, except what you mentioned in a recent letter to me, he appeared here entitled to under his proof. This is now def. You will please send the certificate when made out to me, to the end that I may for- ward it to him.
Yours obt Servt
A. Hill
L. S. Edward Esq. Com Pension

✓ Thos. Stedman, from 4 Mar 1831 to 4 th March 1837 ny $90 - No 2046.
same - from 4 th Mar 34 to 4 th Sept 1834 ny $15 - No 1043.
✓ same, from 4 th Sept 1834 to 4 th Sept 1835 all $30 - No 2172.
✓ same from 4 March 36 to 4 th Sept 1836, $15 - No 2119
✓ same from 4 th Sept 1835 to 4 th March 1836 $15 - No 1069
✓ same, from 4 th Sept 1836 to 4 th March 1837, $15 - No 866.
James Stedman, from 4 th Sept 1836 to 4 March 1837 - $106 - No 1800.
List of Vouchers sent to N.S. Benton, U.S. Dist Atty Little Falls, N.Y. May 7. 1838.

James L. Edwards Esq
Little Falls April 24 th 1841
Sir As the inclosed papers cannot be of any further use to the attorney of this Institute I return the same to you. Thomas Studeman was indicted for forgery, perjury and fraud on the papers but died before his trial came on. Until now I had supposed these papers had been forwarded to your office. Please to acknowledge the receipt of the package to me.
Very respectfully yours
N. S. Benton

War Department,
Pension Office,
May 7. 1838.
Sir,
Your letter of the 24 th Ult o , was duly received.
Enclosed herewith are the original papers and letters on file in the case of Tho- mas Stedman; also the vouchers filed in the Third Auditor's office, upon which the pension was paid from the 4 th of March 1831 to the 4 th of March 1837.
I also enclose the voucher to which you allude, dated July 7. 1837, purporting to have been executed by James Stedman, and upon which a semi-annual payment was made from the 4 th of September 1836 to the 4 th of March 1837.
I will be obliged to you if you will

acknowledge the receipt of the papers, specifying the number and the contents of each.
I am, very respectfully, Yours ob t Serv t . J. L. Edwards
N. S. Benton, Esq., U. S. District attorney, Little Falls, New York.

G 377 2/6 Feby 21. 1837.
Parliament Office Report read 1 st March. ✓
Mr. Snee :
Send Comm ee upon W. Gillet's state that the evidence from Comm ee will be sent for, by Comm ee of Pen- sions. J. J. V. B.
Walker Ans d 11 March 1837
Fans

House of Reps July 18. 1837
Sir,
I feel bound to send to you the accompanying papers of Mr. Steadman, though I cannot say from my recollection of his case that he ought or ought not to have the change made he asks for. I will thank you to signify me your decision, before the end of the session if you can. I should call on you personally but for the notorious fact that I am confined to my post during the business that now occupies the attention of the House.
Yours obt servt R. A. Hill
Hon. B. F. Butler Secy of War

Declaration
State of New York
County of St Lawrence } ss On this 27 day of March 1851 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly authorized to administer oath Lucy Stedman a resident of said county aged eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to law deposes and says, and upon her oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" That she is the widow of Thomas Stedman late a pensioner of the United States. She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Stedman on the 24 th August 1787 that her husband the aforesaid Thomas Stedman died on the 16 day of May 1838 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and Ninety four, to wit at the date stated Subscribed and sworn before me, Lucy Stedman this 27 day of March 1851 Nicholas S. Dyer
I certify that the above named Lucy Stedman is a respectable person that she is from bodily infirmity unable to appear in court to make her declaration, that she is unable from bodily infirmity to appear before a Judge of the court, that the Judge of the court & her nearest Judge is about Sixty miles distant from her, & probably could not be obtained or induced to call upon the widow, as she would be ill able to pay him for such a trip, even if she could induce him to call upon her, which is very doubtful indeed Nicholas S. Dyer
State of New York
County of St Lawrence } ss Rev S. N. Benedict, whom I certify is a highly respectable person, after being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says, that he is personally acquainted with the above named Lucy Stedman, that she is a respectable old lady, and a member of the dissenting church, that she is aged and quite infirm, unable from bodily infirmity to appear either in court, or before the Judge of the court, that she resides

Some Sixty miles from the County Judge, the deponent believes also that it would be difficult, if not impossible for said widow to procure the Judges Service at her dwelling & more than this, she would be illly able to pay him for such a trip, that she is the widow of Thomas Steadman late a pensioner, and that she is still a widow Subscribed and Sworn before me J. A. Benedict this 27 day of March 1851 Eunice L. Dins
State of New York County of St Lawrence ss Doctor W. J. Paddock whom I certify is a highly respectable person, and a Physician of high standing, after being duly Sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is personally acquainted with Lucy Steadman within named, who is the widow of Thomas Steadman late a pensioner, and that she is a widow, that he attends her & her family as their Physician, that the said widow is quite aged and infirm, unable from bodily infirmity to appear before the Court, or before the County Judge, that the County Judge resides some Sixty miles from the said widow, and from the great distance and his business as Judge it is not probable that his services could be procured at the residence of the said widow, and that the said widow would be illly able to pay the Judge, that under all the circumstances it would seem most probable that unless the said widow can be allowed to make her declaration before a Justice of the peace, she must fail of making it, & therefore be deprived of her pension Subscribed and Sworn before me this 27 day of March 1851 W. J. Paddock Eunice L. Dins

STATE OF NEW YORK. COUNTY OF ST. LAWRENCE. } ss.
I, GEORGE S. WINSLOW, Clerk of the County of St. Lawrence, and also Clerk of the Courts of Record directed by law to be held therein, Do hereby certify that
Onas Brack
before whom the annexed affidavit of
Lucy Stearns N.W. Benedict & J.W. Paddock
was taken was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, elected, sworn, and duly authorised according to law to take the same: And I further certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that the signature to the Certificate and the Jurat, of the annexed affidavit is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County and Courts, the 28 th day of March 1851
George S. Winslow CLERK.
al idow sic the ing

all 28
W.
Genl. Sedgwick Thos Sedgwick
FREE
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Pensions Washington City D.C.

U.S. District Attorneys Office Little Falls April 24 th 1858-
Sir-
It will be necessary that I shall have on the trial of Thomas Stedman for perjury and forgery before the Circuit Court of this District certain original papers which are now on file in your Office and other Bureaux of the War Office. Previous to the last Term of the Circuit Court I procured from the Pension Agent at Albany the affidavit & Power of Attorney purporting to have been executed by James Stedman July 7 th 1857 on which a half yearly payment was made of James Stedman's pension to Thomas Stedman. These papers I returned to the Agent who informed me he should forward them to Washington.
I am informed that Thomas Stedman intends to make a strenuous defence to the indictments and that the question of identity will be seriously urged and I am also advised that a pension or gratuity under the act of June 7 th 1852 has been granted to Thomas Stedman himself, and it appears to me that these latter papers together with the several powers of attorney authorizing the payment of the same will be useful. I have therefore deemed it proper to make application to you to have those papers forwarded to me for the use and purpose aforesaid. It is proper I should have these papers soon in order that I may procure the attendance of such other witnesses as may appear necessary after I have had an inspection of the papers.
I am with great respect Your obedt Servt
N. S. Benton N.S. Atty-
J. L. Edwards Esq Commr of Pensions Washington

Caveat
15
Mahina v. y.
Jun 30
To the Honorable
Reference to the Hon. Department. Foreign Department. 6 July, 1858.

Referred to the War Department.
Navy Department.
6 July 1853.
To the Honorable
McKimsey Jun 26
Caleb

The Honorable William Duane Secretary of the Treasury Sir
It is said that a man by the Name of Thomas Stedman has made application for a Pension from Government for Services Said to be done in the Army in American Revolution this he got the Affidavits of two men Said to be living in Godmanchester a town about 30 Miles from Massena where Said Stedman lives Situate in the Lower Provis of Canada Proving with his own Affidavit as it is Said Twenty Six Months Service in which is by his Neighbours Said to be a fraud as he has been often heard to Say that he was out one hour with his Father as a Water and never Pretended to more till after the Act which inbraced the Militia that was in the Revolution his Proving affidavits of those men Said to be the before mentioned Persons whose names are not known in his Neighborhood nor the Name of the Magistrate Said to take the Affidavits Rendert it improbable to detect the fraud here if one work from the now barometers of the man little doubt is entertained Now Sir if you Pleas you can write to some Person in this town and send the names of Magistrate & witnesses and direct into some Person to make such inquiry as you may think Proper as Sir I suffer you unacquainted and I am also at Godmanchester I would mention the name of Ebenezer Mimes Esq. Massena St Lawrence County State NY - who now does work other to the inquiry Bishop John Bequith is District Attorney but lives at Ogdensburg 45 Miles from Massena & I suppose between 70 & 80 from Godmanchester Sir unless you should think it necessary I should wish not to be called in question or my Name made known in the business being unwilling that such impressions should be Practiced upon you of which I have but little Doubt. I thought Proper to give this notice I am Sir your humble Servt Elisha D. Nixon
From information derived from the Hon. R. P. Gillett The within appeal is not deemed a sufficient reason to delay the decision of this claim - The affi- -davit of Hovey in Claimants handwriting is not entitled to any weight,

Brief of papers, letters & vouchers, sent to N. S. Benton, Esq., Little Falls, N. York, May 7. 1838. Case of Thomas Steadman, Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. York.
Declaration made 24 th Sept 1832 - to evidence attached.
Addl. decln sworn to Aug 26. 1833, and his bill attached.
Letter of R. H. Gillet W. R., dated Feb 18. 1837, to Sec War, enclosing a petition to the War, without date.
Letter from Horace Allen, Potsdam, dated Jan y 25. 1834, subjoining a letter from Thomas Steadman,
from Jan y 17. 1834.
Letter from Massena, Sept 10. 1833.
Letter from Thomas Steadman to Hn R. H. Gillet, dated Massena, Jan y 23. 1837.
Letter from Elisha Denison to Hn W. J. Duane, Sec. Treas y without date. Ref d to the War Dept. July 6. 1833.
over

Certificate from Wm Field, Comptroller of Connecticut, dated March 21. 1837, in relation to Tho Steadman's Service.
Letter from Am R H Gillet H.R. April 1. 1834 requesting issue of new Cert for Tho Steadman.

Treasury Department Third Auditor's Office May 1 st 1838.
Sir
I return you the letter of W. S. Benton Esq. U.S. District Attorney for New York which you referred to the Office, & of which I have retained a copy.
That you may comply with the request contained in the letter, as far as the re- cords of this Office will enable you. I enclose six vouchers, being for all the payments made to Thomas Stanton, & one for the payment to James Stanton dated the 7 th July 1837, alluded to in the letter of Mr. Benton.
You will oblige me by returning re- ceipts for these vouchers, to be filed with the accounts from which they were withdrawn, & cause the vouchers to be re- turned to the files when done, with very respectfully, Sir
Yours of the Service
John H. Agnew Secy
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

The application, as near as I can learn, was filed by Adad Joy about 18 months ago,
If no claim was filed on behalf of the widow, please send the papers relative to the pension of her deceased husband Thomas Steadman
He was pensioned under the Act of June 1832 at $30 per annum. His pension commenced in 1834.
William H. Hunt
Attorney.

V
May 3 1857
Rel: to case of Lucy Steadman
Strad Gay Quincy N.Y.
Clap B. Smith
Rev
Rev. A. H. H. Stuart Secy. of the Chur. Washington D.C.
RECEIVED

Ovid N.Y. April 30. 1851
Sir
On the 3 d I inclosed to you, the declaration of Lucy Stedman of N. York, accompanied with my letter fully explaining the case
I beg to ask if it was rec d and if they have been forwarded to the Com d of Pat s
Most Respectfully
Your Ob d Serv t
Abad Joy
Hon Alex H H Stuart
Secy. of the Interior

State of New York County of St Lawrence } ss
Know all men by these presents That
I Lucy Stedman, widow of Thomas Stedman deceased, a resident of St Lawrence County State of New York, have hereby appointed William Hunt of Washington City DC, my true & lawful attorney for me and in my name, to examine the papers at the Persian Office filed by Abel Joy Esq, on an application for a Robbery Pension for me, on account of the services of my deceased husband. I also hereby revoke the power of attorney given by me to the said Abel Joy, the said W Hunt being my sole attorney.
Her signature on mark Lucy Stedman
State of New York County of St Lawrence } ss
On this thirteenth day of April 1852
personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace for the said County & State Lucy Stedman, widow of Thos Stedman, and acknowledged that the above power of attorney is her act and deed and free from all fraud.
Henry R. Hubbard Justice of the Peace
State of New York County of St Lawrence } ss
I George J. Winslow Clerk
of the County Court in and for the County of St Lawrence, do hereby certify that Henry R. Hubbard whose signature appears above, is at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that the said Court is a Court of Record. Given under my hand and seal of office at Canton the 16th day of April 1852
George J. Winslow Clerk

Ample case explained for present advice
Ovid N.Y. July 8th 1851
Sir
You say in yours of the 2 d "I suppose you had been acting as agent long enough to had learned that such applications are first acted on in this Office, not in the Department of the Interior" I hope I may be pardoned for this great blunder, & that I may be allowed to explain myself. to wit, I knew that Mrs Steadman could not make her declaration before a court, or a Judge, I therefore called at the office of the Interior and asked if in extreme cases like hers the rule requiring her to appear before a court or a Judge could not be waived in her particular case, I was answered go on and make out your papers the best she can do, intimating that it would be approved of, I made them out as I supposed I was authorized to do, & forwarded them at once to the office of the Interior with my letter fully explaining the case, & why I had so done, asking the department if all was approved of & please note the approval on the papers and forward them to you, which I supposed would be done at once, this & this alone was the occasion of this great blunder, & not exactly from ignorance; I did not intend it as any lack of confidence, or disrespect for the Pension Office, Officers or Clerks. Please pardon
But this seems not to be the only blunder, you say "I return herewith the declaration of Lucy Steadman as I cannot find any one of the name of Thomas Steadman on the New York rolls as a pensioner" Here again I beg

pardon for such a mistake, I took it for granted that my list of pensioners was correct, & upon the 2 d Vol. (of the 5 Vol copy) of pensioners, page 410 the name of "Thomas Stidman" appears as a pensioner at $30. I refer you to the book for the authority upon which I acted, as well as from the history that I had of the case, I acted in good faith, I intended to act right
I inclose the paper with this truthful explana- tion, hoping that since three months and more have passed since I first mailed the paper, that the widow may not be obliged to wait another three months before she can receive a report, she has already once written me asking or urging haste, please pardon the past, & please do the poor old widow the favor of making an early report
Most Respectfully
Your Ob o Serv t
Amad Joy
Hon J. E. Heath
Comt. of Pensions
Washington
DC

Mar 30
Hon. 28525
W. Stedman
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington Dist. Columbia
86

Comptrollers Office Hartford Ct March 21 st 1837
In application for evidence of the service of Thomas Stedman I have examined the Books & papers remaining in this office relating to the Revolutionary War & find & certify as follows, viz:
"Capt n James Stedmans Pay Roll, Marched from Windham for the relief of Boston &c in the Lexington Alarm - April 1775. Thomas Stedman Private, served in Capt n James Stedmans Company 10 days" =
Isaac Eldkin was a Colonel.
There is no pay Roll of Capt n James Stedmans Company in the year 1776 in this Office
Colonel John Douglas commanded a Reg t in 1776 raised for 2 months as appears by the pay Table Books. James Stedman was a Captain in Col d Andrew Wards Reg t as appears on the Pay Table Books.
Wells was a Major as appears by the Books but not a Colonel. I have been unable to find the Pay Rolls of Rust & Sedgwick.
I have not found the name of

Thomas Stedman except as a private 10 days in the Lexington Alarm, on the Books & papers in this Office.
Wm. Field Comptroller

Hon J. L. Edwards, Sir,
The Legislature of this State have made no provision to pay the Comptroller or Secretary for searching the Revolutionary papers; & as it is no part of their duty they make the applicants pay for the trouble. The fee in each case is three dollars. Have the goodness to state the fact to your applicants who wish to send here, that the State does not pay for that service, & that unless they pay, time will not be spent in searching.

Thos. H. H. H.
from his wife

New York Revol.
Thomas Steadman
Suspended + Admitted
See letter to.
A. C. Low
14 August 1833. let. E. Minker 19 Sep 1833
Act 7 June '32
adm D
let to Hon R. H. Gillett Welland 1834

ap 29. 1841
FREE
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Pensions Washington

J. Edwards Commr. of Pensions
N. S. Benton, Esq.
Left in Haskins County Bank for Safe Keeping.
U. S. District Attorney, Little Falls New-York.

Power of Attorney to examine papers the case of Lucy Heatman
Henry William Kaunt Washington City D.C.

July 14. 185.
Papers in case of Mrs. Sedgman
Capt. [Signature]
A. Joy Ovid
my Husband voted for para 4.
In Joy opinion the 10/34 and without the stamp
Jas. C. Heath
Can't. Parsons Harrington BB

Sir
Hon. R. H. Elliott, Mesa Coy. Washington
5 2

Dear Sir,
Altho not personally acquainted, yet I have preferred to write and request your assistance at the War Office, about an application for a pension. I understand there is some doubt about the credibility of one of my witnesses, or to the manner of taking the affidavit. I will state the manner in which the affidavit was taken, and you will then judge what course is best to pursue in the business. — I have not seen the witness Nathan Hance for several years, some time before the affidavit was taken I wrote to Andrew in Massachusetts to inform where N Hance then was and get him to make an affidavit of my services in the revolutionary war and in about four weeks I received a letter from N Hance informing me that he then resided in Lower Canada, and wrote a very short account of what he remembered about the business and said if I would put the story in a proper form and send it to him, he should be in Franklin County in the cause of the business, and he would make oath to it, and send it to me. I wrote the affidavit, and the certificate of the justice, and sent it on to him requesting him to obtain the certificate of the County Clerk, and forward it to me which he did, and I have heard that the justice now says he did not know the witness at the time he certified to his credibility, I expect I can explain that business, when I first wrote the

Potdam Jan'y 25. 1834
Honbl R. H. Gillett,
Dear Sir, Mr Steadman encloses this letter to me, wishing me to say something to you about his case. I can say nothing more than I said in a former letter. From any thing I have learned I perceive no reason to suspect the soundness of his application. But there may be facts about it which I do not know. He thinks there must have been some misin-formation given to the pension Dep. by some personal enemy of his.
Early in Decr Mr Baldwin (my partner) wrote you a particular statement of the diffi-culties met with in our remaining pension cases, desiring you to be so kind as to ascertain from the pension office the further facts about them, hoping that the cases were not yet disperate. I presume your time is much engrossed when dis-engaged from public duties, by such com-munitions of your friends. But, we shall be glad to obtain the requisite information in each case as early as may be convenient, in order that if the cases can be carried out by any supple-mental proof to be obtained, we may be pre-paring it soon; and avail ourselves of your further kindness while remaining at Wash-ington to get them allowed.
Truly Er. friend & obdt Servt.
Horace Allen.

certificate of the Justice I left a blank line for the Justice to insert his knowledge of the witness and his credibility and upon further consideration I filled up the blank left the Justice should omit it, and concluded that if the Justice should not know the witness he would evase it, and the affidavit was returned to me without any evasiveness and I concluded the Justice was acquainted with the witness, I have given you a History of this to this affidavit with you to call at the pension office and learn what the objections are relative to this affidavit, and if this explanation should be satisfactory, if not will you to write me on the subject -
I have sent to Canada where N. H. Hovey resided a short time with one of his connections, and learn that he has removed to Massachusetts or Connecticut, he has resided formerly in both states, he is a single man, now getting old, and I expect he resides with some of his relatives - What I have heard about this business is merely from report I have had no communication from the War department
Yours respectfully
Napena Jan'y 17 th 1872
Thos. Hovey

To The Hon ble
Secretary of War
The Petition of Thomas Steadman of the Town of Massena & State County of St. Lawrence and State of New York, Humbly sheweth that in October 1832 he first in the years made application to the then Secretary of War by Petition for a Pension, under the Law of June 7 th 1832 stating that he had served in the revolutionary war at different times to the amount of twenty six months, and in addition to my own affidavit I procured one witness to each term of service and two witnesses to one term of eleven months. Soon very I received a letter from the Commissioner of Pensions, that it appeared from one witness that I had served some of the time as a waiter to the Captain, who was my Father, and as I was under the age prescribed by Law to compel me to serve in the army, I was not entitled to a pension unless I was taken from the ranks by the Captain for his waiter. I sent on my affidavit, stating that I served in the ranks three months the first summer of the war, and that the Captain would not accept of me into his company, until I was accepted by Major Brown, who belonged to the regiment, the Captain fearing if he accepted of me under age, it might be some uneasiness or difficulty - I stated in my affidavit that I served three months the next winter in the ranks to the acceptance of the two Lieutenants in the company, and one Witness, S. Ward in the same company, testified to the same facts. I stated in my affidavit, that in June 1876 I enrolled

into a regiment raised for a year, I enlisted under Captain Ripley who was soon after appointed a Major and transferred to another regiment, and my Father was appointed in his place - when we had orders to march, the Cap- tain remained a short time recruiting, when he joined the Regiment, I was taken from the ranks, and waited on him, about five months until late in the fall, he was taken sick and retired a few miles from the army army, returned me to the ranks, and took another man from the company who was some unwell and not able to do his duty in the camp. The reason assigned by the Col. was, the army was reduced by sickness, and food would be more need- -ed for the time was nearly expired for which they engaged, and I served in the ranks until our time expired - (I am not certain whether I stated in my affidavit, my enlistment under Captain Ripley) Thus I proved, that I was not de- -barred legally, from any part of my pension by the regulation established by the pension commissioners, relative to officers, waiters not taken from the ranks - And I feel that great injustice was done me by the decision of the commissioners of Pensions. either through the great multiplicity of business arising from many thousand applicants, or through a misapprehension of the facts. I stated and proved after the receipt of his letter, stating the objection to my receiving my full pension, that he ought to have allowed me eighty dollars annually in stead of thirty, and the prayer of this Petition is that

My application for a pension might be reconsidered, with that liberal feeling, which the feeling which appeared among the members of Congress and the President when the Law passed, (and as the services were faithfully performed to the satisfaction of all the Officers that were any way concerned or knowing to the business, that the Hon ble Secretary of War would grant me fifty dollars annually from the 4 th day of March 1831, until the 4 th day of March 1837, and after that the full amount of a pension (viz) eighty dollars annually during my life - And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever be in respectfully Yours, Thomas Heman
To the Hon.ble
Secretary of War
I have lately been informed that while my applica- -tion for a pension was pending some person or per- -sons wrote on to the Secretary of War that the -oath was never administered to one of my witnes- -es, that Haskell Esq. whose official name is -annexed to the affidavit was not a Magistrate -and there was no Justice of Peace, or Judge of that -name in this part of the State, and that and altho' -the certificate of the County Clerk and the -and seal of the County of Franklin, was added to -the certificate of the Justice Haskell, the Commission- -ers of Pensions wrote to E. Mince Esq. then residing -in this Town, and a Justice of Peace with injuncti- -ons of secrecy, to enquire into this business, -which he did, and - Haskell wrote to E. Mince Esq. -that he was a Justice of the Peace, and

in Franklin County, and did administer the Oath to the witness, and made his certifi- cate, and annexed it to the affidavit of the wit- ness, and sent it to C. Miner Esq. and he forwar- ded it to the war department, and after this long delay in April 1834 I rec d a pension certif- icate for thirty dollars - And now my desire is that all these circumstances and delays might be duly and fairly considered, and I believe it will be satisfactory to every impartial mind that a mistake was made, and injustice done me in the decision - And my humble request is, that any papers of the Series above mentioned or any other that pretend that I took any un- lawful means to obtain my pension might be sent to me, that I might be enabled to obtain satisfaction of the person who has thus han- dled me, or done me damage, and if the pa- pers are not to be taken from the office, to send me certified copies of the same by the hand of M c Gittet representative from this County - And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall remain Yours Affectionately Thos. Newman
11/28 Thomas Newman Pension Station post

State of New York } St Lawrence County }
Thomas. Stedman now residing in the Town of Hapsburg in the County of St Lawrence and State of New York being duly sworn according to Law Testifies & declares that on the news of the battle at Lexington arriving the militia company in the Town of Windham in the State of Connecticut was ordered to march to Cambridge near Boston, and that Joshua Hott a soldier in said company was, as pretended to be unable to march by reason of ill health, but pretended to have a substitute, but as all who were able to march belonging to the militia as not volunteered and joined the mili- tia company, he engaged the substitute but Capt James Stedman who com- manded the company, and was father to the substitute, declined accepting him as a substitute, and referred the business to Major Knowles, who after some con- versation with Joshua Hott, and the said Thomas Stedman, accepted him with this remark (That he had no other men and an honest boy, than ten com- -pactly old men) and the said Thomas Stedman marched with the company and joined the regiment at Cambridge near

Boston in the State of Massachusetts, the Regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. Howe, and the latter part of the the campaign by Major Brown, and the said Thomas Hedman says that he belonged to the ranks, and did the duty of a cannon man soldier, and was detailed in his turn, to cover and per- formed every tour of duty either on guard or fatigue, on patrol or exercise without any failure in a single instance, and to entire approbation of Major Brown who received him at the commencement of the campaign, and at the close stated that he had performed the duty to his entire satis- faction; and he further states that the said Col. James Hedman declined having his son for a waiter left it should make uncer- tainty among the soldiers of his company be- cause until the 3rd August it was less than three months for days And the said Thomas Hedman further says that about the first day of January 1776 he was lifted into Col. James Hedman's company the regiment commanded by Col. Douglas, marched to Cambridge near Boston, and stationed at Cambridge & Rox- bury, and served three months in the ranks, and was detailed as a cannon man soldier and performed every tour of duty in his turn, and was dismissed the first of April, served three months

And the said Thomas Hedman further says that about the first of June 1876 he enlisted in the company of Capt James Hed- man, in Col. Ward's regiment. That Jacob Havy enlisted in the same company about the same time, under the express condition that he should serve as waiter to Capt James Hedman, that a short time before we were marched, Jacob Havy was taken sick, and remained sick through the summer, and did not join the regiment, and the said Thomas Hedman served as waiter to Capt James Hedman until about the last of November, while marching through New Jersey, Capt. Hedman was taken sick, and as the army was then small, Capt. Hedman took another soldier in the company who was unwell for his waiter, and the said Thomas Hedman marched on with the regiment, and did duty as a soldier in the remainder of the time until we were dismissed about the middle of May, except two or three weeks in March, when the regiment was in- -cubated for the Small Pox, and the all the time he served as waiter was the campaign in 1876 from June to the last of November. Thomas Hedman

Personally appeared Thomas Stedman and subscribed, and swore to the truth of the facts in the foregoing statement.
August 26 th 1833
Before me
R. S. Days Justice of Peace
Samuel Ward of the Town of Hapsburg in the county of St. Lawrence, and State of New York, being duly sworn according to Law declare and say that about the first of January 1776 enlisted under Lieut. Allen, in Capt. Stedman's company. Then resided in the Town of Athford in the State of Connecticut, marched and joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Douglass, was stationed at Danbury & Roxbury near Boston, and served three months, that Thomas Stedman who now resides in Hapsburg State of New York, was in Capt. Stedman's com- pany, served in the ranks, and did the duty of a common soldier the whole time, and Lieut. Allen & Palmer both said he did his duty as well as anyone in the company.
Samuel Ward
Personally appeared Samuel Ward being well known to me, and executed a personal oath of truth, and subscribed and swore to the truth of the above statement. Aug 27 th 1833 Before me R. S. Days J.P.

State of New York St. Lawrence County
I Alvin C. Dow Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Robert J. Day before whom the foregoing affidavits of Thomas Redman and Samuel Ward purport to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in the said duly elected therefor, and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice of the Peace and only believe that his name subscribed to the said affidavits is his proper hand writing & signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County at Canton the 31 st day of August 1833
A. Dow clk.

Sir
I have explained the objection to my application for a pension in my affidavit and the affidavit of Samuel Ward, by a simple statement of facts. That I was younger yet I was the first person larger, and more athletic than several in the same company. I was examined by the Mayor and accepted before I entered the service, and at the close of the service my conduct was approved by Mayor Brown who then commanded the Regt. The next winter I believe there was no muster Master, and any examination of the qualifications of the soldiers, was at the in Col. Baughman's regiment, and at the close of the war I was applauded by both Lieut. in the company (viz) Allen & Palmer as having performed the duty faithfully and to their entire satisfaction.
I enlisted again in June 1876 with the expectation of serving in the ranks, and was mustered and accepted by Lieut. Col. Johnson, who inspected all the men that were enlisted in that section of the State where he resided, who at the same time rejected several older than myself because their constitution and appearance rendered it doubtful whether they could endure the hardships of the service, and in consequence of the person who was expected to wait on my father, not joining the Regiment, I did that service until

the last of November, I then went into the ranks and did the duty of a soldier the rest of the time and at the close of this term of service I received a discharge an honorable discharge. Having that I had faithfully performed the duties of a soldier through to the end and signed by the Col. which discharge was four years after birth - and my health was so good, that my constitution was so firm, that I do not recollect that I failed to attend a single tour of duty when called in my term, the three terms of service up to May 1877 except several weeks in March 1877 the recruitment of Col. Ward was all incompleted for the small Pox - and I do not think the United States suffered any thing by my age and, I believe very few men in a service of seven years and half months were able at all times to perform the service allotted to them as the service and sufferings of the troops in the winter of 1877 were very severe, and one cause was the small number of troops Gen. Washington had in his army that winter.
I have stated my case just as it is, and want what I am justly entitled to for my services. and I do not think that any real ground of objection can arise from my age, when I was able, and in fact did perform all the duties of those soldiers that were older - I shall accept of all, or such part of my pension as the Hon. Secretary of war shall be proper to grant, tho I think I have a just claim to the whole, and do not relinquish any part of it. Yours respectfully
Thos. Stedman

Sir The communication from puritan office in future in future I wish might be sent to me at Moberg. St Lawrence County State of New York, Yours respectfully Thos. F. H. ...
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original letter.]

On Sept 29 1909 a search was made in letter books for the letters endorsed on jacket of this claim for Apr. 29, 1841,
Jan 9, 1852,
Feb. 10, 1852,
but said letters were not in the books.
searched by A. D. T. and A.W.

This soldier was indicted for fraud as he applied for and drew pension on the services of his father Capt James Stedman See Genl Sur. File 25898.
17.121
INVALID.
File No. 17.121
Thomas Stedman
Rev War
Act June 7 th 1842
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 362
[Arrangement of 1870.]

In the matter of the application of Thomas Stridman for a Pinnion 14 6 02
Direct communi- cations in this case to the applicant at Masera S. Law. co. N.Y.
Thos Stridman Affidavit for Thos Stridman

St Lawrence County ss: Thomas Stedman the applicant for a pension named in the foregoing papers, being sworn before said as an amendment to his preceding declara- tion, 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. From April 22, 1875 he served as a private not less than three months and six days, and from the 1 st of January 1876, he served as a private not less than three months and two days, and from about the 1 st of June 1876, he served as a private not less than eleven months and a half, and from about the 1 st of August 1878, he served as a private not less than two months, and from the 25 th of July 1879, he served as a private not less than eleven months, making his whole time of service twenty six months and twenty three days, and that he claims full pension, and he further saith that there is no Clergyman living in the town of Massena, where he resides, whom cer- tificate he could procure as to the reputation of his services, and that there was no clergy- man living there when his said application was made, and he further saith that the reason why the certificate as to the reputation of his

said services was not signed was because the Court informed him that as he had living witnesses to prove his services, they thought it would be unnecessary. He further saith that the Department failed to discover that Asa Hareall Esq. the Justice who took the affidavit of the Witness Nathan Hovey, considered it false, that "he considered him is reputed a person of truth."
and he further saith that he performed his first service as aforesaid as a substitute for John Hott, the next time the third time, he enlisted voluntarily, and the fourth time he was lured by the clap to which he belonged and the fifth time he enlisted as a volunteer. and he further saith that as to the fifth inter- rogatory prescribed by the Department, he made as full & particular a statement as to his ser- vice and the names of Officers of other regiments stationed near him as he could recollect, and he cannot add any thing to that statement. He has been informed by some person since he made his first statement that the name of the Colonel of the regiment of Fishkill raised near Marlinton had mentioned in his second term of service was Hutchinson. He don't know as to the truth of it. subscribed & sworn to this
24th day of May 1833
before me
John Hovey
Justice of the Peace
Phoebe Hovey

St. Lawrence County, ss: John Stone Jr. and Percy Smith of Massena in said county, being respectively sworn each for himself saith that he is well acquainted with Thomas Stidman, named in the foregoing paper, that and believes him to have been 70 years of age as mentioned in his declaration when the same was subscribed. That said Stidman is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we generally concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed this 21 st day of May 1833 before me
John Stone First Judge of Surrender
John Stone Jr. Percy Smith
I certify that the above named witnesses, John Stone Jr. & Percy Smith are reputed to be persons of fair character for truth & veracity. May 21. 1833.
John Stone First Judge of Surrender

St. Lawrence County } ss. I, A. L. Clark, Low Clerk, Office
Clerk of said county
Certify that John Finn, before whom the annexed affidavits of Thomas Kingsbury, Thomas Studman and John Stone Jr & Peter Smith purport to have been taken, was at the respective dates of the same the First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said county.
Also that the annexed papers contain the original proceedings had in said Court on the application of Thomas Studman for a pension, which have been returned from Washington for correction.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 20 th day of May 1883.
A. L. Clark -
Low, A. L. Clerk

State of New York } On this 21 st  24 th day of September 1832 St Lawrence County } personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in & for the County of St Lawrence. Thomas Sedman a resi- dent of the County of St Lawrence, and State of New York, aged twenty 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 June 7 th 1832
That about the 22 d of April 1775 he was hired by Joshua Holt, and in the Town of Windham, in Windham Coun- ty and State of Connecticut engaged in the Company of Capt. James Sedman, in Col. Eldikin's Regiment and marched to Cambridge near Boston, in conse- quence of the ill health of Col. Eldikin, the Regiment was at first commanded by Lieut. Col. Storer, and about the last of May or first of June Lieut. Col. Storer left the Service, and the Regiment was reduced to four or five companies, and commanded by Major Brown, and we were annexed to Genl. Put- nam's Brigade - Soon after the Troops arrived at Cambridge the General of the Officers in the Regiment were appointed Officers in the regular Service, and a considerable number of the men en- listed, and the Companies were reduced in num- ber, by uniting two or more together, A part of the Regiment was detached and went on to Bunkerhill and was in that Battle, Capt. Knowlton of this Regi- ment was in the Battle and for his bravery was promoted, and the next year commanded a party of Rangers and was killed in the fall of the year 1776 in the Battle on Manhattan Island, on which Island the City of New York is situated, about the middle of July Genl. Washington arrived at Cam-

Cambridge and took the command of the Army and about three weeks after that we were disbanded on the second of August 1775 served for three months.
And the said Thomas Hodman doth further in his oath declare that about the first of January 1776 in Windham, in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut he enlisted in Col. James Hodmans Company, Regiment commanded by Col. Douglass, and marched to Cambridge near Boston and was stationed in the College in Cambridge that a Regiment in the Massachusetts line was stationed in the same college the Regiment was composed chiefly of fishermen from Salem, Marblehead, and adjacent towns in Massachusetts, do not recollect the name of the Col. who commanded the Regiment, Col. Douglass Regiment was engaged for two months, and a short time before their term of service expired, a request was made to Col. Douglass and the Regiment to continue for one larger and a good part of the Regiment was retained, the invalids, and some others returned home at the end of two months. About the first of March the Regiment marched to Roxbury, and soon after a detachment from this Regiment, and others were sent to fortify Dorchester Point and several were killed, and are from this Regiment, and not long after the British evacuated Boston, and Col. Douglass Regiment was disbanded early in April, having served for over three months.

And the said Thomas Stedman doth on his oath declare That about the first day of June 1776 he enlisted in the Com- -pany of Capt James Stedman then living in Windham in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut Marched to New York and after a short stay removed to Fort Lee on the west side of the north river a few miles above New York City, remained at Fort Lee till some time in August, marched to White Plains two miles above Kings Bridge, and in September removed to White Plains, after the battle at White Plains removed to North Castle, at Westchester Capt Stedman's company was in Col Ward's Regiment, and at Westchester, Col Ward, Col Chester, and Col Sargant's regiments were united into a brigade under Genl Sullivan The latter part of November marched across North river into the State of New Jersey, and spent the Winter about Morristown in New Jersey, in the month of March the Regiment removed to Chatham and was incorporated for the Small Pox, afterward was stationed at Newark in the State of New Jersey until the middle of May 1777 when the Regiment was discharged - Served eleven months and a half. And the said Thomas Stedman doth on his oath fur- -ther declare, that about the first of August 1778 he en- -listed for the class to which he belonged, into the Company of Capt Kraft, the Regiment commanded by Col Joseph Abbott, and marched to Groton in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, and the regi- -ment, was chiefly occupied in erecting a caval- -ry from Fort Griswold, to a battery about halfway from the principal Fort on the hill to the bank of the river Thames, or New London Harbour. I believe there was no regular troops at that post, as they were called away to assist Genl Sullivan on the

expedition against Newport on Rhode Island, and I was discharged with the Regiment about the first day of October after a service of two months.
And the said Thomas Stedman doth further on his oath declare, that about the 25 th of July 1780 he enlisted at New London in New London County & State of Connecticut, into the company of Capt. Sedgwick's Regiment commanded by Col. Wells, and was stationed at New London about two weeks after I enlisted, when part of the Regiment was removed to Groton on the east side of New London harbour, and Capt. Sedgwick's company made part of the detachment, that about the first of October I was transferred to Fort Griswold in the town of Groton, and served in that garrison until the last of February 1781 when I was discharged on account of bad health. The Fort or Garrison was commanded by Capt. or Col. Ledyard, who was the next forenoon wantonly killed after he had surrendered himself and garrison to the savage British troops. I served in the Regiment and in the Garrison about seven months.
I have no documentary evidence relative to my service in the army. I received a discharge in writing at the close of my service in May 1777, signed by Lieut. Col. Johnson, and I received another discharge at the close of my service in Fort Griswold about the last of February 1781 signed by Col. Ledyard commander of the Fort, and both were burnt in the house where I resided about the 10 th of May 1796. I was born in November 1761 in the town of Windham, in the County of Windham and

State of Connecticut, and the time of my birth was registered in the records of Births & Deaths in the Town of Windham aforesaid, and I continued to live in the Town of Windham until about the year 1792 the Town of Windham was divided and a new Town incorporated by the name of Hampton in which I resided until the year 1806, when I removed to Napura in St Lawrence County where I now reside, I have no documentary evidence of my service in my profession, & I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn in Open Court this 24 th day September 1832 KC SOW AKP
Thos. Stratman
W.S.
Residing in the Town
of Napura & County of St Lawrence, and
residing in the same place hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Thomas Stratman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about seventy years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a revolutionary soldier, and that we believe him to be a Revolutionary soldier, and that we believe him to be a Revolutionary soldier, and that we believe him to be a Revolutionary soldier. The words "with Thomas Stratman" were interlined before signed
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states
State of New York } St Lawrence County } ss. I, Henry C. Sower Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that

exp the foregoing Contains the original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas St. John for a Signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office This 29 th day of September 1832 J. C. [Signature]
That I believe you a true copy

I Joseph Ashley of the town of Hampton state of Connecticut, in my seventy sixth year testify and say that Col. Andrew Ward's Regiment was raised and put on the continental establishment in the war of the revolution for the term of one year from the 14 th . day of May 1776. Capt James Stedman commanded a company in said Regiment. In the month of June 1776 I enlisted into the company commanded by Capt. Stedman and immediately entered into the service Our orders were first, to proceed to Boston, this order was countermanded, and the Reg t was ordered to New York. During the summer of 1776 the Reg t went agreeably to orders, to New York, which I think was in the month of July. I served in said Reg t until the period of my enlistment expired which was on the 14 th . day of May 1777.
I further depose and say that Thomas Stedman, now of Massena, State of New York, belonged to, and served in said James Stedman's company, in said Regiment, as a private soldier, and waited to Capt. Stedman, during the whole period which I served as aforesaid. We were both discharged together at Chatham Bridge New Jersey. Said Thomas Stedman, served, in manner aforesaid, in said Col. Ward's Regiment.
Hampton April 14 1832
Joseph Ashley

State of Connecticut, Windham County ss. Hampton April 14. 1832. Personally appeared before me the subscriber, a justice of the Peace for Windham County aforesaid, the within named Joseph Ashley, to me well known to be a credible witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the within affidavit, by him subscribed in my presence. Attest. Andrew Judson Justice of the Peace

I Jonathan Hott, of the town of Hampton and State of Connecticut, now in my 75 th year, testify and say, that on or about the 1 st day of June 1776, Thomas Stearns, then of said Hampton, but now of Massena in the State of New York, enlisted into the company commanded by his father Capt. James Stearns, in Col. Andrew Ward's Regiment, on the continental establishment, in the war of the revolution, and served from that time, until the 14 th day of May 1777, when he was honorably discharged, at Chatham Bridge New Jersey. I served in the same Regiment, during the same period, was discharged on the same day and returned home to Connecticut, in company with Thomas Stearns, above named - I lived with him considerable time while in service, altho' my company was commanded by another Captain. Said Thomas Stearns, served as a private and waiter to his father. For my services above mentioned, I now receive a pension from the government of the United States. April 14. 1832.
Jonathan Hott

State of Connecticut, Windham County ss. Hampton April 14. 1832. Personally appeared before me the subscriber, a justice of the peace within and for the county of Windham aforesaid. The within named Jonathan Holt, to me well known, to be a credible witness, and made solemn oaths to the truth of the within affidavit, by him subscribed in my presence. Attest
Andrew S. Judson Justice of the Peace.
Joseph Appleby for Jonathan Holt A. Judson the for- said Justice
I, Almin Bolles Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut, do certify that the Hon. Andrew S. Judson before whom the foregoing affidavits annexed hereto were made, is duly enrolled as a Justice of the Peace in and for said Windham County, that the foregoing signatures of his name are in his hand writing, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his acts as such -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Public Seal of said Court at Brooklyn in said County this 17 th day of April A.D. 1832.
Almin Bolles Clerk

State of New York } I Nathan Hovey of the Franklin County } Town of God Manchesters in Province of Lower Canada - under oath declares that as soon as the news of the battle at Lexington arrived I was engaged by Capt James Sedman to carry provisions for his company, and he & his company marched on on about the 22 nd of April to Cambridge near Boston, and they camped commanded by Capt. Sedman continued in the service untill the 3 rd day of August when they were disbanded, and this department gave their fags that Thomas Sedman was in the company when they marched to Cambridge and conti- nued in the company in the service until it was disbanded, I resided in Windham, in the County of Windham and State of Penn- -sylv a at the time the company entered the service, and after I arrived at Cambridge, I was engaged by Lieut Col o Hovey with my team & waggon to work for the troops, and spent the summer chiefly in carrying provisions to the army, and when the company was disban- -ded, Capt. Sedman, and Thomas Sedman took a passage home to the Town of Windham in my waggon, and I am the more certain about the time when they were disbanded by the date of the settlement I made with them on the next day after our arrival at home, which was the 5 th day

Nathan Haines
of August 1775 -
And this deponent further say that in the year 1779 he removed to Groton in the County of New London in the State of Connecticut, that sometime in the summer of the year of 1780 I was in New London and saw Thomas Hedges man, and was informed that he was in the service in Col. Wells Regiment, and Capt. Sedgwick's Company, and soon after a part of Col. Wells Regiment was removed to Groton and I frequently saw Thomas Hedges man with the Troops, and some time in the month of September, I believe, the said Thomas Hedges man was transferred to Fort Griswold in the Town of Groton on the east bank of the harbour of New London, and that he continued to serve in Fort Griswold until the latter part of the winter, which I think must be in January, I was employed in the fall and winter in drawing wood for the Garrison at Fort Griswold, and saw the said Thomas Hedges man almost every day, he was sick from all weeks in the winter, and being an old acquaintance and Townsman, I used to call and see him every time I was at the Fort and I think he got a description on account of his health not being very good after he had in a great measure recovered of his sickness. Capt. or Col. Sedgwick commanded Fort Griswold, and was murdered by the

British brook the next summer, after he had surrendered himself and gave up to the sa- vage enemy - When this affidavit was written it was stated that Thomas H. Hovey served five or six months, but I am satisfied it was not less than six or seven months, I was not present when it was written Nathan Hovey
92 not
I personally appeared before me Nathan Hovey being well known to me, and recognized a person of truth, and subscribed and swore to the truth of this affidavit, this 19 th Day of September 1832 Asa Hascall justice of the peace
State of New York } I John H Russell Deputy Clerk of the County Franklin County ss } of Franklin aforesaid Do hereby certify, that Asa Hascall Esquire before whom the foregoing Affidavit of Nathan Hovey purports to have been taken, and who made the above certificate of the taking of the same was on the day of the date of said certificate a justice of the peace in and for the said County of Franklin duly appointed and sworn - And further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said justice, and rightly believe that the name "Asa Hascall" subscribed to the said certifi- cate is the proper hand writing of the said justice and genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this 19 th day of September A D 1832 -
John H Russell Dep. Clerk

Nathan Hovey Affidavit for Thos. Stedman

2200 As of New York County of St Lawrence Co. On this 24 th day of Sep- -tember 1832 personally appeared before me John Rice Swift Judge of the Court of Com- -mon Pleas in and for the said County of St Lawrence. Thomas Kingsbury now resi- ding in the Town of Canton in said Coun- -ty aged seventy eight years, after being duly sworn according to Law by me on his oath declares & says, that he is well acquaint- -ed with Thomas Holman of the Town of Massena in the County of St Lawrence and he believes the said Thomas Holman to be about seventy years of age; that during the revolutionary war the said Thomas Holman resided in the Town of Windham in the County of Windham and State of New- -York, that about the first day of Janua- -ry 1776 the defendant enlisted into Col. Jones Hudson's Company, Lieut. Col. first and Palmer Second Lieut. and Capt. in the Regiment commanded by Col. Douglass engaged for three months, that we were stationed in the Colledge in New Paltz until the latter part of February, marched to Beekman  Esopus where before our time expired a request was made to Col. Douglass and the Regiment to remain some time longer, and the principal part of the Regiment remained until the for- -part of April, when we were discharged, and

This deponent says that the aforesaid Thomas Holman was in the same company with this deponent, enlisted at the same time and discharged at the time the regiment was dis- missed, served the whole time which was three months -
And this deponent further says that about the first of August 1778 this deponent enlisted into a company commanded by Col. Root and marched to Gooch in New London Coun- ty State of Connecticut, and there joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Abbott, stationed at Gooch on the east bank of New London Harbour, and were employed chiefly in erecting a line of defence from Fort Griswold to a battery about half way from the principal Fort on the hill to the bank of New London harbour, and the Regiment was dismissed about the first of October, and this deponent says that Thomas Holman who then resided in Windham, County of Windham and State of Connecticut enlisted at the same time about the first of August 1778, in the company of Col. Root, Col. Abbott's Regiment and served in said company & Regiment and discharged about the first day of October 1778 being two months.
Rev. Ring Strong
Sworn before me in open court Nov. 24. 1832
John Chase
First Judge of probate

1832 en laud
I certify that in my opinion Thomas Kingsbury the witness to the annexed affidavit is a credible witness. May 21 1833
John H. Lane First Judge of Probate
un-