Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,845, for Ethan Smith, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Smith, Ethan
#17845
Hannah
CONTENTS
Resident of Stamford Fairfield Co. Conn. d. Apr. 20, 1879

1837 2 1753
Connecticut 958 Hannah Smith widow of Ethan Smith dec. Conn. who died on the 20th April 1819 of Fairfield in the State of Ct. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Webb of the H. G. commanded by Lt. Kiliman in the Conn't line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn't at the rate of -80- Dollars ~ Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of March 1837 and sent to Lydia B. Ferris Stamford Ct.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1837 $480.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 40.00
$520.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd . }
Recorded by Wm Addison Clerk, Book A Vol. 1. Page 91

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield }
On this 4 th day of March A D 1837 before the Court of Probate for the District of Stamford in the said County and State. The same being a Court of Record and held at Stamford in the said Dis- trict personally appeared Hannah Smith, a resi- dent of said Stamford aged eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4 th A D 1836. That she is the widow of Ethan Smith late of said Stamford deceased, who was a private sol- dier in the Army of the Revolution. That, to the best of her knowledge and belief, her hus- band, the said Ethan Smith, in the summer of 1775, enlisted in Capt. Nathaniel Webb's company belonging to Col. Silliman's Regiment and served therein, as a private, for a period of eight months at least. During this campaign as she was, at the time informed and as she verily believes, her said husband was in the battle at Flatbush on Long Island and subsequently, after the British took possession of New York, in the Battle at White Plains. In this last mentioned battle, Joseph Webb of said Stamford was wounded and died, shortly after he was brought home, of his wound.
In 1777, in the Spring of the year, her said husband enlisted into a company of Stamford Town Coast Guards. and served as one of said Guards for at least two years. During this period, said Guards were under the Command of Captains New- ton Scoville and Amos Smith.
In the summer of 1780, her said husband en- tered into the service, on board the Guard Boats on Long Island Sound and continued in the ser- vice in said Boats till the War took place in

1783. Declarant says she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim.
She further declares. That her Maiden Name was Hannah Scapfield and that she was married to said Ethan Smith on the 7th day of May A.D. 1789 by the Rev. Mr. Wells of said Stamford - That her Marriage is recorded on the Public Records of said Stamford - That her husband the aforesaid Ethan Smith died April 20th 1819. and that she has remained his widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Sworn and subscribed in open Court on the day and year first above written before the said Court of Probate for the District of Stamford
Sworn to & subscribed ~ Hannah Smith on the day of year ~ witness my hand ~
Chas. H. Hurlbut Judge

State of New York City & County of New York) p. Hannah Smith of the City of New York, being duly sworn doth depose and say, that she is the Widow of Jacob Smith, deceased, and that she went to reside in the Family of Ethan Smith, and Hannah Smith his Wife, in the year 1774. That the said Hannah Smith the Applicant, is the Aunt of this Deponent. That she remained in said Family till 1784: during which time they resided at Stamford Connecticut. That said Ethan Smith went into the service of the United States, in the Summer of 1776, in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Tillyman, in Captain Nathaniel Webb's company, as a Private Soldier. in which company he served for Eight Months, and was stationed at or near the City of New York, a part of that time, and was in the Battle of Flatbush, near Brooklyn, Long Island: and retired from the City of New York, when the British took possession: And that he was in the Battle of White Plains soon after. In the spring of 1777 he entered the Town Guard at Stamford, and continued in said Guard and in the Ranging Business, under Captain Reuben Scofield and Captain Amos Smith and was constantly on Guard and in the Ranging Business, between the Lines, for more than Two Years. And that in the Summer of 1780 he entered on board some armed Guard Boats, in Long Island Sound, where he remained till the peace took

place in 1783. During which time he was in frequent Battles on the Water, in which many were killed and wounded. And when on shore they rendezvoused at Stamford. Whence, they were continually called out, to repel invasions or to make attacks upon the Enemy. And that the crews of these Boats were in several Battles on the Land, under various commanders, as they happened to be present. And that he was in active service for more than Five Years, from the Summer of 1776 to the peace of 1783. This Deponent further states that the said Ethan and Hannah Smith were married before she went to live with them. And that they lived together as man and Wife at Stamford, until the said Ethan Smith died, which was about 20 years ago. And that the present applicant is the Widow of the aforesaid Ethan Smith, never having been married since his Death.
Sworn this 2 nd day of March 1837, being carefully read by you to the witness
Hannah her Smith mark
Wm J Brown
First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the City & County of New York
I certify that the above deposition is entitled to full faith and credit. New York March 2 nd 1837
Wm J Brown
First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the City & County of New York

State of New York City and County of New York } p. George Mills of the City of New York, being duly sworn, doth depose and say that he is a Native of Stamford, in the State of Connecticut, and resided there until the year 1809. Since which time he has been a resident of New York City. That he was acquainted with Ethan Smith and Hannah Smith his Wife, and knows that they were married previous to the War of the Revolution. That the said Ethan Smith entered into the Service of the United States, in the Summer of 1776, in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Silliman in Captain Nathaniel Webb's Company, as a private Soldier, in which Company he served for Eight Months, and was stationed at or near the City of New York a part of that time, and was in the Battle of Flatbush, near Brooklyn, Long Island, and left the City of New York, when the British entered it. On the 1st June 1777 Deponent entered the United States Army, for Three Years, during which time he was absent from Stamford, and has no knowledge of Mr Ethan Smith's movements during that time, but from the Report of himself and others he fully believes, that the said Ethan Smith, during that time, was employed in the Town Guard of Stamford, and in the Ranging business, under Captain Reuben Scofield and Captain Amos Smith. At the expiration of the Three Years, Deponent returned to Stamford, and in the Month of July 1780 together with the said Ethan Smith, and others entered on board a squadron of armed Guard,

Cruising, or Spy Boats, on Long Island Sound under the command of Captain Brewster, — Capt Ebenezer Jones, Captain Jabez Fitch, and Capt Samuel Lockwood, and Lieutenant Andrew Mead, and others. Who cruised together or separately as circumstances directed. And that Deponent and said Ethan Smith, continued to be engaged in said Boats until the peace. During which time more than Fifty Vessels, and several Hundred prisoners, were taken by the crews of said Boats in engagements both on Water and Land. In the Fall of 1780 the aforesaid Boats rendezvoused at Fairfield Connecticut, Where we took on board a detachment of Col. Sheldon's Horsemen, all of which were under the command of Major Tallmadge of the aforesaid Regiment. We crossed Long Island Sound in the Night, landed, and secreted ourselves and Boats through the next day. The next night we crossed to the South side of Long Island, there sur- =prised and took a Fort, and three Vessels, lying in the Bay, which we destroyed: and brought off more prisoners than the number of our Party. On returning to our Boats we found that they would not contain us and our prisoners, we therefore left Thirty of our own men secreted there, and carrying our prisoners over, returned two nights after for our Friends. A short time after, the said Boats were collected at Stamford, to take on board a detachment of the same Regiment, under the command of the said Tallmadge, for the purpose of attacking a Regiment of Hessians, encamped at Huntington, Long Island. The intended

surprise failed, on account of being discovered by two of the Enemies boats, secreted on the Connecticut Shore. Which attempted to return, but were pursued by two of our Boats, under the command of Captain Brewster. They were overtaken in the middle of the Sound, when an engagement ensued, in which the Enemies Boats were captured, and five of their men killed and several wounded. Captain Lockwood, Jones, and Fitch, and Lieutenant Andrew Mead, and a detachment of the aforesaid Horsemen, succeeded in surprising a British armed Vessel, of Ten Guns, and Forty men five men, and three other vessels, under her convoy. They having Forty men. Lieutenant Rooney, commanding the aforesaid vessel, belonged to the Northumberland, was wounded in the action and died the next day. On our side Lieutenant Andrew Mead and one other man were badly hurt. Said Mead recovered from this wound but, remained a cripple for life, and was put on the pension List and remained an invalid pensioner until he died. On another occasion Captain Fitch, Lockwood, and Jones, with three Boats, attacked Three Schooners, in the Sound, Two of which we captured, but the third having on Board about Forty soldiers, repulsed the one boat which attacked it killing One man and wounding five more, out of eight. We however carried the other two in, safely.

In September 1782. The aforesaid Boats, under the command of Captain Fitch, Jones, Lockwood & others, landed on Throggs neck, in the night, in order to surprise a party of Col Delanceys Refugees, there. But being discovered, we were allowed to advance about a half mile from the Shore, where being about to return, we were fired upon from an ambush and found our retreat cut off. We however fought our way back to the Boats and escaped. All these Boats, rendezvoused at Stamford, excepting Captain Brewster. On another occasion, a party of the Enemy landed, and secreted themselves, near Stamford, in the night; the next day being Sunday they surrounded the Meeting House of the Rev Moses Mather, and took his congregation of about Sixty Men prisoners, with all the Horses about the Church, and proceeded to embark under protection of the Guns of two British Vessels, then near the Shore. At which time, the aforesaid Boats crews, and some of the Stamford Militia, under command of Major John Davenport of the Militia. made an attempt to rescue them but failed. At another time our Boats crews, together with the Militia, again under the command of said Davenport, rescued a number of prisoners and some cattle, from a party of the Enemy who were carrying them off. on which occasion had Four men killed. This took place at Long Middlesex in the Township of Stamford.

In January 1753, The Enemy came into Greenwich and Stamford, and took a number of prisoners and cattle, We turned out and pursued them, and having retaken the prisoners and cattle, and being soon after joined by a party of our Friends under Brigadier General David Waterbury, we all under his command pursued and harried them as far as Mamaroneck. Deponent further saith, that the said Ethan Smith was with him, in all the aforesaid engagements, and also that the Applicant Hannah Smith, is the Widow of the said Ethan Smith, never having been married, since his Death, and that she now resides at Stamford. Deponent further says that the said Ethan Smith was at the Battle of White Plains in 1776.
George Mills
Sworn the 2 nd day of March 1837 upon me
M c I Irving
First Judge of the Court of Sessions New York City & County of New York
I do hereby certify that the above deponent is entitled to full faith and credit New York March 2 nd 1837
M c I Irving
First Judge of the Court of Sessions New York City & County of New York

Ethan Smith & Hannah Scofield was married in Stamford by the Rev. Mr. Wells on May the 7 th 1769
The above is a true copy of Record Certified by Seymour Jarvis,
Town Clerk of Stamford
I have been Town Clerk of the Town of Stamford for a number of years past & have held since my appointment the Records of said Town in my custody - The Record of the above marriage of Ethan Smith appear to be in the hand writing of Samuel Jarvis a former Town Clerk of said Town of Stamford, & father of the deponent
Seymour Jarvis
State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } 6.
On this 4 th day of March 1837 personally appeared before me Simon H. Minor a Notary Public within and for said State and County Seymour Jarvis who on his oath says that he is Town Clerk of said Stamford and has the custody of the Records thereof and that the above certificate of Marriage of Ethan Smith and Hannah Scofield is a true copy of Record. I further certify that said Seymour Jarvis is the Town Clerk of said Stamford and a credible person. In testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my official Seal. H Minor Notary Public

And the said Court doth hereby, after the investigation of the matter declare its opinion that the above named applicant Hannah Smith was married to the said Ethan Smith in his application named on the 7 th day of May 1769 - that he died on the 20 th day of April 1819 - that she has ever since and is still his widow of that he was a soldier of the Revolution declared as she in her said application states.
Chas. Hawley Judge.

1547
Hannah Smith widow of Ethan
Adm rs ppi. 27. $80 per ann, com m b 4 March 1833
Joshua B Ferris Stanford Conn.
I Samuel Lockwood Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Stanford in Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Hannah Smith for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal at office this 9 th day of March A.D. 1833
Samuel Lockwood Clk.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17843-
Hannah Smith Widow of Ethan Smith Prin. Rep. War
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. M , Page 223
[Arrangement of 1870.]

J. C. Edwards Esq
Sir
I have the honor to forward to you the application of Wm Hannah Smith of this place for a pension. I trust you will find her declaration fully sustained by the testimony
Most Respectfully
Hampden Conn. } March 10-1837 }
Your obt. Servt
Joshua B. Ferris