Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 6883, for Joseph Mansfield, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
born.
Mansfield, Joseph
P 6883
CONTENTS

SERVICE
NUMBER
born.
Mansfield, Joseph
TR 6883
CONTENTS

State of Connecticut } p Probate District of Sharon County of Litchfield } p
At a Court of Probate held at Canaan within & for the Probate District of Sharon, on the 12 th day of July A D 1833. Present Wm M Purnall Esq Judge
On this 12 th day of July A D 1833. personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate within for said district of Sharon, the same being a Court of record and now sitting. Joseph Mansfield a resident of Canaan in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, aged sixty ten  seven years, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the fol- -lowing named Officers and served as herein stated, to wit. I was born in the town of New Haven in New Haven County and State of Connecticut, on the 17 th day of June A D 1766. I have no record of my age, and know of none except a family record kept by my father and which is now in possession of my brother, John Mansfield of Ellsworth in this County. I continued to reside in said Town of New Haven and in that part of it which is now the Town of Hamden, till the year 1775, when I removed to said Town of Canaan where I have resided till the present time. In the month of August 1780, a company of Connecticut State Troops, was raised in and about said New Haven, by drafting seven or eight individuals from each militia company, in that Regiment, or brigade, and

among others a man by the name of Enoch Turner a neigh- bor of my father was drafted for this service. At this time I was fourteen years old, but very large and stout for my age and I then agreed with said Turner to perform this service as his substitute, provided the approbation of the Colonel then commanding at that Post could be obtained. I called on the Col. whose name was Sabin, a resident at that time of New Haven, for this purpose and with his approbation I then entered said Company as a substitute for said Turner. This company was stationed at New Haven, as a guard, and I served in it at this time two months , which was the time for which said Turner was drafted. From the long time which has elapsed I am not able to tell the names of the commissioned officers of my company, as they were all strangers to me, the sergeant was Iabez Turner, then a resident of said New Haven. Dur- ing this period we had no encounter with the enemy. Our principal duty was keeping guard at said New Haven, and occasionally scouting through the neighbouring towns, on the sound, for the purpose of watching the motions of the enemies vessels which were frequently cruising through the sound, and for the purpose of preventing communication with them from the shore. This scout- ing was generally in the night.
In the year 1781, about the first of July, I enlisted into a company of Connecticut State Troops, which was raised by the authority of the Legislature of said State, to act as a coast guard, and was at that time commanded by my father, Joseph Mansfield, then of said New Haven. The Lieutenant was Solomon Hinton. The Ensigns name I cannot recollect. I enlisted at this time for the period of six months, and immediately went upon duty, in the city of New Haven. Our duty during this time was to keep guard in said City, and to guard the military stores

which were then deposited there and also patrol through the neighboring towns upon the sound, to watch the motions of the Enemy, and prevent communication with them from the shore. During this term of service, we had no encounter with the British but had very frequent scouting parties, sent out during the night for the purpose of preventing communications with the enemy, and we frequently intercepted boats about to start from the shore loaded with provisions for the Enemy, and also enemies boats com- -ing in shore loaded with goods, and in several instances took prisoners in this business who were lodged by us in the Jail at New Haven. I well recollect that during this term of service, the arrival of the news of the taking of Lord Cornwall -is & his army, and the public rejoicings on that occasion. I continued in this service till the expiration of the six months for which I enlisted, which was on or near the first day of January, 1782, and I then again immediately enlisted in the same Company for another term of six months. At this time my father resigned the command of the company on account of his feeble health and was succeeded in the command of the company by Cap t Fenton who had previously been Lieuten- -ant. And the Lieutenant then appointed was his brother Nathan Fenton who I think upon further reflection had previously been Ensign. The name of the new Ensign I believe was Abiel Mac- -umber - I continued in the service in the same kind of duty as before till the first week in May 1782, and at that time our Company was discharged and disbanded, in consequence of the cessation of Hostilities, during the negotiations for peace - The time which I served under this enlistment was four months

Our tour of duty during this term was the same as I have detailed in my former enlistments, I was not then We had no encounters with the British, but frequently succeeded in preventing communications with them from the shore, and in intercepting boat loads of provisions, which were about to be carried to them, and our duty was a great part of the time very arduous, as we were obliged to be out very often during a great part of the nights. I never received any written discharge as I recollect, but believe I was always, discharged verbally by the commanding officer - I know of no person whose testimony I can procure, who can testify to my services, except those whose depositions are herewith remitted. Rev d Charles Prentice and Joshua Raymond Esq. can testify to my character for my veracity, and their belief of my services as aforesaid. I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever 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. Joseph Morrisfield
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
William M. Burroll Judge of Probate
State of Connecticut } ss Probate District of Sharon County of Litchfield } At a Court of Probate held at Canaan in and for said Probate District, on the 25 day of October A D 1834, personally appeared Rev d Charles Prentice, and Joshua Raymond Esq. and signed the following certificate and made oath to the same according to law.

We Charles Prentice a Clergyman residing in the Town of Canaan and Joshua Raymond Esq residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Mansfield who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declar- -ation: that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age That he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Charles Prentice Joshua Raymond
Sworn and subscribed this 25 day of October A D 1834
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate
And the said Court doth hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the said Joseph Mans- field was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states And this Court further certifies that it appears to this court that the Rev Charles Prentice who has signed the preceding cer- -tificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of Canaan and Pastor of the Congregational Church in said Parish of South Canaan - and that Joshua Raymond Esq who has also signed the same is a resident of the same Town and is a credible person and a highly respectable gentleman and a justice of the Peace for S d Litchfield County and that this statement is entitled to credit. And this Court doth fur- -ther certify that Eliza Mansfield whose deposition hereto annexed taken this day before this Court, is well known to this Court and is a man of unimpeachable character for veracity and is a credible witness. And this Court doth fur- -ther certify that it is proved to the entire satisfaction of this Court that Jonathan Fenton whose deposition hereto annexed was taken before this Court on the 16 th day of Octo- -ber is proved to this Court to be a man of good character for ver- -acity and a credible witness. Whereupon this Court doth

order said Deposition, to be annexed to said original declaration under the seal of this Court
And this Court doth further certify that said Joseph Mansfield the applicant is well known to this Court and that he has always sustained an irreproachable character for integrity and honesty and that his statement is entitled to credit
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate

State of Connecticut } Vs. Court of Probate District of County of Litchfield } Sharon.
At a Court of Probate held at Canaan within and for the District of Sharon on the 16 th day of October A D 1834 Present William M. Burrall Judge
I Jonathan Finton of Dorset in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont. Testify and say, that I am now Sixty eight Years old, and in the month of August A D 1781 I was a private in a company of State Troops raised by the State of Connecticut for the protection of the Town of New Haven in the County of New Haven in said State and also for the protection of the Sea Coast adjacent, said Com- pany was commanded by Captain Joseph Mansfield, Lieuten- ant Solomon Finton, and Ensign Nathan Finton, and the said Solomon Finton also commanded a Row Galley and some whale boats, and about the first of January A D 1782, the said Joseph Mansfield resigned and said Solom- on Finton was appointed Captain of said Company, and I continued to serve in said Company untill Peace was declared. And I further Testify and say that Joseph Man- sfield a son of said Captain Joseph Mansfield was a private soldier in said Company, and served in the same, from the time I became a member of said Company untill the month of May A D 1782 when said Mansfield was discharged during all this time I was well and personally acquainted with said Joseph Mansfield the son of said Captain Mans- field, and he is now present at the taking of this Deposition and I also well recollect that during said service and I believe in January A D 1782, we pursued a number of Smugglers or Tories in the night, and the company were ordered to surround a house near Dragon river near said City of New Haven, and while we were stationed around said house, one of said smugglers whose name was Nathaniel Grannis jumped from one of the windows and endeavored to escape, but the said Joseph Mansfield

after hailing him shot the said Grannis through his hips and he was taken.
Jan re Boston
Owens to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Mr. G. G. Jan 1892

State of Connecticut County of Litchfield } p Probate District of Sharon
At a Court of Probate held at Canaan in and for the district of Sharon on the 22 d day of October A D 1834. Present Wm. M c Burrell Esq r Judge. Personally appeared in open Court before said Court, Elisha Mansfield a resident of said Canaan who being first duly sworn according to Law doth depose and say as follows. viz.
I am sixty nine years old in December last. and I am brother of Joseph Mansfield of said Canaan who is making application for a pension under the Law of Congress of the 7 th June 1832. and I have just heard read the my declaration of said Joseph Mansfield made before this Court on the 12 th day of July 1833. and I do say that I lived at said Almond in the family of my father Joseph Mansfield in said declaration mentioned at the time when said Joseph states that he was in the service of the United States. and I have a perfect and distinct recollection of the said Joseph's entering a military company as he states as a substitute for said Turner. and serving as his substitute as he states. I also distinctly recollect that my brother aforesaid enlisted into the company commanded by my said father. and that he continued in said company some time after my father resigned the command thereof. and though I am not able to state the precise duration of his said term of service. from the great lapse of time. still I know that he was in the service a considerable length of time and I have no doubt that his declaration with regard to that point is entirely correct.
Elisha Mansfield.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid
William M c Burrell Judge of Probate

I Am P Bunnall Clerk of the Court of Probate within and for the District of Sharon do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Mansfield for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said office this 22 nd day of October A D 1834
J. M c P Bunnall Clerk of Probate

Sir
Some two years since Allen Mead of Pombridge Chenango County State of New York offered to me for the purpose of recovering a pension due the heirs of Joseph Mansfield for Service Done in the State Troops of Connecticut I furnished him with the necessary papers Last Spring I received a line from Mr Bennett your predecessor and shortly after another from Mr Mead I furnished Mr Mead with a second 2 nd agency to Mr Mead and have not heard nothing from him since and Now Sir if you think proper you may make a trial I will furnish you with Power Atty and papers and Sir if you want References I can give you them from William M Burrall Porter Burrall Benjamin Dagewick Samuel Church Albert Sedgwick.
Sir I opposed the late Pension Act But on further consideration I found it would be scattered from one end of the United States to the other My father applied under a Subsequent Act But for the want of necessary papers could not get it The office was burnt at New Haven and the State Papers Also it appears that the People in those troublesome times charged their firearms more than the State
There is still another claim pending At the Pension office for the heirs of Lt Joseph Mansfield My Grandfather Who was an Ensign in the French War a Captain in the Revolution out of seven Brothers he was the only one who survived Benjamin Hill Lebeck Sarge Brantgowne Yorktown Claim their Pensions

And You Sir if you should take up my case I should have the satisfaction that one of the citizens of My Native State is acting for me. Doubtless not But her Sons still claim the Meridian light and give light to the Sister States.
I Am Sir Your Obedient Servant Respectfully Julius Mansfield
Pr Direct your communications to Huntsville Post office South Cannon
Cannon March 12 th 1854

October 31, 1938.
Mr. Charles L. Robertson 401-Natinal Bank of Commerce Building Adrian, Michigan.
BA-J/ILL Joseph Mansfield R. 6883
Dear Sir:
The data which follow are found in the papers on file in pension claim, R. 6883, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Joseph Mansfield.
Joseph Mansfield was born June 16, 1766, in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut. His father, Joseph Mansfield, was a captain in the Revolutionary War, at which time he lived with his family in that part of New Haven called Hamden, Connecticut.
Joseph Mansfield, the son, resided in Hamden, Connecticut, until the year 1795, when he moved to Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut, and continued to reside there until 1833. He applied July 12, 1833, while a resident of Canaan, Connecticut, for the pension which might have been due on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He stated then that in August 1780, being large for fourteen years, he served two months as a scout near New Haven, which service was rendered as substitute for a neighbor, that he enlisted in July 1781, and served six months in his father's, Captain Joseph Mansfield's, Connecticut company, and that he enlisted January 1, 1782 and served until May of that year under Captain Solomon Fenton, along the seacoast.
His claim for pension was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service of six months in a regularly organized military corps as required by the pension law.
Joseph Mansfield, the son of Captain Joseph Mansfield, made no reference to wife or children.
In October 1834, Elisha Mansfield, another son of Captain Joseph

Mansfield, stated that he was aged "sixty-nine years in December last", and that he was living at home when his brother, Joseph, entered service under their father. Elisha Mansfield resided in Canaan, Connecticut, in 1834.
In 1854, Julius Mansfield, of Huntsville, South Canaan, Connecticut, stated that his father, Joseph Mansfield, served in the Revolutionary War, also, that his grandfather, Joseph Mansfield, was an Ensign in the French War, a Captain in the Revolution - out of seven brothers he was the only one who survived Bunker Hill, Quebec, Saratoga, Brandywine and Yorktown.
There are no further data pertaining to the family of Joseph Mansfield in the papers on file in this claim.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

October 31, 1938.
This letter in Mr. Charles L. Robertson 401-402 National Bank of Commerce Building Adrian, Michigan.
BA-J/ILL Joseph Mansfield S. 37216 Joseph Mansfield R. 6883
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Joseph Mansfield, of New Haven, Connecticut, a Captain in that war, Joseph Mansfield who was born in New Haven in 1760, and John Mansfield, also, a Captain from New Haven, Connecticut.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of that war. The records of Joseph Mansfield, S. 37216, and Joseph Mansfield, R. 6883, are furnished you herewith, based upon their service in that war.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Acts of July 14, 1902, and March 3, 1973.
REJECTED
0883
1938 Oct. 31 - Writ to Chas. A. Peterson. See letter in Rev. Joseph Mansfield - S-37216-Rev
P. O. _____ Joseph Mansfield Service: _____
Enlisted: Printed Volume - _____, 18
Discharged: Rejected & Suspended Personnel _____, 18
Page - 80 - Shows reason for Suspension - "No actual case - Mere readiness to serve is not service."
Application filed: service in the 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Julius Mansfield
April 3/54

Pension Office,
April 3. 1854.
Sir,
Your letter of the 12 th ultimo, respecting alleged claims for pension in virtue of the services of Joseph Mansfield, deceased, has been received.
Before you can be informed whether there is any thing due in this behalf, it will be  necessary that or of the mode of proceeding in order to obtain it, it will be necessary for you to furnish the exact dates of the marriage and death of the soldier and his wife. —
Very respectfully J C
Julius Mansfield, Huntsville P. O. South Canaan Connecticut.

Joseph Mansfield
Con. Aug 32
Paid 3
Mr Lorenzo Waldo Agent Pension Office Hamptonville • Washington Oct 1852 } District Columbia

32,678 Connecticut
Stephen Mansfield suspended W H P Burrall Skaneateles 1833 Lt. Inten Mansfield April 3/54
1832

M c P. Burrall.
Dead 20. 1851-
O. L
Received Vol 37. p 69.

Waukegan
P.O.
March 21 st 1835
Sir
The service stated in the declaration of Joseph Mansfield does not appear to have been actual constant service in the field as a Garrison during the periods claimed. which alone is of provided for by law The State of Connecticut does not appear to have raised and paid any  such corps or in which he claims to have served. It is most probable that the claimant & his witnesses have confounded mere readiness to serve with actual service which is alone provided for by law. The papers remain on file.
Wm P. Burrall Esq, South Canaan Ct
[See papers of John Foster Vermont]

Man 19 Havana 13 th March 3 Dear
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions Washington D.C.

South Ganaan 6 th 13 th Mo 1835
Sir
In Sept or October last I forwarded to you the pension Application of Joseph Mansfield. And in January 1833, I sent to you that of William Dakway. Nothing has since been heard of these papers. Will you have the goodness to say whether any action has been had on either of these applications and if so what is the present state of them.
Yours Respectfully Wm O'Connell Clerk of Probate District of Sharon

32. 678 To Mansfield
cont.
68.83
returns to be directed Mrs P V Burrall Clerk of Probate South Canaan. Litchfield County Connecticut