Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,854, for James Mc Lean, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Conn.
McLean, James.
8 31. 854
CONTENTS

Adn to pay Dec. 28/1836
7.418 17.418
Connecticut
James M c Lean
of Haslem in the State of Conn who was a Pri — in the Conn commanded by Captain Chester of the Regt commanded by Col Wolffis in the Conn line for 9 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 30 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Aug 1870 and Rent S. 76
Parsons. Hartford Ct
Arrears to the 14th of March 33.88 60
Trans. allowance ending Sept 41 1 50
$ 709 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Beebe Clerk,
Book E Vol. 9 — Page 28

106534. PENSION ACT OF 1832.
Declaration of James M c Lean Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
in order to obtain the benefit of the
STATE OF CONNECTICUT. } ss. Hartford COUNTY OF Hartford }
On this 23 rd day August 1832, before the Probate Court for the district of Hartford in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut being a Court of Record, having by law a Clerk and Seal, personally appeared James M c Lean a resident of Glastenbury in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged Seventy seven 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, 1832.
1 st That he entered the service of the United States as a private in a company commanded by Captain John Chester Lieutenant Sam d B. Webb (he thinks) and Ensign Butler (he thinks) at Glastenbury in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut on or about the latter part of April or May 1775; that said company belonged to a regiment of foot commanded by Colonel Sam d Wyllys (he believes) Lieutenant Colonel (don't remember) and Major don't remember . That he the deponent was enlisted for seven months, and continued to serve in the said Corps, until on or about the latter part of Nov r or December 1775 when he was discharged from the service, at or near a place called Roxbury in the County of and know and State of Massachusetts ; that when he entered the service, he resided in Glastenbury in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut and was marched from Wethersfield in s d State , to Cambridge in Massachusetts . That he was in the battle at Bunker hill with his company. Gen l  Putnam directed the operations; - It was in the month of June 1775. After the battle was over the company go back to Cambridge , & soon after the arrival of Gen l  Washington , he thinks, the company marched to Roxbury . That in the latter part of the Fall the deponent being sick & unfit for duty was sent into a hospital in Roxbury where he remained, he thinks, two or three weeks as near as he can now recollect. The company was discharged while he was in the hospital. He did not return with them, but returned home soon after - absent over seven months . Thomas Holmes , Constant Gresswell of Wethersfield & Stephen Shipman of Glastenbury in s d Hartford County all respectable men, know that the deponent served on this tour - the two former persons served on the same tour in the same company. & the latter knows that the deponent was there & served, - & they will so testify.

2 ndly That he the deponent again entered the service in the Spring of 1777. That he was drafted & marched the forepart (say 1 st ) of April, in a tour of five months , in a company commanded by Capt o . Elijah Wright, Lieut Smith & Ensign Smith (as he thinks). & marched from Glastonbury to Pechskill in the State of New York, & while there, the troops he thinks was under the immediate command of Genl. Mac Dougall. & he is sure he saw other Continental officers there & thereabouts. but from the great length of time which has since elapsed, & withal, feeble health, & an impaired memory, he cannot recollect their names. He recollects that Danbury was burnt, while he was at Pechskill & that the company & troops marched on that occasion in the night, & the deponent with them. How far the troops marched he is not able now to recollect but he knows they returned to Pechskill (without seeing the enemy) & that the company afterward remained there, on duty, until about the 1 st of June 1777 & were dismissed & returned home.
Roswell Goodrich of Glastonbury served with the deponent in this tour, in that same company & will so testify.
3 rd The deponent further declares that he again entered the service in the Fall of 1779 as a substitute of Josiah Stevens of S t . Glastonbury, in a company of artificers under the command of Capt o . William (Lebelius) Mills of Boston. who acted (as the deponent then understood) under Genl. Green, Quarter Master Genl. of the Continental Army. — That he agreed with S t . Stevens at S t . Glastonbury & joined the company on the North river near Westpoint & reported himself as an artificer, & substitute for one month, of said Josiah Stevens. & that Capt o . Mills, accepted him as a substitute.

for said Stevens accordingly. That he served in that capacity at Westpoint in the line of his trade business (being a Cooper by trade) & obeying the orders of his Superiors, until sometime, he thinks in December 1779 as near as he can remember, having served the full term of his engagement viz. one month , was then Honorably Discharged & returned home. That Josiah Hollister was in the same Company at that time, knows this statement to be true, & will so testify.
And in reply to certain interrogatories prescribed by the War Department and propounded by the Court, the deponent further declares,
1st. That he was born at Brandford in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut on the 18 th day of September  1755
2d. That the day and year of his birth is to think  not not recorded, but of this he does not know
3d. and 4th. That when he was called into service, he resided at the place or town as herein before stated; and served in the manner set forth in the preceding declaration.
5th. That the general circumstances of his service are detailed in the preceding declaration, and also the names of such officers, &c. as he distinctly recollects.
6th. That he may have received a written discharge from the service, but has no recollection on the subject
7th. That he is personally known to the Rev. Jeremiah Stocking of Glastenbury, Thomas Hollister Esq r  Russell Goodrich Stephen Shipman of the same Town, - Thomas Holmer & Constant Griswold of Wethersfield, & Josiah Hollister of Manchester who are respectable persons in the neighborhood where he now resides, and can testify as to his character for veracity, and also their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
And the said James M c Lean hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. James M c Lean
And the said Court do hereby declare its 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. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to that The Rev. Jeremiah Stocking is a Clergyman in said Glastenbury, Thomas Hollister, Russell Goodrich & Stephen Shipman of the same Town, Thomas Holmer & Constant Griswold of Wethersfield & Josiah Hollister of Manchester, all, adjoining Towns in said County of Hartford, whose affidavits are hereto annexed are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
I, William Whetman Clerk of the Probate Court for the district of Hartford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James M c Lean for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 23 rd day of August  1832 .
Wm Whetman Clk of Court of Probate for district of Hartford

June 26, 1934.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. Charles R. Hale 30 Oak Street Hartford, Connecticut
BA-J/ady James McLean S.31854
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to James McLean, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.31854, based upon his military service in that war.
James McLean was born September 18, 1755 in Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut. No reference is made to his parents.
While a resident of Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, he enlisted in April or May 1775 and served over  more than seven months as private in Captain John Chester's Company, Colonel Samuel Wylllys' Connecticut Regiment and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He enlisted in March or April 1777 and served two months in Captain Elijah Wright's Connecticut Company. He enlisted in November 1779 and served one month in Captain William Mills' Company of Artificers.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 23, 1832 while a resident of Glastonbury, Connecticut.
There are no family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of soldier's death, you should apply to the Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D. C., citing all the following data:
"James McLean, Certificate No. 17418, issued August 20, 1833, rate $30.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Connecticut Agency".
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.

31 854 Rev INVALID.
File No. 31, 854
James M c Lean Rev
Act: James M c Lean
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 263
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Apr. 28-1900 C. E. MacLean E. Nutfield Conn
Aug 17, 1901 James Shipman, Hartford, Conn. 1910 Dec. 16 Hist. to Mrs. Herbert T. Clark, N.Y.C. 1934 June 26. Hist. to Charles P. Hale N.Y.C.

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. James M c Lean I.F. 31854
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. or May 1775 Nov. or Dec. 1775 Pvt. John Cheever Samuel Wyllys Conn.   Mch or Apr. 1777 2 mos. Elijah Wright   Nov. 1779 1 mo. William Mills co. of artificers  
Battles engaged in, Bunker Hill
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Glastonbury Hartford Co. Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 23, 1832. His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Glastonbury Conn.
Age at date of application, born at Branford New Haven Co. Conn. Sept. 18, 1753. date of death is not stated.
Remarks: There is no data as to family

This Certifieth that We Jeremiah Stocking a Clergyman and Thomas Hollister both of Glastenbury in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut are well acquainted with James McLean of said Glastenbury and verely believe him to be of the age of Seventy Seven years - and and that it is generally believed by the people of this Vicinity that he served as a Soldier in the State service in the Revolutionary War and in this belief we also concur - Glastenbury August 15 th A 1832 Jeremiah Stocking Thomas Hollister
Hartford County } S Glastenbury August 15 th A 1832 State of Connecticut }
Personally Appeared Jeremiah Stocking a Clergyman and Thomas Hollister signers of the foregoing certificate and made Oath to the Truth of the Same before me
And I also certify that the said Jeremiah Stocking and Thomas Hollister are Men of Truth and Veracity George C. Cook Justice of the Peace

Las debidas
Christ
Dec. 10.
1741-8
[Handwritten flourish]
J. S. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions at Washington

Pension Agency Hartford December 7th 1836
Sir
James McLean not having applied for his pension for more than twelve months his papers are herewith enclosed and transmitted for special directions authorizing the payment
I am very respectfully your obedt servant
J. M. Hall Agent
J. G. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington.

6554
Jamie M. Lean
Yatesbury
adult
9 th inst.
30 ✓
Sam l H. Parsons,
Wiltshire Coun t

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James M c Lean which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? (handwritten checkmark) IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yy V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yy

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? [Handwritten line]
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? [Handwritten line]
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? No
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, 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 : For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Claimant does not appear from his statement to have served in the Artillery corps - to whom the residue of bonyfides belongs. The artificers employed by the quartermaster cannot be regarded as on the military establishment upon the facts here stated.

I Thomas Holmes of Wethersfield in the County of Hartford & State of Connecticut aged Seventy five years depose and say that James M c Lean of Glastenbury in said County with whom I am well acquainted intitled some time in the month of April or May in the year 1775 in Capt John Chesters Company Ebenezer Huntington 1 st Lieutenant Stephen Goodrich 2 d Lieutenant Charles Butter insign and I do know that he went on to Cambridge and was in the battle of Bunker hill and that he continued in the service for the full term of seven months and further this deponent saith not
Thomas Holmes
State of Connecticut County of } ss Wethersfield August 18 th 1832 Hartford
Personally appeared Thomas Holmes the signer of the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of what is therein contained before me. I further certify that said Thomas Holmes is a man of veracity and his statement is entitled to credit
Henry P. Buckley Justice of the peace

I Constant Griswell of Wethersfield in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged Seventy nine years depose and say that I am well acquainted with James M. Lean of Glastenbury in said County and do know that he intited some time in the months of April or May in the year 1775 in the Company commanded by Capt John Chester of said Wethersfield and that he marched on to Cambridge with said company was in the battle of Bunkers Hill and that he continued in the service for the full term of seven months and further this deponent saith not Constant Griswell
State of Connecticut } ss Wethersfield August 18 th 1832 County of Hartford } Personally appeared Constant Griswell signer of the foregoing deposition and made oath to the truth of what is contained therein before me I further certify that said Griswell is a man of veracity and that his statement is entitled to credit Henry P. Buckley Justice of the peace

Hartford June 24 th 1833
The paper of James M c Lean of Glastenbury in this State returned the 3 rd Ult o with a brief are carried and again forwarded -
The applicant claims for ten months services in the revolutionary war viz 7 months as a private in Captain John Chester's company Holland's brigade which is fully proved by two witnesses one of whom viz Thomas Holmes is in revolutionary pension on the roll of the Connecticut agency.
2 months as a private in Captain Elijah Wright's company - proved by Roswell Goodrich of Hartford
One month as an artificer in Captain Samuel Mills' company of artificers -
Isaac Hollis the Surveus to this service The declaration was originally forwarded August 23. 1832, and the applicant is very patient to receive his pension certificate -
Yours very respectfully
James S. Edwards Esq. Samuel H. Parsons Commissioner of Pensions Wethersfield

I Josiah Hollett of Mansfield County of Hartford & State of Connecticut being of the age of Twenty six do testify and say that I am knowing to the circum- stances of James Wilson of Glastonbury County of Farm- serving in the Revolutionary War in the company comma- nded by Capt. William Mills belonging to Boston the term of one month as a Substitute of Josiah Stevens of said company as an Officer in said Company was under the direction of Lieutenant Master Genl Green then said Wilson entered the service in November 1779 that he was employed in labor at and on the forts at West Point Josiah Hollett
Hartford County ss Mansfield August 7 th 1832 Personally appeared Josiah Hollett sign of the foregoing Deposition and made solemn oath to the facts therein contained and that I am knowing the said Hollett to be a man of truth & veracity and is to be believed accordingly
James Brown Justice of Peace
The above attestation in the sign in the date of the Deposition was made by me the true date is 1779
James Brown Justice of Peace Sign of the above Justice

State of Connecticut:
Secretary's Office, June 21st, 1833.
I, Thomas Day, Secretary of said State and Keeper of said Seal, do hereby certify, That each Person being before whom the foregoing  affidavits of Esther Shepard and John Caldwell  were taken , George Cook Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits of Jeremiah Stocking and Thomas Hollister were taken, Solomon Cole Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Roswell Goodrich was taken, George Merrick Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Stephen Shipman was taken, Henry Bulkley Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits of
Thomas Holmes and Constant Griswold were taken, and Irenaeus Brown Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit of Josiah Hollister was taken, were, at the times when said affidavits respectively were taken, Justices of the Peace within and for the county of Hartford in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, having power and authority by the laws of said State to administer oaths to witnesses and to take affidavits out of court and to certify the same; and that I verily believe the foregoing signatures purporting to be theirs respectively, are genuine.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, the day and year above written.
Thomas Day

Stephen Shipmans dep te de appl n of James M c Lean

I Stephen Shipman of Gloucester aged Eighty two years testify and say that in May 1775 James M c Lean of said Gloucester to my knowledge enlisted in Continental service in Capt Chester's Company of Methuenfield, my brother Reuben Shipman was in in the same company. I was present when the Rev d W m Mark of Methuenfield preached a sermon to the soldiers. They all came into the meeting house in uniform. After which they all set out for Roxbury. I do not know how long he served, I think it was six or seven months. and further the deponent saith not. Stephen Shipman
Haverford county Pa. Gloucester On this 11 th day of August 1832 personally appeared Stephen Shipman signer and holder of the foregoing deposition before him subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein contained. Before me.
And I certify that he is a man of truth and veracity and his statement entitled to credit.
George Morris Justice of the peace

Roswell Goodrich dep. in appl. of James M c Lean

I Roswell Goodrich of Glastenbury in the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut aged seventy two years depose and say that in the month of March or the first part of April in the year 1777 James McLean of said Glastenbury was drafted and went to Pikeskill in the State of New York and there did, duly as a militia man under Capt Elijah Wright of Watrousfield in the same company with me for the term of and was discharged the latter part of May two months. Smith of Chatham was Lieut & Beryn Smith of said Glastenbury was Ensign
Gen Mac Dangle was the Commander
Roswell Goodrich
State of Connecticut County of Hartford ss Glastenbury August 22 d 1832 personally appeared Roswell Goodrich signer of the foregoing deposition and made solemn Oath to the truth of what is therein contained before me and I further certify that said Goodrich is a man of of truth and veracity and his statement is entitled to credit
Solomon Cole Justice of the Peace

Adi
3-871.
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by A. Mac D. 12/12/10
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier James McLean
Service Conn.
Additional Service Rev.
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 191 _____
No claim, combination records _____, 191 _____
REMARKS:
No Will. any service " Ref. at all No Rev. War Sur as above except S. 31854 the one.

DEC 11 1910
ack DEC 15 1910 aw

S. Glastonbury Conn.
Dec. 9/1910
Record Division Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington -
In reply to your letter of Nov. 25, I send the following data. James McLean served in 1775 at the Battle of Bunker Hill under Gen. Putnam, Captain Chester.
captured later by the sloop of War Glasgow, escaped when off the Coast of Jamaica
Enlisted in 1777 served at some time under under Col. Sam. Nyllis

and Captain Elijah Night, and Captain William Mills
Was at Valley Forge with Great Washington Enlisted the Third time 1779.
This is taken from the family record. I would like to know what Official record there is.
Born in 1755 died Dec. 29, 1843
Place of residence at Enlistment and after discharge Glastonbury
Given a tract of land in Glastonbury for his services.
His wife's given name was Abigail.

Corpl. Thomas Stevens negative served under Captain Johnathan Hale, and Capt. Abraham Fuller 1 st . Lieut. in Col. Roger Enos regiment. Born July, 1739 Place of residence at enlistment Glastonbury, wife's given name Mary - she died Dec. 1818
Thanking you in advance for any official record you may be able to send me of these two Revolutionary soldiers I am yours truly
R. L. Box 3- Mrs. Herbert T. Clark So. Glastonbury Conn.

REV. FOLVLE BOTTLE 100204 3 211887

BULLARD, JOHNSON & SHIPMAN,
REAL ESTATE
AND Insurance,
50 18 Asylum Street.
1791-32 AUG 9 1891 Q.M. + N.
Hartford, Conn., Aug - 9 th 1901 / 1891
To the Commissioners of Pensions Washington D. C. Dear Sir:
I find according to our Conn. reports the name of James McLean of Glastonbury as a Revolutionary pensioner at age 85 Census of 1840. I can not find any other record or record of service in regard to him.
As he received a pension there must be on the Pension Records his petition for the same and a statement of his service and how when and where he served.
I am a great grand son of his, and a great uncle, a son of his, when alive, told me that his father was in the battle at Bunker Hill, and soon after volunteered to do service on board a privateering vessel - which one I don't remember of his telling me.
I am very desirous of obtaining such information as you have on record of the case as early as possible.
Can you and will you please convey to me the same
Yours very Respectfully
James Shipman 163 Ashly St Hartford Conn.

HEADQUARTERS COMMANDERY-IN-CHIEF SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR
CHARLES R. HALE, CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON MARKING GRAVES
30 OAK STREET HARTFORD, CONN.
June 16, 1934
Chief Clerk Pension Department Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Please send me the Revolutionary War record of James McLean . His pension number was S 31854 if his date of death is on it, please send it.
We would like to get a headstone for him.
Yours very truly,
Chas. R. Hale
CRH:MB

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME McLean, James GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9953 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 20, 1799 To not shown
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.