Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23970, for Eliakim Thacher, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Conn.)
Thacher, Eliakim Thatcher or
S. 23970
CONTENTS

63 Mch 23. 1885 Mch Julia H red field military & family history
New York
29853
Elizabeth Thatcher Residing in the State of N.Y. was a Plasterer in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg't commanded by Col Hughes in the New York Inf'ty 12 Mts Battery Com'd 40.00
Granted on the Roll of New York the rate of 40 Dollars _____ per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of July 1834 and paid to Martha F. King widow in N.Y.
Amount to the 14th of March '34 $120.00 Semmens. allowance ending 14 Sept " 20.00 140.00
31 Dec 1837 { Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Viral Luce Clerk, Book E Vol. 4 Page 82

Whereas my father Eliakim Thatcher late of the town of Sippewissett, in the county of Chautauque and State of New York, now deceased, was a citizen of the United States, under the act of 17 June 1832 at the rate of forty dollars per annum, and died leaving no widow, but three children, namely Crestus Thatcher, Chester and Charles Thatcher, children now living - - Now therefore I do hereby on behalf of myself and the other children of the said Eli- akim Thatcher, hereby constitute and appoint Henry H. Sylvester Esq. of Wash- ington, D. C., my true and lawful Attorney for me and the other children of said Eliakim, to prosecute an action as such children for an increased pension, on account of the services of said father in the war of the Revolution.
Witness my hand and seal this 24th day of June 1850. In presence of Samuel A. Brown
Crestus Thatcher

State of New York. Chautauqua County C.
On the 24 th day of June in the year 1850 Oristus Thacher, to me known to be the person who executed the within power of Attorney, personally came before me, and acknowledged that the said power was by him made and executed freely, for the purposes therein expressed - Solomon Jones Justice of the peace
Elizabeth Thacher

14828
Elizur Thatcher
mode of authent.
Admitted
Teunster, private 12 mo
Susp. 2/40.-
Wulfe Crane
Tadoussac Chautauqua County N. York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjunct notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Eliakim Hatcher of Arkwright of Chautauque County, New York
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place at which he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Oct. June 1780 12 Teasdale Capt Lamb Col. Hays Hughes None from Sharon to Fishkill N.Y. Sharon county of Litchfield Connecticut aged 69 years Traditional Evidence  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service, (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers,) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service, the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?  { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Estate of Elakim Thatcher deceased
Appendants and Innocent butif- uats

State of New York
Chautauque County ss. I Orson Clarke Surrogate of said County Do hereby Certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to me, that Eliakim Thatcher late of the Town of Cerkwright in the said County & State, died on the 14 th day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty eight; that at the time of his death he was a pensioner of the United States under the act of 7 June 1832, at the rate of forty dollars per annum; That he left no Widow, and that the following named persons are his only children now living, to wit, Charles Thatcher  Charles Thatcher and Orestes Thatcher
and each of them is over twenty one years of age - And I further Certify that the facts above stated are satisfactorily proved by Orestes Thatcher and Charles Thatcher who are credible witnesses & whose affidavits are hereto annexed -
Witness my hand & official seal this 25 th day of June 1850 -
Orson Clarke

State of New York Chautauqua County
On this day personally appeared the town of Arkwright County and State of said being duly sworn says he was well acquainted with Eliakim Thatcher late of said town of Arkwright deceased intestate That the said Eliakim Thatcher was a Re- ligious person of the United States under the laws of 1832. That the said Eliakim Thatch- er departed this life at the said town of Ark- wright on the 14th day of January 1848 being at that time a resident of the said County of Chautauqua. That the said de- ceased left no widow. That he left the following named children viz. Chester Thatcher Charles Thatcher and Orson Thatcher all over the age of twenty one years
Subscribed and sworn this 20th day of June 1850 before me
Orson Thatcher
Notary Public in and for Chautauqua County

State of New York County of Schenectady ss
Elizer Thatch of the town of Altamont County and State aforesaid being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was well acquainted with Eleakim Thatch late of the town of Altamont County and State aforesaid deceased intes- tate. That the said Eleakim Thatch was a Revolutionary pensioner under the laws of the United States passed June 7th 1832. That he died on the 14th day of January 1848 being at that time a resident of the said town of Altamont that the said deceased left no widow. That he left the following na- me children viz Elizer Thatch Charles Thatch and Orson Thatch. And this de- ponent further says that the amount of pension drawn by the said intestate was at the rate of forty dollars a year and that the above men- tioned children are all over the age of twenty one years
Subscribed and sworn this 20th day of June 1880 before me
Orson Clark Surrogate of Schenectady County
Elizer Thatch

14828 In the matter of the application of Eliakim Thatcher for a Pension Under the act of June 7. 1832
Mullatt & Crane, Fredonia Chautauqua County, N. York Agents.
Parlee
Eliakim Thatcher
Attorney
John D. Sleeper

State of New York } Chautauqua County } ss.
Eliakim Thatcher, the Declarant named in the Declaration hereunto annexed, being duly sworn deposed & saith, that the town of Arkwright in the County of Chautauqua where he now resides, is a new town and is but partially settled, & that since he has resided there, no clergyman has ever settled therein to his knowledge, and but few have itinerated there, nor does he know of any clergyman residing within the said County of Chautauqua with whom he is acquainted, or who is acquainted with this Deponent.
This Deponent further saith that from age & infirmity he has not been able to attend meetings of other denominations appointed periodically in the town where he resides, so as to become acquainted with clergymen passing through it at stated periods, and that no meetings of the Presbyterian denomination, to which this Deponent belongs, are held in said town.
This Deponent further saith that the above are the reasons why he did not, & why he was unable to, procure the certificate of a clergyman of said town as to their acquaintance with him this deponent - his age and reputed service in the Revolutionary war, to be attached to his said Declaration. June 22. 1833
Sworn to & subscribed before me June 22. 1833
Eliakim Thatcher
W. Walworth Judge Shaw, Comm. Pleas.
State of New York } ss. Chautauqua County }
I James B. Lowry, Clerk of the County of Chautauqua in the State of New York do certify that Benjamin Walworth before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been made & sworn was on the twenty second day of June instant and now is a judge of the Court of

Common Pleas of the County aforesaid, duly qualified & sworn & acting under the authority of this State & authorized to take affidavits in said County, & that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge & verily believe that the signature of "B. Walworth" subscribed to the first of said affidavit, is the genuine handwriting & signature of the said Judge.
And I further certify that the annexed declaration & the affidavit of Moses Luce & Joseph Day Jr. together with the following opinion of the Court thereupon are the only  original papers submitted to the Court of Common Pleas of said County on the twelfth day of October last & acted upon by said Court & that the certificate thereunto annexed as the opinion of said Court was duly made by me as Clerk by the order & direction of the said Court & at that time.
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of the said Court this twenty fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & thirty three
James Denny Clerk

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832.
State of New York } Chautauqua County } ss.
On this twelfth day of October in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautauqua in the State of New York, being a Court of Record, now sitting, Eliakim Thatcher, a resident of the town of Arkwright in the County of Chautauqua aforesaid, aged sixty nine 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.
That he entered the Service of the United States in the Revolutionary war under the following named officers & served as herein stated viz:
That in the month of June in the year 1780 he enlisted as a volunteer at Sharon in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut for twelve months as a Waggoner or Teamster and signed an enlistment Roll on Paper (a copy of which he took & kept at the time but which is since lost), by which said Enlistment he became entitled to draw two new Suits of Continental Clothing (one of which suits he did draw in the September following but the other never received) and the same Rations as the Soldiers in the line drew & half as much again. — That he enlisted into a Company of Waggoners or Teamsters, eleven in number, to take the place of other Teamsters that were taken from the line of the Army, who then went back into the line.
That a few days after he enlisted as aforesaid he went after the Continental Team horses which were then out in the towns of Stockbridge & Nobletown in Massachusetts & other parts of the Country recruiting, & took them to Fishkill in Dutchess County, New York, on the North River where he was stationed at what was then called the Quarter Master Generals Department, and constantly employed in carting forage & grain from the towns about in the Country to Fishkill aforesaid, in carting ammunition from the Magazine at Fishkill Barracks to the Landing on the River & in the transportation of the baggage of the Army.
That of the said Company of Continental Waggoners or Teamsters, John Rigley was Waggon-Master, one Lamb was Captain, & was under Colonel Hays for the first six months, & for the remaining six months was under Colonel Hughes — That in the month of June in the year 1781, at Fishkill aforesaid he obtained a written discharge signed by Colonel Hughes and Major Keyes, which said Discharge he has either lost or destroyed, but when or how, he is unable to state.
He further states that he knew many of the Continental Regiments & Companies at Fishkill aforesaid, & the names of many of the regular officers there during that year besides Col. Swift, General M c Dougall who lived at said Fishkill, & General Washington, but from the failure of his memory is not now able to name them. — That he has no documentary

evidence in his possession, nor does he know of any person now living whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his said Service.
He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a Pension or Annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State or Territory, to his knowledge.
This Declarant further explicitly & positively states that his said Service was not that of one who was occasionally employed with the Army upon a Civil Contract , for no Civil Contract was ever made with him by the Army or any of its Officers to serve as aforesaid, nor any other contract except what was expressly & positively stated and mentioned in the enlistment Roll or Paper which he signed - and he further states that during the whole of his said Service of twelve months as aforesaid, he was always under the orders, control & direction of the officers of the Army, and held to as strict obedience to the orders of its officers & the rules & articles of war as any of the enlisted Soldiers of the line.
And to interrogatories propounded by the said Court of Common Pleas the said Eliakim Thatcher says that he was born in the town of Lebanon, County of Windham & State of Connecticut on the thirtieth day of March in the year 1763 - that he has no record of his age in his possession nor does he know of any except the Church Record at Lebanon aforesaid -
That when he entered the said Revolutionary Service, he resided in Sharon, County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut - That after the revolutionary war, he moved from Sharon aforesaid to Lebanon aforesaid where he married & moved back to said Sharon, then to Lebanon again, then to Tolland Connecticut then to Springfield, Massachusetts, then to Ellington Conn. then to Exeter, Otsego County New York, then to Phelps town, Ontario, & Arkwright in the State of New York, at each of which places he resided a few years, and at which latter place he now lives & has so lived there about seven years -
That he was called into the Revolutionary Service & served as above in his declaration stated, and that he is not able to state the names of any Regular officers of the Army, or designate any Continental or Militia Regiments further than he has above in his declaration stated, nor to detail further the general circumstances of his said Service. - That he received a written discharge from his Service at Fishkill aforesaid signed as he verily believes, by Colonel Hughes & Major Keyes, in the month of June in the year 1781, but the same is either lost or destroyed in some way unknown to him. - He is personally acquainted with many with many of the inhabitants of the said town of Arkwright, among which are Moses Luce, Joseph Day, Aaron Foster, Justice of the peace, Captain Asahel Burnham & Dimeon Austin Stoddard.
and most of the inhabitants residing in that part of the said town of Arkwright to whom he refers

as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Eliakim Thatcher
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court before the judges thereof the day & year first above mentioned,
James B. Loomis Clerk
We Moses Luce residing in the town of Arkwright in the County of Chautauqua & State of New York and Joseph Day residing in the same town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Eliakim Thatcher who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, or in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid. { Moses Luce Joseph Day }
James B. Loomis Clerk
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, or in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war, and served as he states.
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Moses Luce who has signed the preceding certificate & Joseph Day are residents in the town of Arkwright aforesaid and that Joseph Day who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town, and are credible persons, & that their statements are entitled to credit.
I James B. Loomis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautauqua aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Eliakim Thatcher for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, using the seal of the said Court at Mayville in the County of Chautauqua aforesaid this twenty eighth day of October in the year eighteen hundred & thirty two.
James B. Loomis Clerk

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Eliakim Thacher a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( his own ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
S. 23970
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1750 1 year Teamster Lamb Hay Quartermaster's   John Nigley Hughes Department        
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Sharon, Conn.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 12, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Arkwright, Chautauqua Co., N. Y.
Age at date of application, born Mch. 30, 1763 at Lebanon, Conn.
Remarks: soldier died at Arkwright Jan'y 14, 1848 leaving no widow and only three children in 1850: Chester, Charles & Orestes.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev. New York
Suspended act 7/22/32 letter 17 Feb 33
to Mullett & Crane Fredonia

To what time has Shokin Thatoka, who was a prisoner on the New York River, under the act of June 7, 1832, at $40 per annum, been paid?
N.B.
Texas Office,
Died 14 th Jan. 1848, P d to his death N.B.
April 13, 1851.
N.B. - Will the gentleman of the Texas Office, be so kind as to name the Agency, when making enquiries, where more than one Agency, is in a State, and state their off.

Esther of Ezekiel Shatkin deceased Inventory of effects of administration
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

County of Chautauqua } Surrogate's Office }
The People of the State of New York to all to whom these presents shall come or may concern send greeting — Know ye that at the County of Chautau- qua on the 25th day of October 1848 Letters of Administration of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of Elkanah Thatcher late of the town of Elk Wright in the County of Chan- tauqua deceased intestate were duly granted by the Surrogate of said County to Nestor Thatch- er a son of the said intestate. And the same are still valid and in full force —
In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of office of our Surrogate of the County of Chautauqua to be hereunto affixed — witness Nestor Clark Sur- rogate of said County at Sinclair- ville this 25th day of June 1848. Nestor Clark

In the matter of the application of Eliakim Thatcher for a Pension
Fredonia N.Y. July 9. 1834
Hon. Secretary of War.
Sir, We take the liberty of forwarding the enclosed affidavit to prove the service of Eliakim Thatcher, a private of the Revolution.
We do not know of a more meritorious application.
He trusts that the government by granting him a pension will not only render the evening of his life more comfortable in his abject & reduced situation, but also thereby do an act of justice.
If the Dept. should make a favorable disposition of his case, early intelligence of it would afford him much relief.
Please address according to endorsement on his paper.
The original papers are on file in yr. Department.
We are, Sir, very respfy
Yr. Ob. Servts
Mallett & Crane

I William M. Rawn of the town of Guilderland in the county of Albany and State of New York do hereby certify and declare that I enlisted in the united States Service in the month of March 1880 - in a company commanded by Capt. John Dennis in a Regiment commanded by Col. Wm. H. Haz in the Quartermaster Department and that in the month of July in the same year I was drafted into a company commanded by Capt. John Kizler to go on a foraging party in which I served for about five weeks and that Eliakin Thatcher was one of the said Capt. John Kizler's Enlisted Soldiers at that time in the united States Service all of which is true to the best of my knowledge and belief
William M. Rawn Sworn before me this 15 th day of June 1884 John A. Williams one of the Justices of the Peace of the town of Guilderland in the county of Albany

State of New York } ss Albany County } ss
I John R. Williams the Justice before whom the the foregoing  within affidavit or deposition was taken Do hereby certify that William M c Kown whose name is subscribed thereto was at the time the same was taken before me to me well known and was then and still is a person of fair moral character and a credable witness Given under my hand in the town of Guilderland in the County of Albany this thirteenth day of June 1834
J. R. Williams Justice of the Peace
State of New York Albany County
I Conrad S. Ten Eyck Clerk of the said County Do hereby certify that John R. Williams Esq. before whom the preceding Affidavit purports to have been sworn and whose name is subscribed to the above certificate of the credibility of William M c Kown was on the day of the date of the same one of the Justices of the Peace in & for the said County. That I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe that his name subscribed to the said affidavit & the certificate is his proper hand writing and signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of the said County this 14 th day of June 1834.
C. S. Ten Eyck Clk for Jonas Weeks Clerk
In the matter of Ebenezer D. H. H. H. for Pension

Eliakim Thatcher
H. H. Sylvester March

State of New York } County of Chautauque }
Yo. On this Ninth day of September 1846 personally appeared before the undersigned, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Chautauque aforesaid, Eliakim Thatcher, a resident of the town of Akronight, in said county, aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following additional or supplemental declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832.
That he is now a pensioner of the United States under the said act of 7th of June 1832 at the rate of forty dollars per annum, that according to the best of his recollection and belief said pension was allowed him for his services as a soldier only, and not as a teamster, as he served one whole year, and was placed on the pension roll at but forty dollars a year.
That he enlisted at the town of Armenia, in the county of Butchers and State of New York, on or about the fourth day of June 1840 as a teamster, laborer or batteauxman, by one John Nigley who was a wagon master or conductor of teams that the Captain's name (was)

was Larnb, that he does not re- -collect his Christian name, that he took the oath before Esay Can- -field, and the next day he started for his team, that he procured four horses and a waggon from government, and immediately entered upon his duties as a teamster, that he served under said Nigley, who had twelve teams under his command, that his station or place of rendez- -vous was at Fishkill, that he was principally employed in procuring forage for the army, that he con- -veyed hay, oats, corn etc from sundry places, and at sundry times, namely Sharon & Canaan, Connecticut, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Livingston Manor, New York to Fishkill aforesaid for the army, that he enlisted for one year and served faithfully one whole year, and was discharged at Fishkill aforesaid in the month of June 1941, that he be- -lieves one Colonel Hewes signed his discharge, which discharge has long been lost, that he was to receive ten dollars a month for his services, in money or to be equivalent to silver or gold.
And the said declarant further saith that he is informed and believes that he is entitled for his services in the army of the revolution, last above set forth, to an increase of his pension under the said act of June 7. 1882 for

for which increase he now applies.
He does further depose and say that he cannot write his name on account of old age and infirmity, that he has not written his name for about four years, and further that he cannot go to court, a distance of 20 miles, on account of old age and infirmities.
I swear to & subscribe on the day & year above written
Before me
William L. Thatcher Notary Public
John M. Edson Judge of Chautauqua County Courts
Same & Person witness to William Thatcher Notary
I also certify that in consequence of old age and infirmity the above Declarant is unable to attend Court - Dated September 7 th 1846
John M. Edson Judge of Chautauqua County Courts

State of New York } Chautauqua County Clerk's Office }
I Alvin Plumb Clerk
of the aforesaid County do hereby certify that John M. Edson Esquire before whom the within affidavit was taken and who made and signed the within certificate was on the day and date of the same a Judge of the County Courts in and for the aforesaid County Commissioned and sworn and duly qualified to act as Judge - And further that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe the signature subscribed to the affidavit to be the true signature of said Judge.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affi- xed the Seal of said County this 14 th day of September 1846 Alvin Plumb Clerk

23970
Pittsfield Mass.
Mar. 20. 1873.
Hon. N. G. Dudley, 22,552
Dear Sir:
May I trouble you farther for any record your office contains of Elizur Thacher or that cher a soldier of the Rev- olution from Sharon or Lebanon Conn. Probably the former. He was born in 1763 and family tra- dition says was fifteen when he enlisted, but that that was the year the war closed - 1778. He lived in Sharon & Leb- anon, & Tolland, Conn.

Franklin, Wayne Co. N. Y. & H. Wright, Chautauqua Co. N. Y. where he died. It is said in Jan. 1848.
Any information will be welcome as what we know is indefinite. It is known that he drew a pension.
Please address Miss Julia P. Redfield Pittsfield. Mass.

Not any one of the 4 friends
Pittsfield. Mass. Mar. 30. 1863.
Hon. N. W. Dudley,
Thanks for the record of the Revolutionary soldier. Eliakim (23 970) Thacher. Received Mar. 26. May I trouble you still further to know if your office contains any mention of his four brothers, Thomas 33 797 Ebenezer 30 793 , Joseph and Elisha who enlisted from Lebanon, Conn. if at all, with the possible exception of Thomas who might have gone from Enfield.
Please address as before Miss Julia W. Redfield Pittsfield. Mass.

Rev Sec Silver Creek, C March 24, 1916. Pension Department. Washington D.C.
Dear Sir Will you please give me a record of Elisha Thatcher who was in the Revolutionary War as a Teamster and is buried at Canadage New York and oblige
Mrs E W Stebbins Silver Creek 12 Oak Street New York

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH BATAVIA, N. Y.
L. F. CONGDON, PASTOR.
PARSONAGE June 18 1901.
Pension Office.
Washington DC, In or about 1825 my maternal Great-grandfather went from Walworth Wayne Co NY to Albany to draw his pension as Rev. soldier. His name was Ebenezer Thatcher . His family was from the Berkshire hills, town of Tolland I think in Mass. Whether his enlistment was from Mass. N.Y. or neither of them I cannot learn.
Can you give me his military record or any information leading thereto so that I can establish my eligibility to the Sons Am Rev.?
I don't know how to begin except through the Pension Office. It is a matter of some importance to me any information will be gratefully received.
Truly L. F. Congdon Would the Adjt Genl Office have his record?

RECEIVED JUN 20 1901
PENSION U. S. OFFICE. JUN 20 1901

44 WEST 54 th STREET.
New York City. March 2 nd 1907
Jobe
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Dear Sir:
I have the honor to request that I be furnished with a transcript of the record of Eliakim Thatcher - (or Thacher) who I am informed was a prisoner of the Revolutionary war for years as result of wounds (shot through body) - he was captured in Lebanon Conn. April 17 th 1763 - and lived presumably in Connecticut probably at Tolland Conn - I should like his record given me as fully as possible, including vital statistics as to birth, & death & marriage & the same information also relating to his wife or widows if he left one. Trusting that the courtesy of the office may be extended to me to this extent
I am Truly Yours
John R Totten

23970 23971
No. 23970
Charles H. Smith
1810-1880
June 7 th 82 nd
Index - Vol. 2, Page 417
[Arranged & 1891]
Given to the R. L. G. Collection Patent Office
17 miles S. of John R. Gotten 16 H.L.S. to Mrs. E.M. Gotten