Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13725, for William Lewis, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. Continental
Lewis, William
S 13725
CONTENTS
harded

9898 Connecticut
William Law
Fairfield Co. in the State of Conn who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Clark of the Regt. commanded by Col. Lewis in the Connecticut line for 2 months 27 days
Major 3 months Col. Sheldon's - 11 - 27 days " S. B. Webb's Conn. 4th Cont. Inf. Regt. Records completed July 2, 1906.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 50 Dollars 62 1/2 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of June 1832 - and Rev. Mr. A. S. Nichols Clerk. Fairfield
Arrears to the 4th of Mar: 32 $113.86 Semi-ann. allowance ending 1st Sep: 32 28.46
$142.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, for June 7, 1832. A. C. Niles Clerk
Recorded by Book 6. Vol. 3. Page 24

e 1 o 24165
William Lewis Fairfield County Connecticut
for Wilbur Post
June 3. 77 - 8 yrs
omitted Aug. 77
rolls of Col. Shelburne
Webb
On rolls - 2 mo 27 days
Col Webb 27
Admitted - Private
Drummers - 8 mo
Private Infantry 11. 27 days
16 mo 27 days
15 00
 27 66  26 70  18 70  5 61  3 13 
R. S. Nichols Colk Fairfield County Connecticut

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjoined 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 William Lewis Fairfield County Connecticut
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Draft Feb'y { 1726 } { 1777 } - 3 - private Genl. Silliman Col. Clark, Gt. Putnam 74 years County of Fairfield Connecticut One Witness & traditional evidence Certified credible-papers properly Attached   Called Aug t " - 3 - " Col. Lewis   Enlisted Jan'y - 3 - " Col. Lewis, Col. Hooker   Enlisted - 5 - Troop Col. Nichols, Col. Sheldon   Served - 3 - Col. Webb, Adj t   16 17 Battle of White Plains  
5 Mr. Dugmore 11 (2) deep Inf
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

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 the 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 [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in 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.

William D. Davis — Monroe County Service - 17 Months 24185
See

Two others - to wit, Ephraim Johnson & Nathan Davis both of whom were drafted out of said company of Horse for Five Months & went on to the Lines - I was then stationed at White Plains in New York State & subsequently employed in scouting at different places on the Lines - I served out this Five Months in Col. Shel- dens Regiment of Horse - Benjamin Talmadge was our Major - the Captain I think was a Housman but do not recollect his name nor the names of any other officers - I received in the month of December at White Plains a written discharge from Col. Sheldon and Nathan Davis & Ephraim Johnson were also discharged at the same time - I have lost this discharge - I returned to my Father in St. Maurice & in about a year after in the month of September I enlisted at Newtown in Fairfield County under Capt. Cornstock a recruiting officer for Three Months & went first to Danbury & then to the Highlands on the North river & then down the river & marched once or twice into New Jersey - We were in Col. Sam- uel B. Webb's Regiment of United States Troops at the expiration of said Three Months I was discharged near the Highlands by Col. Webb - I had a written discharge which I have lost - I do not know of any officer living under whom I served nor of any witness to prove the aforesaid services except that to which Samuel Edwards has sworn  I volunteered to go to New Haven & to Lehigh to Cornwall when the British landed & burnt those places - I was sick when Danbury was burnt - I was born at said Ithaca of Monroe on the 12th of May 1758 as appears by my Father's Record which I have - I have always lived at said Monroe - I am well known to the Hon. C. H. Brinsmade of said Monroe & also to Tomlinson Esq. of Saugerties who can testify to my character for truth & veracity Also Mr. Ezekiel Curtis & Roswell Wells who will prove my reputation for having been a Revolutionary Soldier - My first term of service as above stated was - 3 Months under Capt. Clarke - the 2nd 3 Months under Capt. Tomlinson - the 3rd 3 Months under Capt. Robert Davis - the 4th 5 Months in the Horse under Col. Sheldon - the 5th 3 Months under Capt. Cornstock in Webb's Regiment in the whole 17 Months which I faithfully served the United States

State of Connecticut, } ss. Br D G Sher County of Fairfield, }
On this 12 th day of March 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before
the Court of Probate in & for the District of Fairfield in the County of
now sitting, William Lewis a resident of Monroe in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged seventy four years, who being first 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 under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
in the year 1776 or 1777 (I think 1776) in the Month of February I was drafted by Capt James Clark who was Captain of a Militia Company in that part of the Town of Shatford in Fairfield County Connecticut (which is now Monroe). For Three Months I went into the United States Service in the Militia under S c Clarke & served under him as Captain Three Months in the City of New York. We were employed in building Entrenchments & etc. Putnam had the command of the Troops. I do not recollect any other Officers & Miss informed me that S c Anderson living who was with me in Miss Burrip's or Capt Sanduel Edwards of Kentville. I have given his deposition to the fact of this Service as I have above stated - we went the first part of February & returned in May - it was in August of the same year that the Enemy came to New York & landed at Flatbush in a considerable Number of Men. And in the Month of August of this same year the Regiment of Militia was in which I was enrolled was called into Service & I went into Service under Col. Scholfield Lewis (now deceased) I went in said Regiment & served Three Months under Capt Beach from Windsor (all of Huntington Co. - Capt. Clarke did not go & I presume I was transferred to Tomlinson's Company as many of the Companies were not full - while I was in the City the Enemy under Genl. Howe landed at Flatbush on Long Island Genl. Sillerman's Brigade & one under Genl. Sterling went over to the Island from the City - both of these Officers were taken Prisoners - the Troops retreated from the Island to the City & then up to Harlem & to White Plains where we had a Battle - Genl. Sillerman of Connecticut was our Commander & led us out of the City - I was not in the Battle having been stationed on Guard - Col. Lewis overextended himself in the retreat & died just before the Battle - The Regiment after a little more than Three Months Service went the first part of August & returned after the middle of November. Again in the Month of January following I enlisted under Capt Robert Lewis (of that part of Shatford which is now Monroe) for Three Months - Lewis had a commission during the War - He raised a Company & I went in the Company on to the Lines & was stationed at Horse Neck & other places near & on the Lines for Three Months - I think the Colonel's name was Hooker - Genl. Parsons was our Brigadier General

page 2 nd I recollect distinctly that I enlisted for 3 months & that I staid out the time - while at a place called Monisona on the Sines below Fort Independence I was in a Detachment of 300 under Major Fish & while in a Scout we were attacked by the Enemy of over 1000 men were killed & 15 wounded. The First Knott (Capt) Davis died of the Small Pox before the War ended. I enlisted at said Monson & returned there the first of April - After I got home I was taken with a Fever & lay sick about two Months - When I enlisted into the Horse in a Metcalfe company commanded by Capt. Altham Nichols and I left the Mouth of July of that year I and
canvassed page 3 rd The said William Davis 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.
William Lewis
We, Ezekiel Lunt residing in the town of Monson and Russell Wells residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Davis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 74 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. Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Ezekiel Lunt Russell Wells
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Ezekiel Lunt who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Monson and that Russell Wells who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Monson and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Edward Matthews
I, R. S. Nichols - Clerk of the Court of Claims do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Davis for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this 14 th day of November 1832. Office,
R. S. Nichols, Clerk.
I, Edward Matthews Judge of the Court of Claims do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of William Davis for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court annexed - Edward Matthews

Perham
13 1/2 5
INVALID.
File No. 13 1/2 5
William Lewis
Briv. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 221
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Samuel Edwards of Humbull in Lempster County (now in court) testify & say that I am well ac- quainted with William Lewis of Monroe in Lempster County who is now present in court — I served with said Lewis the sum of three months in the United States Service in the Militia in the year 1776 under Capt James Clarke now De d — we were drafted into Service & went to New York where we did S o Service. I have always known said Lewis — we went in the month of February & returned in three months (Samuel Edwards)
The above Deposition Subscribed soon is in Open Court — (Test)
R. L. Nichols, Clerk

St. John's Church (now of the Church of England) within 100 yds of the Church of St. Andrew St. Andrew's Church was the first in name St. Andrew's Church is a Catholic Church of some note Mowat