Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,331, for Elias Swan, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Conn
Swan, Elias
P 10331
Harry
Anne
R. J.
CONTENTS

State of Ohio County of Huron } ss -
On this a 25 th day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
Personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas held at Norwalk in and for said County of Huron on the twenty eight day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight Anna Swan of Huron in said County aged Eighty two years the 16 th day of April last past who being duly sworn according to Law, doth on her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4, 1836. That she is the widow of Elias Swan who was born in Stonington in the State of Connecticut on the day of in the year 1759. That he was a Soldier during the Revolutionary War. That he entered the service of the United States and there residing in Stonington State of Connecticut enlisted in a Company as a Private commanded by Captain Harry Babcock at the commencement of said War. The said veteran knew that the Captain of the company but it was in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Harry Babcock that her said Husband first served on Rhode Island which was before the Declaration was augmented with her said Husband that she always understood her said Husband was in a Battle on Rhode Island and she remembers she has frequently heard him mention that when they were commencing the Battle that said Babcock jumping & jumped upon the Cannon & called upon the Men to fire. She don't know how long her said Husband served with said Babcock. He was then a Young man. That after the above; her said Husband served in a Troop of Horse in said United States service commanded by a Captain Wheeler employed in escorting Prisoners from New London to Hartford in Connecticut and to

other places ——— her After the foregoing her said Husband she enlisted & went on Board the Continental Ship the Townshend as a Mariner. She can't now recollect the name of the Captain of the Ship. That he was engaged in a Naval Battle with a British Ship named the Watts — That after a severe Battle the Ships parted the Townshend returned to Boston & the Watts to New York. The Townshend then refitted at Boston; & again took a Prize was engaged she don't remember the name of the Prize. Her said Husband was put on Board of the same, and it was taken by a British Vessel & carried into Halifax. She was there confined for six months. She perfectly recollects her said Husband mentioning that while he was confined in in the Prison or at said Halifax a British Soldier coming to the Prison during her said Husband's recollection his Counter-asked him if his name was not Swan- to which the latter answered "Yes. Ask me how he should know him" the British Soldier replied. "Don't you remember that you belonged to a Troop of Horse who escorted British Prisoners from New London to Halifax? Her said Husband answered "Yes". The British Soldier then said to him "You then treated me so well that you shant suffer for want of anything" and said Soldier accordingly supplied him with every thing he wanted. That she always understood that her said Husband served on Board of said Townshend and as a Prisoner for at least one year.
That before her said Husband served on Board of said Townshend he served as a Mariner on Board of an American Vessel commanded by a Captain. She was in a Battle with a British Vessel & that said Captain & his first Lieutenant & second Lieutenant were killed which said Vessels parted without either conquering either.
That she was married to her said Husband on the last day of December 1778 & long previous to the expiration of his said services as a Soldier of the United States. That she has no record of

Her age or marriage. That she had a record of the same, but it was lost - That her said Husband died thirtyone years ago this present Spring a Sailor in the Island of Guadalupe in the West Indies aged about forty years. - has a record of his death.
That her said Husband never applied for a Pension. He having died as she believes before it was much the practice of the Government to grant Pensions.
The Declarant says she has remained a Widow ever since the decease of her said Husband - That she has no documentary Evidence in support of her claim.
The Declarant also says. That owing to her old age & infirmities consequent loss of memory, tho' her memory is much better than is common to such old persons, she cannot recollect precisely the period & length of her said Husband's services besides his death as aforesaid which she believes was at least two years yet as he was almost constantly out on service afterwards in behalf of the U. States she believes he served at least three years in the whole.
That she is very now having lost a considerable property which she once owned by the depreciation of Continental Money in the Revolutionary War. - Has now no means of subsistence & is now in her old age dependent on two of her Grand Children - is infirm in health & fast declining in her old age.
That she don't know whether her said Husband received any discharge after the expiration of his said Services.
She further says that the place of the Residence of her said Husband when he entered into the Service of the United States & while he continued in said service, might have been so distant, being more than ten hundred miles, & the time so ancient, she does not know that any of the Comrades or acquaintances of her said Husband are now living, or that any living testimony can now be procured in support of her said claim. Affid. Sworn Given and subscribed to the day & year aforesaid Deborah H. H. C.

We Hiram Winchel - of Huron Huron County, Ohio aged thirty thirty eight years and Josiah L Botsford - of Huron in said County aged Thirty one years do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Anna Swan of Huron in the County of Huron State of Ohio who has sworn & subscribed to the within and foregoing declaration that we believe her to be seventy nine years old That she is the widow of Elias Swan now deceased that the said Elias now deceased was & is supposed to be believed to have been a Soldier & Mariner in the Service of the United States during the Revolutionary War & served as a soldier in said declaration & that we concur in that opinion and we further declare as our opinion that said Anna Swan is a person of truth & veracity Hiram Winchel Sworn & subscribed the day Josiah L. Botsford aforesaid Gibbs CLK H.C.P.
Anna Swan V3597 Ohio
And the said Court do declare as their opinion after the inves- -tigation of the matter that the said Elias Swan was a Revo- -lutionary Soldier & served as a soldier in the within declaration and that the above named Hiram Winchel and Josiah L Botsford are credible persons & their Certificate & statement are entitled to credit and the said Court do also find that Mrs. Anna Swan who has been sworn to & subscribed the within & foregoing declaration is now & has always been the widow of said Elias Swan & is a person of truth & veracity Sworn and subscribed to the day & Josiah L. Botsford year aforesaid
At Painesville Ohio State of Ohio } David Gibbs Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas Huron County } for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Anna Swan for a Pension, and that the Hon. E. Brown is President Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of the Court of Common Pleas within & for said State of Ohio & that his name subscribed above is genuine. Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 28 th day of May A.D. 1838 Gibbs CLK H.C.P.
28 th day of May A.D. 1838

mmNF
December 14, 1925
Clara Holmes Hirst 130 Glen St., Yellow Springs, Ohio
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 10331 it appears that Elias Shaw was born in 1759 in Stonington, Connecticut.
He married December 31, 1778, Anne, born April 16, 1758, her maiden name not given. He died in the spring of 1799 on the Island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies, being then a sailor.
His widow Anne applied for pension May 28, 1838 while residing in Huron, Huron County, Ohio, and stated that her husband, the said Elias Shaw, while a resident of Stonington, Connecticut, enlisted, the date not stated, as a private in Colonel Harry Babcock's Rhode Island Regiment and was in a battle on Rhode Island, that afterwards, he served in Captain Wheeler's Troop of Light Horse, and that after this he enlisted and served as mariner on a vessel under Captain Chew and was in an engagement with a British vessel, and finally enlisted as a mariner on board

the Trumbull, served about six months, took one prize which was re-taken by the British and he was carried to Halifax and confined for six months.
Her claim was not allowed as she failed to furnish any proof of the alleged service as required by the pension laws.
Two grandchildren are referred to, their names not given, and there is no further data on file as to family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

War Dept. Pen. Office July 20. 1858
Sir
The declaration of Anna Swan widow of Elias Swan, has been examined and filed with suspended cases. Before a final decision can be made in her case the alleged services of her husband should be proved by witnesses who had a personal knowledge of the same. She should also still exhibit met proof of her marriage as the Church or Town records of the town where she was married may afford. If said records do not contain a record of her marriage the persons having charge thereof should certify to that effect.
The papers in the case of Mrs. Prudence Greenfield have also been examined & filed. She alleges that her husband W m Greenfield served as much as one year in 1775 in Capt. Dennis's Company and
2. 13. Surges July 20 1858 Offic

Col. Seth Warner reg t . Col Warner did not command a reg t in 1777 and there was was no service at that year so early a period of the war for one year. Her husband did not serve in Col. Warner's reg t at the capture of Burgoyne; otherwise her name would appear be found on the muster roll of that reg t in this office. Such proof of the service should be exhibited as is required in the case of Mr. Swan.
The claim of Mary Schoolcraft widow of Samuel Schoolcraft, has also been ex d and rejected under act of July 1836 her marriage having taken place after the termin- ation of her husband's services. But if she will make a declaration under the act of July 7 th 1838, as required in the enclosed printed regula- tions it is probable that the claim may be allowed under said act. A copy from the records church or town records of the town of Stonington should be exhibited showing the period of her mar- riage, and if said records do not contain the record of her marriage, the leaf containing that fact should be taken from the bible in the presence of a credible person who should make an affidavit of the fact, which should be attached to the sheet and the official character & sig- nature of the magistrate be fully authenticated before the submitting it to this office.
L. B. Sturges Esq Notary Public. Ohio.

1912 May 7 Hist. to John H. Graves! V.L.M. 1925-Dec. 14 Hist. to Clara Holmes First. MMH
Acts of July 14, 1860, and March 3, 1873
10331
P. O. Anna Swan Service: Widow Elias Swan
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: Printed list of 1852 gives  as cause of suspension.
Re-enlisted: For further proof of  service and marriage.
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

V 3574 Anna Swans
Elias Ohio - Widg.
Suspended
See letter 20 th
July 1838 L.B.
Sturges.
10331
act 4 th July 1836

130 Glen Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio.
United States Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
— Will you please send me a copy of the application for a pension made by Anne Andros Swan , widow of Captain Elias Swan, who served in the Revolutionary War.
The application was made probably not long be_ fore her death in 1839.
Clara Holmes Hirst.
Clara Holmes Hirst

sion on file in this Bureau. Elias Inen R. 10331
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     ✓ ✓ Pvt. Harry Babcock R.I.   ✓ Wheeler's Troop of Horse. Conn.   ✓ Mariner on vessel name not remembered Captain Cohen   ✓ 17 mo. Mariner on board the Trumbull took a prize which was Kany   Retaken by British & soldier was carried to Halifax & confined  
Battles engaged in, on Rhode Island. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Stonington Conn. Date of application for pension, May 24. 1858 Residence at date of application, Harmans Ohio Age at date of application, In 1858. Apr 16. 1756
Remarks: Soldier was born at Stonington Conn. in 1759. He married the last day of Dec. 1778. He died in the Spring of 1799 on the Island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies. His Grand children are referred to a names I had some time. These further family data. The claim was not allowed because of insufficient proof of service and marriage as required by the act of June 1842 which has not applied.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

TENNESSEE COAL, IRON &amp; RAILROAD COMPANY
1351- Brown-Max Bldg Birmingham Ala. 7/30-12
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir: -
I should like to have a copy of any records you may have of the services of Capt. Elias Swan in the Revolution, or a statement that he rendered service, with a reference to the records. -
He died on the Isle of Guadalupe, W.I. in 1797.
His widow Anne Andros Swan, received a pension. She died in 1838. -
A record showing that his widow received a pension would be some evidence of his services, but a direct statement of his services or Commission as a Captain is preferable. -
I shall appreciate this information which is wanted in reference to the genealogy of the Brewster family.
Very Truly Yours
John W. Groves
no fee Lectures, Tenn. Coal Iron & RR. Co.