Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,947, for Abner Lee, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn
Lee, Abner
W. 16,947
Davis, Nancy
(Former widow)
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for entries]
[Blank lined area for entries]

Reported to Agent
3658
Albany New York Nancy Lewis formerly widow of Abner Lewis, decd.
who died in the year 1782 of Albany in the State of N.Y. who was a Private in the N.Y. commanded by Captain Conner of the N.Y. commanded by Col. Sherman in the Albany line for 9 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany N.Y. at the rate of 80 Dollars  Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Feb 1834 to Nancy Lewis widow of Abner Lewis Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1834 $10.00 Semi-annual allowance ending March 1835 40.00
$150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 9th }
Recorded by W. G. [unintelligible] Clerk Book  Vol.  Page 112

577-5511 Nancy Davis formerly widow of Abner Lee - act 4 July 36 N.Y.
on Roll 14 Feb 79 - 3 yrs.
adm d 2 years pri 80 pp.
No deduction
Hon. R. C. Cullam A.R.

State of New York Greene County ss
I William Pierson Clerk of the county of Greene aforesaid do hereby certify that Perkins Kings before whom the annexed declaration of Tony Davis and the affidavits of Elazer Smith, Mary Basset, and Elizabeth Smith purport to have been subscribed and sworn was at the date of the said declaration and affidavits First Judge of the County Court of the County of Greene aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified and that the the signature of the said Judge there subscribed is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said County Court this 9 th day of December 1821
William Pierson Clerk

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the 3 rd Section of the act of Congress of the 4 th July 1836 and of the 1 st Section of the act of the 3 rd March 1837 —
State of New York Greene County } ss
On this fourth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one personally appeared before me the undersigned Perkins Hling first Judge of the County Court of the County of Greene aforesaid Nancy Davis a resident of the town of Durham County of Greene and State of New York aged Eighty years since last January who being first 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 th 1836 and the act explanatory of said act passed the 3 rd March 1837.
That she was married to Abner Lee who at the commencement of the Revolutionary war resided in the town of Woodbury in the State of Connecticut.
That according to the best of her recollection her husband the aforesaid Abner Lee volunteered or enlisted as a private soldier in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Sherman of New Haven of the Connecticut line for the term as she now believes of two or three years during which time he returned home on furlough several times for a few days at each time.
That at one time this declarant went with her husband the said Abner Lee to the army in winter quarters at or near a place called Crompond and

remained there about a fortnight and while there was made acquainted with Colonel Sherman the commandant of the Regiment in which her husband the said Abner Lee belonged. —
She further declares that in going and returning to and from Woodbury to said army they passed through Danbury and White Plains.
That her said husband the said Abner Lee remained in said Service untill the end of the said term for which he was engaged and as she now believes was duly discharged and remained with his family for a short period.
She further declares that she was married to the said Abner Lee on or about the Eighteenth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and Seventy-Seven.
That the ceremony was performed by the Reverend St. Benedict Clappman of the Presbyterian Church in said town of Woodbury.
That her maiden name previous to her marriage was Nancy Walker.
She further declares that her husband the said Abner Lee after marriage remained with his family in said town of Woodbury until her eldest child named Abner was six or seven months of age when he enlisted as above stated, and that when he returned from said Service their Son was three or four years of age as she now believes.
She further declares that after his return from said army to his family the said Abner Lee her husband afterward went on a visit to his friends at a place called Penfield and there in the summer of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two as she now believes. Note the word above italicized.

She further declares that four or five years after the death of her husband the aforesaid Alner Lee, she was married to John Davis in the city of New York with whom she lived several years and had four children who are all dead except Elizabeth the wife of Elhazer Smith.
She further declares that her husband the aforesaid John Davis died about forty years since and that she was a widow on the fourth of July 1836 as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
She further declares that she has no documentary evidence to prove any of her foregoing statements nor does she know of any person living to prove the same except those heretofore mentioned.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me. and I do further certify that some bodily infirmity said Nancy Davis is unable to attend court.
Nancy X Davis mark
Perkins being first sworn to court
I further certify that I believe the the aforesaid application is in the full possession of her several daughters and believe her to be a respectable person.
Perkins being first sworn to court

State of New York Greene County ss
Eleazar Smith of the town of Durham County of Greene and State of New York being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is Fifty eight years of age and is well acquainted with Nancy Davis widow of John Davis deceased who were the parents of deponents wife
And this deponent further saith that he has often heard his mother the said Nancy Davis say that at the commencement of the revolutionary war she resided in the town of Woodbury in the State of Connecticut
That her maiden name previous to her marriage was Nancy Walker
That she was first married to Ebenezer Lee by whom she had one child
That after their child was six or seven months of age her husband the said Ebenezer Lee enlisted as a private in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Sherman in which he continued until their child was over three years of age
That shortly after his return from the army her husband the said Ebenezer Lee went on a visit to his friends at a place called Pumpt and there died shortly after
That a few years after the death of her husband she was married in the city of New York to John Davis with whom she lived several years and had four children who are all dead except Eliza beth who is deponents wife
Deponent further saith that said John Davis died nearly forty years since and that said Nancy Davis has ever since remained and is still the widow of the said John Davis deceased and

is now an applicant for a pension for the services in the Revolution of her former husband the aforesaid Abner See deceased as a Soldier and further this deponent saith not
Sworn to and Subscribed on this day of December 1841, and I do further certify I am personally acquainted with Elazer Smith the above named deponent that he is a respectable citizen and his statement entitled to full credit. Perkins King first judge of probate court
Ebenezer Smith I am well acquainted with Elazer Smith who knows and took the foregoing affidavit, and knows him to be a man of the highest respectability, and that his statements are entitled to full credit - 170 Representation Jan'y 12 th 1842 - P. M c Millan.
State of New York Greene County ss.
Mary Basset of the town of Durham County of Greene and State of New York being duly sworn deponeth and saith that she is right one years of age and is now the widow of Noah Basset and is well acquainted with Nancy Davis widow of John Davis deceased and who was formerly the widow of Abner See deceased. Note the word one italicized. Deponent further saith that she resided in the Revolutionary war in the town of Woodbury in the State of Connecticut and was well acquainted with Abner See aforesaid previous to his marriage with said Nancy whose maiden name was Nancy Walker also of Woodbury and according to the best of deponent's recollection the said Abner See was legally married to said Nancy Walker late in the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven that the ceremony was performed by the Reverend Mr. Benedict then a Congregational of the Presbyterian

an church in said town of Woodbury.
Deponent further saith that said Abner Lee and his wife Nancy lived together as man and wife until a few months after the birth of their eldest child when he enlisted as a private soldier in the Service of the Revolutionary war and remained in said Service until his son was over three years of age at which time the said Abner Lee returned home again to his family.
That shortly after he the said Abner Lee went from home on a visit to his friends at a place called Pomfret and that he died in the Summer of one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty two as deponent now believes.
Deponent further saith that four or five years after the death of her husband the said Abner Lee his widow the said Nancy Lee was legally married to John Davis of the city of New York with whom she lived several years and had four children who are all dead except Elizabeth the wife of Hazar Smith.
Deponent was well acquainted with the son of Abner Lee whose name was Abner and who died more than forty years since age over twenty years And that the last husband of the said Nancy Davis died nearly forty years since and that his widow the said Nancy has ever since remained a widow and is now an applicant for a pension for the Revolutionary services of her former husband the said Abner Lee deceased and further this deponent saith not.
On this fourth day of December 1841 before me came the above named deponent and after having been duly sworn to her duty made oath to the truth of the facts therein stated and I believe her to be a credible witness.

State of New York Greene County } S.S.
Pikis King's fire finds of Greene Co. cont.
Elizabeth Smith wife of Eleazar Smith of the town of Durham County and State afore said being duly sworn deponeth and saith that she is fifty five years of age and is the only child living of Nancy Davis widow of John Davis deceased and who was first the widow of Abner Lee deceased a Soldier of the Revolutionary war by whom she had one son named Abner with whom deponent was also acquainted and who died near forty years since at the age of over twenty years
Deponent further saith that she has often heard her mother the said Nancy Davis say that she originally resided in the Town of Woodbury in the State of Connecticut.
That she was legally married to Abner Lee near the beginning of the Revolutionary war.
That the ceremony was performed by a clergyman of the said town of Woodbury by the name of Ben- dict.
That her maiden name previous to her mar- riage was Nancy Walker.
That her husband the said Abner Lee enlisted as a Soldier in the revolutionary Service some time after the birth of their first and only child.
That he remained in said Service until their child was over three years of age and then returned to his family in said town of Woodbury.
That shortly after his return home he went on a visit to his friends at a place called Som- erset and shortly after died.
That four or five years after the death of her husband

the said Abner Lee her mother the his widow the said Nancy Lee was legally married to John Davis of the City of New York who was the father of this deponent.
That the consequence of said Marriage was the birth of some children of which this deponent is the only only one alive
Deponent further saith that her father the said John Davis died nearly forty years since and that her mother the said Nancy Davis has ever since that period remained a widow and is the same person who is now an applicant for a pension for the services in the Revo- lutionary war of her former husband the said Abner Lee deceased as a Soldier and further this deponent saith not
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 11 th day of December 1841 and
Elizabeth Smith
I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and believe her to be a credible witness and her statement entitled to credit
General King first Judge of Probate Court

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16947
Nancy Davis
Former Widow of
Stephen Lee
Brig Genl War.
Act: July 4th 1836
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 171
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5111
Youngstown Oct 1867
3 yrs in Col. Hospital
Con. Line
Laura C. Strong Recd. April 24
Mr. Preuben
47 Court St.
Rev. R. C. C. C. C. C. C. C.

Rushville April 19 th 1841.
Sir
Your second letter has reached me this day, while I was about to answer the first. I have made thorough search of the papers of my departed Husband and can find nothing relating to the subject of enquiry. Parson Benedict's Record might have fallen into Mr Strong's hands, but it is so many years since we left Woodbury, and moving from place to place if he ever had it, it has now become extinct.
I should think however, that their church Record was never removed from Woodbury - I am very sorry that no Record can be found, and have been faithful in looking over old papers -
Yours respectfully Laura C Strong.

Catskill Dec. 1841
Sir
The annexed application of Nancy Davis for the services of her former husband Abner Lee under the act of 3 rd March 1837 I have solely drawn from the facts given me by the applicant and which you will perceive is corroborated th by three witnesses two of which are traditional.
Of the services of the Soldier Abner Lee I have had no means of acquiring any information except as above stated presuming it to be a meritorious case I doubt not but the department are in possession of Documentary evidence to test its correctness.
The applicant informed me that considerable time and Expense had already been wasted in search of proof of marriage without success. And that neither the church nor the town of Woodbury furnished any record evidence of Marriage & was presumed to have been carried away by the Successor of the Minister who performed the marriage Service. A letter was therefore addressed to the deceased Minister. Her reply you will find hereto annexed and which I hope will be sufficient reason to rely upon personal proof which I hope may be conclusive.
Whatever may be your decision you will please direct to The Hon. Robert Mc Soland N. C.
I am Respectfully your most obedient servant Henry Wynn Root
Col. S. L. Edwards Comm d of Res d Vols War Department Washington D. C.