Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 5968, for Alpheus Kingsley, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
bonar.
Kingsley, Alphus
P 5968
CONTENTS
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the left side of the CONTENTS section]
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the right side of the CONTENTS section]

State of Connecticut, TOLLAND COUNTY, SS. HEBRON PROBATE DISTRICT.
On this 27 th day of July A. D. 1833, personally appeared in open court before Abner Hendee, Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate, for the District of Hebron, now sitting, Alpheus Kingsley a resident of Columbia in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut, aged 69 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 under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That on the first of October 1778 he enlisted as a private in a guard stationed at the Magazine in Windham Conn t erected by direction of the Council of safety & stationed at s d Windham under David Young superintendent of s d Magazine that he there stayed & kept guard until the first of February 1779 when the powder having been removed he was discharged Having served four months
And that on the first of October 1779 The powder mill near the aforesaid Magazine having again been put into operation he again enlisted into said guard & was stationed at s d Magazine where he stayed and guarded the same until the first of May 1781 when he was discharged having served as a private in s d guard the term of Nineteen Months under the aforesaid Ensign Daniel Young
And that about the 20 th Day of September 1781 he was drafted to do a tour of duty of one & a half months at Groton in a company commanded by Nathaniel Wales Capt - Safford's four Lieutenants in Col McLellan's Regiment & was marched to Groton & stationed in Fort Griswold where he remained & assisted in repairing s d fort

and keeping garrison until the 6 th day of November 1781 when he was verbally discharged having served one & a half months as a private
And he states that in his first term of service at Windham he served as a private four months, in his second at 8 th Windham he served nineteen months, & in his third at Groton he served one and a half months, as a private
He herewith furnishes the affidavits of Oliver Bingham, Oliver Kingsley, Israel Kingsley and is all the testimony he has been able to find as nearly all who served with him are dead and gone
He also furnishes a document from the Comptroller's Office which is hereto annexed

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
He answers to the interrogatories propounded by order of the War Department, as follows:
1. Where, and in what year were you born? He was born in Lebanon A 1764 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? He has no record of his age 3. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live? When called into service he lived in Lebanon & has lived there since the Revolutionary war & now lives in Columbia 4. How were you called into service? Were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? In his first & second term, he enlisted in his third he was drafted 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiment as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service? He has stated the names of his officers & the general circumstances of his services as well as he can recollect

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it? he does not recollect he ever had a written discharge
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? He is known to the Rev d Henry Brown of Coventry and Simon Babcock of Columbia who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Alpheus Kingsley
We, Henry Brown , a clergyman residing in the town of Coventry in the County of Tolland, and Simon Babcock residing in Columbia hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Alpheus Kingsley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 69 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.
Henry Brown Eld r Simon Babcock
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 the Rev. Henry Brown who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the town of Coventry and that Simon Babcock who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Columbia in Tolland County and is a creditable person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Cyrus Mann, clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Hebron, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Alpheus Kingsley for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 27 th day of July A. D. 1833.
Cyrus Mann
Clerk.

Comptrollers Office July 9. 1833.
I Elisha Phelps Comptroller of Public Accounts for the state of Connecticut do certify, that it appears by the Journal of the Council of Safety under date of July 12. 1776, that the following order was made by that board, viz: "A letter from Col o W. Pitkin expressing his great apprehensions of danger of his Powder Mills being destroyed by enemies having been much threatening about them &c from prisoners &c. which occasioned much consultation about guarding or securing them and how &c. and voted, after much discourse, that guards be allowed at Col o Pitkin's, and also at Col o Elderkin & Wales powder mill and that the respective owners be allowed four shillings per night for each night they shall keep such guards until this board shall take other or further order concerning them."
Under date 19 July 1776 said board voted and ordered M ess rs Elderkin & Wales to build a magazine of stone for the storage of the powder made at their mill, and were authorized to receive from the public treasury therefor a sum not exceeding fourteen pounds L m ; and that said magazine should belong to the colony.
Under date July 31. 1776 said board ordered the pay table to draw an order on the Treasurer in favour of M ess rs Elderkin & Wales for £250. 0. 0 to be on account for their making Powder for the colony.
Under date Octo. 30. 1777 M ess rs Elderkin & Wales were ordered by said board to deliver Powder for the use of the forts at New London & Groton.
On the 5 th Nov r 1777 said board ordered the Committee of the Pay Table to settle with M ess rs Elderkin & Wales for guarding the magazine for powder and salt-petre at

Windham charged at 15¢ per diem from the 9 th day of June to the 8 th day of November 1777, and ordered to draw on the Treasurer for the balance.
On the 4 th day of November 1778 said board voted, that Messrs Eldkin & Wales might have and receive for the use of their powder mill one hogshead of salt-petre sulphur belonging to this state in the care of Cap. Iabz Fitch and to account therefor according to the resolve of the Assembly.
On the 27 th day of May 1779 said board adjusted and allowed the sum of £302.14.11 upon the account of Eleazer Cary of Windham for boarding Messrs Nicholas & Mark Forquell who were employed by Congress to inspect the gun powder mills in the United States, and ordered the committee of the Pay Tables to draw an order on the Treasurer for that amount.
On the 5 day of August 1779 said board ordered Sedediah Eldkin & Nathaniel Wales Esq rs to send half a ton of musket powder belonging to this state to be delivered to Brigd r Genl l Syler for the supply of the troops under his command.
Said board on the 21 Oct r 1779 upon the application of Samuel Tannison of Sutton in the state of Massachusetts for a loan of fifteen hundred pounds weight of Salt-petre belonging to this state, in the care of Messrs Eldkin & Wales at Windham, resolved that the said Samuel may have and receive said quantity therefrom upon his giving sufficient security to replace the same by the first day of April 1780. —
Also under date of 22 October 1779 said board ordered one ton of salt-petre belonging to this state and in the care of Messrs Eldkin & Wales to be delivered to Isaac Doolittle of New Haven, &c. —

Said board on the 4 th day of February 1780 voted that Messrs Elderkin & Wales, delivered to Nathaniel Skinner of Hartford half a ton of pistol powder in their custody and belonging to this state designed for Genl. Ethan Allen of Vermont, &c. —
And on the 3 rd day of February 1780 upon the request of the board of War 18 Dec r 1779 for two tons of powder to supply the two frigates, the Shumbull & the Bourbon, said Council of Safety ordered Messrs Elderkin & Wales to deliver two tons of cannon powder in their possession and belonging to this state to John Durbin one of the commissioners of the Navy in the Eastern Department, taking duplicate receipts &c. &c. —
On the 23 rd of April 1782 said Council of Safety ordered Messrs Elderkin & Wales to deliver to Guy Rickards, Asst t Dep: Dr. M r at the Port of New London four barrels of musket powder belonging to this state, to be by him delivered to the commanding officer at the Port of New London & Groton.
On the 23 rd of May 1782 said Council of Safety ordered said Elderkin & Wales to secure the powder at Windham from wasting, &c.
On 11 th June 1782 "Resolved that the Committee of Pay Table be directed to draw in favour of the Selectmen of Saybrook on Wales & Elderkin of Windham for one barrel of musket powder and one barrel of cannon  cannon powder on Baby Perkins of Norwich Esq r for two hundred weight of Lead, and on Mr. David Shumbull of Lebanon for five hundred flints taking their receipt to be accountable." —
That on the 15 Nov. 1782 said council passed the following Resolve, viz: — "Resolved that Chauncy Whittling Esq r D r M r Genl. be directed to obtain from the several Brig. Genl. a return of the stores of ammunition in their hands and thereupon send to each a sufficient quantity of powder to fill their stores according to law, that he send forthwith to Messrs Elderkin & Wales for a sufficiency and order to B r Genl s Tyler & Douglass (whose situation renders it convenient) to receive from said Elderkin & Wales, their proper share or proportion. That

The several Brigadiers take care that such powder be properly disposed and ordered so as to be in readiness for public use, according to law and that said Elderkin & Wales may distribute the public powder in their hands that shall be left to the care of the selectmen of the several towns in New London County east of the river and of Windham in proportion to their lists nearly, the cannon powder to the towns in New London County save Preston the said Brigadiers and Selectmen to be accountable that said Elderkin & Wales are authorized to sell and dispose such quantity of cannon powder, and some small quantities of musket powder as they shall judge may be spared on the best terms they shall be able for Cash or short credit on good security & lodge the money with the treasurer taking proper receipts."
And on the 21 day of June 1782 said Council passed the following resolve, Viz:— "Resolved that Jd te Elderkin & Nathl Wales, Jun r be, and they are hereby directed to store the powder made at their work, in a barn belonging to J o Joshua Elderkin in Windham which they have provided for that purpose and keep a proper guard at night and secure the same in the best manner the reasonably and put up a proper iron rod as a means to preserve the same from lightning, the whole at the expence of this state."
And on the 28 day of April 1783 said Council of safety passed the following Viz:— "Resolved that the committee of pay Table be and they are hereby directed to liquidate and settle with Mess rs Jd te Elderkin Nathaniel Wales and David Young of Windham the expence of keeping & to guard the state Powder & salt-petre at the powder mill at Windham during the war not allowing more than two shillings per day to one person nor more than two on guard at one time—also to allow such sum as they shall judge reasonable for finding house room and fire for the guards at that season of the year that the same was needful—also to liquidate & settle with said Elderkin & Wales the payments by them or either of them made for and on account of said guards and also the money received on a certain note executed by John Griswold & Abel Mason to the Governor & Company of this state dated July 2 d 1776 and in part paid out to said guards—also to allow to said Wales out of the money received on said note thirty dollars paid by said Wales to Mark Foquet as for his receipt & draw on the treasurer of this state, for such sum as may be found due to said Elderkin Wales & Young or either of them in the matters aforesaid to be paid out of the one shilling tax the committee of the Pay Table are directed to charge the thirty dollars paid to Mark Foquet to the United States."
And that no roll of said guard has been found. D. Phelps

I Oliver Kingsley of Lebanon in the county of New London and state of Connecticut do hereby my years do testify and say that I am well acquaint- ed with Mr. Alpheus Kingsley of Columbia in the County of Tolland and state aforesaid and know that Mr. Kingsley was a long time employed as a guard at the powdermills in the town of Windham in said state of Connecticut during the war of the revolution And I likewise know that Mr. Kingsley was called into the militia service in the revolutionary army a few days after the capture of Grafton fort by the English and served about one and a half months and further the deponent saith not
Oliver Kingsley,
Windham County ss Windham July 27 th 1833 Personally appeared Oliver Kingsley signer of the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same and I certify that the said Kingsley is a man of truth and his deposition is intended to full trust
before me
Caleb Stibbard Justice of Peace

Stephen Kingsley Application
26. 548
v968
Return Abner Hendee Hebron Ct.

I, THOMAS DAY, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern,
That Calvin Hibbard Esquire, is, and for more than one year last past, has been, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Windham , in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgment of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said Justice in Court and Country.
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the tenth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty  thirty-three .
Thomas Day

I Asahel Kingsley of Columbia in Tolland County & State of Connecticut aged 71 years do testify & say that on the 1 st Day of August 1778 I enlisted as a private under Ensign David Young of Windham for the term of six months, & was stationed at the Powder Mill & Magazine in Windham where I remained until the first of Feb y 1779 when I was discharged. And I well remember that Alpheus Kingsley joined 8 th guard on the first of October 1778 and that he there remained until the first of Feb y 1779 when he was discharged having served for four months.
And I further state that on the first of July 1779 I enlisted again under 8 th Ensign Young & was stationed at 8 th Powder Mill & Magazine & there remained until the first of June 1780 when I was discharged. And I well remember that Alpheus Kingsley of Columbia joined 8 th guard about the first of October 1779 & that he remained there during the time that I served & when I was discharged I left him there.
Asahel Kingsley
State of Connecticut Tolland County ss Hebron Probate District
Personally appeared in open court before Abner Hemenway Esq. Judge of Court of Probate for 5 th District Asahel Kingsley signer of the foregoing affidavit & made oath that the same contains the truth & nothing but the truth. And this court certifies that the 8 th Kingsley is a man of truth & that his statement is entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 27 th day of July A D 1833
Cyrus Munn Clerk

I Oliver Bingham of Mansfield in Tolland County & State of Connecticut aged 69 years do testify & say that in the year 1781 I was living in the family of Ensign David Young who commanded the guard stationed at the Powder Mills & magazine erected at Windham in Connecticut & lived near s d Mills & Magazine & I well remember that Alpheus Kingsley was a member of s d guard and served at s d Mills & Magazine a considerable part of the aforesaid year as one of of the guard.
Oliver Bingham
State of Connecticut Tolland County ss
Hobbs Probate District Court
Personally appeared in open Court before Abner Hendee Esq. Judge Oliver Bingham signer of the foregoing Affidavit & made solemn oath that the same contains the truth & nothing but the truth. And this Court certifies that the said Oliver Bingham is a man of truth & that his statement is entitled to credit. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 27 th Day of July A D 1833
Cyrus Mann Clerk

Concord?
Alpheus Kingsley
Rejected
See letter to Abner Hurd
23 Sept 1823

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
5965.
P. O.
Alpheus Kingsley
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18__
Discharged: _____, 18__
Application filed: _____, 18__
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18__