Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,584, for Thaddeus Mead, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Mead, Thaddeus
S. 17. 584
carded
CONTENTS

17539 Connecticut
Thaddeus Mead of Milton in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Keeler of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mead in the Connecticut line for 24 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Augt. 1833 and deliv d to B. Isaac of Milton Conn Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33 — $160. Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 40
$200.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Noah Cromwell Clerk Book E Vol. 3 Page 28

State of Connecticut, } ss. County of Fairfield, }
On this 3- day of Aug t 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before
The Court of Probate within and for the District of Norwalk.
now sitting, Shadlen Mead a resident of Wilton in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged Sixty Nine 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.
That on the first day of June 1779. I enlisted in said Norwalk in Capt Samuel Keene Company of State troops. under my Father Col t Matthew Mead. and served three months in guarding and protecting the sea coast. was in the Battle when Norwalk was burnt.
On the first of March. 1780. I entered the service under Capt. Nathan Gilbert in the town of Wilton as now called being at that time a Parish of Norwalk. and served under said Capt t Gilbert. until the first of March 1781 in guarding and protecting the sea coast and on the lines.
That on the first of March 1781. I enlisted in said Norwalk into Capt Samuel Keene Company Lieut. Joseph Rockwell. and served in said Company one year in guarding and protecting the sea coast never had any written discharge and have no documentary evidence of my services. was born in said Wilton. on the Eleventh day. Oct. 1762. Resided in Norwalk Some Records have always lived in said Wilton and now live there.

State of Connecticut Esq. Probate Court District of New Britain July 18-1833 County of Litchfield. The within named Thaddeus Read and being personally appeared the within named Thaddeus Read and being duly sworn in open Court according to Law depose and says in explanation of his declaration herein set forth.
That on the first of June 1779. I enlisted in said New Britain into Capt. Samuel Keene Company. Col. Matthew Read & Lt John Read Genl. William and was attached to them under the lines and was in actual and constant service on Guard as a Private Soldier for the United States until the first of March next following making Nine Months
on the first of March 1780. I entered Capt. Nathan Gilbert Company in said town of Milford. Col. Stephen D. John. V. Col. John Read. Genl. William as a private soldier. and was in actual and constant service for the United States on Guard at New Britain on the lines at New Britain One full year
on the first of March 1781. I enlisted in said New Britain into Capt. Samuel Keene Company. Lieut. Joseph Rockwell Col. Stephen D. John. I entered. Genl. William as a private soldier and was stationed at New Britain on Guard. and in actual & constant service for the United States. I then for my & service. for one full year Thaddeus Read
Sworn and subscribed in open Court the day and year above said - Benj. Asa Judge
No. 3140
ad 24 mo. per 80 3/4

The said Thaddeus Mear 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.
Thaddeus Mear
We, Samuel Mermin a clergyman, residing in the town of Milton and Nathan Gilbert residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thaddeus Mear 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 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.
Samuel Mermin Nathan Gilbert
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 Samuel Mermin who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Milton and that Nathan Gilbert who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Milton and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Benj. Isaac Judge
I, Charles Isaac Clerk of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thaddeus Mear for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Probate Office, this first day of June 1832.
Chas. Isaac Clerk

I Daniel Westcott of Wilton in the County of Fairfield State of Connecticut aged Seventy eight being duly sworn before me say that he is well acquainted with Thaddeus Mead of said Wilton living in the same neighborhood. That in June 1. 1779 said Mead and myself enlisted in Capt Samuel Keeler Company Col. Mead's Regt in the State troops and marched to Horn Neck on the lines and served nine months and was then discharged.
Daniel Westcott
I Clapp Rockwell of Wilton in the County of Fairfield State of Connecticut aged Seventy four being duly sworn before me say that he is well acquainted with Thaddeus Mead and has always lived about three miles from him in said Wilton. That on the first day of March 1781 said Mead and myself enlisted in a company commanded by Capt Saml Keeler and Lieut Joseph Rockwell for one year and served our time out in guarding the sea coast and further saith not.
Clapp Rockwell
I Nathan Gilbert of Wilton in the County of Fairfield aged Eighty four being duly sworn in open Court before me say that he is well acquainted with Thaddeus Mead of said Wilton That I commanded a company in said Wilton and that said Mead served in said company from the first day of March 1780 to the first day of March 1781 and I then verbally discharged him.
Nathan Gilbert
State of Connecticut } Augt. 3. 1832 County of Fairfield } ss Probate Court. District of South. Personally appeared the foregoing Daniel Westcott Clapp Rockwell and Nathan Gilbert all Credible Witnesses and made Oaths in open Court. That the foregoing deposition by them subscribed on time before me Henry Dyer Judge

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thaddeus Mead a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. 17584
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1, 1779 9 mos. Private Samuel Keeler Matthew Mead Conn.   March 1, 1780 1 year Nathan Gilbert Stephen St. John   March 1, 1781 1 year Samuel Keeler      
Battles engaged in, Newark
Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted at Newark Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 3, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Milton, Conn.
Age at date of application, born Oct. 11, 1762 at Milton, Conn.
Remarks: soldier was the son of the above Col. Matthew Mead.
No further family data.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

17584 INVALID.
1916 May 16. Hist. to Miss C. B. Capshaw letter in L. 37656 Daniel Allen. P.
File No. 17,584
Sheddens Mead
Pri Rev War
Act: James T. 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 255
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Thaddeus Mead
abnd
5. 17
Benjamin Isaacs Esq Norwalk Ct
P. 141.

3142 BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Shaddens Mead which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned 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? It must appear whether his service in guarding the Coast were constant or periodical during the term of his enlistment. Generally these guards served every 2 d , 3 d or 4 th day VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
1 Subsequent
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 the 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.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.