Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28792, for Ephraim Littlefield, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Littlefield, Ephraim S. 28792
CONTENTS

Maine . . . N o 27,333. Ephraim Littlefield . . . of York in the State of Maine who was a private in the Co. H th commanded by Captain Sawyers of the Regt. commanded by _____ in the Mass line for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of — Maine at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of April 1834 and Hon. R. McIntire
  Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834 . . .  79 98    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sept. . . .  13 33     $ 93 31  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk, Book E . . Vol. 1 . . Page 32 . .

Maine District
State of Maine.
COUNCIL OF YORK, SS.
ON this seventh — day of December — personally appeared in open court, before the District Court of the United States now sitting at Portland — Ephraim Littlefield a resident of York — aged seventy seven 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.
In the first part of June 1775 I enlisted for six months into Capt North Mr Littlefield company stationed on the sea coast in Wells but during the time we were moved to Holmouth now Portland for the defence of that place at the time it was burned by the British, and from thence we were moved to Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire for the defence of that town and assisted in erecting works of defence on the eastern side of the Piscataqua River, and were discharged the last of December at Wells in the year 1775. I served six and half months in this engagement. In July 1779 I enlisted into Capt Saint Sawyer's company for three months and served two months in the Bagaduce or Penobscot expedition. I was discharged in September of that year (1779) was in the battle of Bagaduce and was present at the time my Captain Sawyer was killed and also Major Littlefield of the same corps — I suffered much in this short expedition in returning home through the wilderness — I was born at York in the year 1753 and have always resided there. I know of no man living that was in the service with me, except Deputy Sheriff...
He 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, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of (Arrears B, Pension) Ephraim Littlefield York
SWORN TO, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Asahel Warr Judge of the United States for the Dist: (Maine)
WE, Joseph Fuller, a clergyman, residing in the town of Henebunk and George Hasey, residing in the town of Henebunk hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven 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. George Hasey Joseph Fuller
SWORN TO, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
State of Maine. York ss. Sworn to and subscribed the 6th day of Decr 1833 before me Barnabas P. Russell Justice of the Peace
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 Joseph Fuller, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Henebunk, and that George Hasey, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Henebunk and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, John Mufsey, clerk of the United States Courts for Maine District — do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Ephraim Littlefield — for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this seventh day of December A.D. 1833.
John Mufsey Clerk U.S. Courts

Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 219
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Subjunctive
Don R del Interno DR

Nashville Dec 9 - 1833
Hon J L Edwards
Dear Sir
I inclose the application of Ephraim Littlefield for a Pension under the law of 1832 - Please examine and report his case as early, the convenience of the Department will admit.
Your obedt Servt
Barnabas P. Rankin

I Joseph Hilton of Wells in the county of York and State of Maine testify and declare that I am personally acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield a regular revolutionary soldier.
Said Ephraim Littlefield has always resided in York, or that part of Wells adjoining York where I was born and always resided. In the year 1775, Capt. Hook M c Littlefield raised and commanded a company that was stationed along the seaboard from what is called Ogunquit Harbor in Wells to Cape Porpoise - mostly within the limits of what was then the town of Wells. I was not a soldier in that company, but many of my neighbours and acquaintances were - among them was Ephraim Littlefield the person above alluded to, and several others whose names I now recollect viz Elijah Boston - Jonathan Winn Benjamin Kimball Samuel Treadwell Jesse Butland Benjamin Littlefield & I think Benjamin Littlefield the 2 nd  most or all of whom are now dead. About the same time this company was raised and stationed at Wells - I enlisted and went to Cambridge in Massachusetts near Boston. I knew but little of the services of the company was well acquainted but the officers and many of the men. The Captain M c Littlefield was afterwards a Lieut Colonel in the regular army. This Ephraim Littlefield is not I think any relation to the Capt M c Littlefield, but I will recollect of his being a soldier in said company. It was called the Beach company by way of derision

but was I believe regularly enlisted and employed as I have stated - Ephraim Littlefield is now a town pauper of York - I think I - cannot be mistaken as to his being a member of the company alluded to. I know of his being in the company before I joined the Army at Cambridge and have always considered him as a member of it - My opportunities of knowing about him were good he was intimate with me and at that time a near neighbor - I was in the Army over three years, and know nothing of any further services of Ephraim Littlefield if he had any -
Witneps
William W. Wise
Joseph his + William Marshall
Yours &
State of Maine
Then when he February 27-1834 - Then personally appeared Joseph Hiltner a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed - Before me
To Barnabas Palmer
Justice of the Peace

Deposition of Joseph Hiltson for Ephraim Sleeper
Maine District
District Clerk's Office March 6. 1832
In testimony that Barnabas Palmer is a Magistrate and that the signatures to the preceding and annexed depositions purport- ing to be his are genuine I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the day and year last above written
John Mussey Clerk U.S. Courts Maine District

I Jesse Butland of Wells in the county of York testify and declare that I am well acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield now of York in said county, of York said Ephraim Littlefield was a soldier in Capt Cook Mr Littlefield's company stationed on the the sea coast in Wells in the year 1775. which company was raised for and served six months.
In the time of the revolutionary war and for many years after the close of the war said Ephraim Littlefield resided in my native town of Wells, I have always known said Littlefield from my youth as well in the time of the service in Capt M r Littlefield's company as since. The company, or at least a detachment of it was stationed at what is called Agamenticus Harbor in Wells near the residence of the said Ephraim Littlefield. I was a soldier in said company during the whole of its service & marched with it to Portland, then Falmouth at the time it was surrounded by the British, I also marched with it from Falmouth to Portsmouth, or rather to Kittery opposite to Portsmouth N.H. at the time that place was threatened by the enemy that destroyed Falmouth - but during the whole of this service I was a minor, and in the said service I was a substitute for my father  father Samuel Butland who received the pay and to whose name I answered in the company. I was the oldest son of my father then living, and his principal help, but after his enlistment in Capt M r Littlefield's company above alluded to, I persuaded him to let me serve in the company in his stead, but for him - and in

his name my father consented, and I was accepted in the company, soon after it was raised and embodied - my father's name was borne on the rolls and I - done his duty and answered to the name of Samuel Britton during the service - At the time of this service my father Samuel Britton must have been nearly or quite fifty years old, I am now seventy seven years old and of course must have been nearly eighteen years old at the time of this service in Capt Noah M Littlefield's company in which Ephraim Littlefield was a private soldier -
I have stated that the company marched to Falmouth & Kittery during the service, our stay at Falmouth was short, I think not more than one week - and about two weeks at Kittery Point - where we erected a small but work for the defence of the place - I have no recollection that my own name was borne on the company's rolls I think it was not at all - but as I appeared for Samuel Britton I answered to his name -
I am a pensioner under the law of Congress of 1832 - but I never claimed the service in Capt Noah M Littlefield's company as mine or took notice of it in my declaration as for as as I considered myself as serving for my father who received my pay - My father died in the time of the war has been dead nearly or quite fifty years - Capt Littlefield's company was large and my

impression is that it numbered over seventy - I think seventy two, but I cannot pretend to be positive as to this fact. E. Sittigfeld now lives in York I have not known him for ten years past -
Jesse Buttard
Witness -
Clarissa Buttard
State of Maine
York ss - March 26 - 1834 - Then personally appeared Jesse Buttard of Wells and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed and I certify that the said Buttard is a credible witness.
Barnabas Robben
Justice of the Peace
Peace

I Joseph Wheelwright of Wells in the county of York and state of Maine testify and declare that I am acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield now of York in said county of York.
Said Ephraim Littlefield was a soldier in Capt Noah M Littlefield's company company — raised for six months and stationed along the sea shore in the town of Wells in the summer of the year 1775. The company was divided into several detachments, and stationed as a guard as I have stated. I was myself a member of the company and have — always known said Ephraim Littlefield from my youth.
State of Maine
York ss March 5. 1834 Then personally appeared before me Joseph Wheelwright a credible witness, and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed —
Before me
Barnabas Bahne
Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 10 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that Spharaim Littlefield was a private in Capt Saint Leger's company in the Pemberton expedition in the service of the State of Massachusetts in the year 1779 - that he entered the service on the 7 th day of July and was discharged on the 6 th day September in said year upon making his whole service two months -
Edward D. Bangs Secretary

I Jonathan Winn of York in the County of York and State of Maine aged seventy six years Depose and say that I am well acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield now a resident of said York formerly of Wells in said County a Soldier in the War of the Revolution and know that he enlisted as a Soldier in the Militia (do not recollect what year) in the Company commanded by Captain Samuel Sawyer of Wells under the command of Major Daniel Littlefield of said Wells General Salton commanded the expedition General Washburn was Major General, Brigade General's name was Foss The British having possession of Castine on the Penobscot said Sawyer went with said Company which formed a part of the State Troops in the expedition to dislodge the enemy from said Castine and was doing duty in said Company two months and suffered greatly marching through the wilderness after the arrival of the British fleet and the defeat of our Troops said Captain Sawyer was shot by the enemy and Major Daniel Littlefield was drowned by upsetting his boat at the time of the defeat I know the above related facts, having served in the same Company, the same time Jonathan his Winn Mark Attest Theodore Wilson.
State of Maine York ss. September the twenty fifth one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Then personally appeared the above named Jonathan Winn who in my opinion is entitled to full credit and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true Before me. Theodore Wilson Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that Jonathan Winn is a credible Witness Barnabas Palmer Jr. Clerk

State of Maine.
Yale p. I Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of the Court of Probate for said county hereby certify that Theodore Wilson is a Justice of the Peace as within stated, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal official this sixth day of Nov. A.D. 1852
Wm. Cutter Allen
Register of Probate.

Joseph Perkins of Wells in the County of York and State of Maine
Depose and say that I am well acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield now a resident of York formerly of Wells in said County a soldier in the War of the Revolution and know that he belonged to a Company of the Militia commanded by Capt. John * Littlefield of said Wells (afterwards Colonel) and was employed in guarding the seaboard between Piscataqua River and Wells Harbour I also know that he afterwards enlisted and as a soldier in the expedition to dislodge the British from Eastern, (do not recollect the date)
I know the above related facts, having been intimately acquainted with him at that time, being an intimate do inmate in the family where he frequented and where he married his wife Joseph his Perkins Not Theodore Wilson mark
State of Maine
York ss October the twentieth one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Then personally appeared the above named Joseph Perkins and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true Before me Theodore Wilson Justice of the Peace
I am acquainted with Joseph Perkins and hereby certify that he is a credible witness -
I am also a Justice of the Peace
*. This is evidently a mistake in the christian name of the Captain - It should have been Noah Mr Littlefield Capt John Littlefield and Capt Noah Mr Littlefield were brothers both captains in the Army both resided at Wells and near together - Capt Noah Mr Littlefield commanded the Company stationed on the seaboard at Wells - Capt John Littlefield was at the same time at Cambridge Massachusetts B.P. -

State of Maine.
Yale fs. I William Gutter Albee, Register of the Court of Probate for said county do hereby certify that Theodore Wilson is a Justice of the peace as written stated and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal official this sixth day of November A.D. 1832.
Wm. Gutter Albee, Register of Probate.
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the within named Stephen Brown and he is a Justice of the Peace. Bernard Brown for Roll

Barnabas Palmer of Kennebec in the county of York testify and declare that I am acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield of York in the county of York. Said Littlefield is reputed to have been a soldier of the revolutionary Army - and he applied to me some time in the summer of 1832 to assist him and prepare his papers for him in order that he might avail himself of the benefit of the act of Congress of 1832 - to obtain a pension Said Littlefield I then understood resided within the limits of York nearest to Kennebec but was then and as I understand is now a Town Parker of said York. There was no court sitting at the time he applied to me and I put him off by telling him that before his papers were prepared it would be necessary for him to procure the evidence of his services - and - submit to me another time before I could act as I did not wish to subject myself to expense on his account in procuring it, and that his claims would not be prejudiced by any reasonable delay - Mr. Littlefield then showed to me his services, as they are now stated in his declaration (a memorandum of which I took at the time) - excepting only that he claimed six months more service than is stated in his declaration which six months service he alleged to have been - performed in the year 1776 - and which I am convinced was only in a company of local militia or minutemen and consequently it has not been introduced in his declaration
Mr. Littlefield then left me and set himself about procuring his testimony of services -

and the dispositions annexed to his declaration are the fruits of his labor, and were handed to me as he obtained them - at different times - and when I was in Boston some time in May last. I procured for him the certificate of Mr. Bangs the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts of his services in 1779 in the Bogaduce expedition which is also annexed - I have frequently searched the files and records referred to in the State Department at Boston but have never been able to find any rolls or records of Capt Noah M c Littlefield's company raised and stationed on the sea coast mostly within the limits of Wells in the year 1775 - The character of that company however is not doubtful. It was raised and embodied and by the authority of Massachusetts, and was regularly enlisted and served six months, ending as I am informed some time in the month of December 1775. I was - subsequently acquainted with the captain who died about ten years ago - He was before the close of the war a Lieut Colonel in the army and when I knew him a Brigadier in the Genl in the Militia. He was a resident of Wells, and if I am correctly informed Ephraim Littlefield the present applicant was a relation or connection of his family - Most of the friends or acquaintances of Ephraim Littlefield are residents of Wells or Kennebunk which originally was a part of Wells -
Mr. Littlefield is lame and otherwise - much informed so that he is not able to travel about the country to find other witnesses if he knew of any living - I know but little

of the character of Mr Littlefield - I know nothing against it in regard to truth , but have understood that he has been an intemperate man - At the time of making this deposition I advised him to go before the U.S District Court to make declaration, as the distance would not be much greater and no court would sit in the county of York that I knew of before February 1834 - As nearly all the declarations of applicants, I have had the care of have been made in that court, as more convenient and less expensive -
At the time of searching the files in Boston for Capt Littlefield's company - I was told that every line of the rolls of 1745 were to be found in the office -
Barnabas Palmer
Store of Maine York Jy Dec 6 - 1833 Then personally appeared Barnabas Palmer a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed -
Before me
James Osborn Jm Jus Peace

Maine District
District Clerk's Office Dec. 7. 1833
In testimony that Barnabas Palmer Nathaniel Gilman & James Osborne Jury are Magistrates as within and connected & that the signatures thereto purporting to be theirs are genuine I have hereto set my hand & seal of Office the day and year first above written
John M. Dufresne Clerk U.S. Court
29. 167 Ephraim Sweetland affidavit for Pension -

I Samuel Smith hereby certify that I am acquainted with Ephraim Littlefield now of York in the State of Maine
Said Ephraim Littlefield was a soldier in Capt Stockwell's company raised some time in the month of June 1775 and stationed along the sea coast in Wells in said year. The company was raised for and served six months - I knew Ephraim Littlefield as a soldier in the company he was stationed with others of the company at what is called Ogunquit Harbor. I was a sergeant in the same company but stationed at Cape Porpoise Harbor I knew every man in the company. The head quarters of the company was near the dwelling house of the captain in the center of Wells - at which place we always mustered. we first assembled there - & were mustered there for discharge at the expiration of our services I think in the month of December 1775 - During the service we marched to Portland & from thence back through Wells back to Portsmouth N.H. I know that Ephraim was with Littlefield was in both these expeditions and I know that he mustered with the company as a member on all occasions when the company was together, and I very well remember that the station assigned him was in that part of the company stationed at Ogunquit harbor. This was nearest to his residence at that time and might have been one reason of his having been selected for that particular station. Although I knew every man in the company it would be impossible for me to say the particular day of the enlistment or discharge of any one, even myself. Some of the

The company were probably enlisted weeks before, others but all entered on duty at the same time or about the same time. & I feel very confident were all dismissed at Wells on the same day. I can not say how the pay rolls were made up, this was the business and work of Capt Littlefield, but as we did not get pay until long after we were discharged it might have been some time before the rolls were were made up, if made up at all. I received my pay from Capt Littlefield & I think it was two or three years after the discharge - I knew Ephraim Littlefield in the time of the war not only as a soldier as I have stated but a citizen, I knew something of his going in to the service on an expedition to Rumbrook but can state no particulars - only that he went from Wells - I have no recollection of having seen him for twenty years post- In the time of the war I I then resided where I now do - but the place was at that time called Arundel - I am now eighty five years old - I have no recollection of ever having seen the roll of the company - William Jeffords was orderly sergeant.
James Smith
Witness
John H Bartlett
State of Maine April 3 1884. Sworn and subscribed to the aff
Before me
Darius D. Dyer Just Peace

I Petehiah Littlefield of Wells in the county of York and state of Maine. hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jesse Bruttand of said Wells - and also with Joseph Wheelwright , both were revolutionary soldiers. & both were soldiers in a company commanded by my Father Isaac Mc Littlefield stationed on the sea coast principally within the limits of Wells in the summer of the year 1745. I then resided with my Father Capt - Isaac Mc Littlefield . The head quarters of the company was near my fathers dwelling house, the same in which I now live. Jesse Bruttand & Joseph Wheelwright were then townsmen, and neighbours. I was not a soldier in the company, but I knew many of the men especially those that were stationed near to our house - & I have always known as the said Bruttand and Wheelwright to the present time. They are both respectable men, and one if not both members of a respectable Society and church in said Wells - both are credible men and the statement of either entitled to confidence and belief. I am now seventy one years of age -  and have been  stationed at Fort Point since the  last  war  was  ended  in  1748 and  has  since  that  time  lived  at  Wells  in  Maine and  has  since  that  time  lived  at  Wells  in  Maine I Petehiah Littlefield
April 7-1834
Sworn & subscribed to before me
Baroness Ralston
Justice of Peace

State of Maine.
York county ss. William Cutter Allen, register of the Court of Probate for the county aforesaid hereby certify that Samuel Palmer is a Justice of the peace for the county afore- said and that the signatures within written, purporting to be his are genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventh day of April 1834.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.