Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30552, for Jude Ludington, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Ludington, June
S 30 55 2
CONTENTS

10551. Massachusetts Deed Indenture of Hampden in the State of Mass who was a Pirate in the company commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt commanded by Col Whiting in the Mass line for 18 Mo 15 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of Honor at the rate of 61 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th day of April 1833 and sent to the Father of J. W. Sprague alias Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $23.32 Semi-annual allowance ending 1 st Febr " 30.83 $154.15
{ Revolutionary Claim { Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by H. B. Clark Clerk Book 10. Vol. 2 Page 219.

N. 2520 Jude Lundington of W. Springfield Ms.
Parish 18 Mo 15 Days Wapner and pro- erty of the estate. May 1852
A. M. W.
$61.66
Sam. Lathrop Junr. W Springfield Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Jude Ludington of the county of Hampshire  in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72 years,  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1776 May — 6 — As a Private Gen. Col. Whiting, Capt. Josiah Smith.   1779 Sept — 3 — do Col. Woodbridge, Capt. Morgan   1778 May — 8 — do Col. Wood, M c Carpenter   1779 July — 1 15 do Col. Porter, Capt. Lemaire & Hooper  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? West Springfield  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? depositions,  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Regular 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Belt Examining Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. County of Hampshire
On this eighth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said county now sitting Judge Lundington a resident of West Springfield in the county of Hampshire aforesaid & state of Massachusetts aged Seventy two years in March last 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 th 1832-
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated. That in the spring of the year 1776, he enlisted into the service as a militia man, for the term of six months, he thinks that he left home early in May, & went to Boston - that he was stationed at Nantasket during the whole period of his service, & that he remained there during the whole term for which he enlisted - & returned home the latter part of November. Whitney was Colonel of said Regiment, Jackson, Lieutenant Colonel; & Miller Major, but their Christian names cannot recollect. Josiah Smith of South Hadley was the Captain of the company to which he belonged, & Weeks was Lieutenant. Some others from this town enlisted & served with him but he knows of no one, now living, who was in this service, except General Scott, whose deposition he has procured.
That he was born in the town of West Springfield on the twentieth on the twentieth day of March 1760, in the town of Branford in the State of Connecticut, & removed when he was four years of age, with his father's family to the town of Westfield where he lived ten years & then to the town of West Springfield where he has ever since lived, & still lives. That he knows of no record of his birth, except the one which he has made for himself. That in the service above stated as well as in the others hereafter mentioned, he went by voluntary enlistment.
The said Judge Lundington further declares, that in the month of August or early in September in the year 1777, there was a call for some of the militia of this town to meet the British army coming from the Northward under General Burgoyne, and that under that call he enlisted for the term of three months, that he immediately marched, & went through Bennington some weeks after the battle of Bennington, and when he arrived at Bunker's heights was attached to the Regiment under Col. Ruggles Woodbridge. John Morgan of West Springfield was Captain & Asa Miller of the same town was Lieutenant of the and - Tibbetts of Granville in this county was Ensign of the company to which he belonged. When the British army

under Burgoyne The company to which he belonged was at the above fort & was not actually called into the battle, but immediately after the retreat of the British army, he was ordered to pursue them in their retreat, & was present at the time of their surrender. Soon after the surrender of Burgoyne he was marched down to Albany, & after having been there a short time, he was marched down the North river. During our march down the river he was severely sick with the fever & ague, & as being unable to proceed, was left behind a few days before the expiration of the period of his enlistment, & he remained there confined by sickness till after that time. He does not recollect the name of the place where he was confined, having never been there before nor since that time, but he thinks it was at about 60 miles from Albany. Not long after the expiration of his enlistment, he was able to set out for home & proceeded by slow & easy stages till he got there. The precise period of his leaving the North river, & of his reaching home, he is unable to state, but he well recollects that there was a severe snow storm before he set out & that it did not wholly disappear, though it chiefly went off in open land. Several others from this town were with him in this service, but he knows of no one, now living except Eli Day who now lives in South Hadley.
The said John Litchfield further declares, that in the month of May 1778 he again enlisted for the term of eight months in a company of which John Carpenter of Springfield in this State was Captain, Charles Smith & Winchell of Westfield were Lieutenants, & was marched through Litchfield in Connecticut to Peck's hill in the State of New York where the company joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Wood Hall was Adjutant of the Regiment. — Hale of Longmeadow in this State was Lieut. Colonel. From Peck's hill, the Regiment marched to the White Plains, & there joined Genl. Gates' army. that he  was there at the time of the battle at Monmouth & when Genl. Washington came & joined Gates' army. Same time the latter part of the summer, we were marched to Danbury in Connecticut. but the length of time we remained at Danbury & the neighborhood, he cannot recollect. Some time in November the Regiment to which he belonged was ordered into winter quarters at Peck's hill, & they built the barracks called Wood's Barracks. They remained there in winter quarters until about the twentieth of February 1779, when he was discharged, & he returned home. That the time of his enlistment before he had expired before his discharge. There was no written discharge.

The said Judd Ledington further declares, that in the month of July 1779. he again enlisted for one month & went to New London in the State of Connecticut - that he remained there in the service for about six weeks - When the period of his enlistment was out, the company to which he belonged was ordered to remain for a longer time, & they all continued there about two weeks beyond the term of their enlistment - Elisha Porter of Hadley in this State was Colonel of the Regiment to which our Company belonged - & that Preserved Leonard & Isaac Coaker both of this town, were the Captain & Lieutenant of the company & are States of Westfield Ensign. That Charles Ball Esq, Judiah Day, Heman Day Esq & Gabb Rice Esq. are well acquainted with him & can testify to his character for veracity & to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution -
The said Judd Ledington further declares that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State - Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Judd Ledington
We Heman Day and Judiah both of West Springfield in the County of Hampden hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Judd Ledington of said West Springfield, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration - that it is generally reported & believed in the neighborhood where he resides that he was a soldier in the army of the Revolution & we concur in that opinion & that we believe the said Judd Ledington is Seventy two years of age
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid -
Heman Day Judiah Ledington

And the said court, Present the Hon. Oliver D. Morris Judge - do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states - And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Herman Day and Samuel Lathrop who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in West Mansfield in Darke County - that they are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit
I Justin Willard Register of the court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Suse Luddington for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
Justin Willard
Suse Luddington
7520

I Darius Wright of Springfield in the county of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age depose & say that I enlisted into the United States service on the fifteenth day of May 1778 for the term of eight months but did not leave Springfield until sometime in June on account of being taken with the small pox. At that time I left & went to Fishkill in the state of New York & the next day went to White Plains & joined the regiment under Col. - Wood & was attached to the company of which John Carpenter was Captain, Martin Smith Lieutenant & - Winchell ensign - Dixon was the General of the Brigade - When I joined the company at White Plains I saw Iude Ludington of West Springfield in the county of Hampden aforesaid with whom I was acquainted & who was a ser corporal of this company. Some time in August I think we left White Plains & marched to Danbury in the state of Connecticut - We passed the remainder of the summer & fall in different parts of the state of Connecticut & returned to Fishkill sometime in November we took up our winter quarters at the Peekskill village in the state of New York - We continued there on duty until the 20th of February 1779 when our regiment was discharged & I returned immediately home. I was well acquainted with the aforesaid Iude Ludington. I found him in the company when I arrived at White Plains & he continued in said company until the regiment was discharged in February as above stated
Darius Wright
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss. On the Third day of August 1832. The above named Darius Wright, with whom I am well acquainted, & who sustains the reputation of a man of truth & veracity, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me, Israel Lathrop Justice of the Peace

I Lemuel Felt of West Springfield in the County of Hampshire of lawful age declare & say, that in the spring of the year 1776 Jude Lindington of this town enlisted into the service, as a militia man, for the term of six months - that he went to Boston in April or May of that year, & served out his whole term of service in that neighborhood - I fully know these facts, because I was in the same company & came back with him during the whole period - Josiah Smith of South Hadley in the County of Hampshire was an Captain, and a Mr. Whitney, whose name Christian, I do not recollect was an Colonel -  Lemuel Felt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss. On the twenty fifth day of July in the year of our Lord 1832 The above named Lemuel Felt, who is known to me as a person of truth & veracity, personally appeared & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, before me, Saml. Lathrop Justice of the Peace
Hampden ss. Commonwealth of Massachusetts I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampshire do hereby certify that Samuel Lathrop Esq. before whom the above & annexed deposition were verified is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hampshire and that his name subscribed is his true & genuine signature - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court. Common Pleas Court of Springfield on this twenty seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two  John Ingersoll Clerk

I Eli Day of South Hadley Northampton in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age I depose & say, that in the month of August or early in September in the year 1777. there was a call for some of the militia of the town of West Springfield where I then lived, to go to the Northward to meet the British army under Genl. Burgoyne. Under that call Capt. Ludington of West Springfield turned out for the term of three months, & we were ordered out immediately after our enlistment. Our place of rendezvous was at Westfield in this County, & when our company was collected we were marched to Bennington in Vermont. From there we marched to Bemis' Heights where we joined Genl. Gates' army. We remained with the army there, doing the duty required of us, till after the surrender of Burgoyne. The company to which the said Ludington was not & I was attached, was not ordered into the battle which preceded the surrender of Burgoyne, but it pursued him after his retreat, & was present at his surrender. After this we returned as far as Albany with the prisoners, & from thence we were ordered down the North river. and at or about the end of the period of our enlistment we were discharged. I went out at the same time with the said Ludington, & belonged to the same company. John Morgan of West Springfield was the Captain & Asa Miller the Lieutenant of our Company. Ruggles Woodbridge of South Hadley was the Colonel of our Regiment.
Eli Day
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampton J. On the twenty fifth day of July in the year of our Lord 1832, the above named Eli Day, whom I have known for many years & who sustains the reputation of a person of truth & veracity, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed - Before me, Saml. Lathrop Justice of the Peace

July 18
Commonwealth of Massachusetts John Ingersoll Clerk of the Common Pleas Court sitting at Meriden in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Samuel Lathrop Esq. before whom the within annexed depositions were verified as a just true bill for the County of Hampden and that his name thereto severally subscribed is his true & genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk

I Jube Ely of West Springfield in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, depose & say, that Jube Ledington of this town, enlisted, as a militia man, in July or August 1779, for the term of one month, & went to New London in Connecticut. When we had served out our period of enlistment, at the earnest request of our officers & of the inhabitants, we remained about two weeks longer, when we were discharged & returned home. The said Ledington enlisted at the same time with me, & we marched to New London together & belonged to the same mess, while there. Preserved Leonard was the Captain & Enock Basker the Lieutenant of our Company. — Potter of Hadley in this State was the Colonel of our Regiment.
I Jube Ely
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampton J. On the twenty fifth day of July in the year of our Lord 1832, the above named Jube Ely, with whom I am well acquainted & who sustains a good character for truth & veracity, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me Saml Lathrop Justice of the Peace

30.552 INVALID
No. 100-2 John L. ... St. Louis
Act. June 1 st 88
Index - Vol. 2 Page 242
[Arrangement of 1870.]

25-20
Jude Luddington
James Lathrop West Springfield Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jacob Ludington which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 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? yes - 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? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes - VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes. VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 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? yes -

 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? no .  X XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no  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? yes .  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? yes  XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes  no - two affidavits are not properly authenticated  XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes . 
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."
x not required when an applicant can prove all his service by witnesses actually knowing of the same

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
† QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
BR In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates 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 ends 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.