Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37605, for Matthew Lee, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
born
Lee, Matthew
S. 37605-
CONTENTS

18.121 Connecticut.
Matthew Lee
of Farmington in the State of Connecticut who was a private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Burke  Durkay } of the Connietical line, for the term of three years
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 2 of August 1820
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 of April 1820 and sent to Thomas Chester Hartford Conn:
Arrears to 4th of March 1820. \frac{3}{30} . 56.77 Semi-annual all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1821. 48 —
$ 104.77
{ Revolutionary claim, { Act 18th March, 1818. }
First of May 1820

I enlisted a soldier in the Connecticut Line in the Continental army in December 1780 for the term of three years and to join Col. Durkee's Regiment if that Regt. had its  the full compliment I was to join some other Regt. in the same line as it happened that Regt. not being full I join d what was then call d Durkee's and was enroll d in Capt Robert Warner's Company, on or about that time Col. Durkee left the army and never more returned I had an idea that the inspection returns were made out in his name, at the first part there I find I made a mistake Thomas Grovesner was Lieut Colonel when I joined the Regt as was told me afterwards Col. Zebulon Butler return d from the westward and joined our Regt. which of these Colonels took the command I am not able to say Capt Warner was appointed Brigade Major and after that field Major the last Capt that serv d under was David Judson There was so much shifting and transfers of Officers that it was most impossible to recollect the whole of them and the time has been so long since
The reason why I did not make application before is that I was absent from the United States to the South Seas for more than three years
Matthew Lee

№ 391. Matthew Lee v Hartford County, Conn. 2 d August, 1820.
Col o . Durkee's reg t . Connecticut line, 1780 to 1783.
Not on rolls.
The testimony, on oath, of two or more disinterested and credible persons, Certified as such, by the Judge, proving 9 mo s . Service in Continnuance on cont t . estab t . is required.
Worth $: 79.45.
Ad Thomas Chester, agent. Hartford, Connecticut. 13. Sept. 1820.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, County of HARTFORD,
ss. Special County Court, or Court of Common Pleas, holden by order of the Chief Judge of said Court, on the first Tuesday of August, 1820.
ON this 2 nd day of August, 1820, personally appeared in open Court, the same Court being a Court of record for said County, having the power of fine and imprisonment;
Matthew Lee - aged 56 years, resident in Farmington in the County of Hartford,
who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows :
Enlisted in Capt Robert Warners company in Col Durkeys reg t for three years on the fourth day of Dec r 1780 in the line of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment I served out my time when I was honourably discharged -
" And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled " An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818 ; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me ; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed."
  3/4 th of an acre of poor land with one poor & old house thereon  $ 75.00    2 pots  40    1 kettle  20    1 frying pan  20    6 chairs  75    1 small brass kettle  65    1 low chest  25    1 chest with drawers  50    1 square table  75    1 round do  50    1 stand  25     791.45  
I am by occupation a clay labourer I am in very feeble health I have a wife aged 47 years in poor health named Rebecca Lee, one child residing with me named George Lee aged nine years & I have no other means of subsistence except as above enumerated except what I may derive from the generosity of my Country -
Matthew Lee.

Sworn to and declared by said Matthew Lee on the day of August, 1820, before said Court, and it is the opinion of said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is
seventy nine dollars and forty five cents.
I, Thomas Chester Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Hartford aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of said Court. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 26 day of Augt 1820
Th. Chester Clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Hartford.

Hailford January 22 o 1821. I further certify certify that on the 1 st & 2 o day of November 1820 John Dix Esq r was a Justice of Peace of the County of Hailford aforesaid & that on the 9 th day of January 1821 The Honorable Jonathan Brace was Chief Judge of the County Court aforesaid & that on a paper marked J. M. J. B. T. E. two signatures of said Justice Dix & one signature of said Judge Brace I believe to be their signatures; witness my hand & the seal of said Court as aforesaid Th. Chester Clerk as aforesaid

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Matthew Lee a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. F. 37605.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Dec. 4, 1780. 3 yrs. Pvt. Robt. Warner. John Durkee. Conn.   Daniel Judson. Zebulon Butler.  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 2, 1820. His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Farmington, Hartford Co., Conn.
Age at date of application, 56 yrs. He was born at Farmington, Conn.
Remarks: In 1820, he referred to his wife, Rebecca, aged 49 yrs. and a son, George, 9 yrs. of age.
The above noted is the only Matthew Lee found on the Rev. War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mr Edwards
Matthew Lee.
Recd 2 nd June.
Give this to Mr. Wright. —
Adby M c E
See letter 6 July 1821

Harford June 26. 1821
Honorable John C Calhoun Secretary of war
Sir
J. L. Edwards Esq in his letter to me of the 24 th of April last having written that certain proof was required of Mr Matthew Lee he has obtained the deposition of Mr Henry Bowles which is enclosed.
I am Sir very respectfully your obedt servt
Thomas Chester

37 605 Rev Y INVALID.
1917, June 5, History to Henry R. Drowne. Letter with {Cl. S. F 45-44) Jeremiah Heeler
File No. 37,605
Matthew Lee Rev Rev
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 408
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Elijah Munroe of Bristol in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut depose and say that I was well acquainted with Matthew See of Farmington, County and State aforesaid, for the three last years of the Revolutionary war, and know that he served that term in the Connecticut line of the Connecti Continental army, and for a considerable part of that time I served in the same Regiment with him, and when the army was disbanded in the year 1783, Col: Zebulon Butler commanded said Reg t , and by whom my discharge was signed. — Elijah Munroe
State of Connecticut
Hartford County ss. Farmington Nov. 1 st 1820.
Personally appeared Elijah Munroe, who is well known to me, and whose reputation is unblemished, and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the several facts as stated in the above deposition by him subscribed. —
John Mix Just. Pacis.
State of Connecticut ss. County of Hartford Jan y the 9 th A D 1821 — I hereby certify that the above named Elijah Munroe, and the others named Joel Wilton, and Solomon Wilton, who have made & subscribed this respective depositions are all respectable men and credible witnesses. William Brace Judge of the County Court for said County.
J.M. B. B.

We Solomon Welton & Joel Welton both of Farmington, County of Hartford, State of Connecticut, depose and say that we were well acquainted with Matthew Lee of said Farmington, and know that he served for the three last years of the Revolutionary war in the Connecticut line of the General Continental army; Lee and we were in the in the same Reg t . and Company  during the whole of that time, and generally mess-mates; we were all three discharged in the fall of the year 1783; at which time Col o Zebulon Butler commanded the Reg t , and Capt d David Judson the Company in which we had served; — our discharges were both signed by Col o Butler; — Col o John Durkee commanded this same Reg t previous to the appointment of Col o Butler to that command. —
Joel Welton Solomon Welton
Connecticut
Hartford County ss. Farmington Nov r . 2. 1820. —
Personally appeared Solomon Welton and Joel Welton, both being  well known to me, and whose reputation as to truth is good, and made solemn Oath to the truth of the several facts as stated in the above deposition by them subscribed
John Mox Just Pacis. —

I Henry Coules of Farmington in the County of Hartford, State of Connecticut, doth upon and say that from my early life I have known Matthew Lee of said Farmington of which town, both he & myself are natives; That for several years I resided in the City of New York, that during my residence there, & in the month of November A.D. 1806. I recollect that this same Matthew Lee, Ship's himself on board the Schooner Ann in New York. Ebenezer H. Dyer Master, which sailed from that port in company with the ship Commodore De Cate , both owned in that City principally by a company of merchants, and bound on a sealing voyage to the South Seas - from thence to Canton; both owned owned by the same concern, in which I had some little interest; I was on board the Schooner Ann at the moment of her sailing, being well acquainted with her Master and several of the crew - and perfectly recollect to have seen this same Lee on board at that time, and bidding him Farewell; who reques- ted me to do or send some message to his wife & family at Farmington, where he had a wife & family residing nearly as far back as my memory extends. - After their vessels had been gone more than two years - accounts were recd in New York, that they had both been wrecked & lost on the Coast of Patagonia. The Coules, after

a long time & many sufferings got up the river La Plate to Buenos Ayres , in South America; This I know by letters from the masters of both vessels, written by them immediately after they got to that place; — This Lu I know got hands to his family about a year since, perfectly poor & penniless, and found them, as they ever have been, in the same situation; — they live about one mile from me; — (Sailing) was the sole object of their voyage; — a part or the whole of both these vessels were insured in New York previous to their sailing — and I know that the insurance brokers have since been called upon, and have actually paid the amount for which insurance was effected. It is clearly within my recol- -lection that I advised Lu a short time before he sailed to get a protection or certificate that he was a citizen of the United States — from the collector at the Port of New York. The enclosed certificate he put into my hands a day or two since; — and as he says, and as I fully believe is the same which he procured before sailing, on the voyage above mentioned.
Henry Cook

No. 733
I, David Gelston Collector of the District of NEW-YORK, do hereby certify, That Matthew Lee American Seaman, aged Fiftytwo Years, or thereabouts, of the Height of Six Feet 4 Inches, Grey Hair, Dark Complexion, was born in Hartford county State Connecticut
has this Day produced to me Proof, in the Manner directed by the Act, entitled, "An Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen;" and, pursuant to the said Act, I do hereby certify, That the said Matthew Lee is a Citizen of the United States of America.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office, this Second Day of November 181
David Gelston Collector.

State of Connecticut,
Hartford County ss Farmington June 21 st 1821.
Personally appeared Mr. Henry Lowles and made Solemn Oath to the truth of the several facts as stated in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed, — before me, — John Mire Just Pacis. —
I certify that Mr. Henry Lowles, the above deponent, is a near neighbour of mine, and with whom I am well acquainted; — that he is a gentleman of respectability, and that whatever he says or testifies is deserving of full faith and credit. — John Mire Just Pacis. —
State of Connecticut
Hartford County ss
Hartford June 26. 1821.
I Thomas Chester clerk of the County Court or Court of Common Pleas of said County certify that on the 21 st day of June 1821
John Mire Esqr was a Justice of Peace of said County
& I believe that the two above signatures of his name are his signatures. Witness my hand & the seal of said Court
Thomas Chester clerk —

By the Honorable Major General Knapp commanding the Posts upon Hudsons River and their Dependencies —
Whereas Lieut. Colonel in the Connecticut Regiment having been certified by a Board of Officers appointed to inspect the Invalides of the Army as being unfit for any further Duty, on account of general Debility — is hereby dis- charged from the Service of the United States —
Given under my Hand at West-Point this fourteenth Day of Sept. 1783 —
By the General Command of the Continental Congress William M c Lean
Registered in the Books of the Regt.
H. Morris Col l