Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,345, for Asa Parker, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Parker, Asa
S. 23,354
CONTENTS

11718 Connecticut
Asa Parker of Coventry in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col Meigs in the Connec t . line for 6 months—
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 20 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of June 1833 and del d to H Hendee of Hebron Cou Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33, — $40. 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 10. 00
$50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Ino. Cromwell Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 Page 34

21106
Asa Packer con't
adm d
Abner Amos

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Dr. Patskin  Con't
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Dec 1746 on P 3 Private Capt. Wright Genl. Meigs Horse Kirk N York Albany Entered at Coventry G. T and still lives in said place   Dec 1780 on P 3 " Capt. Johnson Surviving Witness proves the 1st tour of 3 on Certificate of Cloughman and a Citizen.  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  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. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule 12 note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

State of Connecticut, TOLLAND COUNTY, SS. HEBRON PROBATE DISTRICT,
On this 19 th day of December A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court before Abner Hendee, Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate, for the District of Hebron, now sitting, Asa Parker a resident of Coventry in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut, aged 74 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,
I entered the service of the United States in the Month of Dec. 1776 after the battle of the White Plains in a Company commanded by Capt Amariah Wright. Ephraim Cushman was Ensign. The Regiment commanded by Col. Meigs for a term of service of three months and was stationed in & about Horse Neck & New Rochelle in the State of New York. That I entered this service as a private and served the full term of three months and was then honorably discharged & went home
In Oct 1780 That afterwards I was drafted in a company according to my best recollection commanded by Capt Johnson for the term of three months and performed this term of duty in the vicinity of Albany and was employed in keeping guard and served out my full term of time of three months as a private and do not recollect the name of the officers of the Regiment as my term of duty was performed in patrolling about the lines and detecting foraging parties of the enemy having performed in the whole six months service as above stated That he further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure except the deposition

of Elias Ingle whose deposition accompanies this my declaration I never was in any battle... State of Connecticut
TOLLAND COUNTY ss. HEBRON PROBATE DISTRICT
On this day personally appeared A. D. 183... to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed.

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?
I was born in the Town of Coventry County of Lolland & State of Connecticut in 1758
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
I have no record of my age
3. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
I lived in Coventry when I entered the service, have lived there ever since, & now reside there
4. How were you called into service? Were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom?
My first tour of three months I enlisted - The Second term of three months I 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?
I do not remember any more of the officers or circumstances of my service than what I have stated in this my declaration - by reason of my old age and consequent loss of memory.

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it? I never had any written discharge - If I had - have lost it -
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? I am known to the Rev. Chauncy Booth of Coventry and to Marvin Curtis of S. Coventry both of whom reside near me who can testify for my veracity & their belief of my services - and am also known to Elias Lucee who served with me at Plumebeck & New Rochelle in 1776 & whose deposition accompanies this my declaration
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
Asa Parker
We, Chauncy Booth a clergyman residing in the town of Coventry in the County of Tolland, and Marvin Curtis residing in Coventry hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Asa Parker who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 74 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.
Chauncy Booth Marvin Curtis
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. Chauncy Booth who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the town of Coventry and that Marvin Curtis who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Coventry 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 Asa Parker for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 19 th day of December A. D. 1832.
Cyrus Mann Clerk.
Asa P. 6 mo. per 20/8
Asa Parker 21108

M. B. H.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Sur F. 23.354
Bureau of Pensions,
Asa Parker Rev. War.
Washington, D. C., March 5, 1906
Sir:
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Asa Parker , 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.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Dec. 1776 3 mos Private Amaziah Wright Meigs Conn.   Oct. 1750 3 mos Private Johnson. - Conn.                
Battles engaged in, No battle
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Coventry, Tolland Co. Conn.
Date of application for pension, Dec. 19, 1832; his claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Coventry, Conn.
Age at date of application, born in 1758 at Coventry, Conn.
Remarks: The large number of inquiries on this subject will not permit of information concerning more than two soldiers being given to any applicant.
(No fam. data Ev. 1-17-23)
Very respectfully,
Mr Edgar A. White
Andover
Conn.

Edgar M.B.H.
Revolution
23354 INVALID.
File No. 23,354
Asa Parker
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 918
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1906 March 5 - History to Mr. D. White
1910 Apr. 7 Hist. to Mrs. Lee H. Smith V.P.M.
1923 Jan 15 Hist. to Homer W. Brainerd, auto.
1923 Jan 19 Hist. to Bruce G. Gampson Ev.

I Elias Judd of Coventry in Tolland County of 72 years of age do testify & say that in the month of December 1776 after the battle of the White Plains I entered the service of the United States in a company commanded by Amariah Wright Capt Ephraim Gushman Ensign in a Regt. commanded by Col. Meigs for a term of service of three months and were stationed in and about Horn Neck & New Rochelle in the state of New York and that we there remained until the term of three months had expired when we were dismissed And I well remember that Asa Parker was a private in s d Company with me and that he served the whole term of three months and that I served in s d term as waiter to Ensign Ephraim Gushman and that we were dismissed at the same time having served three months Elias Judd
State of Connecticut Tolland County ss
Hebron Probate District
Personally appeared in open Court before Abner Hemenway Judge of the Court of Probate for s d District now sitting Elias Judd signer of the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath that the same contains the truth & nothing but the truth & this court certifies that the s d Elias Judd 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 19 th Day of December 1832
Cyrus Mann Clerk

23 35-4
1077 N. Prairie St.,
Galesburg, Ill.
March 24, 1910
Department of Interior, Bureau of Pensions,
Dear Sir:-
Will you please inform me if you have any record of the Revolutionary service of Asa Parker, who served from either Coventry or Andover Connecticut, where he also resided, until

his death. Asa Parker was born Oct. 7, 1757, died March 28, 1841.
He married, 1 st — Woodworth, 2 nd Hannah Judd.
He was a son of Phineas and Martha Meram Parker, and grandson of Deacon Samuel and Mary Parker, all from Coventry, Conn.
Any information you can give me will be appreciated.
MAR 23 1910
Yours truly
Mrs. George H. Smith.

FORM NO. 1800

Andover Conn. Jan. 26 th 1906 Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir; I have been told to write to you for information of some of my relatives having served in the Revolutionary war.
My mother's grandfather, Asa Parker of Coventry Conn. I find was a pensioner in about 1832-1840.
I would like proof of his service sufficient to admit to "Sons of American Revolution"
My grandfather White had five brothers in the Revolutionary service.
Their home was Hebron Conn.
Their names were Joseph, Alexander, James, Adonijah and Ebenezer.
I would like to learn all I can concerning the service of all these, including Asa Parker of Coventry, for the purpose of Genealogical History.
Can you, and will you please aid me in this?
Respectfully
Edgar D. White
U.S. NAVY JAN 29 1906

Parker 1/6
150 Warrenton Ave, Hartford, Conn. Dec. 31, 1922,
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I wish to obtain copy of pension paper or service of Asa Parker of Coventry, Conn. a Revolutionary Soldier, who was placed on the pension roll, June 8, 1833, pension commencing March 4, 1831 when he was aged 74 years. A manuscript list of Connecticut pensioners in the State Library at Hartford states that his pension is file S. 23354 in the department at Washington.
I also would like the same data for Moses Bourn. As far as I can learn he was not a Connecticut Pensioner. He was probably of Massachusetts or Rhode Island, when he served. Massachusetts Record of Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolution show one at least, and probably two Moses Bourns. As to Rhode Island records, I am unable to state.
I desire the information to enable descendants of these two soldiers to be proved eligible to the Society of the Daughters of the Revolution, and to join the same.
I remain,
Very respectfully yours,
Homer W. Brainard

27 Stuart
1604 North St.
Springfield, Mass.
Jan. 2, 1923.
Rev. Sec. and
Commissioner of Patents:
Dear Sir:—
Am quite desirous of finding what service was rendered by my great-grandfather Asa Parker of S. Conn-try. The name appears in Ms. at the Hartford, Conn. state capitol showing that his pension file is S 233 54. His service is not given in the printed state Rolls & lists and I would very much like a copy of his pension papers.
Bessie Parker Gammons